Why aren't NASCAR tracks built as indoor facilities? Joe Gibbs Racing explains

Joe Gibbs Racing recently shared a video from their official social media accounts where they explained one of NASCAR's most asked questions — why aren't NASCAR tracks an indoor racing facility? In the nearly one-minute video on Instagram, JGR concluded that building an indoor facility is hugely expensive and needs high maintenance.

Over the years, NASCAR raced in purpose-built race tracks such as the permanent Speedways, Super-speedways and temporary Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. However, the tracks are mostly open and have no roof on the stands.

As a result, it gets difficult for fans as well as the racing organizers, in case of rain and inclement weather. Therefore, many put out questions, asking why NASCAR does not race in indoor racing facilities or have a roof above the track.

Explaining this, here's what Joe Gibbs Racing shared on the Meta-owned platform, Instagram:

"There are a few key problems. The first being ventilation, car fumes need somewhere to go. The second being sound, an indoor racetrack will be very loud. But small indoor tracks do exist that have solved these problems. The main issue for a NASCAR track would be cost."

"A dome of one mile track was proposed in Connecticut with a cost of $400 million in 2004. A roof of Bristol Motor Speedway at half a mile is actually feasible. It would come at the cost of $80 million. The key would be not fully enclosing the track, giving emissions and sound a place to go but this idea would be way too expensive at some of the larger tracks, such as Talladega at over two and a half miles."

NASCAR conducts over 90 races annually in over 25 different tracks (in 2024, a total of 92 races took place across all three NASCAR national series races.) Therefore, one can understand why it is not possible to have all the races indoors due to financial issues.

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Joe Gibbs Racing lifted ban on drivers racing in different series

For years, Joe Gibbs Racing did not allow its drivers to take part in racing other than NASCAR. Primarily pointing towards a safety issue, the Joe Gibbs-owned team always wanted the drivers to remain focused on stock car racing, but recently they had a change of heart.

Joe Gibbs Racing owner Joe Gibbs - Source: Imagn

Explaining the change, the team's co-owner Joe Gibbs told The Athletic:

"We sort of talked things over to come up with a process by which they can request to run certain races. If they get approval from everyone they need on our competition side, then they are free to run the race. That includes dirt, but also potentially other forms of racing."

Several Joe Gibbs Racing drivers will take part in the upcoming Chili Bowl Nationals that will take place in Tulsa, Oklahoma in January. Besides Gibbs' grandson Ty Gibbs, JGR drivers Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe will also take part alongside Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, J.J. Yeley and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.