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Jimmy Spencer built a reputation as “Mr. Excitement” in NASCAR, grabbing two Cup Series wins at Daytona and Talladega in 1994 with his no-holds-barred style that thrilled fans back in the day. But now that Spencer watches from the sidelines, the sport feels different to him. Today, sports look at money more than real, raw wheelmen, marking a shift in the mentality that’s got old-timers like him shaking their heads. Spencer has long griped about how modern rules under leaders like Jim France Jr. breed “boring drivers” because he thinks, “They’re weak.” He compared today’s leadership with the rough-and-tumble era of Bill France, where rivalries fueled the fire. But as costs skyrocket, with ARCA rides alone hitting $100,000 a pop, it’s clear money calls too many shots now. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Jimmy Spencer’s fiery take on a money-choked sport On a recent episode of the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Jimmy Spencer didn’t hold back, laying into NASCAR’s current bosses for letting cash rule the garage. “The old man would stand his ground,” he said, referring to Bill France Sr.’s iron-fisted days. “You got to stand your ground. I remember when the old man said, This is the way it’s going to be, like it or not. And to me, that’s what we need.” That blunt shot at today’s “weak” leadership stems from Spencer‘s own grind; he bounced through 10 Cup teams over 18 years, snagging just two wins amid constant sponsor hunts that folded outfits like Ultra Motorsports in 2004. Back then, a driver’s fire could land a ride; now, Spencer’s seen talented raw kids not getting an opportunity unless their background is not very rich. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Spencer’s frustration boils over when he spots raw talent sidelined by dollar signs. “Today, in today’s world, if you don’t have a tremendous amount of money or a father that’s got a tremendous amount of money or a grandpa, you can’t make it,” he vented on the podcast, nodding to cases like the Indiana dad looking at a $100,000 price tag for his daughter’s ARCA shot. This sentiment is a far cry from Spencer’s modified roots, where he nabbed back-to-back Featherlite titles in ’86 and ’87 on skill alone. Greed’s grip shows in the stats: entry-level series costs have ballooned, pushing teams to chase big-money drivers over hungry unknowns’ raw talents. Just as Herbst‘s family backing fast-tracked him from a 10th-place Daytona 500 debut in 2023 to a full Cup seat. That tough edge defined Spencer, earning nods even from rivals. Kurt Busch, reflecting on their 2002 Bristol clash where he nicked Spencer’s lead for his first Cup win, recalled, “When I made that move [on] him, I was like, ‘Man, I gotta run,’” because Spencer fired back, “When [Kurt] smashes back, [he] won’t finish the race.” Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports It kicked off a feud that saw Spencer clip Busch at the Brickyard and trade punches at Michigan in ’03, landing a suspension, but it proved his grit in an era where standing firm meant survival. Busch later laughed it off as a “10-layer carrot cake” of bad blood, but it underscores why Spencer blasts soft leadership today: without that backbone, the sport loses its pulse and essence. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Spencer’s call for affordable series, like $35,000 fiberglass rigs with spec parts, echoes his push to spotlight true drivers over deep wallets. Yet his words hit harder, knowing the toll: his own team, Spencer Motor Ventures, shuttered in 2000 for lack of funding. But Spencer’s not done venting; his sharp tongue turned next to a fresh Xfinity dust-up that’s got fans buzzing. Spencer’s post-race fury at Talladega shenanigans Jimmy Spencer’s hot takes spilled over to Austin Hill‘s Xfinity win at Talladega on October 18, where the Richard Childress Racing driver led 48 laps but capped it with a middle finger to the booing crowd. That gesture, after holding off Carson Kvapil by 0.105 seconds for his fourth victory of 2025, sparked a backlash in a sport already thin on goodwill. Hill, out of the playoffs after a 28th at Charlotte Roval, aimed to rally his No. 21 team, yet his antics drew swift heat from vets like Spencer. “I never done that in my life. That’s a stupid son of a b–ch… He’ll never make it. I don’t give a damn. You just don’t. My god, you can’t do that. The fans are always right; they should be fined for that, yeah,” Spencer blasted on Door Bumper Clear. He knows the sting firsthand; after a Thompson Speedway triumph early on, he taunted booers with, “You people are just mad cuz I kicked Bugsy Stevens’ a–” turning Connecticut crowds against “Mr. Excitement” for years. Talladega’s tri-oval chaos has long brewed tempers, but Spencer’s point lands: alienating fans risks the bond that packs 80,000 seats.
