- NASCAR Newsletter - Lucky Dog on Track
- Posts
- Childress’ Tier-2 Star Just Took Down a Dale Sr. Record!
Childress’ Tier-2 Star Just Took Down a Dale Sr. Record!
Feb 24, 2025 | Edition #142
👋 Dear Motorheads,
We just had back-to-back superspeedway Sundays—still catching your breath? If you watched the race, you know it was a thriller. And if you missed it, well, you already know how wild things get when drafting tracks and the Next Gen car mix.
But Atlanta wasn’t just another race weekend. It may have given us NASCAR’s newest villain. And, it’s not Ross Chastain! The driver is 22, fearless, and has managed to get under about everyone’s skin. Oh, an Earnhardt family record also got shattered, while another might be on its way.
🔮 Lucky Dog’s Perspective
Has NASCAR Found Its Next Villain?
Let’s be real—Atlanta delivered one hell of a race. Christopher Bell started back in 32nd, but he was hooked up all night. Methodically slicing through the pack, C. Bell sealed the deal with a masterclass in pure NASCAR patience and precision. Carson Hocevar crossed the line in second, with Kyle Larson hot on his heels in third.
But while Bell’s win was a statement for Joe Gibbs Racing, Hocevar stole the spotlight—and not in a good way. The 2024 Rookie of the Year ruffled more than a few feathers with his aggressive moves, leaving a trail of frustrated drivers in his wake.
Picture this: It's the final lap. Bell leads the charge with Larson breathing down his neck on the outside. But here comes Carson Hocevar, storming in with a head of steam. He doesn’t just push the No. 20—he gives him a hard bump, cracking open just enough daylight.
Then, in a split-second gamble, the No. 77 dives for the gap—but not before clipping No. 5’s left rear! Larson wobbles, Hocevar surges past, and just as chaos erupts up front, Josh Berry wrecks behind them. The caution lights flash, the field freezes, and Bell takes the checkered flag. WATCH Hocevar in the tow.
It was absolute madness at the line! And, Bell put it perfectly: “If there’s a hole, he’s going to take it. If there’s not a hole, he’s going to make one.” It looked like Carson Hocevar entered with a mission in Atlanta—running hard, maybe too hard. It’s not every day you see a lineup of drivers waiting post-race to "chat" with the guy who roughed them up.
Ironically, the first in line was Ross Chastain. Hocevar had been overly aggressive passing him, but lucky for the rookie, Chastain kept his cool—no fists, no Noah Gragson treatment. Instead, it looked like a mentor moment. At least, that’s what we gathered from this clip.
Even the Lucky Dog thinks that Hocevar might just take over as this season’s biggest on-track menace. And, he needs to understand, that not everyone’s as patient as the watermelon man. Case in point: Ryan Blaney. Hocevar sent him spinning.
By the time Blaney was fuming, Kyle Busch had already been through it. Near the end of Stage 1, Hocevar shoved Rowdy out of the way, costing him several positions. Busch wasn’t thrilled either. “I’m gonna wreck his ass,” was one of the nicer things he had to say. Busch said he’ll wreck the entire grid if needed. Listen to Rowdy’s radio conversation!
But wrecks apart—Hocevar’s got the talent. Spire Motorsports has a real shot with him, but they might want to sit him down for a quick chat. Maybe remind him to pick his battles wisely. And, with COTA up next, the No. 77 has a big target on its back. And, fans are eating this up—laughing at the irony of Busch being mad at his younger self. Some even think if Hocevar continues this...he could be the next Intimidator.
🗣️ Talk of the NASCAR Town
The Earnhardts Dethroned as Kings of the Superspeedways
We know what you’re thinking—Dale Earnhardt Sr. had his fair share of struggles at Daytona. Three wins on the track, and it took him 20 attempts to finally win the Daytona 500. But, we’re not talking about the Cup Series. When it came to the Xfinity Series, The Intimidator was an absolute force on superspeedways.
Until yesterday, only Tony Stewart had matched The Intimidator's supremacy on superspeedways. Each had 8 Xfinity Series wins on NASCAR’s fastest tracks. But now—Austin Hill joins the club with a statement victory at Atlanta, cementing his place among the greats.
Maybe we should call them the three kings of draft racing. But can we really leave Dale Jr. out? No one’s even close to his Xfinity Series superspeedway record: 691 laps led. That’s nearly 100 more than his father, who sits second at 573. But this time, Austin Hill led 146 of 163 laps at Atlanta, and his tally is climbing fast. And he’s right on the doorstep—just like that photo finish at Atlanta. Here’s the moment the Earnhardts lost it.
But with Junior not making an Xfinity return, Hill’s got time to extend that gap. And we know Dale Sr. wouldn’t have minded. Sure, Hill broke his son’s record, but he did it driving for Richard Childress Racing. So, in a way, it’s still staying in the family. And yet, Hill doesn’t get nearly enough credit. Look at last season—four wins, the most in the series. He was right there in Phoenix, in the title fight, but fell short. Maybe this is the year he seals the deal.
That’s huge for RCR, a team desperate for a resurgence. Hill’s only in his fourth full Xfinity season and already has 11 wins—never a winless year. At this point, maybe Richard Childress should consider a full-time cup seat for him. He could be the driver to bring RCR back to glory!
🏁 Lucky Dog’s Quick Poll 🏁
Who Can Bring RCR Back to Glory? |
📈 Trending News
The Buzz Around Byron’s ‘New Flame’
Our back-to-back Daytona 500 winner is making headlines again—but this time, it’s not for his skills on the track. Yep, we’re talking about a new girl. It’s not official (yet), but the NASCAR world is already shipping them hard. Fans are buzzing, the rumors are flying, and let’s be honest—we’re all here for it!
So… someone out there decided to have a little fun and made a perfect fake William Byron account. And they just did it to drop a comment on none other than pop star Sabrina Carpenter’s post. For those who don’t know Carpenter, she is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She gained prominence starring on the Disney Channel series Girl Meets World and signed with the Disney-owned Hollywood Records. The best part was no one questioned it. Fans ran with it, the internet exploded, and even the real William Byron got caught in the chaos. Here’s the comment that started it all….take a look.
A simple “Hi” turned into what could have been the biggest NASCAR romance story. And no one was more bummed out than Alex Bowman when he found out it was fake. “If he (Byron) makes that happen he’s just winning at life. He’s a baby-faced assassin," Bowman wrote. Well, we don't know if NASCAR’s getting a new love affair or not…but at least we got a new nickname for Byron - the 'baby-faced assassin.’
Carpenter hasn’t jumped in on the drama yet, but Byron’s enjoying the ride. He cleared up the fake account situation but still threw it out there, literally inviting her. Watch Byron blush…as he said COME TO A RACE.
And hey, let’s not lose hope. The last time we checked, he was no longer dating Ryan Blaney’s sister. Maybe something sparks at a concert…or at the track. Byron’s still waiting on that RSVP, but Mr. H could make this happen. COTA’s up next, Byron’s the defending champ, and a little extra motivation never hurts.
🫨 Post-Race Bombshell
Chaos erupted in Turn 1, Atlanta! Ty Gibbs went for a gap but clipped Daniel Suárez, sending the #99 spinning and triggering a massive pileup. As a result, four teams were wiped out.
🔎 The In-Depth View
Should NASCAR Take Denny’s Superspeedway Fix?
Hendrick Motorsports is on fire, and now JGR has joined the party with C. Bell’s Atlanta win. If we’re looking at just stats, Denny Hamlin’s season isn’t off to a bad start either—P3 at BGS, nearly won the Daytona 500 (until Cole Custer got a little too ambitious), and now a solid P6 at Atlanta. But despite the decent finishes, you can tell the frustration is creeping in.
With FedEx, he still doesn’t have that elusive championship, and he turns 45 this year—so maybe there’s a bit of a mid-life crisis brewing. But the real issue remains superspeedway racing. Not just because he missed out on a fourth 500 win. But Hamlin has a yearly tradition of calling out the chaos on drafting tracks, and honestly, maybe it’s time NASCAR actually listens.
Denny was at the presser for Atlanta where he gave the fix: It’s simple. Take the "drag out." That’s not all—he may have sounded frustrated, but he couldn’t resist. Must listen to his sharp jab.
According to him, cars need to be faster on their own. Right now, superspeedway racing is dictated by pack dynamics, where stepping out of line means getting swallowed up, and staying in line guarantees chaos. “We’d like to put it more in our hands,” he said. And we must agree, that Denny has a point.
We’ve seen how leaders don’t just lose races—they get taken out. Michael McDowell had control at the Coke Zero Sugar 400—wrecked. Josh Berry took over—same fate. Harrison Burton ended up in Victory Lane, not by sheer speed, but by luck and circumstance.
So, dialing back the reliance on drafting would allow true racecraft to take over. The fastest cars would be able to control their own destiny instead of being at the mercy of the pack. It wouldn’t just improve racing—it would make it safer. No driver should have to go through what Ryan Preece experienced last year. The time for change is now. And, Hamlin is not the sole champion for this fix.
Dale Junior too had some similar suggestions. "We have we have choked everything down and put so much drag on the bodies that they can’t get away from each other. Basically, "a good car can’t drive away from a bad car." To change the drag situation, NASCAR would have to make many changes to the next-gen car.
We are already talking massive changes, spoilers, and diffusers, the list is long. And maybe it's time NASCAR does something about superspeedways.
📰 Lucky Dog’s Recommended Reads
Rick Hendrick Issued Immediate Apology After Carson Hocevar Terrorizes His Golden Goose - Full Story
Kyle Busch Threatens to Wreck Entire Field as Cup Star Fuels Atlanta Rage - Full Story
Denny Hamlin Shakes Up NASCAR With a Big 23XI Update Amid Legal Chaos - Full Story
FOX Under Fire Again! Three Costly Mistakes in Atlanta Leave NASCAR Fans Fuming - Full Story
“Wrecky Spinhouse Week 2”- Hendrick Motorsports and Fans Gang Up on True Atlanta Culprit - Full Story
💌 Feedback
How did you enjoy today's newsletter? |