August 12th was a night Mets fans won’t forget anytime soon. Pete Alonso, the slugging first baseman known as the “Polar Bear,” etched his name in franchise history by belting his 253rd career home run, topping Darryl Strawberry’s long-standing record of 252. Doing it in just his 965th game, 144 fewer than Strawberry, made the moment pure magic, a third-inning, two-run shot against the Braves that sent Citi Field into a frenzy.

As if that wasn’t enough, Alonso went deep again later that night, adding a solo homer to cap a performance that screamed superstar. The celebration took a wholesome turn post-game when Your Local Ford Stores rolled out a surprise: a brand-new Ford F-150 truck for Alonso. The reveal, splashed across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, caught the big man off guard, his grin radiating gratitude more than glitz. It wasn’t just a truck; it was a nod to Alonso’s power and a connection to the fans who’ve cheered his climb from rookie sensation to Mets icon.

Ford’s gesture carried extra weight given their deep roots in NASCAR, a sport that’s been part of its DNA since stock cars first hit the track in 1948. With over 700 wins and 12 championships, including a three-peat heading into the 2025 Cup Series season, Ford’s a giant in motorsports. They’ve cemented that legacy as the official car and truck for Speedway Motorsports venues like Nashville, Dover, Atlanta, and North Wilkesboro, blending marketing muscle with race-day presence.

Zoom into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the F-150 isn’t just a gift; it’s a workhorse. Drivers like Matt Crafton, with three championships in 2013, 2014, and 2019, have made the F-150 a legend, with Crafton still holding records for most starts and top-10 finishes. In 2025, Ryder leaned into that history, slapping their logo on a Ford F-150 driven by Frankie Muniz, tying back to their roots when they started with a single Ford pickup in 1933.

The Alonso truck moment was a slick crossover, bridging baseball’s (and specifically the Mets’) home-run heroics with NASCAR’s blue-collar grit. The F-150 symbolized resilience and reliability, qualities that echo Alonso’s journey and Ford’s racing legacy. It felt like a perfect fit, a way to honor a record-breaker while celebrating a brand that’s powered victories from Daytona to North Wilkesboro.

But not everyone saw it that way. Fans, especially working-class folks, took to X to voice their frustration, calling out Ford, a company tied to Speedway Motorsports’ $45.5 billion empire, for what they saw as a “cheap” gesture that didn’t match the moment’s magnitude.

Fan outrage over the F-150 gift

The buzz on X was instant and fiery, with fans slamming Ford’s F-150 gift to Pete Alonso as a letdown for a historic milestone. One user didn’t hold back: “Soon we’ll hear about the Xfinity race being sponsored by Lockheed Martin.” The sarcasm cuts deep, suggesting Ford’s parent company, Speedway Motorsports, with its massive $45.5 billion valuation, could’ve gone bigger for Alonso’s 253rd homer. It’s a jab at the growing corporate feel in sports, where a truck, however iconic in NASCAR’s Truck Series like Matt Crafton’s championship rides, feels underwhelming for a record that took 144 fewer games than Strawberry’s.

Another fan piled on: “I can’t wait for the Raytheon 500 personally.” The made-up “Raytheon 500” mocks the idea of corporate giants like Ford, tied to Speedway Motorsports’ venues, turning heartfelt moments into branding stunts. For fans, a Ford F-150, even one tied to Ryder’s 2025 Muniz campaign or Ford’s 700 NASCAR wins, doesn’t match the weight of Alonso’s achievement, especially when a $45.5 billion conglomerate’s footing the bill.

The humor got sharper with, “Carson Hocevar in the knife missile car.” This quip links Alonso’s gift to NASCAR’s gritty side, poking fun at Hocevar’s aggressive style while implying Ford’s truck was a half-hearted flex. It’s not a literal weaponized vehicle but a fan’s way of saying a pickup doesn’t scream “historic.” Then there’s, “Now imagining an alternative timeline… Mark ‘Lockheed’ Martin… Noah ‘Northrop Grumman’ Gragson… Boris ‘Boeing’ Said.” This clever riff swaps NASCAR driver names for defense contractor puns, highlighting unease with Ford’s corporate heft overshadowing Alonso’s moment, despite their storied F-150 legacy with drivers like Crafton.

Finally, one fan threw in a nerdy zinger: “Is Aragorn going to give the command?” The Lord of the Rings nod plays off Ford’s ties to high-profile sponsorships, like Speedway Motorsports’ venue deals, and questions the authenticity of the gesture. For working-class fans, a truck, even one echoing Ford’s 12 NASCAR championships, feels like a “cheap” cop-out from a motorsports giant, leaving them wondering if Alonso’s milestone — and the Mets’ celebration — deserved more than a ride off the lot.