Dale Earnhardt Jr. calls on NASCAR to adjust Daytona package for Atlanta

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is hopeful the racing in Atlanta this coming weekend doesn’t resemble what we saw this past weekend at Daytona International Speedway.

While the Daytona 500 has some exciting moments, the NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee had a serious issue with drivers opting to save fuel and ride around for most of the race. It highlighted a larger issue with the sport’s superspeedway package, which used to provide some incredible action throughout the entire race.

While he understands the strategy aspect of it, Earnhardt Jr. believes it’d be smart of NASCAR to adjust the package between the two races, as it could lead to improved action this weekend in Atlanta.

“Now, we’re going to Atlanta. This track can’t change fast enough. Basically, we’re going to go to Atlanta, and we’re doing the same thing all over again,” Earnhardt Jr. stated, via the latest episode of The Dale Jr. Download. “… If I was Atlanta, and NASCAR and whoever makes the decisions on competition, I would be looking for the very first opportunity to distance the package that we run there from what we run at Daytona and Talladega.

“I know we kind of do some, I’m sure, but I guess what I mean is, not so much the package or the specific parts and pieces, but the style of racing. … If this race is going to be the second race coming right off of what we see at Daytona, I don’t want to do two weeks of this.”

It would make sense for NASCAR to differentiate the two tracks a bit, especially at the start of the season. Regardless, Earnhardt Jr. gave Atlanta a little love, but he’s still holding out for more when it comes to the track ahead of its date this weekend.

“The last two or three times that I’ve been at Atlanta, I have been entertained to the fullest. It is way funner to watch. It’s intense as hell,” Earnhardt Jr. added. “The fuel saving at Daytona is like, I mean, literally just in your face, obvious. They’re not hiding shit. At Atlanta, it at least looks like, and at times, I believe they are, driving their asses off.

“There’s a couple guys that are like, not on the same strategy, or don’t give a shit about fuel, and they’re up front, and they’re slide-jobbing, and they’re running like crazy. There’s some big runs that happen, that are generated at that track. … So for me, the last few handfuls I’ve been to Atlanta, I’ve loved what I’ve saw. … We’ll see how it goes.”

All told, the racing at Daytona left a lot to be desired, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. is at least hopeful that won’t be the case in Atlanta. Time will tell if he’s right, but it’ll all come to a head this weekend, when the green flag waves on Sunday afternoon.