Rivals Rise as In-Season Challenge Tightens

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025 | Edition #202

👋 Dear Motorheads,

The road course stretch and Kiwi dominance might not be over just yet. Sure, NASCAR’s back to oval racing, but before we shift gears, let’s take a moment to celebrate this sponsor who just snapped a 4,991-day drought.

Now, with Dover on the horizon, the in-season challengers are revving up for that next big statement. Off the track, though, things are getting tense. The lawsuit between 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR has taken a sharp and unsettling turn. For MJ’s team, this could be the beginning of the end. But while they battle it out in court, the road course debate continues to heat up, and we’re not letting a single comment slip by unnoticed.

🗣️ Talk of the NASCAR Town

NASCAR Bracket Shakeup- Titans Fall in $1M Bout

The NASCAR In-Season tournament has been full of surprises so far, with the likes of Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, and Kyle Larson being eliminated in the very first round. And now, Ty Dillon, the 32nd seed, is headed to the Round of 4.

The Kaulig Racing driver bumped Alex Bowman out of the way on the final lap. It was a pretty feisty move which prompted a tense confrontation on the pit road afterwards. With a million dollars on the line, the stakes were high, but both drivers settled the issue amicably with this awkward handshake at Sonoma Raceway. 

Ty Dillon has been the biggest underdog story of the bracket so far. Next up, he faces John Hunter Nemechek. The former has already beaten Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, and Alex Bowman, three heavyweights in the Cup Series. Ty Dillon also took a trashy dig at Hamlin in Atlanta, which didn’t go down well with everyone. To which, even Kevin Harvick said, “I just don’t know how you talk that much trash when you run that bad, though.”

We think Harvick might have a point here. Dillon has just one top-10 finish this season (and only seven in his entire Cup career) when he finished eighth at EchoPark Speedway. Still, he’s in the semi-final of the in-season challenge, and that’s what matters right now. On the other side of the bracket, it’s Tyler Reddick vs Ty Gibbs.

Reddick, who was last year’s regular season champ, hasn’t had the same kind of success this year, but he’s still fast and consistent. As for the No. 54 Toyota driver, momentum is on his side after finishing second and seventh in Chicago and Sonoma.

It’s a clash that could go either way. After Dover is the big one at Indianapolis, and with a million dollars on the line, there are bound to be surprises along the way.

Soothe Your Sole

There’s something about watching drivers push through every lap with precision and control. HOKA brings that same sense of balance to your everyday routine. Just without the engine noise! Known for their cloud-like comfort and stability, these shoes are built to support you through it all. And now, they’re on sale for up to 30% off.

Benefits That Go the Distance:

•⁠ ⁠Plush cushioning softens every step and helps reduce joint stress

•⁠ ⁠Supportive midsoles keep you steady whether you're walking, standing, or just taking it easy

•⁠ ⁠Built-to-last quality means more comfort and years of use

Step forward… in all-day support!

📈 Trending News

Red Bull’s Winning Pedigree- NASCAR Revival

It looks like Red Bull is making their mark in NASCAR again, almost a decade after. Partnering with Trackhouse Racing, the energy drink giant is backing not just one, but two rising stars in Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch. However, if you thought this was just another ordinary sponsorship deal, you may need to think again.

The reunion came about because of Shane van Gisbergen’s relationship with Red Bull that goes back to the Australian Supercars days. But nobody saw Zilisch being added to the energy drink’s roster. And together, both drivers have hit the ground running in the Cup and Xfinity Series.

SVG dominated at Sonoma Raceway, leading 97 laps out of 110 to deliver Red Bull its first Cup Series win since 2011. That’s a milestone achievement for the brand, as the last time they entered Victory Lane was with Kasey Kahne at Phoenix Raceway. And, even for Kasey, it’s his only Phoenix win.

The win that day was also unexpected, as Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart were leading the grid through the last laps until the Red Bull driver took the checkered flag, winning the Kobalt Tools 500. And, ever since we’ve only seen #bringredbullback from fans. Here’s a recap from that iconic moment.

Back then, Red Bull was really invested in NASCAR. Founded by the late Dietrich Mateschitz, the energy drink giant launched their team in 2007 but struggled for consistent success aside from the odd triumph from Kahne and Brian Vickers.

But fast forward to 2025, and Red Bull’s return feels different. Especially that win in Wine Country for SVG. It was massive. And then Connor Zilisch’s triumph in the Xfinity Series. The Red Bull cars are standing out, giving the brand visibility at a tricky time. Look at SVG and Connor through the final 5 laps, they were just unstoppable.

Their partnership with Trackhouse Racing is also looking stronger than ever.

🏁 Lucky Dog’s Quick Poll! 🏁

Should NASCAR Teams Take More Sponsor Risks Like Trackhouse Did With Red Bull?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

 🔎 The In-Depth View

23XI Racing & FRM Will Be Uncharted at Dover?

In a dramatic twist, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports could head to Dover this weekend without their charters. Yep, you read that right. No guaranteed spots, along with a significant cut in earnings. NASCAR even mentioned that they cannot race as open teams.

Here is a quick recap of the NASCAR Lawsuit timeline

Oct 2, 2024 - 23XI (Jordan/Hamlin) and FRM (Jenkins) filed an antitrust lawsuit in Charlotte federal court, alleging NASCAR’s charter terms, including a clause barring teams from suing, violate antitrust laws.

Dec 18, 2024 - A US District Court granted the preliminary injunction, and both teams to race as charter holders for the 2025 season, despite refusing NASCAR’s new charter agreement.

Feb–Mar 2025 - NASCAR filed a countersuit accusing 23XI and FRM of acting as an “illegal cartel” to manipulate broadcasts and boycott events.

May 9, 2025 - Arguments in the US Fourth Circuit happened, challenging the injunction.

May 23, 2025 - The Fourth Circuit gave a decision: reversed the injunction, ruling NASCAR didn’t violate antitrust law by including a release clause.

June 5, 2025 - The Loss of charter privilege started looming, meaning NASCAR can proceed to revoke 23XI and FRM’s charters unless a new injunction is issued.

June 25, 2025 - NASCAR notified/warned the teams that it intends to “immediately undertake a process” to sell or unwind their charters, with buyers reportedly waiting. And, the Fourth Circuit denied a rehearing, and charters will remain in jeopardy as of July 16.

July 14, 2025 - Now, 23XI & FRM have again filed this fresh motion in District Court for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to preserve their charters through the 2025 season. But NASCAR has rebuked the move as “unnecessary and inappropriate,” stating the teams haven’t submitted any resolution proposal, and NASCAR also gave a deadline to file its response by 5 p.m. ET Wednesday, July 16, the day before the race at Dover Speedway.

Now, imagine a championship contender driver like Tyler Reddick without the assurance of a chartered car. While there’s a high possibility Denny Hamlin’s dream project could end, let’s wait for the court's decision.

🔮 Lucky Dog’s Perspective

Old-School Fans vs. Road Courses: The Verdict Is In

Back in the good old days, road course races were an exception, but things have changed a lot since then. Watkins Glen has become a staple on the calendar, hosting more Cup races (41 till this point) than any other road course.

But the recent stretch has left fans frustrated. And, we also asked for your take on the road courses last week. And, we weren’t even surprised to see the below comments from some of you.

“Road racing is not what NASCAR was built on. Another move away from what long time fans want to see. NASCAR is killing NASCAR.”

“Go back to the Winston cup days and get more fans back to the races.”

“I hated having two road course races in the season but now they've gone and upped it to 6?!?!! On top of that now they're stringing what 4-5 together with only one oval to break them up.”

“NASCAR's true roots are moonshiners running the hills. That isn't oval racing. If they really wanted to embrace their roots, they would be running stock car rally racing…But that won't put bodies in the seats or money in the bank, and would be uncomfortable politically besides. NASCAR is going to embrace what brings in the most paying fans and the biggest sponsor dollars.”

And, joining you all are the drivers like Brad Keselowski and Bubba Wallace.

“We went from 2 to 6 road course races, possibly 7 next year. NASCAR was successfully built as a primarily oval racing series.” Is this part of NASCAR’s plan for global expansion? That seems like the most logical explanation.

Bubba Wallace, however, is not against road courses. "I'd like less road course races," has done a full 180. “I’ve enjoyed the road course stuff, so I’m good with it…Cota, Mexico, was fun. Chicago was awesome. Sonoma, this place kicks my a—,” said Wallace, shutting down Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s argument.

Clearly, NASCAR has a decision to make.

  1. Denny Hamlin’s Daughter Goes Viral With His Newborn’s Hilarious Clip - Full Story

  2. Dale Earnhardt’s Wild Sea Prank That Still Haunts 2X Grammy Winner - Full Story

  3. Jimmie Johnson Takes to the Water: WWII-Era Hydroplane Roars Back After 40 Years - Full Story

  4. Drivers Issued a Strong Warning After SVG Dethrones Tony Stewart & Jimmie Johnson - Full Story

  5. William Byron’s Lost Love Life Potentially Rekindled, Fans Unearth New Finding - Full Story

💌 Feedback

How did you enjoy today's newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.