Kyle Larson, the victor of Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol, took to social media on Monday to share his thoughts on a recent poll that assessed fan opinions on the race’s quality. The 2021 Cup Series champion expressed concerns that the poll results were significantly influenced by the race’s outcome, rather than the actual racing itself.
Motorsports journalist Jeff Gluck, who contributes to The Athletic, is known for conducting a poll on his personal X account after each Cup Series event, asking fans whether they believed the race was good or not. On Monday, Gluck revealed that only 27.2 percent of voters deemed Saturday’s race enjoyable, marking the lowest approval rating for any Bristol race in his polling history. He also highlighted that it ranked 55th out of 56 short track races and placed last among Larson’s 31 career victories.
In response to Gluck’s findings, Larson voiced his dissatisfaction, emphasizing that had the race included two overtime restarts and resulted in his loss after leading for more than 400 laps, the fans’ perception would likely have been very different. He remarked, “If I had led 450 laps but lost due to two overtime restarts, I guarantee the percentages would be reversed. That’s just how our fan base is.”
Larson’s comments prompted an extensive reaction online, amassing over 200 responses. Michael Waltrip, a former NASCAR driver and current NASCAR on FOX analyst, weighed in by suggesting that the issue might not lie with NASCAR fans themselves, but rather with the platform used for polling. “That’s the internet,” he noted.
Many fans clarified that their votes were not influenced by Larson’s dominant performance but were instead a reflection of the overall racing quality, expressing disappointment regarding the difficulty drivers had in overtaking one another during the race. One fan articulated, “Respectfully, I disagree. My vote was based on the racing throughout the field, not your dominance.” Another added, “The passing just wasn’t good; it has nothing to do with you.”
Conversely, some supporters of the 31-time Cup Series winner defended him, with one fan stating, “I loved the race. #TeamLarson,” while another encouraged him, saying, “Don’t worry about it, Kyle. Just keep up the good work and keep doing your thing.”
Larson’s victory at Bristol was notable for its historical significance. Driving his #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, he led an impressive 462 out of 500 laps, the fourth-highest number of laps led in a single race at the track, and the most since Cale Yarborough’s 495 laps led in 1977. This win secured Larson a place in the upcoming Round of 12, which begins this Sunday in Kansas. With five wins this season—including victories at Las Vegas, Kansas, Sonoma, Indianapolis, and Bristol—Larson is having an exceptional year.
