Was the 2023 Talladega Race Really That BAD?

Talladega Superspeedway may be both one of the most famous NASCAR tracks and also one of the most controversial ones at that. The 2023 running of the GEICO 500 would end up being no different in that respect but the reasonings and vitriol may be either unwarranted or maybe a bit surprising as many fans were upset with the overall quality of this event. So today I want to look all into this and ask Was the 2023 Talladega race really that bad? (Spoiler alert, I really don’t think so)
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Outro Song:
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#NASCAR #Motorsports #racing

[@TheIceberg]

Did you like the 2023 Talladega race?

[@muhammadwahyuhidayat21498]

Yes,of course Kyle Busch is the winner at Talladega for number 8 after The Triple Overtime race.

[@averyalford2400]

Hell yeah!

[@twister1296]

Hell yeah

[@garyyyy]

hell yeah thought it was a pretty entertaining race! not sure why its getting so much hate?

[@joshuapboston1999]

I did.

[@chasecalhoun415]

Whoever thinks that race was boring is crazy. 2 and 3 wide racing all day. Wasn’t just a high line one lane train like other races. Over 50 lead changes. A bunch of aggressive pushing and shoving. Was far from boring. I personally loved this race

[@Dougie1969]

It was great for Talladega, I've never been a big fan of pretty much any superspeedway. But yes a definite top 10 out of all the Talladega races I've seen.

[@JerryTanner_jereth]

It was just 2 conga lines that couldn’t move. Do you like driving in traffic when you can’t move? Parity is killing the on track product. Y’all just think that a good race is just when everyone is close to each other. Simply high speed parade laps..

[@manueltjuhh3807]

@@JerryTanner_jereth You crazy lol

[@ryanespinoza7297]

It was the same top 4 cars in 2 lanes trading the lead. It was 2 freight trains instead of 1. It’s still just as entertaining. I fell asleep

[@greatness1438]

@@JerryTanner_jereth you’re right, instead of parity we should go back to the 2000 or so where 5 drivers would lead laps throughout the entire thing. Much more entertaining! 🙄

[@NR_88]

If you thought yesterday was boring, wait until you find the 2018 talladega races.

[@polycube868]

Especially the 2018 fall race, that was BORING!

[@D_T_S_V]

It’s not bad, idk why the package was called bad. Side by side racing throughout, lead changes a few times, and if everyone wrecked, you would have still complained

[@diychad7268]

A few times?? Over 50 lead changes is hardly "few" lol

[@JerryTanner_jereth]

Take time out to watch the full 1984 Winston 500 and learn about the conditions the drivers endured back then and how the cars were configured. Then watch yesterday’s race again..

[@scsstopmotions989]

Or the 1982 race

[@danielchai6145]

@@JerryTanner_jereth talladega and Daytona before pack racing were boring asf

[@FunkhouserDRL]

​@@diychad7268 There were so many lead changes because this car creates so much drag. If you get out front or if you get out of line you might as well have dropped an anchor. The majority of this race was two trains of cars. The third line could never last. Go back to the gen 4 car and watch them race almost 5 wide cars were passing each other left and right.

[@matthewvanhook2935]

I feel like the same people that say this race was bad are the same that get mad about races where over half the fields gets taken out. It wasn’t single file and was a good race

[@KR_Diecasts]

I’m just glad everyone who was involved in stuff yesterday made it out fine. Especially after what we saw in the Xfinity race.

[@DennisStansfield]

It’s not a rave we’ll remember 10-15 years from now, but it was fairly good. We don’t need three wide every lap. With that said, some tweaks need to be made.

[@dexterhochstetler3727]

At least there weren't two big ones that knocked out half the field.

[@DennisStansfield]

@@dexterhochstetler3727 exactly! The only big one was on the final OT going for the win. Can’t be mad at that

[@erikeidsmoe6165]

I'll remember every second of this race, I got to see my favorite driver win in person at the first race I went to.

[@DennisStansfield]

@@erikeidsmoe6165 completely understandable and that’s awesome!!

[@Derping098]

At this point, every Monday IceBerg video is just another episode of "Nascar fans do not know what they want."

[@stephenholloway6893]

Seems like it doesn't it? Or rather how to please half the fans and not pleasing the other half.

[@jameswormsley460]

😮😮

[@joshuapboston1999]

This race at Talladega was very enjoyable. I hope that they can keep improving upon it. The first step is to remove the spacer increase the horsepower back to 900.

[@parkerwalsh3340]

Not at superspeedways but everywhere else yes

[@xavierjuno4572]

​@@parkerwalsh3340Ya superspeedways are already dangerous even with the 670 horsepower

[@Zildawolf]

Oh absolutely not with this car. That’ll kill someone

[@xavierjuno4572]

@@Zildawolf well keep in mind no car is truly safety proof and drivers are risking injury out there on different tracks

[@kpegc]

@@xavierjuno4572 I think a Rusty Wallace type figure needs to give the drivers a good talking to at the pre-race meeting. They've been getting way too aggressive fighting for positions toward the end lately and therefore cause massive wrecks. They take rather unnecessary risks at these faster tracks because it seems they've come to think they'll always just walk away no matter how bad a crash is. Many of the bigger accidents we've seen since this new car got introduced would have either critically injured or even killed a driver 20 years ago. Although I think the new car could still use some improvements with the crumple zones and overall structure, I think the biggest issues are drivers simply being too reckless and procedures like overtime that enable them to take unnecessary risks.

[@dngnascar]

only thing that bothers me is the lack of a 3rd lane and minimal passing when 2 wide. would’ve love to have seen the last 2 laps play out, but honestly it was a solid 7/10

[@noone7206]

just like atlanta rn

[@Dalejrfan5150]

There was a lot of time there was a third lane what you talking about.

[@waterfelon]

@@Dalejrfan5150 yes but it lasted for maybe 5 laps max before it died out it never lasted long enough to be significant

[@Tommy23269]

Stage 3 was really good besides the last couple of wrecks late. Stages 1 and 2 looked a lot like the 2022 fall race.

[@SpiritGXE]

NASCAR fans will find fault with anything whether it be the packages, drivers, or what have you.

[@ethanthedamonknightgod4418]

Fan of anything

[@hailstorm1986]

At least a Nascar driver won in a "McLaren".

[@IanTheMotorsportsMan_YT]

it looked like a good race! Package is not perfect and the race was not perfect, but it is NOT bad

[@fanta3702]

In my opinion Xfinity series somehow made it worse. The Xfinity series race was okay and it put a bad thing on the cup race

[@jonpeek5619]

I think most people are just upset it's not like the old days and hate stage racing. Now it's out there.

[@thatguybrian3619]

Thought the race was great, wouldn’t say the ending was horrible overall (as a bubba fan I screamed so loud I pulled a muscle lol) if anything this race leaves some hype when we head to the next super speedway race

[@artz9643]

If you're a bubba fan, you should be used to him making dumb moves.

[@M1lesJames]

I was in the infield watching it. The race was great. Quit trying to judge every single race like it's an end all be all type of deal.

[@CodeRED9618]

The crazy thing about this is just a couple years ago they were complaining of single file runs at superspeedways, like some people are just weird, I like when there two by two since it keeps everyone in the field, to make it better they need to take the slip tape off

[@ianperry9598]

I’m not going to say bad, but it was deceptive. It was one of those “it passes the eye test” sort of races. The drivers consistently have complained that it’s so hard to get a third lane going at plate tracks, and I believe them when they say it

[@salty_flightdeck_cpo]

Although a fine race, the race and the strategy would have been much be more exciting without the artificial stage caution breaks. Driver, Machine, and Crew Chief being lit from start to checkers except for unplanned yellow flags.

[@hunternixonfishing2500]

Anyone who says this was a bad or boring race didn’t watch the same race I did. It was one of the better Talladega races in the last few years. Not as good as fall 2019. Not as boring as Talladega fall 2018. You had 3 lines that when you got the right cars in the line you could work your way up

[@pummupenguin3644]

3 lines barely. As keslowski and blaney did, 3rd lane failed to work even when it only formed when the inside lanes were fuel saving

[@KFBchamp8]

Nascar fans are just Olympic level complainers, there is no pleasing us

[@KanzaiDoriftoz]

It felt like the Gen 7 theme, great racing, horrible safety

[@therealfanmaster7097]

People actually thought this race was bad. The race with constant lead changes, side-by-side racing, and a level of intrigue and intensity that continued all day without turning into a total wreckfest. I seriously do not understand how people can hate this race. No seriously, how?

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

The race still ended under caution. There's your answer.

[@bearmarsh6579]

It was a good race but If they would have run more 3 wide it would have a great race. Good race or bad race it's still Talladega and I love those big tracks .

[@flyingpizza98]

finally someone admits that wreck was Gragson's fault. Thank you Jaret!

[@CJ-lh8so]

I think the DBC podcast nailed it with what they said today. Stage cautions make it to predictable that all the manufacturers can sit down and plan every stage out. It just limits the movement throughout the early parts of the race. Stage 1-2 I would say was probably a 5/10 where I would give stage 3 a 8 up until the over times. So good race, just obviously have seen better so you know it can be better.

[@danielmiller578]

Maybe they could have the first stage end at lap one and stage two end at lap two, or have caution free stages. Either change would help.

[@William77_]

It was fine. Not a wreckfest. No single file bs.

[@RDGamer321]

The worst part of this race was that we had another safety issue with this car exposed when Larson's door frame/roll cage buckled from his hit with Preece. Yes it was the hardest hit this car has had but we've had worse in the past and the roll cage has never buckled like that.

[@theaestheticskyline328]

Probably my favorite video you've ever made. I agree with pretty much all points and you did an excellent job pointing out the strengths and flaws of each package and why some fans prefer past types of races. This package is barely over a year old. There will be plenty more races down the road that will have great finishes that people will look back on. It has a lot of potential when it comes to bringing back the old green flag pit cycle strategies and if they can manage to go three wide more often, this could be one of the best and well balanced packages we've ever had. It all depends on how clean these drivers race in the end, but both Talladega races last year prove that they can make it to the checkered flag without creating multi GWC wreckfests. Thank you for this video. It's really nice to get a more nuanced and logical side of this debate on a larger platform.

[@pixelesque.]

Heck yeah! I heard the 311 come on in the background and I almost didn’t believe my ears, it’s awesome to know that one of my favorite channels has great music taste too

[@thatblondeguy2517]

The only thing that bugged me was that no one was willing to check into and open space on a line to make position. Like if the first 4 cars are out ahead of the line beside them, the 3rd or 4th wouldn't try to check in and use the line to push themselves further up. Everyone was just complacent. The only won who seemed to move through the field, was the only freaking driver I can't stand. And up until he took out half the field on the white flag, I was banking on him finishing top five before the race started. I can't stand bubba, but he's definitely good at the super speedways

[@Carlovingbozo8]

I mentally fell asleep in begining of stage 3 mostly because i was tired but the slightly dull race no help lol still good race tho

[@YoBoyShaeTV]

Bro that wasn't a bad race at all 😂 there have been pre next gen talladega races that were a lot worse. The track position game at talladega is a nice change of pace and those able to move themselves up with pit road strategy was great. Add the fuel situation athr the end I thought the race had lots to offer.

[@YoBoyShaeTV]

Don't forget to add how crucial qualifying was with pit box choices too and the drivers that took advantage of that

[@TheRealerArbor]

Pit road strategy to move up isnt racing lmfao

[@BladeBrigade7]

@@TheRealerArbor It may not be actual racing but it is part of the product. What? You want these guys to stick with the same tires and run a whole tank to empty then?

[@benoden5838]

I was at the race this past weekend, I was very entertained by that race, but it wasn’t as good as it could have been. I really think people have a short term memory when it come to these opinions, I remember very well the constant complaining of single file rim riding freight trains for 50+ laps from 2013-2021, and although they couldn’t pass very well, seeing the double file constant trading the lead back and forth was much better than that single file freight train.

[@TransNFLGirl]

If Ross keeps doing this people are gonna get injured... or worse...

[@jrsmith5080]

Gonna ignore what Bubba did? Ok

[@joshuadavid2905]

Ross takes every spot he can get. No matter who is fighting for it also. He's a racer. NASCAR needs him. The fans, need him.

[@ProxiProtogen]

​@@jrsmith5080everyone talks about Bubba. It's like we can't talk about a driver fucking up without someone just going "WaT AbOuT BuBbA!??!?"

[@jrsmith5080]

@@ProxiProtogen What Bubba did yesterday was worse than the incident that happened before it but ok bud also Ross shouldn't get that much blame, Gragson should get more

[@ProxiProtogen]

@@jrsmith5080 yes but everyone is already talking about Bubba, it's to the point it's redundant to keep talking about Bubba.

[@IzzyTheEditor]

I think the big wrecks, no matter when they happen, are part of the three part strategy every team has to deal with at a track like this, regardless of car package. Those three Parts being, track position, pit strategy, and avoiding disaster. That last part is why fans love the big one because it's exciting, dangerous, and a respite to the average fans boring race day. Especially when you're half drunk and eating nachos :-)

[@spheredhawk67]

I think that the type of superspeedway racing we've seen this year, works best at Daytona. Gridlock, 2 lanes constantly stuck together works at Daytona because it's narrower and more banked in the corners. But it doesn't work as well for Talladega. Because unlike Daytona where 3 wide is really risky, you can go 3 wide with ease. And the fact that the 3rd lane, no matter what happened, could never stay together, that's a problem. And then all the bullshit at the end with Larson and Preece narrowly avoiding injury and Bubba Wallace's 3 late blocks causing a massive crash just made this a disappointing race. Not a bad race, I thought it was a good race on it's own. But a good race can still be disappointing if the track routinely puts on amazing racing. And that's how i felt about this race.

[@Cat-un2gm]

The race was good, and really really good at the end. Anytime Wallace crashes it's a great race. And love seeing Rowdy win. And Byron get a top 10.

[@artz9643]

At least this time bubba can't blame anyone but his own dumbass for what happened.

[@danieljones3846]

You make me love nascar, iceberg. Can’t wait for my first race in person NEXT WEEKEND in Dover

[@danieljones3846]

Nevermind that s*** is gonna get rained out

[@BoogityBoogityBoogity-nx9gy]

I brought 2 friends to the race who’d never watched a race before. Both said they’d be willling to tune into to NASCAR in the future.

[@newyorksoda]

Being a fan of iceberg is like being a fan of NASCAR before cars were invented

[@brendanschuett]

You already said this in a prior video

[@Milton_Valenzuela]

It was a good race. Double file for the most part with fuel strategy playing a heavy hand. When they did get three wide, it was excellent to watch. At no point yesterday did they ever get single file which makes the complaints somewhat more confusing. I understand not having 3 wide-racing for the most part and I think fans expected something like the Xfinity race Saturday. As teams have evolved with the next gen car, pack racing has suffered, but not to the degree that many people want to think The Door, Bumper, Clear podcast has also been beating this drum on how bad the superspeedway package has been since last fall, which explains a portion of the complaints yesterday

[@danielwest9955]

In a full 10-year span we went from whining about cars not being able to suck up, to whining about single file racing, to whining about the runs being too big, to whining about the current package. Maybe the package isn’t the whole problem. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@xavierjuno4572]

Fans will be fans as they say

[@gamez4420]

the issue imo is (and i feel really guilty saying this) the wrecks are the end werent big enough to pay off the more casual fans. Id also say the start and stop nature of the 3rd line made the lead battle feel a bit telegraphed, we really didnt get a "where the fuck did he come from" moment or anything like that towards the end either, the only real surprise was Busch holding on despite missing the pits, but we knew where he came from and how he got there so there wasnt real shock value to it. You could also argue the storylines developing and playing out were kinda lacklustre. it was really just "will the toyotas be able to stick together and keep the front of the pack" when Denny and Truex got together, and when Bubba eventually joined. imo the best part of the race was watching all the rookies have a moment to shine. All of the big players in the rookie field got some time at the front, and iirc Gibbs was up there most of the day.

[@randomhuman2116]

Pack racing in any motorsport is really a tough balance between entertainment and safety. Huge packs are fun to watch, but can also be extremely dangerous, take the wreck at the end of the 2012 Talledega fall race, or even going to a different sport the huge crash at vegas for indycar in 2011. But at the same time, seeing a strung out train where nobody can pass and its a snoozefest the whole race is terrible entertainment. I personally liked the race and think its close to where it needs to be. A 2-wide pack with occasional 3-wide racing is the best balance between entertainment and safety imo. Maybe it wasn't the most exciting race, but there were very few wrecks which kept most cars in contention to the end of the race and the wrecks there were weren't too bad (Bar Kyle Larson and Ryan Preece's wreck). It certainly wasn't perfect, but I found it enjoyable to watch

[@BDeLuca4444]

It’s hard to have a bad talladega race, and this was no exception, it was good, but it wasn’t mind blowing. The 2019 and 2020 races they had there were better, and that’s because the package was better and allows people to go back to front much easier. Still the race yesterday was a good one.

[@oreonation3868]

I didn't think the race was all that bad

[@wolfthiel1894]

The crashes didn't seem to necessarily come from the package, but the emphasis on winning. When 3rd place for Bubba isn't anywhere close to as good as a win, and he doesn't have perfect information, of course he's gonna try the block. If the system values wins a little less, I think we'd see less crashes. I think this was part of the problem for the late 6th gen as well

[@JustGenius2001]

I didn't watch the beginning and the middle of the race but I did got to see the end of it. My Dad watched the race I think right after stage 1 so I don't know what he thought of about the racing in general. I don't know why but it's so satisfying to see Bubba Burger getting screwed for some reason and what's even more fitting is that he got screwed on the track where he triggered NASCAR's biggest controversy. You know the one I'm talking about...

[@aiwash2766]

The race was good it was fun and yeah sure some improvements need to be made but to call it bad is absolutely not right

[@NoscoSays]

In a 500 mile race at Talledega, there are going to be points where things settle down and it gets "boring". The drivers cannot maintain the level of intensity and aggression that you in the closing laps for the entire race. That said, the number of lead changes doesn't reflect the actual racing quality since the majority of those changes were the same two drivers swapping places at the line depending on which lane had the edge that lap.

[@benwalter4842]

It was good, not great. If there was more passing then it would have been great. That is the only thing that needs to be fixed imo. I actually liked that it was not a wreck fest. The Xfinity race was actually worse than the Cup race for once imo.

[@JTeam45]

I don't respect fans who watch for wrecks, there needs to be less of them I hate seeing cars get torn up for idiotic and selfish reasons.

[@38dwright]

It’s all about the wrecks at Talladega, crowd gets excited when they wreck

[@frankf2902]

I think david land put it best when he said people just turn their brains off when they see a pack of cars. Everyone was stuck in the same spot in line until the third stage. You cannot make passes with this car unless you have a train of 4 or 5 maybe even 6+ guys behind you. It's all one line making sure the leader of that line can get to the front and that's it. By contrast, in xfinit yyou see larger spaces between cars not just side to side in different lines but front to back within the same line. The draft is forgiving enough that you can stretch that "rubber band" as Brad K called it out and build a run yourself. You could clearly see someone like the 21 or the 27 car yesterday had fast hot rods because they could make some of those moves by themselves and work back up to the front. In cup? All you had to do was stay in line and if you cycled out 1st or 2nd after pit stops you stayed there until there was a yellow, a wreck, or more pit stops, with the sole exception of the stage ends (because you knew there would be an instant yellow and you wouldn't have time to lose the momentum you would have pulling out for the stage win if it was just any other lap) If someone can't tell the difference between the cup race and the xfinity race in terms of pack dynamics they simply don't know what they're talking about

[@danielmclaughlin9043]

Let's be honest here. Destroying that much equipment, is foolish at best. I'm just glad nobody left in body bag. . .

[@AlanMuccioli]

was it a bad race? No. It was a solid race right up to the end. I was thoroughly enjoying it. That was until we got to the end when everything went to disaster. Was it a bad *finish*? ABSOLUTELY. This race was the third race this season to go into Green White Checkers attempts that led to drivers throwing their brains into a blender to go for the win. I think it's official : green white checkers needs to go and it needed to go LONG before now.

[@BladeBrigade7]

So if we take away GWCs, do we just end the race under caution, like before? So if a caution comes out the field is frozen and the leader basically gets a freebie instead of an actual win. That's the issue, GWC = stupid finishes, no GWC = premature finishes. There's no solution here.

[@AlanMuccioli]

@@BladeBrigade7 you're correct : there is no right answer to the whole GWC. We could race back to line, but that'd be opening an entirely old problem that we saw in New Hampshire of 2003 that *led* to field freezing. but if we keep GWC around, we're gonna see MORE of these brain dead GWC restarts that piss me off.

[@seahawks2483]

In a vacuum the race wasn't bad... but in context to the season with that being the 3rd straight 2 line parade, I'm kind of frustrated with it, I don't find it exciting I miss the racing from last gen... I'd love to see the cup drivers run the xfinity cars, that racing was amazing!

[@jonp5090]

OOOF, Im with Iceberg here, if you didnt get your fill of wrecks between Perkins, Hemric, Preece, and Larson this week, demo derby may be better for you. This was a scary weekend. Nascar is about racing, not wrecks. Its expensive and has major health and financial risks. Good clean racing is where real fans are entertained.

[@Seriousdegree96]

talladega can't be that bad, they made a whole movie about it

[@epicgamerp6895]

Short answer:Yes Long Answer:Definitely

[@mattcardarelli]

Bring back tandem racing. Better than this parade. Kyle Busch even said it after the race- it was a 200mph parade.

[@drumnbasssakuga9352]

This race was far from bad, whoever thinks that is tweaking. Talladega this weekend was the kind of carnage it's known for

[@sterny7341]

The late 2010s had a big issue with most of the race being a freight train around the top or bottom that I think most people forget. Outside of stages the Driver’s didn’t really have an incentive to try to form another line and just stayed put until 20 to go

[@chromediesel444]

It was a good race until the end. It's painfully annoying for last few seasons, it came to late cautions and GWC's. I know most NASCAR fans will never accept the racing aspect, but be entertained with big wrecks along with sending someone to the hospital like Newman in 2020. NASCAR and its fans know nothing about the balance between racing and entertainment, just crave for a big wreck.

[@redknightsr69]

I loved the dog fight 2004 Daytona 500. 2007 was great race too

[@korbinsworld24]

It was exciting for a nex gen super race. It doesn't compare to the racing of the gen 6 car or earlier. The car leading the line with the most cars is going be in front. There is no skill required. It's throw a block or dont and stay in line so you dont fall to the back.

[@jwrailve3615]

I’ve been a super critic with nascar but the race to me was good. I think we’re getting to the point we will never be satisfied as a majority again

[@kineticfeduciarycommunicat1158]

The two car tango era was the best, they could move through and it was all about finding you best friend and sticking with them.

[@connorbingel7134]

I also think the rows are too organized. In other years of plate racing the pack was less organized than it is now. I think the gen 7 just doesn’t have a wide enough wake probably partially because it is symmetric

[@dkmma3312]

I was actually saying it was the best dega race I've seen in awhile. I don't like super speedways . Kyle winning was the cherry on top

[@ethanwilliams1825]

I did feel it was a boring slog. When was the last time you heard anything about track position at Talladega beforethe final pit stop. This race reminded me of the 2000 Daytona 500. I just watched the 1999 Die Hard and Winston 500 this past week and it's amazing how much better the racing was. With that package you could run through the field with minimal help, create your own runs, and protect your position. They were perfect plate races.

[@xavierjuno4572]

There were 50 lead changes so I have no idea what you're talking about

[@boobsball]

@@xavierjuno4572 literally by the same 2 drivers for the most part

[@greatness1438]

The 2000 Daytona 500 had 6 different leaders, this one had 22. To me that’s not boring when over half the field gets to the front but that’s just me I guess.

[@ethanwilliams1825]

@@greatness1438 About half of those 22 lead changes were because of green flag stops. Two lines locked together with little movement within the pack doesn't do it for me. It felt like there was no energy in the pack and 2000 Daytona 500 had the same feel.

[@Deacers]

@@boobsballexactly! Top and bottom lane just kept switching between first and second. Everytime I looked it was damn near the same top 5

[@johndaniels4623]

I think it was alright, didn’t get to see a lot of the race but oh well. I think there is a bit more nuance to this stuff. I think there is a degree of 1. Watching for the wrecks/and near wrecks 2. Is the package actually good and keeps you watching the whole time 3. Did your favorite driver win? For point 1, yes, there is just something amazing about watching these wrecks especially in a KZbin compilation (safe in the knowledge everyone is ok), the downside is yeah, by 10 or fewer laps to go, you sometimes had 1.5-3.5 good cars left and they usually weren’t your favorite driver and the minnows who “could” win wouldn’t. 2. Overall experience, this is what should matter but doesn’t as much, was it exciting throughout and kept you watching or were you occasionally scrolling through social media or like me watching other races. 3. Does your favorite driver win? If the wrecks are stunning and the racing great but your favorite driver sucks with this, you’re gonna bad mouth it. I have a love hate relationship with 2013-2016 Gen 6 plate racing, sometimes JR won, and more times he didn’t or got wrecked, versus 2008-2010, it was good racing, except only thrice did “my drivers” win, BK spring Dega, Smoke Dega fall and tona summer. Of course Jr winning those races before I started watching always would have me rose tinted glasses looking right up until 2004 and then I ignore that

[@matthewsimon9500]

00:16 this defines and sums up nascar fans as a whole this day in age. I have never experienced a more critical and basically group of “fans” that hate every aspect of the sport they watch. It’s the most simple of solutions. Change the channel. If the over 60 crowd has figured out yet how to even do that.

[@HBKshowstopper635]

everyone who said it was bad had their mind made up days ahead of time that it sucked. they know nothing other than their own bias.

[@samcullen123]

Im in the middle. It was ok for me. I think the bigger issue is that the Xfinity cars the day before even with the big wrecks they def out on a better show prob the best show all weekend

[@marcelf0252]

I found this race to be the average Gen 7 Superspeedway race, mostly two-wide trains turning into utter Chaos with 5 to go

[@Dexter037S4]

What needs to happen is removal of stage cautions period. Considering how good the fuel strategy was in spite of them, if we had no stage cautions, this race could've been amazing!

[@adrianofficialmusick]

This was a great race

[@waterfelon]

Personally I think the problem is that the side draft is way too strong and the diffuser isnt helping with it, it creates a bubble that makes it too hard to push but once you break the bubble you are right on the bumper and could cause a wreck due to bumping the guy wrong. 2018 and 2019 daytona 500 package with a slightly taller spoiler imo would have been god tier pack racing

[@GrandpaShark]

On big ovals like this, Nascar should put the choose box on the back stretch, like they did at COTA. That would cut down the laps spent crawling around behind the pace car.

[@jaredlyons4122]

Those that think this race was boring have obviously never watched the 2018 Talladega (fall) race... I was there and was dozing off lol The only issue I had was the lack of a 3rd line forming. Something needs to be done about the inability to come through the pack from the back but that changes year by year, so I'm not too worried about that.

[@SixStringShooter]

I read the title of this & came here to say just this... When you have drivers talking about how track position at Talladega/Daytona is just as important as it is at Martinsville, that's really, really, really bad.. As a sport, NASCAR has really lost the plot in my opinion.. We should NEVER be hearing drivers saying that about plate tracks.. That was 50% of the allure to these types of races. The fact that you could drive through the field almost at will. Now we have strategy & pit stops dictating these races

[@dustincollier6145]

It was good. But found the xfinity race was better even without the crashes. Passing was better.

[@andrewkeller1621]

This was an extremely boring race. we need it more like the xfinity cars where we have guys in the back in the beginning of a run and then 3 laps latter there in fighting for lead. The argument for 3 wide was only because they were saving fuel. The 3rd lane also would only work for at most 7 laps and then back to 2 lanes

[@Potpie88]

i just want to turn on a race and see all the way from the drop of the green flag to the checkered flag, drivers attempt to take the lead and be in control of the race. not idly drive in line, dont want anyone to get hurt after this weekend im in the camp of going SS racing each track once a year

[@johnvandeventer8668]

Just go back to one attempt overtime

[@AMTLL]

I dont get why people didnt like that, that was fantastic

[@Redslayer86]

I didn't realize people thought it was bad. I didn't consider it good, but it wasn't "bad" either. They need to figure out how to make it possible for one car to have a chance to move forward from the back.

[@slipstream7324]

even kyle shrugged and said "got lucky"

[@codymonson5954]

I love the lead changes and the three wide action 8 rows deep. Growing up, I loved the crashes but happier when they crash at the end instead of the beginning. Because it sucks for all the drivers involved. 12 laps in and your day is done. So yeah this's what I like about Talladega.

[@joshuadavid2905]

This race was great. Barely great, but definitely very good. Strategy played a part, trouble on pit road, cars that couldn't take a push, but could lead a line. Actually, it was a great race. Especially by today's standards.

[@KFox210]

get rid of stage cautions. strategy is fun for fans. i dont even watch SS races since it seems like nothing matters till the last bit of it.

[@KR_Diecasts]

I was a first timer at Dega yesterday. Felt like for me at least it was good!

[@flyingpizza98]

ngl i legit fell asleep during stage 2, but i attribute that to the fact i was operating off less than 4 hours of sleep and had been up since 4am pacific

[@Dominion69420]

Definitely top 3 so far this year imo along with the 500 and auto club. 3rd line wasn’t much of a factor but we still saw enough of it (well other than the comercials happening at the craziest moments) but yea. Plenty of action.

[@Cuhh346]

The big ass spolier package was way better than this spec car/ package combo we have nowadays

[@daniellehman8695]

Stage 3 was really good, Stage 1 and 2 were hit or miss.