Why are NASCAR races so long?

Question

I am not a NASCAR hater by any means, and do not want any answering this question. What Im looking for is an actual tactical reason (preferrably with a source) as to why they race 500 laps, and not 200, or 100 or 50?
Just to clarify, answers like "because its stupid" are not the types I am looking for.

Answer 1

It increases the necessary endurance level of the racers. If you have tried to drive cross country for hours on end you will know a little about it. just try to drive that distance without a/c, radio, bathroom breaks, rest stops, food, the ability to shift in your seat, a seat as hard as a rock, and other drivers who are trying to pass you with only inches to spare if they give you that much room.

Answer 2

They do 200 hundred instead of 100 for the same reason why basketball games are one hour, and not 45 minutes, or why an NFL game is an hour and a half, and not just an hour, it's just what they decide how long the game to be.
In NASCAR, Daytona 500 for example is 200 laps, which equals 500 miles. They just like that number of 500. If u think it's to long, then don't watch it. NASCAR is a great American industry. Go # 8

Answer 3

Another reasion is the NASCAR fear facter. They throw the yellow everytime something bigger then a bug gets on the track and everytime a car gets a bit sideways. It used to be race till the checkered flag unless it was a really bad wreck and the best man wins. Maybe all the new yellow flag rules are to allow room for commercials and woman interviewers in fire suits to bug the drivers. Maybe if they wore cheerleader type suits they would be more interesting. But at any rate, NASCAR safety rules and commercials are killing the race.

Answer 4

It depends on the series, the cup races are 400 - 500 miles whilst the Busch series races and truck races are 200 = 250 miles.
When you get down to the regional series they are around 100 miles.
So the higher you go in the stakes, the longer and further you have to drive.

Answer 5

I would say because of all the pit stops and crashes. Plus they have to do like over 200 laps each time. It's even longer if there's a rain delay, or a crash so bad that they have to stop the cars on the track to clean it up.

Answer 6

I think that the do a certain number of miles per track so on a really short track they so 600 laps and at big track they do 200. That's what my husband says. But it is also for endurance and strategy.
I think they are so long so my hubby can drink more beer brought to him by me..... He only drinks on race days......
Yeah he "drives" me crazy

Answer 7

its all about who has teh best CAR< DRIVER AND TEAM. its a race of stamina, for both car and man. it takes a lot of energy to drive a race car. ever take a long trip. get restless and have to stop a few times. i watch nascar. but only the first 20 laps and the last 20........thats when all the cool **** happens

Answer 8

they dont usually do 500 laps, unless they are at a place like bristol or martinsville.

they do 500 miles a few times, 600 once, and 400 quite a few times, because part of being a champ is endurance, be it driver or car endurance.

Answer 9

I look at it at the spectators point of view... We spend almost 200.00 on our seats to go to the race.. do you think that we would take the time and spend the money on something that was only gonna last for a couple of hours? Takes that long just to get out of the track. would be awful boring without cautions...(accidents)

Answer 10

well i dont like racing but this is my opinion. i think that the reason they race so many laps is so more action can occur during the course of the race. like more wrecks and position switching. stuff like that. i think