Jeff Burton’s perspective on the annual NASCAR All-Star race has changed from his days as a driver.
“The All-Star race had gone from this fun, exciting, I mean, it was crazy going into those All-Star races as a driver,” Burton said Wednesday on NASCAR America. “As a fan, now that I watch it, I don’t get excited about it anymore.”
That’s changed now with the announcement that a rules format including restrictor plates will be used in the exhibition race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19.
“Now I have a reason to be excited,” Burton said. “Now I have a reason to say, ‘You know what? They’ll have a better chance to put on a race.’ This is 100 percent the right thing to try. It may not work perfect. But it’s an All-Star race, an All-Star race that hasn’t been going well, so why not try something?”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the rules package a “courageous opportunity” for the sport.
“This could lead NASCAR in a very, very critical direction that’s going to improve this sport over a long period of time.”
Watch the above video for more.