In a season of disappointing viewership numbers, when NASCAR fans receive a controversial cutoff race, there is nothing like it. From unexpected point deductions and heavy fines for drivers like Ross Chastain, Austin Dillon, and Bubba Wallace, to last-minute penalties for race manipulation in Martinsville, NASCAR’s enforcement felt more unpredictable than ever. Even Dale Earnhardt Jr. noticed!

The drama only escalated when Christopher Bell’s Championship 4 spot was briefly secured, only for his last-lap pass to be ruled a violation and reversed. In the latest Dale Jr. Download, he breaks down what’s becoming a hot-button issue — NASCAR’s playoff integrity and the growing frustration over unclear rules.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s problem with the NASCAR rulings

In a recent discussion, Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn’t hold back as he aired his thoughts on the shift in driving etiquette in NASCAR. Let’s just say he’s not thrilled with where things are headed. As Earnhardt sees it, NASCAR itself is partly responsible for this trend toward “anything goes” racing, with drivers seemingly throwing respect out the window in a push for wins. He argued that “etiquette has changed” over time.

Earnhardt Jr. recalls how things used to be more respectful on the track in the latest episode of the Dale Jr Download, citing Mark Martin’s “cordial” approach as an example. “It was a lot of give and take,” he said. Drivers would let each other go, knowing they’d catch up and pass cleanly later on. “Now we’ve swung back toward… it’s pretty much anything goes,” he continued, expressing his concern that drivers are “racing the heck out of everybody for every position.” It’s not just the Cup Series that saw a bit of rough driving over the Martinsville weekend. Christian Eckes was one of the drivers who aggressively fought Taylor Gray in the Truck Series race.

The playoff format may also be part of the problem. The system essentially demands drivers to keep pushing to stay in the top spots. While it does create entertaining races for fans to watch, it may encourage an overwhelming sense of aggression among drivers. Based on these incidents, one thing is clear to Dale Jr. NASCAR’s current structure fueled this kind of racing — putting drivers in positions where they have to drive “over the line” to stay competitive. He even confessed to giving his own JR Motorsports drivers a bit of a pass when it comes to playing rough on the track.

“I gave him the pass to drive through everybody,” he admitted about one driver’s recent aggressive pass. While Earnhardt Jr. doesn’t necessarily endorse all-out wrecking, he seems to understand why some drivers feel it’s necessary in today’s NASCAR environment. After all, “NASCAR put you in this box,” he explained, describing the pressure on drivers to push the limits.

But it’s not all doom and gloom for Junior. He still values clean racing, emphasizing that, years ago, he’d tell his drivers to “win this the right way.” However, as he sees others “driving through everybody else,” he’s found himself thinking, “Maybe we don’t take it that far, but… maybe we have to.”

Dale Jr. says NASCAR’s old points system isn’t coming back

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After the recent drama over the Championship 4 selection, plenty of fans and drivers have been calling for a return to NASCAR’s old format. But Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn’t sold on the idea. Sure, he’s nostalgic for the 10-race Chase and would hit a button to bring it back if he could, but he’s quick to admit that it’s just not realistic. “TV is not going to buy that,” he said on the Dale Jr. Download.

While Dale Jr. does miss the consistency of the old system—where whoever racked up the most points across the season clearly earned the title—he doesn’t see a major overhaul on the horizon. He points out that, with the current playoff format, NASCAR has managed to make the competition more even and keep fans invested all season long.

“The old system was that you couldn’t question it,” he said, as it rewarded the most consistent driver. However, he also believes the current playoff system brings its own level of excitement and fairness, even if there’s room for improvement. What are your thoughts on the current format of NASCAR? Share your thoughts in the comments below.