The NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway has already sparked concerns from several NASCAR drivers, and Bubba Wallace added his name to that list before the green flag even dropped. NASCAR moved the exhibition event from North Wilkesboro Speedway to Dover for the 2026 season, but Wallace said the atmosphere does not feel as special as in past years.
The NASCAR driver explained that the weekend feels more like a normal Cup Series stop than a major showcase event. Even with a $1 million prize and a new race format, Wallace believes the NASCAR All-Star Race has lost some of the energy it once carried.
Still, the 23XI Racing driver enters the weekend looking for a strong result at one of his favorite tracks on the NASCAR schedule.
Bubba Wallace Says NASCAR All-Star Race Feels Like a Regular Weekend
Wallace did not hold back when discussing the feeling around the NASCAR All-Star Race weekend at Dover.
“It just doesn’t feel like All-Star weekend. It just feels like another race weekend.”
The NASCAR driver said earlier versions of the NASCAR All-Star Race created a more immersive experience for both fans and teams. Wallace pointed to past events surrounding the race that made the weekend feel unique.
“The All-Star race hasn’t been what it used to be back in the heyday. I was indirectly part of it when All-Star Week had Speed Street and all that stuff. That was super cool.”
NASCAR introduced a new format for this year’s NASCAR All-Star Race. The event begins with two 75-lap stages, followed by a final 200-lap segment featuring 26 drivers. NASCAR also added an inversion after the first stage and elimination rounds before the final segment.
Bubba Wallace Questions NASCAR All-Star Race Changes at Dover
While Wallace questioned the atmosphere around the NASCAR All-Star Race, he made it clear that he still enjoys racing at Dover Motor Speedway.
“Dover is one of my favorite racetracks to drive. It’s one of the best racetracks out there. I’ve got nothing bad to say about Dover besides the racing itself.”
NASCAR also brought a new competition package and resin application to the Dover weekend. Wallace admitted he remains unsure about how the changes will affect Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race.
“It’s just a product of what we have and what we have to deal with. I know we’re bringing a new package this weekend and doing the resin deal. I’m kind of on the fence about how Sunday is going to go, but we’ll see.”
Wallace already locked himself into the NASCAR All-Star Race because of his 2025 Cup Series victory, giving the 23XI Racing driver a direct path into the main event.
Bubba Wallace Carries Watkins Glen Frustration Into NASCAR Weekend
Wallace also arrived at Dover after a frustrating weekend at Watkins Glen International. The NASCAR driver said contact from John Hunter Nemechek ended what could have been a strong road-course result.
“I got wiped out by the 42. I don’t know if TV caught that. We were in position for a top-10 day, top-12 day.”
Wallace explained that the incident bothered him because of the effort he had spent improving as a road-course racer in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“When I put so much freaking effort into it, and then everything’s clicking, everything’s still clicking, but now I’m pissed off doing it.”
The incident later led to a conversation with teammate Christopher Bell, though both drivers confirmed they had settled the issue before the NASCAR All-Star Race weekend began at Dover.
Bubba Wallace Sounds Off as NASCAR All-Star Race Loses Its Identity