C. Bell Etches His Name in Next-Gen History

^{Mar 10, 2025 | Edition #148}

👋 Dear Motorheads,

What a thriller in Phoenix—a pure reminiscent of a Final Four showdown! Christopher Bell clinched his third straight win, cementing himself as a serious title contender. But that wasn’t the only headline. Bubba Wallace took a subtle yet unmistakable jab at Aric Almirola, keeping their fiery 2024 feud alive.

Off the track, Dale Earnhardt Jr. just shared one of the most hilariously embarrassing moments from his White House visit, and trust us—it’s every bit as funny as you’d imagine. And fans are on their own dub, calling Katherine Legge NASCAR’s next Danica Patrick. But does that mean NASCAR is witnessing the rise of its next trailblazer?

📈 Trending News

Bell Channels His Inner Kyle Larson

🏆 The Lucky Dog called it, folks—Christopher Bell is on fire! That was a massive win at Phoenix Raceway in the 2025 Shriners Children’s 500.

🤏 Denny Hamlin was just 0.049 seconds behind. The teammates dueled it out in the final two corners of a two-lap shootout on the one-mile speedway.

🫤 Kyle Larson who according to No. 11 gave him a good push, finished 3rd.

📊 Other Notable stats from the weekend

• The Shriners Children's 500 had 10 cautions for 70 laps and 15 lead changes.

• William Byron secured the Cup pole with a 26.930s lap at 133.680 mph.

• Aric Almirola’s edged out Bowman by 0.045s, the 26th closest finish in Xfinity history

Back to the biggest story in NASCAR right now—Christopher Bell’s hat trick! With this, he’s officially matched Kyle Larson’s 2021 streak, becoming the first driver in the Next-Gen era to do it. And with this kind of momentum, he’s looking more and more like a serious title contender.

It takes a perfect mix of skill, strategy, and a little luck to dominate like this, and right now, Bell has it all. The consistency is unreal—just like what we saw from Larson in 2021. The race in Phoenix was as close as it could get. Watch how C. Bell held off his teammate at the edge.

However, as the two JGR teammates battled for the checkered flag, the Hendrick Motorsports driver had one hope—a late-race tangle that would open the door for him. But with the Toyotas dialed in at the 1-mile oval, that opportunity never came. Still, credit where it’s due; Yung Money stayed in the fight against some serious speed. But the JGR driver gave it all, in the most NASCAR fashion.

Even Bell said this was a surreal win. In the post-race presser, he sounded all happy and proud as he pointed at a journalist in the room and said, “We broke the curse, Bob, we broke the curse” (the curse is not winning in Phoenix). He also recalled his rocky start with crew chief, Adam Stevens. And, here’s what worked for the No. 20 team.

While Bell and the team have actually come so far, the real concern for others on the grid is his hot streak. We’ve seen this level of killer instinct before. Yes, that is exactly what Larson did in 2021 on his way to the title, and now, the JGR driver is following that same blueprint.

Could the Oklahoman make it four in a row at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, or the Kyle Larson’s 2024 charm will live? It hasn’t been done since 2007, but with momentum like this, a fourth straight win isn’t out of the question. Some of you, as per our last poll, wouldn’t love that, but it’d be interesting to see if Bell has the magic touch.

Continue Reading: “I’d Have Wrecked Everybody”: Kyle Larson Loses ‘Only Hope’ in Phoenix

🏁 Lucky Dog’s Quick Poll 🏁

🔎 The In-Depth View

Bubba Wallace Is Holding a Grudge Against Almirola?

Do you remember when Bubba Wallace and Aric Almirola got into that wild brawl in 2024? That push in front of the NASCAR security, it feels like yesterday. Here is a recap for you.

Now that was a total mess. Things escalated fast during a meeting between Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing when Aric Almirola straight-up sucker-punched Bubba Wallace. Naturally, chaos followed. And, JGR wasted no time suspending Almirola, replacing him with Ty Gibbs for the Xfinity race in Charlotte.

However, typical Wallace, for his part, tried to keep things diplomatic, saying he wanted to “keep some people’s images good.” But it was obvious there was still bad blood between them. At that point, Almirola was already winding down his career, scaling back his full-time schedule in 2023.

But after that punch, his ties with Joe Gibbs Racing were all but severed. And with NASCAR cracking down on physical altercations, things only went downhill.

Fast forward to March 8, 2025, and suddenly, Aric Almirola was back in the spotlight, driving for JGR again. The veteran shocked everyone by winning the 2025 GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway in the No. 19 Toyota. And here’s where things get interesting. This marked his 8th career win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, but even this didn’t come without controversy. Look at this, Almirola literally dragged Bowman for that win.

And, that last-lap pass didn’t go down well with everyone, especially Bubba Wallace. Remembering last year’s incident, Wallace couldn’t help but throw shade at Aric Almirola. He was quick to share a poll from NASCAR journalist Jeff Gluck and wrote, “You acting like the 17 got… sucker punched🤔."

Ouch. That sly jab didn’t go unnoticed—especially by fans—who were quick to pick up on the fact that Bubba Wallace clearly hasn’t let the punch slide. Looks like the 23XI Racing driver is keeping this grudge alive and well.

Continue Reading: “Delivered Our Baby in a Parking Lot”: Joe Gibbs’ 4x Champ Fires Warning at Bubba Wallace

🫨 Shocking Moment From the Race

An engine failure on Lap 290 of a 312-lap race? Talk about heartbreak! But here’s the kicker—Ryan Blaney saw it coming long before the final stage. Hear it straight from the No. 12 Ford driver himself.

🗝️ From the Vault

Dale Jr. Got an Embarrassing White House Memory

Imagine this: NASCAR royalty Dale Earnhardt Jr. hanging out in the Oval Office? Sounds like the setup for a legendary story. And, well, it kind of is—just not in the way you’d expect.

Junior has always been the epitome of cool. Back in his racing days, he could turn a rough week into a distant memory with just one victory. No wonder they called him the ‘Pied Piper of Daytona.’ But being a NASCAR icon comes with perks like getting invited to the White House for a chat with the President of the United States.

Most of us can only dream of stepping foot on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but for Dale Jr., it was just another Tuesday. Back in 2012, then-President Barack Obama hosted the Cup Series playoff drivers in the Oval Office. Naturally, Junior soaked in the experience—but maybe got a little too comfortable.

He shared the whole hilarious (and slightly embarrassing) tale on his new podcast, Bless Your Hardt, co-hosted by his wife, Amy. As he recalled, while the other drivers respectfully stood around, Junior decided to take a casual stroll behind the President’s desk—just, you know, scoping things out, maybe even imagining what it’d be like to run the country. Safe to say, he probably won’t be adding "Commander-in-Chief" to his résumé anytime soon.

And that’s when it happened. “I actually farted in the Oval Office once.” There’s more. Dale Jr. admitted all this to Amy Earnhardt. And, Amy couldn’t stop but rolled her eyes, watch here.

Yep, Dale Earnhardt Jr. indeed let one rip in the White House. And no, this isn’t some wild rumor—it really happened. You just heard Amy and Dale talking about it. Luckily for him (and everyone else), Barack Obama wasn’t in the room at the time, sparing us all from what could’ve been a truly historic awkward moment.

Junior, of course, swore it didn’t mess with the vibe or cause a scene. But Amy Earnhardt wasn’t so sure. With a knowing smirk, she did hit him with a classic, “Maybe it did, maybe it didn’t.” So, let’s get this straight—Dale, you’ve dominated the track, won the Cup Series Most Popular Driver award 15 times, and now you also hold the unofficial title of the first NASCAR driver to, uh, leave his mark at the White House. Jokes apart, you must see the real pressure on the torchbearer of the Earnhardt racing dynasty.

Continue Reading: Dale Jr.’s Legacy Lives On as the Earnhardt Family Finds New Hope in Rising Prodigal Prince

🗣️ Talk of the NASCAR Town

NASCAR’s Female Newcomer Gets Candid

What makes a NASCAR driver truly stand out is not just about winning races or stacking up championships—it’s about versatility. Just look at Tony Stewart. ‘Smoke’ earned his legendary status not just by dominating in NASCAR but by racing just about anything with wheels. From IndyCar and USAC Midgets to stock cars, he’s done it all.

The same can be said for Katherine Legge, NASCAR’s only female driver in the top tier currently, who made her debut at the Shriners Children’s 500 in Phoenix. The British racer has also taken on every challenge thrown her way—IndyCar, SportsCars, Formula E, and even Midgets. But let’s be honest, her transition to stock car racing hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park.

She was involved in a massive wreck at Daytona International Speedway this year during the 2025 ARCA race. Check out her contact with the inside safer barrier.

Definitely, this wasn’t an ideal start to her season. And then there was the 2018 Richmond race, where she finished 28th in her first-ever oval experience. While some may call it crazy, for Katherine, it’s just a part of who she is. In the pre-race press conference at Phoenix Raceway, she said, “I don’t know where it comes from, but it’s definitely inherent in me.” She even thanked HMS for being kind enough. Now you must be wondering with Mr. H has to do with her. Here’s how the Big Man helped with Katherine’s Cup dreams.

Additionally, Racing isn’t just a career for her, it’s a lifestyle. In fact, she said, “I just love it. It’s in my blood. I think, you know how they say your job should not be your identity? Well, this is 100 percent my identity. I’m just a racing driver, I don’t know where I’d be without it. I love it so much.”

It’s that pure passion that sets Katherine Legge apart, giving her longevity most racers can only dream of. Sure, her Phoenix debut didn’t go as planned. She spun out twice and had to settle for a 30th-place finish. Watch her green No. 78 spin. And, mind you, fans are already calling her Danica.

But if there’s one thing that matches Danica is that she won’t be discouraged that easily. That fire, that relentless drive to improve, is what keeps her going. For Legge, racing isn’t just something she does, it’s who she is. And at 44, with that kind of passion, it feels like she’s only just getting started.

Continue Reading: “You Can’t Fake”: Danica Patrick Clears the Air on President Donald Trump’s True Feelings After Daytona 500 Cameo

📰 Lucky Dog’s Recommended Reads

1. Calls Mount Against Joe Gibbs’ “Generational Bust”, Fingers Being Pointed at True Phoenix Culprit - Full Story

2. Amid Kyle Busch's Continued Winless Streak, Samantha Busch Shows Her Real Self to the World - Full Story

3. “Way Worse Than Danica [Patrick]”- Displeased Fans Gang Up on Female Cup Trailblazer - Full Story

4. “Fake News Network”: Tony Stewart’s Rival Hammers FOX on Air for Offending NHRA - Full Story

5. When Jeff Gordon Became Enemy of the People For Paying the Greatest Dale Earnhardt Tribute - Full Story

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