Dale Earnhardt Jr. calls on NASCAR to make changes to save drivers from extreme heat conditions
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a message for NASCAR as the drivers compete in the thick of the summer season. On the Dale Jr. Download podcast, the NASCAR Hall of Famer asked the organization to make changes to make sure the drivers are not in danger when it comes to the heat.
“This is too hot. A race like that in Nashville, that is nothing that I think we should be putting the drivers, the fans, the teams, the spotters… I don’t think that it’s necessary that we put them through that situation,” Earnhardt Jr. said. What could you do other than… You move the race into later in the day, run it at night, I don’t know if that’s even possible. I bet you there are some conversations at the very early stages, low-level conversations in the NASCAR building about these type of situations where the heat is just too intense.
“…We’re not maybe there just yet, but this is right on the threshold of maybe we need to think about having an alternate plan in these situations where we can still run the race, but we can save everybody a lot of the abuse that they’re going to have to go through.”
Earnhardt went on to say that everyone handles the heat differently. He added that he doesn’t want to find out “what’s too far” in terms of the hottest weather conditions for NASCAR. It would be bad for NASCAR to have a driver, fan or team member suffer a medical issue because of the heat.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. wants to know the ‘danger zone’ for NASCAR
“I think we’re getting close. I don’t think we’re there yet, but I think if we’re racing at some of these certain racetracks and some of these certain environments during certain parts of the year, you could put yourself in a situation where we may see record temps inside the cars, and what is dangerously hot?” Earnhardt asked.
“..Where would we get into the danger zone with the drivers? Let’s try to protect them because they’re going to get in there. They’re going to do it. And let’s try to make sure we’re protecting the drivers as well as we can.”
The Nashville race last week featured tough weather conditions. Along with the heat, NASCAR had to deal with rain and lighting in the area, forcing the race to be delayed. The drivers will be at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennslyvania, and the high on race day on Sunday will be 83 degrees.