Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hates ‘Drafting Track’ Branding on Atlanta Motor Speedway

Since its reconfiguration, the Atlanta Motor Speedway, now named EchoPark Speedway, has been hosting some of the most entertaining races in the schedule. Though it is often seen as drafting track similar to Talladega and Daytona, it isn’t. Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. has shared his thoughts on the situation.

The former Daytona 500 champion in the latest episode of the podcast, pointed out that restrictor plates races are no longer there as they were replaced by carburetor spaces, changing how horsepower affects racing. This impacts racing in a different level in Atlanta compared to the other two iconic Superspeedways according to Dale Earnhardt Jr.

A long time ago, restrictor plates came into the sport, and we call those tracks where they ran them restrictor plate tracks. Atlanta got reconfigured, and we started seeing a similar style of racing there. They don’t have restrictor plates anymore. They have carburetor spaces and different things and different ways to limit the horsepower.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. said via Dale Jr. Download podcast.

Further talking about the point, the track isn’t similar to the other venues, hence the tag of drafting track doesn’t suit Atlanta. As a team owner and former racer, Junior hates this name given to the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart. Atlanta is its own animal, that demands drivers to be more pro-active during the races.

We didn’t know what to call Atlanta, because it’s not a restrictor plate track. Those parts and pieces aren’t around anymore. So, we call them drafting tracks, which I hate, but it is what it is. I don’t get to choose. We don’t see the same type of racing at Daytona and Talladega that we see at Atlanta.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. added.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. shares his thoughts on potentially acting in Days of Thunder 2

In a separate part of the podcast, Dale Jr. talked about NASCAR’s potential return to the big screen. There are confirmed talks about Tom Cruise’s iconic movie Days of Thunder getting its long-awaited sequel with the sanctioning body involved in it.

The veteran was asked about his wish to act in the movie and Junior admitted that he wouldn’t think twice if he gets the opportunity. He believes just like him, almost every other driver in the racing community wants to be part of the Hollywood movie.  

No question, yes. That’s an automatic yes. Yeah. I would damn sure be interested in doing that. And I think that’s the way that anybody feels in the industry, right? If you’re a current driver, you’d absolutely want an opportunity to be a part of that.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.

He seems to be banking on the fact that he might get a call up as either a broadcaster or in some others ways, as he is currently engaged that ways at the moment. Everyone is eagerly waiting for ;atest update on the projects like Junior.

This movie, if ever made, will — and I’m putting myself, putting my neck out there — but this movie, if ever made, will need, at some point in the movie, some broadcasting chops. So, there will be a lot of people eager to find out if they’re the ones that will get called up for that.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. added.

The comments from the Hall of Famer shows how important the movie is and how the project will help NASCAR to break some of the barriers it is facing at the moment. It would be interesting to see how the project will turn out to be and will Atlanta get features in the movie.

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