The NASCAR season finale at Phoenix Raceway was packed with drama, but one of the most surprising moments didn’t involve the race drivers themselves. During the high-stakes event, the pace car driver shocked fans by losing control while entering pit road, an incident that quickly went viral. NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn’t hold back, poking fun at the mishap on his Dale Jr. Download podcast and giving some pointed advice to the driver.
Earnhardt Jr., visibly frustrated with the incident, called out the pace car driver’s technique, saying, “The pace car doesn’t just gradually ease to pit road. It dives onto pit road. But you also need to know how to drive a car… it’s important to understand the laws of gravity, physics.” For Earnhardt, this was more than just a funny moment; it was an unnecessary blunder that disrupted the flow of an intense race.
Drawing from his own experience, Junior shared that while he’s had his own crashes, deliberate moves are essential to avoid disaster. “Look, I busted my ass plenty of times. I know I’m not perfect,” he admitted, before suggesting the driver consider a training course. “Take that specific car, so you can really understand the lateral grip and limits that this car has.”
Earnhardt also noted that the pace car handles differently from stock cars, emphasizing that the added weight from lights and equipment changes how it feels on the track. “The guy is no stranger to driving cars, but it was like he was driving that one for the first time. There’s a bunch in that car — it’s not going to drive exactly like a stock car.”
The incident caused a red flag and added an unexpected layer of chaos to the race. As Earnhardt joked and offered constructive advice, fans are left wondering if NASCAR will take his suggestions seriously to avoid another “epic failure” in the future.
