What makes a good race? Is it the number of overtakes? Or is it wrecks? For fans, Jeff Gluck’s poll has become a barometer for NASCAR sentiment. The 2025 AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway was no exception. With over 22,000 fans weighing in, 58.5% gave the race a thumbs up. On the surface, a majority enjoyed the show, but the poll’s comment section revealed a much more divided audience.

And within the audience was one NASCAR legend, Mark Martin. With decades of experience and a genuine passion for racing, he’s calling on the community to rethink how these pressures might be harming the sport’s future and sparking important conversations along the way.

Mark Martin’s response to the Kansas race criticism was simple yet profound: “It was a good race. You could line them up tomorrow and get a completely different-looking race. You can’t make every race a three-wide finish.” His words cut through the noise, reminding fans that NASCAR’s appeal isn’t just about dramatic, last-lap sprints to the checkered flag.

That wasn’t it. When one fan said, “As much as I dislike this spec car with incorrect number placement on the side, we can’t make every race a photo finish. It will diminish the racing product quicker,” Martin replied with a simple word, “Truth.” 

Despite perceptions of a runaway win, the Kansas race delivered a genuinely close finish. Kyle Larson crossed the line just 0.712 seconds ahead of Christopher Bell. Blaney finished just 0.832 seconds behind the race winner. This is a margin that, while not a three-wide thriller, still kept fans guessing until the end. The final 15 laps saw Ryan Blaney and Josh Berry outpace Larson by several seconds. Then, there was nearly a caution near the end of the race due to Hocevar’s flat tire. If enforced, it could have completely changed the outcome.

Throughout the race, restarts played a pivotal role in shuffling the order and creating opportunities for comers and goers. Joey Logano nearly cleared Larson on a crucial restart. Chase Elliott briefly took control of the race before Brad Keselowski surged forward, only to have his hopes dashed by a blown tire. These incidents showcased the razor-thin margins and strategic gambles that define modern Cup racing, even with the Next Gen car’s challenges around passing and “dirty air.”

Martin’s point is that not every race can, or should be, measured solely by the spectacle of a photo finish. NASCAR’s history is filled with events where the drama unfolded in the pits, through tire strategy, or in the resilience required to regain lost ground. The Kansas race, with its blend of close competition, late-race drama, and shifting leaders, exemplified this tradition.

More importantly, this form of racing has given newer drivers a chance to compete for wins, as Dale Jr. explained on his show. “It used to be drivers. Just a couple years ago, it was Truex, Kyle Busch, and Harvick winning like 80% of the races one year. It was ridiculous. Yeah. So, yeah, we’re nowhere near that. And you still have, you know, you still have the potential for, I mean, you still have potential for guys, new guys.”

As Martin and other veterans suggest, perhaps the NASCAR community needs to recalibrate its expectations. Is it fair to judge every race by the standard of a perfect, edge-of-your-seat finish? Or should we appreciate the many ways a race can be “good” -from strategy and adversity to the thrill of the unexpected?

Some fans, replying to Gluck, had a different perspective.

Kansas race poll reveals NASCAR’s divided fanbase

Many fans voiced frustration, suggesting the season hasn’t lived up to previous years. One fan said, “This season has been nowhere as good as last season, I feel like.” This sentiment is echoed by many who believe the on-track product has dipped, especially with the Next Gen car. While the car was supposed to level the playing field and improve racing, it has faced criticism for making passing more difficult and producing less exciting action.

Another user wondered, “Wonder how many of those 58% are Larson fans.” Larson’s sizable fan base is known for being vocal and supportive. They can influence online polls and public sentiment, even if the race itself has mixed appeal. With the Kansas race being a Larson show, it is possible that his fans might have voted in favor of the race being good. The question is, did Larson’s struggles make it interesting?

One fan wrote, “I’m struggling to understand what made it good. Larson basically ran away with it.” The races can feel processional when one car (Larson or another) gets out front. The Next Gen car’s reliance on underbody downforce has made “dirty air” a bigger issue, making it tough for trailing cars to pass and often leading to long green-flag runs with little drama at the front. Bristol was the biggest example of this. Larson has led 946 laps at the track just from 2022!

Finally, one comment summed up a different frustration: “The broadcast didn’t help, I’m sure. Interested to see what happens after Fox is done.” Many fans have criticized TV coverage for missing key moments or failing to capture the race’s nuances, adding another layer to the dissatisfaction. Even Dale Jr. pointed it out on his podcast that the race had interesting moments, from tire bursts to race restarts. And it’s not the first time broadcasting has come under fire this year. The Daytona 500’s iconic Air Force flyover wasn’t shown to TV fans. Action throughout the season has been missed.

Richard Petty summarised it best when he said, “The big deal is when I’m sitting here and see what I see on TV and the race is really back about 15th or 20th. Them guys — they drive their fanny off every lap. I mean, they’re really racing back there, but you know, if you’re here you can see that. You can’t see it on TV.” 

Mark Martin, however, disagreed with the negative sentiments of the fans regarding the Kansas race. The veteran offered a short and apt reply justifying why the Kansas race was as entertaining as any other NASCAR race can be. And we can’t agree more with Mark Martin’s take.