On a rainy weekend in Delaware, the NASCAR Cup Series had the makings of a chaotic mess heading into Sunday’s main event.

A new tire, a non-qualified field and a hot track should have meant disaster lurking at every corner at the track nicknamed “The Monster Mile.” What we got was less of a monster in need of taming and more of a lazy walk in the park featuring a mean squirrel. 

So let’s jump in and break down exactly what made this contest such a snoozefest.

Should have watched a freeway 

After a rather boring race at Indianapolis, a reporter asked Tony Stewart about the lack of passing in NASCAR. A brave move in and of itself, Stewart delivered the now-infamous quote: “If you want to see passing, we can go out on (Interstate) 465 and pass all you want.”

Well, Smoke, I’d rather watch a freeway than the aero-blocking filled travesty that was the 2025 race at Dover. While there was some passing through the pack, the lead was saved for whoever gained it off the restart. No sequence exemplifies this better than the end of stage one.

Chase Elliott was leading, as he did for much of the first and second stages, and attempting to lap Daniel Suarez. The #99 car held off Elliot for nearly eight laps, blocking Elliott’s line and allowing Christopher Bell to catch him. The lack of any real threat from second place made this race a tough watch. 

Compound fracture 

The Next Gen’s issues compounded on each other today, in a way that has left a bad taste in my mouth. Starting with the new Goodyear brought to Dover, a notoriously brutal track for tires, which performed much too well. 

While the tires wore, it wasn’t enough to overcome the aero dominance, and cars on much older tires were not significantly slower than the ones on new tires. At the end of stage one, nearly every car was able to make it 75 or more laps on a set of tires. If NASCAR’s Next Gen continues its aero struggles (it will), it’s key that they bring tires that wear quicker, creating more chaos within stages.

The blame shouldn’t solely fall on Goodyear because these cars are absolutely planted to the ground. Making it near impossible to develop a tire that falls off naturally. 

Early in the race, Ross Chastain got clipped by Joey Logano which should have set the cars spinning or at least done some damage, but both were unaffected. The Gen 6 tire rubs were annoying, but at least drivers were punished for mistakes, made by themselves or others, now it’s just not happening.

MAD Magazine presents: Ty vs Ty

So that in-season tournament huh, what a rousing success it’s proved to be. Sarcasm aside, it’s disappointing to see how the bracket played out, with TNT forced to highlight John Hunter Nemecheck and Ty Dillon battling for 28th like it had any sort of significance. 

After the disaster at Atlanta that ruined brackets, it’s just not proving any intrigue or rivalry to the races at all. I’m sure NASCAR will try it again next season, but this year was such a swing and a miss that my doubts about it ever succeeding are higher than ever. 

Credit where credit it due though, Dillon and Ty Gibbs having a chance at $1 million is very funny and I’m glad the NASCAR gods picked the drivers who needed that money the most.

Same Format, Same Issues

Amongst the other issues this race showed me today, a quick peruse of the regular season standings vs the playoff standings show it’s pretty clear that the win and your in format is a bit ridiculous. 

Now I understand this has been talked about a lot recently with the playoff clinching and points building three wins by Shane Van Gisbergen, who otherwise sits at 26th in regular season standings. However it has to be reiterated as we approach the playoffs; The current system punishes driver consistency in a sport where being consistent is what you are asked to do. 

Ryan Preece and Bubba Wallace are currently fighting tooth and nail for the final spot in the playoffs. The two drivers are 13th and 14th in regular season standings respectively. Along with SVG. you have Austin Cindric and Josh Berry locking down spots despite the both of them being below 18th in regular season points. 

Nobody is discrediting those three drivers’ successes this season, especially not SVGs, but simply put this is not a stick and ball sport. Win and in you’re in ultimatums should not exist in motorsports and the wrong drivers are losing chances because of it.