The definition of a good NASCAR race is often subjective. While personal opinions play a big role, even the general perception of a good race varies by track and other conditions.
Certain venues also have a reputation for producing more entertaining races than others. For instance, Kansas Speedway is a sweet spot between superspeedways and short tracks. The 1.5-mile tri-oval has hosted some of the most competitive races in recent years and has become a fan-favorite track.
After the recent AdventHealth 400, though, several fans were disappointed with the contest at Kansas. But NASCAR legend Mark Martin pushed back against the criticism with a bold take.
AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway
Hendrick Motorsports star Kyle Larson started on the pole and showed his usual dominance from the start. Christopher Bell and Chris Buescher stayed close behind, followed by William Byron and previous race winner, Joey Logano.
On Lap 14, Bell tried to challenge for the lead but couldn’t get around Larson. After Larson pitted on Lap 41, he passed Ty Dillon on Lap 49 to return to the front. By Lap 62, he had stretched his lead to 2.801 seconds over Byron and went on to win Stage 1, earning 10 points.
At the start of Stage 2, Chase Elliott ran side by side with Larson for a few laps before the latter pulled ahead again. By Lap 130, Larson’s lead had grown to three seconds. Around that time, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin had to serve a penalty for a pit stop error.
Josh Berry and Brad Keselowski moved into the top 10 by the end of Stage 2, but once again, Larson claimed the stage win.
On Lap 175, Elliott took the lead after a restart, and five laps later, Keselowski passed Larson for second. Unfortunately, Keselowski’s run ended on Lap 195 due to a tire blowout.
Shortly after, Elliott lost the lead during a pit stop. Following a few cautions and restarts, Larson reclaimed the lead on Lap 221 and never looked back. The Hendrick Motorsports driver earned his third win of the season, leading 221 of the 267 laps.
Mark Martin’s Verdict on the Kansas Race
After the race, motorsports journalist Jeff Gluck of The Athletic posted his usual “Was it a good race?” poll on X. Once the responses were in, he followed up with more stats from recent Kansas races and other NASCAR Cup Series events this season.
The post drew reactions from both sides. While some fans were critical, others defended the race.
MORE: Mark Martin Launches Brutal Attack on NASCAR’s Shift Away From Racing
One of the most notable defenders was Martin, who shared his blunt but fair perspective.
“It was a good race. You could line them up tomorrow and get a completely different-looking race. You can’t make every race a three-wide finish,” Martin posted.
Martin’s post drew more than 67,000 views and plenty of support. While the NASCAR Hall of Famer has been critical of the sport at times, he’s also been quick to defend and praise it when he feels it’s deserved.
Wish mark martin would take hamlin and go on an extended vacation anywhere but here.