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via Imago

via Imago

Exciting times are coming! With fans complaining of NASCAR becoming too bland and races getting boring, it seems the stock car racing organization is finally making some changes to keep their name intact, much to Denny Hamlin‘s delight, who had already proposed similar changes way back in 2o23.

But, perhaps the happiest of it all is Hamlin’s frenemy, Kyle Larson, who promptly took to social media to express his excitement over the news. However, the Hendrick Motorsports driver’s comments ignited some reaction within the racing community instead, with fans voicing their opinions on Larson’s financial plans and the implications of Hamlin’s vision turning into a reality.

2025 will be an exciting year!

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In classic NASCAR style, the organization has succeeded in garnering the community’s attention with a bombshell announcement. Revealing the inclusion of an “in-season, bracket style” tournament starting 2025, the stock car racing organization is supposedly aiming to add additional excitement and significance to the schedule with this innovative format. Reportedly set to flaunt a $1 million prize purse,

“With the launch of our new media rights partnerships in 2025, we were excited to partner with Prime Video and TNT Sports to collaborate on fan engagement concepts that drive story lines in our sport and innovation from a production perspective…Having head-to-head driver matchups for each one of TNT’s NASCAR Cup Series races will add a compelling fan engagement element across media platforms like TNT, Bleacher Report, House of Highlights and NASCAR digital platforms,” the official press release stated.

However, this was a long time coming with Denny Hamlin already proposing an innovative concept for an in-season tournament on his podcast last year. “I have a fix. We’re going to have a bracket challenge. You have 10 weeks to get yourself in the top 32 in points. Five weeks in a row where you have a head-to-head competition and you’re seeded based off on where you are in points at week 10. So the number one seed is whoever’s first in points, they will be going up against the 32nd-placed guy in points this week. So on, so forth,” he had mentioned at the time.

The driver had also explained how the tournament would work and hinted at a potential shift in the regular season dynamics, adding an element of excitement and competitiveness for both racers and the fans.

So, naturally, with the announcement, both parties jumped in to express their opinions. And among them was Kyle Larson. Sharing the tweet, the #5 had written a short yet exhilarating message proclaiming his readiness. “LFG,”(Let’s F**king Go) read the post. But it seems, fans weren’t as ready for the change as they shared their doubts over the happening. Some even made some hilarious digs at Larson, reminding the community about his affinity to winning and some good ol’ cash.

Kyle Larson’s Celebration of Denny Hamlin’s Vision Sparks Financial Critiques from NASCAR Fans

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Fans were reminded of Kyle Larson’s moniker ‘Yung Money’ with the update, and some didn’t forget to make a mention of that either. While the nickname was given because of his talent behind the wheel, the money part isn’t lost on fans, with one writing, “They call you Yung Money for a reason, get after it and win the $1 million”.

Another fan simply commented with a GIF captioning it “more money”, while a another user wrote, “Kyle stop taking all the money lmao”. Well, if we look at it, fans’ concerns aren’t invalid as Larson, evidently, has an affinity for garnering prize money with his dominating performances. From NASCAR to dirt track racing, to now IndyCar, there’s hardly any track that the HMS driver hasn’t competed in.

USA Today via Reuters

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However, while most fans took it in stride, there were also some that were more concerned about the tournament’s implications. “Its a cheap trick to generate some additional interest in the sport. I get that and dont have a problem with it but I dont take it seriously. Ill care more about the winning drivers in each of those 5 races than whomever wins the “tournament”, wrote one fan wrote while suggesting a level of indifference towards the new format, implying that it may not be viewed as a true measure of success.

Despite being a popular figure in the sport, the online community began to mention Hamlin for his futuristic prediction. While fans appreciated the efforts to enhance the sport’s appeal, they may also questioned it. So, which side are you on?