Remembering Larry McClure!

June 26, 2025

Jun 26, 2025 | Edition #193

👋 Dear Motorheads,

Today, we’re mourning the passing of a team owner who helped shape some of the biggest names in NASCAR. Back in the ‘90s, his team wasn’t just competitive, it was dominant. There were races where even Dale Earnhardt couldn’t catch them.

But that’s not all we’ve got for you. We’re also revisiting a tense moment on pit road that had everyone holding their breath, landing a crew in the hospital. Plus, there’s an exclusive interview you would not want to miss. NASCAR’s female driver has talked about her journey, plans, as well as inspiration. And to wrap things up, we’ve got a special announcement at the end.

📅 Weekend Schedule

🫡 The Lucky Dog Salutes

Remembering a NASCAR Icon: Former Team Owner Passes Away

The hits just keep coming for the NASCAR community. This time, we are mourning the loss of a familiar name, Larry McClure, a NASCAR team owner and co-founder of Morgan-McClure Motorsports recently passed away at the age of 81, and for some of you long-term fans, especially from the 80s and 90s, his name is one you’re all too familiar with.

McClure didn’t just own a team but won some of the greatest races. The Morgan-McClure Motorsports’ No. 4 Chevy won ‘The Great American Race’ not once, or twice, but three times in 1991, 1994, and 1995. With that, the yellow Kodak-sponsored car became truly iconic, with racers like Ernie Irvan and Sterling Marlin, who could go head-to-head with Earnhardt, Wallace, and Martin.

Especially this 1991 Daytona 500, Ernie was neck-to-neck with Dale Earnhardt, and Sterling Marlin was right behind, with $2M at stake. But Earnhardt fails to win, and McClure’s yellow Kodak took the chequered. This was his legacy.

And, just like that, the McClure-Kodak partnership became the car’s identity, the yellow No. 4 becoming one of the most recognizable cars on the grid. And the team owner’s impact didn’t just end there. He built a close-knit, family-oriented race team that was based out of Abingdon, Virginia.

An unorthodox move, right? How often have we seen someone shifting from the typical NASCAR hubs of Charlotte and Mooresville? But it worked, and that’s what matters. McClure proved that even a small-team operation based in Virginia could make it to the sports’ highest level.

His journey did have its fair share of ups and downs, though. He faced legal troubles in 2008 that made the headlines. But when it’s all said and done, his contribution to the NASCAR world has left a lasting legacy. He’ll always be remembered for building the underdog team from the ground up, which ended up in Victory Lane at the biggest stage of them all.

The legendary team owner may have stepped away from the spotlight years ago, but his name, team, and those Daytona 500 triumphs will be remembered for years. May his soul rest in heaven!

Trade Trackside for Beachside!

After the race-day buzz fades, there’s no better way to unwind than with a quick getaway. Picture yourself relaxing on the beaches of Mexico, savoring sunsets in Hawaii, or enjoying the warm breeze in Florida—all without lifting a finger to plan it.

Thanks to Expedia’s all-inclusive getaways, that’s now just a dream anymore. With luxury stays, world-class dining, and excursions included, this is the kind of break that feels as effortless as it looks.

Kick back and relax… because great travel should feel as effortless as it looks!

🗣️ Talk of the NASCAR Town

Blaney Sets the Record Straight on Radio Outburst!

It’s no secret that Ryan Blaney has quite a temper. The Team Penske driver is often fired up on the team radio, venting out his frustration during races. But here’s the thing, the 2023 Cup Series champ feels he’s being totally misunderstood because of his outbursts, claiming that he’s not “losing his mind” but just how he vents and resets.

“That’s not really the case,” said Blaney, setting the record straight about his mental sanity.

We know, living life in the fast lane can be frustrating, but his radio outbursts aren’t meltdown moments. Far from it. He’s just letting out some steam instead of imploding, which helps him reset and refocus on the track.

“I have my 10 seconds of frustration, and I just have to let it out…If I don’t get it out, it just bundles up.”

So, earlier this year, Ryan Blaney blasted Carson Hocevar on the team radio, calling him a m____. This happened after the two made contact at Atlanta Motor Speedway. But away from the racetrack, the Ohio-native is as chill as they come, and said, “I don’t ever get to that point.” And, Blaney emphasized that radio is his outlet.

It’s not just him, either, but somehow Blaney gets caught up in the middle of the storm. At Talladega Superspeedway, even Joey Logano slammed his teammate, Austin Cindric, on the radio, saying, “Way to f*****g go. What a stupid s**t.”

While some folks might say Blaney shouldn’t press the radio button while venting out to protect his reputation, the racer is having none of it.

“It feels way better when you push the button,” he laughed. “You have to let someone else hear it. But I just get it out, and then I’m back to where I need to be.” Guess we now know the secret behind his 2023 championship victory. Not bottling it in.

So the next time you hear Ryan Blaney venting on the team radio, just remember, it’s not a meltdown. He’s just letting off some steam so that he can refocus on the job that needs to be done. And, speaking of the next time, the Echopark Speedway race is also going to be behind the paywall for many. So, help us plan for the next race day recap edition.

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🌪️ Cause for Controversy

Pocono Pit-Road Incident Results in Severe Injuries

We all know how risky pit road can be. No matter how much the crew trains, things can still go wrong, and at Pocono, they did.

During Stage 2, Shane van Gisbergen came in for a stop. As his crew got to work, A.J. Allmendinger’s No. 16 car was also pulling in just a few stalls away. As the spotter counted AJ down—5, 4, 3, 2, 1—a tire suddenly came loose from his pit box, and hit one of SVG’s crew members, JP Kealey.

It wasn’t a light hit. Kealey ended up with broken ribs and a punctured lung.

What makes this even tougher is the twist of fate: Kealey was part of Allmendinger’s crew just last year. He’d recently been promoted to SVG’s team for the 2025 season. And now, in a strange turn, he was injured by an incident involving the car he once worked on.

But what followed was nothing short of remarkable. Despite the pain, look at how Kealey stayed on his feet and helped finish the pit stop before heading to the hospital.

As for SVG, who came into Pocono hoping to build on his Mexico City win, the day took a sharp turn. What started with a promise ended in frustration, as he crossed the line on the 31st, his run disrupted by the chaos on pit road.

And, for Kealey, he was rushed to the hospital after the incident for treatment, and there’s no official timeline for his recovery. But fans and drivers flooded social media, expressing their support for him.

Trackhouse Racing has named Noel "Bud" Merrill Jr. as a substitute for the No. 88 crew ahead of this weekend's Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway. As for Kealey, the Lucky Dog on Track team wishes him a speedy recovery!

 🔎 The In-Depth View

When Mark Martin Unintentionally Created an Icon

Every aspiring driver has that one figure they look up to. For many current ones, it was Dale Earnhardt, while others wanted to be like Bill Elliott or Jeff Gordon. But for Natalie Decker, it wasn’t a random decision, but a very personal choice.

It all started with a living room story narrated by her dad that inspired her to become the NASCAR icon we know today.

In this exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, Natalie revealed that her love for Mark Martin wasn’t just because of what he did on the track, but with a Mark Martin tale. Yes.

So turns out her dad had a personal favorite tale for his daughter: “Well, growing up, I loved Mark Martin because my dad told me a story about when he wanted to go asphalt racing, he bought one of Mark Martin’s cars, and that is how he got into asphalt racing,” Natalie told EssentiallySports.

For those who don’t know, the Decker family is no stranger to the world of motorsports. Chuck Decker, Natalie’s dad, lived life in the fast lane and raced snowmobiles, dirt cars, and whatever else he could get his hands on. But it was that little connection with Mark Martin that made a world of difference to young Natalie Decker.

“When I heard that story, like then I was like, okay, every weekend I was cheering for Mark Martin because I was like, my dad knows him.”

Sure, Mark Martin might not remember Chuck Decker, even though he was the owner of the Eagle River Derby Track. But guess what, maybe we’ll know that in a day.

Coming back to Natalie & Martin’s catch-up, years have passed since her father bought one of Martin’s cars. However, that small moment in some ways defined Natalie Decker’s career.

And even though today Natalie Decker is a recognizable name in the NASCAR garage, having competed in both the Truck and Xfinity Series, her love for Martin hasn’t faded one bit.

“For my dad’s birthday this year, he got a Mark Martin vintage t-shirt,” she revealed. And that’s some real loyalty.

Speaking of loyalty and Mark Martin, we have some big news for our loyal readers! We’ve got an exclusive interview with the man himself coming up very soon. So, you know what to do. If you have any questions for the Hall of Famer, send them in through the comments. We’ll take a look, and you might just get lucky if your question stands out!

  1. Fan-Favorite Track Could Return as NASCAR Looks to Fix Spring Slump - Full Story

  2. Carson Hocevar Ignites NASCAR Buzz With Surprise Track Tease - Full Story

  3. Dale Jr.’s Star Turns Heads as Daniel Suarez’s Trackhouse Future Faces Scrutiny - Full Story

  4. NASCAR Gains Upper Hand in Escalating Legal Battle Against FRM & 23XI - Full Story

  5. Mexico City Winner Admits Harsh NASCAR Lesson That He’ll Never Forget - Full Story

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