NASCAR fans have clarified their feelings: Superspeedway racing in the Next Gen era isn’t working. The reasons pile up like cars in Turn 3, but now a NASCAR official has revealed ongoing discussions to fix what many consider a broken product.
How Would Shorter Stages Fix NASCAR’s Superspeedway Problem?
TThe current formula creates a perfect storm of boring racing. With so much parity in the cars, passing becomes nearly impossible. Add the low-horsepower package, and drivers lock themselves in single-file processions. Moving out of line means losing speed thanks to increased drag, so nobody takes the risk.
Track position becomes everything in this environment. The qualifying drivers finish well without major incidents shaking up the field, making for predictable races. Fuel mileage adds another layer of strategy that prioritizes conservation over competition.
The length of these races forces teams into survival mode. Drivers must maximize fuel efficiency while executing lightning-fast pit stops to gain precious track position. However, this leads to half-throttle running for most of the race’s first half, killing any chance of sustained action.
You’ll see moments of three-wide and four-wide racing that look spectacular on television. But with everyone saving fuel, nobody commits to full throttle to complete a pass. The result? Racing that looks exciting but delivers little actual competition.
NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin captured the frustration perfectly when he explained the core issue. “The cars are way too easy to drive, they have way too much grip, way too much drag and what it does is it creates a great optic on TV that these cars are two by two, three by three, but ain’t nobody passing nobody. We’re out there just riding and saving fuel throughout the greater part of the race,” he said.
Stage racing compounds the fuel-saving problem. Current Daytona races feature three stages: the first two run 65 laps each, with the final stage lasting 70 laps. Talladega follows a 60-60-68 split. Tracks exceeding two miles in length represent substantial distances that demand fuel management.
The math is simple but problematic. These cars can run 35-40 miles on full throttle before running dry. Under the current format, teams cannot sustain maximum effort for entire stages, forcing the conservative approach that fans despise.
What Did NASCAR Officials Reveal About Potential Changes?
NASCAR is actively discussing shorter stages for Superspeedways, according to recent comments from league officials. Mike Forde, NASCAR’s managing director of racing communications, addressed these conversations during an appearance on the “Hauler Talk” podcast.
He said, “Yes, we have talked about stage lengths for Daytona and Talladega. Even going as far as, it hasn’t been seriously discussed, but adding another stage, period, so that there would be no concerns of you would have the stages short enough to where fuel conservation would be a waste of time. Obviously, we haven’t done that. There’s only one race with four stages, and that’s the Coca-Cola 600.”
The four-stage concept could transform Superspeedway racing. Like the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, both Daytona and Talladega could adopt this format in future seasons. Shorter segments would eliminate the need for extensive fuel conservation, potentially unleashing the aggressive racing fans remember.
[Hauler Talk 32 min] NASCAR looking at adjusting superspeedway stage lengths, even potentially adding a 4th stage to combat excessive fuel saving by the teams. (via u/LBHMS) https://t.co/PpqT2MKkGC #NASCAR
— r/NASCAR on Reddit (@NASCARonReddit) September 10, 2025
“But stage lengths is something that was kicked around for specifically, superspeedways, and specifically, Daytona and Talladega. It seems like Atlanta is not really an issue, but yes, that is something that was discussed,” Forde added.
Can These Changes Bring Back Classic Superspeedway Racing?
The timeline for implementing these changes remains unclear. However, shorter stages could encourage drivers to attack rather than preserve, potentially delivering the wheel-to-wheel action that made Superspeedways legendary.
Still, questions remain about whether any format changes can truly restore the golden era of Superspeedway racing. Under current aerodynamic packages, the days when drivers could slice through seven or eight cars in the closing laps to steal victory seem distant.
Consider the 2000 Talladega race, when Dale Earnhardt Sr. charged from 18th to first in the final four laps. That type of dramatic comeback required shorter stages and cars that could break free from the pack and make moves stick. Whether NASCAR’s proposed changes can recreate those conditions remains the ultimate question facing the sport’s decision-makers.
