Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared mixed reactions to the Kansas Speedway NASCAR Cup Series playoff event, praising the racing but expressing ongoing frustration with the Next Gen car’s aero package. The veteran driver and broadcaster discussed the moments that stood out to him during his Tuesday episode of the Dale Jr. Download, focusing on both the race action and persistent aerodynamic challenges.
Earnhardt Jr. Spotlights Aero Issues with Next Gen Cars
The Kansas Speedway race delivered the kind of drama NASCAR fans expect, but for Dale Earnhardt Jr., a notable problem remained. He has frequently voiced concerns about the Next Gen car’s aerodynamics, especially when cars follow closely through corners. As Earnhardt Jr. watched this weekend’s competition, he noticed the struggle drivers faced when trying to find clean air and maintain momentum—something he believes diminishes the quality of racing.
He elaborated on how drivers attempt to avoid the turbulent wakes created by the cars in front, making split-second decisions to go high or low entering turns. The wrong choice, as he noticed, forced them to lift off the throttle, losing grip and speed.
“That’s the way all of them think as they’re going down the straightaway, I’m gonna do the opposite of the guy in front of me. But you gotta get clean air under the center of the car, and sometimes we’ll see, and we saw it in this race, they’ll make the wrong choice and boy, they have to jump out of the gas because they go into the corner following a car, they have no grip and they get out of the gas and lose all of this momentum.”
— Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Broadcaster
This phenomenon, according to Earnhardt Jr., isn’t unique to Kansas. It’s a recurring issue across the NASCAR Cup Series since the introduction of the Next Gen car, affecting competition regardless of the track. Still, Kansas stood out as one of the more entertaining events of the season, despite these long-standing technical flaws.
Race Highlights and Dramatic Finish at Kansas Speedway
The event’s conclusion was filled with tension and surprises. Denny Hamlin, a prominent driver and 23XI Racing team co-owner, washed up the track on the last lap, making contact with his own driver, Bubba Wallace. Wallace brushed the wall, clearing a path for Chase Elliott to make a decisive pass on the bottom and secure the victory. The dramatic sequence provided fans with the unpredictability often sought in NASCAR races.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. expressed his appreciation for the gripping final moments and how drivers put everything on the line as the checkered flag approached. However, he confessed discomfort with the scenario of Hamlin, the team boss, tangling with his own driver. Instead, he would have preferred to see such an incident occur between unrelated competitors.
“But otherwise, I really enjoyed everything about this race,”
— Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Broadcaster
He went on to describe the thrill that imperfect racing moments—such as a late mistake making the difference between victory and defeat—bring to the sport. This human element, with all its unpredictability, is what he values most, especially when popular drivers like Chase Elliott seize a last-lap opportunity.
“It just sucked because it was the team owner and the driver in this scenario, but otherwise if it was other drivers besides Denny and Bubba, we want to see that sometimes. We like to see our racing be flawed and imperfect and present those oh hell, guy coming off the corner, a guy slides by and wins the race and oh, it’s Chase Elliott, who happens to be one of the more popular drivers in the series.”
— Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Broadcaster
Broader Context: Ongoing Aero Challenges and Competitive Racing
The Dale Earnhardt Jr. Next Gen concerns reflect talking points that many in the racing community share. While the Next Gen platform was intended to level playing fields and promote parity, drivers like Earnhardt Jr. continue to highlight how aerodynamic turbulence limits side-by-side action and passing in key moments. Kansas still delivered a memorable finish, with talents such as Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, and Chase Elliott at the center, but technical challenges remain a focal point in ongoing discussions about NASCAR’s future.
As the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs progress, the debate over the Next Gen car’s performance will likely persist. Earnhardt Jr.’s sharp observations serve as a reminder that evolving the cars to foster more vibrant competition remains a priority for teams, drivers, and fans. While drama and excitement persist at tracks like Kansas Speedway, further refinements may be needed for the racing product to consistently meet high expectations.
