Dale Earnhardt Jr. reacts to the NASCAR electric vehicle prototype

This weekend in Chicago, NASCAR unveiled a new electric vehicle prototype to mixed reactions. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has now weighed in on the subject. We know Earnhardt is about as old-school as they come. So, how is he taking this new project from NASCAR?

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been doing more than most to push NASCAR into the modern era. He is still the most popular and easily recognizable figure in the sport and he hasn’t raced full-time since 2017, but his impact and influence on the sport is clear.

When it comes to the new NASCAR electric vehicle, Dale Jr. doesn’t mind it.

“I don’t really have a problem with this. Reminds me of those years messing with slot cars at Dave Maders. That was fun. Reminds me of the carpet RC cars I fooled with for years. That was fun. It’s just a big toy. Should be fun,” Earnhardt said in response to a video of the car taking off.

I don’t really have a problem with this. Reminds me of those years messing with slot cars at Dave Maders. That was fun. Reminds me of the carpet RC cars I fooled with for years. That was fun. It’s just a big toy. Should be fun. https://t.co/6jTqItDR60

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) July 7, 2024

David Ragan has been the driver testing this NASCAR electric prototype out. He ran laps at Martinsville in the car earlier this season and now put on a demonstration on the streets of Chicago.

Ragan says that lap times at Martinsville are similar to the current Cup Series car. Various videos from Chicago have shown how quick the all-wheel drive accelerates. While the sound isn’t nearly as satisfying as a combustion engine, there is a future market for this stuff.

NASCAR has no plans to race this car and does not have plans for an electric racing series at this time. But when you look at what NitroCross, Extreme-E, Formula-E and other series are doing around the globe, it’s not outrageous that NASCAR would tinker in the space.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn’t seem to think this is a very serious project from NASCAR. I also think he’s cheapening the actual product itself by comparing it to a toy. If he had a chance to drive it, I don’t think he would see it as a “big toy” any more than a regular race car is a “big toy.”

There is little to no chance that NASCAR will put electric cars on the track in the next five years, maybe even the next decade. This is being done for marketing purposes. It allows NASCAR to show they can think outside of the box, and apply new technologies, and that is big for sponsorship and OEM relationships.

Let’s just appreciate that NASCAR created a new thing entirely and it’s fast. It also looks relatively cool, and is going to help attract new eyes to the sport. That’s what it is all about.