Dale Earnhardt Jr. calls for out-of-the-box rule change for NASCAR All-Star Race

This week, NASCAR raised eyebrows with the new “promoter’s caution” coming to the All-Star Race, including Dale Earnhardt Jr. With the domination that Kyle Larson put on last year at North Wilkesboro, officials have brought in a new rule.

In racing, a “competition caution” or a halfway break will be baked into the race. It allows, especially at the grassroots, teams a more even playing field. Making adjustments during the event can give teams an opportunity to be more competitive.

To add it to NASCAR, even in the $1,000,000 exhibition race, is strange. At times, NASCAR has used competition cautions when practice and qualifying get rained out. Those usually happen after 20-30 laps. A quick run to feel out the cars, make adjustments, then get back to racing.

With the news out there about the “promoter’s caution” and the fact that Marcus Smith and Speedway Motorsports are in charge of throwing it, Dale Earnhardt Jr. had his own idea.

“The ‘promoters caution’ at the AllStar [sic] race in North Wilkesboro should have been determined by a live fan controlled poll within an app one could download and use from home or at track,” Dale Jr. posted on X/Twitter. He wasn’t alone.

Dale Jr. has a point, and he isn’t the only one to think a fan vote is preferred. If we are going to add a random caution to be used between Laps 100-220 or perhaps not used at all, give it to the fans. Then it makes it more of a fun element than one fans dread looking forward to.

The All-Star Race had great ambience last year. The night race for $1,000,000 makes for great visuals, but the Next Gen car can’t deliver a quality race.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. makes All-Star suggestion

Now, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is familiar with competition cautions. His CARS Tour uses them at times. But there is a difference between that and what NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports have offered.

Another thing to note, NASCAR was open to letting teams do a “run what you brung” race. That would mean letting teams modify the car in ways they aren’t normally allowed to do, perhaps even mess with suspension and horsepower. They couldn’t get enough teams to agree.

In a time where everyone is begging for change in the short track package, it is disappointing that teams would shy away from this offer. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been a critic of the short track package since the Next Gen car came out.

The NASCAR All-Star Race is just getting more complicated. Is this promoter’s caution really going to be what fixes this race? I am not convinced.