Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared his thoughts on NASCAR’s caution extension at the end of the first leg of the Chicago Street Race. In the latest episode of Dale Jr. DownloadEarnhardt didn’t like this because it slowed down the race.
“I got up. I figured I’d get up and do something because it was going to be 15 minutes until the next stage,” Earnhardt said. “We don’t like that. We don’t want people getting off the couch, or worse, changing the channel. It’s a big deal. I don’t know if I liked that idea. Why don’t we just go ahead and green them, even if it’s just for one lap?”
Earnhardt then suggested why NASCAR couldn’t throw the stage caution with four laps remaining and end the stage there.
“I have no problem with that because we let the escapees eat up the next stage. That’s what we do,” he said. “We start the next stage after two or three laps, four laps. If you’re okay with letting the escapees eat up laps on the next stage, why don’t you say, ‘Hey, the cautions are over, there are three laps left to go. Let’s call it the end of the stage, now let’s start the process so we can start the next stage.’”
One of the other things Earnhardt touched on about the Chicago Street Race is Bubba Wallace struck Alex BowmanThe incident occurred after Bowman won the race and the drivers were on their cool-down lap. Wallace hit Bowman because Bowman hit Wallace unintentionally early in the race and prevented him from potentially winning.
“After the race, I’m okay with Bubba going up there and hitting the 48,” Earnhardt Jr. said on Dale Jr. Download. “And I’m okay if someone sues me Hunt (Elliott) or Chase is chasing somebody. And if they want to fine them, that’s fine. I don’t care. I don’t think it bothers drivers too much. Five, ten, fifteen thousand dollars.
“Don’t take points. Don’t really discourage people, because that’s what racing is all about.”
Wallace was ultimately fined $50,000 for the hit, but no driving points were taken off him.
