How NASCAR’s Former Race Director Made the Toughest Calls in Racing History

This week Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a conversation with a man he thought he’d never get to interview, longtime NASCAR Race Director David Hoots. In this episode, David opens up about how he made decisions in the booth, his thoughts on current NASCAR officiating, including the Austin Dillon penalty, his toughest calls in the booth, and how things ended at NASCAR.
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Chapters
02:58 - Behind the Scenes of NASCAR Officiating
05:51 - The Evolution of NASCAR and Its Challenges
09:11 - Growing Up in Racing: The Bowman Gray Influence
12:05 - Transitioning from Local Tracks to NASCAR
14:53 - The Role of Experience in Race Directing
17:49 - Memorable Moments in NASCAR History
21:10 - The Impact of Technology on Racing
24:00 - The Future of Short Track Racing
26:57 - Reflections on Retirement and Career Changes
29:46 - Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

[@isaiahspell3019]

Honor to be there! Thank you Dale.

[@patrickking1732]

Thank you Mr hoots

[@jordanhannah5839]

Great interview Dale!

[@poorjf]

I miss the cars looking like a damn handful to drive, which was apparent even on the TV in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The first time I saw drivers holding it nearly wide open on a cookie cutter mile-and-a-half, I knew we'd lost the plot. Less aero; more HP. Less aero; more HP. Please.

[@rogergavind6279]

I agree. I miss when the commentators used to say: "If the car is confortable to drive, it's not fast."

[@mattmoon5300]

PUT IT OUT!

[@jfkheadchunk5350]

This guy knows the ruuues. He helped write ruuues.

[@donaldjohns9782]

Hello Dale! I think it's time Nascar goes back to, "one checkered flag racing" what do you think?

[@jbickel7575]

Here’s a question, with all the tv cameras at the tracks these days, why do you need spotters?

[@e2motorsports257]

Because it's hard to watch TV and drive fast at the same time.

[@TracksideViews]

@@e2motorsports257I believe he’s talking about track crew spotters looking for debris or whatnot

[@notboeingnotgoing5483]

@@e2motorsports257 I see what you did there….ha ha 😂

[@bob8776]

Because a camera has a limited scope of view. A person has peripheral vision and is usually moving their eyes and head around. A person watching a bunch of camera feeds can only see what the cameras are pointing at. A person also has intuition. They might realize something is about to happen and can report it immediately. A camera doesn’t know what’s happening, it’s just relaying an image

[@wfvesely]

NASCAR has added many gimmicks to keep the racing more exciting for new fans. I'm not a fan of most of them but I can accept them, the only one I can't take is the stage racing and I'm glad to hear him talking about that as well. It's mostly designed to keep the whole field basically on the lead lap which is stupid. You should have to be able to run good enough to stay on the lead lap, not be gifted that position.

[@BenMyattt]

Damn. Do yall not do short videos anymore? Ain’t no one trying to listen to a 2hr video on the go

[@collinclary5762]

i think you miss the point of a podcast

[@bluegrassboy]

It's the podcast- that they just also happen to post the video of to youtube.

[@emmettanderson9342]

What it boils down to the older generation was better in this generation

[@jamesince5976]

David is a Great guy who did his best to break me of short pitting. He never did but was a very important part of NASCAR.

[@tnwhiskey68]

I appreciate focusing on a couple questions but these guys have so much to tell and I feel like they get cut off a little early.

[@daverenfroe3645]

Once again ......good stuff......scenes from behind the curtain......THANK YOU!

[@rogergavind6279]

He didn't ask him about the phantom cautions era...

[@davidburchfield2720]

I hope someone in Nascar payed attention to this podcast thay my find the problem with what there doing now !!! But we know Nascar went WOAK and DEI hires !!!!!

[@robertlichina4917]

As I watch all of your broadcasts, admire you and your family, you have one glaring flaw. Your respect of our sports history and insightful questions, the respect you have for our sports pioneers is dear to my heart. If there were a hall of fame for nascar historians, you would be first. The flaw……………………… well ask Rusty. Miller Lite my friend. Miller Lite😅

[@d.w.103]

The announcers constantly only covering the "Chase" vs the actual races is why I have let college & NFL become my first line viewing vs NASCAR. I Could care less who wins the Championship. I am watching a race for the victory.

[@WEHenry]

I've never understood why nascar thinks they need to follow orther sports, nascar is a "motor sport" not a stick and ball sport no similaritiesat all. Do something different relating to motor sports. Quite being a copy cat and do something yourself.

[@Robert-sm5qp]

I would love an interview with Bobby Allison. I met him once in Norfolk, VA. What a down to Earth guy!

[@RogerGraves-s1c]

Was wondering if Nascar would look at putting in a smaller gas tank in the short track package like Nascar did the super speedway package in the 1990's & 2000's.

[@mrsteve4313]

naSCar desperately needs an actual stock car class again... it's in their name!!!

[@TonyWud]

Good get, yall. Thanks Mr. Hoots

[@biggallcaps]

It's guys like David Hoots that helped make race day on Sunday 20 years ago really fun and and seem well put together. Great interview and love to hear from guys like him

[@landonthompson5604]

When I first looked at this gentleman, I honestly thought it was Phil Donahue. 😂

[@MrWrestling2]

One of the best interviews, great insight. Nascar would do well to pick his brain or have him as a consultant.

[@evanwilliams6406]

Give the man some hoots! David Hoots is in the building.

[@Jeffbambam]

This gentleman has more common sense solutions and observations than anyone I have ever heard speak on the deterioration of what once was the greatest American sport that has its roots in the south and rural tracks all over the country! Thank you sir for your contributions to a sport that I once lived for and brought my family and friends joy ! You are A HOF’mer in my book !

[@emmettanderson9342]

Yeah what I was trying to say it didn't let me put it off the older generation is better in this generation now in NASCAR

[@brandonshell2512]

I was at bristol and i can verify the race was terrible from the stands.

[@robertlichina4917]

Spot on with stage racing.

[@emmettanderson9342]

I agree with him this year stage racing is for the birds and they need to go back like it was if they allowed down or whatever whatever it is that's what you need to go back to in the heck when it's your stage

[@tnwhiskey68]

You mofos always place an ad IMMEDIATELY after an in video sponsor ad read!

[@Jeffbambam]

NASCAR went woke for a paycheck the day they turned their backs on Winston and have been slowly forcing their agenda on those of us whose families built and lived the NASCAR life as part of our heritage.

[@chevyblock550]

Winston was in a legal bind by the federal government because laws in 2003 heavily restricted tobacco marketing. If you want to say NASCAR went woke, fine, but losing the winston sponsorship was big daddy Fed's fault.