- May 5, 2005
- 1,361
- 23
- 38
- 59
BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. says NASCAR needs to change the car to improve what he described as "poor'` racing.
"Ninety-five percent of the race wasn't worth the price of the ticket,'' Earnhardt said of racing before NASCAR altered the double-file restart rule in June.
Earnhardt has been a critic of the car in what could be his worst season in Sprint Cup.
Many of his opinions have been shared by competitors in the past, but several drivers have toned down their comments since.
Not Earnhardt.
"I think we need to open our eyes a little bit,'' he said Friday at Michigan International Speedway.
"I think the media could address it a little stronger, and I think the drivers could be a little more vocal about it. NASCAR could probably be a little more urgent in improving our product where the ultimate result is great, exciting [racing] that the fans will enjoy, that the drivers enjoy so everyone is happy.
"That should be our quest always. Even when things are good. I feel like, especially right now, we need to really, really try to turn over every stone and that includes where we are with this [car].''
Earnhardt admits the racing has improved since NASCAR put the leaders at the front in double-file restarts last month. That's created intense action that has led to some passing and accidents. It's not enough for Earnhardt.
"The double-file restart gives us that opportunity to be exciting [but] for only a moment,'' said Earnhardt, who is 25th in the season points standings.
"We need to figure out how we can maintain that throughout the entire race. I just remember how the [older] cars drove. I liked how they drove. I like how this car is safe, but I want to be able to race I like we raced the other cars.''
Points leader Tony Stewart said he didn't have as much an issue as Earnhardt with the car.(imagine that!)
"I think every week it's getting better and better but the competition is getting tighter and tighter,'' Stewart said. "More teams are figuring it out and it makes it hard if you're not 100 percent on the money ... but that's just the evolution of racing.''
Kurt Busch, who is fourth in the points, admits NASCAR can be "stubborn'' in regards to changes to the car. Series officials have said that they don't want to make major changes to the car because that will increase costs to teams. By not making changes, teams can learn more about the car and adjust to it.
Yet, Busch would like to see more done.
"We can't keep making these cars heavier,'' Busch said.
"Goodyear struggles to find the right combination with the heavier car and higher center of gravity. So weight is an issue. I think that can be addressed short term. We need to get some [weight] out of the cars and we need to get it on the left side.
"It's an ongoing battle. We all said this car is going to be a fight. NASCAR is very stubborn sometimes. Who knows where we would be with the old car right now racing wise and safety wise.''
"Ninety-five percent of the race wasn't worth the price of the ticket,'' Earnhardt said of racing before NASCAR altered the double-file restart rule in June.
Earnhardt has been a critic of the car in what could be his worst season in Sprint Cup.
Many of his opinions have been shared by competitors in the past, but several drivers have toned down their comments since.
Not Earnhardt.
"I think we need to open our eyes a little bit,'' he said Friday at Michigan International Speedway.
"I think the media could address it a little stronger, and I think the drivers could be a little more vocal about it. NASCAR could probably be a little more urgent in improving our product where the ultimate result is great, exciting [racing] that the fans will enjoy, that the drivers enjoy so everyone is happy.
"That should be our quest always. Even when things are good. I feel like, especially right now, we need to really, really try to turn over every stone and that includes where we are with this [car].''
Earnhardt admits the racing has improved since NASCAR put the leaders at the front in double-file restarts last month. That's created intense action that has led to some passing and accidents. It's not enough for Earnhardt.
"The double-file restart gives us that opportunity to be exciting [but] for only a moment,'' said Earnhardt, who is 25th in the season points standings.
"We need to figure out how we can maintain that throughout the entire race. I just remember how the [older] cars drove. I liked how they drove. I like how this car is safe, but I want to be able to race I like we raced the other cars.''
Points leader Tony Stewart said he didn't have as much an issue as Earnhardt with the car.(imagine that!)
"I think every week it's getting better and better but the competition is getting tighter and tighter,'' Stewart said. "More teams are figuring it out and it makes it hard if you're not 100 percent on the money ... but that's just the evolution of racing.''
Kurt Busch, who is fourth in the points, admits NASCAR can be "stubborn'' in regards to changes to the car. Series officials have said that they don't want to make major changes to the car because that will increase costs to teams. By not making changes, teams can learn more about the car and adjust to it.
Yet, Busch would like to see more done.
"We can't keep making these cars heavier,'' Busch said.
"Goodyear struggles to find the right combination with the heavier car and higher center of gravity. So weight is an issue. I think that can be addressed short term. We need to get some [weight] out of the cars and we need to get it on the left side.
"It's an ongoing battle. We all said this car is going to be a fight. NASCAR is very stubborn sometimes. Who knows where we would be with the old car right now racing wise and safety wise.''
