NASCAR Teams Caught in Crossfire as Fans Throw Shade at Everyone for “Penny Pinching” After Viral Rant

In the glory days of stock car racing, mechanics and drivers would roll into tracks with vehicles modified in backyard garages, pushing boundaries with whatever innovations they could dream up. “Run what you brung” wasn’t just a catchy phrase—it was NASCAR’s lifeblood. Fast forward to 2025, and that spirit seems as distant as the roar of carbureted engines echoing through Rockingham’s grandstands. When NASCAR recently proposed bringing back this freedom for the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro—an idea that could potentially fix the Next Gen car’s notorious short track issues—teams unanimously rejected it, citing costs. What followed was a blistering rant from respected journalist Jeff Gluck that has ignited a firestorm across the NASCAR community.

Ever since NASCAR introduced the Next Gen car, teams have cited rising cost concerns, demanding more revenue stream from the sanctioning body. NASCAR is far from its heyday, and the entire industry is trying to recreate the good old days. Now, how can that be possible with a spec car, right? As the sole purpose of the machine is to promote parity. As it turns out, NASCAR wanted the teams to roll out with their unique packages at North Wilkesboro as long as it passed the safety parameters.

For long, the short track package has been under major scrutiny, and this was the opportunity for the teams to have a real say in making tweaks. All-Star race has served that purpose, remember the option tires were introduced last year at this event. But the teams aren’t invested in spending more bucks out of their pockets to bring out a new package. And this defiance hasn’t gone down well with Jeff Gluck, who was furious at the teams for not endorsing a potential change that is beneficial for the sport.

“Man, teams, I think you are a bunch of as——, honestly… Stop crying about the freaking money… All you do is complain, ‘they won’t let us do anything with this car. Why won’t they let us do anything with the car? I got this car at Target. I have to do everything that they want us to do, and they won’t let me do anything,” Gluck ranted on the Teardown podcast after the Talladega race.

Great rant pic.twitter.com/YOfYr4EY4b

— Skid (@WhoisSkid) April 28, 2025

More times than not, NASCAR finds itself cornered over the state of racing and controversy. But this development indicates that not everything is under the direct control of the sanctioning body, and teams are a major stakeholder. Clearly, Gluck’s rant resonated with the race fans, who for a long time have been demanding a better racing product. And just when the teams had the chance to bring about real change, they backed out, citing extra dollars.

Fans Ignite Social Media Firestorm After Teams Reject Innovation Proposal

“Thank god someone finally fu—– said it,” wrote one fan in a widely shared comment. “The teams hold just as much responsibility for the situation we’re in with the racing as NASCAR does. Both these sides are killing the sport by penny pinching.” Now we are aware that Cup Series teams can spend as much as $20 million on a race car annually, but outright rejecting an idea that was proposed by NASCAR wasn’t taken well by the fans. It’s not just the governing body, teams are equally responsible for making efforts to bring the sport back to its glory days.

However, other fans point to deeper economic realities. “The teams are penny pinching because maybe 2-3 of the top organizations even turn a profit and that’s due to additional businesses alongside the race teams,” another fan noted. This perspective finds support in financial disclosures from teams like 23XI Racing, which reported operational losses despite competitive success. Heck, even a team like Hendrick Motorsports haven’t turned a profit in the last decade. So things are tough for the team, and perhaps this is why this ambitious plan was scrapped before it could be made public.

The situation becomes particularly concerning when examining specific racing formats. “It’s more outrageous that they’re unwilling to spend money to fix the current issues for points-paying races,” remarked another fan. “It’s plain as day that this car isn’t working at short tracks but both NASCAR and the team owners have thrown their hands up.” Well, Richmond lost one of its dates, and racing hasn’t been any good on tracks like Martinsville and Bristol. If this trend continues, there is a possibility of more road courses or international events taking over short tracks.

The divide between NASCAR and teams regarding responsibility for improvements has deepened the controversy. “If you ask me, this was done by NASCAR to get the teams to try and fix the problems with the gen-7, and the teams said, ‘Not our problem to fix,'” observed one fan. Meanwhile, others highlighted competitive concerns: “The teams that are making speed by coloring a little outside the line don’t want to show what wheels by going fully outside.” This strategic reluctance compounds the sport’s technical challenges, leaving fans caught in the middle of what appears to be an increasingly bitter standoff between NASCAR leadership and its competitors.

Keep in mind, two teams, 23XI Racing and FRM, are involved in a legal battle against NASCAR. And this could be another reason why teams opted to play it safe despite the prospect of revitalizing short-track racing.

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