lucky dog
n.— «Here’s how the lucky dog works: When a caution flag comes out, NASCAR awards the first driver not on the lead lap a free pass around the track, putting that driver at the back of the pack of all cars on the lead lap. Gordon, who fell three laps down in Sunday’s Advanced Auto Parts 500, used pit strategy to make up two of those laps, but needed the lucky dog to get himself back on the lead lap, where he worked his way through traffic and, eventually, into Victory Lane.» —“‘Lucky dog’ rule—friendly or fierce?” by Jay Hart Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) Apr. 14, 2005. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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There was a time when William Shakespeare was just another little seven-year-old in school. Classes in his day were demanding — and all in Latin. A new book argues that this rigorous curriculum actually nurtured the creativity that later flourished...