Long: Questions persist about All-Star Race but Clash could provide answers

Amid the uproar of how Sunday night’s All-Star Race ended is if the NASCAR exhibition race is even needed.

It was a question asked about the Busch Clash until that event moved from Daytona to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum this year. The event received strong reviews and appears headed back to LA next year.

An imaginative approach — racing inside a stadium! — revived the Busch Clash and could help the All-Star Race become more relevant. 

The All-Star Race reached a flashpoint Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway. A confusing finish was triggered by a caution that NASCAR conceded was called “prematurely.” 

The All-Star Race, with its special rules, format and features, has grown weary for some. It’s supposed to be a shorter version of a NASCAR race and a better way to introduce new fans to the sport.

But for all the sideshows and entertainment features, the race remains the main event and that has to be good. 

Marcus Smith, president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, which owns Texas Motor Speedway, among other tracks, defended the event Monday on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s “On Track” program. 

“The format is what makes these All-Star Races so special,” he said, noting that attendance was up from last year’s race. “It’s different. It’s challenging and produces a lot of excitement.”

Asked about moving the All-Star Race from Texas Motor Speedway, which has hosted the event the past two years, Smith was noncommittal. 

“When we had it in Charlotte, we had some detractors who would always say, ‘Why is it in Charlotte? It’s just a warm up event,’” he said. “We move it and people say, ‘Let’s put it back in Charlotte.”

“One thing I’ve found is that nobody likes change and nobody likes anything to stay the same.”

Such is the conundrum of