The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs have evolved from intense competition into an aggressive, elbows-out battle for supremacy.
While NASCAR promotes hard racing, drivers have pushed the limits even further this season. The recent race at Watkins Glen illustrated this trend, with even the most seasoned drivers resorting to excessive contact to maintain their positions.
Martin Truex Jr., known for his clean racing approach, expressed frustration after the Watkins Glen race. “I don’t understand how these guys can call themselves the best in the world when they just drive through everyone on restarts at the end,” he remarked.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has also voiced concerns about the escalating aggression among drivers.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Racing Respect
For casual fans, last weekend’s Cup race at Watkins Glen was a spectacle of aggressive driving, filled with numerous incidents. It was chaotic from start to finish, with drivers consistently knocking each other out of contention.
Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney’s championship chances were hampered right on the first lap. William Byron got caught in Brad Keselowski’s window net after a move by Joey Logano, and the race concluded with a collision between Shane van Gisbergen and Chris Buescher. While Dale Jr. appreciated the excitement as a fan, he expressed disappointment as a team owner regarding the rising aggression.
“You don’t want it to keep escalating,” Dale Jr. said on his DJD podcast. “My concern is that we’re seeing a lack of respect, with drivers just pushing through each other at the end of races, and it’s becoming more frequent.” He emphasized that drivers have the power to curb this trend before races turn into demolition derbies.
“It’s classless and a bit embarrassing. You want toughness, where drivers battle hard, but you don’t want the whole field looking like amateurs in the corners, with no skill involved—just trying to avoid wrecks,” Jr. added.
This shift toward aggressive driving stems partly from NASCAR’s newer innovations. Drivers realize that contact doesn’t lead to significant performance loss, encouraging a more abrasive style.
Concerns over NASCAR’s Next Gen Car Design
Criticism of NASCAR’s Next Gen car design has also grown, especially with the lack of passing opportunities and incidents of cars flipping after spins. Drivers like Josh Berry and Corey LaJoie have experienced such accidents. The durability of the cars has been called into question, with drivers continuing after significant damage.
“These guys are knocking the sides off the cars, and since the front and back are more crushable, they take advantage because there’s less of a performance penalty,” Dale Jr. explained.
Despite substantial damage to his #11 Toyota Camry, Denny Hamlin continued racing after quick repairs. “It’s frustrating because I knew the damage was bad,” Hamlin shared. “I was excited for this race with the adjustments we made, but I never got the chance to see what my car could do.”
While aggressive driving in the Xfinity and Truck Series can be attributed to inexperience, Cup Series drivers are expected to set a higher standard for younger racers.
NASCAR writer Chintan Mahesh Devgania often highlights underreported topics, including his recent coverage of Toyota recruit Jade Avedisian’s views on Late Model Racing, which gained significant attention.
Dale Jr. Criticizes Aggressive Racing, Calls it ‘Classless’
Dale Jr. also weighed in on Martin Truex Jr.’s call for more respect among drivers, reinforcing that the current racing style lacks class and urging the series to address the growing trend.
