NASCAR to build remote control center at new building in Concord, NC
NASCAR is looking to build a remote race control facility, similar to the way leagues like the NFL and NBA operate.
Earlier this week, Jeff Gluck of The Athletic dropped some information on the decision, revealing the building would be based out of Concord, North Carolina.
“NASCAR is planning to build a remote race control from its new building in Concord, N.C., similar to the teams’ war rooms in the shops. … They’d like to get it to the point later this year where they can make *some* calls from afar during races,” Gluck posted on X.
Some were worried NASCAR officials would have les of a presence at the track, but that won’t be the case. The bottom line is it’ll be similar to the command center in the NFL, which is based in New York, where NASCAR can rely on them to help make key decisions during and after a race.
“To be clear, they’ll retain a presence of key people in the tower calling the race. This is similar to what other leagues do with a command center (like when they say “New York is taking a look at the replay”),” Gluck added.
Alas, a little more help won’t hurt NASCAR. Some decisions can swing races and in-turn, championships. At this day in age, where technology has become such a resource, there’s no reason to miss crucial calls.
NASCAR continues to move into the future. We’ll see what this command center looks like when it’s finished, but we’re willing to bet it’ll be state of the art, as many of NASCAR’s newest ventures have been over recent seasons.
NASCAR makes changes to Cup Series qualifying procedures for 2024
On Tuesday, some fresh qualifying procedures were revealed by the sport’s sanctioning body. Many have clamored for an updated version of NASCAR’s qualifying for the Cup Series, and some adjustments have been announced ahead of a new campaign.
“Qualifying procedures for the NASCAR Cup Series will receive an adjustment in 2024, officials revealed Tuesday at the sanctioning body’s Research & Development Center,” Jared C. Tilton of NASCAR.com wrote. “Each race’s 36-plus entrants will continue to be split into two groups for time-trial qualification, with the fastest five drivers from each group advancing to the pole round and setting the top 10 starting positions for the main event. That hasn’t changed. What will change is the manner in which positions 11-40 are determined.
“Previously, the cars that finished outside the top five in the two groups were seeded 11-40 based on their fastest qualifying lap, regardless of which group the drivers were in. Beginning in 2024 – and with the exception of the Daytona 500, which has its own unique qualifying procedure – cars that do not advance from Group A will determine the outside row for starting positions 11-40, while the remaining cars from Group B will determine the inside row.”
Moreover, Tilton also relayed that “there will be no groups during qualifying procedures” for super speedways, “There will be two rounds, with the fastest 10 drivers advancing from the first round and the best time from Round 2 taking the pole.”
Alas, NASCAR officials have leaned on feedback from members of the industry to come to their decision. All things considered, they cited track conditions changing throughout the course of a qualifying session, and limiting possible variances as reasons for the adjustment.