The season’s inaugural Daytona 500 might hold a more prestigious position, but the Coke Zero Sugar 400, earlier known as the Firecracker 400, has its own distinctive place in NASCAR history. The thrilling spectacle of the racing season encapsulated within the iconic races on the Daytona International Speedway formed the heart and soul of motorsport racing in the country. Until NASCAR made a sudden change.

The callous break from long-held traditions could still be forgiven if it enhanced the ongoing format of the sport. But seasoned drivers have a legitimate concern about the championship standards next year. Joe Gibbs Racing‘s playoff contender lent his voice to elaborate upon it.

Joe Gibbs’ racer claimed skills take a backseat in NASCAR’s wayward tracks

The racing community had barely recovered from last week’s playoff race on the Talladega Superspeedway. Before it could gear up for the next race on the Charlotte Roval, NASCAR dropped a mid-week bombshell. A drastically altered 2024 schedule majorly shook up the crucial placement of races on the challenging superspeedways. And this was a source of great consternation for Joe Gibbs’ #20 driver, Christopher Bell.

Gibbs‘ frequent pole winner could not work his usual magic in the YellaWood 500. Bell, who is last year’s defending Roval champion might not lose much sleep over the upcoming race. But he couldn’t say the same about next season’s disheveled schedule. One of the key changes is the addition of Atlanta Motor Speedway in the playoffs, along with the existing race in Talladega. As Bell is well aware, it could make the playoff journey far more turbulent next year.

Once the shift was announced, the #20 driver discussed the unpredictable nature of superspeedways and how they often make the championship contentions about a stroke of luck instead of a superior skill set. Bell, who had shown remarkable consistency in the playoffs till then, finished 14th on the racetrack last week. Prior to the Bank of America Roval 400, Frontstretch caught up with him to elucidate his opinion.

One of their reporters asked, ‘I’m curious how you look at the idea of luck in motorsports and how much of a factor there is’? A thoughtful Bell responded, “Luck to me is what happens outside of your control. Unfortunately, that’s what happens a lot in superspeedways. But if you can control it, it’s probably not luck and if it’s out of your control, then it’s luck, in my opinion”. To make matters worse, NASCAR made another superspeedway change that severely affected its die-heart fandom.

Watch this story: Heartbroken Joe Gibbs Star Sheds Light on NASCAR’s Harsh Reality Amidst Faltering Career: “I Wanted to Be Here”

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Over the years, the Summer Daytona race enshrined historical moments on its beloved racetrack. It remembers the 200th win of the King, Richard Petty himself. It hosted the Intimidator’s fierce racecar. A legacy later carried on by his son Dale Earnhardt Jr. The Daytona International Speedway witnessed Kevin Harvick emerge victorious from blazing cars. It has the imprints of Bobby Allison and Jimmie Johnson’s five astonishing wins. No other track even remotely compares.

Millions of die-heart racing fans first associated it with the Independence Day celebrations and later with the regular-season finale. Most recently, it cemented Bubba Wallace’s qualification in this season’s playoffs. But next year’s schedule brutally placed Darlington Raceway as the regular season finale. The immeasurable superspeedway was relegated to host the penultimate race before the season’s playoffs.

The censure was immediate. Fans condemned NASCAR for butchering deep-rooted traditions without regard to its viewership or its drivers, who would face additional obstacles for title contention. This is a sport where fans grew up watching those icons, clutching timeless memories and bequeathing them down generations. And though displaced in schedule, the Daytona International Speedway would forever hold an invaluable place in the racing world.

Read More: Joe Gibbs’ Reigning Champ Drops Shocking 2-Word Confession on Roval Return; Fans Stand in Agreement