Austin Dillon's Richmond Redemption

August 17, 2025

August 17, 2025 | Edition #217

👋 Dear Motorheads,

Win and You’re In came to fruition at Richmond Raceway. Austin Dillon settled his business on the track, without controversy this time around. On the flip side, Kyle Busch’s bad run with Lady Luck continues. Richmond’s short track settled the regular-season title, but Daytona will be the final roll of the dice.

But there’s more to today’s edition than just stories from the NASCAR garage. We have a major announcement for you. Hear it from our editor.

✍ Editor’s Desk

Lucky Dog is Switching Lanes

It has been a while since we started this newsletter. In February 2024, we kick-started our mission to reach out to the fans who live and breathe NASCAR. Back then, we knew NASCAR fans were hungry for a premium newsletter, and we tried to deliver on that front. But, little did we know that our NASCAR family would grow to 200,000 subscribers, who can call this ‌their second home and a family.

 From the iconic three-wide Atlanta finish by Daniel Suarez to the twists and turns of the 2025 NASCAR season, we have grown together. It was through constant feedback from your end and responses to the polls that allowed us to level up. Yet despite the highs and the lows, your support and encouragement acted as ‌fuel to our drive. 

Together, we’ve witnessed some iconic moments. Who can forget the post-race brawl between Kyle Busch and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at North Wilkesboro? Then there was the heartbreak for the Stewart-Haas Racing fans as they announced their exit from NASCAR. Since then, a lot has changed within the sport, and we are also switching things up. 

Your beloved newsletter, Lucky Dog on Track, is taking on a new look and feel. Learning from our efforts and your constructive feedback, we’re bidding farewell to our old format, open to new learnings, and with the hopes of reaching new milestones. This doesn’t mean giving up on the unfiltered and honest takes on NASCAR’s biggest topics. That is non-negotiable. We are just evolving into a better version.

No matter when you joined us on this ride, we’re thankful you’re here. With the NASCAR Playoffs right around the corner, the action is only going to notch up a level, and so is our coverage.

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🗣️ Talk of the NASCAR Town

Austin Dillon’s Love Affair With Richmond Continues

Heading into the Richmond race, Austin Dillon had a 200+ point deficit, and the only way he could’ve advanced to the playoffs was to win. “I definitely want to go out there and try to win again, but this time lock ourselves into the playoffs,” he said ahead of the race. The only way Dillon could redeem himself after last year’s controversy was by winning the race clean and fair on merit. And that is exactly what he did.

It wasn’t a fluke or overtime drama that allowed the RCR driver to stage; he dominated the majority of the final stage. He led 107 laps, including the final 49, to earn an automatic berth in the 16-driver playoff field. From 28th in the points standings to now locking themselves in for the championship race, this was a massive turnaround for the No. 3 RCR team.

Dillon channeled his inner Neil Bonnett to brave the pain of a fractured rib and clinch the all-important playoffs spot. Hear it from the driver himself, as he felt relieved after winning the right way this time around.

One can say that Dillon caught a few lucky breaks with Bubba Wallace’s loose wheel and Tyler Reddick being spun from the lead. But he gave it his all in his battle against Ryan Blaney and kept Alex Bowman at bay with his quick lap times.

Let’s not forget the masterstroke by Richard Boswell that saw Dillon pit ahead of Blaney with 59 laps to go. And this move proved to be decisive in the long run.

Although Dillon was cruising towards the win, his grandfather and team owner, Richard Childress, was on the edge of his seat. “I just kept holding my breath. Five to go, three to go, and when he took that white, I took an easy breath.”

Love him or hate him, Austin Dillon and the No. 3 RCR Chevy will be going against the best in the knockout stages. This was more than a monumental win for Dillon, as it also shook up the playoffs picture.

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📈 Trending News

William Byron Edges Closer to NASCAR Immortality

What’s more important than clinching a playoff spot? While Dillon can finally breathe a sigh of relief, the likes of William Byron, Chase Elliott, and Denny Hamlin were all busy preparing for their championship run. And given the current format, the regular-season championship plays a big role for these top-performing drivers.

An additional 15 playoffs points is just the sort of failsafe drivers want to overcome an off-day or a bad race week. Last year, Tyler Reddick kept his championship hopes alive without a win until the Round of 8. And that is the sort of assurance William Byron will have heading into the post-season.

His performance wasn’t flashy; rather, he salvaged the race after escaping the chaos of Stage 2. A total of 12 cars piled up, which also included Byron's teammate and his direct rival for the regular season title, Chase Elliott. Four fresh Goodyear tires and some gritty racing saw Byron finished 12th, and it was enough for him to complete the job.

Celebrating a 12th-place finish isn’t something you’d expect from a Hendrick Motorsports driver. However, with the regular-season title on the line and the summer grind finally paying off, this result was special for the entire No. 24 team. For Byron, this was the best 12th-place finish he ever had.

Interestingly, NASCAR didn’t have a trophy presentation celebration like they did with Tyler Reddick last year. Who knows, they might do it after the regular season ends officially at Daytona International Speedway. But looking at the bigger picture, Byron was able to see off his teammates and will look towards his third consecutive Championship 4 appearance. And most importantly, a charge towards his first Bill France Cup.

 🔎 The In-Depth View

It’s Déjà vu for Kyle Busch at Richmond

It’s 2024 all over again with Kyle Busch and the No. 8 RCR team. After a strong start to 2025 and a near-miss at COTA, it felt that Busch and his team had turned a corner for good. Fast forward to August, and that early optimism is now being replaced by desperation. And once again, it will all come down to the wild-card race at Daytona International Speedway.

Rowdy’s race at Richmond didn’t go according to ‌plan as he only managed a 16th-place finish. It all started with a speeding penalty on ‌pit road, and the real blow came during the 12-car pile-up in Stage 2. No one was lifting off the gas, and they went in three-wide, which led to the big one. Busch bumped into Chase Briscoe, and in the bid to steer clear of the traffic, he even clipped Chase Elliott.

It is worth noting that Elliott was on the hunt for the regular-season title, and this was his first DNF of the 2025 season. Needless to say, he was frustrated with the outcome of the crash, and he tried his best to mince his words in speaking against Rowdy.

As things stand, Busch needs to overcome a 148-point deficit in just one race. Nothing but a win can secure his spot in the playoffs. He has been winless for over 80 NASCAR Cup Series races, which is why it is just tough to see him park the No. 8 Chevy in the victory lane next weekend. Especially if you look at the drivers who are in a similar situation.

Tyler Reddick is likely to go through on points, but the likes of Alex Bowman, Ryan Preece, Chris Buescher, and Ty Gibbs will go all-out just like Busch in a bid to make up the 16-driver playoffs field. The only silver lining Busch has at this point is his part record in the fall Daytona race. In the Next-Gen era, the No. 8 Chevy has bagged three consistent top-10 finishes, which include last year’s runner-up finish.

Well, Busch and the No. 8 RCR team have their backs against the wall, and Daytona is the only opportunity where they can stage a dramatic comeback. If Austin Dillon can turn around his season, why not Busch? This is the only hope for Rowdy Nation, and they know it is going to take a miracle to overcome the current predicament.

  1. Austin Dillon Exposes Behind-The-Scenes Clashes With Grandfather Richard Childress - Full Story

  2. Joe Gibbs’ Crew Comes to Bubba Wallace’s Mid-Race Rescue - Full Story

  3. NASCAR Could Lose Key Partner as Historic Sponsorship Deal Fuels Speculation- Full Story

  4. Richmond Breaks 17-Year Long Fan Drought - Full Story

  5. Chris Buescher Sends Message to Entire Cup Garage Amidst Playoff Bubble Drama - Full Story

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