Kyle Larson drew flak from NASCAR fans for calling Cup Series races ‘too long’. He echoed the sentiment of IndyCar legend Scott Dixon, who quipped that such races allow for a nap.
NASCAR often runs three-hour races on its shortest ovals, while crown jewel events like the Coke 600 can go up to four hours. This year, a weather-delayed Echopark night race saw a three-hour red flag and ultimately ended close to 2 AM.
In a recent media conference at Indianapolis, Larson shared his thoughts on race lengths.
“Yes I agree a lot of our Cup races are too long. The way that the world has kind of gone, you know, how people consume sports. I definitely think our races are too long. Three hours is too long,” he said.
Here are some fan reactions to Larson’s comment:
Denny Hamlin recently blasted NASCAR’s race lengths in an expletive-filled radio rant at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The 450-event finished under three hours, but the 0.625-mile short track required relentless concentration with its heavy braking and near-constant turning.
The duration ultimately wears down drivers, who also complained during The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. The season-opening exhibition event saw 17 caution periods and took more than two hours to complete just 50 miles.
Runner-up finisher William Byron called it a ‘marathon’ of a race, while race winner Ryan Preece vented over the radio as well.
NASCAR’s Clash could return to Daytona after six-year hiatus
Reports indicate that NASCAR’s Clash could return to Daytona International Speedway for 2027. The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi shared the speculation and hinted that final talks are happening with a new event sponsor.
The Clash was held at the LA Coliseum for three years from 2021 onwards, before moving to Bowman Gray Stadium in 2025. The return to Daytona will bring back the iconic Speedweeks tradition, featuring consecutive days of on-track action.
Bowman Gray’s hosting gig became doubtful after a severe snowstorm postponed this year’s race by three days. The event saw low viewership numbers, which further declined when the broadcast was shifted to FS2 in the final segments.
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