President Trump's Charisma at the Daytona 500

^{Feb 17, 2025 | Edition #139}

👋 Dear Motorheads,

Hope you felt that pure American adrenaline at the Daytona 500—what a way to kick off the season! It had everything—thrills, heartbreak, and a finish straight out of a Hollywood script.

And we saw it coming—Hendrick Motorsports is rolling in ‘25! First, Chase Elliott nails the BGS, and now William Byron bags his second Harley J. Earl trophy. Byron was in P9 on that final lap, but honestly, that’s par for the course at the 500.

No matter how you slice it, the race did deliver big. It all kicked off with Donald Trump pacing in The Beast—an 18-foot-long limo on Daytona’s high-banked turns. Now that’s a spectacle.

🫡 The Lucky Dog Salutes

Donald Trump Circles Daytona

Folks, wishes do come true—just maybe not in the way we imagined! For the first time ever, a Cadillac made its way around a NASCAR track. But before you get too excited, this was President Trump’s armored limousine, aka “The Beast.”

Now, we all know a limo isn’t exactly built for a 31-degree banking angle, but it still turned heads and got some loud cheers as it completed two laps at NASCAR’s most iconic track. Here, watch for yourself.

And if you’re wondering what would happen if The Beast and a Next Gen Cup car went head to head, well, it’s no competition. The Cup car would easily take the win – mainly because The Beast is more than seven times heavier than a standard Cup car!

FOX compared the two, and while they didn’t give us a top-speed figure, we can take a wild guess. Given its size and weight, we’re betting it wouldn’t hit more than 60 mph, but then again, it’s the president’s ride, so maybe the details are kept on the down-low. You should check out FOX’s funny comparison.

Here’s the kicker: The Beast isn’t just a regular Cadillac. It’s a rolling fortress, packed with top-tier security features. While most of the details are classified (for obvious reasons), we know it’s got some serious protection. The car is equipped with a satellite phone for reaching the vice president, a stockpile of the president’s blood type, and even an oxygen supply in case of chemical attacks.

And, while that’s protocol, this marks Trump’s second time at Daytona as president. His first visit in 2020 was when he served as the Grand Marshal for the 500. But he’s not the first president to show up at the 500. George W. Bush was the first to attend, although he didn’t bring his limo with him. His ride was a Cadillac DTS. Here’s a picture of Bush’s vintage beauty.

It was nowhere near as heavily armored as Trump’s. We know it would’ve been interesting to compare the two, but let’s keep it for some other time.

Also, it wasn’t just Trump—Marvel’s own Anthony Mackie was there too, giving the iconic “Gentlemen, start your engines” this time. All in all, it was a perfect blend of politics, pop culture, and racing.

Continue Reading: Captain America Star Lets Slip Bold Daytona 500 Plan Forcing NASCAR’s Shutdown

🌪️ Cause for Controversy

Is the ‘Bill France Weather’ Failing?

Newer NASCAR fans might not know this, but if you've been around since Big Bill’s time, you get it. Back then, rain wasn’t a Daytona 500 problem. Seriously—there was a time when it never rained on race day, and fans believed it was all because of Bill France Sr.

The legend is sacred folks. They say he had a deal with the big man upstairs. No matter what, the rain stayed away from The Great American Race. Sounds like superstition. But for years, it actually worked. Check out the temperature details from the 1970 Daytona 500!

This weather had a streak of 37 years (between the 1966 and 2003 races). Not a single Daytona 500 was cut short or postponed by rain. Not even an overcast. It’s like, you could use Lewis Grizzard’s old-school weather dog trick—send a dog running, and if he came back dry, it wasn’t going to rain. And let’s just say… that dog always came back dry.

But these days even a two-year dry streak feels like a miracle. Think about it—before 2003, only two Daytona 500s ever ended early (1965, 1966). That’s nearly four decades of uninterrupted racing. It seems like Big Bill passed his magic touch to Bill Jr. too. But when Brian France took over in 2003, the spell was broken.

Just look at this year’s 500. After Trump’s lap in The Beast, we got 11 laps in, then a pause. Back to green at Lap 21… and then hours of waiting. Thankfully, some of that ‘Bill France Weather’ was still hanging around—we got all 200 laps and a little OT. But let’s be real—since 2003, Daytona has been a weather circus. That year? Shortened. 2009? Shortened. 2010? Delayed start. So, it’s safe to say… Big Bill’s rain deal is officially off.

And, 2012 was the first time we ever had to tune in on a Monday—taking time out of our busy schedules just to see the race finally go green. But it didn’t end there. Juan Pablo Montoya took it to another level, crashing into a jet dryer and setting his car on fire! Watch for yourself, the flames were massive! 

It was pure madness, it’s like Daytona just loves to keep us on our toes. Also, in 2020, when Denny Hamlin pulled off a back-to-back, we had to wait until Monday for it to happen again! And it wasn’t just a one-off. Maybe it’s time Jim France dusts off the old playbook and figures out what magic spell Bill Sr. had with the weather gods!

Continue Reading: Unfortunate Martin Truex Jr. Becomes Collateral Damage as Trackhouse Racing Implode at Daytona

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📈 Trending News

We Might Know Who That Fourth OEM Is!

Hold onto your hats, while we just saw a Cadillac on the track, it doesn’t mean a Cadillac is making a comeback—it's Dodge! the iconic brand is eyeing a return to the sport, and this isn’t just a rumor.

According to NASCAR journalist Adam Stern, NASCAR has already received a formal submission. And it looks like Dodge is leading the charge to come back into the racing fold! This could change the game. Check out Stern’s X post, he revealed the specific tier.

Sadly though, it’s not Cup Series. But when Steve Phelps said, "We have an OE that is close” to signing, we thought he meant in the Cup. Maybe after getting success in the lower tier, they plan to leap into the top one. But their exit from the Cup Series was sudden, and having a fourth manufacturer in the mix could possibly shake things up big time.

At the moment, Dodge’s return could make the most sense in the Truck Series. With NASCAR’s cost-cutting measures and the Ilmor spec engine, teams might be more inclined to take a chance on Dodge again. And let's not forget their epic history in Trucks—three manufacturer titles in 2001, 2003, and 2004, with Bobby Hamilton Sr. clinching the title for them in 2004.

But we can't ignore how their time in the Cup Series ended in 2012. Despite Brad Keselowski and Team Penske leading them to a championship, the departure felt... abrupt.

But let’s not forget, Dodge used to be a champion team. Look at their legendary 426 Hemi engine. The engine was specifically designed for the 1964 Daytona 500. Take a look for yourself.

They dominated the track that year, and "The King" helped pave the way in his Hemi'd No. 43 Plymouth Belvedere.

But, as we know, timing is everything in motorsport. Penske, looking for a partnership with a team that had more recent wins, made the switch to Ford—right as Chevy's dominance reached its peak. Seven consecutive titles, with Jimmie Johnson taking five and Tony Stewart grabbing two, meant that Ford was also hungry for a championship-caliber team.

That perfect storm of events led to Dodge exiting the Cup Series. They just didn’t have a top-tier partner left. Now, as Dodge eyes a comeback, they would have to start from scratch. And with no experience with the next-gen car, it’s a huge risk for teams to take. This is where GM could play a pivotal role, perhaps sharing some data from Chevy to give Dodge a competitive edge—much like how Cadillac could be a strong entry point for a manufacturer with a fresh slate.

The bigger question now is—could Honda be the next surprise? We’ve heard whispers, but nothing concrete yet. Either way, it would be exciting to see a new name—or an old one—make waves in the Cup Series again!

Continue Reading: “Amish” Carl Edwards Clears the Air on His Real Lifestyle After NASCAR Amidst Hilarious Memefest

🫨 Shocking Moment From the Race

“All I thought about was my daughter,” - said an incredibly shaken Ryan Preece, after surviving his second terrifying Daytona crash. The flips. The fire. The silence that followed the crash was deafening, as everyone watched in stunned disbelief.

 🔎 The In-Depth View

These Veterans Missed Out (by Inches) at Daytona

What’s better than being the 2024 Daytona 500 champ? Of course, the 2025 Daytona 500 champ. William Byron’s victory was incredible, but there’s a bittersweet side to it—especially when we know what the 2025 Daytona 500 could have been. Entering the race with other potential winners, no one saw Byron’s triumph coming. It’s a great win, but we all deserve a 500 with a bit more drama, more intensity, and a well-deserved finish that leaves us on the edge of our seats!

For instance, Kyle Busch was on the verge of making history. Starting from P21, he fought his way to the top 5, and it looked like this could be his moment. Busch was running P5 with just 15 laps to go, with Austin Dillon right behind him, ready to push him in the final stages. All lined up—until Joey Logano came charging in like a wrecking ball.

Logano, always one to take risks, tried to punch a hole through an air-tight field. First, he got into Busch, then tagged Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the back. And just like that, the chaos erupted! In a domino effect, Stenhouse spun Ryan Blaney, and before you knew it, Logano and Busch were both wrecked in a brutal mess. The race that looked like it could have been Busch’s became a wreck-fest

And of course, Busch was MAD!!! Watch Rowdy’s eye-roll and dig at Logano.

"Looks like the fastest car got in a hurry to get to the wreck." This is our favorite comment from the clip above. And, we very well understand your frustration, Kyle, this win could’ve ended your 57-race winless streak. You could have won the crown jewel in the Intimidator’s style. And, Richard Childress would have thrown a grand bash!

Anyways at least Busch's case was a what if. There was no 100% he'd have taken the lead from P5. But, then Denny Hamlin was in the lead on the final lap. What went wrong there?

Picture this: Cole Custer was all in, pushing Austin Cindric past Denny Hamlin. Hamlin had no support against the power of the Fords, and for a split second, Riley Herbst tried to step in to help his boss/Toyota teammate...but the latter couldn't keep up. Still, the No. 11 Toyota fought tooth and nail, battling the two Fords, keeping his place in the race. But then—Custer made it a whole new game. Out of nowhere, see how he went three-wide! 

Hamlin was just a few seconds away from his fourth Daytona 500 win and could’ve joined the elite group of legends. But it was unfortunate.

Continue Reading: Denny Hamlin Ready to Betray JGR Teammate as He Reveals Shocking Heel Turn in Cole Custer Callout

📰 Lucky Dog’s Recommended Reads

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4. Mark Martin Reveals the Untold Truth Behind Kyle Busch’s 2007 Daytona 500 Heartbreak - Full Story

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