“Don’t Want a Kiosk of a Racetrack”—History Buff Dale Earnhardt Jr Turns Down Hendrick Motorsports Legend With a “Temporary Track” Suggestion

Ever since the introduction of the LA Coliseum exhibition event, there has been a mix of opinions regarding the event, with some fans hating the venue while some enjoying it. Regardless of that, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr recently talked about the proposition for NASCAR to move out of that tiny track. He made his opinions clear and even shared a few ideas on possible venues for the exhibition race.

During the latest iteration of his podcast, Junior argued that there were quite a lot of half-mile tracks and NASCAR needed to introduce a few 2-mile tracks. He then said, “Let’s not go to the street course … I love the concept of the Coliseum but I don’t think it needs to be in the Coliseum. I can’t move.

“What happens you can get the same concept. They own the SAFER barriers. They own the fencing. You just put some asphalt down. What happens if you put that at Texas A&M? Is it big enough? I don’t know.”

To this, former Hendrick Motorsport crew chief Steve Letarte interjected and tried to explain how NASCAR justified the use of the LA Coliseum, calling it unique. However, Earnhardt cut him off, saying, “What if you put it in the parking lot of the Mall of America? With Minneapolis in the summer for the all-star race. Like I love the idea of a temporary track to bring it to markets.”

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Junior concluded by saying that he likes for the “tracks to have some history. I don’t want a kiosk of a racetrack.”

Is racing at LA Coliseum really that bad?

What happens when you stuff too many cars into a half-mile track? Chaos right? In a way, this sums up the LA Coliseum. Several drivers, both former and current, have complained about there being next to no room while jostling for positions.

Also, the main races see a lot of chaotic moments and caution is brought out for the smallest of incidents. With no run-off area, if a single car spins out, it blocks half the track.

Though some would argue that it’s what short-track racing is all about, it is the ones in the car who have to face it. Short-track racing anywhere else would have made sense, but the Coliseum has not been able to produce racing that would keep the fans happy.

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It’s not just drivers, but also the fans, who have time and again expressed their displeasure against the Coliseum. However, if Dale Earnhardt Jr’s idea is to be considered, the concept of the Coliseum could be taken elsewhere to be tested. Who knows. it might actually turn out to be better.