While fans are still debating the usefulness of changes to the stage structure of this past weekend’s race at Talladega, NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty applauded the sport for the change.
Usually, when a veteran like Richard Petty talks about Talladega, there is very little to compare from his time behind the wheel and the modern product.
Still, that doesn’t mean the legend doesn’t have anything positive to say about what the racing looks like in 2026.
But during a recent episode of Petty Race Recap on his YouTube channel, chatting with longtime crew chief Dale Inman, Petty weighed in on NASCAR’s revised 90-45-45 stage format used at Talladega Superspeedway this past weekend.
In typical Petty fashion, The King didn’t overcomplicate it, giving NASCAR a thumbs up for the change.
“I kind of liked the way they did the race, down there where they had the longest segment at the beginning of the race,” he said, pointing to that extended opening run that set the tempo of the race.
That first 90-lap stage saw drivers change tempo and try various strategies before throwing it all to the wind, and according to Petty, that tension showed up almost immediately.
“They started off and they was running pretty good and then after about 10 or 15 laps, they all slowed down like three seconds,” he explained. “And then all of a sudden after they run that way for five or six laps or something, somebody decided to take off and then everybody picked up three cotton-picking seconds.”
However, what the 88-year-old appreciated wasn’t just the visual of it. He continued to say the difference in opinion made for an interesting story to follow.
“All of a sudden, somebody said, ‘This ain’t going to work, guys.’ Because some of the people had the strategy of trying to save gas and others said, ‘Heck with it, we’re going to go.’”
In other words, the race finally had layers again. Breaking away from the usual superspeedway script, the new format, at least in Petty’s eyes, reintroduces a slower burn.
“And I think it was actually better,” Petty said. “But still yet, me just watching it for one race, definitely better than having the stages at the last big stage.”
What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
