If Not Joey Logano, Then Who?

December 16, 2024

Dec 16, 2024 | Edition #111

👋 Dear Motorheads,

The 2024 NASCAR season is in the books, and let’s be real—something about it felt off. Joey Logano might’ve snagged the championship, but for many fans, it just didn’t hit the same. Maybe it’s the format, maybe it’s the vibe—either way, you can’t rewrite history. Or can you?

Well, here’s the fun part… the Lucky Dog is shaking things by taking you back to the pre-2003 days. Yep, we’re looking back at the 2024 season but with the old points system lens. Spoiler alert, though, the champion wouldn’t be Logano, or Kyle Larson for that matter.

Quick Peek Into Today’s Stories:

🏆 Who Should Have Been the 2024 Champion?

😤 NASCAR’s Shifting Blame for the Sub-Par Format!

⚖️ Is NASCAR Biased Against Female Drivers?

💍 The Long-Awaited NASCAR Wedding

🍻 Cheering On the Most Underrated Driver on the Grid!

🔎 The In-Depth View

The Real Champion Under the Latford System?

If you’re tired of NASCAR’s playoff drama, let’s take a step back to the "Latford System," the old-school points format used from 1975 to 2003. Fans say it was the ‘true way’ to crown a champion. So, we crunched the 2024 numbers, and guess what? We found an all-new champion.

In case you are not aware, the Latford System operated much like a traditional points system, with no playoffs or resets—just season-long grit. Meaning, heading into the Phoenix finale, five drivers were still in the title hunt.

When you plug the 2024 results into the Latford formula, it’s clear that the championship fight would have been a lot tighter—and a lot more unpredictable—than what we saw with the playoffs. Here’s an in-detail video explaining all the different points system.

Under that system, one of the most fascinating aspects of the season would have been just how many drivers were in the championship hunt heading into the final stretch. Over the last seven races, the points lead would have changed 17 times, with six of those changes occurring in the final half of the season. In fact, the championship would have still been up for grabs as late as the final race at Phoenix.

Heading into the final race, Chase Elliott would have held a razor-thin 13-point lead over Christopher Bell. Tyler Reddick, William Byron, and Kyle Larson would have still been in the mix. But out of all, Larson would have had the steepest hill to climb—nearly 150 points back after missing the Coca-Cola 600.

But Bell would have had the spotlight during the season's endgame. Just 11 races earlier, he was 400 points behind the leader, practically written off by most. Then, boom—a late-season surge flips the script, putting him squarely in the championship hunt heading into Phoenix. And guess what? Bell delivers!

Under the Latford System, his consistency would have paid off big time. While Elliott had been stellar all year, Bell’s clutch performance in the finale, including a crucial top-five finish, would have sealed the deal. The margin? A nail-biting 5 points. Bell’s epic comeback proves that steady results, not just flashy wins, still get you championships in the old-school game.

Here’s where things get interesting though… Kyle Larson, who ended up 135 points behind Christopher Bell in the final standings, could have been right in the thick of the title fight if he’d just done a little better in the Coca-Cola 600. Yep, the race he missed (thanks to rain). All Larson needed was a top-nine finish to stay in contention, and that alone could’ve turned the championship battle into a nail-biter.

Imagine the chaos! If Larson had been in the mix, the Latford System would’ve given us one of the wildest title fights in decades. Christopher Bell still would’ve edged out the trophy, but it wouldn’t have been easy. The finale at Phoenix would’ve been a high-stakes showdown with Elliott, Reddick, and Larson, all fighting tooth and nail for glory.

Bottom line: Something’s gotta give—maybe it’s time for a change in the points system. And while Christopher Bell missed out on another shot at the title, we have another story dedicated to him. So stick around!

🌪️ Cause for Controversy

NASCAR President Throws Drivers Under the Bus

So, here we are again, back to our current playoff format. While Joey Logano is the NASCAR champion, he now also holds the record for the worst average finish for a champion.

So naturally, that’s sparked some serious debate, with a lot of people calling him “undeserving” while questioning the playoff system. That’s when NASCAR president Steve Phelps stepped in to defend the system. And in doing so, he shockingly blamed the drivers instead. According to him, the playoffs had “drivers that really performed well in the playoffs and drivers that didn’t.”

Sure, some drivers were stronger during the regular season, but when it came to the playoffs, they just couldn’t get it done. But isn’t that part of the fans' argument: Shouldn’t the entire season count for consistency and not just the playoffs?

Let’s be honest — the playoffs were pretty wild this year. The drama started with the elimination of two former champs — Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr — in the first round. No surprise there; they hadn’t been in top form.

As the field got smaller, we saw the cream rise to the top, with only the most consistent drivers making it through. Except… Logano. His ticket to the Round of 8? The whole "win and you're in" rule (plus Alex Bowman’s disqualification). Some argue that without that, Logano wouldn’t even have made it past the first round.

Still, Phelps defends the system, claiming the Round of 8 did exactly what it was supposed to: it weeded out the drivers who weren’t performing and kept the best of the best. According to him, the four drivers in the final round were the right ones — even if Logano’s presence was a little… controversial.

If you take Logano out of the picture, NASCAR could have had one of the best seasons ever, with 18 different winners and a ton of excitement. But Phelps insists that all the Championship 4 drivers deserved to be there, including Logano. Why? Because he “went to Vegas and won, then went to Phoenix and won.” Phelps believes Logano survived a “difficult” playoff and earned the title, which others did not.

Still, the system is clearly a bit broken. Logano had just one win, four top 5 finishes, and was 9th in the standings when the regular season ended — yet somehow, he walked away with the championship. Meanwhile, drivers like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell, who were more consistent all year, didn’t even make it to the top 4. Either way, a change needs to happen. Maybe it’s time for a multi-race championship round.

🗞️ NASCAR Shorts!

Deegan Sparks the Gender Bias Debate

So, folks, Hailie Deegan's making the jump to IndyCar, and it's got everyone talking about whether NASCAR is really ready for a female driver. This time, her dad, Brian Deegan, threw down the gauntlet: “I don’t think NASCAR is ready for a successful girl race car driver.” Bold, right?

As you’d know, Deegan’s career has been a rollercoaster—she dominated the K&N Pro Series, then hit speed bumps in the Truck and Xfinity Series. Now, she’s off to IndyCar, and it’s a total wildcard. Will she find her groove? Who knows? But NASCAR legend Ken Schrader isn’t having it. For him, it’s simple: the sport’s about talent, period. The best driver wins. End of story. Read the Full Article!

🏁 Lucky Dog’s Quick Poll 🏁

Who Do You Think Deserved the 2024 Championship?

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Last Poll’s Result: In our last poll, we asked you to rewind to the first NASCAR race you ever watched—and man, you all did experience some crazy races! Turns out, 50% of you saw legends like Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt snag the checkered flag. Some of you even dropped gems like Mark Martin and Carl Edwards in the comments.

🌊 The Off-Season Wave

Ryan Blaney’s 'Whimsical' Winter Wedding

The most anticipated NASCAR wedding of the year is finally here! Remember, in one of the editions, earlier this month we spoke of Ryan Blaney and Gianna Tulio being busy with wedding plans? Well, the big day has come and gone, and the couple is officially married! They tied the knot in a breathtaking ceremony to "Take My Heart" by The Teskey Brothers, and it was everything the couple hoped for.

It all started a year ago when Blaney popped the question on a snow-covered bridge in Washington. Yes, the Penske driver did create one of those “picture-perfect” moments. Fast forward to the wedding, which took place at the luxurious Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colorado. Imagine a beautifully dressed couple standing right beside snowy mountains in a dreamy Candlelit Aspen Affair theme. Gianna made a beautiful bride, and she couldn't have been happier. The fairy bride even admitted it was "everything I’ve ever dreamed of as a little girl."

Who would've guessed that a chance meeting in Las Vegas back in 2018 would turn into this magical moment? Gianna even admitted they both “had no intention” of meeting that night at a country-themed bar. But here they are, six years later, celebrating what she calls "the most magical night" of their lives. Here’s a picture of the ceremony.

The couple kept the wedding small and intimate, inviting just 150-200 of their closest friends and family, including Blaney’s NASCAR buddies. Of course, his golf partner, Chase Elliott, was there—imagine not being the most popular driver at your own wedding! But jokes apart, the two share a wonderful bond. And, it’s not a new friendship. Here’s a sneak peek from one of their golf outings filled with friendly banter and trash talk.

And then there was Bubba Wallace, who was already enjoying some pre-wedding fun with Blaney that he posted on his Instagram account. And, the caption? Have a look for yourself. Elliott’s rumored girlfriend, Ashley Stephenson, and Wallace’s wife, Amanda Wallace, are also close friends with Tulio, and the trio looked stunning in their Instagram stories.

Other NASCAR notables at the wedding included Daniel Hemric, Austin Cindric, Kevin Coleman, IndyCar champion Josef Newgarden, and his teammate, Scott McLaughlin, plus Dale Earnhardt Jr and his wife, Amy Earnhardt. It was a real who's-who of the racing world!

The festivities kicked off with a western-themed welcome party the night before the ceremony at Hickory House, where guests dug into some BBQ, danced to country tunes, and visited a custom hat pop-up bar. The next morning, before the ceremony, Blaney and Gianna exchanged vows. Gianna walked down the aisle to Lana Del Rey’s "Video Games," looking stunning in a wintry white dress. It was everything they’d dreamed of—and then some.

For their honeymoon, the newlyweds are off to skiing as per their social media updates. To catch a glimpse of the same, you can check Gianna’s Instagram account.

🫡 The Lucky Dog Salutes

NASCAR’s Most Underrated Driver is Turning 30

Christopher Bell just hit the big 3-0! Sure, luck wasn’t on his side this season, but let’s be real—Lucky Dog thinks he’s NASCAR’s most underrated driver. And, here’s why he deserves way more credit.

C. Bell’s first career win in the Cup over Joey Logano must be fresh in your memories, right? Bell is known to be that powerhouse, but for some reason, he’s been flying under the radar in a baffling way. He was darn close, making it to the championship 4 but his ‘hail melon 2.0’ at Martinsville disqualified him.

But even if you forget this season and look at the last three, he’s hands down been one of the most consistent. Still, when the conversation turns to the best drivers in NASCAR, it’s easy to miss Bell’s name, and that’s something even Larson seems to think is a mistake.

And, it’s not like Bell is camera-shy or avoids the spotlight—he’s outspoken when needed. Who can forget him lashing out at NASCAR, feeling “cheated” for the Martinsville incident? The simple truth is that Bell’s brand of quiet excellence doesn’t always make the headlines.

He’s not as flashy as some other drivers, and his demeanor isn’t as outspoken or controversial. But numbers don’t lie, and Bell’s consistency, coupled with his ability to perform when it matters most, speaks volumes.

As Bell turns 30, he’s still in his prime and has plenty of racing ahead of him. If he continues this trajectory, it's only a matter of time before the narrative catches up with his results.

If Christopher Bell were to win the championship this season—or perhaps in the next few years—maybe that’s when the wider NASCAR community will finally give him the credit he’s earned. So,

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