Dale Jr. On Talladega Fuel-Saving, Michael Jordan's Influence & Scoring Pylons | Dale Jr Download

Dale Earnhardt Jr. returns to the Bojangles Studio after a thrilling Talladega Cup race for a new edition of Dirty Air.
From scoring pylons to saving fuel, there was a lot to unpack in this episode:
- A new “grumpy old man” moment
- What does Dale think about the scoring pylons?
- How can NASCAR solve the fuel-saving dilemma on drafting tracks?
- Shorter races vs. more stages: “Don’t take chips out of my bag!”
- Michael McDowell makes one block too many
- Race winner Tyler Reddick calls into the show
- The impact of Michael Jordan being in Victory Lane
During the Ask Jr. portion of the episode, listeners sent in questions regarding:
- Frontstretch interviews vs. Victory Lane interviews
- Most heartbreaking race loss
- New parenting lessons
- Meeting and interacting with Michael Jordan
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[@ericmicke4130]

I miss victory lane interviews. You have TV people ruining great photos of drivers celebrating their win on track. And then you get them in a Secluded one man celebration. It meant so much more to watch them celebrate with their team. And get that first moment of them outside of the car in that environment. Not alone on the race track. Victory lane should matter. This is the place only winners get to go to. Anyone can stop on the front stretch.

[@rebelsoul5980]

I agree!

[@GeoiMD]

That is why crews are running across the infield to get a little reckognition

[@JWoo8804]

1. Keep the race at 500 miles. 2. Smaller fuel cell to increase pits stops to bring in more strategies 3. Keep the stage points, but take away the stage breaks. This might would break up into groups when pitting together and you could have 2-3 "packs" running around the track. Maybe a Toyota pack, Chevy pack, and Ford pack. 4. Give a playoff point to whoever leads the most laps. This would keep them from "parading" around track and encourage getting to the front of pack. A whole lot more racing on the track.

[@M_R_Sumbigguns]

Why do we have to stop the racing at the end of the stages? Wave the green & white checkered flag, give out the bonus points, but keep the race going!

[@tannerbrusse3608]

That's what I'm saying! I feel the strategies of all the different teams would shine, more excitement and a better more entertaining race flow would happen. Get rid of the stage cautions and let em race.

[@johnhaas2523]

Clown

[@deelowe3]

The whole point of stages is to bring the field back together.

[@johnkline2610]

Congrats to JRM on their former driver’s going 123 at Dega with Tyler, Brad and Noah

[@kamakazi832]

U can do the no caution at the end of some stages but so tracks would be so boring with out cautions an at the end of the day they have to make it watchable for tv an fans

[@richiemcewen]

Thank you Dale for fighting for more racing! 500 mile races everywhere! I totally agree. More racing not less!!!

[@michaelsoper3610]

Only if there are adequate incentives for the drivers to actually RACE!! If I want to see a half-throttle parade/rolling traffic jam, I am 5 minutes from the nearest freeway . . . and drivers behave more competitively on that freeway than what I saw for the bulk of this race.

[@ericmicke4130]

I differ on that one. Only a few races need to be that long. Especially with stages, it takes the endurance factor out of it anyway.

[@richiemcewen]

@@ericmicke4130 it’s not just the endurance factor, it’s for the love of racing. During football season I can sit on my couch from 1:00-11:00 and watch football two days in a row. I’m not asking for that in racing, but I for one do not mind a 4 hour race.

[@ericmicke4130]

@@richiemcewen I watch actual endurance racing. I watched 6 hours of racing starting at 7am Sunday morning. I don't mind long races, if the racing is good. Few races in NASCAR are good enough to merit sitting there for 3 and a half to 4 hours. Dega and Daytona, at 500 miles are fine. Unless you get a ton of yellows, you're going to be done in 2.5 to 3 hours. I prefer quality over quantity. Like Texas for example? No need to go back to 500 miles. Hell, it doesn't even deserve to be 400 its so bad. Kansas? Leave it alone. 400 miles works for that track. Charlotte should always be 600. But yeah we don't need 500 miles anywhere but dega, Daytona and Darlington.

[@m.h.e.7693]

@@michaelsoper3610so should we just have 45 minute races? Works for MotoGP

[@matthewprioli-baader8451]

Dale, these children in your studio dont know what a universal joint is.

[@davids5006]

Sad huh

[@RowingFrontal5]

Yeah it’s a smoking apparatus that is ADA compliant

[@7viewerlogic670]

@@RowingFrontal5 LoL

[@christopherharper1586]

They sure know what a brown nose it though.

[@dchawk81]

Dale called the transfer case a crankcase so he's not exactly mechanically inclined either.

[@vapinbachelor289]

DaleJr still doesn’t realize how important he is.. I being an ole Wilmington boy, knows that M.Jordan has just as much respect for jr as Jr does for Jordan.

[@jordanmiller8207]

Hell no to a shortened race. That would be a terrible decision.

[@heartbreakkid8708]

I don’t know who keeps bringing up the idea of shortening these races. 500 miles is perfect. Like how there are 9 innings in Baseball. There are 4 12-minute quarters in Basketball. There are 3 20-minute periods in Hockey. It’s perfect. It’s just the racing product needs improvement. Thats all it needs. You start shortening these races, you the fan lose out. Because you’re still going to pay the same price for tickets, merch, food & drink, entertainment etc. but now you get less racing. You get robbed and you go home early and now you have to add more things to do to fill up an hour or two in your day but the racing product will still be the same and the complainers will still complain. And you know what’s gonna happen. They’re gonna start putting v6 turbo hybrids in the car. Because fuel saving. Complainers man. Never satisfied

[@BwInNewJersey]

Nascar’s business model seems to be less practice, less content, less racing less horsepower. Bizarre

[@jwrailve3615]

There needs to be a mix. I’d like a 8 week summer mini championship that has 200-300 mile oval races on Wednesday or thursday nights, that has bonus points that counts towards the playoffs and we can see if shorter races would work as well as weekday night races being a potential slot for race times. Nascar needs more to the regular schedule as it’s literally became pointless

[@jwrailve3615]

Crown Jewels and a couple other 500 mile races should keep the lengths but there’s some that could definitely shave 50-150 miles off and be much more exciting

[@rebelsoul5980]

​@jwrailve3615 No!! Please just stop! Nascar is for the weekend's!

[@optictrickshotz13]

Dale bringing up the online video of the “flatbed with ladies dancing” made my day. Burst out laughing

[@AlexTardiff1]

Build and name a bar in the infield, “The Pylon”. Let that setup be the base of the pylon structure in the infield

[@tripledotter9520]

One of the Talladega Races in the 90s when Tony Stewart's Team is telling him over the radio "Hey! You keep trying to run with that 3 Car, it's going to put moves on you like Michael Jordan!"

[@ctsroaddog]

I love jr. And I'm sure Mike is way busy, but the show was a lot better with them both. Mike knows how to bring the best out of Dale, and to me, this show falls into everyone does this category. Before, it was a must-see now, not so much. Come back, Mike !!

[@73gent16]

These 2 guys are too vanilla and add nothing to the show. Seem scared to have their own opinions about anything. Need a heel on this show.

[@kristenwhite2701]

Gen Z doesn’t add much

[@Whiteasian56]

Yeah they’re just a bunch of yes-men. Been saying since the first episode I don’t like them. Stale conversations. Can’t progress conversations. “yeah, yeah, hahahah.” Plenty more but not worth mentioning. Mike made this podcast feel different, now it’s just another one and I find myself skipping through hella parts now.

[@HughWanztino]

If you watch the videos with Mike, there's more comments complaining about Mike than comments on this video wishing he was back.

[@ctsroaddog]

Never understood that

[@turnersawman]

Horsepower Horsepower Horsepower just do it already damn.

[@johnhaas2523]

They're never increasing the horsepower on the short tracks

[@JSkunk3223]

Yeah, to many young guys lacking knowledge and experience trying to have conversations about things before they were even alive. Raising my hand as a full in. I was born for this stuff 😁

[@BlatantDave]

"I squatted on this rock and I couldn't get off" i laughed so hard!!

[@manleybrittain1296]

Dale, this was not a race this was follow the leader!

[@thicccheese4007]

I couldn’t tell, too busy watching commercials

[@manleybrittain1296]

They were some great commercials@@thicccheese4007

[@cjjones2981]

@@thicccheese4007 Very true. The FOX TV Commercial 500

[@MRGandee]

Talladega has always been follow the leader, but at least they were driving full throttle

[@mcland05]

I was at that 600! When Jr took the lead was the loudest I've ever heard the fans at a race.

[@dillonblackwood]

I just want to say, my local short track has been shut down for two yrs. Before they officially closed, it was just a couple races a year. This year, it's under new ownership and struck a deal with the housing community behind the track that got shut it down in the first place. First race back is April 27th and I am so excited and never thought this day would come. If you're local track has closed in this same sort of situation, dont lose hope.

[@Zanepro-up3jd]

Absolutely… keep the pylons. Best memories as a kid in Australia, camping at the Bathurst 1000 in the 1990’s looking at the “timing tower” fastest lap would also pop up! It was incredible. 2:11.7 … everyone would comment on that.. Pail Morris probably didn’t do the fastest lap but he certainly won the race. Today everyone turns and looks at the running order. ❤

[@ryann.9636]

Anyone noticed Dale’s become self conscious of how he says Welcome to the Bojangles studio after Andrew has thrown that impression at him a few times?

[@bighand1530]

Yes

[@robertfrank1472]

I grew up going to all kinds of races at Texas Motor Speedway and I loved the pylon. Glad you mentioned that one

[@malikdigger4544]

Dale Jr. Rocking Red Dirty Mo Outfit Looks Like Ur Throwback 2002-07 #8 Budweiser Theme

[@EClose1293]

Dale jr needs to get MJ on the show

[@Metallica101ftw]

What would they talk about that the whole world does not already know lol

[@thetruth1446]

I love that the old Bristol Pylon scoreboard is at Volunteer Speedway...not workimg but at least we still have the old Bristol Winston Cup Pylon

[@rosswoomer6890]

Eliminating the stage yellow at drafting tracks while still awarding stage points at a specific lap # could help with a few problems. It would still encourage hard racing throughout and since there’s no guaranteed caution over 500 miles, could help rectify the two-by-two stalemate and fuel saving strategy we’ve seen this season.

[@Dreway]

500 miles is nascar DNA. What we have now is just fine. They don’t blow motors so let them atleast go the distance

[@EricStoneburner]

Dale makes me want a BIRD DOG with the way he reads the ads. 😂😂😂

[@tomstrawmyer4980]

I've been watching Tyler Reddic since he was racing late models on dirt! I'm happy to see him have success!

[@HDobson24]

Dale trolling Andrew is quality entertainment 😂 I’d love to work on this podcast.

[@IanTheMotorsportsMan_YT]

Sucks to see the Scoring Pylon being taken down :( Such a cool experience to see in person when I was at Homestead back in 2013 (even tho it was more modern, but both modern and old should stay as long as the wirings works and get fixed, of course)

[@snchilders]

Dale, you're right about how NASCAR needs to do something to make the end of races more exciting. I hate to see The Big one take out so many cars. Back in the '70s and '80s when cars could slingshot around each other, THAT WAS EXCITING! And I loved the Texas race - no big wrecks.

[@TRFProductions45]

Great episode!!!

[@ericmicke4130]

There should be multiple places at a race track where you can look and see the running order. You shouldn't even have a direction to look in where you can't see one. Unless it's like completely away from the track

[@squidee9732]

I wonder if the spotters gets down to the winners circle in time to celebrate also or if its pretty much over by the time they get down there?

[@7viewerlogic670]

Great info about speaking to McDowell.

[@TroySteele17]

Don’t let Dale lie we had low riders with stick out wheels, cruising concord with bleached hair.. The ladies loved it.

[@davids5006]

Low riders is a different style lol

[@lloydbarnes7847]

Sounds sweeet!!

[@PitbullN.C.]

Low rider 2 wheel drives were a different trend. Owned 2 of em. Ground effects drop spindles etc

[@TroySteele17]

Always popping those neons under the car over railroad tracks

[@DerrickRG]

GARBAGE.

[@TracksideViews]

Enough with shortening races. Don’t even bring it up.

[@Aaron25thinfantry]

Get MJ ON THE SHOW

[@rodney8763]

Has anyone reached out to Michael to be a guest on the podcast yet?

[@Wildcard258]

Could not agree more regarding race length.

[@georgejones5960]

Preach it Dale! You're a great spokesman for the sport!

[@sumoneelse6881]

The drivers need to just go to victory lane.

[@GeoiMD]

30 minutes in… Dale gets us! MORE racing! ❤

[@mintoxace5571]

SVG was driving that third lane up to the front at the end of the race, until Gibbs blocked him and completely screwed up the momentum of that lane and everyone in its race.

[@timhill9347]

Bit dissapointed SVG has had no mention in any of the podcast this week. Bit sad after a great performance.

[@DerrickRG]

It was only viable while Chase was slam drafting him. That was never going to be the winning move. As soon as the Ford's organized on the bottom, the outside lane was done (assuming no wreck of course).

[@BigD15Steelers]

Rick, You are one of my favorite people on the web. I already have 2 brothers named Rick in my family. However, I have room for one more ... Or I would be proud from what I have seen to take in another son . Keep doing what You're doing. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR MESSAGE ❤😊

[@zachwalentiny]

Thank God Roger Penske owns IMS. That pylon ain't going anywhere.

[@Vigilant_Guardian]

the Coke 600 has four stages... already. have the stage points but not the cautions. let them race and separate themselves and let the teams decide the strategy and speed fuel calculations, what is a war room for? if you 'don't have a war...

[@carlmccoy5146]

Agreed! more post race. More interviews.

[@GeoiMD]

Thanks!

[@Lazarky9]

Talking about the Dega racing. What about adding a bonus point for every 10 laps led. Encourage people to be up front or get the lead

[@Niptucked]

Eliminating stages will create more strategy and excitement.

[@sumoneelse6881]

I prefer victory lane interviews. Less prerace, more postrace

[@Continuum7]

I'm glad Jr. is not about races being shorter. I want long races and long races at Daytona and Talladega is great.

[@PaperBanjo64]

I think in most cases if there's 2 races one should be 400 miles and the other 500, if there's a single date it should be 500 miles.

[@sonjaweekley6124]

The race at Talladega is what it is all about for me not the partying. Of course I wish they would go back to racing without all the stage bull.

[@Cajunmichael]

The worst thing about Dega now in my opinion is the team and pack racing. If we could somehow get back to the time two cars could make moves that would work.

[@Creek....123]

Wish dale got jordan on. Micheal does so few interviews

[@Shtrudell]

What if they did stages of 40, 80 and 60 laps respectively?

[@brentbass3892]

Most heartbreaking race was bad at the 600.... we all wanted it for you cuz we are from NC. That ATL race where you weren't quite clear.... I wanted that championship

[@stevesea3701]

Michael Jordan on the Dale Jr. Download ? , Becoming Earnhardt 1980 ?

[@normanwebbjr292]

They can afford the motor to raise the front end. So they gotta try somehow. 😅😂 From A.K.A. ProSpeedDemon 😮

[@stonecoldracing6]

Even though as a Brad fan I’ve been pissed, I couldn’t be happier for Tyler Redick, he seems like such a solid dude and great character

[@RG-vl1ln]

They should reduce pre-race interviews and add it to post race interviews and agree with Dale in interviewing the top 5 post race.

[@robcatterton8244]

I think it would be cool to get Bill Davis on the show and talk about their history and the way they exited the sport. We didn't have access to the information we have today, and it just seemed like a lot of unknown behind the scenes choices lead to their leaving NASCAR. The way the sold to Triad and then Triad stopping all racing.

[@anonymousperson2981]

Need to get MTJ on the show again sometime

[@coyote8198]

If Nascar needs something like scoring on their Digital Dash for each car.

[@alexdietz6777]

Use the short track package on superspeedways 😅

[@suzymcclung9545]

In the early 60s guys did this to their cars...dropped the back end and raised the front. It was dumb, but it didn't last thankfully. Everything comes back around. And speaking of pylons, I was very disturbed about it missing at the Texas race....if you are watching the race live, you depend on that to tell you the running order. I hope they come up with a way to put them back.. I also hope the engineers can figure out how to work on the car and the tires and leave the races alone for now.

[@GeoiMD]

Hubby and I were both SCREAMING at Noah to cut up in front of Reddick during that last stretch. Was Noah scared to take a shot, or was his spotter just garbage. He may have won!

[@mlwilliam213]

“What do you mean your truck got stuck?” I found that unreasonably funny.

[@davevangemert9853]

That started in California 20 years ago. It was a small punishment thing. If the rear is low, it means you got a prerunner front suspension on paper and you're a competitor

[@CJBarry55]

I think Dale is right, it’s the tires. You’re not gonna ditch the next gen, so spec racing is here. You need tire falloff and tire delta between cars.

[@joemabry9643]

Love jr. Miss Mike.

[@douglaspell3764]

I enjoyed the show on Casey! I think he should reach out to Castrol about an one off and put him in the 88 somewhere! I bet they would like that!

[@edruggiero1648]

What about getting rid of the stage breaks

[@jamesgibbons6292]

And watch 3 hours of driving around waiting until the end of the race to start racing? The stage racing is the only incentive for them to actually race each other during the whole race.

[@edruggiero1648]

@@jamesgibbons6292 they’re not really doing that either until the last few laps of the stage

[@edruggiero1648]

@@jamesgibbons6292 I’m not saying get rid of the stages, just the breaks they’ll still be racing for something. It could get rid of some of the fuel mileage game.

[@RowingFrontal5]

You can give the points and keep the incentive without having to stop the race

[@edruggiero1648]

@@RowingFrontal5 that’s what I was poorly saying

[@M_R_Sumbigguns]

I agree with the Dega infield entertainment complex! They've got room in the middle to make a "Full Throttle Saloon" type venue! With 3 or 4 different bands playing at a time, Nitro Circus stunts, clowns and midgets....It'd be so cool!

[@bstan54]

Need to the old cars back.

[@jordanhannah5839]

Love the show but man we need Mike back!

[@CQBlindHams]

I can see it now. A bar in the infield called Junior's at Dega!

[@chevywv9735]

Look we can talk about this it’s so simple to fix add one more stage that would put the driver back in control of the race more passing wide open throttle and more excitement

[@matthewferguson2515]

I agree with Dale don’t shorten the race. If you want a short competitive race go to the drag strips.

[@HughWanztino]

Half the crown jewels already have more points available than the rest. The 600 has 4 stages and Daytona 500 has the duels that both pay out stage points.

[@kaleta036]

If Jr. thinks it’s cool then it’s cool. That still stands imo.

[@Brandon-qy4rs]

What happened to mike? Show feels like something is missing.

[@KustryRuntz]

Straight from the infield out, gotta make it down there someday!

[@jwill239]

Jr started the frontstrech interview when he broke the transmission doing his burnout at Daytona

[@MarkNelson-ys7zd]

I get that partly trying to entice younger folks to the Download. But the young bucks don’t have much experience to talk of anything. Jr is great , he can carry on an interesting convo on just about anything. The young guns that could carry on a convo with Dale are busy building their mechanic & driving careers.

[@kristenwhite2701]

I like the guest part of the week & Ask Jr, but for bouncing around opinions I like Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour. Check it out Tuesday & Thursday

[@SniperTrader7733]

I love old man Dale Jr. “get off my grass”

[@1eastked]

So when you gonna get Micheal on?!

[@sumoneelse6881]

If the cars raced better, then we wouldn't be hearing about wanting less racing.

[@cobra7250]

I love watching your show, but Talladega racing is like a traffic jam in New York City. It has nothing to do with racing team up with you. They help you out to get more air. It’s just crazy that’s why I haven’t watched it for years.

[@TimLarrabee]

If you are in the stands sometimes it's hard to follow the leaders and the pylons help

[@kblend]

Went to my first nascar race at dega this weekend, The infield garage experience was so cool!! But seemed very Invasive, that and a bunch of old people who have been coming for years just stand in front of the Popular drivers and dont move for anyone who wants to take pictures. Would be nice if it was slightly more organized, with that said still such an amazing and unforgettable experience.

[@S_and_S_Farms]

Atlanta was a fantastic race. Daytona and Talladega need some work.

[@benntn]

The infield screen sucks at dega on the back stretch. You can't see it and it is to small and I never looked or used the the pylon. That grassy spot is for folks who are in the infield but do'n't want to stand on top of a RV etc. They need to keep this area just put a bigger screen on the back side. They've already decreased the size of this area to make more room for RV's spot. The screen is also delayed. Please keep this spot open.

[@timsnook7924]

Jr wonder if nascar could change the superspeedy package?? Maybe add the roof bar back on top like the eary 2000s was

[@DougCampbell-m6i]

Get MJ on the download

[@superblahblah666]

17:00 conversation, a lot of small dirt tracks in my area (dfw) don't have pylons and I find myself and family looking to apps like race on for current lineups. I feel like anything you can do to keep viewers looking at the track and not a mobile phone is a win. edit for 38:36 don't change the tire compound let that issue revolve around respect. the guy that pulls out of line and creates another run is the one the field respects and thinks can pull them from a 15th finish to a 2nd 3rd 4th finish.

[@backbeatwoodworks]

Making races shorter is not a good answer. These are supposed to be some of the top drivers. These races are supposed to test man and machine and is why I think making races shorter is not the answer.

[@mattw3103]

Easily make first stage 2 fuel runs. Last two stages one fuel run

[@brockfischer7454]

When are you going to have Bill Elliott on

[@lawrencebeeler6273]

I agree with you sir , the Carolina squat is some serious dipshiterry however you are becoming the grouchy get of my lawn guy 🤠😎🤟

[@bparks_5095]

Nahhh. I’m 31 and squat has never been cool. I live in the PNW and that trend literally doesn’t exist here. It just needs to die, it’s something all ages agree on 😂

[@lawrencebeeler6273]

@@bparks_5095 I live in Oregon City Oregon