The hype around the NASCAR All-Star race reaches a different level altogether every year. From different paint schemes to a whole new level of aggressiveness for the $1 million prize, the race delivers year in, year out. However, Bubba Wallace made his feelings clear about the race, as he questioned the buzz around it.

“I know we’re bringing a whole new package this weekend, and doing the resin deal, and I’ll stay on the fence about how Sunday will go," Wallace told the media about the All-Star race and its preparation ahead of Sunday, May 17. "But we’ll see, but it just doesn’t feel like All-Star weekend. To me, it just feels like another race weekend, all right?”

The All-Star race is a non-championship race that allows drivers to be themselves and push as hard as possible without worrying about wrecks or penalties. As a result, the fans expect a whole new level of hard racing from the drivers, something they avoid during regular races.

The format requires drivers to complete one flying lap, followed by a second lap with a four-tire pit stop and no fuel service. Teams will then race back to the finish line, with the quickest clean pit stop earning the Pit Crew Challenge prize and overall times determining the starting grid.

But according to Wallace, the atmosphere, excitement, and overall vibe are missing.

"And so I’m having to tell myself that this weekend doesn’t really matter,” Wallace further added. “Let’s just go out and try new things, different things, I don’t know. It’s just like, blah, and I hate that. I hate that for the sport, I hate that for the fans. We need to have some fun interaction, like All-Star-type vibes. We just don’t get that here, unfortunately.”

In his interview, Wallace also added how he loves to race at Dover, the new venue for the All-Star race after NASCAR moved it from North Wilkesboro. But the build-up to the race is not something he enjoys.

Despite this, the 23XI Racing driver is optimistic that the race will be a fun affair after NASCAR applied traction resin to improve the traction of the track. With that said, not just Wallace, 2020 Cup Series champion, Chase Elliott also feels the same about this year's All-Star race.

Chase Elliott Questions Hype Surrounding 2026 All-Star Race

Elliott, who is set to participate in the NASCAR All-Star race this weekend, shared his thoughts on the upcoming race and how it does not feel like a special race.

"It feels like a normal weekend," he said, speaking to the media head of the main race on Sunday. "I would say this feels the least like an All-Star weekend that we’ve ever had in my career. I don’t know if it’s just because I’m not used to having an All-Star Race here, but this feels like an October weekend, almost, with the weather today being cooler and whatnot."

Despite having a $1 million payout and unique formats such as segmented stages, inverted fields, and last chance qualifiers, Elliott feels that the race no longer has the same energy that it once carried.

The All-Star race will take place on May 17 at 1 PM ET.

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Written by

Sabyasachi Biswas

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar