The 414

Schedule changes for 2004, tape delayed qualifying, and the Coca-Coca 414 from Charlotte (Concord), North Carolina

November Race?

The television broadcasting industry has taken control of all major sports, and it's becoming increasingly apparent that NASCAR racing is no exception. It was announced earlier in the season that the sanctioning body was tuning their 2004 race schedule according to the wishes of the FOX and NBC networks.

The networks find it much easier to keep their heads above water while honoring their contract with NASCAR by selling prime time advertising for the race venues. As a result, NASCAR is gearing all of the races they can into evening and night slots to appease the networks. Television has taken over NASCAR racing, get used to it. I, for one, don't care that much for night races. One every now and then is okay by me, but I tend to adhere to the Sunday afternoon tradition that was the basis of NASCAR's beginnings. You can rest assured that when the new TRAC Series begins next spring, they will be happy to take over the Sunday afternoon racing that NASCAR is leaving by the wayside. You can also rest assured that I will be watching the TRAC Series racing!

Keeping all of this in mind, news has slowly leaked out concerning major changes and surprises with next season's racing schedule. We all got a laugh when the gloating Bill France offered Bruton Smith the opportunity to move one of his short track races to the better selling, larger seating capacity Texas track. There's nothing like rubbing salt in a wound, especially if you're an overbearing manipulative billionaire.

The ESPN website recently reported what was rumored a month or so ago about the Darlington Speedway Labor Day race getting moved to the California track. Both venues are owned by the France family's International Speedway Corp. It seems that the tradition of the Labor Day Darlington Southern 500 race means nothing to the France family when there is a few dollars to me made.

The report states that although the Labor Day race will be moved to California from Darlington, the South Carolina Darlington facility will still have two races scheduled for the 2004 season, but the North Carolina Rockingham facility won't. The report also states that a November race will be moved to Darlington. This brings me to wonder which November race will be moved.

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