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- Denny Hamlin Shocked By JGR's Move
Denny Hamlin Shocked By JGR's Move
Nov 25, 2024 | Edition #102
👋 Dear Motorheads,
The NASCAR world still seemed ablaze with the question of whether Chase Elliott deserved the MPD award. Well, the Lucky Dog now has the answer to that... all thanks to you folks!
The turnout on that last poll was amazing, which helped us end this dilemma once and for all. So stick around to see what you all had to say about Elliott's controversial streak.
🎉 Celebrating the Birthday of Two NASCAR Icons!
🔀 Major Reshuffle at Joe Gibbs Racing
🤔 Hyak Motorsports? Who?
🗣️ Lucky Dog Fans End the Chase Elliott Debate
🫡 The Lucky Dog Salutes!
Two NASCAR Powerhouses Share a Birthday!
Alright folks, let’s kick off this edition by giving a big shoutout to two NASCAR legends celebrating their birthdays today: Joe Gibbs (84) and Mike Joy (75)!
First up, we've got Coach Gibbs. Now, you might know him better from NFL, but this man is a true racing titan. He's not just a three-time Super Bowl champion, he's also the mastermind behind Joe Gibbs Racing, a powerhouse team that's dominated NASCAR for decades.
With drivers like Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano driving for his team, Gibbs has racked up 214 Cup wins and 5 championships so far. Remember Stewart's 2002 and 2005 championships? Or Kyle Busch's incredible 2015 and 2019 seasons? They really made JGR a force to reckon with.
All of this is a testament to Coach Gibbs' ability to build championship-caliber teams and his unwavering passion for racing. Born on 25 November 1940, he’s truly a legend and we're lucky to have him. And let’s not forget that JGR is the Xfinity Series’ winningest team with 215 wins. Just this year alone, a third of wins, 11 in total, were taken by JGR’s Toyotas.
And then there’s Mike Joy, the legendary voice behind NASCAR’s iconic phrases like “Trouble Turn!” For decades, Mike has been the heart and soul of FOX Sports’ NASCAR coverage. And, who could forget his electrifying call of the jaw-dropping 2011 Talladega finish, where Jimmie Johnson edged Clint Bowyer by just 0.002 seconds? Mike’s words, “Way down comes Johnson! He’s got room! They’re three wide! Three by three at the line!” still sends chills down every NASCAR fan’s spine. Here is a video of that historic moment.
And if you’ve ever tuned into Fox’s NASCAR broadcast, you know Mike doesn’t hold back. His quick wit is legendary. It was hilarious when he called out critics of broadcast ads as "Keyboard Warriors" during the 2023 Cup finale, referring to them hiding behind their computers.
So, let’s raise a toast to Joe Gibbs and Mike Joy—two icons who’ve shaped NASCAR as we know it. The Lucky Dog wishes them both all the best on their special day and another amazing year ahead!
🏁 Lucky Dog’s Quick Poll 🏁
Between the Two, Who Do You Think Has Had a Greater Impact on NASCAR? |
🫶 The Pit Stop
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📈 Trending News
Why JGR Made a Risky Move?
Joe Gibbs Racing, undoubtedly, has long been one of NASCAR’s top teams. But even the best have to make tough calls to stay on top. That’s exactly what happened when, after a highly successful five-year partnership, Gibbs himself had to make the difficult call to break up the Denny Hamlin and Chris Gabehart duo.
Now, it’s safe to say that Hamlin and Gabehart were a dream team. Over the years, the No. 11 team clenched 22 wins, including two Daytona 500 victories and a couple of crown jewels like the Coca-Cola 600 and the Southern 500. Their partnership was strong, and their success on the track made them one of the most dominant duos in NASCAR.
Now Hamlin may not be the happiest right now. but JGR’s decision to shift Gabehart out of the crew chief role and into a broader competition director position indicates a bigger picture.
At this point, the Lucky Dog feels it is worth looking back at this lost partnership! Hamlin and Gabehart first teamed up in 2019. They wasted no time making their mark. Gabehart guided Hamlin to his first Daytona 500 victory, just three races in. And before you know it… the two were the championship contenders year after year.
“I certainly was shocked,” said Hamlin initially. But now, he has accepted the new development. “This is the change they need to [make] to get that and that the 11 team will benefit from those changes.”
We know what you are thinking. Why this major change? And that too all of a sudden, right? Well, after Christopher Bell grabbed a win in New Hampshire back in June, the team went winless the rest of the year. While Bell had consistent top-10 finishes, it was clear that the others struggled. So, moving Chris Gabehart into the Competition Director role is not a demotion; it’s more about expanding his influence across the entire team.
For Hamlin, the change is a bittersweet one. While he won’t be working with Gabehart directly during the races, his former crew chief’s impact will still be felt across the team. In Gabehart’s place, JGR is bringing in Chris Gayle, who has plenty of experience and the 2022 Xfinity Series championship. Although it is going to be a new perspective, the fresh energy could be just what the #11 team needs.
📈 Trending News
We Have a New Team (of Sorts)
Alright, it’s official! A brand-new chapter is on the horizon for JTG Daugherty Racing! As of November 21st, 2024, the team has officially rebranded as Hyak Motorsports. Yep, you heard that right. A new name, a new vibe, and a fresh start all around.
But, wait, this isn’t the first time the team has changed its name. Originally debuting as ST Motorsports back in 1995 in the Xfinity Series, they rebranded to JTG Daugherty Racing in 2008 after NBA legend Brad Daugherty came on board as a co-owner.
So, what’s driving this massive rebrand, again? Do not forget the principal owner, Gordon Smith, who joined the team at the end of 2023. And, it looks like Smith has some major plans in mind for Hyak Motorsports. "Becoming the owner of Hyak Motorsports brings an exciting opportunity," said Smith. And, did you know, that Gordon also owns a shipping vessel company called Hyak Maritime?
Now, you must be thinking, "What’s the deal with ‘Hyak’?” Well, it’s a Chinook Jargon word that means “fast.” Pretty perfect for a race team, no? The name change reflects the team’s new commitment to pushing the limits. And, the rebranding is truly happening at the best time, as the multi-billion-dollar sponsor Kroger is jumping ship to Keselowski-owned RFK Racing next season.
Still, there’s nothing to worry about for Hyak. Smith has promised fresh energy and a lot of investment in resources and technology to get them competitive at the highest level. However, there is one thing that isn’t changing. And that’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr and his Crew Chief Mike Kelly for the #47 team. The duo has built a solid partnership over the past few seasons, and they’re ready to keep pushing for more wins and championships.
🙋♂️ Lucky Dog Counts Your Vote
Lucky Dog Fans Stand Behind Chase Elliott
As you’d remember, in our last edition, we talked about how Chase Elliott took home the Most Popular Driver (MPD) award for the seventh year. But it wasn’t just that. Keeping in mind the controversy surrounding whether Elliott is deserving of the award or not, we also ran a poll asking you the same to ask you the same.
As the results rolled in, 61.75% of you said, “Yes,” which is not surprising given that Elliott already won the Award despite an average 2024 run this season. But it tells us two things. One, Chase has a really strong connection with his fanbase. And second, in NASCAR, popularity isn’t about stats.
If we could shed a bit more light on the former point, a lot of his popularity comes from his team, Hendrick Motorsports. One of our readers explained their vote, saying, “Most popular doesn’t mean most wins! I voted for him—he’s my driver, along with other HMS drivers.”
Indeed, Chase Elliott has built an impressive career at HMS since joining the team in 2016. And when he took over the No. 9 car in 2018—his dad Bill Elliott’s old number from his 1988 championship run—well, that’s when we saw a whole new side of Chase. But his crowning achievement came in 2020 when he won the NASCAR Cup Series Championship—ending a three-year drought for the team since Jimmie Johnson’s seventh title.
Surely, fans love his competitive spirit, especially how he’s always in the mix during key moments of the race. Take this year’s Martinsville run, for example. The No. 9 led more than 100 laps in a must-win race but ultimately came up just short of Ryan Blaney.
While this blend of talent and timing is key to his success, the Lucky Dog would argue that what really sets him apart is how much he values his fans. Whether he’s signing autographs at the track, interacting on social media, or showing up at fan events, Chase Elliott works hard to stay connected. That kind of appreciation builds loyalty, and it’s clear his fans feel it. In fact, here is a video he took after the awards, thanking his fans for the honor.
That said, not everyone is sold on Elliott as the Most Popular Driver for 2024. Elaborating on his choice, a reader wrote, “It just seems rigged. He keeps getting this award, but he doesn’t seem like the fans’ favorite... I’d think Kyle Larson would have gotten it.” While this fan questions the fairness of the voting, it’s hard to ignore that the most popular choice still seems to be a Hendrick Motorsports driver.
Undoubtedly, all this ties into the larger dominance of Hendrick Motorsports in recent years. Even though Roger Penske’s team has won the championship three years running, Mr. H and his boys still hold a special place in NASCAR (with Elliott as the face of the org).
Continue Reading: Who Is Chase Elliott’s Girlfriend Ashley Anderson?
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✨ Featured Comment
While giving her take on 2024’s Most Popular Award Winner, Super Fan - Donna Nickles left a great comment on our last poll…
Lucky Dog's Take: While we couldn’t share every comment, the underlying sentiment from fans is very much this. Everyone loves his clean racing style and positive attitude. So now, we know Elliott isn’t just out there turning laps. He’s winning hearts with his respect for fans. No wonder why he’s such a fan-favorite!
If you have any such comments, let us know in the polls. You can also write back to us. With this, the next Lucky Dog on Track 'Featured Comment' could be yours.
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