NASCAR Drivers Unhappy with No Practice Session for Daytona Road Course

The NASCAR Cup Series is set to visit the Daytona road course in August. In light of this, Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer wanted to get some practice before races begin since they will be tackling the road course for the first time. However, NASCAR seems to have other ideas.

NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition, Scott Miller told The Morning Drive, “We have announced and committed to no practice and qualifying through Dover (Aug. 21-23). What’s beyond that is still a little bit up in the air.”

No Practice Races for the NASCAR Cup Race at Daytona International Speedway

Replacing Watkins Glen due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the event is set to take place on August 16. Although NASCAR has not provided details on the event, there are rumors of some track alterations. Hamlin and Bowyer are apparently worried about this since most of the competitors have never driven on this road course.

What did the NASCAR drivers say on the matter?

“I really, personally would have liked to have seen even 30 minutes (of practice) to get us acclimated to some braking points,” Hamlin told NASCAR’s website. “I definitely understand the owner’s side of it and NASCAR’s side of it where you don’t want to have to prepare backup cars just in case.”

“Heck, maybe even – I’m just politicking through (the media). Why not have the implication of knowing that this 30-minute practice session, if you wreck, you finish last. Just like you would in the race. If someone is going to wreck in that 30-minute practice session, they were more than likely going to wreck in the race anyway.”

Bowyer wanted to practice at Daytona since he has a fair bit of experience at the racetrack. But this was a while back, during the 2013 Rolex 24. Like many others, Bowyers too has never driven a stock car on the road course. Most of the drivers have little to no experience there.