Remember when NASCAR races used to play out like a suspenseful novel—building slowly, filled with strategic tension, then exploding into a dramatic finish? Those days feel like a distant memory. Since NASCAR introduced stage racing in 2017, what used to be a sport built on endurance, pit calls, and momentum has turned into a series of forced restarts and manufactured drama.
Stage racing may have been designed to keep fans engaged and spice up the middle of long races. But in trying to fix what wasn’t broken, NASCAR has compromised the sport’s natural flow—and many fans are starting to push back.
Why Stage Racing Was Introduced
Let’s rewind to 2017. NASCAR needed a shake-up. Television ratings were dipping, long green-flag runs were losing casual viewers, and some races lacked urgency until the final stage. So, the sanctioning body came up with an idea: split every race into three stages (four for the Coca-Cola 600) and award points to the top 10 finishers in each of the first two.
It sounded promising. Stage points would reward consistency, and guaranteed cautions gave TV partners set windows for commercials. There was also a playoff twist: stage wins earn valuable playoff points. On paper, stage racing had it all.
But in reality? It’s been a mixed bag, and for many, a frustrating one.
How Stage Racing Breaks the Natural Flow
The biggest problem with stage racing is how it disrupts the organic momentum of a race. NASCAR races used to be about rhythm. Teams would gamble with fuel mileage. Drivers would save tires or run hard depending on the conditions. Now, that natural tension is replaced with artificial caution flags and reset fields.
Every stage end feels like a commercial break in the middle of a movie.
Veteran fans can sense it. The ebb and flow of strategy—something that defined NASCAR’s golden years—gets shoved aside for what amounts to a glorified halftime show.
The Strategy Argument Falls Flat
One of the selling points for stage racing was strategy. But ironically, it has removed much of the unpredictability from team decisions.
Take a typical race now. Teams plan around stage breaks—short-pitting before the end of a stage or staying out for track position. Everyone’s playing the same game with the same rules. The result? Strategy is more about managing a format than reacting to the race itself.
When every crew chief has the same plan, where’s the creativity? Where’s the edge?
As one fan put it bluntly on Reddit:
“Stage racing made strategy too scripted. Everyone knows when to pit, when the caution’s coming, and how to play it safe. That’s not racing. That’s math homework.”
Drivers and Fans Speak Out
Stage racing has drawn strong opinions across the NASCAR garage. Joey Logano, a former Cup Series champion, has defended the system:
“Stage racing is just better. There are a lot more strategy options for teams to figure out. They do some cautions that reset the field.” – Joey Logano
But other veterans aren’t sold. NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace told fans:
“The stage racing is something that half the people like and half the people hate. If anyone tells you that it’s overwhelmingly the most popular thing – in my opinion, it’s not.” – Rusty Wallace
And the numbers don’t lie. In 2023, when NASCAR decided to eliminate stage break cautions on road courses, fans overwhelmingly supported the move. Many called for that change to expand to ovals as well.
The reason? It brought back that old-school feel. Strategy returned. Green-flag runs mattered again. Pit road gambles became crucial. Suddenly, you didn’t know when the next caution would come—and that’s how it should be.
What’s the Solution?
NASCAR doesn’t have to throw the whole system out. Stage points do reward consistency and help drivers who perform well over a race—even if they don’t win. But that doesn’t mean we need mandatory cautions.
Here’s the fix: Keep the stage points, but let the race continue uninterrupted. Don’t throw a yellow flag. Don’t bunch the field up artificially. Let teams make decisions based on the moment—not the clock.
It worked on road courses. It can work everywhere else too.
News in Brief: NASCAR Stage Racing
Stage racing may have been introduced with good intentions. But its execution has dulled one of NASCAR’s greatest qualities—its ability to tell a long, unpredictable story in every race.
Fans don’t want gimmicks. They want guts. They want risks. They want tension that builds naturally—not because a caution flag says it’s time.
NASCAR is at its best when it trusts the drivers, the crew chiefs, and the competition to put on a show without needing scripted drama. Let the races breathe again. Let them unfold the way they were meant to.
It’s time to move past the stages—and get back to racing.
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