NASCAR’s single-lug wheels and the way teams approach superspeedway racing have changed the sport, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. believes there may be a way to get drivers racing harder instead of spending laps saving fuel.
One of his ideas? Bring back reward points for leading laps.
At tracks like Daytona and Talladega, fuel mileage can play a massive role in how drivers approach a race. Instead of constantly fighting for the lead, teams can find themselves working together in packs and saving fuel, waiting until the closing laps to make their move.
For fans, that can make huge portions of a superspeedway race feel more like a waiting game than an all-out battle.
Earnhardt believes rewarding drivers for leading laps again could give them more incentive to fight for the top spot throughout the race. If leading comes with an additional points benefit, drivers and teams have another reason to take chances, make moves and compete for the lead rather than simply riding around to conserve fuel.
It wouldn’t automatically solve every problem with superspeedway racing, but it could change the incentives teams face. NASCAR needs drivers to have a reason to race hard before the final few laps, not just position themselves for one last push to the finish.
The single-lug wheel system is part of the larger Next Gen car package, but the bigger conversation is about how NASCAR can encourage more aggressive racing at its biggest tracks.
Earnhardt has spent years competing at Daytona and Talladega, so his perspective carries weight when it comes to what makes these races exciting. Bringing back rewards for leading laps could be one way to encourage more action throughout the event.