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Charlotte, NC – NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott has become an outspoken advocate for the reinstatement of more Saturday night races, arguing that the shift towards Sunday evening events negatively impacts the fan experience and deviates from the sport’s ingrained traditions. The Hendrick Motorsports star articulated his stance during a recent appearance on the popular "Bussin’ with the Boys" podcast, and later elaborated on his comments during a press conference at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Historically, Saturday night fixtures were a cornerstone of the NASCAR calendar, drawing significant viewership and creating a unique atmosphere. However, in recent years, television networks have increasingly favored Sunday night prime time slots, a strategic decision aimed at maximizing ratings. Elliott contends that this trend, while potentially beneficial for broadcasters, imposes a considerable burden on the dedicated fanbase that attends races in person.
When prompted by podcast hosts Taylor Lewan and Will Compton to suggest a single rule change, Elliott bypassed traditional regulations and focused on scheduling. "One rule, boy, you want to get me in trouble," Elliott humorously began. "That’s really tough. Right now, I would lobby for more Saturday night races."
He further explained his rationale, referencing the palpable energy of past Saturday night events. "It’s really simple and you know, it’s not necessarily a rule, but I think that our sport, especially at this time of the year, like I mentioned a second ago, unprompted, that the Saturday night race at Bristol in the Fall there was nothing any better than that. I think our fans and the people that watch NASCAR, I think we all miss that Saturday night energy and that vibe around the races. And I would love to have more of them."
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Elliott pointed to the logistical challenges faced by attendees of Sunday night races. "We don’t have a lot of them in general. We have some of these Sunday night races, which I think are just kind of awkward for people, going back to work on Monday morning. Unfortunately, when you have a rain delay, like we did at Atlanta, we finished at 2:00 a.m." This sentiment underscores a practical concern for many racegoers who must balance their passion for NASCAR with their professional obligations.
Expanding on his remarks at North Wilkesboro, Elliott reiterated that his advocacy stems directly from conversations with fans. "Yeah, honestly, those comments came directly from people that I know personally that either went to (Atlanta) and weren’t super thrilled about their Monday morning and probably won’t do it again, or people that chose not to go because they had to go to work on Monday morning," Elliott stated. "So it stemmed directly from fans of our sport; people that aren’t just watching on TV, people that are spending their money to come support us at the track in-person and in the stands. That was why I said that, just because I have heard it directly."
He acknowledged the paramount role of television in shaping the sport’s schedule but emphasized the importance of considering the in-person attendee. "And while I totally get that TV runs the show in a lot of ways, there are still a lot of people that like coming to the races and also probably would like a day at home to recover and kind of get their affairs in order to go back to work on Monday. So I think there’s room for middle ground in that."
Elliott’s personal connection to Saturday night races further fueled his argument. "I think Saturday night races have always been a really big deal. Growing up, for me, I always thought they were the most fun, like as a kid, as a fan, coming to the races. I mean, heck, even if I wasn’t there, I was watching it on TV and I was at home. I was fired up to have a Saturday night race. I thought it was great. The only downside was I didn’t have anything to watch on Sunday, but that was part of it, right? Like you were bummed about that when Sunday afternoon rolled around and the race wasn’t on, but the lead in, the excitement and energy for a Saturday night show, I thought, was pretty darn elite."
The current NASCAR Cup Series season, which features a schedule heavily weighted towards Sunday afternoon and evening races, has seen a number of events concluding late due to weather delays or extended competition. These late finishes, particularly at tracks requiring significant travel, can lead to exhausted fans facing early Monday work commitments. Elliott believes this disconnect between the race day experience and the subsequent work week is a detriment to the overall fan engagement.
"I mean, I think people travel from a lot of different areas for our races, and the further they travel, the harder that is to do," Elliott explained. "No one has told me what the exact reason is for that, so I’m reaching a little bit there. I’m assuming it’s for TV. But yeah, I just think it makes a lot of sense. I think there’s room for it in our sport. We don’t have a lot of Saturday night races, in general, so if you had a couple extra, I’m not sure what that’s hurting really at the end of the day."
Elliott also touched upon the broader sports landscape and the competitive programming that NASCAR contends with. "And again, you’ve had the World Cup on TV, which it’s winding down right now. There are some other sports here and there, but you know, baseball is probably the biggest thing that’s kind of going on right now and the push to their playoffs. But it can be difficult to watch. Like even as a Braves fan, it may be on TV at certain points in time. Maybe if they’re on the west coast, they have some kind of weird TV stuff, so if you’re not living in that particular region, you’re probably not even eligible to watch."
He sees Saturday night as a prime opportunity for NASCAR to capture a dedicated audience without facing as much direct competition. "So I think we have a unique opportunity with the networks that we’re on to take advantage of the ability to watch this across the country on the good broadcast partners that we have. I think a Saturday night race is super healthy for people at home watching. And also, the people that are here, it’s an opportunity for them to get home on Sunday and reset and go back to work on Monday."
Elliott’s perspective highlights a potential tension between broadcast priorities and the tangible experience of the core NASCAR fanbase. His call for more Saturday night races is rooted in a desire to recapture a traditional element of the sport that he believes fosters a more vibrant and fan-friendly atmosphere, while also acknowledging the practicalities faced by those who attend races in person. The ongoing discussion around scheduling reflects a broader conversation within motorsports about balancing commercial interests with the long-term health of fan engagement and tradition.
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