By Maria Garcia
June 27th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Just like the various sports that millions of fans follow, NASCAR races have a particular range of time in which they get completed. Some individuals have opined that the races in NASCAR are quite lengthy, and that the focus of the fans decreases over time. Typically, NASCAR has the longest motorsports race times in its class.
A sport where winning is what it is all about.
A normal NASCAR Race at Road America lasts for 180 minutes. However, it can last longer under certain conditions. Every NASCAR race goes through different stages, with every stage possessing a certain number of points. The length of a race relies on several factors, including the weather and red flags.
Factors that Determine the Length of a NASCAR Race
For NASCAR race fans this is a truly magnificent view
The Racetrack
To a newbie, NASCAR’s signature oval racetracks all look the same. However, each racetrack is unique and defined with specific features that influence the average velocity of the circuit. Steeper racetracks typically encourage higher speeds and quicker lap times.
Race Stages
NASCAR races have different stages, where drivers are rewarded with points after each stage. Every race is split into three stages. Each stage is different depending on the length of the racetrack.
For instance, the Daytona 500 race has a sum of 200 laps. After 60 laps, stage 2 begins and ends after another 60 laps. Stage 3 has a total of 80 laps.
Every racer to finish among the top 10 gets rewarded with points and bonus Playoff points. Essentially, it means that no one can win the Championship until the last race has been finished.
Secondary Factors that Can Affect NASCAR Race Length
One of the secondary factors that can impact the length of a NASCAR race is an accident. When an accident occurs, there’d be wreckage left on the track that can affect other drivers. Solving this issue can take quite a long time.
Race course barriers are critical for public safety and drivers. Getting them in place and keeping them in good repair impacts on race time length.
The barriers can sometimes break down after repeated collisions with the cars. Leaving these fences unattended could possibly endanger both the drivers and the fans.
During the race, the barriers have to be repaired and oftentimes replaced altogether, which could lengthen the time of the race.
Conclusion
Motorsports fans complain that NASCAR races are lengthy but they watch them regardless. Many factors, such as the weather, state of the fence, accidents, racetracks, stages and so on affect the time of NASCAR races.
