NASCAR is predicated on tradition. Daytona International Speedway upheld a longstanding celebration with the Firecracker 400 every Fourth of July weekend since 1959. This revered weekend relinquished its 61-year tenure in 2020 when the sanctioning body decided to turn the superspeedway event into the regular-season finale.
After lending itself to a new venue for the second-straight season, it appears NASCAR’s Fourth of July weekend could potentially have a new home.
For the first time in 65 years, the Cup Series made its return to Wisconsin and Road America in triumphant fashion. From a bare-bones basic perspective, it only seems fitting for a track with our nation’s name in it to host the Fourth of July race weekend.
The fanfare and capacity allowance is perhaps the largest driving factor in Road America playing host to the holiday weekend. While specifics numbers weren’t released, it was projected that upwards of 100,000 fans were in attendance to witness the action.
This came courtesy of the expansive campground around the 4.04-mile road course. If there was a spot on the grass, it was likely filled by fans barbecuing and embracing the spirit of the holiday weekend.
Residing in Elkhart Lake, Road America also boasts some of the lushest and most beautiful scenery across motorsports. This added to the July Fourth “at the park” feel and made for some captivating images taken by photographers.
Fan presence played a large role throughout the Jockey Made in America 250, and it was a well-received race. However, perception may have been skewed with two-time Most Popular Driver and reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, Chase Elliott, emerging victorious.
Upon crossing the finish line P1, Elliott felt something that was missing from these events in 2020.
“The amount of peer pressure I felt to do a burnout was, like, wow,” Elliott said after his victory. “I don’t know that I’ve ever had that much peer pressure in my life to do a burnout. If the fans want a burnout, I’m going to give them a burnout. That’s what it’s going to be.”
From a competition standpoint, there was nothing flashy. Elliott dominated (as expected), and there were some decent battles throughout the field, but nothing will compare to the action at Daytona fans were accustomed to seeing this holiday weekend. Although, it was much more sufficient than the product on display last year at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
While there wasn’t really a challenger for Elliott, there was plenty of parity towards the front of the field, specifically in the form of drivers on the playoff bubble. This made for a highly entertaining event, as it came with only seven races remaining in the regular season.
Road courses typically award unsuspecting drivers with results, given the unique skill set of mastering these winding tracks, in addition to the unpredictability aspect. Four bubble drivers placed inside the top-10, including Tyler Reddick — who scored his first stage win of the season and earned the most points of the day — and Ross Chastain, who scored the second-most points.
All-in-all, Road America is a venue worthy of becoming the new home for NASCAR’s Fourth of July weekend. The fanfare itself is the perfect embodiment of what the celebration of freedom stands for, and it was proven there is a market for racing in Wisconsin. With adequate racing and playoffs looming, this could be a welcomed change across the sport.
