WATCH: Dale Earnhardt Jr. goes on a passionate rant about how “STUBBORN” Richmond is going to lose their second race date to a Road Course
Dale Jr. has always been a passionate supporter of short track racing.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (In Circle) and Richmond Track (Via IMAGO)
Richmond hosted the Toyota Owners 400 on last Sunday and other than few incidents and drama towards the end, the race didn’t hit the mark in terms of overall entertainment. It being hosted on Easter Sunday resulted in less viewership compared to the Bristol dirt race that was in the same weekend last year.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. via his podcast talked about the future of the track as the poor race product continues. He pointed out that the track is close to loosing it’s second race date. Via The Teardown podcast, Jordan Bianchi has already reported that Richmond second race might get replaced as early as in 2025.
Junior is frustrated by thinking about losing another short track race to possibly a road course weekend. He pointed out that the stubbornness of the track authorities is the reason for the state. The two times Xfinity Series champion has asked the track multiple times to seal the pavement like they used to do in the good old days, but this suggestion was always met with rejection.
They refuse to seal that racetrack. I don't understand that. They're going to lose a date. They're going to lose a date because of how, like, stubborn, I guess, they are about it, you know, and it's not that Goodyear builds a tire. I'm telling you, man, all of these things are going to cost Richmond a date, and it does not deserve it. It deserves to have two dates, and here we go. We're going to lose another short track race and probably end up at a road course.Dale Earnhardt Jr. said via Dale Jr. Download.
Richmond is dangerously close to losing its second date… and it might already be too late. ? pic.twitter.com/6ybpn0R4li
— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) April 2, 2024
Dale Earnhardt Jr. explains how racing on Easter Sunday is hurting them
The JR Motorsports co-owner was also seen disappointed by the fact that the race is on Easter Sunday. He pointed out that it is hurting the sport because most families don’t invest time for NASCAR during these holyday weekends. This would result in drop in ticket sales as well as in the TV Ratings.
Racing on Easter is not helpful. I mean, I know other sports play on Easter and other things happen, but I'm not going to those. I'm not ever going to be at a sporting event on the Easter holiday. I'm not. Yeah, it's not happening. So, it's not entirely necessary that we do that. That is not going to help your walk-up crowd, your ticket, you know, sale. That is not going to help, and I don't think it really helps your TV audience.Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.
The words from the NASCAR legend shows how much he loves the short track racing. Junior as well as the fans wants the sport to keep true it origins and race more on short track instead of quitting them. If there is a need for some wild changes to the current NASCAR system, the sanctioning body has to take that risk as keeping the sport to it’s roots is always the path towards success.
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