Dale Earnhardt Jr. Urges NASCAR to “Combine the Clash and the All-Star Race”

NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. has called for the merge of the two exhibition Cup events to have efficient and entertaining race product.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Urges NASCAR to “Combine the Clash and the All-Star Race”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Via Newsweek)

The NASCAR Cup garage had one of the best races of the 2025 season at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The All-Star race, barring the promoters caution drama, had everything including aggressive and strategic battles. But yet it was just another exhibition race that couldn’t get more 2 million viewers. Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. got a solid fix for it.

In the recent episode of the Dale Jr. Download podcast, the JR Motorsports co-owner discussed how the Cup exhibition races has lost its charm. Dale Earnhardt Jr. wants NASCAR to combine the unofficial season opener, The Clash and The All-Star race into one event. He has a solid reason to call for this change.

In the past The Clash only featured drivers who won a pole position the previous year. So, only the selected few made it into the main race, and it was more entertaining with closer competition. The All-Star race used to have only the race winners, now multiple drivers can qualify for the event, with performance in the heats as well as few other gimmicks.

I would be okay with some way that we combine the Clash and the All-Star Race. The Clash should be pole winners only. I don’t want anybody else in it. But that’s never going to happen. We’re never going back to that. …The All-Star Race should be winners only.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said via Dale Jr. Download.

He asserted that there are teams and drivers in the garage that believes there is no point in them racing in the exhibition event as with limited shot at victory and reduced prize pool, it’s more of a burden for him. The veteran racer is right, not having a black and white qualifying criteria re4ally kills the value of the events.

Every time the Clash comes around, there’s this tiny group of folks that are going, ‘What are we doing this for?’ There’s even people that own these race cars and drive them that don’t want to go to the Clash and compete. They’re wasting their time.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. added.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. admits the All-Star race isn’t fun anymore

In the same conversation, he further admitted that just like in the Clash, there is groups of people in the NASCAR garage that would be glad if they get a chance to skip the All-Star race. So, coming the two events and with only the race winners of the previous season being eligible, is the best way to go forward.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Via IMAGO)

Then you have this All-Star Race, and there’s a small bit a group of people that the race should just go away. It’s not fun anymore. …Take both of those and combine them. Let’s celebrate the drivers that have won races.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.

The idea put forward by Junior is something NASCAR can look into. Having either the Clash or the All-Star race will reduce the financial burden on sanctioning body as well and will give them the opportunity reward the teams more. It will be interesting to see how NASCAR official is going to respond to Dale Jr.

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