The 2025 Shriners Children’s 500 in Phoenix showcased impressive performances from several drivers, with Christopher Bell securing his third consecutive victory. However, the race also highlighted what Dale Earnhardt Jr. sees as a troubling issue with NASCAR’s penalty enforcement.
During a recent episode of the Dale Jr. Download podcast, Earnhardt shared his thoughts on the controversial penalty issued to Joey Logano. The reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion was penalized for crossing below the yellow line before the start/finish line during a restart—a decision Dale Jr. found overly strict.
Earnhardt pointed out the inconsistency in how NASCAR applies this rule, suggesting the penalty against Logano was unusually harsh. “This was an interesting one for me,” Earnhardt remarked. “Sometimes NASCAR calls it, sometimes they don’t. I don’t remember the last time they penalized the leader at Phoenix for this. It felt pretty nitpicky to me.”
While acknowledging that Logano technically broke the rule, Earnhardt questioned whether the driver’s actions warranted a penalty. He argued that Logano wasn’t attempting to gain a competitive advantage or block another driver but simply misjudged his position.
“I didn’t think Joey was trying to do anything sneaky,” Earnhardt explained. “He wasn’t being aggressive or blocking anyone—he just misjudged it slightly. Given how inconsistently this rule has been enforced at Phoenix over the past five or six races, it felt like NASCAR was quick to penalize him.”
Earnhardt also emphasized the human element in officiating, recognizing that NASCAR officials can’t catch every infraction. However, he felt that Logano’s mistake was minor and didn’t warrant such a swift penalty. “It was just half a tire—maybe three-quarters of the left front—over the line. That didn’t seem aggressive to me,” he added.
Dale Jr. wasn’t alone in his criticism. The NASCAR on FOX broadcast team also expressed surprise at the penalty, suggesting that it was an unexpected call for a relatively small violation.
Overall, Earnhardt’s comments reflect his concern that NASCAR is becoming too rigid with certain rules, especially when previous infractions at the same track have gone unpunished.
