Dale Earnhardt Jr. calls for NASCAR’s European debut, bringing attention to a track far from the sport’s usual circuits. His focus is on Brands Hatch, a historic venue with a layout that could shake up the competition. During his discussion, he pointed to iRacing, where drivers have already tested its tight turns and elevation changes. With his support, the idea of NASCAR heading overseas is gaining momentum. The question now is whether the sport is ready for such a move.
Key Highlights
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. suggests Brands Hatch as the venue for NASCAR’s first European race.
- Brands Hatch is known for its rich motorsport history and challenging track layouts.
- Junior’s proposal aligns with NASCAR’s interest in international expansion and fresh venues.
- The idea includes hosting an international edition of ‘The Clash’ at Brands Hatch.
- Dale Jr. has experienced Brands Hatch virtually, enhancing his enthusiasm for a real race there.
NASCAR’s First Road Course Race of the Year Was a Success
Zooming into the thrilling world of NASCAR, the initial road course race of the year revved up excitement like never before!
The venue, Circuit of The Americas, transformed its usual 3.41-mile course into a more exhilarating 2.4-mile track, evocative of the beloved Watkins Glen. This change kept fans on the edge of their seats, as the shorter layout minimized long, dull straightaways, allowing for more dynamic and engaging racing action.
The race didn’t just capture the fans’ attention—it even impressed Dale Earnhardt Jr., a self-proclaimed road course skeptic.
The tactical passing zones were the talk of the day, giving racers like Christopher Bell a chance to climb from P19 to victory. Meanwhile, Kyle Busch led 42 laps, almost snapping his 59-race winless streak.
The success of this race has sparked discussions on whether COTA should return for a sixth season, with Dale Jr. hinting at intriguing possibilities beyond U.S. borders.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Suggests an International Venue
Dale Earnhardt Jr., with the excitement of a kid uncovering a new ride at an amusement park, has turned his attention to the thrilling idea of NASCAR expanding beyond the U.S. borders.
His latest suggestion is an international venue that promises to captivate racing fans: Brands Hatch. Known for his profound knowledge of tracks, Junior, a historian at heart, has shown a knack for unearthing the hidden stories behind racing circuits.
“When they talk about hey man we should go overseas we should go over to Europe where should we race in Europe. One of the racetracks, if you’re familiar at all within Europe, Brands Hatch (circuit) is a very historic racetrack. They have a long course that’s really cool. But they also us have an Indy course.. that’s really short.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Brands Hatch, with its rich history and versatile track layouts, seems to be the perfect candidate. During his podcast, Dale Jr. painted a vivid picture of the track, highlighting its long course that’s “really cool” and the short Indy course, adding a touch of charm.
Junior’s enthusiasm is contagious, sparking imaginations of roaring engines on European soil. NASCAR fans might just be packing their bags for an exhilarating race across the Atlantic soon!
Junior Loves COTA’s New Layout and Wants More of It
While not everyone might be a fan of road courses, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has found a new favorite in the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) thanks to its thrilling new layout.
Despite his usual indifference towards road courses, COTA’s transformation into a short, dynamic track has won him over. “I could have given a crap about it before this weekend,” he frankly admitted. But now, the track’s short-track racing feel has sparked his enthusiasm.
“COTA to me is now believe it or not a guy who’s not a big massive road course fan I am excited for them to go back. Well, I’m now it’s something that I hope returns or hope stays part of our schedule. I could have give a crap about it before this weekend. I would have not cared had COTA went away and never returned. But now its giving me what I love about short track racing in a form of a road course and I want more of that.”
“It’s a really short, bull ring of a road course and basically you know that’s kind of what I feel like we got with this new COTA of design and I’m hoping it sticks around it was pretty cool.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dale Jr. is excited about the prospect of COTA’s new design sticking around, as it offers the best of both worlds—combining the excitement of short-track racing with the unique challenges of a road course.
It seems that the shorter the course, the better for Junior, who now keenly awaits the possibility of more tracks adopting a similar layout.
His newfound excitement for COTA is contagious, leaving fans curious about what could come next.
Junior Previously Suggested Brands Hatch for ‘The Clash’
Excitement buzzes around the idea of NASCAR expanding its horizons, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a thrilling suggestion that’s got everyone talking!
Known for his love of dynamic tracks, Junior’s latest proposal is causing quite a stir. Imagine the roar of engines at Brands Hatch, a legendary circuit that could host an international edition of ‘The Clash’. When NASCAR revved up this year at Bowman Gray Stadium, the action was electric, but whispers of repetition loomed in the air.
Enter Junior, suggesting an overseas adventure to keep the thrill alive! Brands Hatch, with its unique Indy course, caught his eye as a short-track road course that could introduce fresh excitement into the NASCAR scene.
“If they take the Clash overseas, I think that one track that they absolutely should look at is Brands Hatch. The Indy course at Brands Hatch, it’s like a short-track road course.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
His enthusiasm is contagious, and with NASCAR’s penchant for international venues, like Mexico, his idea seems feasible. Could this iconic British track be the stage for NASCAR’s next big leap? Only time will tell!
Junior Has Run Brands Hatch on iRacing and Thinks It Would Be a Great Addition
Imagine the thrill of racing through a legendary track, even if it’s just on a computer screen! Dale Earnhardt Jr., a name synonymous with NASCAR, finds joy in this virtual experience.
As the executive director at iRacing, he has investigated the twists and turns of Brands Hatch, a historic road course, countless times on the simulator. With its compact layout and challenging corners, Brands Hatch offers a unique allure that’s captured Junior’s imagination.
“I think Brands Hatch, which it is a road course … It’s like a, I don’t know the distance but it’s like a mile. It’s very, it’s a couple of corners. We’ve ran it online, we’ve run it on our sim race forever.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
His enthusiasm for the track is infectious, as he believes it would make a thrilling enhancement to NASCAR’s Cup Schedule. By suggesting a race at Brands Hatch, Junior envisions merging the virtual thrill with real-world excitement, offering fans a new kind of spectacle.
The idea of NASCAR drivers maneuvering this iconic European track is tantalizing, and Junior’s experience on iRacing suggests it could be a game-changer, sparking interest across the racing world.
News in Brief: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Calls for NASCAR’s European Debut
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has fans buzzing with his exciting idea to take NASCAR to Europe, specifically to the legendary Brands Hatch. His experience racing there on iRacing fuels his enthusiasm, and he believes it would be a fantastic enhancement to the NASCAR calendar.
Just imagine the roaring engines, the thrill of a new track, and the chance to see NASCAR go international! With Junior’s passion leading the way, who knows what thrilling adventures lie ahead for racing fans?
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