**TLDR** — The verdict is in, and it's not pretty for NASCAR. A decisive 60% of 437 fans polled (264 votes) said the 2026 All-Star Race at Dover was a flop, with just 40% (173 votes) defending the spectacle. The complaints came fast and loud: too many wrecks wiping out contenders on lap two, a gimmicky format that confused more than it entertained, and a Dover layout that one reader argued simply 'collects other cars during accidents.' An 82-year-old lifelong fan called it 'by far the worst I have ever seen' since the event's beginning. Others ripped the broadcast for excessive commercials and FS1 paywalls, while a chorus begged NASCAR to send the All-Star Race back to Charlotte or North Wilkesboro. Even some 'Yes' voters admitted the track 'didn't seem safe.' For a marquee exhibition, that's a damning scorecard from the grandstands.
Essentially NASCAR
May 18, 2026
Was the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Good?

60%
No
264
40%
Yes
173
437 readers voted
We asked readers to weigh in — 50 shared their take. Here’s what they said:
Reader Reactions
50
mi****a***r***1@gmail.com
May 18, 2026 · 8:30 AM EDT
It was a nascar race, bloated cars driving in circles and getting nowhere. REAL racers can turn left and right.
tb*e*s*a@hotmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 6:43 PM EDT
To many good cars wiped out on 2nd lap. Then it became the Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick show. And Chase Briscoe. Announcers always talk about their favorites and forget about the rest of the field. I am glad FOX is done for the year!
pl***h**m***4@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 8:29 PM EDT
By far the worst I have ever seen I am 82 years old and have been there or seen since their beginning
rr**n*e**4@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 10:54 PM EDT
To much gimmick aspect to the race.
nl*ar*y@msn.com
May 17, 2026 · 7:56 PM EDT
Format change was not good. Location may have added to the numerous wrecks. NASCAR used to be my favorite sport but becoming unappealing now. Changes to broadcast also an issue. With the streaming of so many races, makes me step away. Many older fans cannot afford the cost.
da***s***r***2@gmail.com
May 18, 2026 · 7:25 AM EDT
Too many wrecks taking out unsuspecting cars and good drivers
br***k**l**y@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 7:08 PM EDT
Boring!!!
bo**b**w**3@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 8:13 PM EDT
Don’t host it at Dover due to how the track collects other cars during accidents. Did not like the size of the field to start the race as these not locked in drivers took out locked in drivers.
pe**e*c*t@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 7:17 PM EDT
It sucked
ma***v**t**6@hotmail.com
May 18, 2026 · 8:45 AM EDT
Obviously money talks louder than safety. From the race format to the car that was engineered for maximum nascar profit. Not safety.
ar**w**p**e@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 10:02 PM EDT
Lost all entertainment value of a Saturday night expo!
ls**t*n*8@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 7:13 PM EDT
Too many wrecks!
kl**h*e*p@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 10:36 PM EDT
Too many drivers didn't finish. Track didn't seem safe.
jo**r**4**6@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 7:20 PM EDT
Every NASCAR race is a joke anymore. It appears they are giving Toyota a big advantage, so why watch this anymore?
ho**o**i**3@gmail.com
May 18, 2026 · 6:38 AM EDT
FS1 is not available without extra cost but still is over 30%comercials I won't waste money watching that many commercials.
be**a*r**1@gmail.com
May 18, 2026 · 8:08 AM EDT
Lots of action
gm*e*n*2@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 9:09 PM EDT
Format didn't make sense to showcase the best drivers. Was set up yo be a crash-fest
ro**i**r**e@hotmail.com
May 18, 2026 · 6:38 AM EDT
Liked including more cars and the inverted field, more to watch than a quick sprint.
ri****e***r****2@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 8:21 PM EDT
WHEN YOU DROP THE REAR SPOILER BY 1 INCH AND INSTALL A SMALLER DEFUSIOR UNDER THE BACK OF THE CAR WHAT DO YOU EXPECT A BUNCH OF TORN UP RACE CARS THAT THE OWNER HAS TO REPAIR THROUGH PARTS LABOR FROM THE TEAM TOTALY DISRESPECTFUL NASCAR WAKE UP GET THE DOWN FORCE RIGHT STOP COSTING THESE OWNERS MONEY..
sk**i**4**0@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 6:28 PM EDT
to rigged very poor presentation too complicated to keep up with, N wilkesboro much better show
ba***r**o**r@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 7:14 PM EDT
As usual, just like all other NASCAR Cup races, it was terrible, NASCAR would do better if they done away with this NACAR built car and run Toyota out of the series, they have ruined NASCAR and let the teams build their own cars, Ford, Chevy and Dodge, thats it and thats the way it should be, maybe NASCAR should get up with some of the older drivers and get their expertise on which direction the sport should move in, the new car is the problem not the tracks, NASCAR is running out of time, I tired of watching this!!!
pa**y*g**d@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 7:59 PM EDT
This was a disaster- please go back to Charlotte!!! Where fans can visit all of the shops and drivers have events - that is a Fan Event!
ma**a*n*s@live.com
May 17, 2026 · 7:13 PM EDT
Still do not understand the point system... was it ever explained? If so, by who?
jh**m*c**2@hotmail.com
May 18, 2026 · 12:12 AM EDT
Most good cars crashed early. This race is always a dud regardless of where it is run. Just eliminate it and give the teams a week off.
mi****l***s****4@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 9:02 PM EDT
K.Larson’s quote “Arts & Crafts” 4 working on The car in the pits was great! Also, Preece saying “I was built for the big hits”, was pretty Good too. 2 weeks in a row that C.Zilisch’s Team has cost him the race!
la**y**e**3@gmail.com
May 18, 2026 · 10:21 AM EDT
It is a wasted weekend If you are not going to have a points race just give the teams a weekend off They deserve it
da*g*n*w@gmail.com
May 18, 2026 · 10:15 AM EDT
A complete waste of time and money
ge**b*a**7@msn.com
May 17, 2026 · 8:38 PM EDT
Not a good race at all in my opinion. All star race needs a different format.
bi**g**1**6@outlook.com
May 17, 2026 · 7:15 PM EDT
They should of had the drivers compete to get in,then race the race. It should have shorter.
ed***a***s***0@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 6:37 PM EDT
Reminded me of high speed demo derby. The next gen car proved again how unsafe and fragile they are. Everyone pushed like it was their last race knowing what the track was like. Money and helmets make drivers go brain dead
di**e**t**n@msn.com
May 17, 2026 · 9:48 PM EDT
Boring
di****a***r***8@gmail.com
May 18, 2026 · 7:44 AM EDT
In my eyes it was trash
vi*e*r*r@msn.com
May 18, 2026 · 8:59 AM EDT
Boring, single file racing and very poor coverage!
we**s*6*5@gmail.com
May 18, 2026 · 6:26 AM EDT
The race was to long. To many rule changes for just the one race. It did not feel like something special. To many cars damaged early.
cl****o****i****3@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 8:12 PM EDT
Everything catered for TOYOTA!!!!!!
ma**i*1*5@gmail.com
May 18, 2026 · 8:14 AM EDT
There was intense racing all over the track... the tire wear became an issue but in spite of the crashes , they put on an Awesome show... only thing I felt needs to be addressed is the cars wrecked in the opening laps were allowed to be repaired with no real penalty heading into the final 200 lap segment... Hamlin would have taken it regardless of competitors returning from the garage
je***o**w***4@icloud.com
May 18, 2026 · 5:32 AM EDT
I'm sick and tired of Denny Hamlin winning and still issuing comments on other drivers and what he says on his podcast about other drivers. He could say no comment and leave it at that. Who does he think he is to comment on any other drivers anyway. He's made his share of driving mistakes and nobody is perfect.
re**w**e**r@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 6:26 PM EDT
It was too many laps and rather boring. The cookie cutter Next Gen cars need to go away and go back to racing stick cars!!!
pe***a**m***e@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 6:27 PM EDT
I will comment but it'll never be heard by anybody that makes any difference probably but if they'll give them 800 horsepower naira the tires by 2 in with all the safety equipment they have now it'll be some hellacious good racing for everybody
sm**o*u**n@gmail.com
May 18, 2026 · 7:17 AM EDT
Overall it was a good race. Personally I think it needs to be held at a different track. Back to N. Wilkesboro or the like. Lots of excitement with incidents, which took out my favorite driver. I was expecting the old format, which I like better. Maybe next year??
ro***r**s**p@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 10:36 PM EDT
Worst thing that ever happened. wasn't a race it was a demolition derby. Whoever thought this up was an idiot. NASCAR has lived down to my expectations. As we all say it's become the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION SPORTS CAR AUTOMOBILE RACING !!!
te**i*3*0@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 6:31 PM EDT
😡That Kyle Larson was caught up in wreck on lap 2.
bi****l***d***1@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 8:53 PM EDT
I'm drawing retirement on my SSI and i can't afford to pay for the channels to watch the races so i don't watch Nascar anymore. I get my need for speed fix from NHRA and INDY CAR RACING now.
li***m**m***e@hotmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 6:37 PM EDT
It was boring -------just another ho hum race
pe**4*3*7@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 7:37 PM EDT
Terrible format. Once again only the Toyota's finished up front. Something seems off. No competition from the other brand of cars. How.can that be?
42*r*m*y@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 10:04 PM EDT
Fix is in for Toyota. So so drivers run away from the field.
ba***s**2***1@gmail.com
May 18, 2026 · 2:17 AM EDT
To much like watching slit cars going around & around
ba*n*.*b@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 6:43 PM EDT
Nascar needs alot of changes for the fans that have been around since dale sr,no driver has a personality anymore all bland.
da***w**b***8@gmail.com
May 18, 2026 · 1:05 AM EDT
The race was fixed so the guys would have no downforce to really race each other. It was a poor choice of tires as anyone could see during qualifying. The best drivers in nascar dont spin out like that did at dover and we've never seen this bad of an issue with tires and traction like this weekend. It sucked so we didnt watch it. Big disappointment!
gk**e*0*8@gmail.com
May 17, 2026 · 9:29 PM EDT
Dover the track is boring, the first two stages were exciting because there were hungry drivers the 200 finally was single file racing do the all star race at Datona or Atlanta