Already known for its gusty winds, deep-dish pizza, and vibrant sports culture, Chicago recently added another feather to its cap by hosting NASCAR’s first street race. The event brought some curiosity along with it among fans and drivers, including Dale Earnhardt Jr, a distinguished name in the world of stock car racing. Dale recently revealed his initial skepticism about the Chicago Street Race. However, a visit to Chicago with NBC completely changed his perspective.

Earnhardt Jr shared his views about the Chicago Street Race in a recent episode of his podcast “Dale Earnhardt Jr. Download”. He admitted that he wasn’t sure whether the race would be successful or not.

Dale Earnhardt Jr?s Initial Skepticism About the Race

The announcement of the Chicago Street Race sparked a mixed reaction within the NASCAR community. Many media outlets and critics were skeptical about its success, and it seemed unclear whether people truly wanted the race to happen.

Dale Earnhardt wasn’t shy about expressing his initial skepticism. The prevailing people’s sentiment on the traffic, mixed signals and the weather further fueled his uncertainty about the race. “I wasn’t I wasn’t sure about it. I didn’t know whether it was going to be successful or not. All of most of the media that I would stumble across was not advocating for the race. There was a lot of mixed signals and messages about whether people wanted the race to happen or not.”

However, about a month before the race, Earnhardt Jr and some of his colleagues were invited by NBC to visit Chicago and see the racetrack for themselves. During their visit, they had the opportunity to meet Julie Giese, the President of the Chicago Street course. Julie showcased the immense effort and dedication put into making the race happen, impressing Earnhardt Jr.

The experience changed his perception completely. Earnhardt Jr witnessed the monumental undertaking involved in putting together the track, including the countless meetings, agreements, legal work, and paperwork that Julie had gone through to make the race successful. This encounter transformed his outlook, and he developed a positive mental attitude toward the potential of the race weekend.

?It changed that day being out there and talking to her,? Earnhardt Jr. said. ?Spending the afternoon thinking about possibilities for that weekend changed my mind immediately and from that moment forward, I had nothing but a positive mental attitude about what this weekend could be,? he added.

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Earnhardt Jr, despite his change of heart regarding the race, revealed that he has no plans to compete in the Chicago Street Race. While he expressed his excitement and anticipation of seeing the track in person, he said he had no plans to participate as a driver. Earnhardt Jr shared his views of the challenges drivers will face, including the wide track at certain points and the half-circle turn that bends around the racetrack. “For somebody even like me, with all you know, with two decades of experience to not have raced in a year or more to hop in one of these cars, you would get, uh, you would be humbled quickly,” he added.

Earnhardt Jr, while being a seasoned driver, has spent the majority of his racing career on traditional oval tracks. The transition to a street circuit could pose a significant challenge, and the stakes are high. As such, he has chosen not to compete, prioritizing his role as a team owner and media personality. Another reason could be that street circuits are notoriously demanding, requiring a high level of precision and driving finesse. They offer little room for error and even the smallest miscalculation can result in significant consequences. The Chicago Street Race, with its tight turns and narrow straights, is no exception.

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