Dale Earnhardt Jr. spill the beans on his distaste with NASCAR waivers amidst new ‘Kyle Larson rule’
Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. has slammed NASCAR for the waiver rule change, with the recent rule’s changes.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Larson (Via IMAGO)
The 2024 NASCAR Cup season exposed the issues with the waiver rules, following Kyle Larson’s failed Double Duty attempt. He missed out on the Coke 600, over ran delay at the Indy 500 as well as at Charllotte. Despite controversy NASCAR decided to give the No:5 HMS racer a waiver to compete in the title chase, and a significant group of fans were against it.
Going into the 2025 season, NASCAR decided to make some changes to the rules, making more restrictions over the eligibility criteria. Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared his feelings about the waiver as a whole, amidst the new changes and admitted that he is against any type of waivers. He wants to rule to be simple the champion has to race in every event, no exemptions.
I hate putting that label on it, but look: I don’t like this waiver stuff. Like the original, the whole idea of it, I just don’t love it. Listen, I mean, I’m trying not to use any examples, but man if you’re injured and you’re out, you’re injured and you’re out. I don’t think there should be a medical waiver.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said via Dale Jr. Download.
He thinks there no requirement of a waiver in the NASCAR championship, even medical waivers. Junior asserted that its important that racers should race to secure points in every race and doesn’t seem to accept any arguments against it.
I don’t think there should be any waiver whatsoever. You show up, you race, you get points. If you don’t race, you don’t start, you don’t get the points. You just don’t. So, what is the argument against that? Why do we need the waiver at all?
Dale Earnhardt Jr. added.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. reveals the true motive behind waivers
The co-hosts gave multiple arguments regarding why the waivers are important to Junior in the podcast, but he didn’t buy into anything. In his mind, the waiver is there to make sure the star drivers are in the playoffs and there shouldn’t such a free pass, even if its because of an injury.
In my mind the waiver is only to make sure your big stars are in the playoffs. And so if something were to happen, somebody gets hurt or some medical issue happens — I don’t know that I feel that great, I don’t know that I feel good about the medical pass, getting the free pass off of an injury.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.
The comments from Dale Jr. are bold but seems rational at the same time as well. The waiver was implemented to give drivers who missed out on bad luck, a fair chance, but sometimes there needs to some serious restrictions that seems unfair in sports. It would be interesting to see if NASCAR would ever consider the point of view from Junior.
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Justin P Joy
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