NASCAR has plenty of reasons to be concerned about its future, but one issue stands above the rest: viewership. Both live attendance and television ratings have struggled to reach the heights of the sport’s golden era, leaving many to wonder if those days are gone for good.
NASCAR icon Kenny Wallace, never one to shy away from the topic, recently made a blunt prediction that the sport’s best days are behind it. However, his pessimistic take drew a sharp, contrasting response from a popular journalist who believes a major comeback is just around the corner, setting up a debate over the future of stock car racing.
What Did Kenny Wallace Predict About NASCAR’s Numbers?
Despite retiring from driving, Kenny Wallace remains a prominent and often controversial voice in the NASCAR world. The former driver frequently engages with fans on social media, where he is known for his unfiltered opinions on the sport’s latest developments.
In his latest post on X, the NASCAR legend compared the evolving landscape of racing to the decline of MTV. Wallace argued that just as MTV became irrelevant by failing to keep up with a changing world, NASCAR may face a similar fate. He pointed to the days when viewership easily surpassed the four million mark, suggesting that reaching those numbers again every weekend is now impossible. He wrote:
“‘MTV is no more because people don’t watch it. That alone is how much the world has changed. Making NASCAR get 4 million views every weekend will never happen again’ – Kenny Wallace.”
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This is not the first time the former driver has spoken out. On multiple occasions, he has criticized what he considers an underwhelming product that the governing body has served to its fans in recent years.
How Did a Journalist Counter Wallace’s Gloomy Outlook?
Wallace’s post quickly went viral, drawing strong reactions from fans and media alike. When NASCAR journalist Toby Christie saw the tweet, he did not hesitate to express his bold opinion, which directly opposed Wallace’s.
While Wallace sees the four-million viewer mark as an unattainable dream, Christie believes it is possible and could be achieved sooner rather than later. In his response, the veteran journalist laid out a more optimistic timeline.
I am fairly certain that 4 million viewers for each race isn’t only possible, but it can be achieved fairly soon. I think within five years, but it will take a lot of really good decisions lining up with one another to get there.
— Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) October 16, 2025
Christie predicted the target could be hit within five years. However, he attached a major condition to his forecast, noting that the governing body would need to make a series of smart decisions to make it happen. He said:
“I am fairly certain that 4 million viewers for each race isn’t only possible, but it can be achieved fairly soon. I think within five years, but it will take a lot of really good decisions lining up with one another to get there.”
Although Christie remains hopeful about the sport’s future, his comment also serves as a warning. Hitting that ambitious target will require more than a handful of good decisions, an area where many believe NASCAR has recently fallen short.