Since the next-gen car, NASCAR has struggled with its short-track package. And the recent Bristol race was another example of it. What was expected to be a thrilling race ended up being a one-man show as Kyle Larson led 462 laps. The spring Bristol Motor Speedway race had raised the bar so high that many expected the same this time. In the race which had 54 lead changes, tire management became key because of the high wear.

However, the Goodyear tires just did not fall off the same way this time, and passing was challenging on the track. This has been a continued trend on short tracks lately, even in the recent Richmond race, just three drivers led 339 of the 400 laps. Post what was a mundane Bristol race, Dale Earnhardt Jr hit out at NASCAR’s short track package. This invited some unexpected rebuttal from Chris Gabehart. However, recently, Jr came clean about why he said what he said!

Dale Earnhardt Jr explains his disappointment with the Bristol race

The short-track package debate started after NASCAR Journalist Jeff Gluck called the Bristol race a total disappointment. He said, “It was a total letdown. It was just such a disappointing night because everybody was so excited about it.” Dale Earnhardt Jr in his recent podcast episode of Dale Jr Download was quick to second Gluck as he agreed to it being a product of NASCAR’s failed short track package.

Jr, in the conversation, said, “I heard Jeff Gluck on the Teardown this week, this cannot be okay. I feel pretty confident that NASCAR is looking at this and saying the same thing. I do not see short-track racing surviving this, if they don’t find some solution.”

 

For some reason, Dale Earnhardt Jr‘s comments had Denny Hamlin’s crew chief, Chris Gabehard, upset. He replied to Dale Jr’s podcast video on X, writing, “All the doom and gloom is a little thick and aids in perpetuating the problem. Could it be “better?” Yes. Has it been “bad” by a lot of validated eye test metrics of the past? No, not really. Does our society sensationalize nearly everything now? Yes. That’s not helping either.”

 

This had Earnhardt Jr pumped. We know how much Jr loves online banter. While this could have easily upset the veteran, he rather chose to explain his opinion graciously. According to Jr, his views of the race were based on Gabehart’s comments.

“What’s funny is I kinda formed my opinion here by watching the race AND watching your post-race pit road interview. I guess I read you incorrectly. I worry too much about everything. That’s not new. But a good short-track product at the top level has a positive effect on the grassroots. And when it’s off it’s felt at the lower levels.”

Jr too made a comeback at the Bristol Xfinity Series race and finished 7th in the race, where Cole Custer led 104 laps before taking the checkered flag. Dale Jr was adamant about there needing to be a change in the short-track package. He further wrote, “The short track product can and needs to improve somewhat. You surely can agree. And it’ll be people like you who make that happen.” However, according to Gabehart, the race was as good as it gets with the current next-gen car.

Chris Gabehart thought Bristol did as good as it could

In his current Banter with Dale Jr, Gabehart further explained his side as he spoke about how difficult it is to drive on the top level. He wrote, “Most of all, I want everyone to know how hard it is to race at the cup level. G7 cars don’t showcase that well enough. Natural cautions should be common at short tracks because the cars are hard to drive for the world’s best drivers. That should be the goal.”

Gabehart’s #11 team stayed in the top 5 all night and eventually finished the race in P4. Hamlin has been vocal about how the next-gen car is a problem on the short tracks. According to the veteran, the car needs a complete re-design. Gabehart, too, believed the car was the problem and yet, it did its best. Post the Bristol race, he said, “Well, I actually thought it was as racey as you could expect it to be at Bristol with this car. It’s too easy to drive, they’re too close, and you’re not going to ask for much better racing. I’m sorry, you’re not.”

However, shouldn’t that be the goal to better the short-track racing product? According to the Joe Gibbs Racing crew chief, short track races with the Next Gen car will probably continue to produce similar results unless there are significant changes to the vehicle. “The days of the old Bristol are over, that’s just the truth,” he added. 

What do you think about NASCAR’s current short-track package? Let us know in the comments below.