Richard Petty has opened up about what he sees as the key reasons behind the recent decline in NASCAR’s prominence, attributing the drop partly to playoff changes and the absence of true superstars, as discussed in his remarks about Richard Petty on NASCAR‘s popularity decline. Speaking with Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, Petty contrasted the modern scene with the era he once dominated, where recognizable leaders regularly drew massive crowds and national attention.
Changing Times and Shifting Interests
The landscape of NASCAR has changed dramatically since Richard Petty’s reign at the top. Petty pointed to broader cultural changes, explaining that today’s fans face countless entertainment options, making it difficult for a single sport to maintain widespread appeal. He observed that the younger generation is less interested in cars, which were once central to American identity and NASCAR popularity. Petty also noted that lengthy races—often requiring three or four hours at the track—pose challenges for maintaining fan engagement, especially amidst fierce competition for attention in the crowded sports market.
A Void Where Superstars Once Led
Richard Petty, himself an icon, emphasized that the sport now lacks major personalities who can serve as points of focus for fans and media alike. In the 1980s, stars like Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Darrell Waltrip captivated audiences. The following decades saw figures such as Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson become household names. Today, Petty believes there are no drivers who take the lead, and as a result, the fan base has become fragmented. The sheer number of different winners in a single season, such as 15 at the time of his comments, makes it hard for fans to form lasting connections or rivalries.
“Right now, there’s too big of a crowd. We’ve got no leaders,”
—Richard Petty.
“We’ve had, what, 15 different winners this year? That does not create a following. No matter what happens, you need a fox out front. We don’t have any leader — whether he’s good, bad or indifferent.”
Petty highlighted the role of personalities in the sport’s past:
“When Darrell was winning a bunch of races, they’d call him ‘Jaws’ and people would come to see him either win or get beat. Same with Earnhardt: You wanted to see him win a race, or you wanted to see somebody beat him. Right now, we don’t have that. So, I think it takes a little prestige away from what we’re doing.”
—Richard Petty
Controversy Over Playoff and Championship Format
The debate over NASCAR’s modern format is a recurring one among fans and veterans alike. Since 2014, the championship has been decided using a 10-race, elimination-style playoff system culminating in a one-race finale. Richard Petty, however, remains a vocal critic of this setup. During his conversation, he mentioned his agreement with Mark Martin, another prominent voice who advocates for a return to the traditional format where the season’s champion is determined by performance across all 36 races, rather than a condensed playoff ending.
“OK, I’m still from the old school. I’m with Martin, that they start races in February and you run all year to November and it’s, ‘OK, who was the best that year?’ They should be champion,”
—Richard Petty.
“When they give points for leading different [stages] in the race and they give points for all this other stuff, that’s a bunch of crap, OK? If you’re sitting there and watching a football game and the team has been behind the whole game and they kick a field goal and they win the game, the guys who lost got a zero.”
He further questioned the logic behind awarding extra points for leading laps or stages:
“That should be the same way in NASCAR racing. I don’t care if you lead 499 laps of a 500-lap race — if you get beat, then you’re not the winner, and you shouldn’t have any [extra] points. They’re trying to modernize stuff, and they’re trying to keep up with other sports. They’re trying to come up with new ideas. And so far, I haven’t seen any of them really working.”
—Richard Petty
Potential for Future Changes
The ongoing debate has prompted NASCAR to establish a playoff committee, bringing together former drivers, media partners, team owners, manufacturers, track representatives, and independent media members. This group is exploring the possibility of altering the playoff structure in 2026, which may include eliminating the one-race championship finale. As of now, however, there have been no confirmed decisions regarding format changes for the upcoming season.
The unease expressed by figures like Richard Petty, Mark Martin, and others resonates as NASCAR grapples with balancing innovation and tradition. Their voices highlight the challenges in keeping the sport vibrant while honoring its storied past and the expectations of fans who remain dedicated to its core identity.
The outcome of these deliberations could redefine the future of NASCAR, affecting how new stars are shaped and how enduring legacies like those of Petty, Earnhardt, and Gordon are remembered. As the sport continues to assess its championship model and contend with shifting interest among the public, the stakes remain high for drivers, teams, and fans alike.
