Rowdy is Already Lighting Up the Track!

^{Jan 2, 2024 | Edition #118}

👋 Dear Motorheads,

A Very Happy New Year! We hope you rang in 2025 surrounded by loved ones and kicked off the year on a high note—just like Kyle Busch!

While many of your favorite NASCAR drivers will wait for the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum to hit the track, Rowdy is already making a statement, reminding everyone why he’s one of the all-time greats.

Taking a page from his playbook, Lucky Dog also has put together an exciting 2025 wishlist with plenty to look forward to. But first, let’s see Kyle Busch’s momentum.

🗣️ Talk of the NASCAR Town

Kicking the New Year in Rowdy Style

Kyle Busch has wasted no time shaking off the tough 2024 season and starting 2025 with a bang. And, what better way to kick things off than at the Tulsa Shootout—the world’s largest micro-sprint event, where Dirt track legends are made?

For those who don’t know, Busch entered the Tulsa Shootout with a solid history of success in the 600cc Winged Micro Sprint division. Besides this, he also has a championship at Millbridge Speedway in 2024. So, when the Tulsa Shootout rolled around, he was ready. 

In his Rowdy style, Busch came in swinging, winning not only the Winged Outlaw heat race on New Year’s Eve but also picking up another win in the Non-Wing Outlaw class. Also, shutting all his critics by mentioning, he “loved it.” You can hear the relief in his voice, even after the Heat race [been a while since we saw that signature Rowdy smile].

What makes this victory even more impressive is that, in the world of Dirt track racing, Busch isn’t the first name that comes up when people talk about favorites. Sure, drivers like Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson are known as Dirt-racing experts. But Kyle Busch has always been more of a NASCAR guy—or so we thought.

Even for his fans, this victory was a long time coming. Knowing that the 2024 season was a tough pill to swallow, so to see him back on top, is a breath of fresh air. This win is a reminder that Rowdy is far from finished, and if anything, he’s got something to prove.

Now, the big question: Can Busch carry this momentum into the 2025 NASCAR season? We’ll have to wait and see. But before that, there’s more action coming in on January 17th and 18th.

Perfect timing, Kyle! His win came just as he and Samantha celebrated 14 years together. While Samantha penned a heartfelt message for their anniversary, he was busy kicking off the year with his first win.

Continue Reading: Emotional Samantha Sends a 4-Word Message to “Best Friend” Kyle Busch on 14th Anniversary

🏁 Lucky Dog’s Quick Poll 🏁

Last Poll’s Result: Answering who among Tony Stewart, Mark Martin, Juan Pablo Montoya, or Carl Edwards—you’d love to see back in a Cup car, 46.91% of you picked Carl Edwards. And, Lucky Dog gets it. Edwards’ exit was indeed a surprise, and it feels like his NASCAR story is incomplete.

🗞️ NASCAR Shorts!

$20 Million Richer Tony Stewart

Tony Stewart is about to make headlines again, but this time it’s not just for his racing achievements—it’s for a major business deal. On New Year’s Eve, Front Row Motorsports (FRM) made a big announcement: they secured their third charter [a development in the ongoing lawsuit], purchased directly from Stewart-Haas Racing.

This charter acquisition comes amid the ongoing NASCAR lawsuit drama, and Stewart can breathe easy, especially considering it’s estimated to bring the team a hefty $25-30 million payday from the sale. Read Full Story

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🔮 Lucky Dog’s Perspective

The 2025 Wishlist: Fingers Crossed 🤞 

New Year’s resolutions? Let’s be honest—they’re kind of played out. Sure, we all make them, but we can’t help but reflect on the wishlist we had for 2024—and how some of those hopes came to life. Remember wishing for a new contender to shake things up against the veteran teams? Enter Tyler Reddick, who delivered in style.

But let’s face it—we were also rooting for Kyle Busch to snag another championship. Maybe we jinxed that one. Still, as we roll into 2025, the optimism is real, and Lucky Dog’s wishlist is loaded with some ambitious hopes.

1. Bubba Wallace Break the Dry Spell

Let’s get the big one out of the way: we’ve all been waiting for Wallace to win his 3rd Cup victory.

His NASCAR journey so far hasn’t been easy, but he made history by becoming the 2nd black driver in the national series to win at Talladega Speedway in 2021, since Wendell Scott in 1963. And, his win? It was highly significant to the sport.

Although the win was long ago, it’s clear that Bubba Wallace is still a force to be reckoned with. Looking at his 2024 stats, he had an impressive run: a 15.28 average finish, 6 top-5s, 14 top-10s, and even a pole. But it wasn’t just about consistency—he had some near-misses too.

A second-place finish at Bristol and a solid P4 at Martinsville showed Bubba Wallace was close to Victory Lane. But here’s the kicker: over the last 15 races of 2024, Bubba posted the third-best average finish (13.1) in the Cup Series—better than Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney in some cases.

If he keeps this up in 2025, he isn’t just chasing a win; he’s becoming a serious contender. And it’s not just about him—the #23 car, a staple since the Cup Series’ inaugural season in 1949, could be in for a resurgence. See for yourself, the No. 23, Studebaker from 1951. Lucky Dog was amazed as well.

The No. has seen 1,002 [approx.] starts and only four wins—is definitely overdue for some glory. And, out of this, Wallace alone has made 134 starts. So, his success wouldn’t just be another trophy for the shelf; it’d also be a beacon for drivers like Rajah Caruth in the Truck Series.

Backing Bubba is the powerhouse that is 23XI Racing. In just a few years, this team has gone from a start-up to a serious championship contender. They were regular-season champs in 2024 and Reddick even finished P6 in Phoenix. And, as the latter said after his first championship 4 appearance, “Bubba learned quite a lot there as well.” So yes, Bubba, even Reddick’s got your back.

2. Denny Hamlin Clinch the Championship in 2025

“So close, yet so far.” No one knows this better than Denny Hamlin. He’s come so close to winning the cup championship, and in 2025, Lucky Dog hopes this is finally his year. With a fresh start and some key changes in his corner, he could finally rewrite his legacy.

In 2024, Denny had 3 wins in the regular season, showing once again that he’s a force to be reckoned with. His consistency kept him in the hunt for the championship, but issues like engine penalties and a less-than-ideal playoff performance—kept him from claiming the ultimate prize. And, Denny’s defense of the engine violation? Here’s what the No. 11 driver said.

But 2025 is a different story.

1. Denny has a new crew chief in Chris Gayle. This new pairing could be just what Denny needs to push him over the edge. 

2. Another huge factor is Denny’s new sponsors [expected to be a mix of familiar partners and new collaborations].

Either way, Hamlin’s already a Hall of Fame-caliber driver, but a championship would solidify his legacy. Even his fans have started chanting, “It’s Denny time, baby!” and we are right there with them.

So, here’s Lucky Dog’s wish: We want to hear “I beat your favorite driver, once again,” in Phoenix pitlane media interaction this time, after you’ve finally clinched the championship.

3. Permanent Charters for All Teams

Lucky Dog’s hoping 2025 is finally the year NASCAR grants all teams permanent charters. Too ambitious, we know!

Right now, the charter system leaves a lot of uncertainty for teams, and it’s time for that to change. With 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports actively challenging NASCAR’s charter system, this shift feels more possible than ever. These teams have been fighting for fairness, proving that smaller organizations can compete with the giants despite the odds stacked against them.

The ongoing antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR [find the latest updates here] is showing promising signs. For instance, 23XI Racing might soon see some of its goals realized, while Front Row Motorsports has made progress with its third charter, and funds tied up for Tony Stewart’s team are starting to be released.

While this is just a small move, the permanent charters could open new revenue streams for teams and drive long-term growth for the sport. This isn’t just a pipe dream—it’s a realistic possibility. If NASCAR recognizes the importance of permanent charters, it could lead to a more competitive and financially stable sport.

So here’s the wish: Teams should get better opportunities and 2025 be the year when the whole charter debate comes to pass.

4. More F1 Drivers in NASCAR? Let’s Make NASCAR a Global Sport

Okay, Lucky Dog’s leaping here. Not suggesting that Formula One drivers are the key to settling the “best driver” debate between NASCAR and F1—that would be silly. But hear us out: having an F1 driver in NASCAR could be a huge boost for the sport’s visibility.

Let’s start with the obvious: F1 and NASCAR fans are worlds apart. F1’s international, tech-heavy, open-wheel racing draws a different crowd compared to NASCAR’s stock-car, oval-track action. But the crossover potential? It’s huge.

Imagine an F1 star like Daniel Ricciardo [who has a 9.5M following] getting behind the wheel of a NASCAR car. With his global audience, NASCAR could introduce the sport to an entirely new crowd. After some tough seasons in F1 and Red Bull Racing, he’s currently without a ride but has already expressed interest in NASCAR and he knows COTA more than Chase Elliott [especially Turn 1]. Hear for yourself, even NASCAR’s most popular driver appreciates him.

And while Lucky Dog’s dreaming big, Justin Marks and Trackhouse Racing have already proven [in a way] that crossovers like this can work. So, whether it’s Ricciardo, or a supercars champion, bringing these stars into NASCAR—even for a one-off race—could give the sport a global boost and a fresh wave of excitement.

5. New Faces Taking Chequered

Lucky Dog is [getting a bit greedy] hoping for new winners in 2025. Of course, we all love the regular stars, but there’s something special about seeing fresh faces take the victory lane. Remember 23-year-old Harrison Burton’s win last season.

Take Spire Motorsports, for example. This team has been on a massive rebuilding mission since parting ways with Corey LaJoie. With Justin Haley, Michael McDowell, and Carson Hocevar’s multi-billion-dollar sponsorship backing, Spire is ready to shake things up. So, don’t sleep on this team—they’ve got the potential to surprise some people in 2025. Also, Rodney Childers’s there!

Then there’s Legacy Motor Club, owned by the legendary Jimmie Johnson. This team has had its fair share of struggles but is making huge moves for 2025. With a new crew chief for Erik Jones’ #43 team (Ben Beshore) and a revamped Team Logo, the team is looking to break out of its slump. 

There’s also a newly appointed Technical Director, Brian Campe. These are some small changes but, if JJ fully steps into the ownership role (keeping his part-time appearances aside) and gives the team the resources it needs, Legacy could be in the hunt for wins.

Here’s Lucky Dog’s wish: New teams, new winners—it’s what keeps the sport exciting. So, hoping for some upsets, excitement, and surprises for you all.

Continue Reading: NASCAR Following F1? International Plans After 66-Year-Long Return to Mexico City Explained

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