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Ahem… does this thing work? Can everyone hear me? yes? well good. For the first time in 2023, it’s officially NASCAR Race Week!
Buckle up, buckle up, pull those tight belts again (shout out to Larry Mac), because we’re less than a week away from the actual green flag.
Yes, it’s in LA when it should be in Daytona – there’s a reason people leave California for Florida, you know – but we’ll let that slide here. You don’t want to dampen the mood on our first race week of the year.
The holiday season is over, boys and girls. Well, technically there’s still one more off week before the Daytona 500, but that’s just stupid semantics. We did it. number More wedding photos, relationship updates, and power couple ratings … none of this!
I’m just kidding. We still have a lot of it this week, because there was some major movement on that front, starting with the stunning NASCAR breakup between Martin Truex Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. and Sherry Pollex.
More on this in a minute.
Elsewhere, Hayley Deegan Daytona crush Along with a pair of rising star pairs, the NASCAR world, Chase Elliott and Hooters are a match made in heaven, Jeff Gordon drove their boys on a trip to New York City, Denny Hamlin thinks Jimmie Johnson is in trouble and so much more.
It’s a sweet potato day, folks.
Four tires and whatever Sunoco fuel you have left, because we have to use the rest today. Monday Morning Stop – Offseason Release “Breakups & Breakdancing” – Live!
Martin Truex Jr., Sherry Pollix rock the NASCAR world
Well, let’s start with the sad news before putting this pup on high alert.
I have to be honest with you… I wasn’t expecting this. I don’t know why, but it never occurred to me that these two would call it a day.
But, as they say, life.
cruel. Martin Truex Jr. and Sherry Bollix have been in the game forever – they’re right up there with Kyle and Samantha Bush as their NASCAR OGs in a power couple game.
Cheri had battled with cancer a few years ago, and then Truex Jr. won. with the NASCAR Cup title in 2017 and it was a fairy tale kind of ending. So yeah, this one surprised me.
Tough scene, but that’s the life of a NASCAR driver, I guess. MTJ isn’t the first driver to see the end of a long term relationship and it won’t be the last.
As the parents say, “It’s just one of their ‘deals’.”
Harrison Burton wins the Rolex 24 Weekend, ushering in the powerhouse NASCAR conversation between the pair
As we close the book on Martin and Sherry, I’m happy to share that we’re opening another book on Harrison Burton and his girlfriend, Gina Beattie.
I didn’t know these two were a thing until this week, but I’m glad we found out.
Harrison was in Daytona this week for the Rolex 24, and he actually won Friday’s race with teammate Zane Smith. Hailie Deegan finished third in the same race and led a few laps early.
Anyway, it turns out that Harrison’s girlfriend is Gina Petty, who is currently the captain of the High Point University dance team and is due to graduate next year.
These two lovebirds were also in the Bahamas last week to celebrate the marriage of Todd and Marissa Gilliland, along with Smith and McCall Goulding.
Talk about Power Couple USA! The sport is in good hands moving forward. We’re in the Burrow-Mahomes-Allen era of NASCAR power pairs right now.
You should enjoy greatness when you can.
Chase Elliott returns with Hooters, confirms ward plot
From a young couple OGs to one of the gold standards – Chase Elliott.
Clyde was (shockingly!) part of the NASCAR crew that chose to represent the sport last week in the New York City takeover (more on that in a second), but that doesn’t mean he didn’t have time to grab a quick meal and take pictures at Hooters.
Elliot The longtime sponsor is back again for 2023 — again, shockingly — and the two actually revealed their new paint scheme this week.
If you remember, we started this season with some serious controversy when one Chase Elliott was accused by Ryan Blaney of eating Hooters wings with a fork, which Chase I shut down quickly before things get out of hand.
Anyway, looks like we’ve found the smoking gun. And unfortunately for Chase (but not OJ!), the gauntlet fits.
Jeff Gordon and Ryan Blaney represent NASCAR in New York City
Let’s skip from wings to apples, and check out Jeff Gordon—it’s very clear that NASCAR is gearing up to be its next spokesperson.
Well, I guess “next” isn’t right, because Gordon I was NASCAR – along with Dale Sr. — for years in the 90’s and early 2000’s. So, I guess this is his second season?
I don’t know. But I do know that the 51-year-old was all over New York City last week promoting the sport’s 75th Anniversary season. And everywhere, I mean it was on Wall Street, on the TODAY Show, on Sirius XM and on Jimmy Fallon.
So, yeah… NASCAR is going back to Jeff Gordon’s well this season.
Anyway, Gordon dropped some Much needed truth bombs On Fallon about driving etiquette, I would like all our Florida readers to pay attention here.
Spot on gif. Speak like a true Hall of Famer and four-time champion. Nothing annoys me more than idiots driving 75 mph in the left lane on 95.
If it was socially acceptable I would have put their asses in the fence so quickly that even if Dale Sr. had gone back to his prime he would have been proud of him.
Anyway, here are some of the best moments from NASCAR’s NYC takeover last week, including Daniel Suarez ringing the NYSE bell.
You didn’t see that coming, right?!
Denny Hamlin thinks Jimmie Johnson might stink this year
Finally, on our way out…
Looks like Denny Hamlin will be getting his own podcast, which is set to start early next month. He’s doing so in association with Dale Jr.’s Dirty Mo Media. harmful acts.
Listen, I know Denny is deeply divisive in the sport, but I think this is something he should listen to every week. I used to hate Denny Hamlin—seriously, after the Chase incident in Martinsville a few years ago, I absolutely swore at him—but now I’m getting on with it.
Anybody who says exactly what he thinks and doesn’t call good judgment on us is fine with my book—and this column—which is why Hamlin and Kyle Bush are organized here.
Speaking of their opinions… Denny, what do you think of Jimmy Johnson’s comeback this year?!
He said, “I hate to sully what I think about him if he comes into conflict, which is the most likely scenario.”
Okeedokee!
By the way Hamlin is not wrong.
Let’s be honest guys. Didn’t Jimmy Johnson set the world on fire at the end of his full-time career, and now he’s back after two years off, with an even worse team and a new car?
Yes, that would be awesome!
Tara Allmendinger scores big in the swimsuit competition
On our way out, Part 2!
We couldn’t call it a day without congratulating AJ Alleminger’s wife Tara on a big showing at the Miss USA Earth Pageant earlier this month!
By the way, Tara and AJ are another OG couple, but that goes without saying.
Put those goals on paper, guys. If you take anything from today’s column, this is it.
Well, that’s it. Welcome to the first race week of 2023. Let’s go kick some LA Coliseum and put on a good show for the world, folks.
Take us home, Larry Mac!