Daytona 500: A Monday (Night) Affair?

by jshaunburke on Feb 26, 2012 6:32 PM EST

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race cars sit on pit road during a rain delay for the 54th Annual Daytona 500. The race has been postponed to Monday at Noon EST. (Matt Weaver /NASCAR Ranting and Raving)

The 2012 Daytona 500 has been delayed by Mother Nature; marking the first time in its 54 year history that it will run on a day other than it was scheduled. NASCAR has made the call to run the race Monday, at 12:00 EST.

The decision to run the race at high noon has many people on twitter questioning NASCAR.

"This 500 won't be tarnished because of the rain, it's going to be tarnished because NASCAR didn't run it at a time people could see it" says @MarkRH.

"This is bad for NASCAR all around, like the Super Bowl on a Monday in middle of day.." echoes @Roushfenway1fan.

The debate about whether a rained out race should be run at noon or in the evening on the Monday following the event has been thoroughly discussed the past few seasons, but it would seem NASCAR is firm in their decision: They will attempt to run the race at the first available opportunity. It almost seems like if a race is not run on the scheduled date, NASCAR simply crosses the race off as a failure and tries to get out of town as soon as possible. While that decision is somewhat acceptable for the other 35 races each season, I firmly believe it is unacceptable for the Daytona 500.

The Daytona 500 isn't just any other race. The drivers spend 3 hours qualifying, a week before the event, just to set the front row. They run 300 miles worth of races on Thursday to set the rest of the field. There is no other race that does that; and for good reason. The Daytona 500 is NASCAR's Super Bowl and should be treated as such.

NASCAR shouldn't worry about "first available time" for this race. They should make every attempt to run this race when fans can see it, whether that be Monday evening, Tuesday Evening or a to-be-determined off weekend in the future.

Luckily, it looks like rain is in the forecast during the day tomorrow which could set up for a NASCAR first: A Primetime running of the Great American Race. I believe if that happens, NASCAR will be in for a pleasant surprise. While they would be going up against some solid TV shows, many people who would otherwise be doing something else on a Sunday afternoon, will likely tune in to see NASCAR under the lights.

Hopefully, if that scenario happens, NASCAR and the TV executives will see the benefit & run more Monday night races in the future.

What is your opinion? Should NASCAR jeopardize a mid-day "window" to run the race in order to ensure a primetime event?

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Comments

I see what you're saying

It’s tough to agree or disagree with this, and I’m sure it’s a tough decision for NASCAR and the rest of the parties involved. The past couple years when I was down in Pensacola for the Snowball Derby back in December I overheard that if the race was rained out on Sunday the race would be rescheduled for Monday evening. As much as I disliked the thought of it since I had a flight home scheduled for Monday morning, I thought it was a smart idea. Kind of goes to show you how NASCAR and the media has in a way forgotten the 9-5/M-F/working class crowd.

On the other hand, I do realize that even though it is arguably the biggest short track super late model event is not nationally televised. I’m sure FOX would rather air the race in the afternoon during normally scheduled syndicated programming rather than preempt “House” and whatever other new shows are regularly scheduled in the evening.

I questioned why they pushed Speedweeks back a week since the announcement was made. There is no window to reschedule to future a weekend, unless it was run on Easter Sunday. Even when it was the previous weekend, they could get away with the race being rescheduled Monday since many have off work for President’s Day. My opinion would be to run the race President’s Day weekend and have the following weekend open just in case there are any issues involving mother nature.

by ajcrdstr24 on Feb 26, 2012 7:41 PM EST reply actions

You don't want to leave the week after the Daytona 500 open. That's just asking the sport to lose all their momentum.

Follow me on Twitter @MattWeaverSBN

Senior Writer and Editor for SBNation's NASCAR Ranting and Raving

Correspondent for SBNation's IndyCar Pop Off Valve Blog (http://www.popoffvalve.com/)

by MattWeaver on Feb 26, 2012 7:51 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with you Matt

You don’t want to leave 1 weekend open for the VERY VERY minor chance they can’t get the Daytona 500 in on it’s scheduled day. The real problem is, however, what @ajcrdstr24 said. Why push the race up 1 week & box yourself in. even though there was an off week early in the season, I’m OK with that. In fact, I have an idea about that.

NASCAR’s season is way too long. Shorten the season to 25 races & leave an off week every 4 or 5 weeks. Can’t run a race on it’s scheduled day or the EVENING after the race, run it on the scheduled “weather” weekend. I know, i know “but the fans in the stands, blah blah”. When you purchase a ticket to a race, you assume a risk. Everyone knows that. A fan who drove 400 miles to see a race is much more likely to come back in 4 weeks & try again than stick around to Tuesday (IMO).

by jshaunburke on Feb 26, 2012 8:58 PM EST up reply actions

Since 1982 when Daytona officially became the first race of the season, there have been four different tracks that have hosted the second race of the season. Although I think Phoenix was a smart choice to follow Daytona despite being across the country, looking back Richmond, Rockingham and California were never very successful events for various reasons. Since it’s not really possible to even come close to getting near the uniqueness and viewership of the Daytona 500, why not give the competitors a break after all the weeks they prepared for the biggest event of the season and leave the fans wanting more?

This very rare occurrence does show that with the tight schedule of 36 races and less race weekends off, NASCAR and the tracks are left with very limited options regarding what to do when there is inclement weather. It would be nice to see them go back to around a 30 race schedule like they had back in the 1980s and 1990s, but then the entire debate about which tracks to cut from the schedule arises.

by ajcrdstr24 on Feb 26, 2012 10:09 PM EST up reply actions

This is a really tough call

What if you could have run it in the day, but waited for the night, and then the skies open up again? Then NASCAR would look really stupid, at which point we now have a Tuesday race (maybe) followed by a Thursday arrival at Phoenix.

Also, look at it from Fox’s perspective. Their Monday night, prime time shows are House, one of the network’s most watched shows, and Alcatraz, a new show that has gained immense popularity. Who makes the call that NASCAR is more important than the airing of these two shows? Obviously we know our answer, but what about the rest of the country? I bet they outnumber us.

When you think about that, despite how badly we might want it, it will never happen. I will be taping the race and watching it when I can. I hope you all are able to do the same.

by UnderdogFan89 on Feb 26, 2012 9:32 PM EST reply actions

You bring up a great point

Sometimes we think of ourselves and this great sport as the be-all and end-all. I think the Monday evening idea is phenomenal and would benefit the most number of race fans. Local fans can still go to work and go to the races in the evening, and fans watching at home still have the luxury to tune in during the evening. However, there are thousands (or maybe millions) that are not hardcore race fans that would choose to watch the usual FOX shows or something on another network on any given Monday evening. It’s just the unfortunate and what seems to be unavoidable situation that a Sunday rain-out presents.

by ajcrdstr24 on Feb 26, 2012 9:54 PM EST up reply actions

Here's an idea

Sorry I have so much to say tonight, but so many thoughts are floating through my head when such an anticipated afternoon gets swept away by the rain.

Building on my idea of the off weekend after Daytona, why not have two weekends of racing at Phoenix for the fans out west? Bring back the Copper World Classic that was popular for so many years and run divisions like USAC midgets, K&N West and SRL super late models the weekend following Daytona. Some top NASCAR drivers could be interested in competing with it being an “off” weekend and therefore the events could potentially gain some national media attention as it did over a decade ago. If it would be a success, maybe some of the short tracks sort of nearby would begin to put on their own nightly shows and then there would be sort of a western speedweeks. Then mid-week, the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and maybe even the Truck Series make the trip out there for the big NASCAR weekend events.

It might only work in a perfect world, but it’s just an idea to throw out there.

by ajcrdstr24 on Feb 27, 2012 12:05 AM EST reply actions

Network holds the cards

NASCAR’s hands are partially tied behind their backs as the FOX network holds most of the cards. The network can dictate the timing due to their obligation to sponsors and the fact that their advertising inventory is sold out. The only player in this drama with more power than the network is Mother Nature herself.

by OhYou on Feb 27, 2012 1:13 AM EST reply actions