Dale Earnhardt Jr knocks NASCAR for removing tradition

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“That was just a thing that didn’t have to go away.”

For decades, rookie NASCAR drivers were forced to use a yellow stripe on their rear bumper. That indicated to other drivers as well as fans that a rookie was piloting that car.

For 2025, that tradition is going away. Rookie stripes are no longer a thing in any capacity.

NASCAR stated that rookie stripes were “unnecessary”. They cited that the NASCAR Cup Series is the “Highest level of stock car racing.” Meaning, any driver who races in the series, shouldn’t be called a rookie.

However, the rookie stripes are also being removed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series.

For 2025, Shane van Gisbergen and Riley Herbst are running for Rookie of the Year. The designation still exists, but the stripe rule has been removed.

Dale Earnhardt Jr isn’t sure this change was needed…

NASCAR updates rules for DVP, waivers and more in 2025 season

Dale Earnhardt Jr comments on NASCAR removing rookie stripes

“It shook me up there for a second,” Dale Earnhardt Jr stated via Dirty Mo Media.

“Because it’s such a cool tradition. And, a lot of people are going, ‘Well, that’s not necessary now. The drivers they kinda know who everybody is.’ “

“It’s not for the drivers. It was for us, me and you [the fans].”

“In like 1980, for example, when you went to the Daytona 500 there were probably 70 to 80 cars trying to qualify for the Daytona 500. Multiple, 20, 25 rookies maybe. That was when it was necessary.”

“It’s kinda changed in terms of what purpose it served. But man, some traditions, what’s wrong with them?”

“That was just a thing that didn’t have to go away.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr retired from NASCAR Cup Series competition following the 2017 season. Last year he ran one NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The rookie stripe isn’t the only change to the rulebook for 2025:

New NASCAR practice and qualifying format for 2025

New NASCAR rule guarantees Helio Castroneves for Daytona 500

Links

NASCAR

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