“It’s a Damn Soap Opera” – Dale Earnhardt Jr Puts Himself on Manufacturers’ Radar But Not in the Way He Would Have Wanted

When the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) came into existence in Daytona Beach, Florida, on December 14, 1948, ensuring safety was a top priority as the organization’s founder, Bill France Sr, aimed to bring the sport together and set common standards.

However, in those days, both the driver and the manufacturer were the judges of safety and performance. Fast forward to today, it appears that manufacturers hold a slightly stronger influence over what should be added or replaced in a car to enhance its performance. The point has been emphasized by Dale Earnhardt Jr on his podcast, questioning the impact of on-track changes and what factors play a significant role in accepting or rejecting certain car parts for inclusion in a car.

Dale Earnhardt Jr explains why the discussion of accepting or rejecting a car part looks like a drama show

The NASCAR Generation 7 car, also known as the NASCAR Next Gen car, is the current hot rod that burns rubber in the NASCAR Cup Series. The Next Gen era hit the starting line in 2022, bringing with it a slew of cutting-edge technology and some “supposedly” enhanced aero and downforce packages. The big shots in the Gen-7 car game are Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota, heavyweight names in the world of consumer automobiles.

While each manufacturer puts their own unique spin on the NASCAR engines, they are all subject to the same set of rules set forth by NASCAR. But here’s the kicker, as Dale Jr. spilled the beans: NASCAR puts their drivers through a test drive to give the nod or the boot to a new part or technology for the car.

He further highlighted that, on certain occasions, manufacturers aren’t too keen on embracing change. Instead, they pull out all the stops, reaching out to drivers or authorities to bend their ears and dissuade the inclusion or rejection of a car part.

That’s when things get political, and as Dale Earnhardt Jr puts it, “It’s a damn soap opera, it’s a drama show.”

And that’s not all. Dale Jr also dished out some juicy details about the testing process and how they can tweak and tune those car parts for maximum performance on the track.

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“That’s going to be what makes or breaks the test,” remarks Dale Earnhardt Jr, on crucial factors the team must bear in mind

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According to the former NASCAR Xfinity Champion, when it comes to testing car parts, drivers often get caught up in fierce competition on the track, and even the crew chiefs get fixated on chasing speed. But that’s not the purpose of the test. Drivers need to set aside their competitive nature and focus on how that new car part, piece, or technology actually affects the vehicle. That’s when a successful test can be carried out and the car can shine at its finest.

As Dale put it, “When everybody goes there with the right attitude and agenda, just trying to fix the short track package, not trying to find speed, trying to fix their cars, that’s when the cars are always really good when they go to these tests.”

Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of understanding NASCAR’s intentions and the goals of those new parts and pieces, saying, “When that part or piece gets bolted on your car, you understand what you’re trying to feel from it, what you’re trying to learn from it; what NASCAR wants to know from you. And don’t get competitive; don’t get out there and start to looking at lap times, and don’t worry about your car not doing so good or not getting off the corner well. Just try to gather the data and always be thinking about what this means to short-track racing in the next-gen.”

Well, this time Dale Jr definitely gave the lowdown on what goes down behind the scenes, so now NASCAR fans can finally get a peek into the inside details of a wild ride of adding or subtracting car parts. It’s truly fascinating to learn about the intricate process that occurs before a part or piece makes its debut in a new car. We eagerly await more insider knowledge from the veteran.

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