With every race, NASCAR learns and adapts from its mistakes. But at the same time, drivers find more ways to bypass its rule book. That has been the way of the sport for way too long now. Following through on that tradition, the promotion recently came down hard on an anomaly that was spotted at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend. Penalizing the likes of Chase Elliott and AJ Allmendinger for laid-back restarts, the central body sent a strong voice across the grid.

After the critical action earned praise from Joe Gibbs’ star, Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr gave his own take on the situation. In addition to that, the racing legend had one important question that threatened to shake NASCAR’s integrity.

Dale Earnhardt Jr makes his expectations clear from NASCAR

Appreciating the decision to not let Elliott and Allmendinger escape their unfair action on the track, Hamlin had voiced his thoughts on his podcast earlier this week. He said, “They did penalize 2 drivers for laying back. Good job, NASCAR, great job! We have to have that. (…) Certainly, this is what we asked for and I applaud them for doing this because it had gotten out of hand. So, I like this move certainly, and hopefully, it changes some people’s mindset when it comes to laying back on restarts.”

Though Dale Jr himself saw things the same way, he could not help but wonder at NASCAR’s decision-making abilities.

Demanding that the same energy in penalizing drivers ought to be seen when it involved playoff participants, Junior came down hard.

He said, “But when it happens in row 2, row 3, it’s a playoff driver… I wanna see the same energy. They’re busting AJ on the 20th. Chase Elliott. 16th. Whatever, right? They’re not playoff drivers. But when it really came to it… It’s ten to go. And one of our row three lays back (…) will they call it?”

Talking about how NASCAR would never put itself in a tough spot, Junior further voiced his frustrations.

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Though Junior had previously not taken well to the fact that Hamlin was voicing out against the promotion often instead of focusing on the championship, he seems to be going down the same route. Though Junior’s opinion was that NASCAR wouldn’t declare the same verdict for drivers regardless of their table standings, he understood how the latest decision mattered.

He said, “NASCAR doesn’t want to be in that position. Maybe this is them trying to prevent that from happening. Trying to tighten everybody up so that doesn’t happen in the prime moment. In the biggest moment of the year, we cannot have these shenanigans.” Emphasizing how it wouldn’t matter if a driver pulled a laid-back restart, say in the Championship 4 race, he continued, “I don’t see them calling at that moment. I don’t see them nitpicking. I think you could get away with it.“

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Hopefully, a balance, where things could be met smoothly, will be found soon. For now, NASCAR’s strict action should prevent further drivers from using questionable strategies.