Dale Earnhardt Jr. was Falling out of Love with NASCAR Before New Format Announcement

The NASCAR community is now more excited than ever with the future of the sport, after it was announced that from the 2026 season the champion will be crowned under the original chase format. It ends the controversial ‘win and you’re in’ system for good, making it more rewarding for consistent racers over clutch performers.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been one of the many names that has been demanding an end to the playoffs, and he had a valid reason for it. In the latest episode of his podcast, he highlighted how with the full season format fans couldn’t afford to miss races of their favorite driver while under the playoffs system, not all race results matter.

When we had the full season points, you couldn’t take a week off as a fan because that race might be the race where your guy breaks a motor and gives up 180 points. That race that’s in the middle of the year that seems like it’s not really that important could be the one that loses you the championship.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said via Dale Jr. Download.

Further talking about the same point, the two times Busch Series champion confessed that he was slowly falling out of love with the sport, as he lost the interest to watch racing every week as a fan. This was primarily due to the fact that he could just watch the highlight of the race and be done with it, as with the win and in-system, consistency less important than one lucky win.

We had lost that. I had lost that. I was not being drawn to the sport every weekend. I was not wanting to devour it up. I was sitting there going, ‘You know what, I kind of know who’s in the playoffs. I can kind of check out. I’ll see the highlights in the middle of the week. I can miss this one. I don’t need to tune in today.’

Dale Earnhardt Jr. added.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. remembers the tough losses of the NASCAR off-season

In the same podcast, the JR Motorsports co-owner shared his thoughts on the tough losses the stock car racing community endured during the off-season. HOF Greg Biffle and family died in a tragic plane crash, it shook the Earnhardt’s as well, as they were close associates.

That was really tough…It was hard, and I can’t imagine what it must be like for his family, his friends, his close friends, his family members, and I’m sure they all feel absolutely devastated. We’re thinking about them.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.

Another major loss was the death of Junior’s close friend Denny Hamlin’s father Dennis Hamlin in a house fire. He like the majority in the community is praying that Hamlin’s mother who was hospitalized after the incident will get better soon.

Also want to give a minute to mention Denny Hamlin and what he had to experience and go through with his father, the house fire, and his mom. I don’t have any first-hand knowledge or information but I’m hoping that his mom is doing well.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. added.

The NASCAR community endured some tough losses, before the positive news that came out regarding it future. It would be interesting to see how everything is going to playout for the whole community in the coming years.

Also Read: Jimmie Johnson Brands New NASCAR Format a ‘Blessing in Disguise’ for Legacy MC

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