On the back of the mess that was created during the appeals process for Hendrick Motorsports, Kaulig Racing, and Denny Hamlin, the officials have come under fire. However, it is interesting to note that Dale Earnhardt Jr leaped to the officials’ defense. According to him, the officials already have a difficult job on their hands, and the show at the Circuit of The Americas did not help their cause.

One of the biggest complaints about that race was the number of green-white-checkered periods in the closing laps of the race. As a result of that, the race kept getting longer with the spectators and drivers getting frustrated.

During a recent episode of The Dale Jr. Download, Junior said, “I think that NASCAR does a damn good job, I don’t envy their position. I’ve said that before, but I had to ask myself after this past weekend, after the COTA late race restarts and all the comments and opinions about all that.

“We sit down and hear every week, just like a lot of people and we go over what we liked. What we think should change, and a lot of times, we’re adamant about some of those things, ‘Man! we got to change this! Why is it like that, why’s it got to be this way?’

“I wonder sometimes if we’re a bit too neurotic. I got worked up over the green-white-chequereds. After the fact, I’m like, ‘Wonder if it’s not a bigger deal than I think. Does it really fricking matter if there are unlimited green-white-chequereds?'”

Amidst the rising discontent with the governing body among fans and experts alike, it is refreshing to look at the debate from a different perspective, such as the one presented by Dale Jr.

READ MORE: Dale Earnhardt Jr Believes Denny Hamlin’s Appeal Aftermath Would Unveil More of What “Everybody Wants to Know” Than “Cryptic” Hendrick Motorsports’

Dale Earnhardt Jr believes that the governing body probably knows the best

Dale Jr did confess that he probably would have done some things differently, but he’s not the one in charge of NASCAR. So, whatever rules that the officials have set, the drivers have no choice but to comply. According to the 2x Daytona 500 winner, this kind of dictatorial approach has been beneficial for the sport.

He continued, “It’s not exactly how I’d do it, but it’s the way NASCAR’s been doing it. There always has been this great idea that this is their sandbox. You want to be here, you got to play by their rules. I love that, I always wanted it to be that way.

“The sport’s always kind of been better when there was a bit of a dictatorship style of rule.

“Less collaboration and committee rule. I kind of always liked it when there was always one person at the top going, ‘Everybody come in the room. This is what’s going to happen, everybody good? Okay, see you. Go out there and do it by the parameters that I’ve set and I don’t want to hear s**t about it.'”

For now, the Cup Series will continue as the action moves to Bristol Motor Speedway and hopefully all the issues iron themselves out. Otherwise, it would be really worrisome if there is more conflict between NASCAR and the drivers/teams.

WATCH THIS STORY: Dale Earnhardt Jr Urges NASCAR Drivers to Hold Everybody Accountable “Such as Bubba Wallace & Denny (Hamlin)”