Talladega Superspeedway may be both one of the most famous NASCAR tracks and also one of the most controversial ones at that. The 2023 running of the GEICO 500 would end up being no different in that respect but the reasonings and vitriol may be either unwarranted or maybe a bit surprising as many fans were upset with the overall quality of this event. So today I want to look all into this and ask Was the 2023 Talladega race really that bad? (Spoiler alert, I really don’t think so)
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45 comments
Did you like the 2023 Talladega race?
Yes
I loved it! I always love racing at Talladega! The green flag pit stops really helped!
I thought it was a decent race it wasn’t race of the year but I don’t get why everyone hated it
I looooooved it
I feel like the same people that say this race was bad are the same that get mad about races where over half the fields gets taken out. It wasn’t single file and was a good race
I’m just glad everyone who was involved in stuff yesterday made it out fine. Especially after what we saw in the Xfinity race.
It’s not bad, idk why the package was called bad.
Side by side racing throughout, lead changes a few times, and if everyone wrecked, you would have still complained
A few times?? Over 50 lead changes is hardly “few” lol
Take time out to watch the full 1984 Winston 500 and learn about the conditions the drivers endured back then and how the cars were configured. Then watch yesterday’s race again..
Or the 1982 race
@Jereth talladega and Daytona before pack racing were boring asf
It’s not a rave we’ll remember 10-15 years from now, but it was fairly good. We don’t need three wide every lap. With that said, some tweaks need to be made.
At least there weren’t two big ones that knocked out half the field.
@Dexter Hochstetler exactly! The only big one was on the final OT going for the win. Can’t be mad at that
I’ll remember every second of this race, I got to see my favorite driver win in person at the first race I went to.
@Erik Eidsmoe completely understandable and that’s awesome!!
Whoever thinks that race was boring is crazy. 2 and 3 wide racing all day. Wasn’t just a high line one lane train like other races. Over 50 lead changes. A bunch of aggressive pushing and shoving. Was far from boring. I personally loved this race
@Ethan the Damon knight god that is true. Depends what you want to see. Some watch for carnage, and some watch for technical racing. I notice Nascar YouTubers will often call a race bad when their team doesn’t win.
57 changes among 20 drivers. More than half the field led the race
You watched a different race. Went 3 wide for a lap or 2 before it died out immediately. The top 2 maybe 3 cars gained a few spots before leaving it because the run would go away. They were taking chances to gain spots after that you either get in line or your screwed. The whole race only 2 wide. Only way to gain spots is by Pitstops crashes or taking a run 3 wide and hoping you find a hole
@Ethan the Damon knight god make up your mind
@Timechanger ! You must be an “I watch for the wrecks” kind of guy.
Thought the race was great, wouldn’t say the ending was horrible overall (as a bubba fan I screamed so loud I pulled a muscle lol) if anything this race leaves some hype when we head to the next super speedway race
If you’re a bubba fan, you should be used to him making dumb moves.
@Art Z profile picture doesn’t check out
Stage 3 was really good besides the last couple of wrecks late. Stages 1 and 2 looked a lot like the 2022 fall race.
This race at Talladega was very enjoyable. I hope that they can keep improving upon it. The first step is to remove the spacer increase the horsepower back to 900.
every track yes but not Daytona and Talladega
@Chrome Diesel Atlanta?
@WastdTrashPandathere would be less crashes and less cars per crash but a simple spin could seriously hurt or kill someone.
If they could lower the laps to 50 per stage
only thing that bothers me is the lack of a 3rd lane and minimal passing when 2 wide. would’ve love to have seen the last 2 laps play out, but honestly it was a solid 7/10
just like atlanta rn
At this point, every Monday IceBerg video is just another episode of “Nascar fans do not know what they want.”
Seems like it doesn’t it? Or rather how to please half the fans and not pleasing the other half.
The only thing that bugged me was that no one was willing to check into and open space on a line to make position. Like if the first 4 cars are out ahead of the line beside them, the 3rd or 4th wouldn’t try to check in and use the line to push themselves further up. Everyone was just complacent. The only won who seemed to move through the field, was the only freaking driver I can’t stand. And up until he took out half the field on the white flag, I was banking on him finishing top five before the race started. I can’t stand bubba, but he’s definitely good at the super speedways
If you thought yesterday was boring, wait until you find the 2018 talladega races.
It was a good race but If they would have run more 3 wide it would have a great race. Good race or bad race it’s still Talladega and I love those big tracks .
I loved the dog fight 2004 Daytona 500. 2007 was great race too
I think most people are just upset it’s not like the old days and hate stage racing. Now it’s out there.
I think the DBC podcast nailed it with what they said today. Stage cautions make it to predictable that all the manufacturers can sit down and plan every stage out. It just limits the movement throughout the early parts of the race. Stage 1-2 I would say was probably a 5/10 where I would give stage 3 a 8 up until the over times. So good race, just obviously have seen better so you know it can be better.
The crazy thing about this is just a couple years ago they were complaining of single file runs at superspeedways, like some people are just weird, I like when there two by two since it keeps everyone in the field, to make it better they need to take the slip tape off
I think the big wrecks, no matter when they happen, are part of the three part strategy every team has to deal with at a track like this, regardless of car package.
Those three Parts being, track position, pit strategy, and avoiding disaster. That last part is why fans love the big one because it’s exciting, dangerous, and a respite to the average fans boring race day. Especially when you’re half drunk and eating nachos 🙂
Wrecks are natural, especially at Talladega and Daytona. While there were quite a few at the end, it still wasn’t as bogged down as some other races I’ve seen. Also with no more than 4-5 cars each, it wasn’t as treacherous. It still had you on the edge of your seat, though a caution in the second stage wouldn’t have hurt.