NASCAR race faces backlash over empty seats and controversial car

A weekly NASCAR column criticized the recent Indianapolis race for extremely low attendance, citing reports of up to 100,000 empty seats, and described the race car as “garbage.” Drivers voiced dissatisfaction, with several complaining about the car’s performance and the race length. Two‑time Cup Series winner Corey Heim was highlighted despite not being a full‑time driver, while Kyle Larson suggested NASCAR races have become too long. The column also noted an incident where driver Carson Hocevar flipped off the winner during traffic merging.

The commentary, published on the OutKick platform and referenced by Fox News Digital, framed the event as a setback for NASCAR’s popularity and called into question the sport’s ability to attract Southern fans.