When Richard Petty Set NASCAR's Gold Standard

^{Nov 18, 2024 | Edition #99}

👋 Dear Motorheads,

A shoutout to Denny Hamlin for keeping the off-season drama dialed up to #11! That lawsuit is like a never-ending soap opera – and the Lucky Dog's all for it! Deep into the legal battle, who knew Hamlin and his team may still be able to field their 23XI cars next year?

Although NASCAR has some conditions for their entries, Hamlin is probably not that bothered. He hasn’t been a stranger to having the odds stacked against him. In fact, as the famous quote goes, the guy has lived long enough to see himself become the villain. So, on his birthday, we must celebrate this icon from the only perspective that would do him justice—the villain’s perspective.

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

🏆 When Richard Petty Established NASCAR’s Gold Standard

⚖️ 23XI Racing & FRM Are Risking It All for 2025

👀 Who’s Got the Playoff Fix That NASCAR Needs?

🎂 Happy 44th Birthday to NASCAR’s Future Hall of Famer

🗝️ From the Vault

The First to Do the Unthinkable

November 18, 1979, was no ordinary day in Ontario, California. Richard Petty, who we also know as ‘The King’, clinched his record-setting seventh Cup Series championship at the Los Angeles Times 500 that day, etching a legacy that defines the sport even today.

While Benny Parsons celebrated a win on the track, Petty's fifth-place finish was all he needed to edge championship rival, Darrell Waltrip, by a razor-thin 11 points—the narrowest margin in the Cup Series history back then.

Waltrip entered the race with a slim two-point lead, but fell victim to bad luck, spinning early and losing precious track position. Petty, ever the tactician, noticed the opportunity and ran the long game. His consistency would eventually seal his seventh title.

After a rough 1978 season marred by struggles with Dodge, Petty switched to Chevrolet halfway through the year. He kicked off the year with a statement win at the first televised Daytona 500 in 1979, which would end up being his sixth win at ‘The Great American Race’. The rest of his year was one for the record books: 23 top-fives, 27 top-10s, and an average finish of 6.4. We’re probably never going to see a season like that ever again. 

As for the race, Petty's fifth-place finish won him the championship over P8-finishing Waltrip, who was a little discontent at going a lap down during the race. Regardless, it would not be at least 13 years before another driver/owner would win the championship in 1992 (which ended up being Alan Kulwicki).

However, about four years later, ‘The King’ announced his departure from Petty Enterprises after 26 years of competing together. Sadly, controversy followed his last win for his family’s race team at Charlotte because of a penalty for an oversized engine on his #43 Pontiac. Here is a video that details what went down. And spoiler alert, the engine was only one of the things wrong with his winning car.

Through all of those trials and tribulations, his seven-time legacy set the gold standard for NASCAR greatness. His road to the top paved the way for guys like Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson. And for that, Richard Petty will always be the King of NASCAR.

Continue Reading: F1 Legend Reveals Hilarious Reason Behind Failing to Pull Richard Petty From NASCAR’s Clutches

🏁 Lucky Dog’s Quick Poll 🏁

🌪️ Cause for Controversy

Court Battles Leave 23XI & FRM ‘Charterless’

Well, it’s official! 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports will race next year… but not as “chartered” teams.

As you know, the dispute centers on a clause in NASCAR's 2025 agreements that initially barred teams from suing the sanctioning body. This “anticompetitive release” now exists no more, allowing the plaintiffs to race as “open teams” while their fight against the France family’s “monopolistic practices” continues in court.

But let’s not sugarcoat it—this isn’t the victory lap they would’ve hoped for. Without charters, 23XI & FRM lose guaranteed payouts, a significant share of the purse money, and most importantly, they lose playoff security. It’s like racing with one hand tied behind their backs. These conditions could bring forth some serious financial consequences for both organizations. Even Denny Hamlin admitted it’s “TBD” if 23XI Racing would turn up at the Daytona 500 in February.

However, Jeffrey Kessler, their representative in court, believes a win is a win. He said, “NASCAR’s removal of the anticompetitive release requirement is a step toward fairness.” But now, we have more questions than answers.

For starters, despite both teams’s agreements in place to each buy a charter from Stewart-Haas Racing, the confirmation for both those deals remains in limbo. So does that mean 23XI and FRM will keep racing as two-car operations? Or will they expand to three teams in 2025? 

Meanwhile, Tyler Reddick has a clause in his contract that states he cannot compete for an “unchartered” organization in NASCAR. That’s a massive question mark hanging over the heads of 23XI Racing.

So, where does that leave us in this waiting game, as of the most recent ruling? In the words of Kessler, "My clients will continue their appeal to the 4th Circuit to issue an injunction so they can run as chartered teams, therefore avoiding irreparable harm." There’s no question. We just have to wait and see how that one plays out.

Continue Reading: Denny Hamlin Wins Hating Fans’ Hearts After Defending NASCAR Despite Major Lawsuit

🔮 Lucky Dog’s Perspective

NASCAR Playoffs Scheduled for Overhaul

Let's talk about the elephant in the room—NASCAR's playoff elimination format. The round-by-round cutoff system worked wonders initially, breathing life into the championship chase. But with Joey Logano’s championship win this year, the cracks in the system have started to show.

It’s as if the playoffs have shifted too far toward entertainment, diluting the very essence of racing. And Logano’s 2024 title is only one exhibit. Just one year ago, his teammate Ryan Blaney won the championship with only eight top-five finishes. That set a modern-era record for the fewest top-fives by a champion—until Logano promptly broke it this year with seven.

These back-to-back scenarios surely did not sit well with fans. But thankfully, NASCAR COO Steve O’Donnell and President Steve Phelps acknowledged the growing discontent. While they defended the playoffs, they also admitted for the first time that a review was in order. So, in light of this, let’s take a look at some potential solutions to revamp the playoffs:

• A Three-Race Championship Round: Let the Championship 4 duke it out over three races instead of a winner-takes-all finale. Playoff points wouldn’t carry over, but stage points would count, rewarding consistent performance in those critical races.

• Denny Hamlin’s Proposal: He recently suggested doubling points in the regular season to emphasize consistency. The playoffs begin with 16 drivers but cut to the Championship 4 after seven races. Points would then reset for a three-race finale, making the championship a battle of the best over those three events. 

• Steve Letarte’s Winner-Only Format: Here, only regular-season race winners make it to playoffs. The championship round would again span three races—but with a rotating venue for the finale. He proposes seeding playoff drivers based on all the bonus points they accumulate throughout 26 races. Here is the video of him explaining the idea in detail during a podcast.

• The Classic Full-Season Points System: Maybe the purists romanticize this format too much. And yes, it's probably never returning. But it's undeniable that a full-season points race brought out a different type of excitement. Every lap, every position, every race mattered. One bad outing wouldn’t doom a title contender, while a streak of consistent finishes could elevate a dark horse to championship glory.

Now, NASCAR stands at a crossroads between honoring its legacy and evolving to stay relevant. As fans, all we can do is voice our opinions, celebrate the highs, and hope that the next iteration of the playoffs gets it just right. After all, the playoff system delivers, especially if we’re talking about drama.

Continue Reading: Legendary HMS Crew Chief Publicly Trashes Joey Logano’s Championship Sweep With Bold Playoff Solution

🫡 The Lucky Dog Salutes

Cheers (or Jeers?) to Denny Hamlin at 44!

Today, we celebrate the birthday of a man who's as controversial as he is talented. Some of you probably didn’t even need the notice to realize we were talking about Denny Hamlin. Born in the Sunshine State but raised in the heart of NASCAR country in Chesterfield, Virginia, ‘Snake Eyes’ has come a long way from his humble beginnings.

As the future Hall of Famer turns 44 today, it is worth looking back at his stock car racing acclaim. It all began nearly two decades ago at a 2004 truck race, after the late president of Joe Gibbs Racing, J. D. Gibbs, discovered Hamlin racing Late Models in his native Virginia. He showed plenty of promise, so JGR gave the guy a full-time run in the #11 Cup car only two years later.

Hamlin burst onto the scene in 2006 recording a season sweep at Pocono and a third-place finish in points—which made him the first rookie to reach the Championship 4 in the Playoff era. Initially, he captivated fans with his calm demeanor. But as his career progressed, something shifted. The once-beloved driver morphed into a villain, a master of controversy.

But mind you, it is not us naming him that. It is Hamlin himself who has openly accepted the ‘black hat’ title. Here is a clip of him disclosing how the jeers actually fuel him.

Whether it be on-track clashes with fan favorites, like Chase Elliott, or off-track incidents like that infamous Family Guy meme controversy when he took a dig at Kyle Larson with a racially charged post, Denny has made himself a lightning rod for fan hate.

And it’s almost as if Hamlin enjoys playing the antagonist, mocking fans and reveling in his ability to upset them at every chance. The “I beat your favorite driver” line and his unapologetic post-race interviews only contribute to his divisive persona. 

Yet, his career embodies the duality of NASCAR. While there are fans that boo him, there are also fans who admire his personality which reminds them of the old-time drivers. But beyond all and any imaginable metrics, Denny Hamlin has ensured one thing in his near-two-decade-long NASCAR career: people will always have something to say about him.

Continue Reading: What Is Left of Denny Hamlin’s Depleting Core After Having to Deal With a Big Loss?

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4. HMS Insider Lets Slip Secret Behind Chase Elliott’s Dream 2024 Turnaround - Full Story

5. Kenny Wallace Recalls Brother Rusty’s Hilarious Firing From a Day Job - Full Story

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