NASCAR fans have recently been bashing the organization over the current playoff format. However, things have been no easier for NASCAR recently, as it came under fire after Josh Berry received a controversial bonus point at Darlington. The incident has split the NASCAR community, and Kyle Larson has also had his say.

Kyle Larson Weighs In as NASCAR Fastest-Lap Rule Sparks Heated Debate

Berry finished last at Darlington, yet earned a bonus point for recording the fastest lap, leaving many puzzled. His troubles started almost immediately after the race began. On the second turn of the opening lap, his car got loose, clipped Tyler Reddick, and crashed into the outside wall.

After several laps in the pits for repairs, the Wood Brothers Racing driver returned to the track and turned a 29.038-second lap around the 1.366-mile oval, the quickest of the evening. That effort earned him a one-point bonus, despite missing 128 scheduled laps.

Awarding points to a driver well behind the leaders has drawn heavy criticism, though some, including Larson, have defended the decision.

Kyle Larson doesn’t want to see any change in the rules as far as who can earn the fastest lap in the race. Granted, he has earned it a couple times after he has been involved in a wreck. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/f3A4JcMEV5

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 6, 2025

“No, I like how it currently is,” the 2021 Cup Series champion responded when asked for his thoughts on NASCAR’s fastest-lap rule. “Curious to hear, I guess, the other side of it, I really haven’t heard the other side of it, why people would want it changed.”

“Josh Berry was a wreck; it could be a pit stop, or at some point, the race has you multiple laps down, and then it just gives you an incentive to go out there and push for that one extra point you can get,” he added.

Larson also admitted that he personally benefited from the rule earlier this season. During the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico City, Larson was caught in a multi-car incident on lap 8, heavily damaging his car.

The Hendrick Motorsports man missed 42 laps, but he returned to the race after his team performed extensive repairs on his No. 5 Chevrolet. Larson finished at P36 but managed to bag a bonus point for posting the fastest lap of the race after rejoining the field.

Read More: Alex Bowman Makes Shocking Admission on Hendrick’s Dependence on Kyle Larson’s Months-Old Data

Larson claimed bonus points at Watkins Glen, Kansas Speedway, and COTA, but NASCAR is reviewing the rule. Mike Forde, NASCAR’s managing director of racing communications, says significant tweaks to the rule are on the table.

“I think that’s some of the conversation in the offseason, nothing’s going to be changing over the next nine races, but that is something we plan to look at as we move forward into 2026,” NASCAR.com quotes Forde.

He also pointed out that the rule was meant to add excitement to the races and increase fan engagement, but it unintentionally gave an edge to teams close to the playoff cut line. So, the NASCAR authority will look into making necessary changes to improve fairness.