Hendrick Motorsports star and 2021 NASCAR Cup champion Kyle Larson has spoken out against the ongoing criticism surrounding the Next-Gen car’s poor performance on short tracks, specifically pointing out that no one—drivers, teams, or even NASCAR itself—has the right solution to fix the issue. Larson’s comments come in the wake of last week’s lackluster playoff race at Bristol Motor Speedway, where he led a dominant 462 of the 500 laps in a race that featured just eight lead changes.
The contrast between this race and the regular season event at Bristol, which saw over 54 lead changes due to significant tire wear, has sparked renewed debate about the Next-Gen car’s suitability for short track racing. Fans and critics were quick to label the race as boring, with many pointing fingers at Goodyear for providing inadequate tires. Larson, however, fiercely defended the tire manufacturer, insisting that the blame is misplaced.
“Everybody wants to blame Goodyear and everybody’s got the answers. Nobody has the answers. Goodyear doesn’t have the answer. NASCAR doesn’t have the answer about their car and why it doesn’t run good in traffic,” Larson stated, emphasizing that the problem is more complex than just tire performance.
He further pointed out that even drivers, teams, and engineers, who have been vocal about needing softer tires or increased horsepower, are essentially shooting in the dark without concrete solutions. Larson’s frustration reflects the broader struggle within NASCAR to improve racing quality, particularly on short tracks where the Next-Gen car has consistently underwhelmed.
“Us — the drivers and the teams and engineers — we don’t have the answer either. So, I don’t know. It’s hard to have opinions, and hard when you don’t have the facts to back anything up,” Larson added, highlighting the lack of a clear path forward despite widespread criticism.
The backlash on social media over the race spurred Larson to post several messages on X (formerly Twitter), expressing his frustration and calling for respect towards the sport. Addressing his online outbursts, Larson clarified that his intent was not just to defend his own performance but also to protect Goodyear, which he feels is unfairly scapegoated for the racing issues.
“It’s just frustration. And it’s not like I’m defending our dominating run; I’m just in a way trying to defend our sport and defend Goodyear, because they get such a bad rap every week like they’re the problem of why our racing sucks. It’s not them,” Larson said.
Larson’s passionate defense underscores his commitment to the sport and his desire to see it improve. His remarks challenge the NASCAR community to take a more measured approach to criticism and acknowledge the complexity of the issues at hand. As the Next-Gen car continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether Larson’s insights will shift fan perspectives or prompt meaningful changes in the approach to short track racing in the 2024 season and beyond.
