Dale Earnhardt Jr. suggests it’s time to discuss the overtime rules in NASCAR, focusing particularly on the Xfinity and Truck Series.
The two-time Daytona 500 champion believes there’s a more efficient way to conclude these races. He argues that if the leader has a significant gap during a caution that triggers overtime, the race should end at that moment.
“I think it might be time to have a conversation around overtime in the Trucks and Xfinity,” Earnhardt Jr. said on the Dale Jr Download. He noted that in other sports, overtime serves to determine the outcome when scores are tied at the end of regulation.
“Should we adopt a similar principle in NASCAR? Perhaps we should only permit overtime if the lead was truly contested. For instance, if a caution arises and the leader is less than a second ahead, that could justify overtime as there was a chance for the second-place driver to catch up,” he explained. If the lead is significantly larger, such as from one-and-a-half to twenty seconds, the race should conclude, as the leader was clearly in control.
Dale Earnhardt Jr: ‘Unnecessary overtimes cost us a lot of race cars’
While fans enjoy the excitement at the finish line, Earnhardt Jr. believes that mid-pack teams often suffer damage due to unnecessary overtimes. This situation can spoil an otherwise strong performance and is an issue he’d like to see addressed.
“The Truck and Xfinity teams often face damage at tracks like Daytona and Talladega, where over 80% of the field could be wrecked,” Earnhardt Jr. added. “Unnecessary overtimes frequently lead to considerable damage to our cars. Many teams operate on tight budgets, and after working hard to finish in a decent position, getting wrecked because of a last-minute caution is incredibly frustrating.”
Earnhardt Jr: Cup Series ‘wouldn’t need this safety net’
Although Earnhardt Jr. supports this concept, he believes it may not be necessary for the Cup Series, as it comprises elite drivers who likely wouldn’t require such a provision. “In those lower series, we need to define what a contested lead is. If the caution arises and the lead isn’t contested, we should accept that the race is finished,” he elaborated.
“If it’s a tight race for the front, then that would call for an overtime attempt. Unlimited overtimes can be problematic, and many races are effectively decided before a late caution throws everything into disarray. It’s certainly worth considering,” he concluded.
In summary, Dale Earnhardt Jr. makes a strong argument for rethinking current overtime practices. As NASCAR continues to evolve, implementing his suggestions could benefit both the Xfinity and Truck Series, where recent experiences indicate modifications may be needed.
