Dale Earnhardt Jr. Calls for NASCAR to Penalize Drivers ‘Crossing the Line,’ Praises SVG’s Racing Integrity
“I didn’t think anything was dirty in the end,” explained Watkins Glen Cup winner Chris Buescher, reflecting on the final moments of Sunday’s race.
His rival, Shane van Gisbergen (SVG), a road course expert, nearly claimed his second Cup victory. However, a “driver error” by the three-time Xfinity champion allowed Buescher to take the lead. Despite the setback, SVG refrained from making desperate moves, earning the admiration of Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Since joining NASCAR from Supercars, SVG has brought a principled racing style. NASCAR’s aggressive and often chaotic driving culture surprised him, with competitors frequently pushing their limits. Dale Jr. has long felt that NASCAR should address this issue and commended SVG’s clean approach to competition.
NASCAR’s Xfinity and Craftsman Truck series are notorious for their wild races, and SVG has faced this firsthand. Incidents like Carson Hocevar wrecking Corey Heim in the Truck championship or Austin Hill’s clash with SVG at Xfinity COTA highlight how quickly things escalate in NASCAR. By contrast, Supercars enforce stricter rules, even penalizing minor infractions like dragging dirt onto the track. Dale Earnhardt Jr. emphasized this contrast recently.
On a recent episode of the Dale Jr Download, Earnhardt Jr. pointed out SVG’s calm demeanor at Watkins Glen, even after Buescher took the win. “He was like, ‘I’ll do what I can,’ but he didn’t resort to excessive aggression.”
He compared NASCAR’s leniency to Supercars’ firm stance on contact. “In Supercars, you can’t just bump or push your way through. You have to learn to pass cleanly.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. hopes Supercars’ influence can help reduce reckless driving in NASCAR, particularly with drivers like Carson Hocevar and Austin Hill. “I’d like to see younger drivers held accountable and for NASCAR to crack down on dirty driving. It could lead to a new, more respectful style of racing.”
While both Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Chris Buescher appreciate SVG’s restraint, they recognize he’s no stranger to hard racing. In fact, SVG played a key role in Supercars’ efforts to control aggressive driving.
