NASCAR racing has seen a major overhaul to its racing since its day of inception. Not just the essence of racing but how the sport is run has drastically changed- and it’s for the worse, according to Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR as a company was a well-oiled machine running smoothly under the leadership of Bill France Sr. But since then, there have been changes to the power structure and the influence in decision-making. It has all restricted the sport from moving in the right direction.

For a sporting league or series to undergo major changes, there is a need for expert opinion and the involvement of sponsorship. However, in NASCAR’s case, this has only acted as a roadblock, with no clear line of command and having to rely on every stakeholder in the decision-making process. This is what seems to have angered Dale Jr, who on his podcast explained how business was done back in the day.

Dale Earnhardt Jr recalls how Bill France Sr’s influence got things done in NASCAR

NASCAR is becoming more and more complex with an ever-increasing increase in the sharing of power. You have the Race Team Alliance, comprising the Cup Series team, the driver’s council, and also the sponsors, who have a big say in making the decision calls. While, it was expected that the input and collaboration of the stakeholders would take NASCAR to new heights, in reality, there’s more confusion and chaos than ever before.

Recalling the days of Bill France Sr, Dale Jr on his podcast said, “Twenty years ago, or even more than that, I guess you go back to thirty years ago right? Bill France Sr was the final boss. He was the rock. Bill France Sr would walk in and say, Here’s what’s happening today, everybody get on the fu**ing train. If you ain’t getting on, you’re left at the station. There was no bull s**t, there was no collab, there was no RTA, there was no driver council. The drivers tried, but they couldn’t.”

Jr further argued that if it were up to NASCAR, they could have taken a swift call on the problems related to racing. “So to change horsepower or so whatever. If NASCAR could snap its fingers, they might put horsepower, they might put smaller tire, or smaller brakes on the car. They could just snap their fingers and get rid of shifting on Ovals, they might just do it, But it is going to cost money.”

His argument didn’t stop there, he also weighed in on the horsepower debate. Stating that the driver’s demand for more horsepower isn’t the solution to the current woes of NASCAR as a racing product.

An increase in horsepower isn’t going to change the state of racing overnight

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Ever since NASCAR rolled out its Next Gen race cars, the drivers have time and again argued for changes in the racing package. The most common argument and demand pitched by most drivers is an increase in the horsepower of engines. However, Dale Jr is not entirely sold on the idea that a bump in engine power is the solution to dealing with ongoing racing issues.

“I don’t think it matters. I don’t think it’s really gonna change the way racing looks if we added a 100 horsepower, I just don’t. Drivers, there’s a lot of drivers that think what would happen. If they believe it, let me have it… I’m not arguing against horsepower, I just don’t know that’s the right switch to pull for me,” Jr went on to explain.

NASCAR is under pressure to deliver a good racing product after a string of dull race weekends. It remains to be seen what improvements the sanctioning body comes up with for future races and events.