How Mr. H Shut Down NASCAR’s Next Bad Boy?

February 22, 2025

Feb 22, 2025 | Edition #141

👋 Dear Motorheads,

Did you wake up to the NASCAR fan outrage too? We did. It feels like the season just started, and we’re already deep into controversy—over a Truck Series race, no less. After all, Daytona never fails to bring the typical NASCAR drama.

66 years since the first race on this track, and winning here is still every driver’s dream. But man, you’ve got to feel for Parker Kligerman—the guy just can’t catch a break. And that’s not the only thing NASCAR is under fire for. A 2023 comment from Rick Hendrick is making waves again, and word is, that Mr. H might have just reshaped the sport’s future (but in an unwanted manner).

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📈 Trending News

NASCAR Is Secretly Robbing Its Stars

Parker Kligerman may have settled into the NBC booth, but the racer in him just couldn’t sit still. So, he strapped in for a part-time Truck Series run at Daytona—and for a moment, it looked like a storybook finish. That wild move on Ben Rhodes, Johnny Sauter opening the door… Kligerman took the checkered flag. He sounded all excited as he led the grid with yellow and chequered both in the air. Look at this dramatic finish!

But the 34-year-old’s Daytona win was short-lived. Post-race inspection ruled Kligerman’s truck’s rear bumper too low, wiping the win off the board. And, just like that, all the effort, all the chaos—it meant nothing.

And this one’s going to sting for sure. Winning at Daytona is rare air, and having it ripped away is brutal. We can debate all day—even Jeb Burton’s got a point when he says, “You have the flag, that’s all that matters.” But let’s be real—if it’s not official, it’s just a painful what could have been. And that’s exactly what’s eating at Kligerman—especially since he’s pointing the finger at NASCAR.

Here’s where it gets messy—Henderson Motorsports (for whom Kligerman runs the No. 75 part-time) claims NASCAR told them to raise the front to clear inspection, but that adjustment made the rear too low. By their math, they would’ve been legal by a quarter inch otherwise. So, even if this was just a bad break or something more, it’s too late now—Kligerman’s appeal is dead in the water.

This isn’t the first time a driver’s been burned by a height infraction. Remember Chastain in 2019 when he won at Iowa but got DQ’d for the same reason—just when he needed a win to make the playoffs? Although Chasten got another shot later, that’s beside the point.

And let’s be real—Kligerman hasn’t exactly had the Chastain kind of luck. Take last season’s Xfinity race at the ROVAL—Kligerman was right there, about to take the white flag, when NASCAR threw the caution one second too soon. Parker was leading… a driver was buried in the tire barrier, and NASCAR somehow found the perfect moment to wave the yellow. Watch the yellow’s PERFECT timing.

Had NASCAR waited just a moment longer, he’d have been the winner. That could’ve been the biggest win of Parker Kligerman’s career. Maybe even enough to make him rethink retirement.

🗣️ Talk of the NASCAR Town

Did Rick Hendrick Shut the Door on NASCAR’s Lifeline?

What’s the one thing we truly miss from ‘90s NASCAR? It’s that raw, unapologetic aggression. We know no one embodied it better than Dale Earnhardt Sr.—maybe Darrell Waltrip came close—but it’s been over two decades since that era. Now, enter Ross Chastain. A driver who races with that same fearless, no-holds-barred mentality NASCAR used to thrive on.

He didn’t just show up—he took what he wanted. That “Hail Melon” move, wasn’t a strategy. It was what we call a true NASCAR statement. Chastain will move you if he has to, and when he wins, he makes sure you feel it—just ask his smashed watermelons. He is the closest thing we’ve got to the 90s chaos. Here’s that right cross to Noah Gragson’s jaw.

And let’s not forget how many times he’s pushed Denny Hamlin’s buttons. And, his “no Fs given” attitude, it has ruffled plenty of feathers—Kyle Larson, the Busch brothers, Brennan Poole…the list is long. But here’s the thing—fans loved it. Then came that talk with Mr. H, and suddenly, Chastain was quieter. No wild moves, no fireworks.

“I don’t care if he’s driving a Chevrolet if he wrecks our cars. I don’t care. I’ve told Chevrolet that. If you wreck us, you’re going to get it back," Rick Hendrick said in 2023. It was this tangle from Darlington that triggered Mr. H. 

"He doesn’t have to be that aggressive...he's making a lot of enemies out here,” Hendrick added as he called out the Melon Man. But Mr. H…this aggression wasn’t what fans wanted. We actually saw some of Dale Sr in him! Hell, if Sr.’s son could see it in him too...it was to be believed! Remember when Dale Jr appreciated Chastain, saying, "Dad was out there doing real similar things on the racetrack."

But in 2023 and throughout the 2024 season, that signature aggression—the fearless moves on the turns, the relentless hunger to win—was missing from Chastain’s racing. He wrapped up the year in P19, a far cry from his usual form. We are hoping for 2025 to be different. At least the start hints at it. Chastain had a P6 at BGS, a P4 at the Duel, and wrecked out at the Daytona 500. But regardless we are keeping our hopes high! 

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Jimmie Johnson’s Subtle Dig at His Haters

Now, you might be wondering—why is Jimmie Johnson catching so much heat all of a sudden? It all comes down to how he’s closing out his legendary career. But for die-hard Jimmie fans, it’s tough to reconcile that the seven-time champ is stepping away like this (no win since 2017). And honestly, they are not the ones to be blamed. Remember Richard Petty’s farewell at Atlanta where he was in contention until that wreck on Lap 94? Despite that, he finished the race and gave fans one last show with final donuts. The King’s fans will never forget this emotional tribute.

But for Jimmie, his exit has been much quieter—and that’s exactly what’s dividing opinions. So, the popular opinion as per many is, that he should’ve hung up the helmet by now. But it seems JJ doesn’t care at all.

“I don’t feel like I’m ruining my career, I feel like it’s something to be proud of. I truly enjoyed that,” he said. We get it Jimmie...you just love racing. But maybe the Legacy Motor Club and Johnson fans want you to focus on running the team, not a ride. And, it looks like he’s starting to come to terms with it.

After running nine races last season, he’s down to just two this year—likely zero in 2026. Still, that P3 at the Daytona 500 this time was a sigh of relief. Next on the schedule is the Coca-Cola 600, a race that could serve as a fitting sendoff. And, we are hoping to see the 7-time champion take the chequered.

Furthermore, on the ownership front, the effort is undeniable. LMC struggled with Chevy, leading to a bold switch to Toyota. The results aren’t there yet, but the direction feels right. Erik Jones nearly won his Duel, and John Hunter Nemechek finished P9 and then backed it up with a P5 in the main event—strong signs for a young team.

Overall, at a time when teams are scrambling for sponsors and investors, JJ has secured backing from Knighthead Capital Management. With the talent LMC has in its lineup, we think it’s high time veteran teams and drivers without recent wins take notice.

 🔎 The In-Depth View

The Daytona 500 Pole Is Cursed

Once is luck. Twice is a coincidence. But three times, that’s a curse. And right now, the Daytona 500 pole might just be carrying one.

It’s already happened back-to-back, and if you count 2023 pole winner Alex Bowman—who got slapped with a 100-point penalty just three races later at Phoenix—that makes three. No one’s denying the advantage of starting P1, especially with a $30 million purse on the line this year. But for the past two years, all it’s really brought is penalties.

Last season, it was Joey Logano and his illegal glove🧤. And, when he asked about the reason. He said he was proud...it was unconvincing at best. Listen to his entire reasoning.

This time, it was Chase Briscoe and an illegal spoiler.

The penalty: This was an L2-level penalty, and it hit hard. First, a $100,000 fine for Joe Gibbs Racing. But the real sting is the massive 100-point deduction in the regular season and 10 playoff points stripped from Chase Briscoe and the team. On top of that, the #19 crew chief, James Small will be sidelined for the next four races. No sugarcoating it—these are some serious penalties. This is the part they modified.

How did this modification help Briscoe: NASCAR says the modified spoiler let the #19 flex under air pressure, giving it more speed, which was 182.745 mph. And, Briscoe finishing P4. Now the question is if it really makes that much of a difference. Either way, it was a historic moment—Briscoe’s first race in a Toyota and Toyota’s first-ever pole at the Daytona 500. Not the kind of milestone they were hoping for, but a significant one nonetheless.

Now, Briscoe’s heading into Atlanta dead last in the standings with -67 points. Even if he wins and grabs the fastest lap, he’ll still be 5 points in the hole going into COTA. It’s definitely a tough road ahead for him and the #19 team. Although we know Briscoe’s got skill and speed, let’s see if they can bounce back. 

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