Dale Earnhardt Jr. reveals what Steve O’Donnell told him about NASCAR’s format change

In the latest episode of Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s NASCAR podcast, the Hall of Famer revealed that last Saturday, he had a word with Steve O’Donnell about the impending changes in the playoff format. Next year onwards, the Cup Series is expected to move on from its current one-race championship format.

Under this format, 16 drivers battle through three rounds of three races each. Four drivers are eliminated after every third race before the final four drivers arrive at Phoenix Raceway for the coveted Championship 4.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. asked O’Donnell about how the new championship format will affect the Xfinity side of things while taking a stroll with the President through the Cup garage after Saturday’s Xfinity championship finale at Phoenix Raceway.

“I had an opportunity just by chance to exit the racetrack Saturday night at the same time with (Steve) O' Donnell walking through the Cup garage as the #2 team were celebrating their championship,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr. (13:50) “And I said, 'A lot of people talking about the Cup stuff...we know that's probably coming in terms of a change to the format, but nobody ever says anything about the Xfinity or Truck, and I guess we're all just assuming that whatever happens to Cup, something similar will happen', and he's like, 'Yeah. something very similar will happen'."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. owns JR Motorsports, a four-car race team operating full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Last season, the Mooresville, North Carolina-based outfit fielded Sammy Smith, Carson Kvapil, Connor Zilisch, and 2024 Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier.

Zilisch, who just wrapped up his maiden season with Dale Jr.’s team, finished the season second behind his best friend and 2025 Xfinity Series champion, Jesse Love. His teammates and fellow championship contenders, Allgaier and Kvapil, finished third and fourth, respectively.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. lauds Jesse Love despite Connor Zilisch’s Phoenix heartbreak

Dale Earnhardt Jr. admitted that it was heartbreaking to see Connor Zilisch walk away from Phoenix with nothing. After all, the young racing phenom had won a series-high 10 races last season, including the 100th win for JR Motorsports on July 26, 2025. Dale Jr., a two-time Xfinity Series champion, said that Love’s victory was not a fluke.

“I wouldn’t wanna say anything on this show that would rub Jesse Love the wrong way, RCR the wrong way, Danny Lawrence (Director, NASCAR Xfinity Series program) the wrong way,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. “All these people that are a part of that program, there’s people that are at RCR that are like family to me.”

“As frustrating as it is to lose having three teams against one, they won and the race played out naturally,” he added.

The racing action will resume with the United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Fans can watch the 120-lap event on CW (February 14) or listen to live radio updates on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.