Dale Earnhardt Jr defends NASCAR All-Star Race tradition following controversy over the event‘s significance and mixed fan reception at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 20, 2025. As criticism and declining TV ratings challenge the race’s future, Earnhardt Jr stands firmly against any notion of doing away with the long-standing exhibition, highlighting its deep historical value within the sport.
All-Star Race Delivers Drama and Sparks Debate
The 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway became a talking point after a thrilling conclusion that thrilled some and frustrated others. The event featured dramatic moments, such as Brad Keselowski losing his lead due to technical glitches and Christopher Bell overtaking Joey Logano with help from a strategic promoter’s caution. Despite the on-track excitement, fan opinions varied widely, with heated discussions in media circles and online platforms.
Christopher Bell’s response at the end of the race encapsulated the adrenaline of the occasion:
“That right there was absolutely incredible.”
—Christopher Bell, NASCAR Driver
Dale Earnhardt Jr, recalling his own exhilarating victory in the 2000 Winston All-Star Race where he overtook Dale Jarrett in the final laps, offered his perspective as both a veteran driver and vocal advocate for the event. Confronted by critics who questioned the value of a non-points exhibition race, Earnhardt Jr pushed back with passionate arguments in defense of its place in NASCAR history.
Earnhardt Jr Asserts the Race’s Historical Legacy
The NASCAR All-Star Race, first held in 1985, is etched with iconic moments—including Humpy Wheeler’s legendary decision to host it under the lights, Davey Allison’s tough win over Richard Petty despite severe injuries in 1992, and victories from luminaries like Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards. Yet the 2025 edition prompted scrutiny after television ratings on FS1 dropped to 1.965 million viewers from 2.573 million the previous year, fueling negative commentary from some within the sport. Even past champion Kevin Harvick questioned whether the event had outlived its relevance.
During a recent episode of his “Dale Jr Download” podcast, Earnhardt Jr voiced frustration over the criticism, making it clear what is at stake:
“There are some folks out there that think that the All-Star Race is not necessary. To make the All-Star Race just disappear seems like a bit of a mistake. Well, I got a trophy on the shelf, and you’re going to make that meaningless by making that race obsolete.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Veteran
He continued, highlighting the consequences of erasing the event’s history for longtime supporters:
“If you do away with the All-Star Race, all of those amazing finishes, the ’87 race, the one hot night, throw it in the f-cking bin back here in the back of the archives. When are you ever going to celebrate those highlights?”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Veteran
Despite lower national viewership, the race still captured the loyalty of diehard NASCAR fans. Jeff Gluck’s fan poll registered 83.8% positive feedback, suggesting that core supporters were energized by the race’s classic short-track action. Earnhardt Jr urged NASCAR to recognize the importance of tradition for the fanbase:
“If you didn’t want the race to continue, when are you ever going to celebrate its history? You’ve got a race that could be fun and something that people get excited about. We just experienced that this past weekend.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Veteran
North Wilkesboro’s Remarkable Revival
North Wilkesboro Speedway, often revered among racing enthusiasts, staged a significant comeback after its years of dormancy since 1997. When Dale Earnhardt Jr and other drivers returned to survey the facility in 2019, they encountered a track overtaken by decay and neglect. Undeterred, Earnhardt Jr played a direct role in the track’s restoration, culminating in its reopening for the 2023 season and a fresh repave ahead of the 2024 All-Star Race.
Though repaved circuits often diminish the intensity of competition, North Wilkesboro’s surface has already begun to wear, producing lively on-track action and multiple instances of three- and four-wide racing in this year’s Cup Series contests. Standout performances included Ross Chastain’s impressive recovery from a collision with Austin Cindric to finish third. Chastain’s crew chief, Phil Surgen, underscored the partnership between the track’s evolving character and Goodyear’s tires in shaping the event:
“I’d say this tire is fairly matched up with the track. The year of age on the track, I think, is probably a bigger factor than what the tire was this year. And I’d say, another couple years and this place is going to be really racy, although it looked pretty good tonight. You’ve got a couple of lanes, three-wide at times, so it’s getting there with a little more aging.”
—Phil Surgen, Trackhouse Racing Crew Chief
Fan Sentiment and the Road Ahead
Despite divided views in both the garage and the grandstands, the sense of tradition and community surrounding the All-Star Race remains strong for many in the NASCAR universe. The positive reactions recorded by Jeff Gluck and others reveal that, for a sizable segment of fans, the event still delivers excitement. The debate over its future, fueled by the combination of fluctuating TV ratings and vocal detractors, persists as a central issue for the sport’s decision-makers.
The participation of figures such as Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, and Jimmie Johnson in these discussions shows just how much meaning—and controversy—the All-Star Race continues to have. As NASCAR reflects on the outcome and prepares for future events, the conversation about how to balance nostalgia with evolving fan expectations will likely continue. The stakes involve more than a single exhibition; they touch the core of the sport’s identity and longstanding traditions.
Whether the All-Star Race endures as a fixture on the NASCAR calendar or is eventually reconsidered, Dale Earnhardt Jr’s passionate defense may inspire further introspection about honoring history while adapting to changing times. For now, the 2025 event shows that the tradition remains deeply contested but also fiercely defended by those who raced—and still care—on stock car racing’s storied stage.
