One of the most common divisive subjects in NASCAR today is stage racing. Should it stay or should it go? And it’s not just divisive for the fans, but for the industry insiders too, including the drivers. Consider, for example, the opinion of someone like Denny Hamlin on stage racing, and that of Dale Earnhardt Jr.

It is stage racing, which Junior recently claimed to be the reason he cannot participate in the North Wilkesboro Speedway Truck race.

“I would be interested…I’ll tell you this. If the (NASCAR Truck Series) did not have stages, I would run at (North Wilkesboro Speedway). I would have already ran at (Martinsville Speedway) if the Trucks didn’t have stages,” Junior said, as per Sportsnaut.

But then again, it is stage racing that Denny Hamlin reasons necessary for the sport. As per him, it’s not just good for NASCAR, but it shouldn’t go anywhere.

Denny Hamlin feels stage racing is absolutely vital for NASCAR

In a recent episode of his podcast show Actions Detrimental, Hamlin was asked by a fan whether stage racing should go or should it stay in NASCAR, to which the veteran had a very clear answer.

“The stage racing has to stay, absolutely has to stay,” he said. “It was put in place because our TV partners didn’t have, they didn’t know when the caution is gonna come so they can start airing commercials.”

“We have to air the commercials, which is why you see, they try to front-load them as much as they can to give us the most green flag racing at the end of the races as possible.”

For Hamlin, stage racing is “an absolute must”, something he backed by drawing an example from the recent Vegas race.

“If you didn’t have stages, the #24 car would’ve led every fuc**ng lap of that race on Sunday,” he described. “Because what is there to break it up? Unless there’s a wreck or he has a bad pit stop, he’s gonna dominate.”

“But at least there was an opportunity because of a stage for people to change strategy.”

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Hamlin feels stage racing makes NASCAR more competitive

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The 23XI Racing co-owner added how stage racing can create more “passing opportunities”, something which was on display in Bristol last season. Hamlin recalled how Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher led so many laps simply because they had stayed out and no one was able to pass them.

This, according to Hamlin, created a kind of illusion about how supposedly fast they were.

“It’s funny how that works but that’s just the way it is, and stage racing gives us an opportunity,” Hamlin added.

In conclusion, Hamlin emphasized that stage racing is good because of two main reasons: “A) It’s good for our TV partners,” he said, and “B) We do strategize around stages.”

“Stage racing is a good thing,” he added.

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