Waltrip x Lucky Dog: Bristol, Served Right!

^{Apr 17, 2025 | Edition #164}

👋 Dear Motorheads,

This week was one for the books. The Lucky Dog had an incredible chance to spend time with NASCAR legend Michael Waltrip—tasting beers, chatting with fans, and hearing his unfiltered thoughts on some of the sport’s hottest issues. But that wasn’t all.

A short-track race turned into pure chaos, and Kyle Larson, usually all about control, threw down some of the boldest words we’ve heard in a while (especially from Mr. H’s team), calling out the Xfinity Series in a way only he can.

📅 Weekend Schedule

 🫡 The Lucky Dog Salutes

Our Ride With Michael Waltrip in Bristol

Is there anything cooler than kicking back with a two-time Daytona 500 champion (2001 and 2003) and a NASCAR legend? Lucky Dog on Track had the incredible chance to hang out with Michael Waltrip himself at the Food City 500 in Bristol—and yeah, it was just as epic as it sounds. If you swung by our stall at the Speedway, you probably caught the action: exclusive merch drops, good vibes, and of course, cold pours straight from Michael Waltrip Brewing Co. While we will soon release the exclusive video. 

It was more than just an ordinary meet-and-greet. While we know Waltrip began working with experienced brewers and friends who were already in the craft beer space. He gave us more insights. Recalling the inspiration and ideation, he shared some nitty-gritty in Bristol.

“Well, a couple of buddies said let's go play golf. 'What kind of beer do you want?' I said, 'I don't really like many beers. I like wine.' Then it was like, 'We should make some beers, give it a try!' And that's how it all started - that was probably 10 years ago.” And, about the brand name, here’s what he said. Watch the entire Lucky Dog X Waltrip rapid fire.

Let’s not forget Michael is someone who has competed in over 780 Cup Series races across three decades. And, he isn’t driving it slowly there as well. The competitive spirit is constantly kicking in. He said the brewing, “makes me feel like a race car driver - I want to win.” Michael and his friends, however, initially wanted to build their first brewery in Phoenix, Arizona. But the company’s first brewery and Taproom was opened in Bristol in 2020.

The brewery has taprooms, and Michael is closely involved in distribution as well as in naming its products. And, he loves what he’s creating. Called it “approachable beer.” So definitely worth trying, and you need to take a look at the Bristol outlet. The outer wall even has a Waltrip graffiti.

While that’s all about the brewery business, Waltrip did share his insights on the NASCAR world. Inevitably, we discussed the hot topic about NASCAR’s antitrust lawsuit, and the 61-year-old couldn’t be more unbothered.

“It’s a big deal between Front Row Motorsports, 23XI, and NASCAR. But to me, and I think for many of the race fans, it’s white noise. They’ll figure that out,” Waltrip added.

And he had some good words on the 23XI co-owner.

“Well, Denny Hamlin does a good job of expressing himself. Btw, he’s never been wrong. He’s always right.” Well, Hamlin’s got an ally there!

Overall, Bristol was a good weekend! Collaborating with Michael Waltrip wasn’t just about beer and selling merchandise. It was a unique opportunity to catch up with fans. And, we are happy that so many of you were there to support us. Stay tuned for all the clips and exclusive interviews. We’ll be back with more updates in the next edition.

Continue Reading: Voices Being Raised Against FOX Broadcast, Bristol Coverage Declared as ‘Rockbottom’

🌪️ Cause for Controversy

Larson Attacks the Entire Xfinity Grid

Kyle Larson definitely wants to prove a point. He’s not just entering the Xfinity Series for fun or to get some practice. After almost sweeping the weekend at Homestead-Miami, Larson went on to dominate at Bristol Motor Speedway yet again. He led 277 of 300 laps, finishing 2.054 seconds ahead of second-place Carson Kvapil at the SciAps 300.

And he didn’t just make headlines for winning two races out of three, but also for what he said on the Happy Hour podcast. ‘Yung Money,’ unlike himself, had some bold analysis and comments. Stating his perspective after the race, he told Harvick, “In Xfinity, I do get motivated. And this is going to come across very cocky—but I want to embarrass them, honestly. I want to embarrass NASCAR.” 

Now, that is some ambition from Mr. H’s driver. We have never heard Rick Hendrick or any of his drivers saying such things against the sport. And, as a reason, this is what Larson said.

We understand, the rules are hampering the younger drivers’ development in the long run. Years ago, the likes of Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, and others would run dozens of Xfinity Series races. Edwards even won the 2007 Xfinity Championship while completing a full Cup schedule. Now, NASCAR only allows Cup drivers with three or more years of experience to compete in five races.

The gap is big. But saying that he wants to smash the field is somewhat not justified for a driver of his caliber. Kyle even said that’s motivating. “Yes, I want to smash the field when I run Xfinity. That’s motivating for me, for sure.”

And, now, Harvick has an opinion too. “When those young guys can compete with Cup guys, they’re better suited for the Cup Series once they get there.”

He might have a point. Ty Gibbs managed to dominate the Xfinity Series, winning the 2022 Championship, but is still finding his footing at the highest level. However, the question remains if NASCAR responds to Larson’s comments by potentially changing the rules.

Continue Reading: Kyle Larson Dismisses Walking in Tony Stewart’s Footsteps With a Damning Verdict for His Hero

🏁 Lucky Dog’s Quick Poll! 🏁

🔎 The In-Depth View

Baton-Wielding Crew Members Clash at Short Track

Grassroots racing is nothing without a bit of chaos. At South Boston Speedway during the Second Annual Kenny Meadows Limited Sportsman Memorial Feature Race on April 12th, things really got out of hand. While most fans went into the short track hoping to see some good ol’ late model action, they ended up getting more than they bargained for.

The 75-lap shootout kicked off just how we love it—tight packs, elbows out, and no shortage of drama. With five cautions flying, things boiled over when Jason Pittman and Zach Peregoy turned the race into their showdown. Peregoy spun Pittman, setting the tone. Pittman didn’t take it lying down, nudging the No. 12 under caution as tensions simmered. But the real fireworks came on the final lap. With the checkered flag in sight, Pittman exacted his revenge, wrecking Peregoy again. Forget bumping and banging—it's full-blown short-track mayhem.

And that’s when all hell broke loose on the pit road. Crew members from both teams jumped in, some even grabbing wrenches and batons. Ultimately, the track officials had to step in. Broadcaster FloRacing managed to capture all the chaos, shouting, and shoving from the track. Check this out.

In some ways, the off-track drama overshadowed Nathan Crews’ dominant win, as he led the final 51 laps and finished 3.2 seconds ahead of Cory Dunn, claiming back-to-back wins at the memorial event. “I thought I was going to have to man up on the wheel, and that’s what I did from lap one,” he said afterward.

The race was meant to honor Kenny Meadows, a respected father, racer, and crew chief, who has gone too soon. Perhaps that’s why, despite the chaotic ending, Crews went on to say, “I didn’t think it could get any better than it did last year, but I believe this year it’s a little bit better.”

Although the South Boston Speedway has seen its fair share of wild nights over the years, this particular race was meant to honor a motorsports icon. Sadly, the race ended up making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Continue Reading: NASCAR’s Return to the Iconic Rockingham Cashes Out at Over $1,000,000 Along With the Dash for Cash

🗣️ Talk of the NASCAR Town

Adam Petty's Crew Chief Has Something to Say

Winning a NASCAR race isn’t just dependent on driving fast. Far from it. In a sport defined by fine margins, the speed at which a pit crew can execute its stop can make all the difference as well. With the stakes higher than ever to make every second count, the pressure on crew members has never been higher.

But here’s the thing: mistakes are bound to happen in the chaotic scramble to get cars back on track. Even though just nine races have passed, we’ve already seen tires come off in the middle of the races, and jacks fail, taking away any shot at victory a driver may have had. While some have blamed the single lug nut system, Chris Hussey (Petty’s crew chief) isn’t having any of it.

If there’s anyone who knows his way around the pit road, it’s Hussey. From changing tires for Mark Martin to spotting for John Andretti and eventually serving as crew chief for Adam Petty, he’s been through it all. And, he believes that it’s not the equipment that’s the problem, but the execution.

“They just gotta be better on pit road, It’s not that single lug nut’s fault. It’s back to trying to be as fast as you can. But at the end of the day, percentage-wise, every weekend, 99% get put on so tight,” Hussey said. And, we think he may have a point.

When there were five lug nuts, one of them being loose wasn’t the end of the world. Even if one was loose, the other four held the tire in place. However, there’s no safety net with one lug nut, and one mistake can lead to a loose wheel bouncing off the track. Remember John Hunter Nemechek’s incident on the pit road at Bristol. The no. lug nut loosened right as Nemecheck left the pit. And, the next thing we saw was Daniel Suarez’s pit member getting hit. Watch how the Whelen tire kept rolling.

Such incidents are becoming increasingly common. Larson also lost his right front wheel at Circuit of the Americas, and Christopher Bell almost fell victim to the same fate, had he not stopped at Chase Briscoe’s pit box to tighten the lug nut. Carson Hocevar experienced a jack failure at Bristol, which knocked him out of the top five. These aren’t just random incidents, but a by-product of the crew members relying on speed to get the job done.

And, Chris Hussey isn’t letting the equipment off the hook either, going on to say, “Of course we had a jack fail yesterday, according to what I’ve seen on the #77 because he went and got another jack.”

The veteran crew chief wants crew members to step up instead of the sport going backwards, and honestly, even the Lucky Dog on Track can’t help but agree with him.

Continue Reading: Richard Petty and His Son Reminisce Their Lost Blood as They Look Back at Rockingham

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