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LAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 16: Dale Earnhardt Jr. on camera prior to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff South Point 400, on October 16, 2022, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, NV.(Photo by Christopher Trim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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LAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 16: Dale Earnhardt Jr. on camera prior to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff South Point 400, on October 16, 2022, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, NV.(Photo by Christopher Trim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
This weekend is the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season finale at the Phoenix Raceway. As usual, the Championship 4 drivers will battle it out to determine the new champion. Now it seems that NASCAR wants to kick off the season finale on a high note. So, the sport and the Phoenix Raceway introduced a new feature to enhance the fan experience. To be exact, they unveiled a new feature called ‘Oasis in the Sky’, and Dale Earnhardt Jr was one of the people reacting to the news.
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Over here, the idea is to suspend a large table-like platform, which seats up to 12 people. Those fans will be suspended 150 feet in the air for 30 minutes. Additionally, they will be able to watch the race, while being served food and drinks while up in the air. Admittedly, this news was met with a little bit of scorn from the fans, while others poked fun.
How did Dale Earnhardt Jr and other fans react to the Phoenix news?
In all honesty, Dale Jr sounded pretty excited, even asking NBC’s Rick Allen if he was interested. Another response noted how daredevil the move was and they were excited to see where this goes. Interestingly, this is not the first time that this new-fangled contraption has been used. During the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament, the Oasis in the Sky was in use. Some people even wondered if NASCAR was kidding, until they saw the PGA Tour video.
How bout it @RickAllenracing
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) November 2, 2022
I mean if I’m gonna die it may as well be in a story worth rivaling El Macho, sign me up
— Spindlematic Galvmatron (@23SpeedRacer) November 2, 2022
I thought it was a joke until I saw this vid. That's crazy.
— Glitch Energy ⚡ (@bitch_energy_) November 2, 2022
Fans: NASCAR needs to be consistent on penalties!
Team Owner: NASCAR needs to do a 850+HP Next Gen test!
NASCAR: Floaty grandstand bois
— Michael G. Cardaropoli (@MGCardaropoli) November 2, 2022
Few fans even took a dig at NASCAR for its priorities, where they ignored the fans’ and teams’ demands. According to them, the fans wanted more consistency with penalties, and team owners wanted an 850+ bhp Next Gen test. Some others even joked that if NASCAR replaced grandstands with floating platforms, it would solve the rain issues.
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AVONDALE, AZ – JANUARY 31: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. addresses the media during NASCAR testing at Phoenix International Raceway on January 31, 2017 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
If we get rid if all the grand stands and just have hundreds of these suspended over the track we’ll never have to worry about rain again
— eRacr.gg (@eRacr_gg) November 2, 2022
Shouldn't the seats face outward, somehow? You aren't up there to socialize with other guests, you're up there to watch a race that is circling around you!
— Joe Schroeder (@JoeSchroe85) November 2, 2022
Passing in the mid pack but we don’t see it cause the camera cuts to the “oasis in the sky” 😂
— Matt (@MIracingfan) November 2, 2022
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Gonna be missing out on 2nd and 3rd running down the leader in favor of seeing some kid downing a few hotdogs hundreds of feet in the air
— Vegas Thinks (@Shills0) November 2, 2022
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A fair number of people even questioned the seating orientations of the Oasis in the Sky. In essence, the fans were not there to socialise, but to watch the race. Finally, there were concerns that the new contraption could prove to be a distraction for the cameras.
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