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Looking Back at 2024’s Scariest Crashes
Dec 2, 2024 | Edition #105
👋 Dear Motorheads,
Are you missing the 2024 season? Well, the Lucky Dog certainly was. That is why we have brought you another one of our season rewinds. This time, we'll be looking back at some of the most jaw-dropping moments from the 2024 season.
From Tyler Reddick’s wild flip in Vegas to William Byron’s tire getting stuck in Brad Keselowski’s window, it’s been a season full of crazy crashes. Honestly, it was tough narrowing it down to just five!
💥 Top 5 Scariest Crashes of The Season
😨 NASCAR New Rules Have Teams Worrying
🤔 If Not Pheonix, Then What?
💌 Remembering the Forgotten NASCAR Veteran
⏪ Season Rewind
5 Most Horrific Wrecks From the Cup Season
The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season hasn't been shy on the wrecks. After sorting through it, we’ve picked the top five that literally made us all gasp.
#5 The Toyota Train Meets Its End
Do you remember the spring race at Talladega? It saw the Toyota team rolling with a solid strategy (or so they thought). Seven Toyotas lined up, and pit-stopped together on lap 151, hoping that saving fuel and getting a jump on track position would pay off. However, it didn’t go quite as smoothly as planned. As Tyler Reddick led the Camrys in a single file, the pack hit a bump in Turn 3, and there was nothing Bubba Wallace could do but ram into Jones' rear and the 23XI driver violently dived head-first into the outside wall. Have a look!
#4 The Domino Effect in Daytona
You all would remember the chaotic crash during Duel 2 in Daytona. While Ryan Blaney’s car was in flames, it wasn’t even his fault. As the defending champion was in the 6th position trying to make a pass from the inside of William Byron, the latter lost control and slammed into Blaney’s right rear, sending him hard into the wall and a car at the speed made it scary to watch. And, the wreck triggered a multi-car pile-up!
But what started the wreck? It actually began when Brad Keselowski got into the back of Kyle Busch, and Kyle Busch got into the back of Byron.
#3 The Regular Season’s Penultimate Race
“I can promise you, we race each other harder. I can think off the top of my head the amount of times me and Todd Gilliland have ran into each other, me and Noah having our fight or racing really hard,” that is what Harrison Burton said last week. Now while Burton’s racing choices are pretty clear, his win at Daytona would probably have not been possible if Michael McDowell, who led until nine laps to go, hadn’t gotten loose.
Picture this: Three lanes of roaring machines, with Michael McDowell leading the charge on the outside. Next thing? McDowell got loose, sliding directly into Joey Logano’s path. As a result, the latter had no time to react, and the collision sent McDowell’s car hurtling into the air. At first, it did seem like his car might flip,’ but against all odds, it stayed grounded.
#2 Another One From the Same Race
After the debris from the McDowell crash was cleared, Austin Cindric and Josh Berry were leading the pack for the restart. With only 2 laps left, Berry looked like he could make a move for his first Cup Series win. But Cindric got loose, turned into Berry, and sent him flying. Here is a video capturing the incident that ended with him upside down.
Berry flipped, skidded across the infield, and ended up on his roof, hitting the wall and spinning for a while! The race went into overtime and we saw probably the most unexpected finish of the season as Burton held off Busch.
#1 Corey Lajoie Ends His Race Sideways
The top crash on this list is hardly anyone’s guess. Surprisingly, McDowell and Josh Berry have been involved more often than not in the nastiest of wrecks in 2024. On the final lap of the Talladega spring race, McDowell was defending against Brad Keselowski. But he got loose and crashed into the #6. McDowell wrecked in the wall and spun in the front of the field. Several cars, including Corey LaJoie’s, got caught up in the wreck. Somehow, LaJoie’s No. 7 got underneath the No. 4 of Berry and turned sideways onto the wall.
🏁 Lucky Dog’s Quick Poll 🏁
The Following Drivers Have the Highest Involvement in Accidents for 2024. Who Do You Think Has the Biggest Skill Issue? |
Last Poll’s Result: Telling us, If You Are ‘Happy With the Current Playoff Format?’, 72.86% of you said ‘No’, while some took to comments and even asked for a ‘NO Playoff’ scenario in motorsports altogether. While NASCAR rethinks the system, let’s hope for the best.
🌪️ Cause For Controversy
NASCAR’s Controversial Pit Crew Fire Suit Rule
NASCAR’s thrown a curveball at the Craftsman Truck Series teams for 2025, and let’s just say—nobody’s happy about it. The big issue? NASCAR’s new rule limits the logos pit crews can sport on their fire suits. Starting next year, you will see no more flashy sponsor logos. The guys over the wall can still have logos, but they’ll have to stick to the same set of sponsors for the entire year. Sounds pretty harmless, right?
There’s more! The rule takes away a big chunk of potential revenue for truck teams. “This is removing a sellable asset from teams.,” said Josh Reaume, owner of Reaume Brothers Racing.
The real issue? It’s already expensive to run a Truck team—especially since the race purse is way smaller than the Cup Series. So is it NASCAR’s "cost-cutting" move? And, don’t think Dale Jr is quite on the sidelines here. He shared a famous GIF of Seth Rogen sticking duct tape to a huge wall crack. It’s clear nobody is happy with the direction NASCAR’s headed. Why’s this such a big deal?
Well, smaller teams rely on hand-me-down fire suits, but now they’ll have to fork out extra cash for new, standardized ones, which is a huge hit to their already stretched budgets. No wonder veteran drivers are shaking their heads. Kevin Harvick couldn’t believe it when he heard the news, saying, “What in the world is happening?” And even Denny Hamlin didn’t miss a beat, responding with a sarcastic, “It’s called cutting your way to prosperity, Kev. Duhhh.”
Even JR Motorsports CEO and Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s sister, Kelley Earnhardt found it odd that NASCAR would do this “in a sport where sponsorship makes up the bulk of our funding.” So, it’s safe to say this rule change has everyone from team owners to drivers scratching their heads and wondering: What’s NASCAR thinking?
🫶 The Pit Stop
The Offseason Is Here, It’s Time for You to Relax!
Are you sitting still? Just as your favorite drivers are taking a well-earned vacation, why not treat yourself to a getaway this holiday season as well?
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Promoted Poll
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📈 Trending News
Phoenix’s Finale Reign in Jeopardy
It's no secret that the 2024 season is being scrutinized for a variety of reasons. Be it the race manipulation incident at Martinsville or the fact that fans think Joey Logano is an “undeserving” champion, questioning the playoff format. Also under the lens is the track where Logano lifted the title - the desert oddball, Phoenix Raceway!
The track has had the honor five times now, starting in 2020, and NASCAR has been called out to retrospect if they made the right decision to push Homestead Miami down to the top 8.
First off, from this season itself who can forget that final lap at Maimi when it seemed almost certain that it would be a Hamlin or Blaney win, but Reddick took them both, showing his prowess and making the championship 4 for the first time. Well, let's give credit where it's due, Phoenix too had a thrilling chase between Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney, but let’s face it, it's time for a change, or in Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s words, “It's ran its course."
While nothing is certain, there is a possibility that Miami has agreed to get out of the playoffs in 2025 so that they get more time for their ongoing renovations and bid to host the 2026 finale. NASCAR Chief Operating Officer Steve O’Donnell name-dropped four race tracks. First on the list is the well-deserved Homestead Miami. Well, Phoenix has a great facility with amazing race fans, but the on-track product is admittedly not the best. Then why not change it?
Even O'Donnell agreed that racing is phenomenal at Miami, but what’s holding them back is the attendance. “I would say that in March when we go back, how do we do from an attendance standpoint? That’s going to be really big for us to see can we gain some momentum?” Let’s hope that’s sorted.
You know nothing comes close to Miami, but another popular choice has also been Las Vegas. Remember when veteran Kevin Harvick had made a wild proposal of rotating the finale race between, “Las Vegas, Phoenix, Homestead.” And it can’t be denied that the playoff race was thrilling when Joey Logano took the lead over Daniel Suarez to take the checkered flag.
Also on the list are “Darlington Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway.” Well, both are strong contenders, both iconic tracks that host the crown jewels. But if we were to pick one Darlington hands down was better this year. Yes, the Coca-Cola 600 was rain-shortened, but Darlington took the edge with that final battle between Chase Briscoe and Kyle Busch. What a story it was - Briscoe giving SHR a fitting farewell.
So, who knows? Time will tell which track NASCAR decides to go with for the 2026 season and beyond. Don’t worry the Lucky Dog will be keeping a close eye on these potential changes and let you know!
🫡 The Lucky Dog Salutes
Throwback to Breaking Barriers and Making History
Do you remember when on December 1, 1963, Wendell Scott, from Danville, Virginia, crossed the finish line first at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Florida, becoming the first Black driver to win a race in NASCAR’s premier series? Scott’s road to NASCAR glory wasn’t an easy one. He started racing in the segregated South during the 1940s, often going up against white drivers at a time when racial prejudice was everywhere. But Scott’s talent and determination stood out, quickly making a name for himself.
The 1963 race at Jacksonville was one for the books. Scott, behind the wheel of his famous No. 34 Oldsmobile, fought hard against the competition, leading the final 26 laps, and by the time the race ended, it was clear he had won—but the victory wasn’t immediately recognized.
At first, the win was awarded to Buck Baker, a popular Pontiac driver and two-time series champ. But Scott immediately raised his concerns and what he felt. Here’s a video from Scott on the incident, so hear from the guy himself.
Scott’s achievement inspired countless young black drivers and opened the door for future generations to compete at the highest levels of stock car racing. But his path wasn’t easy. He faced racism, threats, and discrimination at every turn. His cars were often sabotaged. On more than one occasion, other drivers deliberately wrecked him during races. He became known for fixing his own car since he rarely got the respect he deserved.
One notable example was in his rookie season when he was denied the Rookie of the Year award in 1961—despite having five top-ten finishes, while Woodie Wilson, who only had one, took the prize. But Scott didn’t let these obstacles stop him. He was driven by his love for racing and his determination to prove himself.
Scott made his debut in NASCAR’s premier series on March 4, 1961, at Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds in Spartanburg, S.C. That year, he raced in 23 events. Over the next decade, Scott raced through death threats, discrimination, and lack of funding, making 495 starts between 1961 and 1973 and earning 20 top-5 finishes.
In 2010, at Golden Isles Speedway near the Florida-Georgia line, Scott’s children were given a replica of the missing 1963 trophy. And in 2015, he was inducted posthumously into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, a long-overdue tribute to a true pioneer. Here’s a clip that has his son and grandson appreciating Scott as they sat down with Kyle Petty.
As you saw, Wendell Scott’s legacy is much more than just that historic 1963 victory. He was a fighter, a man who overcame adversity to achieve greatness. His story reminds us all that with hard work, perseverance, and a belief in yourself, anything is possible.
📰 Lucky Dog's Recommended Reads
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Mark Martin Chimes In for NASCAR’s GOAT Debate Snubbing Dale Earnhardt - Full Story
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✨ Featured Comment
While most of you raised objections to NASCAR's playoff system, one comment stood out, where Super Fan - John Petraitis shared a compelling reason behind their perspective.
Lucky Dog's Take: We feel some drivers did crush it in the first half of the season, but the NASCAR playoffs turned up the heat, making it tough for them to hang on in the all-important second half. Sure, the Next Gen cars are tricky, and the tracks don’t make it any easier, but let’s be real—the drama and unpredictability are what keeps Lucky Dog and NASCAR fans excited!
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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