Dale Earnhardt Jr. reacts to NASCAR potentially adding stage to superspeedways, cites concern for Daytona 500

Mike Forde, NASCAR’s managing director of racing communications, said on last Wednesday’s “Hauler Talk” podcast that the sanctioning body has discussed the possibility of adding a fourth stage to superspeedway races. Forde emphasized that it wasn’t “seriously discussed,” but brought up, nonetheless.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is open to the potential change. As modern superspeedway races have become a game of fuel conservation, Earnhardt believes a fourth stage could help eliminate the fuel game entirely.

“Fans did not like this idea,” Earnhardt said on Tuesday’s Dale Jr. Download. “I spoke of this myself on this show… we were talking about how at the last restrictor plate race, we had this first stage where everybody raced like hell and it’s like, well, if we want to try to get that style of racing the entire time, maybe we take fuel out of it entirely or as much as you can and add a fourth stage. That doesn’t sound too crazy to me because we have a fourth stage in the [Coca-Cola] 600, and no one cares, right?”

Only one race — the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway — has four stages. At the very least, NASCAR appears to be open to adjusting the stage length of races at Daytona and Talladega.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Daytona 500 always been most important race in NASCAR

The Daytona 500 kicks off the season every year. It’s long been NASCAR’s ultimate Crown Jewel event, but Earnhardt says it’s “fallen from that perch” over the last several years. He sees a fourth stage not only putting more points on the line for drivers but helping the Daytona 500 regain some of its luster.

“The other thing I like about it is it adds importance to those two races because they’ll be more points on the line,” Earnhardt said. “So, the 600 has the extra stage, so there’s that opportunity uniquely in that particular weekend where you can gain more points than your traditional race weekend. I love Daytona, I also love Talladega, I had a lot of success at both of those racetracks. The racing there over the last several years has taken a beating from critics, myself included, and drivers would even argue, is the Daytona 500 still the most important race of the year? Yes, everyone wants to win the Daytona 500, but is it the most important race? It’s fallen from that perch, and that is a problem for me.

“The Daytona 500, for all of my life, has been compared to the Super Bowl of the NFL. It has always been this very important event that everybody did everything they could to try to find a way to win it once. It would even be compared to a championship to some drivers like myself. Would you trade a Daytona 500 for a championship? That was a legitimate question you might get. Nobody is asking those questions now because everyone would say they want that championship. The Daytona 500 and its solidified spot as the most importance race is no longer the case.”

Would adding another stage improve NASCAR superspeedway product?

Earnhardt emphasized that adding a fourth stage wouldn’t a perfect solution. However, it’s something different.

“So, adding this fourth stage and making those races mean more from a points standpoint, would also make those races mean more from a competitor standpoint. Is it the best solution? No. Is it the perfect solution? It’s not,” Earnhardt said. “I’m sure fans will tell you get rid of the stages and don’t tell them when you’re going to throw the yellow and then they can’t predict and plan. Great points by all of those people.

“But I don’t think that’s on the table, I don’t think NASCAR is considering that or else I would try to use whatever influence we have here to support that. But I think adding the fourth stage is maybe not the best idea, but it’s an idea that they’re contemplating. They brought it up.”