Dale Earnhardt Jr. Calls for Overhaul of NASCAR’s Next Gen Car: 'Tear It Apart'

When a guy like Dale Earnhardt Jr. talks, you listen. It’s one of the unwritten rules in the NASCAR garage. He’s not just a Hall of Famer, a team owner, and the sport’s most popular driver for a decade and a half. He’s one of us. He’s a fan who just happened to be blessed with otherworldly talent behind the wheel.

So, when Junior goes on his podcast, The Dale Jr. Download, and says it’s time to “tear this car apart,” you know it’s coming from a place of pure, unadulterated love for stock car racing. The Next Gen car has been a lightning rod for debate since its debut. On one hand, it’s brought parity and some downright thrilling finishes.

On the other hand, it’s been a source of frustration for drivers who feel like they’re wrestling a machine that’s forgotten its roots. And nobody has been more vocal or more insightful about it than Dale Earnhardt Jr., but what can truly be done about the shortcomings of the Next Gen car?

What’s Wrong With the Next Gen Car: According to Dale Earnhardt Jr.?

This isn’t just some random rant. When Dale Jr. critiques the Next Gen car, he’s talking specifics. He sees a car that’s become too complex, too far removed from the “stock” in stock car racing. He’s looking at things like the underbody, the diffuser, and all the high-tech wizardry that makes it feel more like a dedicated road-racing machine than something you’d see battling it out on a high-banked oval.

After the Charlotte Roval race, he didn’t hold back. He praised the tire Goodyear brought, noting the falloff was “so good,” but that was just a small piece of a much bigger puzzle.”I’ll be honest, this car I’ve talked in length about this car on this show,” he explained. “Things about the car physically that I just don’t think belongs on the car.

The underbody and all of that stuff. I would really tear this car apart and strip it down, get rid of some sh*t.”His vision? A return to basics, especially for the short tracks where the racing has suffered most. He called it the “unplugged version of the Next Gen.” Think about that. Stripped down, raw, and ready to be beaten on. That’s the kind of racing that made legends.

How Would Dale Earnhardt Jr. Fix the Short Track Problem?

The heart of the issue for Junior, and for many fans, is what the Next Gen car has done to short-track racing. Places like Martinsville and Richmond, once the crown jewels of side-by-side action, have become follow-the-leader parades. The cars are so aerodynamically sensitive that passing is nearly impossible.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s solution is beautifully simple: make the cars tougher and less reliant on aerodynamics.“You don’t need all that sht,” he said bluntly. “It’d be so basic and dull, you’d beat the sht out of it. Go out there and beat the sh*t out of it.”He’s talking about getting back to the essence of short-track racing, where drivers use their bumpers, lean on each other, and fight for every inch.

He wants a car that can take a beating and keep on going, not one that loses all its downforce if another car gets within five feet of it. The car could look the same on TV, but underneath, it would be a “much, much simpler, leaner version.” That’s the kind of thinking that could save a sacred part of NASCAR’s soul.

Is NASCAR Listening to Dale Earnhardt Jr.?

Here’s the good news. Shortly after Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s comments, NASCAR announced a horsepower increase for short tracks and road courses in 2026, bumping it up from 670 to 750. That’s a step in the right direction. More power makes the cars more complicated to handle, which in turn puts more control back into the hands of the drivers.

This change will affect historic tracks like Bristol, Martinsville, and Darlington. It’s a direct response to the chorus of voices led by prominent figures like Dale Earnhardt Jr, demanding better racing. While it’s not the full “unplugged” version he described, it’s a significant move.

Final Thoughts

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a platform, and he’s using it to advocate for the sport he loves. He’s not just complaining. He’s offering solutions rooted in a deep understanding of what makes NASCAR great. He’s speaking for the drivers who are afraid to rock the boat and for the fans in the grandstands who just want to see some damn good racing. When a voice as influential and respected as his lays it all on the line, it’s hard for anyone to ignore. And for the future of NASCAR, that might be the best news of all.