Interestingly, over a quarter of the 2021 schedule is made up of road courses. Many NASCAR fans as of today are a bit nervous that we might be heading towards a schedule with nearly as many right-handers as ovals. Although it's really easy to poke fun at the sport, running ovals is what sets us apart (plus, may I add, no one ever points out that NHRA races in a straight line).
As far as I can determine, the real reason oval racing was so popular in NASCAR's early days was because it kept the action in front of paying spectators. The moonshine couriers who gave rise to NASCAR were strictly road racers. Spectators can only see a small portion of the racing on lengthy road courses such as Watkins Glen. The current trend towards rovals allows for road racing while keeping the action in front of the crowd. I have found this modified road racing very entertaining and i hope the trend continues.