What Happened to Normal Race Distances?

I got a little queasy when I learned that this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas is called the “Shelby 427″.  As in… “427 miles”.  You’ve got to be kidding me.  Apparently Carroll Shelby’s company is sponsoring the race, whose distance now honors his 427 Cobra.

Now I understand the importance of sponsorship in motorsports, and enthusiastic sponsors are great, but hasn’t it gotten a bit out of hand lately?  We’re changing race distances to match sponsor promotions?  Like the Aaron’s 312.  Instead of 300 miles, it’s 312 to help promote the sponsor’s slogan.  Same with the Aaron’s 499 (though the race actually remains 500 miles).

When race distances are changed on a whim to meet sponsor slogans I really think it’s time to take a step back, take a deep breath, and ask ourselves if integrity should be permitted to play any role in this sport at all.

Fans already feel like they’re being fed a four-hour commercial.  Enough is enough, let us have some stability… for a change.