Even though the All-Star race at North Wilkesboro wasn’t about points, there was a buzz of excitement about it, especially with the recent repaving of the track. The spat between Denny Hamlin and Marcus Smith also spiked curiosity among fans eager to see how the new asphalt would hold up. On top of that, Goodyear introduced new ‘option‘ tires, designed to wear off quickly and potentially spice up the race, similar to what fans enjoy at Bristol.

However, none of these factors panned out as hoped, and the overall cup race turned out to be pretty dull, with Joey Logano dominating a staggering 199 out of 200 laps. How much more boring could it get? But Dale Earnhardt Jr has a different take on it, as he recently shared on his podcast.

Dale Earnhardt Jr believes the track was spot on

Without Dale Earnhardt Jr’s push, North Wilkesboro Speedway might have remained a memory. Revived after 26 years for the 2023 race, it was a blast from the past for many. A year on, though, the buzz didn’t quite live up to expectations, and the Cup race ended up a bit of a snoozer, disappointing eager NASCAR fans. However, the truck race delivered some excitement. But, why the difference?

Dale Earnhardt Jr shared on his recent podcast episode that while tires played a small role, they weren’t the key factor in how well the track performed during the races. According to him, “The tire to me mattered very little about what we, you know, how well the racetrack raced. ‘Cause the trucks went everywhere and they’re on old a** Goodyear, right?”

So, it seems the old tires didn’t stop the trucks from putting on a good show, but probably the new ‘option‘ ones used in the Cup race, did.

Despite rumors and concerns post-repaving—Dale Jr shared, “When they went and tested the tire test, I was getting text messages from people saying, ‘Hey man, the track’s coming apart’. And it wasn’t, it was those little pieces of tar and, and bonding of the tar and asphalt mixture coming out of the racetrack in between those pieces of granite or crushed seashore or aggregate, right? And so that stuff was just kind of coming out little by little and creating these crevices and these little pits and imperfections that are gonna wear the tire and age the surface. And so it was happening like it used to, right?”

He further clarified, “We were like, track’s not holding together. That’s not true. The track’s actually supposed to kind of come apart a little bit and that’s why you see some of the little guitar patches and you’re gonna see some, you know, constant sort of maintenance being done to that surface because it’s made to kind of come apart. It’s made to, you know, not fail, but it’s made to disintegrate.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. argued that the situation at North Wilkesboro is because of what happened when Charlotte Motor Speedway was hastily repaved right after its opening in 1960. The quick fix led to significant issues. The repave used advanced asphalt technology that favored more tar and less aggregate [rubber polymers], which meant the bonding was stronger and lasted longer. However, this resulted in a surface that didn’t age well, causing numerous mechanical failures such as blown tires, broken axles, and suspension issues, as reported by drivers like Tom Pistone, Doug Yates, and Ned Jarrett due to the track’s roughness.

Recently, the former Cup driver also pointed out that NASCAR has returned to the old methods, which explains why seeing patches or bits of asphalt coming loose on the track is normal. Despite criticisms that the All-Star race at North Wilkesboro didn’t meet expectations, Dale Jr defended the track’s condition, trying to reassure fans that the issues they’re seeing are part of a normal aging process for a racetrack designed to gradually break down.

The Cars Tour owner stood up for the North Wilkesboro Cup race and track

Despite some hiccups during the event, Dale Earnhardt Jr argued that he enjoyed the race but wished there had been more action at the front. According to him, the race was okay, Goodyear tires were not up to the mark, but the track was perfect. Sharing his thoughts on X, Dale Jr. posted:

“Fun race to watch. Had its moments. Definitely wanted more of a battle up front. BUT! This @NWBSpeedway track is awesome with the repave. Need a full field of cars on it to stifle the leader with lap traffic. Maybe one day it’ll get that points race.” The highlight for many was the showdown between Kyle Busch and Ricky Stenhouse Jr, which added some drama to the day.

But, the difficulty drivers faced in overtaking was apparent, and fans were left somewhat disappointed by the lack of on-track excitement. Whether it was because of the track or merely it was the tires that did not wear off as quickly as anticipated, fans definitely wanted a lot out of a racetrack that just got repaved. For now, all eyes are on Charlotte, where the community is hoping for more thrilling action.