Well, the answer is yes and no. Yes, there are many “speedways” on television tonight. No, there are not actually any “traditional”, no-holds-barred sprint car races as we know them. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything interesting going on. In fact, there is so much more than you’ll ever see in one night. Here’s a quick guide to help you keep track of what’s going on while you’re watching TV.
Traditional Sprint Car Races
There are two kinds of sprint car racing on television these days. One is the “traditional” sprint car race, and the other is the “entertainment” sprint car race. Traditional sprint car racing, as the name suggests, is the kind you might see in a movie or on a television series. The cars are old, the drivers are typically large, and the racing is usually very violent. Fans watching traditional sprint car races are more often than not, either at the track or in their living rooms, because the tracks usually go indoors in the winter (hence the popularity of indoor track racing). The entertainment aspect of sprint car racing evolved from the need for people to follow the action regardless of location. For example, if you’re in Chicago and want to watch TV, you’ll have to settle for an indoor race. Outdoor races in the winter are either cancelled or go on for just a few hours before being postponed because of bad weather conditions (like snow, rain, or cold temperatures).
The other type of sprint car racing is the “touring” variety. This kind of racing, which is all the rage right now, is meant to be shown live, or as soon as possible after the fact. The emphasis here is on the “live” part, because that’s how television viewers get their motorsports fix these days. Touring cars are newer, faster, and more technologically advanced than traditional sprint cars. They also adhere to a strict set of guidelines designed to make sure the racing is as close to “real” as possible. One of the biggest contrasts between touring cars and traditional sprint cars is the size of the driver’s seat. Touring cars have the drivers sitting relatively near the ground, which makes it easier for them to reach the pedals. So even if you’re watching the race on TV, it’s pretty likely that you’ll be able to see the drivers’ eyesight problems as they rush past you.
As a TV viewer, you’re probably wondering which type of sprint car racing you’ll get to see tonight. Well, luckily for you, I’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of the traditional sprint car races that are currently airing, or will be airing soon.
IndyCar Series
The first thing you’ll notice about this list is that it’s pretty long. The second thing you’ll notice is that none of the races are actually being broadcast live. The IndyCar Series races are usually scheduled to air at some point during the day, but the exact time they’ll be on is usually kept a secret until a few days before the race. This is done so the race can air at the optimum time for as many potential viewers as possible. The disadvantage to this is that if you miss an IndyCar race during the day, you’ll have to wait until next week to see it. Fortunately for you, I’ve got you covered once more. Here’s a list of the upcoming IndyCar races, so you can see what’s on offer when the time comes.
NASCAR Cup Series
The next race on our list is the NASCAR Cup Series. This is the premier series in NASCAR, and it pits the most successful drivers against each other in an annual championship race. While the actual format of the race itself isn’t too different from the IndyCar race discussed above, the viewing experience here is completely different. You’ll find no close-up shots of cars driving by each other – the only close-up shots you’ll see are of the driver’s eyes as they scan the horizon, looking for their next lap to come up clutch. Also, unlike IndyCar, NASCAR doesn’t use a “roadbook” for the race. Instead, they draw a shape on the track and the drivers are “entertained” with flags and music as they try to go the fastest they can without knocking off another car. For those of you who liked the IndyCar Series, the NASCAR Cup Series is the next best thing. It’s also a great choice for those of you who want to see a lot of action without having to settle for a split-screen display.
World Sportscar Championship
The last race on our list is the World Sportscar Championship. This is a bit of a strange one, as it’s an international “endurance” racing series that was created in 2011 and is currently taking over TV screens everywhere. The series is named after the iconic sportscars of former days, like Le Mans, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and perhaps most importantly, the 24 Hours of Daytona (which was first held in 1960, and which is the oldest continuously held sports car race in the world). Unlike the other races on our list, the World Sportscar Championship is being shown as a full live stream on Twitch.tv tonight – a first for that platform. So if you’ve got a spare 15 minutes, be sure to tune into this one, as you may never get the chance to see racing of this caliber live again. Just remember that the drivers are sitting way up high in relation to the ground, so even though it’s a full-length stream, you may still bump into the console between you and the screen a time or two.
As you might expect, all of the above races are completely different from one another. It doesn’t matter if you love watching aggressive, high-speed racing or if you love watching cars take each other apart, there’s a race for everyone tonight. So don’t get discouraged if you don’t see a race that sounds like something you might find interesting. There’s probably something there that you’ll enjoy. And if you can’t find anything for a moment, tune into one of the many talk shows that are being broadcast, as there’s bound to be something there that you can relate to. Enjoy the variety that is the hallmark of American TV tonight, instead of just settling for one-and-done races on a Sunday afternoon, like you might have had to do a few years ago. At least now you’ll have the chance to watch something different every week.