The Dale Jr. Download – "Welcome Back, Chase Format" (Jan 13, 2026)

Host: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Co-host: TJ Majors
Produced by: Dirty Mo Media, SiriusXM

Episode Overview

This episode marks the return of Dale Jr. and the crew for a new season of The Dale Jr. Download, diving into a pivotal change in NASCAR: the return to a more traditional points-based "Chase" format, reminiscent of the original "Chase" but with contemporary updates. The team reflects on recent personal and community losses, provides behind-the-scenes context on the playoff committee process, unpacks the nuts and bolts of the new format, and reacts to breaking NASCAR and Truck Series news. There are also signature lighthearted segments, from personal stories to listener Q&As.

Key Topics and Insights

1. Remembering and Reflecting on Loss in the NASCAR Community

[01:54–13:10]

• Greg Biffle's Passing:
  Dale Jr. and TJ start with heartfelt condolences to Greg Biffle’s family and friends, reminiscing about the genuine, playful side of Biffle and their personal connections through racing and animal causes.

  "We kind of get caught up in our lives... We forget about how delicate things are, how quickly things change." – Dale Jr. [04:09]

• Denny Hamlin's Family Tragedy:
  Discussion moves to Denny Hamlin facing the dual heartbreak of his father's death and his mother’s injury in a house fire, including fond memories of Denny’s early career and how close-knit the racing world is.

2. The Road to the New NASCAR Playoff Format

[13:43–42:28]

a. Committee Process & Mark Martin’s Influence

[13:43–18:46]

• Dale Jr. shares how he was invited to the NASCAR playoff format committee, going in skeptical but hopeful.
• Mark Martin was a driving force, pushing hard for the 36-race, season-long championship approach, which reignited discussion about NASCAR's roots.

  "If Mark hadn't have been so adamant at first... I don't know that we would have gotten this far." – Dale Jr. [14:59]

b. The Case for Full-Season Points

[17:11–23:25]

• Both hosts get candid about losing emotional investment with the prior system, where fans and even broadcasters could “check out” after the playoff cut.

  "I was falling out of love with it... I was not being drawn to the sport every weekend." – Dale Jr. [19:16]

• Dale Jr. emphasizes the historic tension and drama that season-long points battles created for drivers and fans alike.

c. Details of the New Playoff Format

[23:25–44:05]

• Top 16 in points make the Chase. (No more "win and you’re in"; every race matters.)

• Points Structure: Regular season champ starts the Chase with 2100, second with 2075, and five points fewer for each spot after.

  "If you're outside the top five... you're going to have to be remarkable to make it work." – Dale Jr. [24:17]

• More points for winning (now 55 per win).

• No more banked playoff points; resets after regular season.

• Strong praise for the move back to simplicity for fans and fairness for teams, with the likely champion coming from the season’s top performers.

  "I'm so glad 'win and you’re in' is gone... I need the lows to be low, the highs to be high, and we had lost that." – Dale Jr. [22:53, 23:25]

d. Impact on Race Strategy and the Fan Experience

[40:04–42:28]

• Stage points remain, but race wins now matter even more, possibly changing in-race strategy.
• Early-season struggles are again costly; consistency is crucial.
• The format is easier to explain and re-engages old-school fans.

e. Personal Relief & Anticipation

[36:11–37:20]

• Dale Jr. expresses genuine relief about the change:

  "When I got out of there yesterday, it was like a ton of bricks being pulled off my shoulders." – Dale Jr. [36:11]

• Renewed excitement for every race, not just playoff moments.

3. Breaking News: Tony Stewart’s Return & Dodge’s Truck Series Campaign

[42:28–44:33]

• Tony Stewart Racing in a Truck at Daytona:
  Stewart will drive the Dodge truck for Kaulig Racing at Daytona, his first NASCAR race since 2016 and his first truck race since 2005.

  "Tony Stewart back to Daytona in a truck. That's how you do it. 100%." – Dale Jr. [44:06]

• Discussion of Dodge’s marketing strategy: using legends for attention as they re-enter the sport.

4. Post-Lawsuit Landscape & NASCAR Leadership Changes

[44:33–50:49]

• Recap of the NASCAR teams–series lawsuit, compromise, and transparency fallout.
• Steve Phelps’ controversial text about Richard Childress and his resignation as commissioner.

  "We've all said things in texting that we probably would prefer people not to see... but you can't say that in a text message if you're in [that] position." – Dale Jr. [46:53]

• Endorsement of key leaders’ integrity and especially Steve O’Donnell’s credentials and vision.

5. NASCAR’s Future & Tradition vs. Innovation

[50:49–52:33]

• Ben Kennedy seen as a future leader; blending appreciation for tradition (short tracks) and innovation (street courses).
• Lighthearted debate about the Coliseum race and how NASCAR experiments with new ideas.

6. Short Track Focus: CARS Tour Updates

[56:12–61:08]

• Cars Tour season approaching, new "Flodium" bonus: every few races, top finishers get a shot at $10,000 bonuses.
• Purses increased for both pros and late model stocks.
• Discussion of tire compound experimentation for better racing.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the return of the Chase format:

  "This is as close as you can get [to the old 36-race championship]. We need to kick the three and get out – this was a win." – Dale Jr. [37:30]

• Comparing eras:

  “With the old system and this system that we're bringing back, if you start off in a hole, you got a lot to consider.” – Dale Jr. [22:29]

• On the playoff complexity:

  “Trying to explain the playoffs to my dad was impossible.” – Podcast Producer [28:29]

• About losing ‘win and you’re in’:

  “I actually feel like I’d appreciate it more if it was just celebrating a Wood Brothers win with Harrison Burton and nothing else.” – Dale Jr. [29:53]

• Tony Stewart’s bravado:

  “The dude don’t give a ... I wouldn’t have picked Daytona. I’d have picked somewhere else, a little slower. Holy moly.” – Dale Jr. [43:12]

• On the burden of the old format:

  “I didn’t realize how bad I hated the format until it finally got out of here... You couldn’t be completely honest.” – Dale Jr. [52:19]

• If asked to be commissioner:

  “I would do it... I’d have to call Amy and say, man, think about being a commissioner.” – Dale Jr. [51:47]

• On personal purchases:

  “We bought night vision goggles to play paintball at night... I’m not that person anymore. I’m more frugal.” – Dale Jr. [69:54]

Listener Q&A Highlights (Ask Jr.)

[62:28–79:55]

• Room under fake names?
  “When I got burned in the Corvette, I was under ‘William Bonnie.’ That’s Billy the Kid’s real name.” – Dale Jr. [64:09]
• Best cook among drivers?
  “I did go into Elliott Sadler’s bus one time, and he was cooking pork chops in vinegar... I tried it, and it wasn’t too bad.” – Dale Jr. [71:32]
• Zombie apocalypse team?
  Dale picks Daniel Truex for marksmanship, Hank Parker Jr., and YouTuber Luke from Outdoor Boys.
• Recess games:
  “Kickball, freeze tag, hide and seek... When we got a ball for kickball, that was like the new PlayStation coming out.” – Dale Jr. [73:06]
• If you could do any profession, what would it be?
  Dale Jr.: Football player or rock star, but admits, “I would have exploded and burned out.” [81:53]
• On having the kids while Amy is away:
  "I'm just gonna say we've had a really good week. I don't want to say it's easy... but we haven’t had one hiccup." – Dale Jr. [75:45]
• Slang term to erase:
  Hosts mildly vent about overused recent kid slang (“six seven”).

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:54] – Tributes to Greg Biffle and Denny Hamlin’s family
• [13:43] – Inside the playoff format committee, Mark Martin’s role
• [19:16] – Losing the emotional connection with the old playoff system
• [23:25] – Deep dive: New points and playoff format explained
• [28:30] – Complexity of prior playoffs, the return to simplicity
• [42:28] – BREAKING: Tony Stewart racing for Dodge at Daytona
• [44:33] – Lawsuit aftermath, Phelps' resignation, leadership
• [52:12] – Dale’s relief about the direction of NASCAR
• [56:12] – CARS Tour: New initiatives and excitement
• [62:28] – Ask Jr.: Fake names, apocalypse team, bunkers, cooks, playground games, dream jobs
• [79:24] – New podcast hood, giving teammates credit

Tone & Style

• Earnest and nostalgic, especially reflecting on changes in the sport and personal stories.
• Lighthearted and candid in the Q&A, with friendly banter, self-deprecating humor, and behind-the-scenes NASCAR culture.
• Honest and passionate—Dale Jr. in particular is transparent about his frustrations and relief over NASCAR’s direction.

Summary

"Welcome Back, Chase Format" is a must-listen for NASCAR fans reconciling nostalgia with the sport's future. Dale Jr. offers unfiltered access to the playoff committee process, his evolving role as a broadcaster, and why the new system reignites his—and many fans’—passion for NASCAR. Alongside breaking news, inside jokes, and listener stories, the episode is a rich blend of motorsports insight and personality.