The Sonoma Raceway was electrified as Kyle Larson claimed his third win of the 2024 season in the Toyota/Save Mart 350. Despite a competitive field, Larson’s strategic prowess and fresher tires enabled him to pass Chris Buescher and Martin Truex Jr. with just nine laps remaining.

The atmosphere was palpable, with fans cheering fervently for the Elk Grove native. This illustrated the significant influence they wield over the race’s dynamics. While Truex Jr., a favorite among many, faltered in the final moments, the hometown support for Larson seemed to steer the race’s outcome. This scenario exemplifies how fan engagement can shape the narrative and perceived quality of a NASCAR event, much beyond the statistics and strategies employed on the track, which was further amplified by NASCAR’s Senior Vice President, John Probst.

Fan dichotomy: heroes and villains in NASCAR

In NASCAR, the fan base’s perception of drivers can greatly impact the overall experience and quality of a race. As John Probst noted, “The popularity works two ways. If they’re a real popular driver that’s well-liked, you could have a race that didn’t have such great statistics, but the fans will say it was a great race.” Conversely, races featuring drivers less favored by the crowd, even if highly competitive, might not receive the same enthusiastic reception. Think of Kyle Busch for example.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., often regarded as the “good guy” among fans, exemplifies how a driver’s popularity can elevate the excitement and perceived quality of a race. “And a lot of times the entertaining race comes down to the fans and how does their favorite driver do in that particular event, ” Probst explained. For instance in 2011 Coco Cola 600, when Dale Jr. ran out of gas in the final lap and Harvick took home the title, the entire momentum of the crowd that was in favor of Dale Jr, took a hit. Such upsets show the influence drivers have on fans and vice versa.

Additionally, Ty Dillon also emphasized the importance of driver personalities in fan engagement. He remarked. “When us drivers are allowed to show a little bit of personality… it always seems to move the needle for us.” This sentiment harks back to historic moments like the famous fight on the backstretch involving Richard Petty, which significantly boosted viewership and fan engagement. Not to forget the recent tussle between Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch. Dillon continued, “The drivers get into it and again there’s a lot at stake here. You can tell immediately from the reaction of the fans when something’s happening extracurricular after the race.”

Probst also highlighted the balance between competition and entertainment. The NASCAR veteran said, “We asked our analytics team to answer what makes a great race. They found it’s 50-50 between competitive racing and fan entertainment.” And a good example of it can be Jeff Gluck’s pole after each race, where fans stock car racing fans get together to provide their verdict on the recently concluded race weekend.

And, as expected, after the Sonoma race, too, many people had many things to say!

Fans’ voices: reflecting the quality of NASCAR Races

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Jeff Gluck’s fan polls often reveal fascinating insights into how fans perceive the quality of NASCAR races. The poll had this question put up “Was Sonoma a good race?“. It was immediately flooded with fan reactions.

However, opinions also varied with one person mentioning, “Virtually no passing the entire race. Strategy wasn’t even interesting because we knew Larson was going to win. I have no idea how this is above 80% right now.” In contrast, another fan appreciated the competitive spirit, saying, “Three-way battle for the lead with shenanigans the entire way.”

Some fans highlighted the excitement brought by the race dynamics, stating “Probably the best next-gen road course race ever,“.  This comment shows that next gen cars are not as unpopular as they are made to sound. Another tweet read, “Multiple cautions make for good road racing,” showcasing the subjective nature of race enjoyment among fans.

Some fans were thrilled with Larson’s performance, while others had different preferences. One fan expressed, “Was a great race. Love watching Kyle Larson drive through the field!” Conversely, another fan felt disappointed, stating, “No, Martin Truex Jr. should have won.”

The poll also captured the sentiments of fans with varying interests. A fan expressed his displeasure about road courses. He stated, “I have no interest in road races nor street courses, so I have no idea. If it’s not an oval, I just wait until the next week to tune in.” Another fan added, “The repave did wonders, track needed that badly. Overall not a bad race. I was pleasantly surprised with how bad road courses have been for this car.”

It is clear from the polls that the views of the fans can be quite different from those of the experts. Despite condemnation of next gen cars by veterans, fans seem to love it. Moreover, the poll depicts that the road courses needn’t be as bad as they are made to sound. All these reactions indicate that NASCAR is doing the right thing by taking into account, fan sentiments. After all, at the end of the day, it is not just the drivers who rule the show.