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NASCAR insider slams 'pathetic' Bristol race, reveals existential threat for short track racing

Brian Jones Profile Picby:Brian Jones•04/13/25•

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NASCAR Bristol (1)
Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

A NASCAR insider made it clear that he did not like the racing he saw at Bristol on Sunday. On The Teardown podcast, Jeff Gluck of The Athletic blasted the Food City 500 and said there will be fewer short-track races if what happened on Sunday happens again.

“I think this was a horrible race,” Gluck said. “Of course, Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels, Jeff Gordon are going to say this was better than last year. …They like this style of racing. To me, this was pathetic. This was absolutely pathetic.

“We talked about the NextGen car and how it’s ruined short-track racing in NASCAR. What can you say? You looked at the stands today and you’re like, ‘Man, I hope it’s not going to be a good race because a lot of people are going to miss it.’ Can you blame them for not showing up after what we saw today? That was terrible.”

NASCAR insider shares more on the Bristol race

Gluck continued, “If NASCAR is just gonna keep going like this and not do anything, we’re going to lose so many short-track races off the schedule. It’s not going to be worth it for people to go anymore. The spring Bristol race, what’s the case for that to continue? This is really bad.”

The Bristol race didn’t have a lot of excitement as Kyle Larson led 411 of the 500 laps. Additionally, there were no cautions for the final 235 laps. After the race, Larson talked about how he has been able to have success at the last two Bristol races.

“I think for us the last two races we’ve qualified well, which really helps,” Larson said during his post-race press conference. “Then our car balance is just really good. I could tell right away in practice this time around my car was extremely good. Then I think, you know, too, when I spend 800 and something laps out front, you just become a better leader and a better driver at managing the pace and, you know, learning what it takes to set guys up and what to look for in passing and keeping that buffer to seconds. I think just experience to go along with a good car and a track that I’ve really always ran well here. Just knew now I kind of have the team and car to go along with it.”