Is NASCAR Fixable? Dale Earnhardt Jr. Says Don't Expect Miracles Overnight.
NASCAR fans, brace yourselves: the changes you're hoping for might take longer than you think. While the sport is gearing up for some significant updates in 2026, Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. is urging everyone to temper their expectations. He believes a true turnaround could be a marathon, not a sprint, potentially spanning "a decade or two."
NASCAR has been actively listening to its fanbase and teams, signaling a willingness to evolve. This includes a deep dive into the championship points system – a system many feel is in dire need of a revamp – and a planned horsepower increase. The sport has officially confirmed that engines will be boosted to 750 horsepower in 2026.
NASCAR President Steve O'Donnell himself dropped this horsepower news on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s popular podcast, The Dale Jr. Download. You'd think everyone would be thrilled, right? But here's where it gets controversial... Some fans voiced concerns that 750 hp simply isn't enough, arguing that the real impact wouldn't be felt until the number soared above 900.
A Long Road Back to Glory?
In a recent episode of his podcast, Earnhardt Jr. acknowledged these concerns, stating, "we’re not gonna see it when we watch," while still emphasizing that this is a step in the right direction. He was responding to fans who have been asking, "What if they make these changes and nothing happens? What if the sport doesn't rebound immediately?"
This isn't a new worry for NASCAR. Declining ratings in recent years have amplified these concerns, with many fans fearing the sport is in a downward spiral that requires immediate and drastic action.
Earnhardt Jr. offers a different perspective: these changes are long-term investments aimed at recapturing the magic of "Peak NASCAR" – the late 1990s and early 2000s that many fans and industry insiders remember fondly.
He argues that expecting instant results is unrealistic. "It is unlikely that there is anything that changes next year that delivers results," he stated, emphasizing that NASCAR's rise to its peak was a gradual process built over decades.
"NASCAR’s peak was a process of 40 years, 50 years of development, change, of evolution, and they must have done a lot of things right," Earnhardt said. "Was everything right? I don’t know, probably not, probably unlikely, but they did a lot of good things to get us to a peak."
So, if it took that long to reach that zenith, what would a genuine course correction look like? Earnhardt Jr. believes the sport needs to brace itself for a slow and steady climb back to the top.
"Whatever change they make to try to correct course will be a process. To turn this thing around, if you want to call it that, you’re not gonna see those results out of the gate. You won’t see them next year. You won’t see them the year after that. If you’re trying to get this sport back to where it was in its peak or anywhere close, that’s gonna take your ass a decade or two.”
The Contentious Nature of Change
Of course, not everyone agrees that NASCAR is in dire straits or that these specific changes are the right solution. Some point to factors beyond on-track competition, such as a perceived lack of star power or the constant tinkering with the rules, as the real culprits.
Earnhardt Jr., for example, sees the potential changes to the playoff system as another positive step. And this is the part most people miss... Others, like veteran reporter Danielle Trotta, view these changes as reactionary and potentially detrimental. In a recent tweet, she questioned, "Why are we changing something to make it worse?"
While some support the current system for various reasons, others worry that yet another overhaul of the Chase/Playoff format could be a misstep. It's worth remembering that the playoff system, since its inception in 2004, has undergone numerous revisions before arriving at the current format in 2014.
Earnhardt Jr.'s emphasis on patience suggests that these changes, while potentially risky, could be a slow-burning but ultimately positive catalyst for a NASCAR revival.
What do you think? Is Earnhardt Jr. right about the timeline for a NASCAR turnaround? Are the proposed changes going to help, or are they just more of the same? Do you think the current playoff system is broken, or should NASCAR leave it alone? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below! We'd love to hear what you think.
