Dale Earnhardt Jr. breaks down 'fatigue' surrounding NASCAR playoff format conversation

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has never been shy about sharing what’s on his mind when it comes to NASCAR. This week, he opened up about a growing issue that’s starting to hit fans, media, and even drivers alike — playoff fatigue.

During the most recent episode of The Dale Jr. Download, the NASCAR Hall of Famer reflected on how the ongoing debate surrounding the playoff format versus full-season points and what-not has started to overshadow the actual racing.

While the battles on track remain compelling, Earnhardt Jr. believes that endless speculation about future format changes has sucked the energy out of what should be the sport’s most exciting stretch of the entire season.

“I know that I’m getting some fatigue — and I think a lot of people are — around this whole conversation about the playoffs versus full-season points,” Earnhardt Jr. admitted. “I don’t think people are fatigued with what’s actually happening on the racetrack right now, but I do think they’re tired of the conversation around what we’re going to end up having. And honestly, I think I am too — a little bit.”

Earnhardt Jr. explained that the discussion around potential playoff changes has created a distraction at the worst possible time — during the postseason itself. Another caveat is the fact that NASCAR’s competition committee has been careful not to announce any new format decisions before the current season concludes, with the idea that it would diminish the significance of this season’s championship.

“That would totally discredit this year,” he said. “Everybody would just say, ‘Alright, well, we’re moving on.’ Emotionally, people would move on to next season. And this year’s champion would end up feeling like a dud — like a lame duck kind of thing. We were all in agreement that you don’t announce a new format for the future before you crown this year’s champion. And I still agree — that’s the right call.”

Still, Earnhardt Jr. acknowledged that even talking about next year — from rule changes to horsepower adjustments — makes it hard to stay focused on the present. Fans and insiders alike seem to be mentally fast-forwarding through the remainder of the playoffs.

“I’ll admit, I’m guilty of that myself — always looking ahead, wishing time away because I’m excited about what’s coming,” he delineated. “But are we sitting here right now doing that with this season? Just saying, ‘Man, can this hurry up and end so we can move on?’ I feel like that’s where I’m at — and I don’t love that.”

All told, Earnhardt Jr. closed with a simple reminder about enjoying the ride for now: “I don’t like that. I want to enjoy this one. I want to enjoy this year, this playoff,” he elaborated. “I want to be excited about it, but I’m having a hard time. And I wonder if everyone else is, too, because you can see it — in the viewership, in the general conversations, in the way people are talking. It just feels like everyone’s already looking past it.”

In the end, those decisions regarding the playoffs will be made, but Earnhardt Jr. recognizes we won’t have this opportunity, with this crop of drivers, again. We better enjoy it, even if it’s a bit difficult at times with all the noise surrounding the sport.