Dale Earnhardt Jr. was a type of current for NASCAR’s announcement earlier within the month, revealing the return of The Chase and extra emphasis placed on points-racing.
He was a giant fan of the modifications, which these inside the sport say provides legitimacy to the championship, even when the NASCAR Corridor of Famer nonetheless prefers a full, 36-race format. He confirmed that in a current episode of the Dale Jr. Obtain.
“I’m a fan of the game, and now I’m compelled to plug in each single week as a result of I do know there’s a long-form goal for my driver to perform to have the ability to give himself the chance to win the championship,” stated Earnhardt as he mirrored on some great benefits of a full-season format, which he asserted is the easiest way to crown a champion.
He went on to say that you just ‘could not take every week off’ and that he simply wished to “devour the game” as a child as a result of ever-evolving championship story.
“We had misplaced that,” continued Earnhardt. “I had misplaced that. I used to be not being drawn to the game each weekend. I used to be not eager to devour it up. I used to be sitting there going, ‘you realize what, I form of know who’s within the playoffs. I can form of take a look at. I’ll see the highlights in the midst of the week. I can miss this one. I don’t have to tune in immediately.’”
The format, which existed from 2014 by way of 2025 drew criticism for its unpredictability and never essentially rewarding one of the best driver from the yr.
“What we had turn out to be was to date eliminated and so gimmicky and contrived and sophisticated, and exhausting to (expletive) comply with,” stated Earnhardt, who felt free to talk on it now that the format has been solid apart. “I used to be not wanting ahead — I had gotten to the purpose the place it was like, man I do not wish to watch this as a result of they’re simply going to go all the way in which to Phoenix and 4 guys are going to go and see who wins it. It is an excessive amount of happenstance, an excessive amount of luck. I would like to really watch this individual construct this physique of labor.”
Earnhardt then bought very candid, including: “I’m cautious to confess this as a result of (expletive) man, I’m a broadcaster. I bought all types of roles and obligations. I don’t know if that hurts my place within the sport to say s***, I used to be falling out of affection with it. I actually was.”
However the NASCAR legend finds himself excited as soon as once more. Whereas the brand new format is not a full-season championship, it is the closest the game has been to 1 in years. There may be one reset at Race #26, and the reset standings are based mostly solely on that driver’s factors place from the primary 26 races. The drivers who make The Chase are merely the highest 16 drivers within the championship standings, with no win and also you’re in issue.
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