The historic short track, North Wilkesboro, successfully returned to NASCAR competitions this past weekend, marking its first Cup appearance since 1996. It is, however, unfortunate that after Dale Earnhardt Jr‘s $20M project surrounding the track’s revival, the NASCAR All-Star Race, didn’t quite ignite the anticipated track thrills. Still, the crowd’s electrifying energy over the entire week was undoubtedly palpable.

With the much anticipated weekend done and dusted, Dale Earnhardt Jr, a former NASCAR driver and Hall of Famer, recently voiced his concern about the present NASCAR short-track package. He believes that it might pose challenges for other tracks, such as Martinsville and Bristol Motor Speedway. Notably, he had also contributed considerable efforts toward the revival of this speedway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr concerned about the future of NASCAR’s short tracks

During the latest iteration of his podcast, Junior mentioned, “I’m terrified Mike that if we don’t get this right, If we don’t turn it around, change the direction or change the perception of everybody’s opinion of this Next-Gen car going to short tracks. I’m afraid that we are going to continue to lose opportunities at short tracks.”

“How many times can we go… North Wilkesboro got brought back? It’s right there in front of us, It’s ready to rock. It’s ready to be an asset to this industry.”

“But if we can’t get the racing right there, if we can’t get the tires, and the cars right. How long can that place hang on?”

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Fans weigh in on NASCAR short track package and future of iconic race tracks

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In the same post, the future of racing at iconic venues like North Wilkesboro and Martinsville became a hotly debated topic among NASCAR fans. The crux of the discussion centered around whether the existing short-track package could potentially undermine the competitive spirit and thrill of races at these tracks.

One fan mentioned, “Find it interesting that we’re talking short track survival and the Las Vegas MLB A’s are planning a 30,000 seat stadium. Smaller events with fans safely close to the action where they can see more does have a solid place in NASCAR but yes, the car needs a little improvement“

Meanwhile, another stated, “Just go back to the old bodies and package, the new stuff isn’t working”

“The short tracks aren’t the problem it’s the cup car package. Even the plate races are single file with 2 lines. This car is cr*p.“

“I agree 100% it’s not the tracks it’s the cars. Stop changing the cars to accommodate people who can’t drive a stock car. Js“

“More horsepower, softer tires, different gear ratios. I just fixed short-track racing, you’re welcome.“

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In the end, the diversity of opinions, ranging from advocating for car specification changes to strategic shifts in NASCAR’s operations, revealed the complex issues surrounding these revered tracks. The fervor of the debate underscored the crucial part the short track package plays in charting the course of racing’s future.