Dale Earnhardt Jr. Thinks NASCAR Has ‘Nothing To Lose’ By Killing The Playoffs
It sounds like NASCAR is about to make some big changes.
Brad Keselowski last week said he’s heard the Cup Series cars will be getting a horsepower boost next year from 670 hp to 750 hp.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. thinks it’s a good move, but maybe won’t have as big of an effect on the racing as people are hoping.
“I mean, it’s progress. It is progress. I’m good with it. So yeah, I mean I mean everybody’s been asking for it. Is it as much as maybe some people wanted? Probably not,” he said on the “Dale Jr. Download” podcast.
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He’s not sure how much the racing will be affected, but does think the drivers will enjoy it, which may be nearly as significant.
“That’s as important as anything else because the drivers have to support stuff for things to work. The drivers have to be positive for things to be good. We need the drivers liking what they’re doing. And I think if you’re going to give the horsepower back and hear some favorable comments from drivers, that’s a that’s a win.”
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He’s also hopeful that more practice will be added next season. Practice sessions were cut during the pandemic-affected 2020 season and haven’t fully returned as a cost-saving measure, but it’s made it difficult for new drives to adapt and for teams to make performance gains on their competitors.
The biggest update on the horizon is a change to the postseason, or its possible elimination. Earnhardt is the member of a committee advising NASCAR on the topic. He said support for a return to a full-season championship has gained momentum during this season, which has seen a drop in TV ratings, but he still doesn’t think that will happen. Instead, the most likely outcome is the reestablishment of a multi-race championship round.
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Nevertheless, he said throwing a Hail Mary and going to a full-season points system might be worth a shot.
“What are we risking now? We have nothing to lose. What are we risking? It’s not like you’re the guy that wins it doesn’t deserve it,” he said.
“A couple weeks ago in New Hampshire, we [the Cup Series] had nearly Xfinity numbers in terms of viewership.
“Have they gotten to the point to where there is nothing to lose, nothing to risk? I don’t know.
He said the combination of more horsepower and the old school championship could be the big swing that will deliver the fan interest that the Next Gen car hasn’t produced.
He also dismissed the growing idea that NASCAR’s woes are due to the popularity of the NFL and that it needs to adjust its schedule to avoid the conflict.
“I’m not leaving the room because football’s in it,” he said, noting that NASCAR used to put up competitive TV numbers to football. “What, are we going to run from football all our lives?”
While input from the committee is part of the consideration, final decisions all all of these matters will ultimately be made by NASCAR management.