Dale Earnhardt Jr demands Daytona 500 changes | Sports News

Dale Earnhardt Jr. shouldn’t be closing the door on a potential Daytona 500 return sooner or later.

Earnhardt is one of the most important names in NASCAR historical past, having gained the game’s largest race twice, in 2004 and 2014. Since stepping away in 2017, the legend has remained concerned in NASCAR in some capability, at the moment heading up his own workforce, JR Motorsports, whereas additionally making one-off appearances on the monitor.

During an episode of his Dale Jr. podcast, nevertheless, the 51-year-old defined to Trackhouse Racing stars Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen that he might return to the monitor in 2027, supplied changes are made in how drivers race. His admission comes after he shared his true emotions on a potential return.

“Well, we’re going testing to see if we can change it,” Earnhardt mentioned to Zilisch and van Gisbergen as they mentioned the risk of a change at Daytona. As the three males talked about what might occur on the famed monitor, the NASCAR was requested if he could be driving within the close to future.

Though he didn’t reveal if he could be half of the grid in 2027, he did point out that if a change was made in phrases of how drafting works, Earnhardt might see himself within the driver’s seat on the race he is gained twice, regardless that he retired from full-time racing in 2017.

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“I mean, if they change the racing, I might entertain the idea of going back and running Daytona,” he added, a lot to the shock of Zilisch. “But I ain’t doing it the way y’all are doing it now. … I think 10th in line and not be able to pull out and do anything.”

He famous that if he had been to run the Daytona 500 as soon as again, he would throw warning to the wind and run his car as exhausting as he might, disposing of any fuel-saving techniques which have plagued NASCAR races in recent times, resulting in less-than-impressive races.

“We’re going to run wide open,” Earnhardt proclaimed. “We’re going to run hard as we can run. If we’re leading and run out of f—ing gas with 40 to go, I don’t care how short on fuel we are. We’re just going to go like hell.”

That mentioned, Earnhardt has defined how he felt about doubtlessly returning to race within the Daytona 500. Back in February 2026, the legend revealed his ideas on the race after talking together with his spouse.

“Amy told me I should run the Daytona 500 next year,” he mentioned on the time. “I was like, ‘What?’ We were laying in bed Sunday night after the race. She was like, ‘You should drive it next year.’ I’m like, ‘Hello? What’d you say? Are you OK?’ Oh man, I don’t know.”

He added: “Anyone is naive to assume that you would be able to go into Daytona and compete on the highest stage after being out for eight or 9 years.

“I think it’s a disservice to the Ryan Blaney’s and Denny Hamlin’s, and how talented they are in that realm. To think you can just go in there and run it with them. What they do is elite and I admire it, and I know how often you have to do it to stay elite.”