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From Detest to Delight: How NASCAR’s COTA Revamp Changed Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Perspective

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 5, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Sounds the Alarm: Is NASCAR About to Sacrifice Its Identity for a Fourth Manufacturer?

Feb 7, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Former driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. talks about his future during the 2025 NASCAR Hall Of Fame inductions at Charlotte Convention Center Crown Ballroom. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

Resounding shockwaves were sent through the NASCAR community as Dale Earnhardt Jr., a revered veteran in the sport, voiced his astonishment at the bold transformation of the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Initially, Earnhardt Jr. was no fan of this Formula One-style road course, but the recent revamp has dramatically shifted his perspective.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver, Christopher Bell, echoed similar sentiments, finding the modified road courses a thrill to navigate. Bell, who now boasts three out of 11 Cup wins on these circuits, expressed his disbelief at this achievement, something he “never in a million years” saw coming.

This paradigm shift is a result of the daring changes NASCAR implemented in preparation for the 2025 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix race. The Austin, Texas track was significantly modified, with the 3.41-mile full layout reduced to a 2.3-mile national circuit. This alteration had an immense impact on Earnhardt Jr., who has been an instrumental figure in the sport for years.

Historically, NASCAR has been synonymous with oval tracks, superspeedways, or short tracks. The introduction of road courses, like the Circuit of the Americas, in 2021 was a game changer. This new terrain brought about chaotic racing, which left an indelible impression on the sport. Memories of Ross Chastain pushing past Justin Allmendinger and Alex Bowman for the victory in 2022 are still fresh in fans’ minds.

The shorter layout, although different, still preserved the deft maneuvers and passing synonymous with Elite European series. Drivers were required to navigate the infamous ‘Calamity Corner’ or Turn 1. However, the game changed after Turn 6. Cars then exited the esses and took hard lefts into 6a and 6b, essentially shortcuts to Turn 12.

This truncation of the racetrack also resulted in an increase in the number of laps from 68 to 95, a change that held significant meaning for Earnhardt Jr. In a candid episode of Dale Jr Download, he expressed his initial disdain for the COTA track, describing it as “boring”, “limited”, and lacking the character of a racetrack.

However, the new layout designed by Speedway Motorsports Inc. won him over. He lauded their efforts to improve the Texas track, particularly the reconfiguration of Turns 1 and 2. His enthusiasm for the new COTA was palpable, exclaiming it was “awesome” and a testament to the significant improvement achieved by merely cutting a mile out of the racetrack.

The race, predicted by many to be a wreck fest after Ross Chastain crashed into Chase Elliott on Lap 1, turned out to be fairly clean. Fans also found the shortcut from Turn 6a and 6b into Turn 12 more enjoyable to watch live.

Earnhardt Jr.’s journey began on short tracks at the tender age of 17 before he joined NASCAR. His fondness for this style of racing is evident in his praise for the reconfigured COTA track, which he feels now resembles a short-track road course. His passion for short-track style racing is unabated, relishing the tempers that flare and the stories that emerge from the cars after the race.

This newfound love for the redesigned COTA track is a testament to NASCAR’s successful efforts to rejuvenate the circuit. It will be interesting to see what Earnhardt Jr.’s verdict will be on the other updated tracks on NASCAR’s schedule.

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