Fans have become accustomed to many new standards in 2020. For NASCAR, a new normal that has played an impactful role since the sport’s return is the temporary suspension of practice. This new method was implemented in accordance with CDC guidelines in limiting the spread of COVID-19 in the garage area with one-off events.
Generally speaking, this has been well received by fans and drivers. It’s resulted in a better on-track product, breakout performances, and a more even playing field, in addition to an element of mystery. Many have expressed interest in exploring the option of doing away with practice completely or limiting sessions to once-per-week in the future, begging the question — should practice play a role in NASCAR beyond 2020?
The thought had probably been in the back of the mind of many. However, the reality didn’t come to fruition until the Daytona International Speedway road course event ran remarkably clean while still being able to put on a show. In this day and age, the technology that teams have access to, such as simulators, film, and more, enables drivers to remain sharp and ready without practice, and it was well on display this weekend (for the NASCAR Cup Series at least).
Looking at it from a sport-wide perspective, the notion makes sense. In restricting track time to qualifying and the race each weekend, this means there are lesser chances for wrecked equipment and compromising a driver’s safety. Teams are also saving on fuel and tires that typically get used up in these additional sessions.
From a competition standpoint, it’s enabled drivers racing for smaller budget teams to rise closer to the top of the leaderboard. This is important because the smaller teams will get more exposure and create an initiative for potential sponsors to invest. What’s the point of sponsoring a car for millions of dollars that won’t get any airtime? Not to mention, who doesn’t love a good underdog story?
Perhaps the biggest surprise in 2020 due to no practice has been Front Row Motorsports’ reassurance. While they may have trailed off over the last few weeks, Michael McDowell and John Hunter Nemechek have two top-10s each this season and were common namesakes running with some of the sport’s elites in a few races.
“I definitely think that it’s helped us as an organization,” Nemechek said. “I think it’s made the racing a lot closer. I think you see some of the same guys up front every week, but, at the same time, there’s still some guys that you wouldn’t think would be upfront every single week, and it tends to change. Some weeks you hit it, and some weeks you don’t, but it’s a part of racing. I like the fact that there has to be a level of commitment from the time that you show up to the racetrack to the time that the checkered flag falls on the package that you bring and the adjustments that you make.”
In contrast to the many who praise the new standard, there’s also a handful of notable drivers suffering from it. With the exception of Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing as a whole has failed to perform as their dominant selves. Clint Bowyer and Kyle Busch are winless and have been outspoken in what they feel is attributing to their failures this season.
“Well, it’s actually something that Kyle, my little brother, and I are confused about,” Kurt Busch said. “I mean Kyle Busch is the defending champion of NASCAR and doesn’t have a win yet. I don’t have a win yet. And the only thing that we’ve been able to look at each other and just stare right into each other’s eyes and go, you know what? We miss practice. We miss that feel in the car to know that this is not the right way to go; this is the right way to go. And we haven’t been able to capitalize on that with no practice.”
This may be hurting some teams, but Noah Gragson made a point in a post-race teleconference following the inaugural Daytona International Speedway road course event — a track in which most all drivers had zero experience until the green flag waved.
“We’re all race car drivers,” Gragson said. “It’s just who can go the fastest and who can figure it out the fastest. In my opinion, you can go as slow as you need to go until you figure it out. I don’t really know if there needs to be practice, but it separates the good guys and the bad guys that can kind of figure it out.”
While nothing is conclusive, the pros vastly outweigh the cons of doing away with practice. Even if the sanctioning body were to limit the tuning session to one-per-weekend, they’re likely to save an abundance of wrecked equipment and expenditures like fuel and tires.
The only thing you may sacrifice within having a single practice session is the level playing field of the unknown that teams enter as displayed in 2020, only because the potential for more sponsors should rise given a greater chance at exposure for small-budget teams. It’s highly unlikely that practice will go extinct from the sport entirely, but it’s probable that NASCAR will reduce it drastically as soon as next season.
