Last night we shared the Frontstretch video of Kyle Larson being asked about Bristol Dirt and his blunt assessment. Kyle didn't mince words and expressed not only is it wasteful to put dirt over one of the best tracks on the circuit but also adding what I thought was a surprising "we don't need to be racing on dirt."
"We don't need to be racing on dirt."
— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) April 8, 2023
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(via @PitLaneLT) pic.twitter.com/xTOCW2G6PS
Attention NASCAR: this is the guy who has every reason to be pro-dirt and he isn't. Kyle is one of the best dirt racers in the country and does a lot to promote the sport and get more mainstream eyes on both open-wheel and late model racing. And despite the advantage it would give Larson to race against his NASCAR peers on dirt surfaces, he still scoffs at any value there is to NASCAR racing on dirt. So what are we doing?
I'm not really anti-Dirt in NASCAR. I think there are a lot of mundane weekends in the NASCAR schedule and something very different is very welcome. That being said I also understand purists who see it as a gimmick and hate it. I certainly understand that taking away Bristol, one of the most exciting tracks on the schedule, to make it a gimmick pisses off a lot of people. It's obviously time to axe Bristol Dirt at the very least. It never feels like a real race. There's always some goofy shit going on like mud clogging the nose, or mud on the windshield, weird pit stop rules, crew chiefs who don't really know how to manage dirt tires, etc.. It basically feels like an exhibition event but isn't. I don't think that's what we should be aiming for.
4 comments
They should to a purpose built dirt track. God knows there is a lot of them around the country. Throwing dirt on an asphalt or concrete track doesn’t make it a dirt track. I was fun while it lasted.
They should to a purpose built dirt track. God knows there is a lot of them around the country. Throwing dirt on an asphalt or concrete track doesn’t make it a dirt track. I was fun while it lasted.
I’m pro dirt and pro Kyle Larson. I think Larson is the best judge, but I do like the dirt race on a banked track, but not Bristol it’s to good or a track. If the track prep is good and the track is super slick and wet it would make a good show. But it goes to a single lane and gets dusty. I want ti see people ripping the top and hugging the bottom, and after a handful of laps it tightens up and goes to a single lane or lane and a half and it’s not fun…I loved watching them hang it out and go hard. But the track requires a ton of work through out the race to keep it good and I guess that’s not feasible
Couldn’t have said it better. Why take away the best track for dirt. IF they are insistent on a dirt race at least give us back 2 Bristol races and run dirt elsewhere.