Wildfires Threaten NASCAR's Homestead-Miami Weekend!

March 20, 2025

Mar 20, 2025 | Edition #152

👋 Dear Motorheads,

Another week, another headline! Michael Jordan has taken a bold stand for his longtime business partner, Curtis Polk, as their legal battle takes a personal turn. Meanwhile, we’re revisiting one of the most unforgettable family feuds in racing history.

And if you’re heading to Homestead-Miami, you need to brace yourself. Massive wildfires are raging nearby, and things could get really hot. Oh, and Kevin Harvick is not holding back on Christopher Bell’s pit stop loophole—frankly, we think Kevin’s got a strong point there.

📅 Weekend Schedule

 đŸ“ˆ Trending News

MJ’s High-Stakes Legal Clash Takes a Personal Turn

Folks, it seems like the drama between NASCAR and Michael Jordan’s business partner, Curtis Polk has got way more intense. In early March, the sanctioning body filed a bold countersuit, putting Polk front and center of it. The situation couldn’t be more heated up. And, Jordan isn’t taking it well.

This time, NASCAR accused Polk of ‘conspiring’ with other Cup Series teams to undermine the charter agreement. They have also claimed that Polk tried to damage their reputation during the media rights negotiations. Talk about taking swipes, right? However, Jordan and Polk are not just standing firm, but also fighting back.

And if you’re wondering why MJ is so invested, well, these two go way back. Since 1989, to be exact. Polk has managed Jordan’s finances, played a key role in launching the legendary Jordan Brand, and even helped bring The Last Dance to life. With a partnership spanning over three decades, you better believe Jordan isn’t going to sit this one out.

A spokeswoman for MJ said, “Curtis and MJ stand united. His perspective is if you are coming after Curtis, you are coming after him. He doesn’t look at this as just business. It’s personal.”

On the flip side, NASCAR’s attorney Christopher Yates has gone on to say that Curtis Polk doesn’t really “get” NASCAR, going as far as claiming that he wants the sport to be more like the NBA. But Denny Hamlin wasn’t having any of it. The co-owner has pointed out Polk's importance. “A chef doesn’t know how to cook.”

And, it’s not the first time NASCAR has had such issues. A decade ago, Fortress Investment Group co-founder Rob Kauffman bailed out Michael Waltrip Racing and played a key role in launching the RTA and NASCAR’s charter system in 2016.

Once seen as an outsider, Kauffman is no longer an active team owner. And much like him, NASCAR doesn’t seem to see Polk as one of the good ol’ boys content with weekend racing thrills. Also, with the way things are going, it’s clear that Curtis Polk isn’t going to back down without a fight. And with MJ having his back, the ongoing legal battle is just going to get even more interesting.

But one thing’s clear, this isn’t just a ‘lawsuit’, it’s personal and MJ will be gearing up to go all guns blazing.

🗝️ From the Vault

When Lee Petty Stole Victory From His Own

Did you think that NASCAR is all about high-octane action and big wrecks? Well, maybe you should reconsider. Sometimes, it can also be about family drama, and we mean some ‘real’ father-son controversy in this instance.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane to June of 1959 at Atlanta’s Lakewood Speedway. A 21-year-old Richard Petty, fresh-faced and bursting with excitement, pulled into the pit lane, convinced he had just secured his first-ever victory. His convertible Oldsmobile had seemingly been the first to cross the finish line, and ‘The King’ was already basking in the glory of the moment. But just as the celebration began, reality came crashing down.

In a shocking twist, Richard heard the unthinkable—his own father, Lee Petty, had filed a protest against the result. The man who had taught him everything about racing was now challenging his win. Confused and blindsided, the young Petty was left wondering, “What did I do wrong?” As it turns out, Lee Petty was absolutely right. Here’s a quick look at the photo finish. We are sure some of you have even experienced it in person.

After a bit of digging by NASCAR, the sanctioning body verified the same. But as a competitive and proud father, Lee Petty said, “I won the race. I lapped Richard twice when he was in the pits. I’d love for him to win, but he’ll have to earn it. This wouldn’t be the right way for him to get his first victory.” 

This wasn’t just about bragging rights—there was serious money on the line. A hefty cash prize awaited the winner. But if Richard had won, NASCAR would actually save money. Because they had a special incentive in place—an extra $200 bonus for anyone who would win in a brand-new car.

And winning a total of $2,200 was no pocket change back in the day. Lee Petty was also fighting for his third Grand National title, a feat he managed to achieve with another photo finish in the first Daytona 500. It was Petty and Johnny Beauchamp who were running side by side at 135 miles/hour. As the former led, Johnny ran right at the tail. The race was intense and Lee crossed the chequered just in time. Have a look.

But the best part about this whole saga is that The King wasn’t bitter about it. Recalling the drama years later, he said, “Daddy knew that if he won, we’d take home more money. There wasn’t any arguing.”

Sure, Richard Petty didn’t win that day. But the NASCAR world took notice of his immense talent and potential. A year later, he finally snagged his first victory, kickstarting a career that cemented his legacy as one of the greatest of all time.

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NASCAR Has Seen Some Wild Family Battles. Which One Was the Most Dramatic?

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🗣️ Talk of the NASCAR Town

Wildfires Loom Over Homestead-Miami Speedway

As things stand, a wildfire is currently burning just a few miles south of the track, and while NASCAR says the race weekend is still on, things could get a little complicated. So you might want to be extra cautious or maybe carry a mask, just to be prepared.

The inferno ignited Monday afternoon in southern Miami-Dade County, mercilessly devouring everything in its path. Over 3,600 acres have already fallen to the flames, with thick smoke creeping into Southern Miami and the Upper Keys.

With no rain in sight, firefighters are battling around the clock to contain the blaze. But with the NASCAR race weekend looming, the fire is closing in on the 1.5-mile battleground of speed. Look at the recent updates on the region.

NASCAR, however, has an optimistic appraisal of the situation. According to a FOX Sports journalist, “This wildfire is a few miles south of the track. It has not impacted preparations for the Homestead race weekend and the schedule is unchanged.” Here’s an Ariel view for reference.

So, as of now, the Truck Series is on Friday, the Xfinity Series is on Saturday, and the big Cup Series clash is on Sunday afternoon. However, the amount of smoke from the area could seriously affect the air quality, making it an uncomfortable experience for fans as well as drivers.

Warnings have already been issued by the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue that windows will need to be rolled up and the air conditioning set to recirculate, especially when driving through smoky areas. The fire could cause some major traffic delays, especially on highways such as U.S. 1’s 18-mile Stretch. With Homestead-Miami having a capacity of nearly 46,000, serious traffic jams may cause problems for fans getting in and out of the Speedway.

And, it’s not the first time a NASCAR event has been postponed due to wildfires. In 1998, the Pepsi 400 was originally scheduled for the Fourth of July. However, a nearby blaze in Central Florida forced the race to be postponed, resulting in the first superspeedway race being held at night. This was a three-month delayed race that Jeff Gordon won. People were affected, businesses were affected, and NASCAR hung on the tickets.

So it’s almost like history is repeating itself, even though NASCAR is saying that the show will go on. For now, it’s full speed ahead for the race weekend. Let’s hope the fire doesn’t force NASCAR to use the brakes.

🔮 Lucky Dog’s Perspective

Harvick Questions NASCAR’s Pit Stop Loophole

You must know by now what happened with Christopher Bell in the pit stop at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. If you missed it, Bell’s crew chief failed to tighten the left front wheel properly, putting him in a dangerous spot. Instead of risking a catastrophic loose wheel penalty that would sideline his crew for two races, crew chief Adam Stevens had to think fast. In a bold, split-second decision, the No. 20 Toyota veered into Chase Briscoe’s pit box for an emergency fix.

Smart move? Yes. Fair move? Kevin Harvick’s NOT SO SURE. He instead brought up a really good point after the pit stop controversy. “I feel like it’s better than the wheel falling off but what about the guy who only has one car?” And honestly, the Lucky Dog thinks it’s a fair question.

Bell was penalized for using Chase Briscoe’s pit box and was sent to the back of the field. It’s not like he escaped completely scot-free. But, that’s a way better outcome than losing his crew members for two races, right? And now that other teams know that such a loophole exists, what stops them from taking advantage of it in the future? You can bet they were taking notes from the sidelines.

And, Kevin is worried about this new trend, if they pick it. Imagine if all the heavyweights start pulling off such moves, where will the single-car teams like Wood Brothers Racing go? Surely, they don’t have another pit box to rely on to bail them out when things go awry.

And if we’re being real, loose wheels have been a problem ever since the Next-Gen car was rolled out in 2022. Kyle Larson was recently a victim of it when his right front tire came off while making the 6A turn at the Circuit of the Americas. The tire literally kept rolling at its own velocity. Here, look at Larson’s tireless struggles. 

Maybe determined not to suffer the same fate, the No. 20 team just made the best of a bad situation. However, the sanctioning body now has the decision to make if they enforce harsher penalties for teams who attempt a similar move in the future, or will the pit-stop maneuver become a full-blown strategy, making things even harder for the smaller teams? Well, only time will tell.

While Kevin Harvick is asking the difficult questions right now, he won’t be the only one if this keeps happening going forward.

  1. Xfinity Deprived by Nearly $10,000,000 as Purse for Homestead Miami Highlights Glaring Disparity - Full Story

  2. Kurt Busch’s Retired Crew Chief Emphatically Opens Up About Their First and Only Daytona 500 Win - Full Story

  3. Jeff Gordon Drops a Jaw-Dropping Update, Sprucing Up Rick Hendrick’s European Project — Full Story

  4. Mark Martin Signals for NASCAR’s Bad Boys’ Return With Bold “Legends” Claim - Full Story

  5. Katherine Legge’s Criticism of NASCAR Highlights the Ever-Evident Need to Bring Back Its Nearly $1M Routine - Full Story

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