Earnhardt Knocks

Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dale Jr. believes NASCAR’s growth depends on bringing back the corporate tailgating vibes with three days of racing, concerts, and parties. Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
John Ourand
June 16, 2025

When NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. took in his first F1 race last month, he was impressed with everything that was going on off the track—from the sponsors’ lavish hospitality areas to concerts and parties thrown by companies that had no connection to the race. To him, the event had the type of festival atmosphere that NASCAR used to do so well but pulled back from during the pandemic.