Kyle Larson dominated the recent NASCAR playoff race at Bristol Motor Speedway, leading an impressive 462 of the 500 laps.
However, his victory was marred by criticism from fans who found the race uneventful. Many blamed Goodyear, claiming the tires contributed to the lackluster action, with only 8 lead changes compared to 54 during the regular season race at the same track, where higher tire wear played a role.
In response, Larson has come to Goodyear’s defense, arguing the issue isn’t solely with the tire manufacturer. Following the race, several NASCAR fans took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to vent their frustrations, but Larson dismissed these critiques, emphasizing that the problem is far more complex.
“Everyone wants to blame Goodyear and act like they know the solution,” Larson told RACER. “The truth is, no one really has the answers—neither Goodyear nor NASCAR. The cars just aren’t performing well in traffic, and no one knows exactly why.”
Larson went on to express that it’s a shared challenge for the entire NASCAR community—drivers, teams, and engineers alike. He emphasized that his remarks weren’t about defending his dominant win but about standing up for the sport and Goodyear, who, in his view, unfairly take the blame for poor race quality.
“It’s frustrating, but the problem isn’t Goodyear,” Larson added. “They get blamed every week like they’re the reason the racing isn’t exciting, but that’s just not the case.”
As NASCAR continues to grapple with the challenges posed by the Next-Gen cars, addressing fan concerns and evolving race strategy, car design, and tire performance will be crucial to improving the overall racing experience.
