NASCAR Driver Claps Back At Fanbase Criticizing Saturday Night's Race
Kyle Larson eliminated any drama when cruising to a breezy win at Bristol Motor Speedway.
During Saturday night's NASCAR Cup Series playoff race, Larson led for 462 of 500 laps. The 32-year-old finished more than seven seconds ahead of Chase Elliott to comfortably secure a spot in the Round of 12.
Afterward, The Athletic's Jeff Gluck asked a simple question to fans on social media: "Was Bristol a good race?" Among 31,203 respondents, just 27.8 percent voted "yes."
Gluck, who runs the same poll after each race, noted that it was the least popular of 19 surveyed Bristol races. None of those other events garnered an approval rating below 50 percent.
Of course, Larson has more reason to feel Saturday was a great race. He responded to Gluck's results by challenging NASCAR fans for preferring chaos.
"Lead 450 laps but have 2 overtime restarts and lose, and I guarantee the percentage is flip flopped," Larson wrote. "That’s our fan base."
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, UNITED STATES - 2024/05/14: Kyle Larson, of team Arrow McClaren/Rick Hendrick, (17) seen during the first day of practice for the Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Desiring a closer competition isn't exactly exclusive to NASCAR fans. Besides whoever's cheering for the losing side, who doesn't love a nail-biting finish?
The poll also doesn't appear to show any personal resentment toward Larson. Gluck noted that Saturday was the lowest-ranked of the driver's 31 victories.
Luckily for Larson, popularity points aren't factored into the playoff formula. He enters the next stage as the top seed with a 39-point edge over Austin Cindric, the ninth-place driver before the next three races cut the field from 12 to eight.
Larson would probably gladly take another convincing but unpopular win this Sunday at Kansas Speedway.
