Martin Truex Jr Loses His Biggest Supporter!

January 18, 2025

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^{Jan 18, 2025 | Edition #125}

👋 Dear Motorheads,

The Lucky Dog’s sitting here with a heavy heart today, trying to put into words the loss we're feeling. Martin Truex Sr., a NASCAR legend, a person with an infectious aura, and one heck of a family man, has left us at the age of 66.

The news of his passing on January 17 [Friday] has deeply impacted the Truex family and the wider community and we’re still trying to wrap our heads around it.

🫡 The Lucky Dog Salutes

Remembering the Busch Series Legend, Martin Truex Sr!

Now, we know what you may be thinking: Isn’t that just Martin Truex Jr’s dad? Well, the man, was also a beloved NASCAR figure and a champion in his own right! He competed in 15 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series (now known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series).

And who can forget that thrilling win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway back in 1994? Watch his win from the 1994 Auto Palace/Slick 50 150.

He was also a force to be reckoned with in modified competition in his home state of New Jersey and the northeast. But here's the thing, folks: papa Truex's greatest legacy ain't his wins or his racing accomplishments. It's the family he built and the values he instilled in them. His next-generation star sons, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Truex have followed in his footsteps to become successful NASCAR drivers in their own right.

Martin Jr.'s a Cup Series champion, and Ryan's a three-time Xfinity Series winner. And, certainly, they've made their dad proud, and we know he was always beaming with pride whenever they took to the track. Here’s one such emotional message for Papa Truex from MTJ himself.

And, in these tough times, the outpour of love and support from the NASCAR community has been overwhelming. Dale Earnhardt Jr. called Martin "a great man," and James Small, crew chief for Joe Gibbs Racing, remembered him as "always the life of the party and an absolute champion of a bloke." These tributes are a testament to the veteran’s impact.

As the Truex family navigates this difficult phase, they've asked for privacy, and we should all respect that. But we know the NASCAR community will continue to rally around 'em, offering love, support, and comfort in the days and weeks ahead.

As we say goodbye to this incredible man, we're reminded that his legacy will live on through his family, his friends, and the countless lives he touched throughout his career.

Martin Truex Jr. will pay tribute to his father at the upcoming Daytona 500, driving the No. 56 Toyota for TRICON Garage - the same number his dad drove during his Xfinity days. It's a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much to the sport he loved. Look at the No. 56 from 1993-96.

Rest in peace, Martin Truex Sr. Your memory will never be forgotten!

Continue Reading: Meet Martin Truex Jr’s Crew Chief Reunited by Tricon Garage’s Daytona 500 Gamble

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📈 Trending News

The 2025 Duel is Getting Interesting…

Martin Truex Jr. coming back was enough to make the Daytona 500 great. But him coming back with Cole Pearn as crew chief. That's a race none of us are missing. Pearn's departure in 2019, was seemingly MTJ’s downfall. We are glad Tricon Garage could convince the Canadian crew chief to drop his skiing plans and prioritize NASCAR.

A comeback in the #78 car would’ve been perfect, but let’s not overlook the significance of the #56, where Martin Truex Jr. truly found his footing. It’s a symbolic return.

Joining him in the open entry group is Jimmie Johnson, unexpectedly stepping back into the driver’s seat despite focusing on ownership. While JJ’s two starts might not solve LMC’s struggles, seeing him back at Daytona is exciting. Who knows, his 22nd Daytona 500 might be what he needs to bounce back.

Speaking of veterans in the Duel, there's still no update on Mike Wallace. However, another name has surfaced: Carl. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s crew chief, Mike Kelley, hinted at this in his unexpected X post.

Naturally, fans can’t help but speculate about Carl Edwards, the only “Carl” who fits the bill. So, if it’s Carl Edwards, the Daytona 500 is going to be a memorable one. Remember his 2011 Daytona 500 spin. Here’s the race video.

But we remember Carl Edwards was pretty clear when he announced his retirement. And after his HOF induction, he talked about having “no regrets” from 2016. Achieving everything he “wanted to do in the sport.” So we won’t start celebrating just yet.

However, there’s another possibility: Carl Long. With Wallace sidelined, MBM Motorsports could look to utilize their prepared car and sponsorship by putting the team owner behind the wheel.

Well, only time will tell who makes it. As of now, close to 45 cars are scheduled to start the race. Let’s hope the field only gets longer (and better).

Continue Reading: How is Kyle Busch Cup Stars’ Biggest Daytona 500 Threat?

🏁 Lucky Dog’s Quick Poll 🏁

If You Could Add One Driver to the Daytona 500 Field, Who Would It Be?

Last Poll’s Result: Ranking Kurt Busch among the greatest NASCAR drivers of all time, 39.95% of you believe he deserved to be in the Top 20. While some believe his attitude may have hindered his career, others commend him for elevating every team he raced for, making them competitive contenders.

🗞️ NASCAR Shorts!

Kyle Larson Replies to NASCAR’s Rule Change

In our last edition, we broke down NASCAR's playoff waiver rule, but Kyle Larson seems undeterred in his plans to attempt the iconic Indy-Charlotte Double in 2025. While fans are rooting for him to make history (a feat only Tony Stewart has achieved), Larson needs to tread carefully.

Unless there's a solid plan, his approach feels a bit casual. Calling the rule "aggressive" is one thing, but does Larson fully grasp its implications? We’re genuinely concerned, Kyle—proceed wisely! Here, read his full statement.

🔎 The In-Depth View

NASCAR’s New 24×7 Channel!

Many prayers seem to have been answered with this one for NASCAR fans. We remember, for a long time there was a demand of having a channel, exclusive to NASCAR content. Now we do!

The first fast channel would be on the FOX-owned streaming service and exclusive partner, Tubi. And, the best part is, they have promised to have classic races (maybe we get to see 'the lost' NASCAR races).

And, the Lucky Dog is thrilled to revisit past Daytona 500 moments, especially this unforgettable 2012 race.

While YouTube offers replays, there’s something special about enjoying everything NASCAR in one place—it’s like bringing back the nostalgia of the 'Speed' channel. That’s what you can have with Tubi now.

From Dave Despain’s WindTunnel show to classic segments like Trackside Live and Victory Lane, fans long for those iconic programs. Adding practice sessions, qualifying, and lower-tier races would make it even better.

And, who would mind some Trackside Live, Raceday, bringing back shows like NASCAR Drivers 360 and NBS 24/7? It would be a fantastic touch. So far NASCAR has promised;

NASCAR Daily with Shannon Spake
Race highlights
Radioactive
Refuse to Lose
Hall of Fame Biographies

And the best part is that all this is free. The subscription model could become appealing due to the ads, but the key concern is its international availability. If it’s not accessible globally, NASCAR might lose out on expanding its reach. Another worry is its ownership by FOX—will it include all races or just FOX events? That’s still unclear.

But add a reminder as it's launching on 29th Jan. And Will include live coverage of the NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony (Feb. 7) and the 'Cook Out Madhouse Classic' from Bowman Gray Stadium (Feb. 1). Watch the Preview.

🗣️ Talk of the NASCAR Town

JR Motorsports Makes a Huge Blunder

We deliberately did not mention Justin Allgaier in the list of veterans for the Duel. The JR Motorsports blunder in this whole thing was a story we wanted to tell you in detail. So, by now, you must know the 2024 Xfinity champ is running the Daytona 500.

JRM's dream of moving to the Cup seemed a stretch due to charter costs and the ongoing legal battles. However, things changed when Rick Hendrick connected Junior with musician Chris Stapleton. Stapleton quickly embraced the idea, offering support with his Traveler Whiskey brand, and plans for a JRM-sponsored Cup car began to take shape. A big reveal was in the works, bringing this exciting partnership to life.

But then somehow the website went live before scheduled. It had some part of this whole grand marketing plan. Fortunately, someone in the team was quick to notice and had it taken down. Dale Jr narrated the entire incident.

But we know such things need only a few seconds to spread. And Junior and the team scanned the internet the whole day to check for possible leaks. And there was one person who did a screenshot of it. But could not make much sense of it. Thankfully, it did not spread. And before anything, JRM made the announcement!

You should see the #40 car Allgaier’s driving.

Yes. Even we had questions about picking the #40. But apparently, Junior wanted Traveller whiskey to have the pick. “It’s Traveller’s first experience and allowing them to have a little skin,” he said. So it’s a tribute to their number 40 whiskey blend.

The #40 car, last driven by Jamie McMurray in the 2019 Daytona 500, marks a revival for JRM. With Greg Ives as crew chief, this one-off attempt is serious business. Like Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson, Justin Allgaier will have to qualify for the race, but Junior is keeping expectations low, entering with “zero pressure.” And the only hope of this being “the start of more opportunities to compete at the Cup level,” as he mentioned.

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Chris Stapleton Opens Up About Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s $2 Billion Deal - Full Story
Chase Elliott Reflects on NASCAR's Grassroots Movement—Why It Matters for the Future of the Sport- Full Story
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