2024 Storylines That Are Gonna Stick With Us!

January 06, 2025

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Jan 6, 2025 | Edition #120

👋 Dear Motorheads,

We don't know about you, but the Lucky Dog is not ready to let go of 2024 just yet! And yes. We know a new year means new beginnings, and all that jazz... but come on, last season was just too good to move on from already. It had some pretty crazy storylines that came out of nowhere. So we decided to give those moments another lap in the spotlight.

⏪ Season Rewind

The Most Underrated 2024 Storylines

Honestly, it feels like so much happened last year that we might need a second, third, and fourth look to fully wrap our heads around it. That’s why we’re here to bring the best storylines back.
While picking just five was tough, the Lucky Dog loves a challenge.

#5 The Wheel-to-Wheel Racing Was Never Better

Looking at past surveys & polls, we know how much you all love heated on-track battles. So there was no way we were gonna miss out on this.

Remember the legendary 2003 finish between Ricky Craven and Kurt Busch? Here is a clip if you don’t. That 0.002-second difference seemed impossible to top. But Kyle Larson found a way.

His 0.001-second victory over Chris Buescher at Kansas was nothing short of insane! And who can forget the nail-biter at Atlanta where Daniel Suarez edged out Ryan Blaney by 0.003 seconds?

#4⁠ ⁠Chase Elliott's Comeback

The 2023 season is one that Chase Elliott would like to forget. Thanks to a snowboarding injury, he ended the winless year in 17th place. Fortunately, that is already in the past. With his new stats: a win at Texas, an 11.72 average finish, and a 7th-place standing, it's safe to say the Elliott we know is back. 

#3⁠ ⁠Reddick Makes His Boss Proud

Signing Tyler Reddick for the 2023 season was probably the best decision Michael Jordan made for 23XI Racing.

Despite the odds stacked against him, Reddick got his #45 team into the final 4. This meant: a team that was struggling to get to playoffs till now, found themselves competing for the title. All in all, MJ was a happy team owner. In fact, here is a video of him being over the moon after one of Reddick’s earlier wins at Talladega.

#2⁠ ⁠When Martinsville Turned a Madhouse

Okay. This was just too juicy to leave out. Martinsville, where stakes were sky high, turned into a battle between Chevy and Toyota. William Byron couldn’t afford to lose a spot, while Christopher Bell needed to gain ground. Enter Ross Chastain and Austin Dillon, who made sure no one could get past Byron. And then there was Bubba Wallace, slowing down to let Bell pass.

Even for us who love theater, it was way too blatant, especially with all the radio exchanges that made fans drop their jaws. You can revisit those conversations here.

#1⁠ ⁠Austin Dillon's Richmond Meltdown

Well, initially… the Lucky Dog was impressed with how Dillon led the Richmond race. We truly were. But when he shoved Joey Logano out of the way, before giving the same wrath to Hamlin, it all fell apart. And hey, if you are mad too, just wait till you hear Dillon justifying his crazy antics here.

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📈 Trending News

When MJ Lied About His NASCAR Ambitions

Let’s talk about Tyler Reddick and 23XI Racing for a second. In just 4 years, the team has had a wild and successful ride. But more importantly, who would’ve guessed that Michael Jordan—who only wanted to be a fan—would end up having such a huge impact on the game? Yep, we’re talking about the same MJ who straight-up lied to Dale Earnhardt Jr about his NASCAR ambitions. And honestly? We’re kinda glad he did.

So, for those who don’t know: Back in 2019, Jordan was asked by Dale Jr if he’d ever considered getting involved in NASCAR ownership. Jordan, ever the straight shooter (or so we thought), said: “Err, no, I’ve got a lot on my plate. I love being a fan. I still understand the sport, but in terms of ownership, nah. I think I’m just going to sit back and watch and support from afar.”

Fast forward just one year… Denny Hamlin—MJ’s close friend—expressed interest in buying a NASCAR team. Rumors then started flying around that MJ may consider ownership too. Even some big news outlets picked up on it. And then one fine day, while Hamlin was out golfing, he jokingly thought about sending one of these rumors to MJ just to see how he’d react.

Instead of brushing it off, MJ asked, “So, you wanna turn this rumor into reality?” And just like that, one of the most promising Cup teams was formed. Crazy, isn’t it?

Seeing how 23XI has been shaking things up, both on and off the track, the Lucky Dog’s here for it! Especially now that they will be back with an all-new #35 team with Riley Herbst at the wheel. So, keep telling those little white lies, MJ. They’ve worked out pretty well for everyone, and we love seeing what comes next!

🏁 Lucky Dog’s Quick Poll 🏁

How Important Is It for NASCAR to Have Celebrity Owners Like Michael Jordan?

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Last Poll’s Result: In an interesting debate about whether drivers need luck, 82.52% of you said ‘Yes, Luck Is Important in NASCAR’. Meanwhile, 14% of you believe luck is overrated and ‘Skill is all one needs’.

🗞️ NASCAR Shorts!

Ryan Blaney’s Unusual Hollywood Connection

It’s not exactly shocking to hear that NASCAR drivers and Hollywood stars are tight. Jeff Gordon & Tom Cruise have been friends for years. But did you know Ryan Blaney has some Hollywood connections of his own?

Blaney recently popped up in an Instagram post from a well-known actress, which was enough to send the fans into a frenzy. So who’s the mystery friend, you ask? Check out the last picture of this post to see yourself. And if you don’t recognize her from the big screens, you’d have certainly seen her in NASCAR.

🔮 Lucky Dog’s Perspective

What Is Chevrolet Really Up To?

Although Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are out there dominating Cup in their Camaros, let's be honest, something feels off. The car’s been discontinued for just about a year now. And with the 2025 NASCAR season creeping up, GM hasn’t dropped any hints about introducing a new car. As one fan speculates: "Win on Sunday, refer customers to the Blazer on Monday."

But there are definitely some valid questions about why Chevy’s dragging its feet. Could we see something like a Corvette in NASCAR? Well, the whole point is that fans love NASCAR because the cars feel like the ones parked in their driveways. So, for Chevy to still be racing a car that’s no longer in production kind of kills the mood, doesn’t it?

For die-hard fans, though, there is still some hope. As per Chevrolet’s VP, "While [the company is] not announcing an immediate successor today, rest assured, this is not the end of Camaro's story." But, here’s the problem. They also said the next Camaro would be electric. 

If GM brings back the Camaro as an EV, some fans think it would be a "slap in the face" to the enthusiasts. So, the question is, would GM be willing to take that risk? The Lucky Dog’s betting against it.

What do you think? Should Chevy altogether withdraw and bring Cadillac into the fold? Or just keep the Camaro as a legendary name? Whatever happens, NASCAR’s future is about to get even more interesting.

🏆 Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday

Dale Earnhardt’s Legendary Car is Up For Grabs

Let's take a trip back to 1986, shall we? Dale Earnhardt and Richard Childress were in their third year together, rocking Wrangler's iconic yellow-and-blue colors. But it wasn't all smooth sailing - Earnhardt's Daytona 500 win slipped through his fingers when he ran out of gas with just three laps to go. It was Geoff Bodine who swooped in and stole the win, but Earnhardt wasn't one to back down.

To his testament, by race 9, Earnhardt was on top of the charts, with Darrell Waltrip as his only real challenger. As the season heated up, it became clear: Earnhardt was on his way to becoming one of NASCAR's all-time greats. And when he sealed the deal with a 288-point win over Waltrip, Childress and Earnhardt Sr. celebrated in style. After all, it was RCR's first championship and a defining moment in Earnhardt's legendary career.

But, why are we talking about 1986 now? Well, because the very car that made all of this possible—the iconic #3 Wrangler Chevrolet—is up for sale.

Yep, you heard that right. The car that helped Earnhardt rack up 22 wins and back-to-back championships in 1986 and 1987 is now available to the highest bidder at Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee, Florida.

For those of you who don’t remember the car. It’s the same one that earned him the title of ‘the Intimidator.’ Fun fact: what Dillon did to Logano, Dale Sr did to Waltrip in 86, in the very same car that is up for grabs. Safe to say, this isn’t just any car; it’s a piece of NASCAR history. So, if you’ve ever dreamed of owning a true piece of racing greatness, now’s your chance.

📰 Lucky Dog's Recommended Reads

  • Do you know the difference between a NASCAR car and a road car? Well, JGR just revealed it to the fans. And it’s pretty wild (Full Story)

  • If you feel Hailie Deegan didn’t bring results, you should see her replacement. Or rather what fans are saying to mock him (Full Story)

  • Christopher Bell recently beat Kyle Larson at his own game. But it was Larson’s last message to Bell that got people’s attention (Full Story)

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