Festive Tracks & Best Updates: NASCAR Santa Special!

^{Dec 23, 2024 | Edition #114}

👋 Dear Motorheads,

Christmas is here! And, your NASCAR Santa [Lucky Dog] has got a little festive fun for you. Remember those "Naughty and Nice" lists we made as kids? Well, we’re bringing it back—but before that, you must have a look at NASCAR’s holiday celebrations! Yes, tracks, including Charlotte and Vegas, are decorated with lights and packed with fun activities for you all. Indeed it’s pure Christmas joy on the tracks!

Quick Peek Into Today’s Stories:

🎄 NASCAR ft. Christmas in Pictures

🎅 Who All Made It to the ‘Naughty or Nice’ List?

🎁 Dale Earnhardt’s Christmas Gift to Amy

👌 Kurt Busch is Doing ‘Okay’!

🤔 New Rules For 2025?

👀 Must-See Moments

NASCAR Tracks Dazzling in Holiday Lights!

Folks, it’s the holiday season—not just for us, but for NASCAR too! Five of NASCAR’s most important tracks are lit up [literally] with stunning decorations and lights, spreading some serious festive cheer.

1. Charlotte Motor Speedway

Charlotte is back and brighter than ever for Season 15 of the Southeast’s BIGGEST drive-thru holiday light show! Imagine 5 million lights shining along a four-mile course that takes you through the iconic oval, pit road, and infield road course. And you can also tune your radio to 101.3 FM and watch the lights come alive. Here’s a recent video from Charlotte.

Oh, and if that’s not enough, they’re rolling out drive-in movies on the giant Speedway TV every Thursday through Sunday night until Christmas. You can find the movie schedule from Dec 26-29, here.

2. Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

Let’s not forget it is Vegas’ favorite holiday tradition! It started on Nov 8th, 2024, and will go on till Jan 5th, 2025. And, it already has the biggest and brightest light park in town.

And, to make your holiday magical with a week full of festive fun, there’s a legit event list.

3. Circuit of The Americas:

If you are near 9201 Circuit of The Americas Blvd, Austin, Texas, this is for you. You all can take a parade lap on the circuit’s signature track with a Candy Cane Cruise ticket and visit Peppermint Plaza to meet Pepper and Mint, enjoy holiday treats, and experience millions of lights, new rides, and attractions. There’s so much more, and of course, as the Lucky Dog would want, all with your loved ones, even your pups can be tagged along.

4. World Wide Technology Raceway:

Shooting stars, falling snowflakes, and dancing candy canes. This is what is happening at the World Wide Technology Raceway. And, the fun part, all lights are synchronized to rocking Christmas music.

And for Atlanta, here is how lights make it look during the night.

🏁 Lucky Dog’s Quick Poll 🏁

🔮 Lucky Dog’s Perspective

The ‘Naughty/Nice’ Moments From 2024

You guessed it—Your Lucky Dog’s been busy handpicking some gems for the holiday season! While we all dive into the spirit of forgiveness and thankfulness, we spotlighted drivers who might feel the same way.

Once stuck in NASCAR’s bad books, these speedsters have traded fisticuffs for forgiveness. Talk about a holiday glow-up! Let’s see who made it onto the Nice side this year.

1. Tyler Reddick

First up is Michael Jordan’s star who made the season a celebratory one for the team, despite their ongoing Lawsuit and differences with the sports body. First, clinching the regular season championship, then, the first final-four appearance, and whatnot.

Generally, everyone has only ‘nice’ things to say about him and so does Lucky Dog. And the examples are endless. Say, when he accidentally took Chris Buescher out at Darlington Raceway. Despite Buescher getting physical, Reddick kept his calm and apologized.

And remember when Elliott did not give him enough space on that turn in Vegas? The ‘nice’ Reddick didn’t react, instead took the DNF. What a calm demeanor!

2. Christopher Bell

Yes, C. Bell is on NASCAR Santa’s ‘naughty’ list. And, he is not exactly known for throwing punches or wrecking. But do you remember his little slip-up with Chase Briscoe?

During a press conference, he was asked if with MTJ leaving he’ll have a leadership role in JGR. Puzzled with the question, he’s like not really… “Whenever Chase comes into the car…” instant regret! Bell instantly [smirkingly] realized the mistake, texting Briscoe to apologize. But Briscoe was just as amused, replying, “Classic Bell.” The slip-up wasn’t exactly a major scandal, but it was too funny/naughty not to mention.

3. Kyle Larson

Now, let’s categorize ‘the world's best driver.’ And, Kyle Larson’s not on the ‘naughty’ list of course, but here’s what makes him the best/nicest. It wasn’t just the numbers that were impressive/nice. Larson’s performance at Bristol was straight-up historic, leading 462 of the 500 laps—a feat not seen in Bristol since Cale Yarborough led 495 laps back in 1977.

And, this near-perfect dominance was one for the history books, and honestly, we can’t help but give him credit for being a straight-up machine this year.

4. Dale Earnhardt Jr 

And we just have to end this list with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Let’s be real—his ‘naughty’ moment, according to Lucky Dog? Not sharing the spoils with Justin Allgaier! Sure, Allgaier helped bring Junior’s team the driver and owner’s championships, but was Dale focused on the trophies? Nope. It was all about that Xfinity Series championship flag.

And, Oh Boy! Dale quite literally took it everywhere—parading it around the media center, searching for the perfect display spot.

We get it, Dale. You’re proud, and honestly, who wouldn’t be?

🗞️ NASCAR Shorts!

Dale Jr.’s Gifting Game Needs a Boost!

Amy Earnhardt is looking for the perfect holiday gift! Well, not her fault, the holidays are all about spreading love, right? While Samantha Busch is busy whipping up her famous Christmas sauce and Danica Patrick is all about gratitude, Amy, and Dale Earnhardt are bringing some signature fun banter.

However, the vibe is cozy, thankful, and full of love. Lucky Dog has even dug up some throwback gems—Dale Sr. and Jr. hunting snapshots from the early 2000s [of course Junior was a kid]. Fast forward 20+ years and still his gifting game hasn’t budged. What’s on his list? A charcuterie board. Yep, meat and cheese. Meanwhile, Amy’s got her eyes on something shinier—jewelry. Read the Full Story.

🗣️ Talk of the NASCAR Town

New Rules For the Coming Season

You saw how the 2024 season ended with a lot of drama, especially after Joey Logano took home the championship, leaving fans a bit disappointed and wondering what’s next for the sport. While the playoff format stays the same, NASCAR is hoping some new rules/changes will spice things up. And, here is what it consists of for now;

1. $1 Million in-season tournament!

Yes, along with the full-fledged season, a parallel tournament is set to run next season. And, we know most of you won’t believe it, but it was Denny Hamlin’s suggestion. 

Only the top 32 drivers will make it into this five-race tournament, which kicks off in Atlanta on February 23. After each race, the field gets cut in half.

Break Down?

• At the Chicago street race, only the top 16 will compete

• Then it’s down to 8 in Sonoma

• 4 in Dover

• Just 2 drivers will battle it out for that $1 million prize.

With that much cash on the line, you know the racing is going to get intense! And the pleasure of broadcasting will be with TNT and Amazon. Sounds complex? Well, the next rule is a simple one. 

2. Streamlining practice and qualifying 

NASCAR has finally listened to driver complaints about not having enough time to practice, so they’re giving an extra 5 minutes of practice for every race next season. And, this change applies across all three series, so fans will see the same format no matter what race they’re watching. The only exception is the Daytona 500. And, here’s what’s different. 

3. Manufacturers will no longer be off the hook

This one is probably the best and makes one wonder wasn’t it already there? Remember the infamous Martinsville race manipulation incident when Christopher Bell almost felt “Cheated?” 

While Ross Chastain and Austin Dillon blocked the field for William Byron it was ultimately for Chevrolet to get a chance in the final race. The exact penalty will soon be discussed. But one thing is clear from NASCAR’s side - It will not tolerate, “coordinated efforts that disrupt the spirit of competition” anymore. 

4. ‘Cost saving’ for Truck Series

Lucky Dog feels it is a quirky one: NASCAR is introducing a rule that pit crew members will have to wear the same uniforms all season long. That means no more switching up designs or adding extra logos. Of course, the over-the-wall crew can still sport sponsorship branding, but for the rest of the crew, it’s all about keeping things uniform (literally). The goal? Supposedly, it’s to cut costs and simplify things.

But here’s where the Truck Series teams might have a beef: The rule is actually a little counterproductive when it comes to cost-saving. Uniforms in a potential for marketing revenue and with no sponsors for behind-the-wall guys. Often these suits are borrowed, but now they have to make new ones, adding to the cost. So much for cost-cutting!

Overall, not much is changing, but let's hope it’s a more entertaining season!

Continue Reading: “Small Win”: NASCAR Earns Rare Praise From Fans After Brad Keselowski’s Practice Demands Pay Off

🫡 The Lucky Dog Salutes

A [Positive] Health Update On Kurt Busch

If you’ve followed Kurt Busch’s journey, you know that he started off as a real powerhouse in the sport. But, as we all know, life in the fast lane isn’t always smooth. His career took a serious hit in 2005 when he was involved in a DUI incident, leading to his departure from Roush Racing.

After that, things got even messier—he had a turbulent stint at Team Penske, was known for his on-track aggression (to put it lightly), and even had a few choice words for the media. Seriously, not many people have threatened to beat the shit out of Bob Pockrass.

Despite all of that, Busch eventually turned things around in 2015. After getting cleared of an assault case filed by his ex-girlfriend, he seemed like a changed man. No more angry outbursts—just a more focused driver. He then later found success again with Stewart-Haas Racing. And, then in 2022, he was already making waves with a win at Kansas. But disaster struck at the Tricky Triangle. While gunning for the pole in qualifying, Busch’s #45 car slid into the wall in Turn 3, leading to severe concussions and vestibular issues that still affect him today.

This horrifying Pocono incident ultimately forced him to step away from full-time racing.

Fast forward to the festive mood, and Kurt’s sharing an update on how he's doing. After two years of physical therapy and visits to neurologists, he says, "I’m feeling much, much better since the summer wreck in 2022 and all of the different physical therapy, different neurologist visits." It’s good to hear he’s on the mend, but as he confirmed in 2023, his time in the Cup Series has come to an official end.

But don’t think Kurt’s completely out of the game. He’s still involved in NASCAR, just in a different role. He’s now working as a consultant for the 23XI Racing team and mentoring drivers like Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick. Kurt seems to be enjoying this new chapter, but we all know: that once a racer, always a racer.

Kurt Busch is still backed by Monster Energy and has been pushing his doctors to clear him for racing again. Whether it's in late model races or even the Race of Champions in 2025, Kurt's eager to get back behind the wheel. And based on his recent comments, he’s feeling pretty optimistic about his chances.

Let’s hope 2025 brings some good news for Busch. Here’s to hoping his doctors give him the green light to race again.

Continue Reading: “Always Prided Myself”: Kurt Busch Drops a Surprising Daytona 500 Gift for Christmas

📰 Lucky Dog's Recommended Reads

1. Kyle Larson’s Wife Shares Heartwarming Throwback to Son, Melting NASCAR Community - Full Story

2. Danica Patrick Begins a New Chapter with Family Support - Full Story

3. Rusty Wallace’s Legendary Stories Leave Brother Speechless - Full Story

4. 66-Year-Old Daytona Winner’s Rumored NASCAR Return Sparks Buzz - Full Story

5. Samantha Busch Finds a New Worship Style Amid Faith Journey - Full Story

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