When you think of the key figures behind the smooth operation at Barber Motorsports Park, you probably imagine race control officials, flaggers, security teams, management, etc. But there’s one fur-tunate staff member who steals the show and the hearts of everyone who steps foot in Race Control—Lucky, Barber's official dog and self-appointed official Treat Supervisor.
We sat down with Joel Self, Security Manager and Lucky’s handler, to get the full tail (pun intended) behind this beloved pup’s journey from stray to racing legend.
It all started on January 13, 2019, when a very malnourished yellow Labrador strolled into Barber Motorsports Park. “He walked up to our Turn 2 seating area,” Joel recalls. “He was so malnourished, he probably had another week to live. We rescued him, and that’s when our journey with Lucky began.”
At first, they named him "Turn 2," but as Joel admits, “It was just too hard to say. So, we renamed him Lucky because, well, he landed at the luckiest place on earth.”
Lucky's transformation didn’t stop there. When Mr. Barber, a lover of yellow Labs, heard about the stray, he stepped in immediately. "When Mr. Barber saw Lucky, he said it didn’t matter what we had to do—he was ours to take care of."
Lucky had heartworms, but after some veterinary care and a stint at obedience school, he became a permanent, tail-wagging fixture at Barber Motorsports Park. Now, at nine and a half years old, he’s a veteran of the racing world, earning his keep with treats, breakfast leftovers, and a steady supply of head scratches.
Lucky isn’t just any dog. He’s got a job to do. “He’s our emotional support animal in race control for every event,” Joel explains. “But every morning, he also clears the track of deer and geese. We ride around during track inspection, and if we see any animals, all he has to do is hop out of the truck, and they run!”
Talk about paws on patrol—Lucky’s presence keeps the track safe and secure in more ways than one. And let’s not forget his important role in eliminating all spare treats in race control, a duty he takes very seriously.
Lucky is a true racing legend, and every star should have their hashtag on Instagram. If you wish to find out more on Lucky, type in #LuckyBarber9 on Instagram.
When asked about his work-life balance, Lucky himself chimed in with a playful “Woof!”—which we can only assume translates to, “I love my job, especially the treats.”
From the brink of despair to living his best life at the track, Lucky is more than just a mascot—he’s an integral part of the team, reminding everyone that sometimes, even in the fast-paced world of racing, it’s okay to stop and smell the bacon.
