Just when you thought NASCAR was doing some decent things, making the right moves, saying the correct things you knew it was only a matter of time before the ladder slipped they bonked their face off the ground.
When NASCAR introduced stage racing in 2017 it was met with mixed reactions from fans, praise from some drivers and confetti from TV networks. Remember, Mike Joy said stage racing could reduce green flag commercials by 40%. That never happened, in fact, broadcasts gained commercials.
What stages have done is give fans ample amount of time under caution to fire off how much they hate stage racing on social. At some tracks for the Trucks & Xfinity races, 25% of the second stage is taken up by the stage caution. Ultimately it robs fans of green flag action and slows the race down.
Naturally, NASCAR listened to the fans and they came up with a solution.
ADD A FOURTH STAGE
THEY WANTED TO ADD A FOURTH STAGE. A STAGE AFTER THE THIRD STAGE. A THIRD BREAK. A THIRD CAUTION WITH EVEN MORE LAPS UNDER CAUTION FOR A MEANINGLESS THING.
Imagine hockey adding a fourth period just because. Absolutely no reason to do it, no one asked for it. Just four 15 minute periods for the hell of it. That’s what we’re dealing with here.
If NASCAR added a 4th stage thus breaking the race down into quarters where 1 pit stop could be made for all four stages essentially we’d riot. This blog would supply the pitchforks, torches are a little taboo right now for good reason. However, pitchforks are still approved within the “Non-Nazi Riot Handbook.”
A fourth stage not only slows the race down but makes it massively predictable from a strategy standpoint. No to mention NO ONE WANTS THIS. Fans would be perfectly happy going back to pre-stage NASCAR racing. Let the natural flow of the race happen and if no cautions happen because you put too much downforce on the cars then that’s on the governing body.
We got rid of Brian France. They dumb ideas were supposed to follow him. For now, though the idea of a fourth stage is tabled. We’ll still see it in the Coke 600 because we still have to be punished. NASCAR will revisit this concept after the 2021 season apparently. Unfortunately.
