During his recent Dirty Air podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared how observing Jeff Burton transformed his perspective on covering NASCAR events, especially after facing significant challenges calling the Chicago Street Course. The experience highlighted for Earnhardt Jr. the importance of adapting on the fly, and led him to embrace a vital Dale Earnhardt Jr. broadcasting lesson learned directly from the booth.
Unique Challenges Faced by Broadcasters at the Chicago Race
The Grant Park 165, broadcast by TNT Sports as one of their five races with NASCAR, presented a distinctive set of obstacles. The street circuit‘s temporary nature left the commentary team without a traditional booth, meaning they had no vantage point over the entire track and were instead situated in a trailer a block away.
As a result, broadcasters had to rely solely on television monitors. This limitation severely impacted their capacity to keep up with on-track developments in real time. Critical incidents, such as Bubba Wallace spinning after contact with Alex Bowman and a severe crash involving Cody Ware during the penultimate lap, were missed as they unfolded.
Rick Ware Racing competition director Tommy Baldwin described the immense impact of one incident, stating:
Rick Ware Racing competition director Tommy Baldwin said on Door Bumper Clear today that NASCAR told the team that Cody Ware’s crash at Chicago was “probably” the worst head-on hit recorded in the Next Gen car. Said Ware is “a little sore” but commended his performance at Chicago… pic.twitter.com/VwtpoqvOw4
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) July 7, 2025
Earnhardt Jr. noted the lack of direct vision as a decisive barrier, emphasizing that being unable to see the cars and the crowd contributed to delays and gaps in their commentary, as well as making it more difficult to guide the production team in showcasing critical race moments.
He admitted that these limitations are being taken seriously and will inform their strategy in upcoming races, such as the next Cup Series event at Sonoma.
The Broadcasting Skill Jeff Burton Modeled for Earnhardt Jr.
Beyond the technical setup, Earnhardt Jr. explained that a commentator’s direct engagement with the track atmosphere is essential for delivering energetic and responsive coverage. He highlighted how Jeff Burton set the standard in this regard, consistently leveraging his position in the booth to stay connected to the unfolding drama.
The environment really makes a difference in how you feel and how excited you are about what’s happening,
— Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hall of Famer
Earnhardt Jr. reflected with his co-host TJ Majors on how seeing events firsthand boosts commentary, referencing a vivid example:
When I can look out the window and see the No. 51 hit the tire barrier, I can obviously go, ‘Wow, that’s a freaking awesome nasty hit.’ That goes up my priority list of things that has to be talked about, has to be shown.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hall of Famer
However, Earnhardt Jr. identified Burton’s constant communication with the production team as the most influential lesson. Through frequent use of the talkback button, Burton alerted producers to emerging battles or incidents before they appeared on camera, allowing the broadcast to anticipate and narrate storylines instead of just reacting to them.
That’s something I learned from Jeff Burton when he’s working in a booth,
— Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hall of Famer
Earnhardt Jr. offered more insight into the mechanics of this technique:
He’s on talkback… He’s on that button all the time. ‘Hey, battle for seventh is going to be a good one in a few laps. Hey, this guy’s you know…’ he sees it coming.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hall of Famer
He sees it. And I do that a little bit, but when you’re not able to look out and see.. we were in a trailer about a block from the track,
— Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hall of Famer
By staying proactive and alert, as Burton demonstrated, announcers can shape the viewer experience, even when hindered by logistical challenges. For Earnhardt Jr., this approach became his most valuable Dale Earnhardt Jr. broadcasting lesson, showing how direct coordination within the team keeps coverage vibrant and responsive.
Implications for Future NASCAR Broadcasts
Although difficulties at the Chicago Street Course tested the entire broadcast team, Earnhardt Jr. stressed their determination to enhance coverage quality in future races. With the next event at Sonoma, another road course, he indicated that everyone involved—broadcasters, producers, and NASCAR officials alike—is aligning to address previous shortcomings.
Key entities such as Cody Ware, Jeff Burton, Bubba Wallace, Alex Bowman, Tommy Baldwin, and the entire production crew remain central to the evolving process. The lessons learned in Chicago are now shaping both preparations and expectations for upcoming events.
The broader impact of Earnhardt Jr.’s adaptation signals a shift in how teams like Rick Ware Racing and major broadcasters like TNT Sports approach live NASCAR coverage, ensuring that critical race moments and developing storylines are no longer missed, even in unconventional or challenging broadcast conditions.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Dale Earnhardt Jr. a billionaire?
A. By 2025, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s net worth is expected to be around $300 million. This wealth comes from his successful career as a NASCAR driver and his job as a broadcaster. He continues to grow his influence through endorsements, owning a racing team, and various partnerships.
Q. Will Dale Earnhardt Jr. race in 2025?
A. On Thursday, it was shared that another date has been added to his Late Model schedule for 2025. A newly designed Sun Drop-sponsored car will be featured. Earnhardt, Jr. will drive the No. 8 JR Motorsports car at Tri-County Speedway in October. The zMAX CARS Tour will visit the Granite Falls, North Carolina track on October 4.
Q. Did Dale Earnhardt Jr. retire?
A. After retiring from full-time NASCAR racing, he joined NBC in 2018 as a color commentator. When his NBC contract ended in 2023, he moved to Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports. He became part of their new NASCAR TV coverage starting in 2025.
Q. Is Dale Earnhardt Jr. still retired?
A. At 50 years old, Earnhardt stopped racing full-time in NASCAR in 2017. However, he has participated in at least one Xfinity Series race annually after that.
