NASCAR’s decision not to return to Bristol dirt in 2024 came as NASCAR announced that it would abandon dirt racing for the upcoming season. Back in 2021, when NASCAR decided to introduce a dirt track, instead of selecting a traditional dirt track, NASCAR took an unconventional approach by dumping a staggering 23,000 cubic yards of red clay onto the iconic Bristol oval.

However, NASCAR’s bold move didn’t unfold as smoothly as they had hoped. Fast forward from its inception in 2021, as we find ourselves in the 2023 season approaching its end, news broke that the experiment with the dirt track would come to an end after three years. To say there were no mourners for this experiment would be an understatement.

Hendrick Motorsports’ verdict: concrete over dirt

The introduction of dirt racing at Bristol aimed to inject excitement and boost attendance, with 2021 showing promising results. However, the novelty faded in 2022 and 2023, with declining viewership turnout exacerbated by rain-related chaos in the initial races. Despite this, the 2023 dirt race received acclaim for its thrilling racing and overall entertainment value. However, taking into account NASCAR’s decision to break a three-decade-long Easter Sunday tradition to host the Bristol dirt race, the critics remained unswayed.

Amidst the growing list of critics, a new voice has emerged in the form of Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Rudy Fugle. In a relatively low-key Q&A session with his standout driver, William Byron, the topic of Rudy’s preference for dirt racing came up.

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When Byron revealed a question about Rudy’s inclination towards dirt races, Rudy offered a candid response, saying, “It’s kind of okay, but no, I’d much rather race on concrete, to be honest with you. So yeah, I don’t hate it, but I definitely don’t want to do more of it.” Aligning with his crew chief’s preference for traditional tracks over dirt racing, Byron readily concurred, saying, “I agree with that.” 

NASCAR drivers join the Bristol dirt race critics

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Byron is not alone in expressing his reservations about the spring Bristol race. His teammate, Kyle Larson, despite being one of NASCAR’s most experienced dirt-track racers, was remarkably candid in his assessment. Highlighting the preference for the traditional track, he noted that concrete races tend to draw larger crowds, “I think we all really enjoy the concrete surface here at Bristol. I think the crowd’s typically bigger, it seems like at this point now, for the concrete stuff. I don’t know. It’s up to the series and the promoters, but I would love to get to running two races on the concrete here.” 

When asked to suggest an alternative track for a dirt race, Larson quipped, “We don’t need to be racing on dirt.”  RCR ace and the 2022 winner of the Bristol dirt race, Kyle Busch, also chimed in, aligning with Larson’s perspective. He acknowledged Larson’s background as a “dirt guy” and suggested that if Larson, who has dirt racing experience, believes Cup cars don’t belong on dirt, then it might be best to avoid it.

“Look, Kyle Larson’s a dirt guy, right? If the dirt guy says we don’t need to be running these cars on dirt, let’s not do it. … I’ve got nothing against the dirt; it’s just these cars don’t belong on the dirt. If you want to run a dirt race with the Cup guys, bring a dirt car. Let’s all go race in dirt cars together. That’s how I see it.”

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As NASCAR bids adieu to dirt racing after a half-century hiatus, the question lingers: Will dirt racing make a comeback? What are your thoughts on dirt racing in NASCAR?