Kyle Petty on NASCAR road course expansion centers on the view that emphasizing road and street courses could be the turning point for the sport’s future growth, particularly on the world stage. Petty, alongside fellow analyst Todd Gordon, believes introducing Cup racing to new markets through these types of races is crucial if NASCAR hopes to attract fresh international fans and sustain its relevance in an evolving motorsport landscape.
Why Road and Street Courses Could Broaden NASCAR’s Reach
Petty and Gordon argue that NASCAR can grow its fanbase, not necessarily by increasing the overall number of road or street races, but by shifting some of these events to untapped regions both domestically and abroad. Citing the example of the Chicago Street Race, now in its third year, and this season‘s Cup race in Mexico City at Autodromos Hermanos Rodriguez, they highlight how strategically relocating such events opens doors to new audiences and markets where stock car racing is less known.
The analysts point to other successful motor racing series worldwide—like Formula One, IndyCar, and Australia’s V8 Supercars—as proof that road course formats are what resonate with international fans. According to them, NASCAR’s ambitions for overseas races require an approach familiar to racing fans outside the U.S., and road course racing is the logical format since oval tracks are scarce abroad. This strategy was tested earlier this year in Mexico, a country that already hosts NASCAR Mexico and NASCAR Brazil. Despite Cup racing being relatively new to the audience there, road course racing is well understood, helping bridge the cultural gap for new fans.
Fan Perspectives on the Direction of NASCAR’s Schedule
On the recent “NASCAR After the Race” podcast, Petty referenced insights from the NASCAR Fan Council, a group that regularly shares fan sentiments directly with the organization’s leadership. He noted that road courses are frequently discussed by the Council, as fans debate whether to add more, reduce their number, or keep things as they are. This ongoing conversation reflects how the introduction of new event formats can polarize dedicated fans, even as the series’ leadership contemplates significant changes.
Petty acknowledged NASCAR’s foundation on oval and dirt tracks, recognizing the sport’s deep American roots. However, he also noted the potential of road courses to draw global attention and bring world-class drivers into the Cup Series. He said,
“(Fans) screamed for it and now you’re screaming, we don’t want them,”
—Kyle Petty, NASCAR Analyst. Further, he explained,
“I don’t know. We are an oval series. Our roots are as an oval series. It’s in the short tracks of America, the dirt tracks of America. NASCAR’s roots are not in the road courses of America.”
—Kyle Petty, NASCAR Analyst.
Petty argued that the diversity provided by road courses allows international racers like Shane van Gisbergen and Juan Pablo Montoya to participate, matching them against U.S. drivers and showcasing the depth of talent in NASCAR. He asserted,
“Nobody races on that type of different tracks, the different (non-NASCAR) disciplines. I think we have some of the greatest drivers in the world. I’ll say it until the day I die. The most well-rounded, the most versatile, that can go anywhere, anytime, and drive anything against anybody. And we’ve seen it all through the history of our sport.”
—Kyle Petty, NASCAR Analyst.
Balancing Tradition with Global Ambition
Despite initial reluctance regarding how many road course races should fit within a season, Petty provided a practical range, stating,
“three or four a year, or four or five a year, and that’s it. Remember, we’re 36 races, so there’s room for road courses here.”
—Kyle Petty, NASCAR Analyst. His point emphasizes a balance between innovation and tradition, suggesting incremental growth rather than wholesale change.
Gordon supported this idea, saying his ideal would be five road course events yearly, and if NASCAR is to expand its international presence, the organization must realistically expect that most new events—especially outside the U.S.—will need to be road or street courses due to the rarity of oval tracks abroad.
He remarked,
“Really, we’re not building new racing venues throughout the country,”
—Todd Gordon, NASCAR Analyst. Gordon elaborated that to reach fresh audiences, particularly in regions like Southern California or new international markets, staging races on temporary street circuits or existing road tracks is a necessity:
“So, if we want to go and find a new population to go put something on, if we want to go get back into Southern California, we’re going to have to do a street course. We have to be aware of what we’re accomplishing by doing this.”
—Todd Gordon, NASCAR Analyst.
Citing the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ races at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Gordon also discussed ongoing speculation about potential Cup events there, as well as possibilities at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and potential city street races in Vancouver or Edmonton. According to Gordon, the lack of ovals outside the United States means
“You’re not going to find oval tracks overseas and in different places,”
—Todd Gordon, NASCAR Analyst, and reinforced,
“There’s just not ovals that we can go to.”
—Todd Gordon, NASCAR Analyst.
The Path Forward for NASCAR’s International Efforts
The analysts’ perspectives underscore how expanding into markets outside the U.S. will naturally rely on the road course racing format. The successful example in Mexico City illustrates how existing local familiarity with road racing can make stock car events more accessible and exciting, even if the NASCAR Cup Series itself is relatively unknown.
Efforts to broaden the NASCAR brand align closely with the sport’s push into television deals—such as improved coverage from FOX Sports—and efforts to attract drivers with global appeal. These strategies combine to create a product that appeals to traditional NASCAR fans while attracting overseas audiences who are accustomed to road and street racing formats, much like those found in Formula One and IndyCar.
As NASCAR looks ahead, the question remains how to fine-tune the balance between maintaining its oval track identity and embracing road and street courses to fuel expansion. With flagship events in places like the Chicago Street Race and Mexico City marking early successes, and with ongoing considerations for races in cities like Montreal, Vancouver, and beyond, NASCAR is signaling a willingness to adapt. The goal, as outlined by Kyle Petty and Todd Gordon, is not just to chase new venues or change for novelty’s sake, but to ensure that the next wave of fans feels at home—wherever NASCAR goes.
