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NASCAR Fans React as Hailie Deegan Suggests Shortening the Length of Cup Races to Save the Sport

Published 04/12/2022, 10:00 AM EDT

The NASCAR sensation, Hailie Deegan, has recently come in stark contrast with the fans. The young driver shared her thoughts on social media and received some serious responses for her views.

Hailie is of the opinion that 36 races a year is a bit too much and hectic for a driver to compete throughout the year. The 20-year-old driver shared on Twitter, “Also in my opinion a lot of people don’t have 4 hours 36x a year to spend watching a race on tv.”

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“Think about it. As a driver your not gonna sit and ride for half the race if the length is shorter. Nothing happens during most cup races till the last stage for that reason.”

“Also if you want younger fans to take interest, you have to keep in mind their attention span is shorter,” Deegan further stated.

How did the season fare for Hailie Deegan?

Hailie Deegan was in news recently after getting hit by Johnny Sauter brutally in Martinsville. The David Gilliland Racing driver was pushed against the wall while she was taking part in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Deegan paid hefty prices week-in week-out for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Moreover, a freak fire can have its day to ruin the race for the young driver. In all the five races she started this season, Deegan finished outside the top-10 every single time.

The young driver finished in 17th place in Daytona, 33rd place in Las Vegas, 36th in Atlanta, 34th place in Austin, and 19th place in the latest Martinsville race.

Fans’ reaction to Hailie Deegan’s thoughts

However, the fans reacted stiffly to the opinion. A person compared the races with NBA matches, while the other matched them with average hockey qualifiers per season. All in all, the responses haven’t quite got her way. Here are some fan responses:

You do realize baseball plays 162 games a year, pro basketball and hockey 82 + playoffs for these sports.
You think 36 nascar races is a lot?
— Ryan Smith (@PFF_RyanSmith) April 10, 2022

I can see the argument for tv audience, however I'm not gonna travel to a race if it's half the length. I could see attendance going down if that were to ever happen. Granted tv brings in more money, but empty stands isn't a good look
— Carl Roidwards (@roidwards) April 10, 2022

Your in the wrong sport then. Truck races are so fast you have no time to make a mistake
— Frankie Dodd (@FrankieDodd412) April 10, 2022

Noo bad move If you don't like the length of races don't be in nascar sorry fan if your but really come on
— Michael liguori (@sk8er4lyf24) April 10, 2022

I disagree about what u said about the time ppl spend watching. People spend an entire day watching NFL all Sunday as well as watching Monday and Thursday. Look at their ratings! The Nascar fans I know have never had a problem with the time of Nascar races.
— Brian childs (@bman_childs) April 10, 2022

I’m a big fan of yours Hailie but I don’t like the thought of cutting races in half! I think we can shorten many for sure! Nascar was always being able to make the engines live thru the races and drivers being to endure them. Maybe many 500 milers could be 350 to 400 no less!
— Brian childs (@bman_childs) April 10, 2022

I wish they’d go back to 1pm start time. I understand that “no major sport starts at that time anymore.” But apparently the NFL hasn’t gotten that notice and look at their ratings. I’ve got about 5.5 hours in between church on Sunday and with the start time I get 1 stage and that
— Tyler Dilley (@tdilley1995) April 10, 2022

Yet they spend 4 times that long each week staring at their phones. People will make time for what they really want to do I believe. If races got shorter that would take alot of money from the sport imo
— bobby jones (@soonerr25) April 10, 2022

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There is a point to shorter races. But also true drivers and teams have the endurance, durability, and experience to go the distance. It is easier to win a 150 lap race than a 400 lap race. Honestly I admire the team that can consistently win the 400 lap races.
— Darren Batstone (@darrenbatstone) April 10, 2022

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What do you make of Hailie Deegan’s opinion about saving the sport by curtailing the length of cup races? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Sabyasachi Biswas is an F1 writer at EssentiallySports. He has completed his Master's in Mass Communication and Journalism from Jadavpur University, Kolkata. Sabyasachi is an ardent Red Bull and Max Verstappen fan and has been following the sport for over a decade now.

Edited by:

Vibhanshu Kumar

NASCAR Fans React as Hailie Deegan Suggests Shortening the Length of Cup Races to Save the Sport

How did the season fare for Hailie Deegan?

Fans’ reaction to Hailie Deegan’s thoughts

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