Dale Earnhardt Jr. Thinks It Might Be Time To End This Long-Running NASCAR Tradition

Photo by Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Dirty Mo Media

What’s Happening?

By far the hottest topic of conversation in NASCAR right now is the 2027 schedule. This discussion is particularly pointed at a few select tracks and race weekends, with fans and industry members asking what the future may hold for them.

One race that has taken a grilling on the proverbial hot seat this season is the annual NASCAR All-Star Race.

Since leaving its long-time home of Charlotte Motor Speedway after the 2019 event, fans have agreed that the race is dealing with an identity crisis.

Its one-off at Bristol in 2020 was the best of a bad situation, while the race’s stay at Texas Motor Speedway in 2021 and 2022 saw lackluster racing and controversy.

In 2023, the race moved to North Wilkesboro Speedway, a decision that fans agreed gave the race some semblance of a special feel once again.

But this year, the race was on the move again, this time to Dover Motor Speedway, with a format and expanded field that felt more like a casual race day, rather than the normal once-a-year exhibition race.

With rumors suggesting the race is on the move again for 2027, some are asking if it’s even worth it for track owner Speedway Motorsports to host the event.

This discussion got more interesting this week when NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr told SMI President Marcus Smith that he thinks it may be time to put the race to rest.

During an episode of his podcast The Dale Jr Download, Earnhardt told Smith that ending the All-Star Race was “the best idea that I’ve heard,” going on to add that he does not want it to bounce around tracks, making their race weekend an “afterthought” compared to the points-paying schedule.

“The best idea that I’ve heard is for the All-Star race to go away entirely. Now, I don’t really love any of these ideas fully, but I don’t like any of the tracks being an afterthought.” — Dale Earnhardt Jr.

While he says he doesn’t necessarily love the idea, he said that he believes that tracks like Dover “deserve to matter.”

For some time now, fans have supported this idea, even suggesting that it could grant the schedule a 37th point race. However, Smith had a compelling response to Earnhardt’s statement, adding that there shouldn’t be a negative connotation associated with the race.

“It’s so wild to me how we’ve gotten to this place where the All-Star race seems like a negative for so many people,” Smith said. “And for me, it was my favorite race growing up. . . it was the race that made my own kind of decision that I’m a NASCAR fan now.”

Beyond his personal feelings about the race, Smith also pointed to its legacy for giving the sport modern in-race initiatives like double-file restarts.

What About 2027?

Of course, the All-Star Race is not going anywhere anytime soon. But where will it go in 2027?

There are a handful of rumored options for Speedway Motorsports, but the leading candidate in the rumor mill appears to be a return to North Wilkesboro Speedway, which would then revert its points race to Dover.

As of press time, no plans for the 2027 All-Star Race have been announced, though a handful of schedule dates have already hit the new cycle. For an up-to-date list of all 2027 races, make sure to check out our tracker linked below.

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