Fuel economy has become a hot topic for NASCAR fans in recent years. Watching their favorite drivers race at mid-throttle in prestigious superspeedway races can be a frustrating problem. And all fingers point to NASCAR’s ingenious initiatives, like the introduction of the Next-Gen car in 2022. But while the car’s flaws can’t be denied, Dale Earnhardt Jr. offered a different perspective in this debate.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. turns to team strategy
“Era of Fuel Economy Isn’t NASCAR’s Fault,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said in a download episode of Dale Jr.. “It’s just that the teams have found a strategy to give them an advantage late in the race, and they have to minimize that. You know, when we used this car, and it fuels slower like it, you know, the tires go faster and the fuel takes longer to come in. That’s what created this.”
As the Daytona 500 approaches, this debate is most relevant. At superspeedways like Daytona, Talladega and Atlanta, teams do everything they can to conserve fuel. This saves time on pit road during green flag pit stops. The strategy, while effective, can lead to slow speeds on the track in an already crowded field. And the fans mostly believe it’s NASCAR’s problem, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. also integrated the actions of the teams into this issue.
“So they go out there and they save as much as they can. And they have to put less in the car, spend less time on pit road, and they try to put themselves in a position at the end of the race with a track position to go there and maybe have a chance to win. And it’s frustrating to watch them race. But I feel like if they don’t change anything, people will have to stand out,” he added.
Imago
NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Coke Zero Sugar 400 August 23, 2025 Daytona Beach, Florida, USA Drivers receive the green flag to start the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
NASCAR’s Next-Gen car has made passing on superspeedways more difficult. This has led to bland racing, where drivers can drive three wide but barely push their car with speed. Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s senior vice president of competition, recently pointed out that since fans don’t see much of a difference, this problem may not be a big deal. But Dale Jr. denounced this nonchalance and nonetheless highlighted the issue of fuel economy.
While debates on the on-track product continueEarnhardt Jr. is turning to a different way to generate enthusiasm for the sport.
Courting rival series
While NASCAR and F1 rarely cross paths, when they do, it proves to be a spectacle. Not long ago, Formula 1 world champions Jenson Button, Kimi Raikkonen and Jacques Villeneuve made a few starts at the highest level of NASCAR. Among the top performers, Dan Gurney won five Cup races, Juan Pablo Montoya won two, and Mario Andretti won the Daytona 500. Today, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is demand a return of F1 champions to his own sport.
“I mean, I would love to see Max Verstappen try it,” Dale Jr. said. “He’s incredible, and I think his curiosity, his work ethic, I think all of that would play a big role in him being successful. Also, our cars have changed a lot. Our cars have independent rear suspension, transaxle diffuser… our cars are not the stock cars of 10, 20 years ago, and so I think the opportunity for a driver to F1’s ability to succeed is much better today than it was 20 years ago.”
Clearly, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has an optimistic outlook on NASCAR despite the multiple problems. Let’s wait and see where the fuel debate evolves.
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