Hey NASCAR, Stop Racing around in Circles!

We all dread making left turns at busy intersections, especially when the signal is unprotected or just takes way too long to turn green.  Our good friends at NASCAR don't seem to mind clocking 400+ miles in pure counter-clockwise motion.

We can't blame NASCAR for doing this.  After all, it exemplifies the American definition of fast and reaches back into the history books to find its bootlegging roots.  Fans understand this, as well as the dynamics involved in ovals of different sizes.  The fact remains that these races make up the bulk of the Sprint Cup schedule and this makes it difficult for new fans to really get involved.

Race fans that enjoy the WRC, F1, and even the D1GP realize that racing involves much more than V8's with carburetors screaming at 9000 RPM.  It is about balance, engineering advancements, and simply driving the hell out of a car.

Due to the nature of the sport, everything NASCAR does is put under the microscope by fans and competitors alike.  We all remember the harsh criticism that continues to be generated regarding the COT.  In light of this, taking slow modest steps in progressing the sport is understandable.

Personally, I see the many advantages to the COT that outweigh its downfalls.  The car is slower and heavier, a no-no in the classic definition of American speed.  But what does this do for competition?  It makes the cars more difficult to engineer, in essence increasing the complexity and ingenuity involved prior to the race.

The cars are more reactive in response to disturbances in aerodynamic flow, making them more difficult to drive.  Once again, it diminishes speed while increasing the level of competition.  The veteran drivers have to make the same adjustments as the rookies.  This results in a flatter playing field in a sport where failing to win can obliterate a team.

Safety was the main focus in designing the COT and it has been shown to do just that.  Not only was safety improved, so was the competition involved in all aspects.  It's only downfall was its slow integration and cost to team owners.  In this end, this is only one of the few steps that NASCAR must take to keep up with the times.

Compared to the introduction of the COT, modifying the Cup schedule is relatively easy.  Of the 36 races in the Cup season, only a handful are on road courses; the rest on one mile, mile and a half, and two mile ovals.  If NASCAR wants to progress the sport, more road course races are needed.

Race fans, especially younger viewers and cross-overs from other forms of auto racing, get tired of circles.  Sure, drafting in a slipstream and fuel management are critical in any race, but the ovals lack the excitement of sharp corners and chicanes.

Is this trend due to the lack of road courses in this country, or are track owners and builders simply conforming to the traditional NASCAR culture?  We can only speculate as to why, but the solution is to expand beyond American borders.  The Nationwide Series frequents tracks in Mexico and Canada, Mexico City and Montreal being two of the more popular destinations.

The Cup Series should learn from its little brother and broaden its horizons.  If the organization wants to expand exposure and its demographic of fans, this is the most logical step.

Only Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, and a handful of other drivers have proved that they can remain competitive in both ovals and road courses.  Fans of oval specialists may see their favorite star fade away, but new faces and teams will rise to the occasion.  The move will definitely result in changing dynamics, especially in the bottom 75 percent of the field.

Big open wheel names like Juan Montoya, Dario Franchitti, and Sam Hornish, Jr. will begin to gain more exposure for NASCAR abroad.  In the age of instant communication, global expansion should be one of the top priorities.

As it stands today, NASCAR does not do enough to attract such fans.  We see how basketball and baseball have penetrated the minds of international sports fans, and stock car racing can do the same.  They just haven't been proactive enough to do it.

Is it a pipe dream to think that someday we will see Sprint Cup racing at places like Silverstone Circuit and the Nurburgring?  Like I stated earlier, it is perfectly understandable why there are so many oval courses are involved in the schedule.  But this hinders the progression of the sport.  When all discussion is set and done, tradition absolutely must take a back seat to progress.