All-Star race to Texas? Cup race at COTA?

[TheOldProgrammer]

September 21, 2020 at 2:14 PM

The Athletic reported Monday afternoon that NASCAR will move the All-Star Race away from Charlotte Motor Speedway to Texas Motor Speedway next season. Both tracks are owned by Speedway Motorsports.

With the addition of the All-Star Race, Texas will lose one of their regular season races.

Furthermore, NASCAR may consider the addition of a Cup race at Circuit of the Americas, north of Austin.

Some schedule news from me and @Jordan_Bianchi: The All-Star Race will move to Texas next year, but the track will lose a points race. And that clears room for NASCAR to take a Cup race to COTA in Austin.

Story: https://t.co/Oz84da1vYH

? Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) September 21, 2020

AND:

Can confirm reports from @TheAthleticAUTO about Circuit of the Americas being added to the #NASCAR Cup Series schedule next season. Sources say it's pretty much a done deal? Just 1 of potentially 4 new tracks being added for 2021.

? Matt Mayer (@MatthewMayerCBS) September 21, 2020

AND:

NASCAR declined a request for comment from NBC Sports, but a spokesperson said it is "looking forward to announcing the 2021 schedule in the near future."

The Circuit of the Americas is a 3.426-mile, 20-turn road course that opened in 2012. It hosts Formula 1 races and began holding IndyCar events in 2019.

With Circuit of the Americas, the NASCAR Cup Series could have as many as five races on road courses next year: Watkins Glen, Sonoma Raceway, Charlotte Roval and the Daytona road course, which is scheduled to host the Busch Clash in February.

According The Athletic, the All-Star Race is expected to be held later in the year instead of its traditional spot the week before the Coca-Cola 600 in May.

? NBC Sports ?

[Rick]

This is good news. I don't agree that TMS should lose a race. Charlotte never lost a points race. Bristol didn't either this year.

I do like the idea of racing in Austin!

There may be more intrigue if they held the All-Star Race in Austin.

[gnatsum]

TMS is "favored" probably due to the state's mandates regarding the coronavirus. Texas HAS fans in the stands for its races, while other states mandate zero fans. For example coming up, the Saturday Xfinity race at TMS in October will be fan-free,,,but the Trucks/Cup double header on Sunday will have fans in the stands. Think they did it that way so they can make sure to clean all of the seats and handrails properly before the Sunday races.
Speedway Motorsports doesn't "care" one way or the other--it owns both TMS and Charlotte. They'll just be able to make some money with a lightly-spectated race at Texas, rather than have zero fans in the seats at Charlotte.

And some fans have been trying to get NASCAR to rotate the All-Star race to other tracks for years...