The NASCAR community has criticized the Cup Series playoff system for years, pushing the sanctioning body to finally respond and promise that changes are coming. However, fans don’t seem very thrilled about the future.
While NASCAR has acknowledged that changes are needed, it is still expected to retain the playoff system, something many fans want completely scrapped. Kenny Wallace has recently spoken at length about possible tweaks to the format, but his comments have only added fuel to the fire.
In a recent clip, Wallace criticized fans for aggressively calling for a return to a season-long points system. That stance quickly backfired, with fans turning their frustration toward him.
Why Are NASCAR Fans Bashing Kenny Wallace?
Kaulig Racing CEO Chris Rice recently joined Kenny Wallace to discuss the future of NASCAR. Rice did not make any concrete revelations, but claimed that NASCAR fans would like the changes NASCAR is considering making to the playoffs.
The comment, however, did not sit well with the fans. With Rice drawing fury from the fans, Wallace tried to tame the flames, only to redirect the fire toward him.
“There’s a crowd out there that’s being mean,” Wallace said.
“They’re all over Chris Rice’s a**, and that ain’t right. Chris Rice said to me in jest, ‘You will like this new point system. You will like it.’ He didn’t say, ‘You’re gonna like it. I’m gonna make you like it.’ He said, ‘You will like it.’ And he was talking to me,” he added.
Fans did not go easy on the former Cup Series driver as well.
‘“We’re learning what lights a fire underneath your a**.” Then the r*t**d tries to fuss at people for being angry after he intentionally instigated the anger… classic example of throwing a rock and hiding his hand. Real talent, him and Charlie,” one of the fans wrote.
Another fan accused Wallace of deliberately provoking angry reactions on social media instead of offering sincere opinions.
“This is coming from the guy who has said multiple times he just intentionally rage baits people on this app instead of acting trying to engage with actual discourse because you find it more funny to do that,” they wrote.
Another fan expressed that NASCAR’s leadership has repeatedly disrespected both fans and team owners, failed to face consequences, and continues to push the playoff system, which has left fans extremely frustrated and angry.
“Fans patience is wearing thin with NASCAR. We are just weeks out from the court case where executives called Childress a dumb redneck and said most of the fans can’t read. Nobody lost their job and now team owners are parroting the same old playoff narratives. People are pissed.”
Another user argued that NASCAR leadership underestimates or insults their fanbase, either by implying they can’t understand complex formats or by dismissing their opinions entirely.
“No different than a CEO saying we can’t read or a team owner saying we don’t have the attention span to keep up with a gimmickless format,” they said.
Wallace underestimated how angry NASCAR fans are with the sport’s leadership, and as a result, he faced backlash. Fans have little patience for anyone who even seems to support the playoffs, and Wallace couldn’t avoid that reaction.