All Things Wild at the NASCAR Opener!

February 03, 2025

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Feb 03, 2025 | Edition #132

👋 Dear Motorheads,

Let’s kick things off with some good news—the season is officially underway! But hold the celebrations… we’ve got a week-long Super Bowl break before things really get rolling again. And don’t get us wrong, we LOVE the Bowl.

Eagles vs. Chiefs is going to be a showdown. But having to wait another week for the Daytona 500? Yeah, that stings a little. Since there’s nothing we can do about it, why not spend the week reliving all the epic moments from Bowman Gray? Trust us, you’ll need the time—so much went down in just two days!

📈 Trending News

Elliott Wins ‘The Clash’

Doesn't this sound a little familiar? Let’s take you back to the 1987 Daytona International Busch Clash. When NASCAR broadcaster (we think it was Ken Squier) said, "It will be the number 9!! Bill Elliott has won the 9th annual Clash." Yes, it was Bill Elliott’s first-ever clash win.

The only difference is this time, it's Chase, and it's not the Daytona International Speedway. And rather than 20 laps, it was 200! Picture this: Chase Elliott started on pole, led 171 laps, and cruised to victory. Ryan Blaney who finished the race in P2 and Denny Hamlin (P3) put up a fight, but in the end, they just couldn’t take him down. That was pure Elliott's dominance! See how he swept the track from pole to podium.

Honestly, though, the similarities between the father-son duo’s NASCAR careers are uncanny! Bill Elliott ran his first full season in '83 and won a championship after five seasons. Chase won his Cup championship in his 5th full season (2020). Surely, he's already on the way to matching Bill's MPD record, if not breaking it!

And Elliott would love it if the same thing happened to him. After 1987, Bill also won the Daytona 500. That was Bill's second 500 win. But Chase is yet to get his first. Although, if you consider his pole start in 2017 or the P2 finish in 2021 behind Michael McDowell, Chase was so close to becoming a two-time Daytona 500 winner.

We’ve got a feeling… this could be Chase’s year. After all, The Clash is all about gearing up for the Daytona 500, and the momentum from that win could go a long way.

But here’s the catch—the week-long Super Bowl gap. Since 2021, no driver has won both events in the same season—except for that one time in 2016 when the Super Bowl was pushed ahead. And guess who pulled it off? Denny Hamlin.

So, maybe Chase Elliott can break the streak. But wait… if he does, that means Kyle Busch will miss out again—marking his 20th attempt at Daytona without a win. There's some history there, too, folks. If Busch wins it…it would be exactly like Dale Earnhardt Sr. He will be the second RCR driver to win it on his 20th attempt.

It's a tough one to pick…which history do we want to see repeating?

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🗣️ Talk of the NASCAR Town

Did Ricky Stenhouse Jr Escape ‘All-Star’ Karma?

Speaking of history repeating itself… when it’s something negative, isn’t that just karma doing its thing? We’re not here to give you a lesson on morals, but Ricky Stenhouse Jr. might have gotten a taste of it at Bowman Gray.

We all remember his epic fight with Kyle Busch in North Wilkesboro during the second edition of its All-Star Race (2024). Just two laps in, Kyle Busch sent Ricky Stenhouse Jr. straight into the wall—race over. But Stenhouse wasn’t done. Fuming, he waited, all ready for a showdown. And, what happened next… let’s just say it’s best experienced firsthand. Watch as Ricky walked up all charged and then fell on a tire stack.

It was a whole wrestling match between the #8 and #47 teams for a non-points-playing race! Now fast forward to the Clash this time...heat races were concluded. But for the ones who failed those, a 75 laps Last Chance Qualifier kicked off ahead of the main event.

Also in the mix was Burt Meyers—a Modifieds legend and 12-time BGS Modified champion. When it comes to this track, Meyers is an absolute beast. Making his Cup Series debut at the Cook Out Clash, he was slicing through traffic, looking to move up. But just as he was making his way forward, Junior got him loose in Turn 4 and sent him spinning. Meyers ended up 18th, crushing his shot at making the feature race. But you must see some fans showing their displeasure to Stenhouse Jr as he parked near the grandstand.

However, to what was probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Meyers, where would you find him? Obviously outside a certain driver's hauler! Not kidding, look at this post by Meyer’s team, he literally waited for Jr. Have a look he stood the exact same way, and even Ricky replied to this.

And, if you are surprised with the NASCAR drama starting this early. Let us tell you...it started way before, in the heat races!

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🌪️ Cause for Controversy

One Day of Racing.. and the Drama is Already On

Folks, we’ve talked about the Madhouse before and just how intense racing can get there. But until now, all we had were the Modifieds races to help us imagine what it would be like with Cup drivers on this track. And honestly… we thought it might be a little more civil.

We surely underestimated them. And, it wasn’t just one rivalry—it was Kyle Busch and Justin Haley in the mix. And yeah, we know what you’re thinking—Rowdy must have wrecked the rookie. But surprise! It was actually Haley who decided to test the waters with Busch.

It all kicked off when Noah Gragson bumped Haley out of the way. But Haley in return gave Gragson a bump, spinning him around while also trading paint with Busch in the process. Just take a look at the three wide-on narrow Bowman Gray.

Anyways, a few laps passed, and Haley got to the left rear of Busch and spun him. We know Haley is trying to impress Spire and prove worthiness to Rodney Childers. But you have to pick your battles wisely. And if possible, none with Kyle Busch! You need to see how Busch went bumper-to-bumper like a lion stalking its prey.

The moment it green-flagged, Rowdy would have pounced and put him in the wall. But he did not do anything after his spotter Derek Kneeland told him it was their last warning (NASCAR warned the No. 8 team). And, Busch's reply to this? He said, "It's okay to do it under green, though. Got it." But Rowdy let the racing do the talking thereon. Well, he made it to the feature, and Haley didn’t.

And like Busch, the Heat Four had Cole Custer being the bigger man. So, the Cup Series returners, A.J. Allmendinger, and Cole Custer went at it. Well, it was mostly A.J.

We'd expect better from him in this battle, given all the experience he has in comparison. But take a look at that sleek squeeze into the wall.

Allmendinger, and Cole Custer both had a cool-off conversation after the heat. But the latter did leave a warning - "If it happens in the future, it’s going to be a major problem." Now that's what the Custer Haas Factory Team needs! It's understandable: a one-driver team, fresh off the oven, the pressure of Gene Haas's hopes.

But that was some real racing at the Bowman Gray Stadium.

 đŸ”Ž Lucky Dog’s Perspective

Do You Think Jimmie Johnson Needs to Retire?

We kind of talked about this one while discussing Legacy Motor Club's future. JJ took over ownership in 2023, and he's having a hard time adjusting to the role. He's probably only making things harder for himself, juggling between driving and leading.

Well, Kevin Harvick just called it when he said, “Sooner he can get out of being in that car, the better off he is.” And Kevin, the Lucky Dog agrees with you.

At this point, Johnson really needs to prioritize his 24/7 job. And sadly, he doesn’t have a Michael Jordan to lean on! Last season he ran nine races, this year it's down to two crown jewels (the Daytona 500 and the Coca-Cola 600). And let's cut him some slack…it'll be his 700th start, he's never won the 600…we might see something great!

Clearly, this multi-tasking is not helping, knowing that now he is the majority owner of the team. But looking at the stats, in 2024, his best finish was 26th! Even his driver's finishes were 28th (Erick Jones) and 34th (John Hunter Nemechek) for the season.

Also, the comparison Harvick made to Danica Patrick is a bit harsh. He compared JJ to the Penskes, Hendricks, and Gibbs, and literally called it a selling/money problem. You must listen… to Harvick’s rant.

Harvick’s point stands. Danica Patrick came into NASCAR with an already established fan base, which brought in sponsors. But at the end of the day, it all came down to results—just seven top 10s in five seasons.

And that’s exactly what Johnson doesn’t want for LMC. It’s not like they’re lacking talent either—Erik Jones is a former Truck Series champion and a two-time Southern 500 winner, while Nemechek’s Xfinity runs have been nothing short of epic. The team has serious potential. Maybe JJ should consider bringing in a co-owner with experience running a successful team. Believe us, it’s not that tough after all!

With the Next-Gen car and increased parity, all it takes is a few right moves, and you’re in the Championship 4. Just look at Trackhouse and 23XI Racing—both just four years in and already challenging the big guns(let alone NASCAR). And let’s be real, LMC has the same—if not more—resources. Here’s hoping 2025 is a big one for them!

  1. Danica Patrick Unveils Her Latest Bashing Target - Full Story

  2. Kevin Harvick Slams Chase Elliott's 'Childish' Behavior - Full Story

  3. Toyota Blocks Denny Hamlin From Breaking Their Alliance - Full Story

  4. Ryan Blaney Finally Confronts NASCAR's New Rules - Full Story

  5. NASCAR's Big Plans to Take Another Race Outside America - Full Story

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