Does NASCAR Have a Penske Bias?

^{Mar 8, 2025 | Edition #147}

👋 Dear Motorheads,

What a whirlwind of a week. The 2025 season is barely underway, and we’re already knee-deep in chaos. Christopher Bell’s scorching form, NASCAR’s questionable calls at COTA, and a powerhouse name taking shots at the sport’s leadership. We missed all this in the off-season.

Now, as the Cup and Xfinity Series roll into Phoenix Raceway, the stakes are even higher. Can Bell conquer ‘The Desert Oddball’ and keep his momentum alive? Will Busch’s accusations of favoritism hold water? The questions are piling up, and we’re here to unpack them all. But wait, Danica Patrick makes headlines once again!

🎯 Sunday’s Cup Race Odds

C. Bell’s Bold Pursuit Heading Into Phoenix

Christopher Bell couldn’t have scripted a better start to his 2025 season. Just four races in, and he’s already notched two wins, matching a feat last achieved by Brad Keselowski in 2018. With a playoff spot secured, he has the luxury of breathing room—but don’t expect him to lift off the gas just yet. Something tells us he’s already laser-focused on making it three in a row at the Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway. And he’s not the only one—these analysts have their money on him too.

For them, Phoenix looks like the perfect stage for another Bell masterclass. The forecast calls for clear skies and 70°F temperatures—ideal conditions for a high-stakes showdown. And, given his recent dominance at Atlanta and Circuit of the Americas, it’s no surprise he’s a +500 favorite at FanDuel. But if NASCAR has taught us anything, it’s that even the best can stumble when you least expect it.

Phoenix is a different beast altogether. Bell showed flashes of dominance last year, leading 50 laps in the spring race and an impressive 132 in the season finale. Yet, despite his control, he fell short in the championship battle, finishing fifth. Historically, also, the track hasn’t exactly been his stronghold.

In 10 Cup Series starts, Bell’s only cracked the top five twice, with four finishes outside the top 15. This is a stark contrast to his red-hot start this season. So, if he can shake off his Phoenix struggles and defend his win at the Shriners Children’s 500-remains a million-dollar question.

Let’s just say, Bell does pull it off. It is going to be a statement victory. He’ll join an elite club of 17 NASCAR legends, including the likes of Dale Earnhardt Sr. These are the NASCAR elites who are in for the company.

But there’s more to this race. NASCAR insiders Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi have their own list of favorites, especially with Goodyear’s biggest test yet—softer tires—set to shake things up. And as for the NOOB question on Penske’s dominance? Well, here are the odds.

The two also talked about Katherine Legge(the female driver who is making her Cup Series debut at Phoenix). So, will Bell make it a hat trick of wins at Phoenix Raceway or will another driver capitalize, only time will tell.

Continue Reading: Christopher Bell Vows to End Kyle Busch’s ‘Respect’ Debate With Bold Declaration

🏁 Lucky Dog’s Quick Poll 🏁

🔎 The In-Depth View

Kyle Busch Calls Out NASCAR’s Double Standards

This time, Rowdy Busch isn’t holding back, calling out what he sees as clear favoritism from NASCAR. And, honestly, it’s hard to argue with him. After Ty Dillon nudged Austin Cindric wide coming out of Turn 20, the Team Penske driver wasted no time in retaliating. In a split second, Cindric right rear-hooked Dillon, sending him into a chaotic spin. The crowd gasped, the booth went silent, and just like that, a routine battle turned into one of the most talked-about moments of the race.

And, what we saw next was major damage for Dillon, forcing him to limp to a 28th-place finish at the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Cindric—who caused the wreck—ended up 25th and got away with what many see as just a slap on the wrist. Sure, a 50-point deduction and a $50,000 fine aren’t exactly minor penalties, but the fact that Cindric managed to avoid a suspension didn’t sit well with a lot of fans and drivers. And, that includes Kyle Busch, as well.

“I think the intent is intent. It doesn’t matter if it’s Daytona, Talladega, or wherever. There’s intent, and it’s not his first offense,” Busch called out the inconsistency in the ruling.

And Kyle Busch might be just right. He knows all too well how NASCAR can enforce its rules on you. After all, back in 2011, this is how the Nevada native intentionally wrecked Ron Hornaday Jr. under caution and got a hefty fine and suspension for it.

So, to see Cindric get off easy, Busch was having none of it.

It’s clear that Kyle Busch, along with a few other drivers, feels that there is an element of favoritism at play here. And, we know, that NASCAR has a history of suspending drivers for intentional wrecks. Remember Bubba Wallace’s incident in 2022 or Chase Elliott wrecking Hamlin in 2023? Here, watch Elliott’s in-car camera as he wrecks Hamlin.

In similar incidents before, drivers faced suspensions for their actions. But in Cindric’s case, it was just a points penalty and a fine. So, maybe Busch is right, these are double standards at play. However, NASCAR’s managing director, Mike Forde, insists that every situation is different—a fair point. But that still doesn’t explain the partiality.

Other than this, the insider reports suggest NASCAR avoided suspending Cindric so he could keep his playoff points. And with Roger Penske’s influence looming in the background, it’s no surprise that accusations of favoritism are gaining traction.

So, Kyle, your frustration is understandable, and judging by the buzz on social media, you’re far from the only one demanding answers.

Continue Reading: Roger Penske Flaunts $487K Paycheck in NASCAR’s Face as IndyCar Gets Iowa’s Backing

🌪️ Cause for Controversy

Danica Patrick’s Bold Stand for Gender Equality

Danica has never shied away from tough conversations, and this time, she’s taking on one of sports' most divisive debates. We saw how she broke barriers in motorsports, where gender fades at 200 mph. But in most sports, she argues, physicality does matter—and she’s not afraid to say it.

As the debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports rages on, Patrick has made her stance clear. “I mean, all you have to do is YouTube or Google some stories of people that took some transition drugs and how different they felt taking testosterone,” she said.

Well, these aren’t just words—they come from someone who knows firsthand what it’s like to fight for legitimacy in a male-dominated world. And she’s not alone. Rising star Hailie Deegan, who recently made her IndyCar debut at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, understands exactly what it takes to carve out a place in the sport.

“Definitely, this is by far the hardest form of racing I’ve ever been a part of. By ‘hardest’, I mean physically, so, it’s very physically demanding,” Deegan noted. Additionally, Patrick’s words are bound to stir controversy. And, why do we say so? You should hear her strong opinions.

Now, if you want to understand Danica better, just imagine the difference in sports like track and field or combat sports, where strength, speed, and endurance can make or break an athlete’s success. So, when she openly challenged the 80% of Americans who think otherwise, she knew what she was doing. She even called it “funny” how they perceive fairness in competition. Here’s her sarcastic jibe.

And we get you Danica, equality matters, but not at the expense of fair competition. While she fully supports women having a strong presence in sports, she draws the line when it compromises the integrity of the game. For her, true equality isn’t about blurring lines—it’s about ensuring that every competitor, regardless of gender, has a fair shot at victory.

Continue Reading: Is Katherine Legge the Only Female Driver After Danica Patrick?

🗣️ Talk of the NASCAR Town

Tony Stewart Exposes the Hard “France Family” Truth

Tony Stewart isn’t exactly thrilled with the way things are going in NASCAR these days. But can we really blame him?

This is a guy who built an empire in the sport by winning championships, racking up wins, and leading Stewart-Haas Racing to success. In fact, it seems like Smoke’s frustration with the sports hierarchy could have been part of the reason why his team shut down operations at the end of 2024.

Smoke has finally vocalized his thoughts on the same, as he sat down for ‘The Bubba the Love Sponge Show.’ And, according to him, the sport has lost its soul, and it’s easy to see why he feels that way. “The thing I miss the most about NASCAR is the people. But the problem is, the people that I knew and a lot of them that you knew, literally got run out of the sport by NASCAR,” he added.

But hold on, the tirade didn’t stop there. He next pointed his finger at the France family. “It’s a sport that I love, I just don’t like a lot of the decisions made in the direction they’re going... I feel Bill France Jr. is flipping over multiple times in his grave right now.” Listen to his Brian France rant.

And those are some serious shots fired at NASCAR’s leadership, especially after a string of questionable calls.

Take the Daytona 500, for instance. That chaotic last-lap wreck. No caution. William Byron cruised to victory while fans were left wondering what just happened. Then there’s the incident at Circuit of the Americas—Austin Cindric blatantly hooked Ty Dillon, spinning him out. Look at the footage. Imagine, no suspension for this ruckus.

So, for Smoke, the real issue runs deeper. He believes NASCAR’s direction is pushing out seasoned professionals and straying from what made the sport great. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but you can’t blame him for feeling this way.

Continue Reading: Tony Stewart’s Former Partner Reflects on ‘Working in the Shadows’ as He Explains the Most Thankless Job

📰 Lucky Dog’s Recommended Reads

1. Richard Petty’s Tribute to the Late “First Lady of NASCAR” Has Mark Martin Mourning - Full Story

2. “This Is 100% My Identity” – Plagued With Life-Threatening Crashes, Katherine Legge Talks About Her Sudden Return - Full Story

3. Amid Joe Gibbs’ $100,000 Escape Calls Mount for Justice for Disgruntled NASCAR Star - Full Story

4. Chase Elliott & Kyle Busch Share the Most Unhinged Driving Tips - Full Story

5. To Surpass Rick Hendrick, Jimmie Johnson Clarifies His Billion-Dollar Mission With a Major Announcement - Full Story

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