What’s on the Menu for NASCAR’s Biggest Names?

In partnership with

^{Nov 28, 2024 | Edition #103}

👋 Dear Motorheads,

Happy Thanksgiving, folks! Being in the holiday spirit, we are taking a fun detour today, exploring the favorite Turkey Day meals of NASCAR’s biggest stars! And oh, we’ve also got a special throwback to the one time NASCAR actually raced on Thanksgiving weekend.

Today, We’ll Uncover the Following Stories From the NASCAR Universe:

🥘 Drivers Reveal Their Favorite Thanksgiving Food

🎢 A Trip to 2001’s Rollercoaster Season Finale

🙏 You Told Us What You All Are Thankful For

🚘 Dale Jr’s 8 Bud Car’s Awaited Return

 🗝️ From the Vault

Gravy, Pies, and NASCAR: Thanksgiving Favorites

While scouring the internet to bring you the best Thanksgiving NASCAR stories, the Lucky Dog stumbled upon an 11-year-old video—one that gives us a front-row seat to the favorite holiday feasts of NASCAR’s finest. In the short clip, drivers dished out their ‘must-have’ holiday favorites, from savory bites to sweet treats.

First up we had Elliott Sadler, who might as well crown himself the king of gravy. Certainly for Sadler, Thanksgiving isn’t complete without it. “Turkey with gravy, fried chicken with gravy, even pork chops with gravy”—he’s not picky as long as the golden goodness is flowing!

When asked about the same, Ryan Blaney had no intention of narrowing it down to just one dish. Turkey? Mashed potatoes? Stuffing? “Everything that’s served on Thanksgiving is my favorite food,” he said. Honestly, we can’t argue with that.

We also got to know Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Turkey Say preference. For him, it’s all about keeping it classic and Southern. His favorite is sweet cornbread, a holiday essential that perfectly reflects his roots. On the other hand, we had Aric Almirola, who had a surprisingly specific pick: spiral-cut ham. Or as we’d call it, Almirola’s got ham-azing taste!

Sliding over to Bubba Wallace, he’s all about that dressing. Yep, this holiday side dish earns top billing at Wallace’s Thanksgiving. The one answer that surprised us was Jimmie Johnson’s. We expected him to have a high-octane, fancy favorite. But it looks like even this seven-time champ likes to keep it humble: mashed potatoes. Comforting, and downright irresistible—just like Johnson himself!

As we are on the subject of Thanksgiving feasts, who can forget desserts? Certainly, Carl Edwards can’t. The veteran is all about pumpkin pie, a spiced masterpiece that’s the MVP of many Thanksgiving tables. Meanwhile, Matt Kenseth prefers the sweet and crisp perfection of apple crisps, so much so that you’ll also find him munching on leftovers the next morning. Here’s the old (but gold) clip that catches NASCAR drivers talking about their favorite Thanksgiving food.

And oh, did we talk about Chase Elliott’s favorite? Bringing a nostalgic twist to the table, NASCAR’s ‘Golden Boy’ loves “Grandma’s fruit salad.” All packed with memories, it’s a dish that tugs at the heartstrings and satisfies the taste buds. Having heard all that, Ross Chastain was not happy with the very specific answers. For him, Thanksgiving is “a great day. And what’s not to like?”

Now that you have heard the favorites from your NASCAR stars, the Lucky Dog would like to ask you the same question.

Continue Reading: Man of ‘Culture’ Kyle Busch Gives an Inside Look on His Contribution to Family’s Thanksgiving Setup

🏁 Lucky Dog’s Quick Poll 🏁

Last Poll’s Result: Answering, ‘Who do you think has had a greater impact on NASCAR (between Mike Joy and Joe Gibbs)’, 59.74% of you said Joe Gibbs, while others chose Mike Joy. It looks like, even though JGR didn’t have a great season, Coach Gibbs (or rather his contributions to NASCAR) continues to have a solid standing in the sport.

🗝️ From the Vault

NASCAR’s First And Only Thanksgiving Race

Usually, by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, the NASCAR season is already wrapped up. Drivers and fans alike are settling in for a warm meal, reflecting on the year's thrills, spills, and checkered flags. But 2001 was a year unlike any other.

That year, the NASCAR schedule was thrown into disarray, leading to a truly unique and unforgettable Thanksgiving weekend for the entire community.

Well, to sum it up, it was a year that had already been a tumultuous one for NASCAR. It began with the tragic loss of the legendary Dale Earnhardt at the Daytona 500. But other than this, if you remember, certain geopolitical impacts cast a long shadow over the entire nation, including the world of racing.

As a result, the New Hampshire 300, traditionally the season finale, was rescheduled to Thanksgiving weekend, making it the first and only NASCAR race to be held on this holiday.

To recall it better, the race at New Hampshire International Speedway was a thrilling affair, with plenty of on-track action and unexpected twists.

By the last race, NASCAR’s Wonder Boy, Jeff Gordon, had already secured the championship, but his attempt to end the season on a high was thwarted. Leading 257 laps, Gordon looked untouchable until a clash with Robby Gordon changed the narrative. As Jeff lapped Mike Wallace, Robby bumped him, leading to contact with Wallace.

And Jeff, not the one to turn away from an on-track battle, retaliated. He tagged Robby in return, but couldn’t spin him out. Seeing all this unfold, NASCAR issued Jeff a black flag, effectively ending his race. And, the next thing the NASCAR community got as a thanksgiving surprise, was, Robby Gordon, claiming his first Cup Series victory. We found you the archive to the full race if you want to relive the 2001 season finale.

As we look back, that race was indeed a fitting end to a season that had tested the limits of the sport and its fans. A thrill you could only experience in NASCAR.

Continue Reading: Throwback: NASCAR’s Most-Watched Race Faces Off Against NFL With Strong Audience

⏪ Season Rewind

Your Favorite Memories From the 2024 Season

No doubt the 2024 NASCAR season has been packed with unforgettable moments that have left us buzzing. So as the year winds down, the Lucky Dog asked you all on social media to reflect on what moments you are most ‘thankful’ for. And the responses were filled with excitement, passion, and a good dose of drama.

As we unwinded the responses, one thing that struck you all was the "competitive parity." If we rewind a bit, a couple of races featured photo-finish battles this time around. Which means we did see more close racing than ever before. This made every race much more exciting, be it Harrison Burton’s thriller finish at Daytona or Chase Briscoe’s dramatic win at Darlington.

Out of all, the Lucky Dog has a clear favorite. As a fan also mentioned, “Kansas- Chris Buescher vs. Kyle Larson was something else🔥.” When the two drivers went toe-to-toe, it resulted in the closest finish in NASCAR history, with Larson besting Buescher by 0.001 seconds. Here is the clip of that moment that is worth re-watching.

And, of course, the drama didn’t stop there. One fan was particularly entertained by Austin Dillon’s aggressive move at Richmond that took out Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin, calling it “Dillon wrecking out crybabies Logano and Hamlin. 🍿🤪.” 

That desperate move will also be hard to forget for all the wrong reasons. The moment sparked plenty of debate, with Dillon’s playoff berth being snatched away eventually. So all in all, it was a win-win situation for us fans.

While a lot of us enjoyed the season on TV screens, some of you were most thankful for catching all the action live at the tracks. One fan even had the fortune of witnessing Kyle Larson win both races they attended, at Indy in July and Charlotte in October. “It was unforgettable,” they said. That’s the kind of luck every NASCAR fan dreams of.

And then there are Chase Elliott fans, who had plenty of reasons to celebrate this season. “Elliott getting back to Victory Lane at Texas” was a moment that many were thankful for, especially after a challenging 2023 year for NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver.

But not all the moments were strictly NASCAR. One fan shared their excitement about the return of Dale Earnhardt Jr with his iconic #8 Budweiser car, saying it was “unbeatable.” The nostalgia of seeing Junior back with the iconic car at Florence, evoked fond memories for longtime fans, reminding everyone of the golden days of NASCAR. So how about we take a deeper look at this 2024 highlight?

Continue Reading: “Bringing Back My Childhood”- NASCAR Fans Rejoice as Dale Earnhardt Jr. Lights Up Florence With Infamous Bud Revival

🗣️ Talk of the NASCAR Town

The Much-Awaited Return of the #8 Bud

When you think of Dale Jr, it’s hard not to picture him in that legendary #8 Budweiser Chevy. That car wasn’t just a ride; it was a whole vibe. Remember April 2, 2000? Junior snagged his first Cup win at Texas, leaving Jeff Burton in his dust. And the best part? Dale Earnhardt hustled over after the race to give his boy a huge hug. Here is the video that will make you nostalgic.

That win was just the start. Junior and the red Bud car lit it up with 17 wins, owning the track. But then, drama hit. Junior left DEI for HMS after butting heads with Teresa Earnhardt. DEI tried to move on, but fizzled out a year later, while Junior kept it rolling in the #88.

Fast forward to 2024, it started to look like we'd never see the #8 Bud car again. For a long time, Teresa Earnhardt had kept the rights to the iconic number. But in June, Teresa let the trademark expire, and Dale Jr wasted no time to get it.

He swooped in, reached out to Budweiser, and asked “them if they wanted to do something since the #8 was no longer licensed.” And, of course, Budweiser jumped on the opportunity. Just like that, the #8 Bud car made its glorious return—17 years later—at Florence Motor Speedway for a late model race.

The buzz was electric as fans packed the stands. Safe to say, Junior Nation’s loyalty was in full force. Sadly for them, just as Dale was fighting his way through the pack, mechanical issues forced him to pit with 31 laps to go, ending his race early. Still, Junior commented, "It was really cool" to see the #8 back on track.

Surprisingly, though, Junior’s wife Amy missed it all. The reason for her absence? She fell asleep while her husband was out there making a stellar comeback. But, let’s cut her some slack. It can't be easy to be an interior designer, attend all of Junior’s events, and also be a full-time mom.

But not to worry, as Junior is bringing the red beast to the track again in a few late-model races next year. She can catch it then, and so can you!

Continue Reading: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Had His Belief System Shook Up, Having a Major Religious Epiphany to Aid Historic Bud Return

📰 Lucky Dog's Recommended Reads

1. Denny Hamlin’s Fiancee in Awe as Kyle Larson’s Mother-In-Law Enjoys Special Day - Full Story

2. After Suspension, NASCAR’s Notorious 18-YO Forced Dale Jr to Hit Back - Full Story

3. Denny Hamlin Rejects Joey Logano’s Praise for NASCAR’s Format - Full Story

4. Kyle Busch's Wife Samantha Breaks Her 26-Year-Long Vow - Full Story

5. Denny Hamlin Throws a Sarcastic 8-Word Jab at Martin Truex Jr - Full Story

✨ Featured Comment

A lot of you praised Mike Joy for his legendary calls and Joe Gibbs for bringing some great drivers to the forefront, but Kathy Stacconi’s comment on our last poll really caught our eye…

Lucky Dog's Take: That’s true! Joe Gibbs certainly shook things up big time in NASCAR after partnering with Toyota in 2008. And now, with a total of 10 driver titles and 469 race wins, it is tough to not give the man the recognition he deserves.

If you have any such comments, let us know in the polls. You can also write back to us. With this, the next Lucky Dog on Track 'Featured Comment' could be yours.

💌 Feedback