The 2024 season started off with a resounding bang. For one, the opening races were filled with loud and noisy wrecks at Daytona and Atlanta. Then, NASCAR dropped massive news, sending off quite the sound waves among fans- two additional media giants. Amazon and WBD will cover races. This banger only got bigger with Dale Earnhardt Jr shifting allegiances.

Fox and NBC have dominated the NASCAR scene for ages. From 2025, they will only cover 14 races, while yielding 10 to Warner Brothers Discovery Sports and Amazon. Presently, the most popular NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt Jr just stole the thunder from NBC. He will be joining WBD and Amazon, drawing varied reactions from fans.

NBC may be shooting itself in the foot by losing Dale Earnhardt Jr

Dale Jr. left behind a trailblazing career behind him when he hung up his helmet in 2018. He had 26 Cup career wins, including two Daytona 500 titles. He is also a two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion (1998, 1999). What’s more, Dale is the most popular driver in NASCAR, with the majority of motorsports fans rallying behind him. So when NBC revealed that it was going to let go of this icon, most fans were shocked.

A spokesperson told ‘The Athletic,’ “Dale Earnhardt Jr. is beloved in the NASCAR world and has made numerous contributions to NBC Sports, from his work as an analyst on our NASCAR coverage to his experiences as a correspondent at major events like the Indianapolis 500, the Kentucky Derby, the Super Bowl and the Olympics. We thank Dale and we wish him the best going forward.”

This triggered a wave of concerned reactions among fans. They are convinced that NBC has lost its most valuable asset. Some Reddit fans flooded their views on a comment thread. “That will hurt the NBC booth, Jr is the best one they have in it right now.” Another fan said, “That’s big. Wonder what NBC will do, or who they will grab.”

Twitter users were also quick to point out NBC’s dimming influence via this blunder. “Big fail by NBC”, one fan tweeted. Another said, “BIG L for @NBCSports @NASCARonNBC.” Another X user did not hesitate to use a superlative, “Biggest fumble imaginable by NBC.”

Read More: NASCAR Community Is Left Contemplating After Dale Earnhardt Jr and JR Motorsports Tease a Surprise Announcement

Dale Earnhardt Jr informed NBC about his decision only last week. He plans to go on a hiatus this year, before returning to broadcasting next year. Although his stint with NBC has ended for now, his debut is still fondly remembered by many.

Dale Jr’s “Slide Job” commentary on NBC will never grow old

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Soon after Dale Earnhardt Jr retired from racing in 2017, he entered a new arena like a lion. He flagged off his full-time broadcaster debut on NBC with a blast in the 2018 Chicagoland race. When Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson were battling side-by-side for the first position, Dale Jr let slip an iconic description that still brings smiles to NASCAR fans. He yelled into the microphone: “Slide job!”

“I don’t know that that’s a catchphrase because I don’t know that you can just work it in any time,” Earnhardt said. “That was just a natural reaction to what I was seeing. That’s what my bosses asked me to do was to say what I was thinking, especially in a moment like that when you’re excited and I’m enjoying it and reacting like a fan.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is turning the tides of fandom by leaving NBC. In some time, seeing WBD or Amazon viewership of NASCAR races shoot up might not be a surprise.