When a veteran like Steve Letarte calls a race “sleepy,” you know there’s a problem. That’s exactly what he said about the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series finale at Phoenix Raceway. “This one was a little sleepy, right? Like a second of fall-off wasn’t really enough,” Letarte said on Denny Hamlin’s Actions Detrimental podcast. Despite the high stakes, the race lacked excitement. It had minimal tire wear, very few lead changes, and predictable results. Fans wanted a thrilling championship battle, but they got a strategy-heavy snoozefest.
Yet, despite these complaints, NASCAR continues to hold two races, including the finale at this one-mile oval in Arizona. Why? The track has its defenders, particularly among NASCAR’s elite. Broadcasters, executives, and media personalities love it. They praise the location, the predictable weather, and the ease of covering the event. But for fans, that’s not enough.
They don’t want a race to be chosen for convenience—they want it to be chosen for great racing. As NASCAR heads back to Phoenix for the fourth race of the 2025 season, the divide between fans and the sport’s decision-makers has never been clearer. So, why do fans despise Phoenix so much while the NASCAR elites praise it? Let’s break it down.
NASCAR is trying to fix something that isn’t broken!
For years, Homestead-Miami Speedway was the home of the NASCAR season finale. The 1.5-mile track produced some of the most dramatic moments in the sport’s history. Who can forget Tony Stewart’s iconic championship win in the 2011 season finale? NASCAR called it a Hall-of-Fame-worthy moment in 2020. However, in 2020, NASCAR made the controversial decision to move the championship race to Phoenix. It felt like ripping the Daytona 500 from its rightful place and moving it somewhere else. Fans were furious.
They believed Homestead had earned the right to host the finale, while Phoenix was simply handed the event. To this day, many traditionalists refuse to accept Phoenix as the championship race, no matter how much NASCAR tries to hype it up. But why the h— did NASCAR decide to move the championship race to Phoenix Raceway? The biggest reason is that Phoenix is in the desert, and rain doesn’t affect the race.
While NASCAR has tried to bring wet weather tires it hasn’t reached its full potential to continue racing in rain. This forced the sporting organization to shift the championship race from iconic Homestead to Phoenix. But it created a huge problem – a lack of passing opportunities. Notably, NASCAR fans love action-packed racing. Phoenix doesn’t provide much of it. The track’s design, combined with the current Next-Gen car, makes overtaking incredibly difficult.
Phoenix Raceway
If a driver qualifies up front, they have a massive advantage. If they start in the back, their day is over before it begins. For years, fans have begged NASCAR to improve the action at Phoenix. Notably, this year, NASCAR will give option tires and normal tires to all teams. The goal is to create varying strategies and more passing opportunities. But will it succeed? The move might be aimed at the betterment of the sport, but it feels like NASCAR isn’t ready to move on from a safe option.
If other iconic tracks like Bowman Gray, Rockingham, or the Nashville Fairgrounds can connect with NASCAR’s roots why the sport is looking to change tires and all? This shift in venue will also address the long-standing issue of NASCAR’s old-school fans who want the traditional South American touch in the sport. But no, NASCAR is busy with tire changes, fuel changes, and going international. Like Seriously? The move was seen as NASCAR prioritizing expansion over tradition, and that doesn’t sit well with the NASCAR loyalists.
Insiders love Phoenix for the wrong reasons!
While fans complain, NASCAR’s top decision-makers continue to support Phoenix as the championship venue. Why? It’s not because of the racing—it’s because of the convenience. Broadcasters and media personalities love Phoenix. The weather is usually perfect, meaning there’s little chance of rain delays. For reporters, it’s an easy travel destination with plenty of amenities.
Broadcasters like Kaitlyn Vincie enjoy the trip because Phoenix is a great place to visit for a weekend. She even posted on X, “We’ve arrived at one of the best stops on the circuit. Phoenix, you’re a favorite.” For the people working in the sport, Phoenix is an easy, stress-free place to host a big event. But for the fans watching at home, none of that matters if the racing isn’t good.
But interestingly these TV broadcasts are also one of the biggest reasons why NASCAR fans hate Phoenix Raceway. If the on-track action is dull, the broadcast needs to make up for it. Unfortunately, fans feel Fox and NBC fail in that department. Whether it’s missing crucial moments due to commercials or failing to create engaging commentary, the Phoenix race often gets criticized for lackluster TV coverage.
But this isn’t the only case for Phoenix. At the Daytona 500, Fox completely missed the Air Force flyover. In Atlanta, they cut away from three major incidents. Fans don’t trust the networks to cover races properly, and they often label Phoenix as a “boring” race, partly because TV coverage makes it seem dull. While these problems continue to haunt the sport, is there any way to make NASCAR great again?
NASCAR has made some efforts to improve things, like the introduction of different tire compounds. But unless those changes dramatically alter the racing product, the frustration will continue. One of the biggest demands from NASCAR fans is to rotate the championship race venue. This year only NASCAR constituted a 25-member team to evaluate the championship and playoff format.
Drivers like Christopher Bell, Dale Earnhardt Jr, and Denny Hamlin are reportedly working closely with the NASCAR core group to make some changes. However, if NASCAR insists on keeping the finale in Arizona, they need to make the racing better. A track redesign could improve passing and strategy, making Phoenix worthy of its championship status. For now, one thing is certain: NASCAR is running away from the traditional roots of the sport. Changes are inevitable, but they shouldn’t come at the cost of core values.
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