Someone Just Put a Dent in Hamlin’s Rental

March 27, 2025

Mar 27, 2025 | Edition #155

👋 Dear Motorheads,

What a weekend at Homestead! The triple-header delivered everything—shocking upsets, fearless moves by Kyle Larson, and rivalries that just won’t cool down anytime soon. But if you thought the drama ended at the checkered flag, think again. Denny Hamlin and Richard Childress turned up the heat off the track(on the road), and the NASCAR world hasn’t stopped talking since.

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🗣️ Talk of the NASCAR Town

Kyle Larson Could Be the NextGen ‘Intimidator’

The debate over NASCAR’s next Intimidator has been raging for a while now. Many pointed to Ross Chastain or Carson Hocevar as the closest comparisons. But after what we saw at Homestead, that perspective might be shifting. The sheer dominance, the unrelenting aggression—it felt like a throwback to Dale Earnhardt.

With Earnhardt, it was like when a driver spotted the black No. 3 in the rearview mirror, there were only two options—move or be moved. The Intimidator didn’t just race; he turned every lap into a psychological battle. There was this rare, ruthless ability to get inside his rivals’ heads, making them second-guess their every move. And more often than not, their hesitation was all he needed to take the win.

Now, the way Larson won at Homestead-Miami, we can’t help but compare it to Earnhardt. Starting from 14th, Larson charged through the field like a man possessed. And when he locked onto his teammate Alex Bowman, you could feel the tension crackle in the air. One moment, Bowman’s leading—the next, Larson is past him in a blur. As if the latter wasn’t just racing; he was putting on a masterclass in pressure, running ruthlessly(just like Earnhardt) mere inches from the wall. A pure Intimidator-level brilliance! Check it out.

Admitting after the race, Larson said, “I knew me, coming towards those guys, they were going to start moving around and making mistakes.” That’s exactly what happened. Bowman ended up catching the wall, giving the No. 5 Chevy the opening that it needed to take the lead.

And, Kyle Petty has drawn some crazy similarities between Earnhardt and Larson’s driving style. “It’s already in your head, yeah, so whether you choke or not, it’s that little bit of doubt, that little bit of [that] he is the best, [and] he is coming.” So, maybe that mental advantage over Bowman was indeed a difference-maker at Homestead.

Even Denny Hamlin commented on Larson’s fearlessness - “What Kyle does better than the rest is he’s just higher on entry. So he’s getting the steering wheel angle out of the car earlier to carry more middle speed, more exit speed.”

Now, while that’s actually similar to what Dale Sr. was known for, the question remains if Kyle is the new Dale Earnhardt or not? Well, maybe not yet. He’s got the vibe without even trying, and if he continues racing the way he did last week, there’s no reason why we can’t have another Intimidator in the making.

📈 Trending News

Richard Childress Forces His Way Into JGR’s Convoy

Picture this: you’ve just wrapped up a grueling race, cruising home, thinking the toughest part of your day is over. That’s exactly where Denny Hamlin’s head was after his fifth-place finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway. But just when he thought it was smooth sailing, Richard Childress turned the post-race ride into something straight out of an action movie.

Yes, there were police escorts, road rage, and a JGR car caught right in the middle of it all.

After the Straight Talk Wireless 400, Hamlin and his Actions Detrimental co-host, Jared Allen, were rolling out with a police escort. But Allen was having a tough time keeping the convoy tight, letting random cars slip into their lane. They were dropping back—nearly 20 cars deep—completely out of the draft. That’s when Richard Childress entered the fray.

Of course, Childress wasn’t supposed to be in the escort. He was in a vehicle that was supposed to move out. But according to him, someone at Joe Gibbs Racing didn’t give him enough room to do so. And, he decided to join the escort anyway.

And that’s when the drama unfolded. Childress just “hung a left” and “destroyed the side of the car,” according to what Hamlin said. And, the way he said it sounded as if he was referring to Joe Gibbs Racing’s pride getting smashed in broad daylight. The car was a rental Toyota SUV, and the damage is evident. Have a look at that huge dent.

Imagine, one minute, they’re trying to make their way home, and the next, you’re forced to witness an icon of the sport damage your car. So while we are sure Coach Gibbs must have paid for the damage, the question is whether Richard Childress owns up to his rash behavior or not.

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Richard Childress Just Bulldozed His Way In and Wrecked a JGR Car. What’s Your Take?

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 🔮 Lucky Dog’s Perspective

Is NASCAR Secretly Killing Short Tracks?

Short tracks are considered to be the heartbeat of stock car racing. It’s a format where tire management, strategy, and skill come into play. And of late, there has been plenty of chatter about whether the sport is slowly and quietly killing the magic of short tracks.

And, we have an update. But before we reveal that, do you remember the 2025 Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway? It was one thrilling race, seemed like NASCAR had finally found its solution to its short track woes, with Goodyear’s new tire package living up to the promise.

Tires were burning up fast—about 2.2 to 2.3 seconds of fall-off over 40-50 laps, per Goodyear’s Mark Keto. That’s twice the wear of primary compounds! Cars were sliding, drivers were wrestling their machines, and pit crews were scrambling to adjust. With tire management and strategy playing a bigger role, the race was exciting once again!

But just when it seemed like things seem like they are finally working out, NASCAR made a bizarre call that left a lot of fans scratching their heads. “No two different versions of tires this weekend and not expected to have teams choose among two versions,” A FOX Sports journalist wrote on X. But wait, it’s not just for Martinsville, there’s an update on the entire 2025 season. Check this out.

Well, it was a necessary change for the Next Gen cars, but it might come at a cost. Short-track racing could lose some of its excitement. However, we understand that the tracks like North Wilkesboro, Richmond, and even some of the road courses might benefit from this kind of tire setup.

More options mean more strategies, and would always lead to more excitement on the racetrack. It does keep fans on their toes and gives underdogs like Ty Dillon a shot. But let’s hope NASCAR has a solid reason.

🔎 The In-Depth View

Mark Martin Calls Out NASCAR's 'New’ Obsession

NASCAR is at a crossroads. On one side, it’s working to keep its loyal, longtime fans engaged. On the other hand, it’s trying to attract a younger, newer audience. But in this constant tug-of-war, is the sport at risk of losing what made it special in the first place?

And if there’s one person who knows what made NASCAR special, it’s Mark Martin. Having witnessed the sport at its peak, he’s always been about keeping longtime fans engaged. But surely, he’s not too thrilled with the direction things are heading, and he didn’t hold back on sharing his thoughts.

“I feel like the integrity of our sport has largely been lost.” Mark wasn’t just throwing words around—he was pointing at NASCAR’s push to go global. From racing at the LA Coliseum to the streets of Chicago and now plans for Mexico City, the sport is expanding like never before. But in chasing new markets, NASCAR is somewhat turning its back on what made it great according to him.

After all, short-track racing, hard-nosed battles, and the all-American grit defined the sport. Those are the roots fans fell in love with. And, Mark Martin isn’t against change. He knows all too well that NASCAR needs new fans to stay relevant in the long run. But he also believes that expansion shouldn’t come at the expense of the loyal fanbase that has stood by the sport for decades.

“I represent fans of my generation,” Mark said, highlighting that they’ve been around through thick and thin. When he says ‘my generation,’ he’s talking about you—the fans who stood by him through every lap, every heartbreak, and every triumph. The ones who roared from the grandstands when he conquered the Coca-Cola 600 in 2002, or the Sylvania 300 in 2009, and when he took the checkered flag at the Subway Fresh Fit 500 that same year.

And that 2009 victory was pure magic. Leading 157 of 312 laps, he shattered a four-year winless streak dominantly, clinching his first victory with Hendrick Motorsports. At 50 years old, the way he climbed out of his car, felt like a rookie scoring his first win. The crowd was electric, and the cheers were deafening. That night, Mark Martin reminded the world why legends never fade. Here, watch for yourself.

Looking at the fandom, maybe Martin is right. It’s all about balancing the two, something NASCAR is gonna find tough. “What appeals to the younger generation is certainly different than what appeals to adults, I think that we’re actually vital to the success, the long-term success of NASCAR.”

In an era of the Next Gen car, stage points and playoffs, if there’s one constant thing, it’s change, and the challenge on NASCAR’s hand isn’t a small one. However, while the sport needs to keep an eye on long-term success, it shouldn’t come by alienating those who have been there right from the start.

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