FOX NASCAR Voices React to Pivotal 2021 NASCAR CUP SERIES Schedule

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Following the groundbreaking release of the 2021 NASCAR CUP SERIES schedule today, FOX NASCAR executives and announcers share their perspectives on changes on the horizon for next season:

“NASCAR worked closely with industry partners including FOX Sports to create a schedule lineup that not only shakes things up but provides something to look forward to every single week. It’s a dynamic schedule with superspeedways, short tracks, intermediate tracks, road courses – and even a race on dirt – and the different disciplines will allow the drivers to showcase their talents. I’m sure it’s going to be entertaining and unpredictable, and I can’t wait until we kick things off at Daytona in February.”
–Jeff Gordon, NASCAR Hall of Famer and FOX NASCAR analyst

“I’m really excited about the 2021 FOX NASCAR schedule, and I appreciate all the hard work that went into these changes. The dirt surface at Bristol will be a strange, new experience for some and an old, home week for others (here’s looking at you, Stenhouse). It’s a very bold move putting NASCAR Cup cars on dirt for the first time in 50 years. We will have a chance to tell some great stories and use historic footage to depict how NASCAR racing was back in the day.

“The biggest challenge I see will be Circuit of the Americas. It’s a very difficult track to learn with lots of nuances. I’ve raced there in Historic Trans Am; there are some places you can gain time by venturing off-line, and there are many places where you can lose time. The decreasing radius esses, where each turn is a little slower than the one before, is a particularly sore spot. I’d suggest drivers start binge-watching past races of all kinds there, from Spec Miata to F1.

“I’m glad our ‘West Coast Swing’ stays intact and look forward to our return to Darlington. I’ll always hold a special thought for Martinsville, Dover and Sonoma, for the close quarter racing they produce, and for the atmosphere of being there. While we still have a 2020 champion to decide, I can’t wait to get back to Daytona, and get 2021 underway.”
–Mike Joy, FOX NASCAR play-by-play announcer

“The more I look at the schedule, the more I realize it’s exactly what so many fans have asked for, for a long time. Two fan favorites are superspeedways and road courses, and of the 36 points races, they compromise 10 of them.

“The biggest unknown is the Bristol dirt race, but I applaud all parties for stepping outside the box and trying something different. We have no idea if it will work or not, but if it does, we will have found something great. If it doesn’t, we can move on. As a crew chief, if everything I had tried on my race cars ended up positively, I would have won 230 races instead of 23.

“Selfishly, I’m thrilled for the Darlington race added during the FOX portion of the season. That’s certainly a race I have missed having. And moving the Indianapolis race from the oval to the road course is a little bittersweet for me – I was there in 1992 for the first NASCAR test – but it has run its course after all these years and hasn’t been a great race lately. We have to entertain the fans, and based on what I saw in the Xfinity race on the road course, I think they’re in for a treat.”
–Larry McReynolds, FOX NASCAR analyst

“Today’s announcement of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the result of unprecedented collaboration between NASCAR, tracks and broadcasters to deliver a bold and diverse lineup of events for race fans. After a season of unexpected and unprecedented challenges, we’re excited to deliver on the energy and anticipation around 2021, beginning with coverage of FOX Sports’ 18th Daytona 500 on February 14.”
–Bill Wanger, FOX Sports Executive Vice President, Head of Programming and Scheduling

“With the addition of new markets, new tracks, and even a new surface, NASCAR held true to its promise of shaking up the Cup schedule. The addition of three road courses (four including the Clash), the return to Nashville and Bristol on dirt makes for a diverse and challenging lineup. You will never appease everyone, but I appreciate NASCAR’s willingness to move outside the box and challenge itself and teams with new events.”
–Vince Welch, FOX NASCAR reporter and play-by-play announcer

“It’s easy to see there’s something for everyone with the 2021 Cup schedule. From top to bottom, it’s impressive, aggressive and impactful. The fun meter is pegged for the fan. I applaud NASCAR for blending all of the ‘wants/needs’ from everyone from fans to industry folks. Everyone may have a personal bias here or there, but for the good of the sport, this was an extreme winner.”
–Matt Yocum, FOX NASCAR reporter

“Tip of the cap to NASCAR for continuing to try new things and make changes. I love seeing COTA on the schedule. Austin is a wonderful, fun, young city that has grown to appreciate racing just outside their city. I love Road America. What a great town and fun, fast racetrack. I think people will embrace seeing Cup cars there, finally.

“The Busch Clash on the road course will be entertaining and different, and I think the fans will really enjoy mixing it up during the Daytona 500 festivities. I know I can’t wait to cover it. And Nashville — covering Xfinity there years ago, it was one of my favorite places to race and visit. It’s a wonderful town, filled with NASCAR fans and having NASCAR back in action there will be a huge hit.”
–Jamie Little, FOX NASCAR reporter