Earnhardt fans are livid, and so is Dale. The deaths at NHIS this season have created a rift among some of the top Cup drivers.
Driver safety is now the big thing on the Cup circuit.
The other side of the issue seems to be the minority for the time being. You may have noticed Earnhardt purposely easing over and placing a donut on the side of Jeff Burton's car during the Dura Lube 300, showing his displeasure with the leader of the driver safety movement. The lines drawn in the sand are rather confusing. Earnhardt's teammate, Mike Skinner, lauded the use of restrictor plates at NHIS, widening the gap between the two sometimes-combative drivers at Richard Childress Racing. Then you have the safety advocate leader, Jeff Burton, employed by Jack Roush, one of the 'shut up and drive' boys.