Dale Earnhardt Jr., a two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion, didn’t hold back on the latest episode of his “Dale Jr. Download” podcast, voicing his unfiltered thoughts about the state of the Xfinity Series. His deep ties to the circuit, coupled with his role at JR Motorsports, fuel his passion for improving the series. However, he isn’t shy about addressing the challenges facing it.
Earnhardt raised concerns regarding the future of Xfinity racing, particularly in light of NASCAR’s focus shifting towards the Cup Series Next Gen car. He articulated his belief that many components currently utilized in Trucks and Xfinity events are becoming outdated. “I believe that the parts and pieces that we’re all using to race Trucks or Xfinity are a bit obsolete and I wish they weren’t,” Earnhardt expressed. “When the Cup car moved away from the rear-end housing and suspension—all these types of things that we currently run—it’s put things in question in terms of physically, what’s the future of the Xfinity car?”
Amid these concerns, Earnhardt offered a potential solution to enhance interest in the Xfinity Series: revamping its race schedule. He voiced a particular desire to see more events at North Wilkesboro Speedway, adding his voice to the growing conversation around the venue. “There’s been a lot of conversation about the Xfinity Series racing at North Wilkesboro. There’s not much to that,” he remarked. “If they put a race there, I’ll run it. I said that years ago, and I said that when Wilkesboro came back. I said it every year. That’s not a new bit of information.”
His sentiment didn’t stop there; Earnhardt didn’t mince words about his dissatisfaction with Xfinity races at Martinsville Speedway. “I’d rather have an Xfinity race there than Martinsville. That [expletive] we’re doing at Martinsville is for the birds,” he stated candidly. The veteran driver expressed frustration over the damage incurred at Martinsville, both to the cars and the drivers. “I don’t love taking my cars over there and watching them get destroyed and watching our drivers destroy each other. So I’d love them to not go to Martinsville and go to Wilkesboro. That’d be better.”
It’s worth noting that Martinsville Speedway has a rich history, being a staple of the NASCAR circuit since 1947, and the Xfinity Series has held events there for the past five years. However, Earnhardt’s bold suggestions and honest critiques illustrate the passion he has not only for the sport but also for its future trajectory. As the Xfinity Series continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these conversations shape its path moving forward.
