Jordan Bianchi, who Bubba Wallace called a “boomer” after a white flag controversy, probably didn’t expect a stat-checking storm when he sat down to record ‘The Teardown’ podcast – but NASCAR fans are a meticulous bunch.
During the latest episode, the NASCAR analyst made a casual remark that immediately blew up online: he said William Byron “has not led a bunch of laps this year.”
Within hours, fans and media fact-checkers were posting receipts. The reality? Byron, whose furious four-word message on NACAR radio was caught, has led 915 laps this season – the second-highest total in the Cup Series, behind only Kyle Larson.
That’s not “a bunch”? Fans weren’t buying it.
On social media, Bianchi’s take was shredded as “lazy,” “agenda-driven,” and “embarrassing.” One fan wrote, “Sometimes I just think Jordan has a narrative and he pushes it with no turn back to facts.” Another posted a screenshot of NASCAR’s official leaderboard with the caption: “Here’s your ‘not a bunch.'”
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Byron’s lap-leading record is not exactly a hidden stat. He’s dominated stretches of the season – from leading 243 laps at Darlington to taking command at Michigan, Kansas, and Texas.
Even in races where he didn’t win, his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was frequently up front, battling in clean air.
So why did the comment sting so much?
Because, in the eyes of fans, it represents a growing frustration with NASCAR’s media coverage – where personality often trumps precision. The sport’s loyal base is used to analysts bringing strong opinions, but when facts get mangled, it chips away at trust.
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The frustration is understandable. In an era when viewership for NASCAR’s playoff races has dropped, with some events averaging fewer than 1.5 million viewers, and the sport faces renewed competition from F1 and IndyCar for younger fans, authenticity matters more than ever.
When an analyst on a major platform flubs something so basic, it’s seen as emblematic of a disconnect between the media and the fans who live and breathe the sport.
Byron, for his part, hasn’t weighed in – but he doesn’t need to. His lap count and position near the top of the standings do the talking. With 915 laps led, 15 top-10 finishes and 10 top-5 finishes, his performance speaks for itself.