Martinsville Tops the Feud List!

^{Mar 29, 2025 | Edition #156}

👋 Dear Motorheads,

NASCAR rolls into Martinsville Speedway, the only track that’s been on the schedule since the sport’s debut in 1949. At just 0.526 miles, it’s the shortest and tightest track on the schedule, delivering bumps, bruises, and the biggest drama. But this weekend, it’s not just the drivers bringing the heat—Mother Nature might have a say too. With a 35-40% chance of rain and 60% humidity, we could be looking at delays or even a postponement.

But hey, this is Martinsville, and the show must go on! So while the Cup race is a day away, let’s take a look back at some of Martinsville’s greatest post-race feuds.

🗝️ From the Vault

Throwback to Some of Martinsville’s Greatest Feuds

Martinsville Speedway isn’t just another short track. It’s a pressure cooker where tempers boil over, grudges form, and payback is always around the corner. The tight turns and relentless bumper-to-bumper action guarantee fireworks. And, over the years, we've seen some unforgettable clashes (in and outside of the race).

One of the most explosive moments came in the Trucks in 2013 when Kevin Harvick was leaving Richard Childress Racing. Kevin had already signed with Stewart-Haas Racing but still had to finish the season under RCR’s banner. But things got downright ugly when he found himself tangling with Ty Dillon. And, Dillon wasn’t just racing hard; he was bumping, shoving, and even attempting to spin out the No. 14 Chevy.

He hooked Harvick’s truck in Turn 1 and triggered a caution. If that wasn’t enough, Harvick went full-throttle on the mind games, intentionally parking in Dillon’s pit stall, and blocking him from getting in. But the inter-tem feud didn’t end here. As a response to Harvick’s parking, one of Dillon’s crew members, fueled by pure rage, grabbed a sledgehammer and hurled it at Harvick’s truck. Literally a sledgehammer getting thrown in the middle of a NASCAR race. Here’s a quick recap.

Visibly angry, Harvick later exclaimed, “Exactly the reason why I'm leaving RCR.” Well, that was indeed enough for a driver to leave.

Another unforgettable Martinsville feud erupted in 2019 when Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano clashed in the Xfinity 500. The fireworks ignited on lap 458 when Hamlin slammed into Logano, pinning him into the wall and shattering his shot at the win. Furious, the Team Penske driver stormed over to confront Hamlin on the pit road.

In a mere second, the confrontation took the wildest turn. Logano shoved Hamlin, and the gloves were off. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver lunged after him, and right there, chaos erupted. Crew members from both teams jumped in. What happened next, you should take a look. This was definitely one for the books.

And, just like Harvick, Hamlin didn’t hold back either. Pointing at Logano, he said, “He’s scared.”

Meanwhile, Joey Logano admitted his actions may have worsened the situation, saying, “Maybe I shouldn’t have shoved him at the end; it may have escalated it a little bit more.” But when the stakes are high and the emotions run wild, the situation can quickly get out of hand.

That’s short track racing for you, it’s personal. While this year we haven’t seen many rivalries as of yet, Martinsville is here, so you never know.

Continue Reading: Joey Logano Publicly Blasts SMI & NASCAR’s Unchecked ‘Flirting’ With Pit Crews’ Safety

🗣️ Talk of the NASCAR Town

Dale Jr. Is Ashamed of Losing His Temper

Folks, we very well know Dale Earnhardt Jr. is easily one of the calmest drivers in NASCAR. You won’t catch him blowing up on the team radio like Kyle Busch, Denny, or Logano. But hey, even Junior has had his moments, ones he probably doesn’t look back on too fondly.

Take Atlanta in the 2009 Kobalt Tools 500, for example. Things got heated when his crew kept struggling with loose wheels on his No. 88 Chevy. And Junior wasn’t having it. Under the caution, as his chevy rolled into the pit lane, you could hear him issuing a warning on the team radio, “If the wheel comes off and I hit the fence real hard, I get to whack every damn one of you with the hammer.” Ouch! And, the next moment, they were all tight. Here, have a look.

Now, that’s not exactly what you'd expect from the usually laid-back Dale Jr. But looking back, even he wasn’t too proud of how he handled it. As he sat down for the Bussin' With The Boys podcast just three days ago, he openly admitted his mistake, saying: “I see that clip on YouTube, and I’m like, God, that’s stupid.. That was so rude and unnecessary.”

It’s clear that Junior was frustrated in that race, and rightly so. But he regrets. “Even though I know that they’re my guys, we’re a team and I know they are probably standing there and going, what a fu—— as——, he’s going to hit me with a hammer?”

While the reaction is justified, what’s really cool is that Junior didn’t just try to brush it off. He knows that mistakes happen and no crew is perfect. And, he is still the same driver we all know well and love.

Continue Reading: Dale Jr.’s Daughter Exposes Surprising Family Dynamics as ‘Empathy Test’ Goes Wrong

🏁 Lucky Dog’s Quick Poll 🏁

🔮 Lucky Dog’s Perspective

Xfinity Star Gets Threatened By Larson Fans

Who would’ve thought a race incident could spiral into death threats? But here we are. After a late-race run-in with Kyle Larson at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Sam Mayer is now dealing with some pretty disturbing messages from fired-up Larson fans.

So, the HMS driver was putting on a clinic at the Hard Rock Bet 300, leading by a whopping 16 seconds. It was all but certain that ‘Yung Money’ was about to add another Homestead win to his resume. But then, just like that, 2 laps to go, everything changed. A caution flew, bunching up the field and setting the stage for a dramatic restart. Enter Sam Mayer. Trying to make a move, he went for it—but misjudged the situation big time. The next thing you know, Mayer’s No. 1 Chevy clips Larson’s No. 17, sending him into the wall. It was a pure heartbreak for Larson, who almost took the chequered flag. Look at the last lap brawl that is getting Mayer Death threats.

We know it was an unintentional mistake that sent both drivers out of contention. But Mayer is getting some insane hate for the same. “I’ll say that the hardcore fans – the DMs I have are freaking unreal. I don’t want to say too much, but there are a lot of people out there who are wishing that I were not alive right now. It’s pretty crazy."

It is indeed unacceptable. We need to understand this is a sport we love, a sport we have been following for decades and these drivers are the core pillars.

And, these are real Death threats we are talking about, people. All because of an unintentional incident during the race, which tends to happen all the time. And, if you don’t know, even Mayer is no stranger to controversy. Remember that run-in with Riley Herbst at Martinsville? Mayer and Riley Herbst made contact in Turn 2, and so many cars lost it’s true shape.

Or take his run-in with Parker Retzlaff at Martinsville. It was hard racing, some contact, and tempers flaring. But at the end of the day, that’s what makes NASCAR great. But what isn’t part of the sport, are these ‘Death threats’. No level of passion justifies crossing that line, and when things get that extreme, it’s more than just a driver’s reputation on the line—it’s their safety.

Unfortunately for Sam, he had to learn that the hard way. But despite all the noise, he’s staying focused. “I’m going to take what I learned last week and apply it to Martinsville,” he said, proving he’s got no plans of backing down.

With Martinsville Speedway up next, where he's had his share of heated moments—you can bet he’ll be racing smart. But maybe, just maybe, he deserves a little more support and respect along the way.

Continue Reading: When Joe Gibbs’ Grandson Embarrassed Himself for $100,000 in Martinsville

🌪️ Cause for Controversy

Samantha Is Controlling Rowdy's Racing Legacy

We all know Samantha Busch has a playful side. She’s always the first to joke about being the boss when it comes to making plans, while Kyle just goes along for the ride. But when it comes to Rowdy’s racing career, she’s a bit firm and serious. Especially when it involves one of the most dangerous forms of motorsports out there, the 410 sprint car.

And, Kyle Busch has done it all—NASCAR, dirt racing, you name it. But strapping into a 410 sprint car, that’s no small thing. But according to top sprint car racer David Gravel, it’s not Kyle calling the shots on that one. It is Samantha. According to her, Rowdy “won’t” race a 410 sprint because “mama won’t let him.”

Yep, you’ve read that right. And, Samantha’s unapologetic about it. She even confirmed her stance in a recent exchange. “1000%! It’s not happening.” Hear her out, she’s not even drawing the line.

While that’s a totally valid concern from Samantha, Kyle Busch hasn’t responded to it just yet. But she’s got a point. 410 sprint cars are no joke. They’re some of the most dangerous machines in motorsports, and that’s a risk she’s just not willing to take.

These cars are lightweight, insanely powerful, and flat-out reckless on dirt tracks. Crashes aren’t just possible, they’re almost inevitable. And after everything Rowdy has already been through in his career, you can’t really blame Samantha for drawing the line.

Remember the absolute chaos at Daytona in the 2015 Xfinity Series season opener? One second, Erik Jones is spinning at the back of the pack, and the next—bam!—Kyle Busch is skidding through the infield grass, completely out of control. The impact was hard. Busch’s car slammed headfirst into an unprotected concrete wall, crumpling like a tin can. The silence that followed said it all. This got so bad that medical crews rushed in immediately. Moments later, there he was, strapped onto a stretcher, his leg wrapped in tape. Watch for yourself.

But this is Kyle Busch we’re talking about. The guy has spent nearly his entire life living in the fast lane, risking it all every weekend. So Samantha’s concern is valid. And, as things stand, Rowdy’s sprint car dreams will have to wait.

Continue Reading: Kyle Busch Publicly Dismisses Hidden Agenda Behind Sensational Millbridge Showdown

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