Winner of the race on the Circuit of the Americas twice in the last two years, Christopher Bell has been ecstatic with the introduction of road courses to the NASCAR schedule. While he once thought winning on road circuits wouldn’t be a feat he could achieve, the latest changes have been a welcome blessing for him. Moreover, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has also warmed up to the circuit.
Before this year’s race in COTA, the race officials decided to cut down the 3.41-mile circuit. Taking a little over a mile off the race, the officials decided on a 2.3-mile circuit, which changed the face of the entire race for Earnhardt.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Extremely Happy With the Shorter COTA Course
Speaking on the latest episode of “Dale Jr. Download,” the veteran driver detailed how he hated the introduction of COTA to the NASCAR schedule. He made it abundantly clear that he was against the track’s inclusion owing to its length. Calling it boring, Earnhardt said that there was way too much paint all over the circuit, and going up the hill on Turn 1 was the only good thing.
As soon as drivers made their way out of Turn 1, all one sees was a flat track of asphalt with paint around it. Per the 50-year-old, the sight did not reciprocate that of a serious racetrack.
However, Earnhardt was in awe of Speedway Motorsports Inc.’s latest efforts. He claimed that the sport was struggling to make inroads in Texas because of a not-so-happening race. But the reconfiguration has made the track “awesome.”
I like the new short COTA course! Hell of a job whoever pushed that idea through. @NASCAR
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) March 1, 2025
A mile off the race, alongside some minor changes, meant the world to Earnhardt. The veteran driver was surprised with his own admission, as he never thought he would become a fan of COTA. But now, he can’t say it enough.
A fan and product of the old NASCAR racing style, Earnhardt was understandably not a fan of the evolving NextGen racing styles. Thus, a callback to old-school short-track racing became a welcome change for the 50-year-old. Additionally, there was the expectation that a shorter circuit would result in a wreck fest, but that didn’t happen either.
While there was a Lap 1 incident between Ross Chastain and Chase Elliot and a subsequent coming together of Denny Hamlin and Austin Dillon, most of the race went by without any hiccups and even had a thrilling finish.
