NASCAR Fans Ruthlessly Bash a Lackluster Phoenix Race to Declare “It Needs to Go”

NASCAR enthusiasts from the local area and across the nation flocked to Phoenix Raceway on Sunday for the Shriners Children’s 500. This event marked the sixth straight Cup Series race at Phoenix to sell out, drawing crowds by the thousands. Fans were everywhere – in the stands, around the infield, and even perched on a nearby hillside to catch all the excitement. Among the crowd were Hanson and his dad, Gary, representing the longstanding tradition of NASCAR fandom in their family.

Then there were Kenny and Marilee Miller, who traveled all the way from California just for the race. But, despite the buzz, quite a few fans felt the race dragged a bit, possibly due to the new short track package introduced at Phoenix, a track known for its lack of sharp turns.

First off, Phoenix isn’t exactly a short track, yet they went ahead and slapped a short track package on the cars. Add to that, drivers chiming in about not feeling any difference in the car’s aerodynamics, and you’ve got fans bracing for a yawn fest with cars playing follow the leader instead of passing.

Despite some grumbles about Phoenix hosting the big season wrap-up, turns out the stands were jam-packed – a sellout crowd. NASCAR’s been on a bit of a hot streak with viewership ticking up, starting the season with those bumper-to-bumper superspeedway races, then switching gears to an intermediate track. Let’s just say it wasn’t expected to match the thrill of the openers for sure.

Another weekend, another chorus of gripes from fans on social media about missing out on live action thanks to a barrage of full-blown ads. Just when the on-track drama was at its peak, with leaders vying for position or key racers hitting snags, FOX would often switch to commercials, only to gloss over these crucial moments upon returning.

And let’s not forget the first stage of the race, where Ty Gibbs and Erik Jones were neck and neck for the lead. Fans were quick to vent on social media about FOX’s questionable call to jump to a commercial break just as the tension was ramping up. So, while these might be some reasons fans weren’t all too thrilled about the race, they sure had plenty more to say about it on their own.

Post race poll leads to fans venting about the Phoenix race

Right after Jeff Gluck dropped a poll on Twitter to gauge how fans felt about the Phoenix race, NASCAR loyalists didn’t hold back in the comments. One chimed in, “Nope, but maybe with 100 more HP, it would’ve been!”

Another critic, not pulling any punches with respect to the mix of short tracks and the new-gen cars, remarked, “Like all of the short track races since the next-gen came to be, this was a total snoozefest. Amenities be damned, this place is not a good one for the championship weekend.” Some fans didn’t mince words, saying things like, “IT WAS TERRIBLE!,” “Absolutely terrible,” and “Not awful but needs something.”

Then there were those pointing fingers at the short track package, commenting,  “I watched some of the race and it seemed like little to passing. When I listened on the radio, they kept talking about multiple battles taking place while the leader set sail. I blame Fox production for not highlighting battles going on while the leader had a large lead” and “No. I’ll wait and see about the short track package next week. But @phoenixraceway is horrible and it needs to go.”

And these opinions flew even though Christopher Bell clinched Joe Gibbs Racing’s first victory of 2024, fighting his way from 20th to the front on the last restart.

Read More: The Newest Package Could Just Solve NASCAR’s Short Track Woes

How did you feel about the Phoenix race? Drop your thoughts below.