NASCAR has previously said the sport has received interest from north and south of America’s borders and this has raised suspicions of whether international races could be coming back sooner rather than later.
In fact, when Steve Phelps, President of NASCAR, was asked if the 2024 season could feature an international race, he didn’t rule it out and said he was unsure of the possibility. Either way, it feels like the sport could be making that happen soon.
The Truck Series most recently raced in Canada but that disappeared with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, one NASCAR owner is pushing for the racing series to make its return to international environments.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR owner, believes the sport should race internationally on an oval track
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the loudest and most well-known voices in NASCAR after he retired from full-time competition at the conclusion of the 2017 season. Since then, Earnhardt Jr. joined the NBC Sports booth and continues as co-owner of JR Motorsports.
On one of his previous podcasts, the 48-year-old owner was asked about the idea of racing internationally. In fact, Earnhardt Jr,’s father, Dale Earnhardt Sr., actually raced in Japan when the sport held two exhibition events in Suzuka in 1996 and 1997.
When Earnhardt Jr. was asked about the subject, he gave a bold answer that is one that many people across NASCAR should consider as it could help grow the sport.
“I think it would be awesome. I love the idea of taking our cars and going into interntional environments in front of an international audience on an oval…I don’t give a (bleep) about a (NASCAR Cup Series) race at another road course, even internationally. I don’t want to see it. I want that audience that’s never seen our cars race in person to see them race on an oval.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. on NASCAR racing internationally in the future
This is a brilliant point from Earnhardt Jr. in regard to another Cup Series race on an oval track internationally. The Cup Series already races on six road courses and there is no reason to add any more.
Plus, the international audience watches mostly road courses due to Formula 1 and other racing divisions. It would make no sense to go overseas and have them compete on basic road courses.
NASCAR is known for oval tracks and so many drivers in other series are shocked by how they can run them for that long. Many of them call it scary and something they would not even consider outside of a test.
Earnhardt Jr. is right. NASCAR should go overseas but the sport should give its audience something it has never seen before to create new fans and more appreciation for its racing.