The complaints about NASCAR have been piling up with no respite. In addition to the debates of horsepower, Next Gen, and fuel-saving, another one has surfaced. Drivers and fans alike have protested the taking down of the all-too-convenient scoring pylons at some race tracks.

Denny Hamlin was the most vocal, and he clamored about the loss of convenience. He reasoned that when a driver races, glancing up at the pylon tower lets him know his position on the track. Other drivers like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell also took Hamlin’s side. Veteran driver Dale Earnhardt Jr also agreed albeit with a twist.

No love lost between Dale Earnhardt Jr and Talladega’s pylons

When the pylon was visibly absent at Talladega, NASCAR fans brewed a storm. They protested against the break of tradition, as Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi dissected the issue. They revealed that the Talladega scoring tower was already in ruins. Some of its parts were not even available on the market.

But Denny Hamlin brought in another line of argument: “I think what created so many exciting times during qualifying was when the number would pop up on the scoring pylon. P1 for Dale Jr., whoever it was.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr did side with Hamlin to some extent, acknowledging the importance of scoring boards on other tracks. On a recent Dale Jr Download episode, he said, “The one that’s in Texas, that type of pylon at that size of a race track at that location, is necessary…When you look at the one in Indianapolis and Texas…owned by Marcus Smith, he put an incredible pylon at North Wilkesboro Speedway.” He added, “In some instances, the pylon is a staple, almost like a historical monument-style vibe with it at certain race tracks.”

But Dale Earnhardt Jr aimed his guns at the particular pylon found at Talladega Superspeedway, saying, “I remember, that one wasn’t very good, you couldn’t read it…The damn bulbs that lit the numbers up were so tiny…It was almost like…you ever had a calculator with batteries dying?… I won’t miss it.”

He further added fuel to his diatribe against this pylon. “You know, the ARCA race was always going on during the day…we were moving in and out of the garage area and infield…you look at that thing and go, ‘I can’t freaking read’…It was a pain in the a**”. 

While adding depth to his support of specific pylons, Dale Earnhardt Jr drew a unique comparison to another inevitable component of the race track. 

Flagmen and pylons are the life of races

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The flagmen are crucial to any race. Operating the flag stand is the most visible NASCAR job. Fans wait with bated breath for the waving of different flags: green, yellow, and most importantly, the checkered one. Yet it also involves a lot of dirt and wind. Flagmen usually wear goggles to withstand the heat of the races.

Dale Earnhardt Jr compared this quintessential role to a pylon on some tracks. “I think at certain tracks it’s absolutely part of the atmosphere…I would say, compare this to the flagman…NASCAR has multiple flagmen on payroll. They could absolutely have a giant block at the flag stand that was an LED light lit up in whatever color…and take that flag man out of that stand entirely. But that flag man is so critical to the DNA of motorsport, NASCAR’s not going to do that…That’s the way I kind of feel about the pylon.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr’s opinion about the dwindling pylons, divided as it may be, still adds weight to the debate. However, in the light of constantly evolving technology, it may be time to bid adieu to these giant scoreboards.