9/10/2023
Postman 68
BLOG: My Love and Hate of Late Sunday Afternoon Starts
I am not a fan of late Sunday afternoon starts to a NASCAR Cup Series race; and I LOVE that we have late Sunday afternoon starts to NASCAR races.
I know that makes no sense at all – hear me out.
In sport, Television is KING; and the NFL is KING in sports television.
There are Thursday games, early Sunday games, late Sunday games, Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football.
When looking at Sundays, the second game on Sunday is most likely the national game or the “Game of the Week”. Yes, good teams play on Thursday, early Sunday, and Monday, but that late afternoon game on Sunday and Sunday Night Football are the prime games.
The 4pm et on Sunday is the preferred spot for the good and-or popular football team to be playing. The Green Bay Packers, Pittsburg Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys play in that window more than my beloved Carolina Panthers.
So, back to racing.
Selfishly I like an early start. I’m not big on waiting around and I like the idea of getting home, or back to the hotel, at a decent hour. That is the selfish side of me.
In the prism of television – which is KING in sports – it’s great that NBC, and their partner networks want our races late afternoon on Sunday. It shows NASCAR is healthy and strong and worthy of those prime sports viewing window. For NBC specifically it’s a great offering to counter the football games on FOX and CBS and it’s a great lead into their marquis Sunday Night Football.
That is why I am not a fan of late Sunday afternoon starts to a NASCAR Cup Series race; and I LOVE that we have late Sunday afternoon starts to NASCAR races.
? Postman
One note, I do sympathize with fans at the tracks who have a valid complaint that late starts are a challenge with getting home and to work on Monday morning.
Photo: Meg Oliphant – Getty Images for NASCAR
Submitted By: Steve Post
