Earnhardt Jr. Calls Out Alfredo Over Phoenix Incident

NASCAR legend criticizes Alfredo for late-race spin that altered race outcome.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:09pm

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. publicly criticized NASCAR driver Anthony Alfredo for a late-race incident at Phoenix that brought out a caution flag and impacted the finish, with Earnhardt's driver Carson Kvapil poised to win the race. Earnhardt said he was "pissed off" about the incident for a couple days, but the two have since talked it out.

Why it matters

The incident highlighted the competitive nature of NASCAR racing and the high stakes involved, as well as the importance of driver conduct and its impact on race outcomes. Earnhardt's public criticism also demonstrated his passion for the sport and his willingness to hold other drivers accountable.

The details

The incident occurred late in the final stage of the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Phoenix, when Alfredo made contact with Lavar Scott, sending Scott's car spinning and bringing out a caution flag. This shuffled the race strategy and prevented Earnhardt's driver Carson Kvapil from securing what appeared to be a certain victory. Alfredo ultimately finished 10th, while Scott finished 33rd.

  • The incident happened late in the final stage of the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Phoenix on March 18, 2026.

The players

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

A NASCAR Hall of Famer and team owner of JR Motorsports, who was critical of Anthony Alfredo's actions in the Phoenix race.

Anthony Alfredo

A 26-year-old NASCAR driver who was involved in the late-race incident at Phoenix that drew Earnhardt's criticism.

Carson Kvapil

A driver for Earnhardt's JR Motorsports team who was leading the race at Phoenix before the caution flag came out.

Lavar Scott

The driver whose car was spun out by Alfredo, triggering the caution flag that altered the race outcome.

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What they’re saying

“I gave him shit on social media about that. Me and him, we had a conversation. He spun out Lavar at Phoenix. It brought out a yellow. The No. 1 was likely going to win the race. Carson Kvapil is going to win the race. Luckily, the No. 7 got up there and won it. But I was sitting there thinking, 'Man, we didn't need that yellow.' I was pissed off about that for a couple days.”

— Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Hall of Famer and team owner

What’s next

It remains to be seen how the relationship between Earnhardt and Alfredo will play out going forward, as they navigate the competitive world of NASCAR racing.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the intense rivalries and high emotions that can arise in the world of NASCAR, where split-second decisions and driver conduct can have a major impact on race outcomes and championship aspirations.