Kenny Wallace shared his thoughts regarding Carson Hocevar’s recent claim that NASCAR is on a ventilator.

Earlier this week while watching the Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway from 2000, Hocevar shared to Facebook, “It’s insane we as a sport produce the product we give to fans and wonder why fans have lost interest. This race is beautiful. The sights, the sounds, the cars, the production, the commentators.”

“It’s clear as day why the sport is where it’s at and not where it once was,” he continued. “The entertainment value of this race is so much better and so visually more appealing.”

“Casual fans just wanna be entertained. They don’t care about aero, engine packages, downforce, drag, tire wear. They truly don’t care. They just wanna be visually entertained and feel like they’re not wasting their time watching something that’s not prestigious,” he wrote.

From there he took aim at the production of the TV coverage of the sport, “We’re on the ventilator and asleep at the wheel of what the real problems are. Back in the day you can see the innovation year to year of the broadcast quality and them trying to always improve. Now it’s just cutting stuff to improve the bottom line and wondering why people lose interest or are no longer impressed. There’s nothing new. Eventually they’ve seen it all or it’s a shell of what it once was and there’s no point of tuning in.”

In a follow-up post to X, Hocevar clarified, “i love nascar. never get that lost in translation of passion and criticism of itself. my number one complaint is having to convince people that it’s better in person to make someone become a fan because it’s that big of a difference. i am so over saying that line.”

i love nascar. never get that lost in translation of passion and criticism of itself. my number one complaint is having to convince people that it’s better in person to make someone become a fan because it’s that big of a difference. i am so over saying that line.

— Carson Hocevar (@CarsonHocevar) July 28, 2026

Wallace responded to these comments during his Coffee with Kenny segment, “If NASCAR is on a ventilator, so is all of auto racing. If NASCAR is on a ventilator, so is ALL of auto racing. Why? Because NASCAR is by far way bigger than any other racing there is. It’s just that damn simple.”

While he initially responded with the hypothetical, he went on to share that is indeed his opinion, “I don’t think NASCAR is on a ventilator. I think all of auto racing is on a ventilator. Look at it. Your local dirt racing is barely hanging on. Now, the big dirt races are bigger than ever. But what is big? I went to Fairbury. It’s awesome. It’s standing room only, but it is what it is, right? I love Fairbury.”

“So, Carson, here’s what I would say to you. All of auto racing is on a ventilator. And I’ve been saying for years that racing in America is lesser and lesser. It just is. Kids don’t like cars the way they used to. They look at at a car as if it’s a nuisance. So, we got way more problems than NASCAR being on a ventilator. We’re going to have to make kids like cars again. We got a big societal shift issue. It’s not just NASCAR,” he continued.

“The Beatles aren’t around anymore. The Rolling Stones are here, but they don’t make hit songs like they used to. Dale Sr.’s gone. Tony Stewart quit. Jeff Gordon quit. Rusty quit. Carl Edwards quit. Bobby Labonte quit. Jeff Burton quit. There’s no more, ‘You mess with the bull, you get the horns.’ There’s no more Jimmy Spencer, Sterling Marlin. You see what I’m saying? Those guys were characters. They were bigger than big.”

“Carson, I’ll say this. The only thing we got is you now, buddy,” he concluded. “So I want to thank Carson Hocevar for being different and being a badass. So, I appreciate Carson for saying what he said.”

NEXT: Kyle Larson Shares His Thoughts On Carson Hocevar: “I Respect His Talent”