NASCAR’s trial against 23XI Racing/FRM has been one of the most challenging legal dramas the governing body has ever been involved in. Unlike its previous trips to the court, NASCAR does not have the upper hand in the legal matter. Furthermore, both parties have significant stakes and will likely face serious consequences if the outcome does not favor them.
The courtroom battle has also exposed several insider workings of the governing body, including the role of tracks in NASCAR. While many in the sport have criticized NASCAR for owning several tracks, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a more nuanced perspective on the issue. In his recent podcast, he highlighted the consequences that would follow if the governing body were to relinquish control of the tracks.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Take On NASCAR Owning Certain Racetracks
Earnhardt, who has often been the voice of the fans in NASCAR, had refused to take sides in the ongoing trial and adopted a neutral approach. In the recent episode of Dale Jr. Download, when the NASCAR Hall of Famer opened, he maintained the same stance.
However, Earnhardt pinpointed the oddities on both sides, including the track ownership of NASCAR, which has been a topic of backlash for the governing body in recent times. The former driver began by stating that while 23XI Racing and FRM were using the track ownership point against NASCAR, he was not sure if the teams wanted the governing body to sell the tracks.
He further mentioned that while NASCAR had an exclusivity agreement with certain tracks, that scenario was not uncommon in motorsports. Earnhardt noted that NASCAR’s restrictions on some venues fueled the plaintiffs’ argument.
The 51-year-old then bluntly warned the teams to be careful for what they wished, especially in the tracks department.
Earnhardt mentioned that there are hardly any new racetracks being constructed today, mainly due to the massive financial commitment. Besides, even maintaining the existing ones is far from a lucrative job today. He added, “No one is clamoring to go out there today and build any type of racetrack, big or small.”
Kelley Earnhardt, who joined her brother for the podcast, then recalled the time when the siblings tried to build a track in Alabama before they had to abandon their plans. The fan-favorite driver then dropped another truth bomb and said:
“No one’s in the business of owning racetracks. Nobody’s going to be standing on the steps, waiting for those tracks to go to the highest bidder. And if NASCAR and Marcus [Smith] doesn’t own these racetracks, who does?”
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Earnhardt even mentioned that in such a scenario, the tracks could be sold and reconstructed into other projects, likely as data centers, whereafter NASCAR races could take place on purpose-built road and street courses.
The Earnhardt siblings then stated that, though owning racetracks was not the best business model and had room for improvement, NASCAR ought to own them. Without the ovals, short tracks, and superspeedways, the sport would lose a significant part of its identity.
While Earnhardt had a valid point from a larger perspective, it remains to be seen how the court addresses the matter, considering all the factors in the trial.
