NASCAR faces blistering backlash after rumors surfaced about relocating its 2026 All-Star Race. Reports suggest the exhibition event may move from North Wilkesboro Speedway to Dover Motor Speedway, igniting instant fury across social media platforms. This potential shift marks another contentious scheduling decision by the sanctioning body.
Fans quickly flooded social media with outrage, accusing NASCAR of dismissing their preferences and practical concerns. The rumor, first reported by Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic, citing multiple sources, threatens to upend the recent revival of North Wilkesboro.
Fan Fury Explodes Over Dover All-Star Proposal
Social media erupted within hours of Bianchi’s tweet about Dover hosting the 2026 All-Star Race. One fan’s viral comment captured the collective anger: “At this point it’s obvious they just hate the fans.”
Others highlighted Dover’s lack of infrastructure for the marquee night event. “Dover doesn’t even have lights lol,” pointed out a critic, referencing the All-Star Race’s traditional primetime slot.
At this point it’s obvious they just hate the fans.
— Lake Toho Man (@bigtimehoo1) August 14, 2025
Many rejected the notion of Dover sacrificing a points race for the exhibition. “Just scrap this stupid race. Dover should not lose a points event,” argued a supporter of the track’s current format.
Northeast fans felt particularly abandoned, with one noting, “I know attendance is down, which has more to do with the fact the current car setup sucks, but do they just forget there are nascar fans up here in the northeast?”
So a daytime all star race? And Dover loses their points date? I know attendance is down, which has more to do with the fact the current car setup sucks, but do they just forget there are nascar fans up here in the northeast?
— Jordan (@10_jordan_99) August 15, 2025
Performance concerns also fueled dissent. “What in the hell would possess NASCAR to be so foolish, the racing product just isn’t very good at Dover right now,” contended another, blaming the NextGen car’s shortcomings.
NASCAR’s Calculated Risk With Historic Venues
Behind the uproar, NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports see strategic advantages in the rumored swap. Moving the All-Star Race to Dover’s “Monster Mile” would clear North Wilkesboro for its first points race since 1996, fulfilling a long-promised revival for the historic short track after its $40 million renovation. Speedway Motorsports owns both venues, simplifying logistics for the proposed May schedule shuffle.
Christopher Bell’s praise for North Wilkesboro underscores its emotional pull. After winning the 2025 All-Star Race, he called it the “best short track on the schedule.” Yet NASCAR executive VP Ben Kennedy defends venue rotation as an intentional strategy.
“If you’ve watched a lot of other sports properties that are moving the location around year after year, part of that is to build up pent-up demand,” he explained regarding Homestead hosting the 2026 finale. Kennedy emphasized “variability in a lot of the markets” and “having a little bit of differentiation as it relates to the competition and racing product” as core goals.
But swapping North Wilkesboro’s popular bullring for Dover’s daytime race risks magnifying fan detachment. The move coincides with other controversial shifts like San Diego’s new street course and Homestead’s championship takeover.
Anytime you think “well nascar can’t top this dumb shit” something like this comes along
— Duv-ALL Sports Cards & Collectible’s (@DuvALLsports) August 14, 2025
With Dover’s concrete surface struggling under the NextGen package and lacking lights, fans perceive the rumored change as tone-deaf. As one critic summarized, “Anytime you think ‘well nascar can’t top this dumb shit’ something like this comes along.” The final 2026 schedule, expected next week, will reveal if NASCAR proceeds despite this firestorm.
