rifan muazinIn the wake of a recently settled antitrust lawsuit filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR, details have emerged revealing the sanctioning body’s surprising apprehension regarding the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX). Dale Earnhardt Jr., a prominent figure in motorsports and co-host of the "Dale Jr. Download" podcast, voiced his astonishment at NASCAR’s perceived threat from the SRX, a sentiment echoed by his sister and business partner, Kelley Earnhardt-Miller. The lawsuit, which concluded during its trial phase, brought to light internal communications and testimonies indicating NASCAR’s efforts to "lock down" tracks through extensive sanctioning agreements in response to the SRX’s burgeoning popularity.
During a discussion on their podcast, Earnhardt Jr. candidly shared his surprise at the intensity of NASCAR’s reaction. "I gotta be honest, this shocked me," Earnhardt Jr. stated. He recounted his initial understanding of SRX’s genesis, spearheaded by Ray Evernham, as an endeavor aimed at emulating the International Race of Champions (IROC) by bringing together retired racing legends and unique personalities for races at local markets, offering a unique car to local heroes. "The original idea of SRX, in my mind, was a good idea," Earnhardt Jr. commented. He clarified his personal detachment from the series, citing a lack of bandwidth and interest at the time, and emphasized that his surprise stemmed from NASCAR’s perception of SRX as a significant threat.
Earnhardt Jr. underscored the perceived disparity in scale between the two entities: "To hear that they were even remotely the least bit threatened is so surprising to me because they’re this giant that’s NASCAR and SRX is just this little thing." He characterized SRX as a financially precarious operation with a limited number of cars, often incurring significant damage during events. Ultimately, Earnhardt Jr. attributed SRX’s cessation to unsustainable operational costs and a viewership that did not justify the television contracts, leading to a financial model that "just financially didn’t really work."
Testimony from NASCAR executives during the trial further illuminated the sanctioning body’s concerns. Steve O’Donnell, now NASCAR’s president, reportedly expressed a desire for the legal department to scrutinize NASCAR’s operations, noting an increasing resemblance to the Cup Series when its drivers and sponsors participated in SRX events. Despite these observations, legal counsel apparently advised that there were insufficient grounds for official action. Adding to this, Sam Flood, an executive at NBC Sports, allegedly questioned the value of NASCAR’s broadcast rights if a comparable product could be obtained at a lower cost through SRX.
Related News :
- Hendrick Automotive Group Engages in Significant Vehicle Sale to Federal Agency Amidst Operational Deployments
- JR Motorsports Confirms 2026 Daytona 500 Bid with Reigning Xfinity Champion Justin Allgaier
- NASCAR Star Brad Keselowski Sustains Broken Leg in Skiing Mishap
- JR Motorsports Confirms 2026 Daytona 500 Assault with Reigning Champion Justin Allgaier
- NASCAR and 23XI Racing Clash Over Owner Testimony Access in Antitrust Trial
Earnhardt Jr. found these concerns perplexing. "I am surprised by the some of the comments I read from O’Donnell and a couple people of, ‘Man we gotta put an end to this or we gotta go take a look at this.’ Why are we worried? I don’t care [about the ratings], people were gonna be curious," he stated. He reiterated his lack of alarm, finding the level of concern "really surprising." For Earnhardt Jr., SRX was never a perceived problem: "I never saw, no disrespect, but I never would’ve worried or considered SRX a problem."
Instead, Earnhardt Jr. suggested a more collaborative approach: "I would’ve looked at what they were doing…why do people like it and can we work together?" He pointed to the evolution of SRX’s participation, noting the involvement of current Cup Series drivers like Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, and Ryan Blaney, who participated in the series alongside family members for what he described as "a little bit of money."
The internal deliberations within NASCAR also revealed a proactive strategy concerning specific venues. Internal text messages presented during the trial showed a discussion among NASCAR executives, including O’Donnell and SVP of Strategy Scott Prime, regarding the need to secure races at North Wilkesboro Speedway and Bowman Gray Stadium before SRX could potentially do so. A June 2022 exchange highlighted this urgency:
O’Donnell: "Wait until (Dale) Jr. says he is running an event. Matter of time. They will go to North Wilkesboro with Jr. if we are not careful. We need to be the first back."
Prime: "Agreed – North Wilkesboro and Bowman Gray next year with Jr and friends if we don’t make moves."
O’Donnell: "How about this for All Star – make it a combo – Bowman and Wilkes Fri/Sun."
Prime: "Sick! And flip it for 2024. We’ve got moves to make. Just need to sell them through. Should be a good working session Thursday."
This strategic push ultimately contributed to the scheduling of Cup Series races at North Wilkesboro in 2023 and Bowman Gray in 2025. However, Earnhardt Jr. attributed the return of North Wilkesboro primarily to the efforts of Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith and a significant contribution from North Carolina’s Build Back Better fund.
"Listen, there is a lot of stuff about NASCAR in all of this that I don’t know," Earnhardt Jr. admitted. "I don’t know everything about how they run things, and I certainly didn’t know how they felt about some things, and how these text messages have unveiled some things. But I’ll tell you what I do know, is that North Wilkesboro came back because of Marcus Smith… NASCAR, you know, they didn’t play any role." He elaborated, stating that while NASCAR had to approve the track’s inclusion once Smith presented his plan, the initiative was not driven by the sanctioning body.
Earnhardt Jr. emphasized the broader collaborative effort behind North Wilkesboro’s revival: "But, look, NASCAR never was going, ‘Guys, we gotta get Wilkesboro going.’ This isn’t a knock to them, you know, this isn’t a knock to them, they shouldn’t take this as an insult, but Wilkesboro is back because of everybody else. The government, our local government, and the town, a lot of volunteers. Fucking, 20 years of volunteers, people just like even keeping the grass mowed for 20 years." He acknowledged the dedication of those who maintained the track’s condition, making its return possible.
Kelley Earnhardt-Miller also highlighted her brother’s role in galvanizing support for the CARS Tour and his participation in a "Race Track Revival" event that drew 20,000 fans prior to NASCAR and SMI’s official scheduling of the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro. While Dale Earnhardt Jr. may downplay his direct influence, his established presence and fan appeal demonstrably contributed to the success of initiatives aimed at revitalizing historic racing venues. The events surrounding the SRX and the subsequent legal proceedings have provided a candid, albeit surprising, glimpse into the internal dynamics and strategic considerations within the highest echelons of NASCAR.
💬 Tinggalkan Komentar dengan Facebook
Author Profile
Latest entries
Nascar CupJanuary 26, 2026NASCAR Felt Vulnerable to Superstar Racing Series, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Expresses Astonishment- Nascar CupJanuary 25, 2026Hamlin Demands Accountability from SiriusXM NASCAR Hosts Following Lawsuit Resolution
Nascar CupJanuary 25, 2026Rising Star Connor Zilisch Set for Inaugural GTP Campaign at 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona with Action Express Racing
Nascar CupJanuary 25, 2026NTSB Focuses on Pilot Verification in Tragic Greg Biffle Plane Crash Investigation
arthur roy sitompul
Anshari Taslim