Dale Earnhardt Jr. has sparked debate within motorsport circles by urging NASCAR to do away with overtime restarts in the Xfinity and Truck Series, highlighting concerns over escalating repair costs and increased safety risks. The Dale Earnhardt Jr. overtime restarts proposal follows a pattern of chaotic, costly, and sometimes hazardous race endings that have especially impacted teams in these developmental divisions.
Earnhardt Jr. Outlines the Case Against Overtime Restarts
NASCAR overtime restarts, also called green-white-checkered finishes, were introduced to provide fans with action-packed conclusions to races, preventing anticlimactic slow finishes under caution flags. Since being finalized in 2017, these rules have ensured races do not end quietly, delivering suspense for viewers but at a significant operational price for participants.
However, for team owners like Dale Earnhardt Jr., the reality of overtime restarts means more than just on-track spectacle—it also translates to increased damage to valuable race vehicles and heightened expenses. Speaking through his widely listened-to podcast, Earnhardt has voiced strong opinions about the unintended consequences of this excitement-driven policy.
“If I were in charge, I would not have overtime finishes in Xfinity or Truck. I don’t think it serves any real purpose other than presenting more opportunities to crash and tear up more stuff. The race cars and the trucks, those are $150,000 to $250,000 vehicles, and I think we lose sight of that.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., Team Owner and Former Driver
These extended laps, intensified by the pressure of last-minute restarts, often devolve into uncontrollable incidents where teams risk losing expensive equipment. Both the Xfinity and Truck Series frequently experience crowded fields with drivers relatively new to the national level, further increasing the potential for costly wrecks during these high-stakes final moments.
Comparison with the Cup Series: Experience Makes a Difference
As owner of JR Motorsports and participant in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series, Earnhardt Jr. has clarified that his push for removing overtime restarts applies specifically to the lower divisions, not the top-tier Cup Series. He notes that drivers in the Cup Series generally possess the skill and discipline to handle the intensity of overtime situations with fewer catastrophic outcomes.
“I think we can have that in the Cup Series because those drivers make less mistakes, they are more elite, they, in most cases, are not going to destroy themselves or the whole field racing in overtime finishes,”
he explained. —Dale Earnhardt Jr., Team Owner and Former Driver
This distinction highlights his belief that the Cup Series, featuring championship-caliber drivers like Denny Hamlin and veteran teams, is better suited for the demands of such endings. In contrast, the developmental nature of the Xfinity and Truck Series often means less experience among drivers and crew, making situations especially volatile and more prone to expensive or dangerous outcomes.
“I believe just for the Trucks and the Xfinity (cars), they could remove them entirely,”
he doubled down again before elaborating his point. —Dale Earnhardt Jr., Team Owner and Former Driver
Developmental Divisions and the Consequences of Chaos
The role of the Xfinity and Truck Series is to serve as a stepping stone for young drivers, aspiring engineers, and mechanics aspiring to advance within NASCAR’s ranks. Most weekends, these series run alongside the Cup Series as companion events at tracks like Dover and Watkins Glen International. Earnhardt maintains that the need for late-race entertainment should not outweigh the importance of a safe and cost-effective environment for learning and development.
“In most cases, the Truck and Xfinity are a companion event to the Cup Series and it’s a proving ground, a learning process for young drivers, mechanics, engineers and all those people and its not a place where we need to be piling up and destroying half of the field in the last handful of laps in the name of entertainment,”
he added. —Dale Earnhardt Jr., Team Owner and Former Driver
Recent NASCAR events have reinforced the contentious nature of overtime restarts. In the Cup Series, experienced veteran Denny Hamlin navigated two overtime attempts to win at Dover, while at Watkins Glen, Corey Heim managed to emerge victorious after surviving three overtime restarts in the Truck Series. These examples underscore the unpredictability and consequences associated with current rules, especially for competitors still honing their craft and managing limited team budgets.
What the Future Holds for NASCAR Overtime Policy
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s public push to eliminate overtime restarts in Xfinity and Truck Series has sparked new discussions about balancing fan engagement with the physical and financial safety of developmental teams. As owners, engineers, and drivers weigh in, NASCAR faces renewed pressure to revisit its approach to race conclusions in lower divisions. The ongoing debates and recent race incidents suggest that stakeholders across the sport are actively considering Earnhardt’s proposal, as teams and personnel look for ways to keep competition intense while minimizing unnecessary risks and damage.
