NASCAR has been working hard to do things to appease hardcore stock car racing fans. While some of the measures work, there are times when they simply fail. Reduce the length of practice sessions, for instance, was one such move.
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The belief was that reduced practice sessions would make the racing experience more crisp. It was also meant to reduce expenses for teams. But more and more insiders are expressing their discontent with this move.
The latest come out criticizing inadequate practice sessions is Jeff Burton. The former driver, who is a commentator for NBC Sports, spoke with Kenny Wallace in a recent interview about how NASCAR is not satisfying any hardcore fans by cutting down practice.
Burton acknowledged that there are some obvious advantages, such as reduced costs for team owners. However, he underlined that fans want to see more action on the track.
“I think they want to see cars on the track. I like to think that there’s going to be a day when we do get back to having cars on the track more often than we currently do,” said Burton on Wallace’s YouTube channel.
“We, of all the motorsports that are televised on a nationwide or worldwide feed, I would say have the least practice. F1 has three-day events. IndyCar has multiple-day events. I think we are on track… races are longer. But outside of the race, we are on track less,” he added.
Wallace and Jimmie Johnson aren’t happy either
Earlier this year, Wallace was brainstorming ways to bring back race fans to the tracks. The idea that high ticket prices could be a reason for the low turnout was slashed away. What was left were the practice sessions.
Wallace had concluded, after analyzing fan sentiment and comments, that everyone wanted a longer weekend experience. That is to say, they want the race activities to begin as early as Thursday.
Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson is also of the same opinion. However, he has his own reasons. As a team owner of Legacy Motor Club, Johnson wishes that his drivers get more time on the track ahead of races.
“You get 25 minutes of practice at the track, and then you qualify, and then you race. How do you get better? How do you hone your craft? Now it’s shifted to where, wow, you don’t get much seat time. You need seat time,” said Johnson on the Rubbin is Racing podcast last year.
Johnson added that the limited practice time is why some Cup Series drivers are even resorting to dirt races and other platforms to hone their skills. The sanctioning body has made multiple moves this season that fans have appreciated. Hopefully, it will make another one in the area of practice sessions as well.
