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via Getty

The anticipation is always high when NASCAR announces the schedule for a new season. And the 2024 lineup has certainly raised a few eyebrows. While there are quite a few notable changes and surprises, one particular decision has not sat well with the legendary Dale Earnhardt Jr. As the motorsport world braces for a new chapter in NASCAR in 2024, Dale Jr couldn’t help but express his disappointment over the absence of a beloved race on the Xfinity schedule.

The Bristol Dirt Race, known for its thrilling and often unpredictable action, will not be a part of the 2024 NASCAR season. Instead, the iconic short track is reverting to its traditional concrete surface, bringing an end to the recent era of dirt track racing. While this transition has its own set of reasons and implications, it’s a different facet of the decision that has irked Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr is not happy after seeing the Bristol Spring race absent from the Xfinity schedule

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The Bristol Spring race, which had been a staple in the Xfinity Series, will not make a return. Xfinity only gets one opportunity to race at the high-banked half-mile track. And this decision hasn’t gone unnoticed. During a recent episode of his podcast, Dale Jr held nothing back, revealing his frustration at this development.

As Dale Jr was reviewing the changes to the 2024 schedule, he said, “2024 schedule was released. Notable changes, the Clash is back at the Coliseum. I don’t dig it over there. It was good for a couple of years. But I am ready for something else, cool. Atlanta replaces Fontana’s race number 2. I am good with that. Atlanta, being the number 2 race on the schedule, has history. Bristol back-to-back concrete races.”

However, it was the next bit of information that pissed him off, But NO… so the dirt is gone. But NOthis is the one thing that pisses me off. I was going to run the first Bristol Xfinity race if it was on the schedule and it’s not. Xfinity don’t run there twice. I am disappointed in that. I wanted to get there and race in the spring in the Xfinity car. It would just have such a great run there at the night race. I don’t know what the hell, Xfinity used to go there twice a year.”

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Dale Jr. was disappointed with the Bristol race on a personal level. He had much more to say about the other changes NASCAR has made to the Cup Series playoffs.

Dale Jr. cautions NASCAR not to go after too much craziness in the playoffs

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As the NASCAR community digested the 2024 schedule, another aspect caught the attention of fans and experts: the selection of racetracks for the Round of 16. The inclusion of Atlanta and Watkins Glen raised eyebrows, particularly the introduction of a superspeedway in the playoffs alongside Talladega.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. couldn’t resist sharing his thoughts on this “crazy round” of races during his podcast. While acknowledging the intention to create memorable moments, he cautioned against going too far. “A Talladega or a Daytona in any round is a wild idea,” he said, expressing his belief that a lot is happening in one moment.

His advice to NASCAR decision-makers was clear. “I would caution NASCAR, whoever it is that is making these decisions for these rounds, I would caution them to have some purity. We’ve got some crazy races that can go into these rounds. I would caution them not to get too wild because the end result could be a fluke-ish sort of vibe.”

Dale Jr’s words reflected a deep understanding of the sport’s dynamics and a desire to maintain a certain level of consistency.

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READ MORE: “Hell With That”- Dale Jr Annoyed by NASCAR’s Lack of Bravery to Stand Up to More Competitive Sports

As NASCAR moves forward, it must strike a balance between innovation and respecting the traditions that have made it a beloved motorsport.