It was Bill France\u2019s foresight that reshaped the sport, cutting the number of events to create a more balanced, sustainable schedule. One that, between 1982 and 1993, rarely exceeded 30 races. Decades ago, before NASCAR\u2019s partnership with RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co., the calendar featured an astonishing 62 races. But since 2001, the number has crept back to 36, reigniting an old debate. Stretching from early February to November, the NASCAR season has long been a test of endurance.<\/p>\n
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Across 36 grueling races held almost every week, the schedule pushes even the most seasoned drivers to their limits. Yet, the conversation around trimming it down is nothing new. The NASCAR season is more of a marathon than a sprint. Many drivers have voiced concerns, and now one prominent NASCAR insider has stepped forward to echo that sentiment, calling for a bold rethink of the sport\u2019s marathon-like calendar.<\/p>\n
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Barstool employee calls for shorter schedule to boost popularity<\/p>\n
Taking to X, Rubbing is Racing co-host Moonhead, itched the scab off the skin. He said, \u201d I\u2019m of the belief that in today\u2019s world a shorter NASCAR season could be the ticket back into mainstream success.\u201d It is definitely no secret that NASCAR seems to be struggling on that front. Right from TV viewership taking a hit to fans complaining about the coverage, playoff format, and much more, the prolonged schedules also add to it.<\/p>\n
There are 52 Sundays in a year, and NASCAR races on 36 of them. That\u2019s approximately 70% of the whole year! Leaving only 30% post-season for drivers to wind down. Earlier this year, 23XI Racing\u2019s Bubba Wallace<\/a> opened up about the growing concern about the relentless length of the season.<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Wallace pointed out how little downtime drivers actually get, saying, \u201cThe thing is you only get the month of December off. From the social side of things that ramps up week one for me, it was week one of January, and then leading up into the Clash now, it\u2019s you get one month off.\u201d The 23XI Racing<\/a> driver further admitted, \u201cSo, I mean, yeah, I think we all are agreeing that it\u2019s too long, but I don\u2019t know if we\u2019re ready to have the conversation of what it\u2019s going to take to condense it the right way.\u201d<\/p>\n From sponsor commitments and media appearances to simulation work and travel, Wallace revealed the drivers rarely experience a true off-season, just a fleeting window before the grind begins anew. But Wallace isn\u2019t alone on this one. Alex Bowman<\/a>, too, has voiced support for a shorter schedule, though his concern centers on the road crews rather than the drivers themselves.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n As he explained, \u201cTheir hours are insane. There are nights at HMS they\u2019re there till 2 or 3 o\u2019clock in the morning. The cars have to be ready, there\u2019s no way around it and the hours that people work to try to maximize everything and make things the best they can be, it\u2019s pretty crazy.\u201d Yet not everyone agrees.<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n However, three-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano<\/a> remains skeptical about trimming the calendar, reasoning that while a shorter season might improve work-life balance, it could also hurt the sport financially. The Team Penske driver said, \u201cI would like that but there\u2019s so many other things. I think it kills the momentum of the sport for one I think that\u2019s not really good. I think if you shorten the season well everyone you got to justify everybody\u2019s salary somehow. So, that\u2019s got to go down. Some of us are going to make less money. So there\u2019s less sponsors there\u2019s less like all that like comes down everything shrinks a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n Still, evidence of potential benefits does exist, like last year\u2019s two-week Olympic break, which helped recharge Kyle Busch<\/a>, allowing him to rebound with two runner-up finishes and another top 5 to close the regular season. After all, NASCAR has never been afraid to reshape the calendar, from just eight races in 1949 to a staggering 62 in 1964; perhaps the time has come for another evolution.<\/p>\n