NASCAR is one of the most popular sports in the country, and the Sprint Cup Series is their cornerstone as the most élite series. The last ten races of the season, known as ‘The Chase,’ gives 16 Sprint Cup drivers a chance to earn the championship title. Only one driver walks away with the championship at the end of the season giving them prestige and elevating their status over all other drivers and teams for the next year.
But is there another chance to recognize a driver/team accomplishing what no other team or driver has done? Perhaps, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Grand Slam is such an opportunity – when all four premium race victories earn that driver/team a historic Crown Jewel.
In the Sprint Cup Series a long-held debate that comes up nearly every year is the ‘what if’ speculation of honoring a driver/team for winning four prestige events, known as a Grand Slam. Once again the time has come for the debate to continue discussing the pros and cons of honoring a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Grand Slam recipient as well as, what races are worthy of inclusion.
Despite no driver being eligible for the grand slam crown jewel this particular season, it seems a reasonable debate in considering the future of the Sprint Cup Series, and perhaps making it an appealing quest for drivers and teams. This is an honor they can strive to earn, giving them recognition that is historic by virtue of the difficulty in winning the four select races of the Grand Slam.
And why not? A Sprint Cup Series Grand Slam would make these four key races even more fun to watch. But what makes this Grand Slam even more special is that, like the Triple Crown in horse racing, it would be rare to see a driver win all four races. Here are some suggestions for the first three races that should headline the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Grand Slam.
The Daytona 500 is the first race of the season and would become the first leg of the four race Grand Slam feat. The season opener at Daytona International Speedway is known as the Super Bowl of NASCAR and is already the most anticipated race of the Sprint Cup Series with the winner giving their team momentum heading into the rest of the season. Every driver dreams of becoming a Daytona 500 winner.
The Coca-Cola 600 is the longest race on the schedule testing every driver and team’s endurance. For 600 miles at Charlotte Motor Speedway, drivers race in varying race conditions starting in daylight and finishing at the end of the night under the lights. This race runs on the same day as IndyCar’s famous Indianapolis 500, and it should stay that way, since fans love to watch both races over the Memorial Day weekend.
The 400 miles at the Brickyard are at the most legendary track in America – Indianapolis Motor Speedway – and is a must for the third leg of the Sprint Cup Series Grand Slam. It’s a big track with long straightaways and corners that challenge drivers and teams to earn their victory. Drivers winning at Indianapolis relish their chance to kiss the famed yard of bricks with their family and team members at this historic track.
Here’s where deciding the fourth and last track of the Sprint Cup Series Grand Slam debate gets interesting with several possibilities to consider. Should a road course such as Sonoma or Watkins Glen be added to the Grand Slam as the last leg? Or is a historic short track more valued with perhaps Darlington or Martinsville as potential tracks to complete the quad-fecta? Should Richmond be a consideration as the last race of the regular season – or would the Chase qualification spot light take away from recognizing the Grand Slam Crown Jewel recipient? Should the last race of the Grand Slam be decided before or during the Chase?
My personal choice for the fourth event is the Southern 500 at Darlington which is returning to its traditional Labor Day weekend this season. This historic oval brings short track racing to the venue and is the week before Richmond, the last race of the regular season that reveals the 16 drivers eligible for the Chase. That would give the Grand Slam winner their own spot light to enjoy their historic feat at one of the most storied tracks in the Sprint Cup Series. A Crown Jewel celebration seems a proper fit at Darlington Raceway – long thought of as a crown jewel on NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series schedule.
Alright fans, it’s time for you to weigh in with your thoughts about a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Grand Slam. Yes or No?….and which track/race, in your opinion, should run the last event to honor the historic Quad-fecta Crown Jewel?
Here is an idea. Instead of a Grand Slam consisting of four specific tracks, make it four kinds of tracks — short track, speedway, super-speedway, and road course — all in one year.
I think you’ve nailed the four races on the head!
I’ve never understood why Indy should be considered anything special. Sure the track has tradition, but for a different type of racing and has one of the largest payouts, but it’s some of the worst racing in NASCAR, plus it’s a relative newcomer to NASCAR and pales in comparison to the tradition of some of our other tracks. MAYBE the race should rate in the top dozen on some people’s list , but not on mine. To me it’s just another race.