Dale Jr. Stands Firm Against Next-Gen Car

August 14, 2025

August 14, 2025 | Edition #215

👋 Dear Motorheads,

Finally, NASCAR can now focus on oval races after a mixed bag of road courses and street races. But even before the teams could roll out for Richmond, the Next Gen car seems to have sparked a debate. Industry veterans have picked their sides, and let’s just say not everyone is against the controversial car.

On the flip side, NASCAR is relying on its reliable partner to turn the tide in their favor. Watch out for the female Xfinity star, she is on the cusp of creating history at Daytona International Speedway. There’s a lot to catch up on, and Lucky Dog is here to keep you up to speed on NASCAR trending storylines.

📅 Weekend Schedule

📈 Trending News

Can NASCAR’s Gamble Revive Richmond Raceway?

Richmond Raceway has always been one of those tracks where tire wear can make or break your race. And this weekend, NASCAR is throwing another twist in the mix. For the first time, teams will be using a tire combination at Richmond’s 0.75-mile oval that has featured at short tracks this year. It’s the same right-side Goodyear brought as an ‘option’ last year, but the left side is a bit softer.

That means, on paper, drivers will have more grip early but also more fall-off as the race progresses. Exactly the kind of thing Richmond is famous for. This tire setup was first introduced at Martinsville last fall and has shown up at Bowman Gray Stadium, Martinsville, and North Wilkesboro.

Goodyear’s Rick Heinrich says it’s all about “more grip and increased lap-time fall-off over the course of a run.” Ever since the spring race in Bristol last year, Goodyear has been striving to recreate that tire wear. The final 121 laps were without caution, and it was all because of tire fall-off. Drivers were frustrated, but it was one of the best accidents that happened, which allowed Goodyear to produce better rubber.

Yet, the 2024 Bristol winner, Denny Hamlin, isn’t impressed with the new tire combination. “Even if you have a tire, hell this one corded in 60 laps. So it had zero dropoff until it cords. So it’s just, I don’t know. This is not a good tire combination for this track.” 

His frustration came to light after the Iowa race, where the tires didn’t fall off but just corded after 60 laps. Not an ideal situation for drivers to tackle the race, and races at Bristol and Martinsville so far haven’t been a huge success. Although the setup at Iowa was different when compared to half-mile ovals, the short-track package is far from being sorted.

All it takes is one race, and Goodyear will be hoping Richmond Raceway delivers the goods. It’s worth noting that Richmond only has a single date on the schedule, which makes this tire experiment even more important.

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🥊 In Today’s Debate

Next-Gen Car Divides the NASCAR Community

The Next-Gen car has been making headlines ever since it was introduced in 2022. On one hand, it brought cost control, a feeling of parity, and close racing on intermediate tracks. But on the flip side, short tracks and superspeedway races have left both drivers and fans frustrated.

Let’s have a look at the race at Watkins Glen, for example. Shane van Gisbergen cruised to victory by 11.116 seconds. And earlier this year, a staggering 16.567 seconds separated SVG from Christopher Bell in Mexico City.

These are massive margins in a sport that has traditionally thrived on close-quarter racing, and critics say it’s proof that the current road course package simply isn’t meeting expectations.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn’t mince his words, going on to say, “It’s a sports car, it’s not a NASCAR stock car.” This was the culmination of multiple issues that led to this frustration outburst. Be it the aero-sensitive body design, the flat underbody with rear diffuser, or the restricted horsepower.

Fans have been demanding changes to the Next-Gen car with increased power and better tires. But not everyone is riding this ship. Kyle Petty stunned everyone with his opinion and even gave the Next-Gen car an A+ for making a leap. Hear it from himself as he called out Dale Jr. in defense of NASCAR’s controversial invention.

This quickly turned into a battle of narratives, but Dale Jr. didn’t fold; rather, he doubled down on his argument. Junior explained what NASCAR has been for the last 75 years and traced the roots to dirt and oval racing. And he made a strong argument that highlights the biggest flaw of the Next-Gen car.

NASCAR has a big decision to make. The sanctioning body can continue tweaking the Next-Gen car and hope it pays off in the long run, even if it tests the patience of the community. Or they can start over and consider the feedback. Either way, the clock is ticking.

🏁 Lucky Dog’s Quick Poll! 🏁

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 🔎 The In-Depth View

Uncertainty Looms Over Connor Zilisch’s Championship Hopes

It was a freak accident. Connor Zilisch had just secured his sixth Xfinity Series win of the season when the post-race celebrations went horribly wrong. Climbing his No. 88 Chevy with one foot on the window sill and the other on the roof, he slipped, and his foot caught the window net while he crashed hard into the ground. The 19-year-old suffered from a broken collarbone, but it could have been much worse.

Zilisch was stretchered to the infield care center and later to a hospital, where he underwent surgery this week to put in a plate and screws. He shared an update on X, saying, “Been a tough few days for me mentally, but all the love you guys have shown has certainly helped.” 

In the aftermath of this incident, there were rumors about NASCAR considering a ban on the victory lane celebrations. But, going by the latest updates, it turns out NASCAR has no plans to alter the iconic celebration. Mike Ford cleared the air about the floating rumor, stating that there are no policies that restrict drivers from climbing on their cars.

But the bigger question is, where does this leave Zilisch in terms of the playoffs? NASCAR granted him a waiver after he missed the Texas race due to a back injury. The final race of the regular season at Daytona is in two weeks, and Zilisch hasn’t been officially ruled out yet.

As it turns out, Zilisch will have to request another waiver to remain eligible for the championship. However, NASCAR could decide Zilisch’s fate, as he will need a medical clearance before returning to the track. Given the past precedence, the JRM driver is likely to be cleared, but Forde’s statement, “We would consider it. It’s a case-by-case basis,” has got a few fans worried.

Three races to go, Zilisch will have to concede his points lead and the regular-season title. The likes of Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, and Jesse Love are now in hot pursuit of those extra 15 playoff bonus points. Here, check out the Xfinity Series points standings.

📈 Trending News

Natalie Decker Returns to NASCAR Racing

Folks, it’s looking like Natalie Decker is making her Xfinity Series return at Daytona International Speedway. This will be her first race after giving birth to her son, Levi, in February, making her one of only few women drivers to resume her racing career after having a baby. That’s quite an achievement, especially with the physical and mental toll it takes on the body.

Decker will be racing the No. 92 Chevy for DGM Racing, sponsored by Wawa. Josh Bilicki will be racing alongside her in the No. 91, backed by the convenience store as well, for the superspeedway race. The 28-year-old is pretty familiar with Daytona, having finished 18th at the track in the 2024 Xfinity season opener, when she led seven laps. 

She’ll be following in the footsteps of Shawna Robinson, who raced from 1991 to 2005, with several of those starts coming after she had a child. Alli Owens had her first child in 2011, and she returned for an Xfinity Series race at Richmond in 2016. 

Meanwhile, Jessica Friesen also balanced motherhood and racing, and competed in a pair of Truck Series races in 2021 and 2022. As for Natalie Decker, the road to racing hasn’t been an easy one, especially after giving birth. What should’ve been a joyous moment for her family quickly turned gloomy. Decker laid these feelings bare on social media.

Little did we know, Decker had dreams of starting a family. She confessed this while speaking to Lucky Dog in an exclusive interview. Now, Decker is back to racing after a long absence and will duel it out against her rivals on the high banks of Daytona.

Joining the likes of Shawna Robinson, Sara Christian, and Jessica Friesen, Decker will make history in a few weeks. It goes to show the grit and determination these female drivers have. Their ability to manage motherhood and continue their racing journey can be described as supernatural.

  1. Richmond Sellout Fuels Age-Old Demand for NASCAR Schedule Change - Full Story

  2. Denny Hamlin Lets Slip Retirement Plans- Full Story

  3. Dale Jr. Decodes the Real Reason Behind Carson Hocevar’s On-Track Chaos- Full Story

  4. NASCAR Veteran Relives the Day He Defeated Dale Earnhardt Sr. - Full Story

  5. Kevin Harvick Sounds Warning for Christopher Bell Despite Breakthrough Before Playoffs- Full Story

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