Kyle Larson delivered a dominant performance at Bristol, leading 462 out of 500 laps to claim victory in the NASCAR Cup Series race. Despite his impressive win, the race left many fans dissatisfied, especially given that drivers like Martin Truex Jr. struggled to compete. The race’s lack of excitement was largely blamed on factors like minimal tire wear, which made overtaking nearly impossible, leaving the competition feeling one-sided.
Larson, the 32-year-old driver from California, piloted his No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro for Hendrick Motorsports to yet another victory, bringing his career NASCAR Cup Series win count to 28. This latest win at the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol added to his impressive resume. However, the success of Larson was overshadowed by the frustrations voiced by fans, who found the race to be far from thrilling.
NASCAR journalist Jeff Gluck ran a poll on X (formerly known as Twitter) asking fans if they thought the Bristol race was enjoyable. The feedback was overwhelmingly negative, with many fans expressing their disappointment.
One fan highlighted Martin Truex Jr.’s struggle after receiving a penalty for speeding in the pit lane. Truex had been running in the top five but couldn’t recover after the setback, finishing outside the top 20. This highlighted the issue of cars being unable to pass, which fans found frustrating.
“No. We want a car that can actually pass. This is embarrassing. Truex was a great example. He ran in the top 4-5 all race, then got penalized and couldn’t do anything to get back inside the top 20 afterward. It would be more fun watching Truex pass his way through the field in the Gen 6, like they were able to, compared to this glorified parade lap we get at short tracks with this car. The real race at short tracks is off pit road, since it’s the only place they can pass,” said one fan.
Other fans were even more blunt. “The race was poop,” one fan commented. Another expressed, “One of the few races I will vote no for. What a disappointing experience.”
Many fans pointed to the lack of tire degradation and horsepower as key factors that made the race uneventful. “The world’s greatest driver dominated, but with no tire fall-off, no passing, and a snooze fest minus the scheduled Corey Lajoie caution,” one user wrote.
The conversation about NASCAR’s Next Gen cars became a central point of frustration for fans. “Man, if THAT race doesn’t tell NASCAR that their precious Next Gen needs more horsepower and a softer tire, nothing will,” another fan added. Some even blamed the car’s design rather than the tires. “I’m sick of hearing people in the industry blaming Goodyear for the racing. Everything comes back to this awful race car. Just put more horsepower at short tracks,” a fan argued.
These criticisms were echoed by Denny Hamlin’s crew chief, Chris Gabehart, who spoke about the race’s quality during a post-race interview with Matt Weaver. Gabehart was frank in his assessment, explaining that the design of the Next Gen cars makes it difficult to expect thrilling races at tracks like Bristol.
“It’s too easy to drive, they [the cars] are too close, and you’re not gonna ask for much better racing. I’m sorry, you’re not,” Gabehart explained. He was candid about the future of racing at Bristol, remarking, “The days of the old Bristol are over with this car.”
While Hamlin managed to finish in fourth place, securing enough points to advance to the next round of the NASCAR playoffs, Truex wasn’t as fortunate. He was eliminated from the playoffs, along with Ty Gibbs, Brad Keselowski, and Harrison Burton, bringing an end to their championship hopes for this season.
Despite the controversy and fan backlash, the NASCAR Cup Series will move forward, with the next race set to take place at Kansas Speedway on September 29. This marks the first race in the Round of 12, where drivers will once again battle for a spot in the next stage of the playoffs.
Though Larson’s domination at Bristol was impressive, the race left much to be desired for fans who hoped for more competitive and thrilling action. The calls for changes to NASCAR’s Next Gen cars, including more horsepower and tire degradation, are only growing louder. Whether the organization will make these changes remains to be seen, but it’s clear that fans are craving more excitement on the track.
