Following Shane van Gisbergen’s victory at Sonoma, a few fans were seemingly unimpressed by the drama in the closing laps. Even though Chase Briscoe closed within one foot of SVG’s bumper in the hairpin on the final lap, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver couldn’t get close enough to the Trackhouse Racing driver to make a move for the win.
And while everyone expected SVG to win, given that it was a road course race, during the broadcasting of the race, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Letarte, TNT Sport’s primary race analysts, were seemingly hyping the idea that Briscoe, especially during the final lap, might be able to close out the gap to secure his first win of the season.
However, one NASCAR fan took to X to criticize the broadcast, arguing that the finish was never as close as it was made out to be. According to the fan, despite all the excitement generated by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the TNT broadcast team, the outcome was never really in doubt because SVG had the race under control.
He wrote, “Despite the hype from @DaleJr and @NASCARonTSN, I knew SVG was going to easily win. If the 19 had anything for the 97, he would have shown it a lap or two before. Overly hyping something is boring and misleading. If it is not there, then it is not there.”
The fan specifically pointed to runner-up Chase Briscoe, claiming that if Briscoe had truly possessed the speed to challenge the No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, he would have launched an attack several laps before the finish rather than waiting until the final lap.
And from his perspective, the television commentary exaggerated the battle for the win, creating suspense where none actually existed.
That criticism caught the attention of Earnhardt Jr., who wasted little time responding. However, instead of launching into a lengthy debate, the NASCAR Hall of Famer delivered a brief but pointed reply.
He wrote, “I enjoy a wide variety of takes, but not this one.”
It’s easy to understand why Earnhardt Jr. strongly disagreed with the fan’s assessment. Normally, broadcasters try to make the closing laps as exciting as possible for the fans, whether something actually happens or not.
Even if SVG ultimately maintained control and crossed the finish line first, broadcasters often react to the possibility of a last-lap challenge to build fans’ anticipation of something crazy happening during the final lap.
With Briscoe staying within striking distance and the gap remaining under half a second at the finish, the commentary team treated the battle as a live contest until the checkered flag flew. But the fan seemingly looked at it as misleading the audience.
What are your thoughts on the whole banter? Stay close to the on-track action this weekend and every weekend by following our Race Weekend Dashboard for everything you need to know before, during, and after the race. Share your thoughts by joining the discussion on Discord or X, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for further updates.
