When NASCAR Cup Series teams departed Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday evening, July 21, the traveling circus was headed home.
The Cup Series will take a rare two-week break during the Summer Olympics as broadcast partner NBC shifts its resources overseas to the games in Paris. It won’t be until Sunday, Aug. 11, when the Cup Series returns at Richmond (Va.) Raceway — only four races prior to the playoffs.
The Daytona 500 began a stretch of 22 consecutive weeks with a Cup Series race. Teams have traveled to the West Coast three times (four including the Clash at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Feb. 3) and to Texas twice.
For organizations and the drivers and crew members within them, their plans vary. But it’s a general consensus — a lengthy break is absolutely necessary.
“I think that everybody deserves some time off. This is just a grueling part of the year, and I think I can speak for every team member from every race team,” said Chase Elliott, driver of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 car. “It’s a lot, especially when you start throwing some of these races on Sunday night instead of Saturday night — people have to go to work on Monday morning and it makes the next week really short.
“Everybody needs some time with their families and a chance to kind of reboot for the second half. I think it’s much needed, and one week is not enough. Two, I think, is certainly good for everyone involved, and I think ultimately, it is going to bring everybody into a better headspace when we come back and hopefully re-energize the entire garage.”
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