Following NASCAR’s trickle of individual race announcements in recent weeks, the complete 2024 schedule for all three national touring series was released on Wednesday afternoon.
By Thursday, social media was a hotbed of opinions regarding the Cup Series slate that features 36 races and a pair of special events.
We’ve compiled some of the noteworthy reactions:
Hot Off The Digital Press
“If you build it, they will come.”
This is one of many statements that have flooded social media in the wake of NASCAR’s highly-anticipated announcement of next year’s Cup Series stop at Iowa Speedway.
“It’s been a long wait, but I’m excited to say that the NASCAR Cup Series will be racing at Iowa Speedway in 2024,” Rusty Wallace wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
He was present in Iowa for the formal press conference at the Iowa State Capitol on Tuesday, as he is a co-founder of the track and also helped design it. It’s been 17 years since the seven-eighths-mile facility opened.
On Tuesday, Stewart-Haas Racing released a video — originally recorded in January — of No. 14 driver Chase Briscoe referencing Iowa Speedway in an answer to the question, “What’s your favorite track?”
“My favorite track is one that we don’t even run in the Cup Series,” Briscoe said in the clip. “Iowa Speedway. It’s probably, I don’t know, just always kind of fit my driving style, I’ve always been really fast every time I go there it seems like, no matter what series it is.”
In three Xfinity Series starts in Iowa, Briscoe earned one win and two top 10s. Count him among the list of drivers excited to race a Next Gen car in Iowa.
Former NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace also chimed in about the series stop in Iowa.
“Really good to see Iowa Speedway back on the schedule with a Cup date. That was the site of my last NASCAR race,” Kenny said. “The track that Rusty built.”
Really good to see IOWA Speedway back on the schedule with a CUP date. That was the site of my last @NASCAR race.
— Kenny Wallace (@Kenny_Wallace) October 3, 2023
The track that RUSTY built 🏁 pic.twitter.com/JxqhJF46zy
In regard to the return of the Brickyard 400 and NASCAR’s move back to the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson shared that he now has a new item on his bucket list.
“Would love to be able to win at the oval in the same year in IndyCar as well as the Cup car,” said Larson, who will take part in an IndyCar Series test session at IMS next week and is aiming to start his first Indy 500 in May. “I know we’re all really excited to get another crown jewel back.”
Social media personality @nascarcasm, who went for a test ride around the 2.5-mile oval on the day of the announcement, wrote, “So excited we’re back on the IMS oval that I’m not even gonna (say), ‘Well actually, it’s more of a rectangle with rounded corners.’ … And I love how it’s called the Brickyard 400 again. Big events protect their name.”
You guys I can confirm that @NASCAR is back on the @IMS oval. #NASCAR #Brickyard400 pic.twitter.com/J5bGxNwA2u
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) September 28, 2023
While most were receptive to the news that NASCAR would return to North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway for All-Star Race weekend after the event’s success earlier this year, there were a few comments made about the decision to pave the track.
“Well, there goes the skill it took to drive around this place. So unfortunate,” wrote part-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Kaden Honeycutt.
Rodney Childers, crew chief for Kevin Harvick with Stewart-Haas Racing, added to the conversation.
“Was hoping for a North Wilkesboro points race,” Childers said in a post on X. He added, “Was hoping the Clash would move to something new.”
Love about all of it..
— Rodney Childers (@RodneyChilders4) October 5, 2023
Was hoping for a @NWBSpeedway points race.
Was hoping the Clash would move to something new..
Not sure how many I will attend.. Maybe all.. https://t.co/v2Ooj6dr2S
The Clash at the Coliseum opens the NASCAR season with the non-points exhibition race on Feb. 4, however, a common thread amongst fans is that the Clash has “run its course.”
Final Themes & Takeaways
There were several other themes strung throughout the fan response.
- The racing at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway isn’t championship-finale caliber.
- Having two road courses and two drafting tracks in the Playoffs makes it imbalanced.
- Positive response to Watkins Glen (N.Y.) Int’l being in the Playoffs.
- Loss of Daytona Int’l Speedway as regular season finale is upsetting.