It’s been almost a year since Ricky Stenhouse Jr. walked into Kyle Busch’s garage and punched him in the face. That chaotic moment after the 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro wasn’t just the most talked-about scene of the night—it was the only moment fans remembered. The race itself? A parade. Joey Logano led 199 of 200 laps as the race had no battles. No drama. No action.

However, fans made the fight between Stenhouse and Busch the unofficial highlight of NASCAR’s big midseason show. After Busch wrecked him early in the race, Stenhouse Jr. parked in his pit stall and shouted at his crew. As soon as the checkered flag dropped, Stenhouse—wearing shorts and a t-shirt—waited for Busch in the garage and threw a right hook. Chaos erupted. Stenhouse’s dad joined the fray. At the end, NASCAR handed Stenhouse Jr a record $75,000 fine.

It was messy, unprofessional, and absolutely electric—exactly what fans ended up remembering from an otherwise dull 200-lap race where Joey Logano led 199 of them. And if you ask around, that garage fight might have been the only thing people were still talking about the next morning. So, in 2025, with the memory of boos and boredom fresh in the air, NASCAR is trying to inject life into the All-Star Race. Again. But this time, fans aren’t just unimpressed—they’re angry.

NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports rolled out the red carpet for their 2025 All-Star Race format with grand promises of “innovation.” Set again at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 18, the event now expands to 250 laps. That’s 50 more than last year. There’s a new Manufacturer Showdown where Ford, Toyota, and Chevy battle for brand bragging rights. But the most talked-about change? The Promoter’s Caution.

According to NASCAR, this idea came from late Speedway Motorsports founder Bruton Smith, who once said planned cautions “spice up the racing.” NASCAR now calls this “pushing the envelope.” Notably, it is optional and must be used before lap 220. If a natural caution comes after lap 200, it’s off the table. NASCAR says it’s about creating late-race drama. However, fans are calling it a joke.

One fan wrote, “Basically an official admission that the Cup car sucks at Wilkesboro with the promoter caution.” It’s hard to argue. In 2024, passing was so rare that Richard Petty publicly criticized the lack of horsepower. He recalled Joey Logano trying to lap Bubba Wallace but failing for multiple laps despite being faster. “The cars don’t have any go in ‘em,” Petty said bluntly. Many fans agree. They’re not buying what NASCAR is selling.

Notably, Drivers have been sounding the alarm, too. Joey Logano, despite winning last year’s race, said it was tough to pass. Even Dale Earnhardt Jr. said the track surface was great, but he wanted “more action at the front.” Instead of listening, NASCAR once again opted for band-aid solutions and gimmicks. Many in the sport believe the real problem is the Next Gen car’s low horsepower and the inability to race side-by-side. That’s what turned last year’s All-Star event into a glorified test session.

Last year, Richard Petty, Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin all made the same demand: more horsepower. Fans joined in. They want the racing back. They want drivers to be able to race, not follow the leader lap after lap. But NASCAR responded with optional cautions and manufacturer point systems. Many believe that the promoter’s caution may shake things up late, but it doesn’t solve the deeper issue. NASCAR can try to script a finish, but it can’t fake real competition.

Fans brutally troll NASCAR

Fans didn’t hold back after NASCAR revealed the 2025 All-Star Race format. Social media lit up with frustration, sarcasm, and disappointment. And most of it zeroed in on the Promoter’s Caution. “Just call it a debris caution like you’ve been doing for years,” one fan posted on social media, calling out what they see as NASCAR’s long history of throwing “mystery yellows” to keep races close. A debris caution was thrown at Darlington Raceway after a lug nut from Brad Keselowski’s car flew off the wheel. Well, that too caused a huge controversy, and with a rebranding, NASCAR might have opened the door for more controversial incidents for the All-Star race.

Another fan added, “This is basically an official admission that the Cup car sucks at Wilkesboro.” The short-track package of the current Next Gen car—low horsepower, high downforce—has been widely criticized for killing competitive racing. They did try the option tire experiment last year at the All-Star race itself, but again, it wasn’t a huge success. NASCAR themselves scrapped the tire use in 2025, and now they are hoping that competition caution will somehow improve racing. Manufacturing late race drama has never been appreciated by the fans, yet the sanctioning body keeps at it. Meanwhile, many fans feel the unique identity of the All-Star Race is gone. “If you throw a comp caution, then what’s the difference? It’s just a three-stage race with a new name,” one fan posted.

Others noted how this turns what should be a raw, competitive showcase into a scripted mess. No one’s fooled by planned chaos. What fans want is organic drama—side-by-side battles, bold passes, and real stakes racing. A user wrote, “What a joke of a series.” With the All-Star Race less than a month away, NASCAR faces a growing trust problem. Promises of excitement ring hollow when the product on the track doesn’t deliver.