Short tracks are the foundation of stock car racing. Dale Earnhardt Jr. knows that better than anybody, having raced his iconic No. 8 Budweiser Chevy at Florence Motor Speedway last year. The race took place amidst much fanfare and media coverage. But the 2024 South Carolina 400 grabbed headlines for other difficulties. It was marred by technical problems, as FloRacing’s broadcast of the event was affected when NASCAR’s regional properties couldn’t handle the load placed on its servers.

Despite the financial constraints, it seems like short tracks such as Florence Motor Speedway are doing all they can to improve their infrastructure. The initiatives are being recognized by Dale Jr. who took to social media to applaud their efforts.

Florence Motor Speedway is quick to make amends

Last year, Florence Motor Speedway was subjected to plenty of bad publicity. ‘The Diamond of the Southeast’ played host to Dale Earnhardt Jr’s highly anticipated comeback in the No. 8 Budweiser Chevy, with fans tuning in from across the country to see the iconic reunion. However, FloRacing’s broadcast left much to be desired with issues plaguing the audio and streaming multiple times during the race. The track’s network system was overloaded by the sheer number of fans watching the event, leaving many dissatisfied with the coverage.

Eager to make amends, the track reported that is has improved its internet service. They wrote on Instagram, “We are THRILLED to share that we’ve just supercharged our facility with a brand-new fiber line! 🚀 This game-changing upgrade is set to take our streaming performance to the NEXT LEVEL! A huge shoutout to Paul Britt (in the orange shirt) and Drake Williamson for their incredible work on this installation! We know the stream at the SC400 was disappointing and we are taking steps so that will not happen again.🌟 We can’t wait to experience the amazing boost in video quality coming in 2025!”

Giving credit where it’s due, Dale Earnhardt Jr. praised Florence Motor Speedway for improving its infrastructure in an Instagram story. He wrote, “This track keeps working hard to improve. Them and all the short tracks around the country are doing a lot with very tight budgets.” Junior has a history with Florence Motor Speedway, having competed at the 0.4-mile oval track plenty of times before. The 50-year-old has been an outspoken advocate of short-track racing, despite its dwindling interest in the ‘Next-Gen’ era.

What was once considered to be the lifeblood of NASCAR has become a shadow of its former self. The Next-Gen car struggles with the short-track package, resulting in declining viewership. This, in turn, affects sponsorship revenue. As a result, many of the most iconic short tracks such as Martinsville and Bristol Motor Speedway have struggled to produce entertaining races, and a solution doesn’t appear to be in sight. However, it’s an encouraging sign to see tracks such as Florence Motor Speedway improve their facilities, indicating that these small, but historic venues won’t go down without a fight.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn’t stepping away from short tracks anytime soon

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has already made plans for 2025. The 50-year-old will be traveling with the zMAX CARS Tour in April for the race at Cordele Motor Speedway and fans are already buzzing. It will be the first time the state of Georgia will be hosting a race from the series co-owned by Junior and Kevin Harvick, as Late Model Stock Cars have only competed in 23 tracks across Tennessee, Virginia, and the Carolinas since the competition began a decade ago.

Sharing the news in a press release, Dale Jr. said, “It’s exciting to have the chance to take the zMAX CARS Tour to Cordele. Fans in the area have expressed excitement about this race being added to the schedule. Our teams are looking forward to this new challenge. I’m thrilled to add it to the short list of events I’ll be racing in.”

Just like Florence Motor Speedway, Cordele has also made improvements to the racetrack in anticipation of the upcoming races in the Late Model Stock Cars and the Pro Late Model categories. Greg Noland, who purchased the venue in 2024 said, “We’ve completely remodeled the track. It’s a lot nicer than it was prior and everyone says they love it.” Many fans will be flocking towards the 0.375-mile oval to see Dale Earnhardt Jr. in action once again, and the modifications made to the track may help in improving the quality of racing.