Dale Earnhardt Jr. has ignited a passionate debate over the number of road courses in the NASCAR season, voicing his concerns about the current schedule during a recent episode of the Dale Jr. Download podcast. With Shane van Gisbergen’s impressive streak, the discussion around the ideal quantity of road courses has become especially heated, and Earnhardt’s perspective—centered on the actual performance of the cars rather than driver dominance—adds new complexity to the controversy, tying directly into the ongoing Dale Earnhardt Jr NASCAR road course opinion conversation.
Earnhardt Jr. Raises Concerns Over NASCAR’s Current Road Course Direction
The recurring victories by Shane van Gisbergen on road courses this year have prompted reactions from both fans and insiders questioning if there might now be too many such tracks on the NASCAR schedule. Many assumed that the dominance of particular drivers like van Gisbergen or Trackhouse Racing would be the key issue, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. pointed out that the real problem is not about any one team or driver. Instead, it’s the overall car performance on these circuits that troubles him.
“Nobody wants to get rid of, listen to this, this is really important: Nobody wants to get rid of road courses because SVG’s great,”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., Former NASCAR Driver and Analyst
Earnhardt openly stated he actually understands why teams and organizations achieving success on these tracks—such as Trackhouse Racing—would push for even more road courses. The challenge, however, lies in the car’s inability to meet fan expectations on these tracks.
“So nobody’s wanting to get rid of road courses because SVG is great. I look forward to going to road courses to see if he can be beat. What I think is [the] point is that the car struggles at road courses. It has since it came in.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., Former NASCAR Driver and Analyst
According to Earnhardt, the current design and aerodynamics of the NASCAR car simply do not adapt well to road courses. This mismatch creates a viewing experience that feels unsatisfactory and unfamiliar to long-time NASCAR followers.
“We expect a faster car to be able to overtake with no problem,”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., Former NASCAR Driver and Analyst
He elaborated that fans come to these events anticipating close racing, aggressive overtakes, and the possibility of door-to-door contact—traits that have defined NASCAR for decades. However, when cars are unable to race in this expected manner on road courses, it deviates sharply from what fans have come to anticipate and appreciate.
Earnhardt sees this fundamental issue as a barrier to embracing more road courses, regardless of the skill of competitors like van Gisbergen or the desires of successful teams. He believes that until NASCAR’s car can be improved for these tracks, expanding the number of road course events remains problematic.
Earnhardt’s Minority Opinion: Fewer Road Courses, with a Preference for Tradition
One of the most outspoken points from Earnhardt is his personal preference for limiting the total number of road courses, a stance he acknowledges puts him in the minority among NASCAR fans. While the trend in recent years has favored adding more of these technical circuits, Earnhardt prefers a more traditional approach, rooted in the sport’s history.
“My opinion on how many road courses we should have is going to be in the minority,”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., Former NASCAR Driver and Analyst
He specified that his ideal would be two road course events per season—specifically mentioning favorites Sonoma and Watkins Glen—arguing that this keeps with the classic identity of NASCAR racing.
“I’m fine with a couple. And now I know that that’s the minority, so that’s why I don’t really talk about it too much and I don’t go on social media. Because I know that’s not realistic in the environment we have today.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., Former NASCAR Driver and Analyst
Earnhardt acknowledged, however, that the NASCAR fanbase has evolved over time, with younger fans perhaps being more open to alternative formats and additional road courses. This generational divide highlights the complexities in reaching consensus on the sport’s future direction.
“They don’t look at NASCAR the way I look at it,”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., Former NASCAR Driver and Analyst
He added that these new fans may view the sport with a different lens, see it as having a unique history, and may have a greater appetite for variety in race types. Though Earnhardt is willing to compromise to some extent—accepting up to four road courses—his heart remains with fewer and more traditional venues.
“They look at it and they see a different identity. They see a different history. They see a different sort of… I’m understanding that my personal opinion may not be that popular. I’m OK with four.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., Former NASCAR Driver and Analyst
Potential for Future Adaptation and Schedule Fluidity
Despite his critiques, Earnhardt admitted that NASCAR’s schedule does not need to be fixed. The number of road courses could change over time, especially if the racing vehicles adapt and the demand from fans shifts. He proposed that, depending on improvements and interest, there could be an era in the future where more road courses make sense for the sport again.
“Maybe in 10 years this f****** car is amazing on road courses and we want more road courses back. The great thing about it is we can have that. We can do that. The series and the schedule and everything can ebb and flow as according to how the supply and demand.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., Former NASCAR Driver and Analyst
This outlook highlights the natural evolution of NASCAR and the potential for its format to continually respond to both technological advancements and changing fan preferences. As discussions continue, key figures such as Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing, and other insiders are likely to remain central to shaping the future of the sport.
The debate over Dale Earnhardt Jr NASCAR road course opinion is unlikely to subside soon, given the deep roots and conflicting views on how NASCAR should balance tradition and innovation. The final direction will likely be shaped by ongoing fan feedback, car developments, and the performance of both established talents and emerging stars on road courses in the seasons ahead.
