NASCAR races get decided by drivers battling on the track, but off it, reporters shape how fans see the sport, from driver personas to hot takes on rules. That influence packs a punch, sometimes steering opinions on big issues like the current playoff format. Back before 2004, the championship went to the driver with the most points over the full season, no cuts or resets. Now, since 2014, it’s an elimination setup with 16 drivers whittled down through rounds to a final four chasing the title in one race. This shift has sparked endless debates, with many fans clamoring for a return to the old ways for consistency’s sake.

But when insider Jordan Bianchi floated a tweaked playoff idea on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, legend Mark Martin fired back online, calling out the push amid fan pushback. Some feel reporters like him can shape opinions too much, raising the question — is that fair, or is it just to stir up the drama?

Jordan Bianchi found himself labeled a “NASCAR shill,” after a tense exchange with Jeff Gluck on a podcast, where Bianchi quipped, “Be careful, Mark Martin is gonna tweet about you and accuse you of being on the nascar payroll.” Gluck pushed back, saying, “I don’t think he said you were on the NASCAR payroll; he just said, ‘Why are you going on DBC trying to sell this…,'” to which Bianchi replied, “I didn’t say anything about me.”

“Be careful, Mark Martin is gonna tweet about you and accuse you of being on the nascar payroll” – Bianchi

“I don’t think he said you were on the nascar payroll, he just said why are you going on DBC trying to sell this…” – Gluck

“I didn’t say anything about me” – Bianchi

— BrakeHard (@BrakeHardBlog) September 14, 2025

This banter, captured in a viral X tweet from BrakeHardBlog, stemmed from Bianchi’s earlier Door Bumper Clear appearance, where he gave his own opinion on the playoff format: “You could have a format of three races and then another round of three races. From that, you whittle down to whatever the driver count is, and those drivers compete over four races for the championship.” Fans saw it as him shilling for NASCAR’s agenda, especially amid rumors of 2026 changes that Jeff Gluck debunked as undecided. The ‘shill‘ tag ties to perceptions that Bianchi, a key voice at The Athletic, amplifies league-favored ideas, much like how broadcasters have been accused of prioritizing playoffs for TV drama over traditional racing purity.

Mark Martin amplified the fire by tweeting, “Why is @Jordan_Bianchi trying so hard to push a playoff when the majority of fans don’t want it?” This blunt call-out resonated because Martin, a Hall of Famer with 40 Cup wins, has long criticized the system as a “gimmick” that overshadows consistent performance. In a 2025 interview, Martin elaborated, “Making the playoffs has overshadowed the wins… I like seeing it being a big deal when you win a race because when you win a race, it’s a big deal.”

Why is @Jordan_Bianchi trying so hard to push a playoff when the majority of fans don’t want it. https://t.co/ppmTtYcqga

— Mark Martin (@markmartin) September 9, 2025

Bianchi’s hypothetical aimed to extend the finale for more “palatable” drama, but it ignored fan surveys showing preference for pre-2014 formats. On top of it, the disrespect in Bianchi’s jab at Martin’s tweeting habits felt personal, echoing past media-driven spats like Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s 2020 critique of coverage bias. Gluck’s response highlighted the misread, but the clip’s spread on X fueled calls for media accountability in shaping fan views.

As the dust settled, fans flooded social media with their takes, turning the spotlight on Bianchi’s role and sparking broader chats about media influence in NASCAR.

Fan backlash builds against Bianchi

One fan vented, “Jordan is the guy that people leaked information to so it gets out in the media. As reporting is usually accurate. That said, his opinions are horrific.” This captures Bianchi’s rep as a go-to for scoops, like his 2024 reports on charter deals, but slams his takes, like defending playoffs amid fan polls showing 60% opposition per NASCAR.com data. It recalls leaks during the 2022 Next Gen car rollout, where insiders shaped narratives, yet Bianchi’s push for tweaks feels out of touch with grassroots sentiment.

Echoing that frustration, another chimed in, “For me the issue is when it seems like those in the media seem to be cheerleading for NASCAR the organization and seemingly carrying the water for them, versus having the objectivity to be critical of the product when it’s warranted.” Bianchi’s podcast floats often align with league experiments, like the 2017 stage racing intro that drew similar cheers from media despite fan gripes over artificial excitement. Think back to NBC’s playoff hype in 2025, which Martin ripped as ignoring racing’s core. Fans crave honest critique, not sales pitches.

Building on the cheerleading gripe, a commenter added, “Mark had a fair point, rubbed me the wrong way seeing Jordan trying to be their salesman for another gimmicky format. This guy just started coming around and, like the rest of the higher-ups, talks down to the fans like he knows more.” Bianchi joined The Athletic in 2018, quickly rising, but his format ideas overlook icons like Martin’s 22 top-fives in 1998 without a title under old rules. Martin’s confrontation as a fan echoes, highlighting how newcomers in media can seem elitist.

Shifting to personal digs, someone noted, “If he was just a reporter and didn’t have a podcast, we’d actually think pretty highly of him. But unfortunately he talks and shows us all how bad his opinions are.” Bianchi’s reporting shines, but podcasts expose views like extending finales and clashing with insider weigh-ins favoring balance. It’s akin to Bob Pockrass‘s neutral style, earning trust, while opinionated pods risk alienating purists.

Wrapping the reactions, a fan joked, “We need Jimmy Spencer to bring back the crying towel for Jordan Bianchi.” Spencer’s old Speed Channel bit mocked complainers, fitting here as Bianchi’s defensiveness in the Gluck exchange mirrors past media feuds, like 2010’s, where reporters faced driver backlash over format bias.