Kyle Larson dominated the recent NASCAR playoff event at Bristol Motor Speedway, leading 462 of the 500 laps. However, his victory was overshadowed by the criticism that came from fans following the race due to it being so uneventful.
These comments mostly targeted Goodyear as they blamed the manufacturer for offering tires that contributed to the dull race that consisted of only 8 lead changes, compared to the regular season race at the same track which boasted 54 and a high amount of tire wear that contributed to this.
Larson has now spoken out in defense of the tire brand, admitting that the issue doesn’t directly stem from them.
Amid the aftermath, several NASCAR enthusiasts took to social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, to express their frustrations. Larson, however, dismissed these criticisms by addressing the multifaceted nature of the problem.
Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates with the gladiator sword in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 21, 2024 in Bristol, Tennessee. Larson speaks out over the recent questions Goodyear.
James Gilbert/Getty Images
“Everybody wants to blame Goodyear and everybody’s got the answers,” Larson told RACER. “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 continued to stress that the entire NASCAR community, including the drivers, teams, and engineers, are grappling with these challenges collectively.
“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.”
The root of these frustrations lies in the performance of NASCAR’s Next-Gen cars, particularly on short tracks like Bristol. The disparity in tire behavior and race dynamics between the regular season and the current playoff campaigns has proven significant inadequacies, especially regarding the cars’ performance in traffic.
Larson highlighted these issues in his defense of Goodyear, suggesting that it is misguided to single out the tire manufacturer for the broader problem.
“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,” he admitted.
It will be crucial for NASCAR to address these concerns comprehensively. With the Next-Gen cars continuing to present unique challenges, there is a significant opportunity for evolution in race strategy, car design, and tire performance.
NASCAR Kansas Speedway Schedule
Friday, September 27
1.10pm ET: ARCA Menards Series – Practice
2.10pm ET: ARCA Menards Series – Qualifying
3.30pm ET: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Practice
4pm ET: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Qualifying
5.30pm ET: ARCA Menards Series – Reese’s 150
8.30pm ET: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Kubota Tractor 200
Saturday, September 28
11.05am ET: NASCAR Xfinity Series – Practice
11.35am ET: NASCAR Xfinity Series – Qualifying
1.05pm ET: NASCAR Cup Series – Practice
1.45pm ET: NASCAR Cup Series – Qualifying
4pm ET: NASCAR Xfinity Series – Kansas Lottery 300
Sunday, September 29
3pm ET: NASCAR Cup Series – Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN BET
