Feb 21, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) leads the field during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Throughout the season NASCAR fans tend to focus more on certain events and less on others. Which races are more important than the rest in 2017?
This year NASCAR’s top three series will run a combine 92 regular season races between now and Thanksgiving. Each race means something different to each driver and fan. While each of these races are a must see for diehard fans many fans want to only watch the most prestigious and action packed races each year.
Here is a list of races NASCAR fans won’t want to miss in 2017.
Feb 21, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) beats NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (78) to win the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Daytona 500 – Daytona International Speedway
February 26th
The Great American Race starts off NASCAR’s season each year with a bang. Cars finally get to roll onto the track after teams prepared all offseason for NASCAR’s most prestigious race. This is the only regular season race each year where 40 drivers don’t care about points and winning is the only thing that matters.
NASCAR greats Earnhardt, Waltrip, Petty, Allison, and Gordon have all won the Daytona 500. One driver will have a chance put their name among these great drivers. Last year Denny Hamlin out-dueled Martin Truex Jr. in the closest Daytona 500 finish in history.
Who will hoist the Harley J. Earl trophy this year?
Nov 8, 2015; Fort Worth, TX, USA; A view of the front stretch during the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
O’Rilley Auto Parts 500 – Texas Motor Speedway
April 9th
All eyes will be on Texas Motor Speedway come April 9th. The track’s reconfiguration will be finished and it will be our first chance to see if all the hard work in Texas will pay dividends for NASCAR.
Along with new pavement the banking in turns one and two will be reduced from 24 to 20 degrees. The racing surface through turns one and two will also be expanded from 60 feet to 80 feet. Turns three and four will remain the same at 60 feet wide and banked at 24 degrees.
A few teams will take to the new surface and configuration right away while others will struggle throughout the afternoon. This isn’t going to be a race fans want to miss.
Firecracker 250 – Daytona International Speedway
June 30th
The NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule makes it’s second stop of the season in Daytona on Independence Day weekend. It’s also the final restrictor plate race of the season for the Xfinity Series drivers. The new points system will be old news by this time and teams will be at their best as the month of June wraps up.
During last year’s race Aric Almirola just edged Justin Allgaier as the caution came out on the final lap of the race. Can Justin Allgaier or another Xfinity Series regular seal the deal this year or will a Cup Series regular take the prize once again?
Nov 18, 2016; Homestead, FL, USA; NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Johnny Sauter (21) celebrates winning NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship during the Ford Ecoboost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Eldora 150 – Eldora Speedway
July 19th
The Camping World Truck Series gets dirty once a year when they roll into Eldora. This will be NASCAR’s fifth year at the famed half-mile in Rossburg, Ohio. Tony Stewart and his crew always prepare a top-notch racetrack that lends itself to outstanding dirt track racing.
It’s also a mid-week race which gives the truck series stars full attention. Last year Kyle Larson was able to make his way to victory lane after the opportunity escaped him in 2015. Who will be the dirt track experts this year? Maybe Smoke himself will even make an appearance.
Chevrolet Silverado 250 – Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
September 3rd
The Camping World Truck Series has visited Canadian Tire Motorsports Park for the past four years. Each race has been excellent and I don’t see any reason that will change in 2017. Last year John Hunter Nemechek roughed up Cole Custer all the way down the front stretch on his way to victory. A similar situation occurred during the first race in 2013 where Chase Elliott spun Ty Dillon in the final turn.
The race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is a great way to enjoy Labor Day Sunday while waiting the Southern 500 to get underway.
Southern 500 – Darlington Raceway
September 3rd
The Southern 500 is right up in the conversation with the Daytona 500 when it comes to most prestigious race of the year. Darlington Raceway is now the official host of NASCAR throwback weekend. This will be NASCAR’s third throwback weekend and if the past two years are any indication it won’t be a race fans will want to miss.
Flashy paint schemes from NASCAR’s past line up for a grueling 500 miles on NASCAR’s most unique track. Martin Truex Jr. outlasted the field last year on the way to his first win at the Lady in Black. The task in 2017 will just as tough as Truex Jr. will attempt back-to-back wins at Darlington.
Watkins Glen 355 – Watkins Glen International
August 6th
Year after year Watkins Glen continues to be the best pure action racetrack on the schedule. Fans have taken a liking to road course racing and the drivers have upped their game. Watkins Glen offers a little bit of everything. Close short track style action, high speeds, strategy, and close finishes.
The road courses of Sonoma and Watkins Glen may be the two tracks where the new points system changes racing strategy the most. We could talk for hours about potential strategies teams may come up with to gain maximum points. At the end of the day it will be a great show for NASCAR fans.
Ford Ecoboost 400 – Homestead-Miami Speedway
November 19th
While Homestead-Miami Speedway doesn’t always host the closest racing or the fastest racing it does host the championship race. Once again this year four drivers will start the race with a chance to win the championship and only one will prevail.
Just ask Carl Edwards how crazy that last race can get and how quickly championship hopes can be smashed. Not to mention there are 36 other drivers trying to win the race themselves.
The final race at Homestead is the only race of 2017 that is straight-up between the championship contenders. No segment points or playoff points. Just old-fashioned hard racing to crown a champion.
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