‘How to fix NASCAR’ – Struggling sport could turn to stunning $400m ‘dome’ solution after races are ruined by rain
NASCAR is not what it used to be. With Formula One dominating and the Indy Car Series making inroads, a racing league once highlighted by Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon is struggling in 2024. GettyNASCAR is being forced to consider a solution to rain problems[/caption] In recent years, tracks have been repurposed and NASCAR has gone outside the box in the hope of attracting new fans and keeping old ones. But with six of 36 races being impacted by bad weather last season, stock-car racing is also now dealing with rain problems. “4th weekend in a row rain impacting nascar, unbelievable, time to build a dome track owners,” one fan tweeted. “Jokingly but someday it’s probably going to happen because weather will be more of a factor in years to come.” That off-the-wall ‘dome’ idea isn’t a joke to some. A recent Instagram post by Joe Gibbs Racing drew attention to the fact that rain and NASCAR don’t mix. But constructing a modern roof above a standard track isn’t simple. First, there would be a major sound problem. NASCAR races are notoriously loud, and the constant roar of engines is one of the things that fans love the most. But placing a dome above a track would only enclose and inrease the sound, while also keeping fumes inside. x@NASCARonNBCRain was a problem for the 2024 season[/caption] instagram@Joe Gibbs RacingA domed roof could keep tracks dry[/caption] instagram@Joe Gibbs RacingBut not all fans are happy with the idea[/caption] Then there’s the huge money factor. Building a dome above a track could cost as much as $400 million. Yet adding a new dome to the half-mile Bristol Motor Speedway is economically feasible, since that addition was estimated at $80 million. Bristol, which is loved by fans and has long been one of NASCAR’s most popular tracks, has added dirt to its track in recent years. BMS also hosted a college football game between Tennessee and Virginia Tech that set an NCAA record for single-game attendance with a whopping 156,990 watching the Volunteers smoke the Hokies 45-24 on September 10, 2016. But while some fans are increasingly frustrated about NASCAR’s rain problems, others believe that even the idea of adding a domed roof is going too far. “Bristol is loud enough withOUT a roof,” one fan tweeted. “It’s hard to imagine even half of a dome there!” “Some of these tracks aren’t the size of football fields,” a second fan posted. “And even then, not every NFL team has a dome.” “(I believe in) technology that will be part of the actual track surface that will dry a wet track in almost no time,” a third fan wrote. “Just race at The Sphere in Vegas,” a fourth fan suggested.
NASCAR is not what it used to be.
With Formula One dominating and the Indy Car Series making inroads, a racing league once highlighted by Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon is struggling in 2024.
In recent years, tracks have been repurposed and NASCAR has gone outside the box in the hope of attracting new fans and keeping old ones.
But with six of 36 races being impacted by bad weather last season, stock-car racing is also now dealing with rain problems.
“4th weekend in a row rain impacting nascar, unbelievable, time to build a dome track owners,” one fan tweeted.
“Jokingly but someday it’s probably going to happen because weather will be more of a factor in years to come.”
That off-the-wall ‘dome’ idea isn’t a joke to some.
A recent Instagram post by Joe Gibbs Racing drew attention to the fact that rain and NASCAR don’t mix.
But constructing a modern roof above a standard track isn’t simple.
First, there would be a major sound problem.
NASCAR races are notoriously loud, and the constant roar of engines is one of the things that fans love the most.
But placing a dome above a track would only enclose and inrease the sound, while also keeping fumes inside.
Then there’s the huge money factor.
Building a dome above a track could cost as much as $400 million.
Yet adding a new dome to the half-mile Bristol Motor Speedway is economically feasible, since that addition was estimated at $80 million.
Bristol, which is loved by fans and has long been one of NASCAR’s most popular tracks, has added dirt to its track in recent years.
BMS also hosted a college football game between Tennessee and Virginia Tech that set an NCAA record for single-game attendance with a whopping 156,990 watching the Volunteers smoke the Hokies 45-24 on September 10, 2016.
But while some fans are increasingly frustrated about NASCAR’s rain problems, others believe that even the idea of adding a domed roof is going too far.
“Bristol is loud enough withOUT a roof,” one fan tweeted. “It’s hard to imagine even half of a dome there!”
“Some of these tracks aren’t the size of football fields,” a second fan posted. “And even then, not every NFL team has a dome.”
“(I believe in) technology that will be part of the actual track surface that will dry a wet track in almost no time,” a third fan wrote.
“Just race at The Sphere in Vegas,” a fourth fan suggested.
