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USA Today via Reuters
Mar 29, 2021; Bristol, TN, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (19) leads a lap under caution during the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
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USA Today via Reuters
Mar 29, 2021; Bristol, TN, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (19) leads a lap under caution during the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
During the NASCAR Cup Series dirt race on the Bristol dirt track this past Sunday, Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr was quite active on Twitter, expressing his excitement about the race. Earnhardt Jr was tuned in throughout the weekend, although he was not able to make it to the track to witness the action.
Dale Jr. missed out on driving a NASCAR race on dirt, as the Cup Series has only just made a return to dirt racing after 51 years. While the race itself was quite eventful and chaotic as well at times, Earnhardt Jr. declared it a success.
Speaking on the ‘Ask Jr’ segment of his famous show ‘Dale Jr. Download,’ the former NASCAR superstar gave his detailed views on the dirt race and its future in NASCAR.
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While there are certainly improvements to be made, which is fair, Dale Jr. wants to see a lot more dirt racing in NASCAR in years to come.
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via Getty
DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 23: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, talk prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Can-Am Duel 2 at Daytona International Speedway on February 23, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Dale Earnhardt Jr gives a ‘thumbs up’ to the Bristol dirt race
“I loved it. There’s some, I’m sure, things to be learned and adjustments to be made to make the experience better,” Dale Jr. said in response to a question. “But I think it was a win, it was a plus, a success. Something I want to see again,” he added.
NASCAR already announced that Bristol will host the Cup Series dirt race once again in 2022. The next time around, the former Hendrick Motorsports wants to feel the electric atmosphere at the racetrack with a full-house in attendance expected by then.
While Dale Jr wants dirt racing to stay, he stressed that it is important to have it only at Bristol for a while. He sees potential in the idea and in dirt racing’s future.
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USA Today via Reuters
Mar 29, 2021; Bristol, TN, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) leads the first lap during the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
At the same time, he feels it is important to not get too excited and have multiple dirt races every year until all the issues are worked out.
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Dale Jr. wants NASCAR officials to be careful with future plans
The 2022 season will also debut the NASCAR Next Gen car. Many drivers and teams already have doubts about the Next Gen machine’s performance on dirt. Dale Jr. feels the officials should take things ahead cautiously.
“I hope that it’s here to stay and I hope that it’s just at Bristol.
“We got a new car coming into the sport in a year. Let’s get the bugs worked out of this before we are taking it everywhere,” he said further.
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While the Cup Series is done with dirt races for the season, the Truck drivers will compete in the Knoxville dirt race. The 15-time ‘Most Popular NASCAR Driver’ award winner, Dale Jr, is excited to see what the race brings.
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The common consensus for the Bristol dirt race seemed on the positive side. Dale Earnhardt Jr’s comments also come as a great sign for the future of dirt racing in NASCAR.
READ MORE – “F***ing Wonderful. Way to Go, Bell” – Who Said What on the Radio in the NASCAR Cup Series Bristol Dirt Race
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