NASCAR's Phelps Cautions Against Expectations of "Massive" Schedule Changes In 2021

NASCAR president Steve Phelps cautioned last week that fans expecting a complete overhaul of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule in 2021 may have the hopes set too high.

Appearing on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio’s “The Morning Drive” Friday, Phelps said the 2021 is still a work in progress, as is the new, Gen-7 race car set to debut in 2021.

"We don't have the schedule dialed in for 2021 as it pertains (to) where we will race," Phelps said. "I think if you would look at the 2020 schedule, we moved things around. I think the fans…by and large were thrilled with the changes we made. I think there was an industry buzz.

"The drivers were excited, the teams were excited and, most importantly, the fans were excited. But we’re racing at the same racetracks (in 2020), the same number at each racetrack. We have new sanctions that we need to do for 2021 that will obviously dictate where we go.”

Phelps cautioned against expecting “massive wholesale changes,” adding, “Will we go to exactly the same number of racetracks, the exact same number of events? We probably won’t. I don’t think there are going to be massive wholesale changes. With that said, we're going to listen to what the fans say.

“This is their sport and we need to make sure that we are giving them what they want. So, (we are doing) a lot of listening, a lot of dialogue, working with our broadcast partners, working with our teams and our drivers, our OEM partners. That’s the first part of the 2021 piece.

“It's a work in progress."

Fans have expressed support for an increased number of short tracks and road course on the 2021 docket, at the expense of 1.5-mile ovals. There has also been considerable discussion about shortening the MENCS shorter overall schedule. 

The impending purchase of International Speedway Corporation by NASCAR could simplify the process of moving race dates, since privatized ownership of ISC would eliminate the need for approval by the Board of Directors. The announced $2 billion merger is expected to be completed by the end of the calendar year, giving NASCAR direct operational control if ISC’s 12 MENCS venues; Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Auto Club Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway and Watkins Glen International. The sanctioning body already owns Iowa Speedway, which is not currently a part of the MENCS schedule.

Speedway Motorsports Inc. is also in the midst of taking its company private. SMI owns Charlotte Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, Kentucky Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Dover International Raceway, Pocono Raceway and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are privately owned, and there are no current plans to change the ownership of those speedways.