“Hope It Gets Better Before the Race Fans Quit Coming”: Tony Stewart Delivers a Stern Reality Check on NASCAR’s ‘Big Problem
Tony Stewart has never been one to sugarcoat his opinions—and in 2024, he delivered a warning NASCAR couldn’t afford to ignore. Now, as the 2025 season rolls on, his words are echoing louder than ever:
“Hope it gets better before the race fans quit coming.”
The three-time Cup Series champion’s blunt assessment of NASCAR’s direction has resurfaced just as concerns around fan engagement and on-track excitement intensify. With attendance dropping and races becoming more predictable, Stewart’s critique looks less like pessimism and more like prophecy.
Stewart’s Concern: Repetitive Racing, Fading Interest
The heart of Stewart’s warning lies in what many fans and insiders have echoed for years: the racing product has become stale. His main gripe? The Next Gen car.
Introduced with the goal of creating parity and cutting costs, the Next Gen vehicle has succeeded in those areas—but at a cost. Stewart and others argue that the car’s uniformity has dulled the racing, making it harder for drivers to pass and creating procession-style events with few surprises.
The 2025 Richmond race was a clear example: just 12 lead changes over 400 laps, despite late-race tire strategies and restarts. Even Goodyear’s experimental tire compound—intended to increase wear and shake up strategies—couldn’t mask the lack of dynamic action up front.
Fan Attendance Falling Flat
Perhaps the most worrying trend: fan attendance is sliding. According to recent industry reports, Richmond Raceway’s crowd was down 15% compared to 2020, continuing a broader pattern seen across several intermediate and short tracks.
While TV viewership remains relatively stable, the in-person experience—once NASCAR’s calling card—is losing its edge. Fans want more than just nostalgia; they want compelling racing, meaningful rivalries, and unpredictable finishes. Stewart’s comments tapped into that growing discontent.
Stewart’s Call to Action: Shake Things Up
Stewart didn’t just diagnose the problem—he suggested a direction forward. He called for format innovation, such as heat races or shorter main events, and more aggressive scheduling changes, possibly leaning into street courses, dirt tracks, or returning to classic venues like North Wilkesboro or Rockingham with modern upgrades.
“We’ve got to make these races feel like events again,” Stewart said. “You can’t keep rolling out the same thing and expect the crowd to keep showing up.”
His words aren’t just nostalgia talking—they’re coming from a driver-turned-owner who understands the business side of the sport and the stakes involved.
Daytona Looms: Make-or-Break Moment?
With the 2025 Daytona summer race around the corner, NASCAR has a chance to inject some much-needed energy into the season. Superspeedway racing tends to deliver the chaos and drama fans crave, but one thrilling race won’t solve the deeper issue Stewart highlighted.
If anything, Daytona offers NASCAR a spotlight—and another opportunity to either prove critics wrong or validate their concerns.
Can NASCAR Turn It Around?
Tony Stewart’s warning wasn’t about doom—it was about urgency. He’s not alone in sounding the alarm, but his words carry weight because of his legacy and ongoing investment in the sport. The Next Gen era still has potential, but NASCAR must adjust quickly and creatively to keep fans engaged—both in the stands and at home.
The message from Stewart was clear, and its relevance in 2025 is sharper than ever:
Do something—before the fans stop caring altogether.
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