Kenny Wallace made a strong statement after Saturday’s race. Anticipation had been building as NASCAR approached its final Round of 16 event. Fans were eager to witness another thrilling tire management race like the one in the Spring. However, NASCAR’s attempt to tame Thunder Valley and cater to fans’ excitement fell short. Kyle Larson dominated all stages and took the victory.
This triggered a wave of critical comments on social media, with fans blaming Goodyear for its shortcomings. The negativity struck a nerve with Larson, who responded with blunt honesty. His bold approach earned the support of a well-known NASCAR veteran.
Kyle Larson wins Wallace’s backing
The contrast between the two races was significant. Even though NASCAR applied resin to Bristol Motor Speedway for both events, the racing outcomes were vastly different. In the Spring, drivers suffered tire blowouts after 40-50 laps, leading to 54 lead changes.
The Fall, however, was a different scenario. Tires lasted over 100-150 laps, and there were only eight lead changes, as no one could challenge Larson. He won by 7.088 seconds—the largest margin at the short track since Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s 7.63-second win in 1994.
This outcome sparked boos from fans, with only 27.7% voting in favor of the race at Bristol. Larson, however, defended Goodyear, saying, “I don’t have the answer to fix what we currently have, and neither do you, but please stop blaming Goodyear. It’s not a tire problem.”
The debate didn’t end there. Larson continued to engage with critical fans, prompting Kenny Wallace to step in. Wallace tweeted, “When race fans start arguing with @KyleLarsonRacin here on X that he is wrong, IS WHEN PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR MINDS. We are and have been in a ‘changed society’ (for the worse) over the last 15 years or so.”
Fans seem to be missing the bigger issue. As some experts have pointed out, Goodyear has been trying to help NASCAR address a broader problem. Boring races have become more common since the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022. With reduced horsepower and standardized parts, drivers are less able to showcase their individual skills.
Once again, Larson dismissed the criticism, saying, “Temper your expectations. We’re driving spec race cars.” Even Denny Hamlin, one of his Cup Series rivals, expressed a similar sentiment.
The problem is clear to the Cup drivers.
Like in the Spring, NASCAR officials admitted to being “baffled” by the results of the Fall race. It seems Bristol’s unpredictability continues to elude their control. Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s senior VP of competition, expressed his confusion after the Bass Pro Shops Night Race.
“We thought we had a recipe from the Spring that gave us what we’re looking for in short-track racing, putting tire management back in the driver’s hands.” While this approach worked somewhat at Richmond and Watkins Glen, the All-Star Race was another lackluster event.
Larson noted that it has “ALWAYS been tough to pass” at Bristol, whether with “900 hp all the way down to 650 hp or less.” But Hamlin is less forgiving. He blamed the Next Gen car’s mechanical limitations. “It is a car problem,” Hamlin said.
“We’re trying to fix it with tires because that’s the most cost-effective solution. As a car owner, I don’t want to invest in more parts or changes for the Next Gen car. We’re already struggling to keep up with the current modifications.”
Clearly, Cup Series drivers are growing frustrated with the Next Gen car. If NASCAR doesn’t address the issue soon, more disappointing races like Bristol could be on the horizon.
