Watching the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond, Dale Earnhardt Jr. felt that drivers wouldn’t like the caution flag in Stage 2. Kyle Busch hit up against the wall but otherwise kept it going, NASCAR was quick to throw the caution.
Before the Busch caution, drivers were on two different tire strategies. Those who were splitting the stage in two and those who were splitting it in three. So, basically, tires ever 60 laps or tires every 80 laps.
Well, that caution changed things for pretty much every team. Some drivers benefitted while others were punished for being on the wrong pit cycle.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. knew that drivers were going to be upset.
“Several drivers will be pi--ed that the yellow was thrown there. Especially when they see what it was,” Dale Jr. said.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn’t wrong. Drivers like Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson were hurt by this caution. Meanwhile, there were others, including Busch who was the reason for the caution, were able to advance position.
This is what makes short track racing so much fun. The race is not as exciting as it was in the beginning, but it has unfolded in an interesting way. Cautions can come out and change your entire night for better or worse.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. keeping an eye on NASCAR
If you don’t already, following along with Dale Jr. on Twitter during races is so much fun. The Hall of Famer has so much love for the sport and wants to do all he can in order to make it better and advance it.
This Richmond race is not playing out like the last short track race at Bristol. But there are big differences between the two races. NASCAR runs the intermediate package at Bristol and then you add in the resin, cool temperatures, and other factors – they just aren’t the same at all.
Tonight is going to be a strategy race, but no one is going to be in danger of running out of tires. Everyone should be able to make it to the end without sweating it. Now, a couple of caution flags could change things drastically in this race, especially if they happen during green flag pit stops.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. seems interested in the race tonight. A few unforeseen moments here and there and we might be talking about how unpredictable this finish is going to be. At the very least, this is going to be a wild battle between Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Larson if it goes green to the end.
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