[Quality88]

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s appreciation of NASCAR racing's history is evident through more than just his "Back in the Day" retro racing shows on SPEED Channel; and it's why Earnhardt says the format for the season-opening Shootout on Feb. 7 at Daytona International Speedway "just sucks."
Earnhardt appeared at Preseason Thunder Fan Fest at Daytona and was asked what he thought of NASCAR expanding the field, formerly comprised of pole winners from the previous season and former event winners to 28 cars: The top six of each manufacturer's cars from the 2008 Sprint Cup owner standings and then one "wild card" entry from each manufacturer that was manipulated by NASCAR.
"I wish you wouldn't have asked me because I didn't want to talk about it -- I don't like the new format," Earnhardt said. "You had a race [Shootout] for guys who won poles, you had a [all-star] race for guys who won races in the middle of the season -- and now neither one of those are hardly recognizable.
"It just sucks because I'm such a historian of the sport and I just like all the history and I like all the cool things about the history, and I like looking back on the guys who were in this race in the '80s and '90s and why they were in it and how they got in it and who missed it the next year and made it the next year.
"I haven't asked NASCAR why they changed it, so I don't feel like I can rightfully say much without giving them the opportunity to defend themselves for their reasons. But apparently there were some reasons they changed it, and it's obviously better for the manufacturers with this new format for the Shootout. But it's less about why the race was started in the first place."

NASCAR.COM - Notebook: Biffle hits 218 mph in test at Texas World - Jan 22, 2009

[Nevadastars]

My favorite thing about Jr. is he speaks his mind and I hope that never changes.

[trollmc08]

Originally Posted by Nevadastars

My favorite thing about Jr. is he speaks his mind and I hope that never changes.

I agree Nevada. But remember his mouth has got him in trouble before.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by trollmc08

I agree Nevada. But remember his mouth has got him in trouble before.

Only when he tells on himself

[trollmc08]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Only when he tells on himself

I had forgotten about the self imposed spin out.

[Bob Tanner]

Good for Dale Jr. Now, if only someone at NA__AR headquarters would only listen.

It's obvious they don't listen to the fans. maybe they'll listen to their top tee-shirt salesman?

[jks812]

I'm glad he spoke up about it. Now if some more will maybe Nascar would listen. But then they would have to admit that it wasn't a good idea, so they won't listen if every driver in Nascar spoke out against it.

[nascaraddict]

I like the Shootout. But then again... By Feburary, I'm always in so much NASCAR withdrawl that anything from Cup cars to go-carts would do it for me.

Ain't that sad?

[Lefturn]

I loved the shootout. I will still watch, but it aint going to be the same....

[Racer Duck]

"shootout" seems to be the wrong word to describe the race...

but my lonely brain cell is just too busy right now worrying about what's for supper to try to find the right word.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

"shootout" seems to be the wrong word to describe the race...

but my lonely brain cell is just too busy right now worrying about what's for supper to try to find the right word.

Manufacturer and Drivers Charity Test/Race?

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by jks812

Manufacturer and Drivers Charity Test/Race?

MDCT/R .. kinda catchy

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by jks812

Manufacturer and Drivers Charity Test/Race?

Anymore it might as well be called the "Who Gives a Sh!t Shootout!"

[Bob Tanner]

As long as we're changing names, let's change the name of The Winston to the "Toy Car/ Special Paint Job Derby?"

[jks812]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Anymore it might as well be called the "Who Gives a Sh!t Shootout!"

I've already been calling it that.