The debate over NASCAR’s championship format and choice of venue has become much more popular following the latest race at Phoenix Raceway. Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. has become a vocal advocate for the idea of rotating the championship venue, reflecting on whether Phoenix should remain the finale track for NASCAR’s Truck, Xfinity, and Cup Series.
Earnhardt Jr. shared his insights on his podcast, pointing to the track’s substantial investments and fan-friendly features.
“Should we race somewhere else for the final race of the year? We probably should move it around. I think that Phoenix has had a great run. But I’ve got to give Phoenix credit, they have put a ton of money into that race track,” he commented.
Despite the track’s popularity, evidenced by its sold-out events, NASCAR’s decision to prioritize Phoenix is under scrutiny, especially with tracks like Homestead-Miami upgrading their infrastructures to potentially compete for hosting rights. Homestead-Miami is reportedly eyeing 2026 as a possible return to hosting the championship, having made substantial renovations.
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In Earnhardt Jr.’s view, while Phoenix Raceway offers a great fan experience, its actual racing sometimes leaves room for improvement.
“It’s not a bad facility to go and have a good experience. You can move around, there’s a lot of room in all the garage areas as a fan, the media center’s great,” he said. Nonetheless, fan reactions have been divided.
To understand the depth of this debate, it is crucial to consider the context of NASCAR’s current championship format, which has attracted criticism since its latest version was adopted in 2014. Critics argue that it prioritizes race wins over consistent season-long performance, calling into question its legitimacy. This argument gained traction when Joey Logano secured the championship in 2024 despite an overall season performance that was weaker compared to previous champions.
NASCAR’s playoff format aims to create unpredictability and excitement reminiscent of elimination-style tournaments seen in other sports, a point defended by Logano and NASCAR executives. However, statistical analyses reveal a gap between the overall season points leaders and the eventual champions. The integration of stage racing and playoff points is meant to bridge this gap by rewarding regular-season performance, though critics argue it falls short.
“Look, Phoenix is going to Phoenix sometimes,” he continued. “I think the general opinion is, there are more exciting race tracks. Look, you can build 50 race tracks, they’re not all, you can try your hardest you know, to build 50 race tracks of different types, and there’s going to be a great one and there’s going to be one that’s not so good. And Phoenix kinda falls right in the middle somewhere. Sometimes you have some great events. We had a great event in the Xfinity Series the night before.”