Road Course: Friend or Foe?

While I pride myself on being a long time NASCAR fan, there are a few things about myself that I know I'm skewed on. Major instance being, I can not stand road course races!  None of them. Infineon, Watkins-Glen or Montreal. 

There just isn't anything remotely appealing to me about them.

You can't see everything. The sounds are different. Things aren't user friendly when you're track side.   

My very first race as a paying fan was Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA—June 2005. I was a guest of our local Dodge dealer. My husband and I were fortunate enough to enjoy the pre-race festivities inside the Dodge Dealers tent that included a Q&A with the Dodge drivers.

What an experience!

Then came the race itself. It was such a letdown after such great pre-race experiences. I had a great view of Turn two. I saw Dale Jr. spin it and wreck out right in front of me. I was able to get some great pics of that, but don't ask me what happened in Turns five, eight, or 11, because I couldn't see it! 

So with Infineon upon us again, I got to thinking: What do road courses offer us? Why do we have them? Are they necessary to our sport?

I understand the diversity that making a right turn can bring to a NASCAR driver. After 34 races of left turns I suppose a race with some right turns might be a novel change. From what I know of the car set up...very different.

Everything on a road course car is completely different than an oval track car. Infineon offers a plethora of different bankings, curves, corners, speeds, gearing ratios—you name it, and they have it. But from a fan perspective, it's the pits! I suppose if you sat atop the hill where the spotters sit, you might have a decent view of most of the track, I'm assuming. I like being able to sit and see everything happening on the track.

Whether it's atop my trailer in the infield or atop my grandstand seats—I want to be able to see it happen when it happens! 

I also mention the sounds are different on a road course.  I wasn't aware there was a difference until I attended my first race at California Speedway in Fontana.  There is no comparison.  

That long drawn out beautiful sound of 850 horses running full speed round and round is exhilarating. That sound of 43 cars going wide open on the back stretch in Fontana is something that can't be duplicated. I love that sound. 

I realize that these are only my opinions. These are the issues that I feel so strongly about.  I can't seem to find any reason for road courses to be included in our schedule. What am I missing? I can't be the only one that thinks these things. 

My answers are strictly pertinent to me...or are they?