The Racing Writer’s Podcast

Myatt Snider is still selling himself to drive race cars in NASCAR but things look a little different these days. Snider returns to the podcast to discuss what it’s like trying to land deals; how a presidential election plays into things; the lack of races on his schedule this season; being at the track and not driving; re-evaluating things during the time outside the race car; the job of being a pit spotter for NBC Sports; being comfortable enough to talk to teams for necessary pre-race information; what he’s learning being on the television side; if there is anything that can be useful as a driver; the information he is plugged into during the race; stories he’s been able to get onto television during the race; the opportunity to listen to other drivers on the radio because of this position; working with dad on pit road; the reaction from peers on being in this role; the benefit of still being at the racetrack; if there is anything on the schedule for the rest of this year.  

Original music created by Tony Monge. 

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Marco Andretti is almost a girl dad and it’s going to happen during a busy part of the season for him. Andretti discusses life as a part-time racing driver these days; how perspective changes on racing, particularly Indianapolis, not as a full-time driver; having a wider view on the racing world; the benefits of doing cold plunges; digging into the season and adjusting to a new challenge with stock car/truck racing; adapting to having more input from behind the wheel versus the variables of open wheel racing; the habits he’s had to unlearn behind the wheel; anything that’s surprised him that’s been enjoyable; the mental adjustment to always being in combat; what challenge has been the biggest uphill battle; character building early in the season and understanding little victories; the atmosphere of NASCAR versus IndyCar; getting to know and competing against new drivers, and why Andretti says they don’t want to get beat by him; the way Andretti prepares as a driver and how that’s different in NASCAR; going from practice straight to qualifying in NASCAR; looking ahead to the rest of his schedule; identifying as race car driver now and not being known for one thing; what the future might hold in NASCAR.  

Original music created by Tony Monge. 

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Rich Keator is a NASCAR tech inspector but he’s here to talk about one specific role he plays: Craftsman Truck Series flagman. Keator explains how the job has changed over the years and where you will most likely find him; keeping tabs on the garage and the relationship with the same people through a long year; being the designated flagman for the Truck Series; being prepared to be in the flag stand for a few hours; having to wear full protective gear in the flag stand; the process of getting instructions from the tower before making any signals with the flag; the equipment in the flag stand; having visitors up there for the race start; the art of waving the flag; Keator’s background getting into racing; who is responsible for the flag bag getting to the racetrack; the feeling being above the racing action; the longest race standing in the flag stand; positioning for visuals around the racetrack; memorable moments that were seen from the flag stand; how quickly it is to react based on what is in hand; the awareness to not react with the yellow flag until instructed; standout finishes seen from the flag stand.  

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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Dr. Diandra Leslie-Pelecky has a Ph.D. in physics and she’s brought that to the NASCAR world. We’re digging into what she does and when she realized she could better serve by bringing science to the public than in a classroom; bringing a different perspective to the racetrack; the experience of delivering something new to race fans; making science relatable through someone’s interests; being a resource for people; getting connected with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and NBC Sports; the process of compiling data and putting the information together; what Dr. Diandra likes to do the most; how or why people can dispute data and science; good advice for including data in your work; knowing how to look at the data; what to look at for the next few races; determining drivers to keep an eye on; the accuracy of saying anyone can win at Daytona; suggested work for fans to view; working on a new NASCAR book project.  

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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Mark Keto is the NASCAR project manager for Goodyear and he’s bringing us more behind the curtain. Keto checks in from Akron, Ohio, where the company is based and what takes place there; what a race week looks like before traveling to the racetrack; the expectations for Richmond Raceway with the additional option tire; how Goodyear approaches each race weekend and what they are doing behind the scenes; communication with race teams about recommendations; how Goodyear shifts through all the feedback in the industry before determining a new tire compound; the difference in tire wear versus tire failure; the battle of tires that wear out on the racetrack but not what Goodyear is selling on production vehicles; how the collaboration between NASCAR and Goodyear and the drivers and Goodyear has evolved over the years; the process of creating a tire; is a mixture really a mixture; how Bristol played out in live time for Goodyear; needing time to dig into the data after an event; what it means to put down rubber on a racetrack; the math of how many tires to bring to the track; the resources Goodyear brings to the racetrack; the RFID chips in the tires; the importance of tires coming back to Goodyear after an event and what happens to them; what drew Keto to the tire business; what it means to be the tire supplier for a sanctioning body; and what the fans need to know.  

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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David Ragan might not be a full-time NASCAR driver anymore but he hasn’t gone far. Ragan is still involved in the sport and we’re catching up this week to see what that is like and life post-driving. We start our conversation about Ragan doing simulator work for Ford; what does and does not translate to the racetrack; still having deep ties to Ford; the transition to post full-time racing life, and having time for other things in life; racing just enough to scratch the itch; the difficulty of competing on a limited basis; the changing perspective on his career the further in the rearview it gets; the end of Race Hub; being more plugged into the sport now than when he was driving; doing the EV demo in Chicago and things learned along the way with the project; the feel of driving an electric race car and the difference in steering wheel; his message to fans about the EV.  

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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Jeg Coughlin Jr. doesn’t look like a driver who retired for three years because he’s back in NHRA Pro Stock competition, and back to winning races. Before heading to his home track this weekend, Coughlin discusses what it’s like to indeed be back with Elite Motorsports; getting back up to speed on the racetrack; a driver falling behind when out of the seat for an extended period; the competitiveness of the class; coming back into competition with a team/people he knew; seeing his nephew pilot the famous black and yellow JEGS colors; having a new identity of his own in the SCAG colors; the time being right to come back; the contrast of his retirement year in a pandemic to a thriving sport now; assessing the first part of the season and having two wins; any different feelings with winning now versus before retirement; previewing Norwalk and a potential first win there.  

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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Jon Wood has been president of Wood Brothers Racing for nearly two months, and while he was already doing some of the responsibilities, there’s still been an adjustment period. Wood is back on the show to discuss if his leading the team was always the plan; the company being around longer than expected in the racing business; the added weight and pressure that comes with working for the family team; the dynamic of a family business; having a different sense of connection with the company because of the new role; the state of the union on Wood Brothers Racing and looking at the future; not just wanting to be in the sport but be relevant; the decision to go full-time again in 2016 being the right one; the difference in performance with a Team Penske alliance; being prepared for tough decisions and conversations, and the harsh reality that brings; the work and effort not seen by race fans.  

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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The media world is changing and that means how people are consuming content. Along the way comes titles such as ‘Content Creator,’ such as Ash Vandelay. We’re having an open conversation about the role this weekend. But we start with her having a stage name for her online pages; recently moving to Charlotte; her background in content creation; adjusting to doing work from the racetrack; what seems to be the most popular with the social media algorithm; using the label of content creator and how the motorsports landscape is changing; having access and using it correctly or effectively; not all content is meant for everyone; playing the algorithm game; the toughest thing about creating in the motorsports space; the substance and effort behind posting content; doing a part for inclusion of women in motorsports; a message for others or those coming into content creation. 

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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Doug Duchardt, the president of Spire Motorsports, has been busy since joining the organization at the end of 2023. Duchardt takes us inside the walls of the race shop and how things are going for everyone; the expectations versus reality moments for him with a new organization; going from established, successful companies to one trying to get to that level; having incentives in place for team members through the season; bringing experience from other companies to Spire; the importance of mindset for employees; the special feeling around the Truck Series program; the comfort of having younger talent in the pipeline; how big it was to sign Michael McDowell; focusing on the tangibles and intangibles McDowell brings; making the 71 a full-fledged Spire Motorsports effort; changing expectations for 2025; managing the number of cars in an organization; a look at the three drivers under the Spire Motorsports banner this season; grading the organization halfway through the regular season and forecasting the rest of the season.  

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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Chris Gabehart is offering more insight into what race day is like for a Cup Series team after allowing full access at Darlington Raceway. Gabehart explains digging into the data to form and execution during the race; the hours of work that take place after leaving the garage on Saturdays; taking the information from Saturday’s on-track activities and finding the medium with expectations for Sunday; being pretty sure of the approach going into the race; knowing early how the race is going to unfold; the facetime with Denny Hamlin on race day; painting a picture of the information available on the pit box and the radio channels; Gabehart tracking his car and monitoring the competition; managing information from the data versus Hamlin’s feedback; the television broadcast being a part of the information Gabehart wants; starting the screen war on the pit box; dealing with the internet going down on the pit box; the differences between resources on a pit box in the Xfinity Series and the Cup Series; conversations on the private radio channels; the difficulty of being aware of how the race is playing out outside the 11 team; the takeaway of being embedded with a race team. 

https://racer.com/2024/05/14/race-day-with-chris-gabehart-and-the-joe-gibbs-racing-no-11-team/  

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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Jade Avedisian is a name that you’re going to keep hearing about if you haven’t already. Avedisian is a dirt star who is beginning to transition into pavement racing, too. And with the attention comes interview requests, which she’s enjoying after one day hoping it would happen. Avedisian explains what that means; having NASCAR stars like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell believe in her talent; having a calm and focused personality; understanding the balance of life with racing and being a teenager; what’s to come this year; expectations for going back and forth between dirt and pavement; working with a spotter for the first time; getting into racing at a young age but taking time to stick; the craziness of dirt racing; dirt racing helping pavement racing; what a lap is like behind the wheel of a dirt midget; the sensation of a flip or wild ride in a midget; the opportunity to run GR Cup this season; what the most thrilling thing about racing is for her and the accomplishment most proud of so far; how important it is to have a championship on her resume; the experience of doing ice racing; the desire to go Cup Series racing one day; where to watch her race and follow her online. 

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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It’s the second part of our conversation with Angie Skinner, and it’s chock-full of laughs. Skinner discusses the dynamic of ‘Skinner Roundup’ for SiriusXM NASCAR Radio as husband and wife; wanting to be involved more on the radio; thoughts on staying visible in the sport and asking for what you want; the misperceptions about the personalities of the Skinners; recalling the start of the Craftsman Truck Series; the story of how Mike got back into the Truck Series years later and the others who followed; tales of shady team owners, aligning with Toyota and racing with Bill Davis; rivalries and memories of Truck Series competition; what people should know about Angie Skinner.  

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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The view is different but the fun is still the same for Angie Skinner at the NASCAR racetrack. Skinner explains how she gets to mix business and pleasure on the road these days; goes in-depth on how the sport has evolved, including its merchandise; not being a typical driver’s wife and working hard to have her own identity; the jobs along the way and wanting to focus more on herself; striving to be creatively challenged but not pigeonholed; aiming to imitate Barbara Walters when looking at some upcoming projects. 

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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Kenny Lubanski is an old friend and our paths have crossed again in the racing world. We’re going in between the lanes of an NHRA drag racing as we learn what a co-starter is and the many responsibilities it entails; how to operate the Christmas tree; working his way into the position; the unique travel schedule and options; getting his start at Englishtown and persistently handing out a resume to break into the NHRA; being next to starting line blow-ups and massive incidents; having nerves of steel at the starting line; working on the track after a rain delay or incident; wearing rubber for days; why someone should experience a drag race at the racetrack.

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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Ray Evernham has a new book available and there is a lot to digest from its contents. Evernham went through moments seared into his memory; has a very specific title; going through the process of putting thoughts and emotions on paper; working through what to include and not include; leaving Hendrick Motorsports being a low point in his life; not wanting to celebrate the 1997 championship; the humor of introducing Rick Hendrick to the 24 team; digging harder into work when things get hard; the incident that put into perspective building race cars for other people; how long it took to get comfortable on the team radio; studying radio communication to manipulate others during a race; using the rulebook to his advantage and memories of conflicts with Bill France Jr.; the reception to the book with family; the arch of his friendship with Jeff Gordon; if the book will help educate many on Evernham being more than the 24 team.  

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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Kerry Tharp served as a member of the NASCAR communications team and is now the former president of Darlington Raceway. But that’s not his entire backstory. Tharp joins the show to discuss going through the transition of the sport moving on without him; not being completely retired; Darlington being a special area and racetrack; the opportunity to serve as track president and what makes a good track president; the evolution of the sport and NASCAR media center during his career; becoming comfortable with the drivers; navigating the tough situations; a Talladega Nights cameo; mentorship from the late Jim Hunter; taking a job in a sport he didn’t like; crossover between working in college sports and then NASCAR; having a different level of investment in the sport after retirement; reflecting on a fulfilling career. 

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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There are a lot of positives for the ARCA Menards Series as a new year heats up and Charlie Krall is here to dish on it all. Krall offers his thoughts on the state of the series as it begins another season; having an Andretti compete in the season; what it means to be the manager of communications for the series and the responsibility of promotion; having a deep background in racing to be perfect for such a role; handling negative criticism often attached to the series; the evolution of the ARCA Menards Series; calling races for Flo remotely; the work to keep track of three different series; what he enjoys most about the job; what he would use a magic wand for on the series; his hope for the 2024 season.  

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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Landen Lewis is an 18-year-old rising star, and now he’s under the Kevin Harvick Inc. banner. Lewis shares about working in the race shop and why it’ll be beneficial; the journey of a fourth-generation racer; wanting to help even younger drivers as a mentor/coach; having a diverse background of experience and coming from dirt; transition from dirt to oval and road course racing; being a fan of Legend Cars racing and why they are a good experience for drivers; recent success in Legend Cars competition; being under the Ron Hornaday learning tree and living with the Hornaday family; consuming and learning racing away from the track; the importance of the ARCA win at Portland in 2023; keeping out the noise; wanting to go Cup Series racing but keeping his options open; modeling himself after other drivers; having a work/life balance; expectations for 2024 in late models; having open plans for the season.

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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Fox Sports is in its final season of NASCAR Xfinity Series coverage, and in a way, it also comes full circle this year as Kevin Harvick graduated to the Cup Series booth. Harvick was one of the first drivers to go into the broadcast booth for Fox Sports. In reflecting on the past nine years of using driver analysts, we have three voices on the podcast.

Adam Alexander shares what the emotion is of the final year of Xfinity Series coverage on Fox Sports; what makes a good guest analyst; building chemistry on the fly every weekend; embracing the constant change in the booth each week; insight that can only come from drivers; being the air traffic controller connecting all the voices; making sure everyone is prepared; the balance of entertainment and information; reflections on being in the booth for every race Kevin Harvick has called; why Harvick has separated himself from other guest analysts; if he will easily transition to the Cup Series booth; the legacy of Fox Sports Xfinity Series coverage with the drivers.

Miller shares her thoughts on the final year of Xfinity Series coverage; the backstory of using drivers as guest analysts; needing to convince people; the tight turnaround from being in the car and getting to the booth; drivers becoming more willing to go into the booth; the benefit for Fox Sports; the work that goes into someone new in the booth each week; the experience of working with Harvick for so long; Harvick taking the lead on the Drivers Only broadcast; the evolution of preparation for the drivers; how she’s felt the process has gone over the years; seeing Harvick love onto the Cup Series.

Harvick gives his praise of how the concept has gone over the years; the benefit to fans and the broadcast of using drivers; why he was the first to agree to be in the booth; when he realized television could be a second career; it feeling full circle going into the Cup Series booth.

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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Bill McAnally is one of the most successful owners in NASCAR and it’s quite a history. But before we dig into that, McAnally opens up about the 49er treasure trove in his office and the connection he has to the team. Then, why there is a NAPA motorcycle hanging on the wall of the race shop? We pivot into having race shops on both coasts; his history in racing and starting as a driver; focusing solely on team ownership; the strength of racing and talent on the West Coast; the background on the organization becoming a driver development program; the approach McAnally takes to driver development; the surreal success of the organization with young talent; his NAPA relationship born in high school; racing going from a hobby into a business; how long it took to be able to fully focus on racing; expanding from the west coast to Truck Series racing; partnering with Bill Hilgemann; expectations changing within the Truck Series program; Eckes changing their mindset; adding more truck teams this season; balancing time on both coasts; the success of the auto care centers in California.

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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Legacy Motor Club has brought their pit crews in-house this season, and there was no better man for the job than Chris Hall. As the director of pit crew operations, Hall explains being tasked with building the crews from scratch; his job title defined; starting on 2024 in Sept. 2023; dealing with deadlines and free agency windows; the difference in putting together full-time pit crews and a part-time third; being teammates with the 23XI Racing crews; a breakdown of some of the new crew members; what goes into finding the right people; organizations who do pit crews in house and others who lease them; what life looks like for a pit crew member leading into race weekend; life on pit road; getting the most out of the teams during the season; focusing solely on Cup Series pit stops and no other series; the evolution of the Next Gen pit stop; the times to look for on pit road this season.

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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Erica Enders is a six-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion and now the winningest woman in motorsports. In this episode with the GOAT we’re discussing how drag racers really care about the number on the side of the car; the little details incorporated in her firesuit, shoes, gloves, and race car; positive mental attitude work; being counted out by the competition early in the season; the addition of bonus points from the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge; why it works having a chip on her shoulder; becoming mean when the helmet goes on; being misunderstood or apologizing for who she is; putting into perspective the 2023 season; getting the sixth championship ring; what goes into preparation; mainstream media attention; fear; DTBB; Bradenton expectations and it being big for drag racing; having a pre-season warmup event; finding a new challenge for 2024.

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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Read about Erica Enders here: https://racer.com/2023/09/21/erica-enders-the-making-of-a-goat/

Bryce Kenny is a Monster Jam driver, public speaker, and new author. Kenny joins the show to share how the book has been doing out in the universe; not seeing out to write a book but why there is a need for another self-help or inspiration guide; dealing with imposter syndrome; choosing to start the book with a very pointed John Wayne quote; success coming from inconvenience; the power of positive thinking and knowing what you want; having adults try to control his intensity growing up; people over projects; what you need to know about Monster Jam; Monster Jam University; the most important message for others.

Original music created by Tony Monge.

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A lot has changed since Kip Childress last joined us on the podcast, so he’s getting you caught up on what it’s like being the executive director of the CARS Tour after leaving NASCAR. Childress finally looks back on the emotions of his final weekend from July in Chicago; if there has been any adjustment to leaving the NASCAR world behind and doing something new; being a more public figure with his CARS Tour role; being involved in penalties and other big moments in the series; having momentum and ideas to get the CARS Tour to grow; the feeling that grassroots racing has become more well known in recent years; striking a balance of promoting new stars but having Cup Series drivers run races; how the final events of the season shaped up; what is to come in the immediate future for the CARS Tour.

Original music created by Tony Monge.

David Green is a former NASCAR driver turned safety official, and we’re digging into that this week. Green takes us inside what his job title means and responsibilities are; what equipment NASCAR puts in the cars each weekend; the process of looking over a car in the garage after an on-track incident; how the decision is made to take a car back to the R&D Center after an incident; his responsibilities after the initial inspections are done and keeping an eye on the garage; the benefit of having a former driver in a safety position; the differences in the cockpit from when he drove to today; how he viewed safety when he was a driver; how younger drivers view Green in the garage if they grew up watching him race; the benefits of doing individual shop visits during the winter; checking out NHRA races to see what other series are doing with safety; what Green enjoys about racing these days.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Listen, did you know that telling jokes isn’t Justin Nunley’s day job? Nunley is an active member of the Air Force, but he’s known for the content he creates on social media. Nunley explains why he didn’t want his military job to be his identity; if comedy helps him escape what he sees in the real world; being able to have an online presence while in the military; being funny but educational; being the most annoying person in the room; having a catchphrase and punchline; intentionally putting Easter eggs in his videos; if he cares to keep up with all the platforms and social media trends; knowing which content is acceptable for which platform; not blaming the platform when a video doesn’t do well; not caring about offending people; being a legitimate NASCAR fan and how he started being invited to races; being a part of driver introductions at Bristol and how he approached the job; what he gets out of being used at a racetrack; if he believes it’s worked in NASCAR’s favor to use a well-known personality; being a lesson for others about having passion for your craft but what people don’t see on social media; if he feels he’s balancing all aspects of his life well; not having an end game; if he has NASCAR specific goals; a message for listeners.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Alba Colon takes us inside Hendrick Motorsports and the tools at the race shop that help their four teams win. Colon explains her role; the importance of the simulation and data tools, and how much has gone into improving them over the years; the difference in her roles going from General Motorsports to Hendrick Motorsports; growing up wanting to be an astronaut and having a family that never believed something was too big to achieve; racing entering the picture with a college project and quickly falling in love with it; how much exposure racing gets in Puerto Rico; being an advocate for STEM programs; being a strong female in motorsports and trying to pass that along; being loyal to Chevrolet and not taking other offers; an engineer’s challenge with the Next Gen car.

Music created by Tony Monge.

It’s racing and science! Caitlin Quinn, coach Quinn, takes us inside the Toyota Performance Center this week. Quinn explains how she went from college athletics to NASCAR with Toyota; how the Toyota Performance Center (TPC) went from being something that couldn’t be talked about publicly to well known; the correlation between training/nutrition and a driver’s on track performance; how coachable highly competitive, ego-driven drivers are; if anything from the college programs carried over to racing; the race car drivers as athletes debate; creating a schedule to fit an individual driver’s needs; traditional programs and coming up with new ideas; reflexes and hand-eye coordination being teachable; the importance of off-track programs with no on-track practice; going through cognitive training; success stories with drivers; being involved in a job that will be ever evolving.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Steve Swift is the senior vice president of operations and development for Speedway Motorsports, meaning he’s leading the way for those big projects. Swift joins the show to share about the extensive work and unique timeline of getting the speedway Roval ready; working for a creative person like Marcus Smith; the importance of keeping the race fan in mind; the way behind-the-scenes operations his team handles; having a relationship with the drivers; finding ways for the racetrack to help with competition; Swift’s background and arriving in NASCAR, including a deep history with Kentucky Speedway; the idea and execution of Colossus TV at Bristol; the process to bringing any idea to life; the difference between NASCAR projects and leading the one for zMAX Dragway; the most challenging project to have done; the one that left him amazed; how the 2024 schedule shapes up for Speedway Motorsports operations.

Music created by Tony Monge.

If you love drag racing and how the (video) is made, you’re going to enjoy meeting Kurt Spitler. Spitler is one of the creative minds behind the NHRA social media content and using that platform to deliver in a different way for race fans; the accidental creation of top-end reaction videos and drivers becoming comfortable with that camera; creative freedom with projects; balancing a focus on cars versus drivers; the pressure of getting the shot when it’s live sports at 300 mph; the equipment he’s working with to capture content; differentiating between Spitler’s work and others on the social media team; pointing viewers to the best piece of content to show what he does; not taking courses in college for the profession but stumbling his way into it; being self-taught; trying to shoot his shot with Pat McAfee and how that came full circle this season; experiencing his first drag race and developing steady hands ever since; the sketchiest position to capture content; what fans can expect during the Countdown from a content perspective; bucket list projects.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Rajah Caruth did not envision his rookie season in the Craftsman Truck Series going the way it has, but Caruth is keeping a positive mindset as the season winds down. The 21-year-old discusses the valuable seat time he’s gotten in a truck and Xfinity Series car; which one feels more comfortable with his driving style; what Caruth has learned about being a NASCAR national series driver and how that translates to mental health; the resources that come with being a Chevrolet driver; the detailed note-taking process Caruth has had since becoming a race car driver; the responsibility to be as prepared as possible before getting to the racetrack; working with the Wendell Scott Foundation; the backstory of Caruth becoming interested in racing and how the movie ‘Cars’ played a role; why he has a specific date tattooed on his chest; if starting a career later than most has been a hindrance; finishing his college degree and doing so with in-person classes; what the future holds with GMS racing shutting down at the end of the year.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Shannon Spake is about to be one of the busiest reporters in sports. Spake is here to share how the year has unfolded for her on the television side; why she says her year starts in September; time blocking and working well under pressure; the synergy between NASCAR on Fox and NFL on Fox teams with her schedule; the balance of football and NASCAR in the fall and with a new personal life change happening this year; the approach to football coverage versus NASCAR coverage; what goes into being prepared for a new season in each sport; the challenges of dual roles; importance of relationship building with athletes; looking ahead to a new NFL season and the NASCAR playoffs.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Warrick Scott Sr. knows all about hustle, and that can be seen in his work through the Wendell Scott Foundation and sponsorship of Rajah Caruth. Scott joins the podcast to explain his everyday work with the Wendell Scott Foundation; trying to reach as many youths as possible through its programs; the moment of realization for a foundation; success stories and the different benchmarks that come with them; the emotional toll of the ones that don’t turn out the same way; the community of Danville, Virginia; if Scott’s perspective on the sport has changed over the years; where he sees diversity in the sport today and his experiences at the racetrack; what it has meant to be a full-time sponsor in NASCAR with the foundation; information on the ‘Born Driven’ books upcoming release and where to find more on the foundation.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Jessica Hook is an engineer at Hendrick Motorsports, but her exact role is to be determined as Hook looks for her next challenge. However, she was heavily involved in Garage 56 and she’s among the team now closing the chapter on that historic event as the parts and pieces are back at the shop. Hook recalls when she was brought into the loop by Chad Knaus with five minutes' notice; the science behind competing at Le Mans regarding fuel/tires and Hook’s race day role; how Hendrick Motorsports ties into her background before getting a job with the organization; how her perspective on racing changed when realizing she wanted to work in the sport; the two jobs she’s had since graduating college; working with the drivers she once looked up to; what brings Hook a sense of satisfaction in her work; would she consider looking for a crew chief role in the future.

Music created by Tony Monge.

It’s the second full year of Craftsman Truck Series competition for Dean Thompson but his first in the No. 5 for Tricon Garage. Thompson breaks down how the year has gone; the difference in his progression as a driver; fitting into a new environment at Tricon; being surrounded by people (like Frank Kimmel) who are honest but helpful; ways that Tricon is different from other teams; the benefit of using the Toyota Performance Center; being big into boxing as a hobby; having a very structured schedule; getting started in racing then quitting and the reason why he came back; what the feeling was when getting back behind the wheel; racing across the country with his dad; how a young driver learns in a crazy series like trucks and who to lean on; owner David Gilliland having a drivers background; Tricon Garage letting Thompson be himself; controlling his emotions on camera after a few difficult moments this year; what has become a friendly rivalry with former foe Jesse Love; a fraternity amongst TRD drivers; future aspirations in racing; sharing a love of the (Mighty) Ducks.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Mandy Chick and her small family-owned race team are trying to do big things with very little, and it’s getting Chick plenty of attention. In this conversation, Chick shares how busy her summer has been; what it’s like to be an intern for Chevrolet and top-secret projects; being a very hands-on person from early in life; working on multiple college degrees; why it’s important for Chick to go through school; the earliest memory of knowing what racing is and being infatuated with it; if the conversation is different when a daughter wants to be a driver; how small is the small team; getting people to buy into the dream as a volunteer crew; why dad bis listed as the team crew chief but not being allowed in her ear; balancing personal and professional with the race team; the races on the schedule for the rest of this year; the realistic goals when qualifying for a race; the shock of Daytona and how that changed things; expectation versus reality at Daytona; having a mental moment at Kansas Speedway; watching races when not competing; the versatility of Chick’s racing background; the characteristics of the ARCA Menards car; how to follow and support Chick.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Buy podcast merchandise here: https://carpys.com/store/The-Racing-Writers-Podcast-Kelly-Crandall-c114796518

Jordan Taylor is having a heck of a year as a race car driver, and we’re digging into all of it this week. That includes Taylor recently making his 100th start in IMSA; explaining the dynamic of coming from a well-known racing family; getting the first win of the season out of the way for Corvette Racing; how things are going with a new class type in IMSA; if the series is experiencing a swing of momentum, and how much Garage 56 helped; the buzz of Garage 56 dying down; reflecting on being a part of a special program that was a big hit with fans; being in an unselfish role as coach for Garage 56 and what he learned about himself; if he feels empty now that such a big project is done; live calming down a bit; how much the stock car opportunities meant to him; if Taylor thinks his identity has changed a little bit now; looking to branch out more in his career; checking in with Rodney Sandstorm; what is to come for Taylor in the next part of the season.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Buy podcast merchandise here: https://carpys.com/store/The-Racing-Writers-Podcast-Kelly-Crandall-c114796518

Drew Herring is getting interviewed once again! It’s been a while since Herring was the topic of discussion but a few years into his new role as a spotter, he’s here to share how it’s been going. Herring explains how he landed the job at Martin Truex Jr.’s team; still getting the adrenaline rush and fast-paced feel for the sport; what his prior relationship with Truex was; not taking heated moments on the radio personally; the adjustment of being proactive instead of reactive; being able to think like a driver; if a driver-to-driver pairing makes things easier; whether Herring feels he’s found a place on the roof amongst the spotter brotherhood; finding his physical place on the roof; being the Toyota simulator driver; explaining the wheel force test car; how being a test driver scratches the itch to be a race car driver; keeping the door open to driving competitively again one day; being the Toyota test driver for Next Gen development and feedback to NASCAR; how far the car has come over time; Herring’s outlook for the 19 team’s rest of the season.

Music created by Tony Monge.

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Mike ‘Rocky’ Rockenfeller believes the buzz from NASCAR’s entry in Le Mans is still going strong, and he’s still relishing having the opportunity to be a part of it. Rockenfeller compares the dynamic of the experience to his past trips to compete in Le Mans; the adjustment as a driver of not racing for an overall victory; if he believes the entry did just as much for sports cars as it did NASCAR; how much it means to be full-time again; the eye-opening experience of looking for a ride after 15 years with Audi; the tall task of getting a new program competitive in IMSA; where the team is after only having two races against GTP competition; how he got into karting and then his path to being a factory driver; the surprise of early and consistent success; the thrill of sports car racing for Rockenfeller; experiencing his first baseball game in the U.S.; the story behind his nickname.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Buy podcast merchandise here: https://carpys.com/store/The-Racing-Writers-Podcast-Kelly-Crandall-c114796518

Bernard Pollard is hooked on NASCAR, and for the last three years, he’s lived the best of both worlds, learning the sport and getting to engage through a partnership with Ally. Pollard opens up about he didn’t expect to be this invested in NASCAR; recalls what initially drew him into wanting to watch a race for the first time; being intrigued by a different kind of athletic competition as a former athlete; becoming a defender of the sport to critics; being on his third iRacing sim rig; being intrigued and amused at how competitive drivers are; wanting to learn everything about the sport through research and video clips; getting other football players interested in racing; what Pollard has seen from the diversity side and NASCAR’s inclusion efforts; what his hope for the future of NASCAR is and his role.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Buy podcast merchandise here: https://carpys.com/store/The-Racing-Writers-Podcast-Kelly-Crandall-c114796518

Natalie Torrence is living the dream of working for herself and one of the most successful businesses in drag racing. Torrence discusses everything she and her team have their hands in; the unique and personal backstory of the business name; the impressive list of clients Torrence has in the NHRA; having something of her own at the racetrack away from her husband’s team; balancing when she wants to be on the line for her husband but delivering for her clients; being able to expand the business with employees and learning to give up control; what Torrence initially thought she’d put her degrees toward; what kept her in drag racing when things didn’t materialize as expected; how her connections help launch the business; the leap of faith of starting a company, and how it’s tied to the Gray family and then meeting Steve; the push to be different in the space; collaborating with the competition; how it all comes together at the racetrack and the tools of the trade; creating the Toddler Tricycle Nationals.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Winston Kelley was the first employee of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and as its executive director, we dig into its history and what it’s like to work with NASCAR history. Kelley explains how the Hall of Fame is part of a larger organization in Charlotte; what the selection process was like for Charlotte to become the chosen city; what his role entails and why you can still see him at the racetrack; estimating the number of artifacts on display at the Hall; how exhibits come together and the pieces being on loan to the Hall; the backstory on the design of the building and how the Louvre ties in; having a shovel from the groundbreaking for the building; if it’s really a job to Kelley; if there are ghosts of NASCAR past at the Hall of Fame; the emotion of the lifelike statues of some of the sport’s founders; preparing for the next Hall of Fame class.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Jesse Little is no longer a NASCAR driver, but he returns to the show to share how he’s now a NASCAR official. Little shares about his new role and what it entails; what has gone into the last half year of learning and fitting into the new job; working through the emotions of not being at the racetrack as a driver; not leaving open the possibility of driving again; the quick close on the book on his racing career; when thinking about doing something different started; the reactions and conversations with family and friends on making a chance; seeing dad Chad make the same transition many years ago; having the opportunity to work with Chad on projects; having dad and others to lean on but also doing for himself; what the expectations are of him in the role or what he can bring to it; keeping a competitive mindset in his new role; being a recent competitor now on the officiating side; the value he wanted to bring to the department; finding enjoyment in a new way in racing; being involved in the sport’s difficult side of things; adrenaline coming in a different form now; what he wants to get out of this next chapter of his life.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Andrew Kurland was an early guest of the show and only a teenager at the time looking to find a way into the sport. Kurland has done that now and we go through putting a cap on those early projects; what he got out of the college experience after already having real-world experience; if starting his media career ruined or changed the sport for him; the difference in driver reaction to him over the years; working for Dale Earnhardt Jr. now; being a jack of all trades in the content space; making sure there is correct and up-to-date information for the Dirty Mo shows; starting so young working to his advantage in getting a job; having people in his corner along the way; the change in approach to interviews and stories; the skills he can improve on; the future of the ‘Next Level’ podcast; making the move to North Carolina; what could be next to accomplish after already doing so much in the sport; it finally feeling like a job.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Trevor Bayne still wants to be a race car driver but also really enjoys making television with Fox Sports. In discussing those topics this week, Bayne explains what a typical week looks like for him based out of Knoxville; selling the coffee business in anticipation of running full-time in NASCAR again; the coffee business being a distraction in the immediate aftermath of his Cup Series ride going away; how long it’s taken to be at peace with where his career is at currently; how realistic it is that he’ll race this year; if Bayne feels behind when he does race because he’s not doing it every week; making the phone call to get into the Fox Sports rotation; how tuned he is to the racing each week and the preparation; the emotion of being on television compared to being in a race car; seeking out feedback to get better at the craft; watching other sports differently now knowing how television is made; what he wants fans to think of him being on television; how the fans view Bayne when seeing him in public; why he’s doing an hour of radio on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio each week; balancing opinion versus relationships in the garage; if not being in the NASCAR hub is a good or bad thing; if there is a timeline of when he needs to decide his future.

Music created by Tony Monge.

JJ Yeley, the NASCAR driver, not the incorrectly labeled Formula 1 champion, visits the podcast to discuss his role with Rick Ware Racing; what he still gets out of racing; not wanting to get a real job; how his perspective and appreciation of racing has changed over the years and through teams; his career not being as imagined after starting with Joe Gibbs; if there are any regrets coming to NASCAR; the IndyCar experience; getting confidence back in USAC; memories of his 2003 triple crown season and the ribbing with Tony Stewart about it; becoming Stewart’s NASCAR teammate; not having things come easy in NASCAR as Yeley was used to in dirt racing; any lessons from his father; still going back dirt racing when it makes sense; explaining why injuries are more prone to happen in dirt racing; how fulfilled he feels with racing today.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Jasmine Salinas is a second-generation drag racer, and she’s quickly making a name for herself in NHRA. We get to know Salinas in our conversation, starting with what being at a dragstrip feels like; the most defining moment of her career to this point; the impact of her massive 2021 crash at Gainesville; how long the doubts about racing lasted after the crash; coming back a year later and dealing with the emotions and winning at the same racetrack; her earliest memory of being at a track; when she wanted to be a race car driver; having limited experience compared to the competition; learning how to be a competitor; how she was raised leaving an impression; a family business others didn’t understand when she was younger; being the oldest of four girls; dealing with the pressure and judgment of following her dad’s footsteps; the importance of having family at the track; having mom come around to her daughters racing; who is the most competitive one in the family; the mental game in trusting the car and trusting your ability; balancing her driving career and being the general manager of the family team; the indescribable feeling of Top Fuel testing and dad being a hot mess; scaring herself in the lead up to testing; why next year is the time to go Top Fuel racing; what is going to happen lining up against dad one day; how she uses social media.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Bobby Labonte is a former NASCAR Cup Series champion who now spends his time … racing. Labonte is keeping busy with SRX and modifieds, as well as television work for Fox Sports. Labonte explains what keeps him coming back to SRX; how competitive the series is; getting to compete against the best drivers from all over; how this chapter of his racing career is different; why it’s hard for drivers to give up racing; Labonte’s relationship with the media as a driver to how its changed doing Fox Sports work; giving opinions and looking at the sport as a whole; how TV has changed his view or understanding of the sport; his first booth experience at Darlington with Fox Sports versus second one recently at Martinsville; the disconnect between what fans enjoy in a race and what drivers enjoy; if he wants to do more booth work; if NASCAR has a responsibility to keep former drivers involved; how to define this version of Bobby Labonte.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Laura Beth Barnhardt is the NASCAR race producer/director for PRN, and the tables have turned as she’s the one behind the microphone. Barnhart shares about the adrenaline of not being able to edit the show together later; being a strong leader in the booth directing men; the easiest way to understand what a race director does; going viral with a BTS video from the booth; why live pit stops are her favorite segment to produce; PRN waiting for its first race of the season and having a choppy schedule; juggling three different jobs as PRN isn’t her day job; the tools inside the broadcast booth to do the job; the dynamic of working with Doug Rice, who is the boss; landing on Rice’s radar for a PRN job; working through the PRN system to her current role; directing NASCAR versus college football; what drew her to radio in the first place; being a gear head; what sports have taught her.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Joey Cohen would say he is the chief complaint officer at Legacy Motor Club, but that’s only in jest. Cohen’s title is actually competition director, and he explains what that means; the unique dynamic of GMS Racing being the truck operation and Legacy Motor Club the Cup Series operation; not coming from a racing family but wanting to be a race car driver; dad building Cohen a go-kart track; racing coming naturally to him as he moved through the ranks; a newspaper article leading to truck racing; the recognizable names Cohen raced against in VA; when the time came to figure out his future; the NASCAR garage feeling like a college reunion; the reception from the garage when engineering became a bigger tool; learning under Steve Letarte; why Cup Series racing wasn’t for him; taking opportunities with many different teams; lessons from working for Pratt & Miller brought to NASCAR; pitching Maury Gallagher on Cup Series racing; the unexpected growth and changes since that decision was made; what brings Cohen the most enjoyment in his job; the full circle moment of Cohen’s son now beginning to race.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

It feels good for Ryan Preece to hear himself be called a NASCAR Cup Series driver again. Preece shares what it was like to be out of sight and out of mind in 2022 as he worked behind the scenes at Stewart-Haas Racing; using the year to become a better person and driver; unique ways to build a bond with a team; what being a reserved driver is all about; there being no guarantee of a ride when signing with Stewart-Haas; if Preece went to bat for himself as ’22 went on; the conversations had about his career; funding being the story of his career; if not having a straight upward path has any upside; falling in love with racing as a third generation driver; the sacrifices to race; being the one son (of three) who went into racing; why working on his race cars was the chosen way; how Preece’s first national series start came together; what he thinks has been the defining moment of his NASCAR career.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Fresh off a big win with his new team, Christian Eckes shares how they celebrated; what an early win does for Eckes; what the win does for a team who had never won before; if the fast start has been a surprise; delivering a first win for Bill McAnally; why it was a hard offseason; having a chip on his shoulder and being out to prove something; what kind of work Eckes can do to be better with McAnally; what a team can do for a new driver coming in; taking the next step with multiple wins in a season; telling the team he came to win races and championships; what Vegas showed Eckes about the team; what his responsibility is with a growing team; being a mentor to a rookie teammate and passing along lessons; fitting into the Chevrolet camp; why the Truck Series is so hard for younger drivers; the good thing about going from ARCA to Trucks; truck racing being as crazy as they look; the meaning behind his helmet design; an update on the golf game and it being a draw for drivers.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

There was a lot of anticipation for Connor Mosack as he waited his turn to get behind the wheel in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for the first time this season. Mosack will run the majority of the season with Sam Hunt Racing and he discusses how the test at Charlotte Motor Speedway went; being tuned in to what has gone on with the team already; preparing to race the most he ever has in a single season; any translation from the Trans Am car to Xfinity; looking forward to road course races; starting his career later than most and if he felt behind the learning curve; how it went from something that seemed unrealistic to a career; the feeling of driving a race car for the first time; lessons learned from the CARS Tour and late models; how Mosack's opportunities have presented themselves; using his college degree; the family adjustment to getting into racing; if Mosack thought about what he’d be doing if it racing never came along; the differences between Sam Hunt Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing; the adjustment of working with different teams; building year versus a prove himself year.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

In his second full season of NHRA competition, Josh Hart hopes people are starting to take notice that his team isn’t messing around. Hart discusses preparing for a new season; what he learned last year; balancing between the driver and owner hat; experiencing the Countdown for the first time; the mental game of NHRA; being one of the quietest and calmest drivers in the pits; fitting into the pits with drivers Hart once looked up to; Don Garlits as a mentor; how his drag racing career started from troubles on the public roads of Indianapolis; starting his racing career later than most; adjusting to the business of drag racing; knowing it was sink or swim and changing his life; some lessons of being a pro driver; trying to get comfortable in his dragster this season and referencing Days of Thunder; recalling the first time hitting the 330mph mark; if he thinks 340mph is out there for dragsters; where he thinks life would have taken him if not for drag racing; if any team changes were made for 2023 and his season expectations.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Brittany Force enters a new season as a two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion and is hungry for more. But before we talk racing, Force shares how she got away from racing over the last few months traveling around the country; having extracurricular activities away from racing; what she learned to enjoy or do from the first championship to the second championship; digesting and appreciating the run her team had in the Countdown last year; what it was like to watch the first round at Pomona with the title on the line; getting crew chief David Grubnic his first championship; if her team can hit the 340 mph mark this season and if she wants to; balancing breaking records but not getting the race win; the work done in preseason testing; having a new car this year; having crew members all switch positions a year after winning a championship; the battle to constantly evolve; the growing depth of the Top Fuel field; the motivation in drag racing from the number on the side of the car; setting new challenges for herself every year; the addition of competition within competitions in the sport; returning to Chicago this year; needing an update to the Twitter bio.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

That damn Brian Lohnes! Once you hear the conversation you’ll be in on the joke because Brian is a wonderful guy that is really good at what he does. In our conversation you’ll learn everywhere you can find Brian; the early work to becoming an announcer and sleeping at racetracks; taking in the moments his voice will be connected to in NHRA history; the necessity of being a jack of all trades; the origin story of his love of cars and racing, and how consuming it became; the live and in-person experience of drag racing; having other racetrack experience that bleeds into his current role; the lightbulb moment of a broadcasting career and what a tryout with drag racing entails; how an NHRA on Fox broadcast works for a mostly non-live sporting event; the work to be honest on the broadcast about what the viewer is seeing; the state of NHRA going into 2023; how the Pro Stock division has come back to life; the chase for 340 mph; a class-by-class breakdown of what to expect this season.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Josh Bilicki is back for another season of NASCAR racing in both the Xfinity Series and Cup Series, but before he does that, he experienced the Chili Bowl for the first time. Bilicki shares what it was like to compete in Tulsa; why he wanted to try his hand at the biggest dirt event in the country; if seat time of any kind actually helps a driver hone their craft; turning right to go left on dirt; why he is not based in the Charlotte hub; choosing a stock car path despite having a background and love of road course racing; shooting his shot with a Facebook message to get a NASCAR ride; taking charge of his destiny; all that Bilicki handles on his own for his career; the mental balance of businessman and driver; what being a driver coach looks like; better weighing his career options and business deals; what is going on in the middle of the pack that might not be seen; the weird journey of Next Gen; being attractive to sponsors; the surrealness of his life; details on his part-time deal with DGM Racing; why people want to drive for B.J. McLeod and Matt Tifft; why 2023 will be different for Bilicki.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Wayne Auton is the managing director of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and that means he wears many different hats. Auton keeps things and people in order, and he had to do plenty of that in 2022, so we begin our conversation on the balance of being a mentor but also an enforcer. We then shift into a lesson about having drivers sign autographs and Auton’s mentors; the lack of a family nickname; a family history in racing but not wanting to be a driver; working his way up the ranks starting at Hickory Motor Speedway; overseeing the Craftsman Truck Series in its inaugural season; if the job changes when going into different series; Auton’s outlook for the 2023 Xfinity Series season.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Lindsey Mandia is the VP of production at Fox Sports, and she is in the middle of a three-week stretch working on the Busch Light Clash, the Super Bowl, and the Daytona 500. Mandia explains how the second year of planning production for the Clash will be different from the first; what Fox brought to NASCAR about presenting the Clash; what exactly the VP of production does; managing the talent; the birth of ideas, and the ones that never see the light of day; the Clash vs. the Super Bowl vs. the Daytona 500; a football broadcast vs. a racing broadcast; preparing for everything leading up to a live event; where Mandia is stationed during a broadcast; busy work and life balance; the birth of the virtual Race Hub studio; plugging into other sports; broadcast bucket list.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Amanda Busick loves to work and loves motor sports, which is why you’ll never see her in just one place. Busick is most known for being the top-end reporter for NHRA on Fox, but she has some news to share on the podcast in addition to taking us into how she got to where she is today. We start by learning how she kept busy in the winter without racing; the catalyst to saying ‘yes’ to everything; branching into NASCAR for Fox Sports; compartmentalizing each job and being present; balancing racing consumption and taking breaks; what makes Busick uncomfortable with how many series she covers; falling in love with sports and racing at an early age; being a child of trauma and the bond created with Mom; having to pivot away from broadcasting early in her career to sell meat; fitting into the drag racing community; what it’s like reporting from the top end of the NHRA track and the pressure that comes in those chaotic moments; being at peace with stories that never get told; the reason behind the signature red lipstick; moments of appreciation; if the dream looks like what Busick hoped for it to be.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Mike Bagley is a turn announcer with Motor Racing Network (MRN) and co-host of The Morning Drive on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (7 a.m. – 11 a.m., Mon. – Fri.) Bagley joins the show to discuss various topics about his roles, including what he would be doing after a SiriusXM show and where he’s normally located for the show; being a big notetaker and prep work; the approach to an early morning daily talk show; working with David Poole in his early days of TMD; what makes Bagley and Pete Pistone work well together; becoming an interviewer; the responsibility and value of having a NASCAR official visit the channel every week; learning radio broadcasts from the greats; the carpets, radio, and matchbox cars that shaped his fandom; seeing the evolution of radio over time; breaking out of being an introvert; struggling to take a compliment; the view of going from fan to professional; consuming racing content; what else is still to do in his racing career.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Julie Giese is preparing for her final race as president of Phoenix Raceway before shifting to the Chicago street course. Giese explains what goes on a racetrack in the final weeks before an event; how championship weekend is different from spring race weekend; what being a track president means; sitting with race fans for the start of the events; going from a dairy farm to working in racing; what it was like to come into NASCAR in 2001 during an intense time for the sport; experiences and projects that get thrown your way while in marketing and communications; being involved in finding her successor at Phoenix; overseeing the Chicago street course; addressing the concerns over the event; being involved in seeing if it was even possible to do; praise from the industry of her name being attached to big projects; learning hustle and work ethic from the farm; if knowing the Midwest will help in any way plan the Chicago street event; some of the important things on her agenda; what she’s looking forward to in her final Phoenix weekend.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Andrew Combs is the executive chef for Stewart-Haas Racing, but what exactly does that entail? Combs takes us inside a busy week leading into the Charlotte Roval; what prep looks like before a race weekend; previous roles in the sport before turning to cooking; trying to describe the setup in the garage; knowing when it’s time to start feeding everyone; putting together complex meals; having his working station custom made; how the equipment travels; sticking to favorites versus changing things up; accommodating for diets and other preferences; having a Smithfield sponsorship; how many people Combs feeds on a given weekend; watching and comparing to other team cooks; having a culinary degree and a long-time love of cooking; rules and regulations of the garage; having a Facebook page to share his cooking and racing adventures; doing some filming with the Food Network; what is the most fulfilling for Combs in his job.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Don Hawk is the CEO of SRX, and he’s educating us on the business side of racing. We start by debriefing on the second season of SRX and Hawk’s first with the group; the decision to leave Speedway Motorsports and SRX not being on the radar but quickly developing; how SRX is a new challenge in business; what Hawk wanted to do coming into SRX compared to how the season played out; having a long term vision for SRX and having the resources to do so; SRX’s relationship with NASCAR and other series; the 1 million viewers being the mark; Hawk’s background including the Earnhardt’s, Speedway Motorsports, NASCAR, and Kulwicki; building trust to be successful in business; having a relationship with drivers being an advantage on the business side; if there is concern the shine will wear off SRX; if there is anything else to be added to his plate.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Rutledge Wood isn’t running around inside a racetrack as he has in years past, but he’s still plenty busy. Rut catches us up on what he’s been doing lately; being used where he fits best and telling stories; having to be comfortable engaging people and wondering around; if being on TV has helped him develop a thick skin of other skills; getting his start in racing through a Craigslist ad; being on TV for cars but having a marketing degree; learning to love cars from his dad; why cars were the thing that stuck with me; if his daughters will also have a love of cars; Floor is Lava being the biggest thing he’s ever done; being recognized all over the world; his beard being a whole story; the weird dynamic of having merchandise; everything he can be seen right now and what’s going on.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Meet Ben Barnicoat, one of the new drivers on the Lexus IMSA program for the Vasser Sullivan team. We’re going to learn how much fun the team is; the balance of having fun but knowing when it’s time to go to battle; how Barnicoat ended up on the Lexus radar for an IMSA seat; if it’s been everything he expected this season; being a former McLaren driver; doing sim work for Mercedes; being a teammate and sharing an apartment with Jack Hawksworth; not knowing Jack until now but growing up not far from each other; following his dad into racing; racing life in the U.K. and the recognizable names Barnicoat competed with; if F1 or open wheel was the original dream; the adjustment from open wheel to sports cars; getting used to having a roof over his head; the process of a driver change during a race; competing in the GTD Pro category; the skill set to be a road racer; the worst driving conditions to deal with; experience of racing full-time in the United States; a breakdown of the season with one race to go.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Daylon Barr had other dreams involving racing before picking up a camera and giving photography a try. In this episode Barr takes us inside how he spend his weekdays; what it means to be an independent photographer; finding good help and time off; it being a physically demanding job; dealing with a big load of clients and how he comes about business; becoming Trackhouse Racing’s main man; getting photos to clients quickly and during a race; the pride of seeing his work in the wild; having an entertaining Twitter account but getting his wrist slapped; having a fondness for racing but photography coming later; being college roommates with Brandon Brown and getting into NASCAR; being self-taught; having creative freedom from his clients; when he realized he wanted to make racing photography his career; having side hustles to help get to the racetrack; if he tried to get with a big agency; earning respect in the media center photo room; some of the big hurdles in the job; knowing he has the shot in the moment; what people wouldn’t know about the job; not having an idea what’s going on during the race; being up close and personal of pit stops; if there are events or things he’d like to shoot one day.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

How did Jerry Freeze go from owning a successful lawn care business to general manager of the NASCAR team Front Row Motorsports? Freeze takes us inside his love of racing and how he took a chance by moving to North Carolina; learning from Tad Geschickter, and then spending 12 years at Petty before arriving at Front Row; what being a general manager entails; the state of Front Row as the season winds down; how the organization prepared for a new car; what happens to old inventory and the parts and pieces Front Row still has; how much Next Gen has helped Front Row’s performance; if the parity will continue; what Next Gen means for alliances; will there actually be a long-term financial impact from the switch; if Zane Smith has been a surprise; the conversation around keeping a truck team after last season; evaluating Todd Gilliland’s rookie season; how Michael McDowell has been able to shine; if it’s becoming more realistic for Front Row to think of themselves as playoff contenders; if Front Row is looking to keep their stable of drivers going forward.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Angelle Sampey is a three-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion and not only the winningest female in NHRA but professional motorsports. Sampey sits down for a chat on all things drag racing, but we first start with how things are in the swamp a year after Hurricane Ida. From there, we dig into the season and why she believes her team “is the one to beat” in Pro Stock Motorcycle this year; why Angelle says she’s fighting herself on the bike; having self-confidence in drag racing; breaking down the skill it takes to drive a Pro Stock Motorcycle; the origin story of falling in love with motorcycles; going through a beauty pageant phase and how she went from hating it to realize it was another form of competition; the story of the first leathers she wore in her NHRA debut and how that connects to the correct pronunciation of her name; secretly testing a Winston Cup stock car; being afraid of being a girl in racing and calling it one of the biggest mistakes in her career; if it’s surreal to have taken a nearly six-year break from racing to come back and be just as successful; shooting for 50 career national event wins; the 2021 championship loss being a driving force.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Angelle qualified No. 1 at Indianapolis for the U.S. Nationals, which is her fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season. She was eliminated in the first round.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Trophies, fights, and TikTok, oh my! As we wrap up our conversation with Courtney Enders, we’re getting all kinds of stories this week. The episode picks up with Courtney describing a house full of racing memorabilia; who is more competitive between Courtney and Erica; inside the Disney movie (Right on Track) made about the Enders sisters from its accuracy to Brie Larson playing Courtney; doing their own stunts; how the film helped grow drag racing; a high school Enders sister brawl; when and why Courtney’s driving career came to an end; why she got on a Pro Stock Motorcycle in 2018; if she knew she’d need to find something else in racing; the way she cheated to start her business; the challenges or hurdles of what Courtney does; the dominance and representation of females in NHRA; being a champion gymnast and all-star volleyball player; superstitions around race day clothing; the outrageousness of her TikTok videos; Texas girl loving the Steelers, not the Cowboys.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Courtney Enders used to drive race cars and might have a recognizable last name, but she can be your hype woman, social media star, or busy businesswoman. We’re digging into all of it with her over two episodes. In the first part of our conversation, we learn about the many hats Enders wears for her sister and others in the NHRA; her new job as a content creator with FloSports and how drag racing, including the NHRA, plays a part; the pressure to present a good product at Flo; being self-critical and reviewing her work; media veterans that Enders leans on for pit reporting; what was intriguing about pit reporting and why Enders suddenly wanted to do something different; funny hashtags that are very real insults about being attached to her sister; if it bothers her to be asked about Erica but the way she leans into the haters; the pure bond between Courtney and Erica; being vibe control for the race team and how important that is and why it matters.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

In the second part of our conversation with Davey Segal, we’re digging into producing various NASCAR content. Segal admits he stole the idea for his post-race TikTok videos; acknowledges the risk in mocking drivers he has to work with; why he got into podcasting and how his show has evolved over the years; what he wants to get out of his interviews; being conscious of eye contact; putting in the work to be confident, comfortable, and clean in interviews; the process of making interview requests; what it means to be a multimedia journalist; working close to home; explaining some very specific personal facts from his website; what he most enjoys about his job(s).

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Fellow podcaster and media friend Davey Segal is a jack of all trades, and we needed a lot of time to dig into all of them. This week in the first part of our conversation, Segal explains how he landed his role as an associate producer for SiriusXM NASCAR Radio; bringing video to the SiriusXM NASCAR social channels; the story of how he first got into racing; shedding the fan skin to become a media member; when the realization happened about wanting to become a media member; why he chose Michigan State for college and making the most of it; building a NASCAR portfolio while in college; the grind to get to the racetrack; how much it means to be able to walk into the garage.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Kyle Petty has a book about to be released (Aug. 9), and this week Petty tries to explain why he wrote it and why now. From the first stories he wrote not making it into the book; emotions of getting the stories and memories on paper; if there are stories in the book that people don’t know or heard before; why Petty had to be 21 to start racing; learning that not all tracks let a driver run wide open; highlighting all of the Petty family in the book and the education Petty received in the race shop; losing Adam and not wanting to know the details; how writing was therapeutic for Petty and also gave him some realizations; why he ended the book talking about NASCAR; how readers can get the book; what Petty wants readers to take away after reading.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Preorder ‘Swerve or Die’ https://bit.ly/3Q7CWwN

Julia Landauer finally made her NASCAR national series debut, and she’s taking us through the journey of getting there. Landauer dishes on how hard qualifying was; if she feels any differently about the accident with Justin Allgaier; expectations of the weekend versus reality; preparing for a race after being out of a car since 2020; Landauer’s experience racing overseas, and the difference in racing culture; running in the Pinty’s Series; not having the climb up the ladder and racing map she expected; where Landauer thought she’d be in 2022; having a bit of envy over the success of her fellow NASCAR Next alum; the closest she came to giving up on racing; a nerd deep dive that landed her sponsors for her Xfinity Series debut; building a brand that bridges outside interests with racing; getting into public speaking; #becauseracecar on social media; cautious optimism about 2023 options.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

RFK Racing team president Steve Newmark admits the company is not where anyone wants or expected to be in July. Newmark takes us behind company doors to give his state of things; if they feel they’ve shown any improvement this year; battling through the years of ups and downs; seeing a renewed optimism with employees; if there is a fear of never getting back on top; finding ways to deliver for partners when performance isn’t there; what Newmark feels is the most important part of his role; a bit on Newmark’s background and if he’s the guy answering to sponsors and fans about performance; comparing this chapter of the company to others; Chris Buescher getting to shine; why this next chapter is so important to the company.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Before he could drive a race car, Lawless Alan was driving a golf kart around the paddock where his dad was racing. Lawless explains how he got into racing; his unique first name; being the CEO of racing; growing up in Los Angeles; his racing beginnings at Irwindale; some of his racing stops along the way to the Camping World Truck Series; if it seemed racing and winning would be easy; first impressions of Truck Series racing; knowing he can compete in the series but questioning why it’s not happening; keeping the right mindset; having a support system; landing at Niece Motorsports; working with AUTOParkit and behind the scenes of their unique commercial; his brutally honest assessment of his rookie season; what would be mission accomplished after the first year; already looking ahead to ’23; working toward a business degree; knowing that racing won’t last forever.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Dylan Smith, otherwise known as Mamba, is an all-around content guy for NASCAR and we’re learning how he got his many jobs. Smith talks about his passion for racing before he was ever paid; he got an official job; meeting with a NASCAR executive wearing the most entertaining outfit; hosting various podcasts, including with Mark Martin and Jeff Burton; the story behind his nickname; what Mamba Media is all about; where the haters come from and why; getting into racing in New England; how much his parents helped his racing career; the Drive for Diversity program and whether it helped him; still wanting to be a driver and the biggest challenges; finding other ways to stay in the sport; being a Haitian adoptee and learning about his background; the relationship Smith has with his blood relatives.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Camrie Caruso is in the midst of her first full NHRA Pro Stock season and she’s here to break it down. Caruso shares if it’s what she imagined; being the second woman to contest a full year; what it’s like driving a Pro Stock car; what made Camrie want to be a race car driver like dad and grandpa; loving to prove the critics wrong and not snapping back on social media; the reason she ended up in Pro Stock after wanting to be in Pro Mod; the relationship with dad, who wears many hats; the experience of starting out in Jr. Drag Racing and her climb to Pro Stock; also having other jobs outside the car; derailing the family plan; earning her first No. 1 qualifier in Houston but the incident with Erica Enders in qualifying; wanting to upset the apple cart; recognition from Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Angelle Sampey; doing things differently than society norm; not one for school; being on the cover of Drag Illustrated; on a fast upward trajectory; goals coming into the year and what’s already been accomplished.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Camping World Truck Series rookie Blaine Perkins is here to break down his season. Perkins assesses if he’s where he’d thought he’d be halfway through the year; the best race he’s driven; how much having limited practice is hindering the growth process; if Perkins is able to learn from seeing those racing around him; being a visual learner; how quickly he gets over bad weekends; what is realistic for CR7 Motorsports on a weekly basis; the benefit of being in the Team Hornaday Development camp; having Ron Hornaday on his side; indoor karting leading to a career in racing; why he became a race car driver; west coast to east coast adjustment; wanting to finish his college degree; how big a jump it is from ARCA to NASCAR; who Perkins is away from racing.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

How did the JR Motorsports 9 team finish in the top five at Charlotte down a cylinder? Luke Lambert explains that and much more this week while also praising his driver, Noah Gragson. Lambert breaks down how a driver has to adjust to less power; what impresses Lambert about Gragson; getting to know Noah the person; if Lambert expected the team to gel so quickly; why he joined JRM; the grind of the Cup Series; where his passion for racing began; being a former driver and why it didn’t pan out; Richard Childress Racing being his first NASCAR job and how engineering started to evolve; if Lambert felt he had to become a crew chief; nearly winning the 2014 Cup Series championship; if crew chiefs keep track of their statistics; getting his first ice bath at JRM; if the goals for the team have changed since his first day.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Ty Majeski is keeping himself busy this year with a full Camping World Truck Series schedule and late model races. Majeski joins the show to share how he’s also in the ThorSport shop every day working as an engineer; the decision to put racing on the backburn for a year to do that; what he’s learned working in the shop; how much it helps build a better bond with the team; what changed at Niece Motorsports that led Majeski to ThorSport; the importance of not burning bridges; pushing through a start and stop career; going through the “total catastrophe” of the 60 car program at Roush; lessons learned from that deal; how Majeski got into racing and the racing ladder he climbed; how much his parents were able to help along the way; does he feel at a disadvantage in the Truck Series with limited starts; the hardest thing about the Truck Series; why he feels his team is flying under the radar; the biggest goal in his first season in NASCAR.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Bono Manion is a NASCAR veteran and a dang good crew chief, and he’s telling us all about the Spire Motorsports Truck Series program. What goes into the races the team runs? Bono explains being drawn to the organization; what makes the Truck Series where he wants to be; what goes on in-between the races Spire runs; moving to North Carolina with Tommy Baldwin; roles he played before becoming a crew chief; winning back-to-back Busch Series championships with Martin Truex Jr.; his Cinderella season in 2010; going to work for Tommy Baldwin; how Kyle Busch pulled him into the Truck Series; being able to choose where he wants to be and what he wants to do in racing.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Tony Schumacher is ecstatic to be a full-time NHRA Top Fuel driver again after a few years of only being able to run here and there. Schumacher explains embracing the new challenge of being on a single-car team, working with a new crew chief, and building a team with new guys; how different it feels to be back; reacclimating to the sensation of speed; forgetting bad habits in his time away; how hard it was to be left without a ride; having the opportunity to add to 85 wins; seeing early potential from his team; being a part of building a team into contenders; if doubt crept in as years went by of whether he’d get another full-time ride; preparing for a big moment again; depth of the Top Fuel class; how the relationship with dad works; being a big guitar player and taking it everywhere; not trusting hotel pillows; growing his own peppers; still being ‘The Sarge’ despite not driving the Army car.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Bright and early before a day of training, Noah Gragson stops by the podcast to talk about how working with Josh Wise has changed things physically and mentally. Then we shift into Gragson working with a new crew chief this season in Luke Lambert; what Lambert brings to the team; the difference in Gragson from year one to year four in the Xfinity Series; confidence building; understanding races are not won in one lap; growth on the track and as a person; the guidance and belief from JR Motorsports; having fun where he can; the influence and friendship of Brandon McReynolds; feeling comfortable in his own skin; working on not being down on himself on bad weekends; being a big fish in a small pond; takeaways from getting Cup Series experience; how Gragson defines connecting to race fans; why climb the fence; what’s next after wins and a Championship 4 appearance.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Justin Ashley is a rising star in the NHRA Top Fuel ranks and he’s here to discuss his career and what it’s like to drive 11,000 horsepower. We start things off discussing 4-wide racing at zMAX Dragway and the discipline it takes; how the season is shaping up for his team; the new variables of an alliance with Antron Brown and working with Toyota; why Ashley’s website says occupation: real estate developer; if he genuinely wanted to race or felt had to follow in dad’s footsteps; if he considered doing anything else, like keeping with playing football; what he learned along each rung up the NHRA ladder; being non-emotional; why a dragster; what it feels like driving a Top Fuel dragster; if Ashley has had a big moment in the car, and what it’s like seeing other drivers go through one; adjusting to a Top Fuel schedule; what it means to have his own team; what Ashley does in the final few moments before the engine fires; competing in a one-and-done sport; if someone has to be fearless to compete in NHRA; slowing down in other areas of life; what gets Ashley the most excited about his job; aiming for winning multiple races this year; depth of the Top Fuel field; being on a fast upward trajectory; dad jokes.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

NASCAR’s Steve O’Donnell is here to chat all things Next Gen and more. O’Donnell looks at the first 11 races of the season; where the industry is at with parts and pieces; tweaking Next Gen if need be; having honest conversations with the garage; working with a new driver council; if shifting at short tracks is something NASCAR wants; parity with the Next Gen car; ratings and attendance; track new fans coming to races; when the ’23 schedule will be announced; changing the schedule; still looking at new OEMs and engine package; when O’Donnell got into NASCAR; from marketing side to operations; learning and being prepared for the role; not having a set job goal when joining NASCAR; now being COO; a message to NASCAR fans.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Sean Cain is a self-described “creative person” but you might know him as Blackbeard. Cain visits the show to share just some of the cars you’ve seen on the track that he designed; the reason behind branding himself as Blackbeard; how he went from industrial design to the race car business; social media being the driving force behind business; how a concept gets off the ground; things Cain has to take into consideration and work around with a design; the nerves going from a render to real life car; trying to have up-to-date templates; how long it takes from concept to completion; how many concepts need to be submitted; if there's any loss over the ones that don’t see the light of day; the hardest thing about the job; not getting burnt out and being repetitive; how often Cain gets to see his work at the track; if there are other designs besides race cars; if there is something out there Cain hasn’t designed that he’d like to.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Whether you know him as Brad or “Bread” Perez, he is here to talk about living the NASCAR dream. Perez takes us inside his role as a tire specialist in the Camping World Truck Series for Rackley W.A.R.; the way he started to network into the sport; not being mechanically inclined; getting a taste for racing with a spec Miata; not coming from a racing family but being a race fan who dreamed of being a driver; memories of attending races at Homestead-Miami Speedway; introducing family and friends to NASCAR through his passion for it; if his parents now understand Perez’s love for racing and being there for his Truck debut; transitioning to North Carolina and how Ryan Vargas played a role; working many other non-racing jobs to earn money for racing; why Perez thinks he’s become a popular figure in the garage and on social media; if he’s used social media to his advantage; if he reminded himself to enjoy the experience of his Truck Series debut; if Perez feels he’s settling for a job in racing versus driving; potentially having a die-cast made of his truck from his debut.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Brian Wilson is a return guest to the podcast but it’s a completely different conversation as we focus on Wilson’s first year as Cup Series crew chief and how he got here. Wilson reveals how the team believes they’ve found the reason for their rough start to the season; what Wilson remembers of his dad being an engineer for Robert Pressley and the Skol car; getting his racing start with the Kimmel family; working in the race shop and the grocery store meat department; going from the Kimmel team straight to Team Penske and the Cup Series; memories working on the 77 team with Brendan Gaughan; shock builder to engineer, thinking his career was over moving to Xfinity, and his first shot of being a crew chief not going well; lasting so long at one organization; how Next Gen has changed things for crew chiefs; keeping a close eye on the parts going on the car; being someone how likes information and knowing the rules; what he’s seen from his rookie driver good and bad; what Wilson is looking for from the 21 team getting into the summer months.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Second generation racer Jesse Little keeps busy both on and off the track. Little joins the program to share all he has his hands in; getting his hands dirty when needed; driving for Tyler Young this year; how Young’s team has changed Little’s preparation; what it’s like driving for an owner who is also a driver; why he immediately felt chemistry with the team; splitting the truck with Kaz Grala; being productive when not in the truck; tweeting for the love of racing; why Little has taken to the Truck Series over the years; the Truck Series being a learning series; having to be a hustler and go after what you want; knowing what’s a good deal and what’s a bad deal; the doubts of whether it’s going to happen as a driver; how it feels to look at his former NASCAR Next classmates who have full-time rides; being grateful to still be here after 10 years; what variables Little believes a driver needs to succeed, and what he thinks he offers; not having dad Chad get involved; what it was like running a full Xfinity Series schedule; what’s next on his truck schedule.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Dirt is not in her background but Hannah Newhouse is loving her new broadcast role with World Racing Group. Newhouse explains leaving the NASCAR world for World of Outlaws; having creative freedom with content; leaning on others during the transition; being able to freelance into other motorsports; preparing for different series and how things are different; how a family of gearheads led to a life in racing; Langley Speedway and the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine; how realistic she was about racing long term; being a female in motorsports; building relationships with subjects; addressing that Bristol incident; the better podcast to work on – DBC or DJD; being intimidated at first with a new role on DJD; who she looks at for inspiration in the motorsports world.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Whether you view Atlanta Motor Speedway as an intermedia or superspeedway, it was brand new either way to Sage Karam. He joins the show to tell us about the experience; how much he’s looking forward to having practice this season; the number of Xfinity Series races he anticipates running this year and hopes for a full-time ride; looking at returning to Pocono Raceway for the first time since Justin Wilson’s fatal accident; if that day has gotten easier to deal with over time; what Karam thinks Pocono will be like in NASCAR versus IndyCar; relying on YouTube to prepare for races; how the continued NASCAR culture learning is going; getting more respect from the garage; if anything from IndyCar has helped in NASCAR; if races feel different in NASCAR; what resources Karam has to use to get better being in PA; if it’s been frustrating not having a full-time ride somewhere; what it is about stock cars that have hooked him.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Cody Ware is a race car driver, gamer, and anime fan and we’re touching all of those subjects this week. Ware tells us how he and Ryan Ellis try to feel accomplished while gaming; his love of anime; how his mental health journey is going; what the turning point was for Ware to get help; the Coliseum race being a confidence booster; what he’s feeling from the Next Gen car; how much the car is making a difference versus growth in the organization; not feeling held back by the equipment; dropping out of med school; what his relationship is with his car owner dad; being a late bloomer into racing; what it was about racing that changed him; focusing on only Cup Series racing this season; if it was hard jumping between different cars last year; what translated from IndyCar to Cup; if top 25 in points is realistic.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Dave Moody spends four hours a day, five days a week talking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio but he didn’t mind talking some more this week to share how he got here. Moody takes us back to when he first saw a race car and what about it was life changing; when he began getting working opportunities; fielding cars of his own; unexplainably getting on Ken Squier’s radar; part-time opportunities with MRN; the seamless transition between broadcasters on a radio call; the genesis behind SiriusXM Speedway; why it was the worst time to start a show; some of the early battles; being a single host; how the channel and NASCAR’s relationship has changed over the years; having an announcer’s voice; the fear of not having the answer; accusations of being a NASCAR stooge; the process of giving opinions; good and bad days on the job; what keeps Moody going after so many years; a personal connection to Moody.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Brandon McReynolds reinvented himself in NASCAR after admitting that being a race car driver wasn’t going to work. McReynolds is now a spotter and in driver management, both of which he shares insight about this week. McReynolds shares how he recently started a new company; things he learned as a driver he’s applying on the business side; the personal and professional with drivers like Cole Custer and Noah Gragson; how much advice or brotherly love Gragson needs; if McReynolds still considers himself a NASCAR driver as his Twitter bio says; when McReynolds saw the writing on the wall about driving; any thoughts of going into a completely different profession; being able to successfully reinvent himself in racing; how he got into spotting; the eye-opening experience it was and if he’s ever had an oops moment; if he imagined his racing career looking like this.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

A lot has happened to The Racing Writer’s Podcast and Ryan Ellis since he was guest No. 1 back in the fall of 2017. We’re checking in with Ellis this week to see what he’s been up to since that day; what it’s like working with other drivers for his Monday through Friday job; what it is about racing that keeps him from giving it up for a normal job; if people have tried to persuade him to give up or those who have said keep going; balancing his time between the 9-5 job and the NASCAR to-do list; the internship program he offers; emotion at the track when a driver versus when he’s there working for someone else; if being a PR person has given him a different perspective on the sport; his driving plans for this season; why Ellis considers it his best opportunity; goals for this season.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Time in the NASCAR Cup Series has flown by for William Byron entering year five, and he feels he’s in a good place with everything around him. Byron discusses how the pandemic felt like a gap year; thoughts on his progression from rookie to now; being critical of himself; getting better with his car feedback and having to get over the fear of being wrong; maturing as a Cup driver over the years; how long it took to get comfortable in the series; the toughness of the top level; being bitter over only winning once in 2021; dealing with so much change around him in four years; frustration racing a teammate versus someone else in the field; the most frustrating thing as a driver; the weirdness of driver introductions; how Byron defines connecting to race fans; how comfortable he’s getting in Next Gen and if there’s anything he’s had to change driving wise; impressions after the beating and banging of the Clash; and naturally, a Lego update.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Doug Yates will see the most Ford Mustangs take the green flag in this year’s Daytona 500 than ever before and he’s excited about doing so with a new car. Yates talks about all things engines this week such as how they are distributed to teams; going through the process of NASCAR deciding to increase horsepower this year; but why it’s not so easy as just saying make a change; the workload of having to build different engine packages; what Yates would want versus what’s good for the sport; what it means for teams to no longer be allowed to put tape on the front grille; why Yates still likes getting his hands dirty and it being an escape for him; the lasting influence of dad Robert; how Yates has worked to build his own brand; working with other engine builders and NASCAR; what he thinks the next engine package could look like; how engine builders work to get an advantage; why last year was the most frustrated he’s been; sharing old memories on Twitter; what Yates considers his biggest win; where he gets an adrenaline rush.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Chase Purdy’s newest opportunity in the Camping World Truck Series is with Hattori Racing, but we’re going to learn all about his journey to the team and more. Purdy reveals when he knew he wanted to be a race car driver; racing all over the southeast; what go-kart racing is really like; series Purdy’s run along the way to NASCAR; what makes late models so fun; going through a rough two-year gap without racing; landing a full ride with GMS Racing to moving to Hattori Racing; wanting to get a chance in the HRE trucks; being teammates to Tyler Ankrum; no more excuses; being a young driver getting to know a new team; how Purdy feels about the ‘respect’ topic in the Truck Series; learning from veterans, including recently with Kurt Busch; an update on getting his degree from Ole Miss.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Brian Murphy of Stewart-Haas Racing is here to help with any conversation around the Next Gen race car. Murphy explains the different offseason teams had this year; eventually getting over being uncomfortable with the car and supply chain issues; long days at the race shop; his history at Stewart-Haas Racing; going from fixing the cars to preparing them; thoughts on what this car will do for the sport; if there will be any creativity and innovation with Next Gen; needing to better understand inspection and having more transparency in the sport; his approach to social media; being forced to attend his first NASCAR race; not having any formal job training; what a misconception of working in racing is; being all in on all racing; the big change that is Next Gen; having a fresh start; being an avid photographer and climber.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Jerry Baxter and driver Tanner Gray were among those who got to see the new Atlanta Motor Speedway recently, and Baxter is here to share insight on that much more. First impressions of the facility; throwing out the notebook on the track; first impressions of working with Gray and getting more out of him; how Baxter feels about going back to the Truck Series after spending the last two years in Cup; what he expects to be different or have changed in the Truck Series since last there; some of Baxter’s early racing days; a quick turnaround moving to North Carolina; memories of the first drivers he worked with in Cup; what it was like working for Kyle Busch’s truck team; what he saw in Bubba Wallace in trucks and then Cup; working with multiple drivers versus just one; Baxter’s go-to stories; working with a lot of younger drivers; on his career longevity but also having to adapt; insight on David Gilliland Racing; goals and expectations for his team this year.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Tyler Ankrum says it’s been a “pretty easy” transition to Hattori Racing as he gets set to take the wheel of the No. 16 Toyota. Ankrum joins the show to talk about how well things are going with already building team chemistry; being with a smaller group in HRE; why and how the move from GMS Racing happened; first impressions of new crew chief Scott Zipadelli; if this is a year Ankrum feels he has to step up; how much he was affected by the lack of practice and qualifying; how Ankrum got into racing and the influence of David Gilliland; choosing ranch life over the lake in NC; things fans might be surprised to know about him; who Ankrum is close to in racing; thoughts on working with Chase Purdy this season; getting his chance in the 16 truck.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Andrea Brimmer is the chief marketing and public relations officer at Ally and joins the podcast to take us inside NASCAR sponsorship. Brimmer looks back on the ’21 season for the No. 48 team; branding around the driver and not having the driver adjust to the sponsor’s brand; a bit on Brimmer’s history in the automobile world; where Brimmer’s passion comes from and understanding athletes; how sports has helped her today; what it was like for Ally to first come into NASCAR; how Ally looks at return on investment; fan loyalty; what Ally looks for in a partner; what’s been learned in Ally’s first few years in the sport; their role in diversity and inclusion; Do It Right; being disruptive; being an active partner; utilizing more space on the Next Gen car for sponsor placement.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Jade Gurss is back with another must-read auto racing book, this time having worked with Al Unser Jr. Gurss, who had known Unser back during Unser’s driving career, takes us inside the work to tell Unser’s story in the best way; the reason for starting the book with Unser’s suicide attempt; the willingness of Unser to be vulnerable; the honesty and openness of Unser’s intense personal life and decisions; drug use and the Penske days; vivid memories on winning the Indianapolis 500 but feeling adrift afterward; how complex Unser is; not wanting to tell just a racing story; the fact-checking process; what Gurss was looking forward to hearing from Unser about; how it felt after such an intense project was done; what the takeaway for readers should be of Unser’s story.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Live Fast Motorsports made it through its first year as a NASCAR Cup Series team and co-owners BJ McLeod and Matt Tifft are calling it a success. Both McLeod and Tifft join the podcast this week to offer their perspectives. First up, McLeod dissects the season and how it was different from putting a car on track in 2020; what being an owner was like on the weekend’s he wasn’t driving; the biggest takeaway of fielding a full-time Cup Series car; what the measuring stick of success was and how that sets up for 2022; the high of the season; what it’s like being a Cup Series driver; being in meetings with NASCAR as an owner; having the car fully sponsored and a presence on social media; putting other drivers in the car; working with Tifft.

Tifft reflects on being a team owner in NASCAR; the budget of Live Fast versus other teams; how good it is for Tifft to be involved in racing again; the difference in driver mindset and watching the car; focusing on variables off the racetrack; how Tifft saw success for the team; being in meetings with NASCAR; going from friend to team co-owner with McLeod; if Tifft had fun in 2021.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

By now you know there is so much that goes into building a race car and not just for the race teams, which makes Tommy Joseph a great guest. As an aerodynamics supervisor for Ford Performance, he’s taking us inside what that means and everything going on at the Ford Tech Center; scale model testing; the limit of wind tunnel testing; what Ford has been able to work on during the parts freeze; the thrill of being involved in designing Next Gen; when racing aerodynamics became an interest; getting his foot in the door in Formula 1; engineering in F1 versus NASCAR; coming back to the U.S. and working for Ford; the F1 world versus the NASCAR world; the difference in a car enthusiast and someone who likes competition; what makes a good engineer or aerodynamic supervisor.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Chris Miko is one of the hauler drivers at Joe Gibbs Racing, and it’s his job to make sure that Kyle Busch’s No. 18 Toyota makes it to the racetrack. But that’s not all Miko does. This week, Miko takes us for a ride through his 21 years in the sport; being a show car driver; finding a love of NASCAR at a young age and getting his foot in the door professionally; additional responsibilities for the race team other than driving the hauler; how having a co-driver works; how Miko spends so much time on the road; adventures with fans, fellow truck drivers, and cops; the importance of meeting NASCAR’s unloading schedule; easiest and hardest tracks to park the hauler; the nerve-racking experience of entering onto the Bristol dirt; the pride and possessiveness a hauler driver has for their equipment; everything that can be stored in a team hauler; the processing of packing up after race weekend and miles spent on the road; bringing Jurassic Park to his driveway.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Kip Childress is back! There is so much more to cover about being the Cup Series pace car driver, but before we get into that, he's going to share a job he has covering sports away from the racetrack. After a nice discussion on high school sports, we dig into the importance of knowing the NASCAR rule book from inside the pace car and being aware of your surroundings; New Hampshire rain and Kyle Busch’s anger; time spent during rain delays; being in the pace vehicle at new venues like Bristol dirt and finding sightlines; how track compounds affect driving the pace car; procedure for the choose rule; post-race duties; if Childress can hear the fans react to big moments; getting to drive new manufacturer cars; getting the field out of the garage in the correct order; a season in review.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Brian Wilson and Harrison Burton are paired together at Wood Brothers Racing and they stop by the podcast to talk about it. Wilson describes getting his shot as a Cup Series crew chief; being familiar with the series; what he’ll expect from Burton; working with another young driver; making a name for himself in the Xfinity Series; the open notebook between Wood Brothers and Penske; working on Next Gen; going from developing Austin Cindric to racing against him.

Burton dishes on having a proven veteran as his leader; how he’ll lean on Wilson; building chemistry with each other; time already spent in the simulator; putting his time in the Xfinity Series behind him; what Burton learned about himself in those years; any plans to document a rookie Cup season; learning Next Gen; any unusual advice given about the Cup Series; and facing the hype of the Wood Brothers 100th win.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Bob Tasca III lives a fascinating life as an NHRA Funny Car driver on the weekend but the vice president of Tasca Automotive Group during the week. In our conversation we dig into a busy portion of the NHRA schedule; the great Funny Car points battle; the mental battle of Sunday eliminations and not getting another run; what it was like when NHRA went to a playoff format; what Tasca is processing in the three seconds he’s down the track; learning to respect the power of a nitro car; joining the 300mph club; electrification in NHRA; working with Tony Stewart on the Cobra Jet program; what it’s physically like to drive a nitro Funny Car and the sensation of speed and if you can lose that; following in the family footsteps; dealership Tasca versus driver Tasca; needing an adrenaline rush; splitting time between the dealership and racing; how his family coined the ‘win on Sunday, sell on Monday’ phrase; being surrounded by great men like his father and grandfather; having the dealership work serve as a distraction from racing; the most exciting thing about drag racing.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Before Todd Gordon walks out the door at Team Penske for the last time, he joins us to do some reflecting. Gordon starts by sharing if it’s sinking in that he’s done and what Sunday at Phoenix Raceway was like leading into the race; if Gordon plans to do any reflecting on the accomplishments he didn’t focus on while they were happening; the significant race wins along the way; the change he saw in Ryan Blaney through two years; building a race car for a college class; designing zero-turn lawnmowers and the influence Gordon’s wife Amy had on making the move to North Carolina; teams Gordon worked with before getting to Team Penske; remembering his first race as a crew chief and driver names that are a blast from the past; navigating AJ Allmendinger’s suspension in 2012; reaction to the hiring of Joey Logano; the Cup championship being the biggest accomplishment; how the sport ages you over time and looking at how it’s a seven day a week job; what Gordon’s kids reactions were over the years and now that he’s retiring; competition amongst crew chiefs; needing a break and having the time to figure out what’s next.


Music created by Tony Monge.


Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Josh Williams is an Xfinity Series driver and now he’s getting back to his roots by offering development opportunities for those who need some assistance. We start our conversation talking about his driver development program and his approach to such a program; Williams also explains how many different hats he wears during a week; getting started with a go-kart at two years old; what Williams remembers from his dad’s racing career; the support from mom and dad, and dad’s heavy investment in what happens; his welcome to North Carolina moment; when Williams thought it’d be possible to make a living in NASCAR; what should be expected of the DGM team; if it’s tough to be a driver who also works on cars and knows what it takes to get to the track; being content in the Xfinity Series and what it means to overachieve; understanding everyone is racing for something; respecting the race leaders; his relationship with Dale Jr.; what Williams wants people to know; getting confused for the other Josh Williams in NASCAR; doing hospital visits.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Ryan Vargas works his tail off for seat time and to be recognized in NASCAR and it’s paid off in some big ways over the last year. Vargas joins the show to discuss the growing amount of seat time he’s had this year and what it means to have a driver’s notebook; racing with emotion; insight into the home office and his daily task to get in a car; the business of cold calls; if Vargas has any formal training for selling himself and speaking well; the scariness of moving to NC as a teenager; why he thought he was washed up at 18; thoughts on young drivers getting recognized; some on-track highlights that stand out and a keepsake from leading laps at Talladega; what it is like to be a race car driver; why Vargas thinks fans relate to him and he’s developed a good following; embracing social media and its many different platforms; looking ahead to 2022.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Max Papis is a busy man. Papis is an IndyCar race steward, performance advisor, and businessman, just to name a few things, and somehow, he found time to join the show to share how it’s all been going. What does it mean to be a race steward? What drew Papis to taking the job years ago? He also explains his role with William Byron and why he doesn’t like the term coach; finding satisfaction in seeing someone else succeed; what Papis looks for when he’s at the racetrack with Byron; explaining how go-karting helps NASCAR racing; an update on how MPI (Max Papis Innovations) is going and being able to expand into other racing series; getting feedback and data on the products after being in a crash; developing other products through MPI, including for sim racing; hopes to get back behind the wheel in NASCAR.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Sam Hunt Racing has gone from a very small K&N operation to competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and what a journey it’s been. Hunt shares his first conversation with Toyota and earning their support; his connection to the late J.D. Gibbs and how influential their meeting was in more ways than one; how surreal it’s been for the team to come so far in a short amount of time; time spent in the Netherlands and why he chose a career in racing; finding NASCAR racing when back in the States; the business of going from K&N to Xfinity; why Hunt is not driving his own car and if that’s helped in the transition of being an owner; relating to the drivers in his car; measuring where the performance should be when it’s multiple drivers in the seat; if expectations change throughout the year and if Hunt feels like they are defying the odds; if he’d like to see practice next year and any inventory coming from the Cup Series; the team outlook for 2022.


Music created by Tony Monge.


Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Tony Stewart is taking his team ownership to the NHRA beginning in 2022 and he made time to talk about it on the podcast. Stewart discusses the challenges he expects entering drag racing; experiencing drag racing up close and personal; how Stewart’s view of things changed the more time spent on the starting line; what the conversation is like between two racers in a relationship (Stewart and fiancée Leah Pruett); trying to describe the sensation of speed driving a Top Fuel dragster; why Stewart says it’d be suicidal for him to try to compete in NHRA; why Matt Hagan was a good fit for TSR; if there’s anything left Stewart hasn’t driven; where Stewart sees NHRA in the motorsports landscape. Music created by Tony Monge.


Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Blake Harris is the car chief for Martin Truex Jr. at Joe Gibbs Racing, and if you want to know what that entails, he’s here to explain. Harris breaks down his role; how he got into NASCAR and the journey to Furniture Row (before JGR); being a former driver himself but also enjoying working on cars as well; being a brief test driver for Furniture Row; choosing racing over music; what it’s like going through NASCAR inspection and the relationship with the officials; why the car chief is the one ejected; where Harris goes when he’s ejected and what he can do for the team; if it would be beneficial for people to understand inspection failures versus cheating; being a girl dad; Chili Bowl connections; what it’s like to fight through the Cup Series playoffs. Music created by Tony Monge.


Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Steve Lauletta has been there from the beginning but he’s now officially team president of 23XI Racing as the interim title was erased. Lauletta joins the podcast this week to discuss his role and the main things the organization has going on both on and off the racetrack. From explaining how he never wanted to work for another race team after leaving the sport for a few years but being drawn to 23XI; what it looks like in the early days of starting a race team; what experience Lauletta thinks he brought that helped get things going; where the team is now almost a full year into operation and already looking ahead; what stands out from 11 years with Chip Ganassi Racing; why he wanted to start his own marketing company; how teaching tennis when Lauletta was younger carried over into his business sense; going from wanting to be a judge to working in sports; how he got to NASCAR; what a team president does on a given day or week; if anything keeps Lauletta up at night and his mindset about mistakes; what he looks for when hiring people; being a brand that goes racing; how 23XI will be different in NASCAR. Music created by Tony Monge.


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Chris Gayle didn’t expect to be an Xfinity Series crew chief this year for Joe Gibbs Racing, but once the decision was made, Gayle decided he was going to show it was a mistake. Gayle admits there is ego involved going from the Cup Series to Xfinity Series; the thought of going for an owner’s championship versus a driver’s championship; getting his racing start in Arkansas; transferring to UNC Charlotte; if he ever had thoughts that he’d make it in NASCAR; landing at Joe Gibbs Racing; winning races with Kyle Busch as an engineer; engineer versus crew chief; insight on what isn’t seen about Ty Gibbs; his Poindexter Twitter handle. Music created by Tony Monge.


Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

From feeling like the world was crashing down on Jordan Anderson Racing in February to making some noise in the Xfinity Series, it’s been quite a year for the team. Jordan Anderson is going to try and explain it all and sum it up for us this week. Anderson digs into how long it took to decide to shift his plans for the season; how he drew in big-name Cup drivers for the Xfinity car; the feeling when not racing the car; the internal battle of car owner and driver; the selling point to bringing in and keeping partners; being able to take a step back in certain areas; having a support system in place; if thinks about what could have been; how much the year has aged him; Truck versus Xfinity Series car; the philosophy running each program; embracing the journey mentality. Music created by Tony Monge.


Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

You’ve probably heard Doug Rice’s voice calling a NASCAR race for Performance Racing Network (PRN), but if you don’t know much about him, you will after this episode. Rice explains how long he’s been with the company and his role as president of PRN and the responsibilities; first hearing about NASCAR; memories from broadcasting in college and working at the campus radio station; the impact of participating in speech and debate club; getting his foot in the door with PRN; early lessons and snafus; the importance of painting a picture; the most important thing about broadcasting; regrets about not saving things through the years; working alongside Humpy Wheeler; his top broadcasting moment; what PRN races remain this season. Music created by Tony Monge.

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Corey LaJoie knows his flowing hair is starting to become noticeable and there is a reason behind that. LaJoie kicks off our conversation today explaining the look he’s going for before we jump into how the season has gone for Spire Motorsports; what goes into learning a new car/manufacturer; what LaJoie gets out of doing his own podcast and SiriusXM work; what he’s learning about the NASCAR universe through his time on the radio; how he became a fill-in for Larry Mac; why the tone of the podcast changed; having to review races for the radio and podcast; doing an audit on himself; the importance of having an opinion; if LaJoie wants to do television work; promotion for his Oct. 6 kickball tournament. Music created by Tony Monge.


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Josh Sims has covered NASCAR and other local sports for Fox46 in Charlotte for the past few years, but now he’s entered the stock car world full-time. Sims is already in deep with projects, and this weekend at Darlington, he takes another step with his first pit reporting gig, which we discuss first. Then we go into how different it’ll be to only have to cover NASCAR outside of the Charlotte arena; his previous enjoyment and knowledge of NASCAR; how he landed in Charlotte, to begin with; print journalism versus television; the goal always being sports; being a former athlete covering athletes; the time spent preparing for interviews; why Sims took the Fox job; wanting to tell stories and those he’s looking forward to working on. Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Things are going well and life is good for Kyle Petty and the projects he’s working on, which he’s here to talk all about. Petty explains how COVID-19 changed his job and way of doing things; what it means to now be back in the garage area; the approach to ‘Coffee with Kyle’ conversations; learning the concept of shutting up and listening; how ‘Coffee with Kyle’ came to be; how much makes the finished show or gets left unseen; the difference with the ‘Dinner Drive’ show; if these projects serve as a way for Petty to talk to his heroes; reinventing himself and staying in the sport; details on the Charity Ride Revival. Music created by Tony Monge.

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The last time we spoke to Anthony Alfredo he was grasping the fact that he had a ride with Richard Childress Racing, so we’re checking back in with him to see what it’s like to be a Cup Series rookie at Front Row Motorsports. And it’s a challenging time to be a rookie, too. Alfredo explains why; if there have been any seconds thoughts or frustrations; how big the Olympic break was for his team; adjusting to longer races and a longer schedule; how the people at Front Row have helped with his development; finding there are more critics at the Cup level; how life changes when you become a Cup driver; ways Alfredo’s training has changed; looking at another driver’s visor camera and using SMT data; the advice that has stuck with him; working hard for little gains; new interest in his nickname; why he was operating heavy machinery lately; a new sponsor for Michigan and Richmond. Music created by Tony Monge.


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Alan Reinhart is the voice you hear when it comes to the NHRA, either over the PA system at the racetrack or if you’ve watched NHRA.TV. Reinhart takes us through the journey of being in the right place at the right time to start announcing; the knowledge and one-liners he brings to the job; views from the booth, material, and knowing when information is relevant; Shirley Muldowney stopping by the broadcast booth; working with Joe Castillo; his travel schedule between races; NHRA still being a niche sport; selling the NHRA to race fans; working for Brian France back in the day and Reinhart’s NASCAR connections; NHRA headlines this season; Reinhart’s offer to you the race fan. Music created by Tony Monge.


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Visit www.carpys.com for all your screen-printing needs and get it shipped nationwide

Michael Waltrip has seemingly done it all – racer, team owner, television, author, and now beer. We start our conversation by talking about what led him to start a brewing company; then we move into his experience running with SRX this summer; the opportunity to race against some motorsports greats; if SRX scratched any itch of getting into a race car; how it feels to be in his 25th year of broadcast work and the opportunities he’s on the media side; memories of Waltrip’s early days in TV; rehearsal or no rehearsal; thoughts on the critics and if anyone from the garage has ever questioned his opinions; what Waltrip enjoys about the broadcast side of the sport; going from friend and competitor to interview; what Waltrip identifies as these days; if he would have done anything differently; if there is anything left that hasn’t been told; looking ahead to the last portion of the Truck Series season. Music created by Tony Monge.


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Visit www.carpys.com for all your screen-printing needs and get it shipped nationwide. Also, visit www.carpys.com/racing-writers-podcast-merch/ to buy merchandise for the podcast!

Mike Dillon has had many different roles over the years in racing, but today he is the senior vice president of business operations at Richard Childress Racing. Dillon explains his responsibilities and how there is much more taking place on the RCR campus than building race cars; how the company is already looking to shift resources to other jobs when Next Gen comes around; if RCR might have an advantage with Next Gen because they’ve been working with NASCAR from the beginning; how Childress became the team to work with NASCAR on the prototype; how the atmosphere of the campus is different this year with two competitive teams; what the best thing is leadership can do during lean years; if it’s easier so many years in to separate family and business; what hat Dillon wears when watching races; a quick story from being a spotter. Music created by Tony Monge.


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Visit www.carpys.com for all your screen-printing needs and get it shipped nationwide. Also, visit www.carpys.com/racing-writers-podcast-merch/ to buy merchandise for the podcast!

Krista Baldwin is a businesswoman, team owner, and Top Fuel driver following in the footsteps of her grandfather Chris 'The Greek' Karamesines and late father Bobby Baldwin. She breaks down the many hats that she wears and balancing it all; the family tree of race car drivers; reliving and sharing the details of her big run at zMAX Dragway; what it’s like for Baldwin's mom to watch her daughter race; why Baldwin got a late start to her racing career; trying to explain the diversity of NHRA when it comes to women; if she felt she had to follow the family career or wanted to do it; when it became the plan for her to succeed her grandfather; learning from him over the years; the nervousness being on the starting line; what gives Baldwin a different understanding of what goes into racing; getting a Top Fuel license; getting used to the different physical wear on the body during a run; fire suits at the laundry mat; her love of eating; what Baldwin’s schedule looks like. Music created by Tony Monge.


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Visit www.carpys.com for all your screen-printing needs and get it shipped nationwide. Also, visit www.carpys.com/racing-writers-podcast-merch/ to buy merchandise for the podcast!

Erik Jones is enjoying his first season with Richard Petty Motorsports and grades himself on the job he’s done as the driver. Jones joins the show this week to also discuss getting used to being a one-car team; simulator time and how that’s changed for him from the past; having a more personal relationship with the Petty team; working with a new manufacturer; the normalcy of not having practice and qualifying; being able to do more at home with more free days; but what a week looks like for Jones; the different perspective he has this year; getting back to basics and out of the spotlight; how Jones has grown in the last year; bonding with a team of ‘true racers’; if the 43 team would be further along with more practice and qualifying; if RPM fans should be pleased by how the season is going; the dedication of Petty fans; experiences that come with being a Petty driver; how ‘Read with Erik’ came about. Music created by Tony Monge.


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Holly's Hope of North Port, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to increasing mental health resources in our community, empowering others through education, and providing hope for those struggling with mental health conditions. Holly's Hope is currently providing support groups for families of first responders. Additionally, we are working to increase resources for first responders facing mental health conditions. Visit www.hollyshope.info.

Larry McReynolds is a bonus guest on behalf of Quaker State, the entitlement sponsor of this weekend’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. But there is no one better to help preview the weekend, so McReynolds shares what to watch for aside from tire wear; what notes will transfer from the March race; drivers who might succeed during a hot slick weekend; what makes Atlanta fun to watch; what McReynolds prepared for as a crew chief for Atlanta versus crew chiefs today; thoughts on Atlanta having two dates again; recalling his dominating win with Ernie Irvan from 1994; memories and stories of his first three wins as a crew chief with Quaker State; working for the legendary Kenny Bernstein; being the crew chief Brett Bodine won his only race with; where you can catch his coverage with Fox Sports for Atlanta. Music created by Tony Monge.


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Quaker State has a complete line of top-quality motor oils, oil filters, transmission fluids and other lubricants to keep your vehicle and its systems running longer. Visit www.quakerstate.com for more.

It’s been an admittedly frustrating season for Matt DiBenedetto and Wood Brothers Racing and he’s here to break it down among other things. DiBenedetto explains how drivers understand it could worse; if there is an explanation for the struggles; utilizing simulator time; how the fan reaction has changed over the years; how his career has shaped him as a person and how he doesn’t let it affect his love of racing; the influence of the Wood Brothers family; how hot the race cars are and the work that DiBenedetto puts in to be mentally tough; getting TV broadcast experience during an ARCA Series race, and understanding how to talk about racing on TV; why he and Ryan Ellis started a podcast and if DiBenedetto is getting out of it what he hoped. Music created by tony Monge.

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Quaker State has a complete line of top-quality motor oils, oil filters, transmission fluids and other lubricants to keep your vehicle and its systems running longer. Visit www.quakerstate.com for more.

Gene Monahan retired from the New York Yankees after 40+ years and now works with Hendrick Motorsports. This week we meet Monahan and go into what his role is with the championship-winning NASCAR organization; how Jay Frye played a part in Monahan’s transition; his early memories of becoming a racing fan in Florida; what transferred from the job in MLB to NASCAR, and still working with athletes; what resources Hendrick athletes have at their disposal; what Monahan is monitoring with the athletes; what makes a great athlete to work with; why the transition was hard at first; the Yankee comparison with Hendrick Motorsports; what Monahan had to learn about his new sport; the difference between MLB game day and NASCAR race day; if he’s able to watch the Yankees again; what it was like working for George Steinbrenner; what it has been like to be around talent in both MLB and NASCAR; things Monahan is enjoying in NC that he didn’t have in NY; what he does away from work; what he gets joy and fulfillment from these days. Music created by Tony Monge.


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Quaker State has a complete line of top-quality motor oils, oil filters, transmission fluids and other lubricants to keep your vehicle and its systems running longer. Visit www.quakerstate.com for more.

Tommy Joe Martins has been putting in the years in the NASCAR garage, and he feels it gives him a right to voice his opinion, and he’s got a few of them around the future of the sport. Martins discusses what’s changing and his concerns; how things are going for Martins Motorsports in their second year; the workload and stress level after a rough few weeks on track; if not having practice and qualifying does save money; the brotherhood or bond that forms amongst teams like his; if Martins gets jealous or compares himself to others; why he’s aiming for his team to be like the Wood Brothers; coming to the realization he won’t always be the driver of his car; drivers being the best talent scouts, and how much racing Martins watches and the reasons why. Music created by Tony Monge.

No one is looking forward to Pocono Raceway more than Sam Mayer, who turns 18 on June 26 and then takes over the No. 8 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports beginning at Pocono on June 27. Mayer joins the podcast to share what he’s been doing to get ready for the ride; how he feels about Pocono; the oddity of not doing a lot of racing through the first half of the season; if he feels he adapts well to new variables; if Mayer has sat in the car and spent any time talking to his teammates; if the headlines around Josh Berry has made Mayer possessive of the car; how Berry’s performance has changed Mayer’s expectations; not letting success go to his head; with dad being a former open-wheel driver, what drew Sam to stock cars; how he got connected with Lorin Ranier and the influence Ranier has been; discovering his independence now being on his own; lessons learned from grassroots racing; being competitive against drivers he’s already competed against; what Mayer has noted while watching Xfinity races from afar. Music created by Tony Monge.

Greg Stumpff is the owner and one of the artists of Off Axis Paint, which is an airbrush company that works with some of NASCAR’s biggest names for their helmets. Stumpff joins the podcast to describe how the process works and how long it takes from start to finish; working through the approval process with teams and sponsors, and how involved a driver is; keeping in mind safety regulations; how a brief stint racing on dirt helped him understand the business or motorsports; what goes into the workload being busy during the year and then slowing down, and driver’s needing multiple helmets a year; the influence his high school art teacher had; when the lightbulb went off to combine a passion for art and racing; having other artists to look up to; the challenges of the job and unique paint colors; other projects he’s taken on over the years; what he accomplishes going to the racetrack. Music created by Tony Monge.

If you’re a motorsports fans who watches Fox Sports quite a bit, then you’ve seen Jamie Howe as she covers multiple racing disciplines for the network. Howe breaks down everywhere she’ll be in 2021; if she easily remembers things or spends a lot of time studying; the materials Howe carries with her during race weekend; where a love of storytelling came from; when and where she was exposed to racing for the first time and going to college for broadcasting; the challenges of reporting from one series to another; why Howe doesn’t mind being someone who jumps across different series; looking at her first opportunity to cover the Xfinity Series; what Howe does to get away from racing; if there is a series she hasn’t covered that she’d like to one day. Music created by Tony Monge.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is bouncing around the playoff bubble and he’s here to assess where JTG Daugherty is going into the summer. We also go into whether being a part of the playoff conversation is good enough; the thought process of building something with a race team; what he’s seen from year one to year two with the team; how much crew chief Brian Pattie takes the reins versus Stenhouse’s input, and how it’s changed this year; adapting to a Chevrolet body and chassis after so many years running with Ford; how two different aero packages change a driving style; why there is a disconnect between what racing drivers like and the fans like; what people don’t understand about his “aggressive” driving style; the uniqueness of switching mentalities of showing up and racing versus weekends where this is practice. Music created by Tony Monge.

Nigel Kinrade has been on the NASCAR circuit for 30 years now and he’s one of the best to carry a camera. In this episode Kinrade explains what he does and the big name clients he works for; how the job has changed through the years with technology advancement and the digital era; if he knows in the moment he got the shot or something cool; what brought him to the U.S. in 1991 and how he got into NASCAR; the culture shock of stock car racing; keeping things from getting boring every week and every year; when photography became a passion; things people might be surprised to hear Kinrade does or the job requires; building relationships with drivers and teams when invading their space; some of the memorable events he’s photographed; favorite places to shoot and the creative challenges of others; what he’s looking forward to (in his position) as the year goes on. Music created by Tony Monge.

NASCAR newcomer Jade Buford is off to a solid start to the 2021 season with a brand-new race team, Big Machine Racing. Buford discusses how things have gone; the expectations coming into the season; how long it takes him to get comfortable each weekend without practice and qualifying; the toughest thing about competing in the Xfinity Series; the depth of competition and aggressive from sports cars to NASCAR; some insight into the Big Machine Racing team; what Buford’s first experience was like on a NASCAR oval; what his preparation is any given week to prepare for tracks he’s never competed on; leaving sports cars for stock cars; the skills needed to be a successful road course driver; growing up in Nashville, TN and how he got into racing; starting a driving career at 18 and going straight to sports cars; Buford shares some of his hobbies and things he enjoys away from the racetrack – like hanging off rocks; participating in American Ninja Warrior three times and how the show works; what will be a successful season for his team; if he wants to stay in NASCAR long term. Music created by Tony Monge.

Matt Yocum, formerly of Fox Sports and now SRX, is looking back at the end of his time covering NASCAR for Fox and what's ahead with SRX. Yocum discusses being out of the routine of covering NASCAR; joining DirtVision last month for the World of Outlaws at Bristol; his love of all things motorsports; memories of Dale Earnhardt and the significance of his Twitter cover photo; developing a relationship with Tony Stewart; the stories behind Stewart getting his back waxed on live radio; cultivating relationships with drivers over the years; the appeal of joining SRX as a pit reporter and being able to tell stories; the preparation going into a new series; why fans should tune into SRX this summer. Music created by Tony Monge.

Chris Medland, my colleague at RACER.com who covers Formula 1, joins the podcast to discuss all the latest news and notes from overseas. Medland explains how F1 in Miami came to be; what has happened to Ferrari’s performance over the last year; how much teams try to get away with in F1; where the Haas team stands and their plans moving forward; a discussion on Nikita Mazapin; how the coronavirus pandemic has affected F1, its teams, and media; Mercedes versus Red Bull and Hamilton versus Verstappen; the accuracy of the Netflix series; teams wanting to participate; how the series has translated to a new audience; a little bit on who Chris is and how he got to where he is in racing. Music created by Tony Monge.

James Davison was confronted with the decision of returning to the Indianapolis 500 or running more NASCAR races, and he says his heart is in NASCAR. Davison explains what has hooked him; comparing the feeling of driving an IndyCar versus a stock car; his reaction to the first time being behind the wheel of a stock car; how much his IndyCar prospects played into his decision; how Davison came to NASCAR in the first place; his racing background and how he came to the United States; why he went the open-wheel route over NASCAR at the start of his career; the influence of his parents on his racing career, and how they feel about him in NASCAR; the funding difference between IndyCar and NASCAR; what Davison is enjoying learning about NASCAR on and off the track; how he knows he’s put in a good day or learned something; tracks he feels most comfortable already and the ones he’s looking forward to; what Davison’s long-term NASCAR plans are. Music created by Tony Monge.

Michelle Martinelli from USA/For The Win drops by to share details on “The Sneak” podcast that digs into the disappearance of Mario Rossi. How did this story come on their radar? Who was Mario Rossi? What went into the original reporting; how much convincing the Rossi family needed to get involved; the many theories surrounding his disappearance; when the Rossi family became suspicious; drug smuggling comes to NASCAR angle; if there is a conclusion to their investigation; recognizable names who contributed to the project; information on how to listen; who Michelle is and how to follow her and her work. Music created by Tony Monge.

The voice of the World of Outlaws, Johnny Gibson, is always on the road going from town to town, and he explains why it’s easier just to have a motorhome. Gibson also shares what he does to stay busy between races; his propensity to take notes; how being prepared and in the right place led to his break with WoO; why his native Pennsylvania is a hotbed of dirt racing; what got him on sprint car racing; when Gibson embraced racing as a career and what he initially wanted to do in life; how much thought he put into his announcer’s voice; memories of his first night on the job; thinking about 25 years on the job and over 2,000 races attended; taking care of his voice through the season; putting dirt back on Bristol; keeping track of drivers through numbers or paint schemes; inside the broadcast booth of what he’s following and his tools, and the art of delivering quick play-by-play; the birth of his famous saying during the parade lap and thoughts on others paying homage with their versions; other series that have tried to hire him and his lack of interest in other forms of racing; trends early in the WoO season and discussions on David Gravel and Kasey Kahne; drivers who are fun to watch in WoO and the access difference from NASCAR; upcoming events Gibson is looking forward to. Music created by Tony Monge.

Mike Joy of NASCAR on Fox goes from the broadcast booth to interviewee this week. Joy joins the show to touch on a variety of topics like keeping track of things in the booth; knowing the moments when his words and calls have to be right; how he sets up calling the finishes of races; lessons from Barney Hall, Ken Squier, and Ned Jarrett; how the relationship between the garage and the booth has changed over the years; Joy’s approach to getting close to people in the garage; where his love of Formula 1 and sports cars came from; a big car guy, what is sitting in his driveway/garage; if Joy approached calling iRacing differently and more lighthearted; thoughts on writing a book; if there are sports Joy hasn’t called; moments or drivers that he’s grateful to have covered or watched. Music created by Tony Monge.

Samantha Busch can add published author to her resume as her book “Fighting Infertility” is a day away from being released (March 30). In our conversation, Busch explains why writing a book was the next step of continuing to share the struggles of her and Kyle Busch to conceive a second child; what details are shared about how it has affected their marriage; the reaction to Kyle Busch mentioning Samantha and their issues in his 2019 championship speech; the emotional process of writing a book and one of this nature; the journey of building herself back up through the heartbreak; the importance of sharing practical advice in the book for other women; how Brexton feels about a sibling; how the latest transfer went; the need to be busy with projects; the latest on the Bundle of Joy Fund and getting joy from that; the dynamic of working on projects with Kyle; what Samantha gets out of an active website for different topics; going to racetracks with Brexton and how his racing is progressing; what Kyle has learned through the IVF process and being there for Samantha; who and why people should read the book. Music created by Tony Monge.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Tad Geschickter and Grant Dexter are here for a conversation about the business side of racing and fan engagement during a pandemic. First, Geschickter talks about the start of the season for his JTG Daugherty Racing team; the parts freeze and Next Gen; getting into the sport first as a part of Proctor & Gamble advertising; the bootstrapped early days of starting his team versus where the organization is now; looking at ownership differently than others because of his marketing/advertising background; how the pandemic forced a change in fan and sponsor content; the immediate ways JTG adapted to the pandemic; what their partnership with Fanaply means for fans; how Fanaply works for the fans and making it unique and exclusive; if the partnership is working; if things have leveled out a year into the pandemic; how he feels about the future.

Dexter walks us through what Fanaply is and how the idea of digital collectibles came about just two years ago; how they quickly attracted big name artists like One Direction and Lizzo; connecting with JTG and bringing NASCAR into the fold; what he is seeing from the partnership; the perks and rewards fans get by collecting the badges; why fans should collect and how they go about doing so; why more NASCAR teams haven’t started doing this and the outlook to add more. Music created by Tony Monge.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

A brief chat with Aric Almirola on what he’s doing to create content and show behind the scenes of his life with his YouTube channel; if NASCAR could benefit from more documentary type content; now 10 years into a full Cup career, how Almirola has had to evolve and change over the years; if he likes how the racing has changed over the years; if the dynamic of the playoffs has changed with four different winners in the first four weeks; racing go-karts with son Alex. Music created by Tony Monge.

It was a rough two weeks in Daytona for Hattori Racing but crew chief Scott Zipadelli was optimistic going in Las Vegas thing would turn around. Before earning a third-place finish over the weekend, Zipadelli joined the show to discuss his program; how his relationship with Austin Hill has developed over the years; what kind of a personality Zipadelli wants a driver to have; if the way things are now in the sport is really helping teams; the beginnings of Zipadelli’s career in racing; if the ache to be a driver ever goes away; working with brother Greg at Joe Gibbs Racing; wanting to be challenged by taking other opportunities through the years; learning new jobs and the politics of the sport; battling lack of motivation and being burnt out; Zipadelli’s involvement in the day-to-day workings of the team; the dangers of Twitter; if being a Cup Series crew chief is something he has to do; if Hattori is still an underdog; where to start preparing for new races this season. Music created by Tony Monge.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Ben Rhodes is undefeated in 2021 in Truck Series competition, so does that mean the competition should look at his team differently this year? Rhodes joins the show to discuss; plus what victory lane has been like in the COVID era; if not having multiple wins in a season ever weighed on him or brought worries about job security; why Rhodes thinks the lows of racing are harder than other sports; the mental work he’s done over the years; how his two wins changes his confidence to conquer other tracks; why he called Daytona his biggest win; if Rhodes has become more emotional over the radio in recent seasons; if he think he’s developed an unfair reputation; why he doesn’t mind not being in the Charlotte area; the challenge of a series that always has new faces; making a change in spotter’s this season and how Rhodes landed with T.J. Bell; with so many years in the sport now, where did Rhodes think he’d be at this point; not ruining the stability he has at ThorSport; what he does away from racing being in Louisville; why he changed his training routine; previewing Vegas, Atlanta, and Bristol; trying to put a number on the wins he could earn by season’s end. Music created by Tony Monge.

Freddie Kraft, spotter for Bubba Wallace, joined the show right before the season began to share what his offseason was like and what his spotting plans are for the 2021 season. Kraft explains his relationship with Wallace; how drivers go through vetting spotters; a season he dreaded with Greg Biffle; knowing the drivers he won’t work with; defending the driver you’re working with; being both cheerleader and critic for your driver; the overlooked importance of a spotter; some details on where Kraft came from and how he got here; if there was doubt about staying paired with Bubba this season; what he sees being built at 23XI; the adjustment in his spotting with the expectation of running up front more this season; fans wanting him to be a full-time co-host on Door Bumper Clear; knowing what is and isn’t acceptable on DBC; if it has affected his relationship with NASCAR officials; how much of the overall race Kraft sees and reviewing them for the podcast; the maddest Kraft has been on the roof; needing time to decompress after races; his view on helping other spotters; preparing to spot at new venues this season and what he’s excited for; thoughts on grassroots racing; what he is looking forward to in ’21; one last spotter story. Music created by Tony Monge.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Rick Houston (of the Scene Vault Podcast) has put together a 10-episode podcast documentary set to drop on the 20th anniversary of the 2001 Daytona 500. Houston walks us through putting together something on the 2000 and 2001 seasons and the rash of driver deaths; the people connected to those drivers that he was able to interview for the project; what it was like covering the sport during such dark times and why Houston says it changed the course of his career; discussing the misconception that safety wasn’t on NASCAR’s mind until Earnhardt died; trying to explain what was going on at New Hampshire to take the lives of Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin; how the media was reacting and reporting during this time period; sharing who Tony Roper and Blaise Alexander were; how therapeutic the project was for Houston to put together; what his takeaway is on the impact of safety in racing. Music created by Tony Monge.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Kip Childress wears two hats for NASCAR as both the assistant Cup Series director and the pace car driver. In today’s episode, we dig into both roles by discussing a variety of topics. First, what his offseason to-do lists consist of; breaking down his responsibilities in the garage; being a sounding board and go-to person for teams; the new way of bringing teams into the garage; the unique ways Childress had hauler drivers park in the garage with COVID, and what it’s like parking them every week; if officials do weekend reviews after each race; the lineage of the Childress family to make him a third-generation official; the job responsibility of being the pace car driver for the Cup Series; the importance of putting the car in cruise control; how the procedure has changed because of honorary pace car drivers and some funny celebrity stories; why pace car drivers also wear protective equipment; the craziest or most unexpected thing he’s seen in the pace car; drivers who like to have fun with the pace car; what his view is when parked under green; how much of the race he sees; what it’s like to lead the field at the Daytona 500. Music created by Tony Monge.


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Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Sheldon Creed is back on the podcast, but now he does so as the reigning Camping World Truck Series champion. Creed shares what his offseason has been like and getting into dirt racing; if his championship accomplishment has set in and why he doesn’t want to pay attention to the press clippings; keeping the team together; growing into the NASCAR environment, and maturing on and off the track along the way; fitting into the garage; what changed in his race craft from 2019 to ’20 to change the results; knowing how to watch race film properly; trying to understand why he was so aggressive in his rookie season; if Creed knows where the line is and how to keep from getting into a bad spot; the variables of dirty air and restarts; having a better understanding of the trucks after two full seasons; the type of feedback he’s comfortable giving; trying to learn from other drivers; preparation for 2021; what the team did well in ’20 but need to do better in ’21; becoming more comfortable and confident in his personality; how quickly success happened; thoughts and expectations for a new season. Music created by Tony Monge.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Cliff Daniels and his group haven’t changed anything regarding a seat in their race cars in over 15 years, but with Jimmie Johnson retired and Kyle Larson entering it has made for an even busier offseason. Daniels, the crew chief of the No. 5 team, chats about how things are going getting prepared for Daytona; how he’s been adjusting to the role with so much change the last few seasons; memories of coming from a racing family and being a former driver; having to channel his competitive fire in a different way as a crew chief and leading a team; if he had to get comfortable with the idea of working with Larson; if Daniels has been able to do any team-building exercises given the pandemic; if he will treat Larson different than Johnson; if Larson has told Daniels what he can to lead him; what he will require or want to see from Larson this season. Music created by Tony Monge.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

New NASCAR driver Santino Ferrucci is excited and ready for the challenge for stock cars. This week, Ferrucci explains how a deal to run Xfinity Series races with Sam Hunt Racing came to be; people he talked to about making a transition to NASCAR; anticipating habits Ferrucci will have to break in stock cars; the first impression from a late model test; if stock cars with fenders and bumpers will suit his style; what the feedback and reaction have been to the move; who Ferrucci sees himself leaning on for help; how he can prepare for his first race with no testing allowed; tracks he’s looking forward to competing on; if he’s a patient person and will keep his expectations in check throughout the year; how and why he went the open-wheel route when his career started; already working through differences in racing lingo; if Ferrucci is content with leaving IndyCar and what he did there; if NASCAR is the long-term goal now and if running in the Cup Series is on the radar; what he wants to say to fans and those curious about watching his transition. Music created by Tony Monge.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Jacob Seelman of Speed Sport is here to help provide a helpful and fun preview of this week’s Chili Bowl Nationals and how it’s going to look in a pandemic. Seelman explains the draw of the prestigious midget car event; how many will make the feature event; how the week of practice and prelims work; his racing connection and background, and how long he’s covered the event; notable names to keep an eye on during the week and some who may have pavement aspirations; making note of Keith Kunz Motorsports, their connection to Toyota and its driver pipeline; an explanation on the age requirement for the Chili Bowl; breaking down the big list of NASCAR drivers participating in the event; storylines around this year’s running; why you can’t handicap the event but throwing out a prediction on the winner. Music created by Tony Monge.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Greg Zipadelli, the competition director at Stewart-Haas Racing, brings us inside the race shop to share how even in the offseason the team is trying to stay safe while preparing for a new race season. Zipadelli also explains how the coronavirus pandemic has changed his job; what it has been like to hold virtual competition meetings with the teams; the unseen and unheard challenges races teams have dealt with during the pandemic; keeping contingency plans in place for 2021; if he thinks long-term the sport and teams will be OK; how Zipadelli grades the 2020 season for SHR; how the gap can be closed between the 4 and the other three teams; his early outlook for this season; if the disappointing end of Harvick’s ’20 season will motivate the 4 team; thoughts on how Riley Herbst can slot into a single-car Xfinity Series team; handling the mesh of personalities at SHR; the biggest thing on the offseason agenda. Music created by Tony Monge.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Zane Smith came up just short in the Camping World Truck Series title fight and afterward described it as a ‘disgusting feeling.’ On the podcast this week, Smith explains if he still feels that way now that the dust has settled; earning Rookie of the Year honors; when the thinking shifted from competitive rookie season to championship; experiencing the playoffs and winner-take-all race as a rookie; his all-in mentality and feeling like he had to make something happen in 2020; why he thinks Charlotte was the turning point in his season and people taking notice; Smith posting a picture of meeting Kyle Busch, and his social media approach; working with Josh Wise; working with veteran crew chief Kevin ‘Bono’ Manion and why GMS Racing has been a good fit; how he started in racing and realizing NASCAR was the way to go; becoming self-sufficient by moving to NC as a teenager; what to know about him away from the track; lessons from his rookie season to take in next year. Music created by Tony Monge.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Austin Cindric is now a NASCAR champion and he tries to explain what was different for him and his Team Penske team this season to claim the Xfinity Series title. Cindric joins the show to also discuss filling the void left by Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, and Cole Custer; having Roger Penske in attendance and what it’s like to hear the ‘voice of God’ over the radio; the possibility of Penske shutting down the Xfinity program during the COVID-19 shutdown; how long it’s taken for Cindric’s accomplishment to set in and what he’s been doing since to celebrate and enjoy it; his self-criticism and constructive criticism; what he thinks a championship will do for his reputation; how Cindric believes he’s grown the last few years, and where he thinks the criticism came from; the meaningful messages he’s received since winning the title; the work he’s putting in during the offseason to prepare for 2021; having the opportunity to defend the title next season. Music created by Tony Monge.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Newly crowned NHRA Funny Car champion Matt Hagan joins the show today to discuss his third world title and the many reasons why it meant so much. Hagan also shares his thoughts on how the NHRA schedule shook out because of the pandemic; doing a longer burnout when realizing he won the championship and what it’s like not to be involved in the championship-deciding moment; capping off his season with one final win; what made this year so challenging; DSR pulling off the impressive feat of going 1-2-3-4 in points; how the organization won 14 straight races; when everyone realized a streak had begun and what that mentally was like; what the relationship is like between the four Funny Car drivers; having Camping World unexpectedly and quickly step up to sponsor the NHRA; Hagan’s plans for what could be an unusually long offseason. Music created by Tony Monge.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Danielle Trotta is the co-host of ‘On-Track’ on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio with Larry McReynolds and is helping put a bow on what we saw this season. Trotta shares about broadcasting through the pandemic and how the channel was affected; the approach to offseason content and conversation; the dynamic and relationship between Trotta and McReynolds; preparing for five shows a week; the distinction between fan opinion on the radio versus social media; handling questions that you don’t have the answers to; how Trotta got into the sport and her previous roles in NASCAR, plus marrying into the business. Then, switching to reviewing the 2020 season starting with the biggest headline; the emotional toll the season and its many headlines had; the best-case scenario of Chase Elliott winning the championship whereas does Denny Hamlin get the recognition he deserves without one; personal appreciation for Jimmie Johnson; early excitement about 2021 and plans for the offseason. Music created by Tony Monge.


Xfinity xFi is more than just fast! It provides reliable coverage and control you need to stay close to the sport you love. Visit Xfinity.com/NASCAR or connected to Xfinity Racing on Twitter and IG to stay connected to the sport you love with Xfinity. Proud Premier Partner of NASCAR and the title sponsor of the NASCAR Xfinity Series.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Meghan Miley is the Sr. Director of Racing Operations for NASCAR, so she will take us inside how things get done. Miley explains exactly what her job entails and having to deal with race teams; how programs like Dash 4 Cash and The Trip come to be; the dynamic on the team with others like the recognizable Steve O’Donnell and John Bobo; what her week versus weekend looks like and entails; where Miley would generally be stationed during a race and be responsible for; going inside the room where COVID protocols were formed and getting NASCAR back on track from the shutdown; who introduced her to the sport and the racetrack in Pittsburgh that is run by her family; when NASCAR entered the picture; women in racing; what Miley is most proud to have been involved in with her 17 plus years in the sport. Music created by Tony Monge.


Xfinity xFi is more than just fast! It provides reliable coverage and control you need to stay close to the sport you love. Visit Xfinity.com/NASCAR or connected to Xfinity Racing on Twitter and IG to stay connected to the sport you love with Xfinity. Proud Premier Partner of NASCAR and the title sponsor of the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Jimmie Johnson is here to reflect some more on the end of his full-time NASCAR career before he heads to IndyCar with Chip Ganassi next season. Johnson discusses the moments where he’s stopped and realized how much he loves racing; if he went through his career with a chip on his shoulder; when Johnson knew he needed to keep himself accountable outside the race car to stay on top; if he saw other drivers through the years with potential but never made the most of it; the personal and professional respect and battles with Jeff Gordon; what he has given up or lost with the dedication and time spent in NASCAR; if he feels he’s changed the sport in any way; remembering the best race he’s driven in NASCAR; using the wind to his advantage in a Dover race; the one word Johnson uses to sum up his career. Music created by Tony Monge.

Bayley Currey is sharing his story of how he made it to NASCAR and what he’s doing to try and stay here. Currey drives trucks for Niece Motorsports and a Xfinity Series car for Mike Harmon, but he’s also working with them during the week as he’ll explain. We also discuss the philosophy Currey’s dad instilled in him from a young age about working on his race cars; how it helps Currey understand what he’s driving; why he’s getting a mechanical engineering degree; also serving as crew chief for a teammate when he’s not driving; not ending up in a shady situation trying to land a ride; what is a good day for Currey versus the race team; recapping his path from Texas to NASCAR; making the move to North Carolina; how a driver like himself can get a chance with a winning organization; being hands-on with making deals and networking in the garage; having his first die-cast made this season. Music created by Tony Monge.


Xfinity xFi is more than just fast! It provides reliable coverage and control you need to stay close to the sport you love. Visit Xfinity.com/NASCAR or stay connected to Xfinity Racing on Twitter and IG to stay connected to the sport you love with Xfinity. Proud Premier Partner of NASCAR and the title sponsor of the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

If you love stories and behind the scenes insight into the world of motorsports, this week is for you! Slugger Labbe put in over 30 years in the NASCAR garage and is currently making his mark in the NHRA as an engineering manager for Toyota Racing. What does that mean? Labbe is here dishing on his role and what, from an engineering standpoint, he’s brought from NASCAR to NHRA. We also discuss learning new tricks and a new sport; the process of getting comfortable offering insight and information; how Labbe was lured into a new job in a new world; what it was like to see NASCAR differently after leaving the garage; how the crew chief role became more challenging through the years; gamesmanship between crew chief and NASCAR officials; notable changes in the sport during Labbe’s tenure (Robert Yates story alert); the very, very unique place Labbe was when he and the Michael Waltrip were declared the winners of the 2003 Daytona 500; a recent realization about what Waltrip was going through when they worked together; his memory of the crash that led to the lucky dog rule; if Labbe thinks the NHRA can become as popular as other motorsports in the U.S. Music created by Tony Monge.


Xfinity xFi is more than just fast! It provides reliable coverage and control you need to stay close to the sport you love. Visit Xfinity.com/NASCAR or stay connected to Xfinity Racing on Twitter and IG to stay connected to the sport you love with Xfinity. Proud Premier Partner of NASCAR and the title sponsor of the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

It’s a return visit to the podcast for Austin Hill, who is having a career year in the Truck Series. Hill is setting new highs in every category for a single season and he also captured the regular-season championship, and he’s going to discuss it all, plus all of the success he’s found in a short amount of time; the resource of Scott Zipadelli as his crew chief; the growth of his confidence and comfort over the last two years with HRE; the garage coming to recognize Hill as a top contender; how Hill looks at building a career in the Truck Series versus looking to continue moving up the ladder; how he’s like a more compact racing schedule because of the pandemic; if the playoff field expanding to 10 drivers changed anything; the chip on his shoulder to make the Championship 4; breaking down the Round of 8 and the team’s short-track package. Music created by Tony Monge.


Xfinity xFi is more than just fast! It provides reliable coverage and control you need to stay close to the sport you love. Visit Xfinity.com/NASCAR or stay connected to Xfinity Racing on Twitter and IG to stay connected to the sport you love with Xfinity. Proud Premier Partner of NASCAR and the title sponsor of the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Ricky Craven is closing out his final season covering NASCAR in any capacity and he’s going to walk everyone through the decision and why now was the time. What was the deciding factor? Discussing the heavy revelation it was for Craven; the responsibility he believes former drivers have when becoming analysts; backlash he’s had from his opinions; the fulfillment of a successful second career; if Craven ever liked media when he was a driver; why he thinks he excelled in the role; feedback from fans; the difference working with Fox compared to his role of ESPN; the prep work Craven puts into the job; where racing will fall in his life after this season; things he’s looking forward to doing without racing; fair or foul that he might be remembered for Darlington 2003; likes and dislikes of where NASCAR is going. Music created by Tony Monge.

We’re back atop the spotter’s stand this week with Tim Fedewa of Stewart-Haas Racing, who works with Chase Briscoe in the Xfinity Series and Kevin Harvick in the Cup Series. In this episode Fedewa opens up about the loss of interacting with his team with no access to the shop or the infield; adjusting to spotting in unfamiliar places; what goes into Fedewa picking his normal spotting position; seeing and being a part of Briscoe’s great season; keeping Briscoe focused; being in awe of Harvick; how he’s seen Harvick changed as a fellow competitor and now teammate; if he had any reservations working with Harvick, who had a reputation of being rough on teams; what goes into a spotter and driver relationship; what makes a good spotter; drivers who have impressed Fedewa from the spotter’s stand; the hardest part of the job; why he stuck with spotting as his second career; what makes a former driver a good spotter; still getting a competitive kick from the job; the most interesting thing he’s seen or been a part of on the spotter’s stand (involving a Jimmy John’s sandwich); who is allowed on the spotter’s stand and changes NASCAR has made through the years; if the second round of the playoffs will be as stressful on Fedewa as the drivers; how fulfilling it’s been to make a name for himself as a spotter. Music created by Tony Monge.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

GMS Racing has had a fast and unique rise in the racing world, and a new book (Fueling a Legacy: The Long-Shot Success of GMS) takes race fans into how it happened. Team owner Maury Gallagher joins the show this week to discuss why he wanted to document the journey at this point. Gallagher also discusses the importance of racing in Las Vegas to his team’s history and where the No. 23 originated. A compulsive notetaker, Gallagher shares how that played into the book, his honest assessment of the performance from son Spencer, and any second thoughts early on when things were not going well. When things did turn around, an ARCA and Truck championship followed, so did it seem to happen too fast? And what have been the emotions of going from the bottom to the top of the sport? Gallagher also admits why changes had to be made after failing to win the championship in 2017 and ’18, and the importance of Mike Beam to the company. Plus, Gallagher of whether he’s still learning the sport, if it feels any different with Spencer no longer racing, having to watch from afar because of the pandemic, and having all four trucks in the playoffs. Music created by Tony Monge.

Kaulig Racing is having a career year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and Matt Kaulig has to enjoy it all from afar because of the pandemic. Kaulig is the team owner of the Nos. 10, 11, and 16 Chevrolets and joins the podcast to share what he keeps his hands on and getting into the sport seven years as a sponsor in two races. Now, 2020 is a culmination of everything that has been built since, and Kaulig discusses whether he’s happy with their pace, if going Cup Series racing is on the radar and what it would take, and how long it took Kaulig to get the competitive bug in NASCAR. Kaulig explains trophy hunting, what Kaulig Companies is, and how much of Matt Kaulig’s money is funding this. Plus, what’s next for Kaulig Racing? Music created by Tony Monge.

David Pepper is the team manager of ThorSport Racing, the longest-tenured team in the Truck Series. But when that isn’t keeping Pepper busy, he also serves as a spotter in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Cup Series. In our conversation, we discuss ThorSport going 1-2-3 at Richmond Raceway over the weekend, the return of the Trucks to the Virginia short track, and being ready for the playoffs with three of their four teams. Pepper also shares what has been different with driver Grant Enfinger, what issues he handles for the team, how he landed at ThorSport and reflecting on his extensive career. When it comes to spotting, Pepper shares how came into that role and how his personality is different than when dealing with the truck teams. Music created by Tony Monge.

Daniel Hemric was still in the middle of adapting and learning a new team at JR Motorsports and then he had to adapt to racing during a pandemic. Hemric joins the show to discuss how he deals with isolating before the race and handling additional responsibilities. Then we get into the mixed bag of results for the 8 team; if there is any concern about the lack of a NASCAR win; explaining the inexperience of his team; whether Hemric has refocused and settled himself down; how difficult it’s been for a part-time driver to build with a team during such an unusual season; the role SMT data has played in the Xfinity Series; adjusting to not being in a car every week after six full seasons in NASCAR; what is the best way to use the time on the weekends he’s not in the car; stories on his throwback paint scheme honoring John Andretti; previewing Darlington. Music created by Tony Monge.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

On the podcast this week is fellow reporter Alex Andrejev, who covers NASCAR and MLS for the Charlotte Observer. If you don’t follow Andrejev, you’ll get to know her as she explains what it’s like to start covering a new sport, learn on the fly, and then to do it all during a global pandemic. Also, where she was previously; how and why she got the Observer job; if it has been overwhelming or exciting to cover a year filled with headlines; her first Daytona Speedweeks experience; how Andrejev splits her focus between NASCAR and MLS; what the draw to journalism was; the effort to learn the sport; what has been hard to grasp and what she wants to know; things she is looking forward to as the season winds down; if she hopes to cover the sport for years to come. Music created by Tony Monge.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

John Andretti passed away in late January after battling colon cancer, but not before he worked with Jade Gurss to produce his autobiography. Gurss takes us inside how the idea came about, the process of writing the book, and who John Andretti was. John had an incredible memory that led to retelling great stories; being the ‘other’ Andretti; if working on the book was therapeutic for John during his cancer battle; if there was anything left of the project when John passed; conversations that took place about the project should John not see it to completion; the balance in working with John and not overwhelming him; how Gurss makes sure each subject (Dale Earnhardt Jr., Darrell Waltrip, John Andretti) come through accurately; the hidden gems that Gurss enjoyed hearing; how much time he typically spends with a subject; laying out a book project and what it’s like to be deep into it; a story he would love to tell or thinks should be told; why racing fans should read this book, even if they weren’t John Andretti followers. Music created by Tony Monge.


Purchase your copy of ‘RACER’ through Octane Press and be reading before its Sept. 1 release date: https://t.co/tTusa0CrSg


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Matt Tifft is back on the podcast to let everyone know how he’s been doing since having to step away from NASCAR because of two seizures late last year. Tifft describes going through the two seizures, what he thinks brought them on, and the journey to find answers. He explains how he combats the stress and anxiety of knowing they could happen again; the emotions of having to vacate his car at Front Row Motorsports; watching races now as a fan and being honest in his opinions on Twitter; how long it took for the disappointment of not racing to go away; if Tifft still wants to race one day, and what needs to happen for that to occur; and how he’s keeping busy these days. Music created by Tony Monge.

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Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

This week we welcome Tyler Reddick back to the podcast to check-in, first, with how fatherhood has been and then his rookie NASCAR Cup Series season. Any surprises for Reddick? How he’s had to be more aware of his race car in the Cup Series; an explanation of what is different for rookies going from Xfinity to Cup; how it has been Turn 1 on lap 1 each week; if he’s having to prepare differently or study more this year; the most challenging part of this season; the comfort in having Randall Burnett as his crew chief; if the run to the playoffs will be stressful or exciting; what his responsibility is to prepare for the Daytona road course and all its variables; if anything has changed at RCR since Austin Dillon’s win at Texas; what the next step is for the company to be closer and inside the top 10; how much the random draw impacts race strategy; how Reddick keeps busy while isolated at the track, and how drivers are handling responsibilities like never before; his view of such a unique season (likes and dislikes); if his rookie season will lack without a win or playoff berth. Music created by Tony Monge.


Upgrade your personal and professional sound and style with JBL. Visit www.JBL.com for speakers, headphones, gaming products, and other accessories.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

B.J. McLeod makes his debut on the podcast with an in-depth interview that helps shed light on who he is and how he got to NASCAR. We start with an overview of his season and how he came to own a Cup Series team; how the relationships work for him to own teams but drive for other owners; how his racing career started before his fourth birthday; the very successful path McLeod had to NASCAR; the excellent explanation on the approach of being a lapped car and not interfering with the leaders; a never told before story of racing without radio communication and doing his own spotting and fuel mileage from behind the wheel; if other drivers have given him feedback on how he races; standing out for his unique look in the garage; whether he believes some stories and personalities get overlooked; who he is away from racing; why he needed to have a driver development program; what is fun about racing; what the long-term goal and plan are for his career. Music created by Tony Monge.


Upgrade your personal and professional sound and style with JBL. Visit www.JBL.com for speakers, headphones, gaming products, and other accessories.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Coleman Pressley serves as the eyes in the sky for drivers in all three NASCAR series throughout a race weekend, and he’s going to share all about it. Six years into being on the spotter’s stand, Pressley works with some competitive drivers, but it’s been tougher than usual recently because COVID restrictions have spotters positioned in unfamiliar places. Pressley shares how it’s been to adapt and how he goes about communicating with other spotters. In only his second year working with Brad Keselowski, Pressley also explains how it’s different spotting for a front-running driver versus working with someone mid-pack, if Pressley must change things going from one driver to another, and building chemistry when paired with a new driver. Pressley reveals whether spotters do their own version of homework each week, how spotters can help a younger driver, if he gets worked up on the radio, and if being a former driver helps with his gut instinct of making calls. Plus, if it was hard to give up racing and when Pressley knew he was moving onto something else, all the connections between him, Keselowski, and Joey Logano, how the aero package affects Pressley’s spotting. Pressley offers what fans might not know about the job and the feeling of winning races. Music created by Tony Monge.


Upgrade your personal and professional sound and style with JBL. Visit www.JBL.com for speakers, headphones, gaming products, and other accessories.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Timmy Hill has been a busy guy this season, and he joins the podcast for the first time to talk about all it. Hill routinely runs multiple races a weekend in addition to being an avid iRacing user. Hear all about the MBM Motorsports team, how it operates, and going full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, how not having practice has been a relief, and what constitutes a good weekend. Hill looks back on the attention he received during the pandemic as NASCAR put on televised iRacing events, if anything carried over into the real world, and the many challenges a small team faces racing at the Cup Series level. And he gets honest about what keeps him coming back and going through the good days and the bad days. Hill also discusses the stories and personalities that get looked over, and how bothersome that is on a day when his team overachieves. We also discuss how being a Truck Series team owner makes Hill a better driver, how racing became a part of the Hill family (his dad raced and brother races), his rapid rise into NASCAR, and how he approaches trying to take the next step in his career. Lastly, Hill on whether with all his experience, he feels like he belongs and has respect in the garage. Music created by Tony Monge.


Upgrade your personal and professional sound and style with JBL. Visit www.JBL.com for speakers, headphones, gaming products, and other accessories.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Antron Brown has been home more than ever before, and not only has he stayed busy around the house, he’s learned a lot about his children, and they’ve been able to use this time as a life lesson. Brown joins the podcast to discuss the upcoming NHRA return and how that will look during a pandemic, such as how the schedule will play out and the excitement many have. He also shares about the racing dynamic within the family with Brown’s two sons being drivers, their competitiveness, and how he felt about them getting into drag racing. Team ownership is next on the agenda for Brown, and he breaks down why he is getting into such a venture and what his long-term goal is for doing so. Plus, a preview of getting back to racing, where Brown feels his team stacks up, getting past a gremlin that had been plaguing them, and the surreal numbers he’s achieved in his career. How much can Brown process in 3.7 seconds? We reflect on some of his biggest accidents, bringing in NASCAR talk when it comes to steering, and where Brown feels the NHRA is with its popularity. Music created by Tony Monge.


Upgrade your personal and professional sound and style with JBL. Visit www.JBL.com for speakers, headphones, gaming products, and other accessories.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

We’re going NHRA drag racing this week with J.R. Todd of Kalitta Motorsports, who explains what he’s been in the gym doing to prepare to get back into his DHL Funny Car. For those who aren’t aware, Todd explains how he landed a ride with the legendary Connie Kalitta, and how close he was to turning around and getting a 9-5 job, to how life has changed for him in many ways. In making the switch from Top Fuel to Funny Car, Todd goes over the mental and physical challenges, and figuring it all out for the 2018 championship. What type of a person straps into a Funny Car, and not being intimidated by the engine sitting in front of you? Why driving a Funny Car is a constant battle, and breaking away at the misconception that drag racers are going straight. Todd also explains what he can process in three or four seconds during a run and what feel he’s looking for to have a competitive run, and for a non-contact sport, how rivalries develop. And we look at NHRA returning in July and how Todd views the changing schedule and trying to be successful in a unique season. Music created by Tony Monge.


Upgrade your personal and professional sound and style with JBL. Visit www.JBL.com for speakers, headphones, gaming products, and other accessories.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

AJ Allmendinger was finally starting to come down from the adrenaline and excitement of winning his first oval race when he checked in with the podcast. Allmendinger describes the emotion behind his Atlanta victory, and why it meant so much to win on an oval. Without previously knowing the Kaulig Racing group, Allmendinger explains how he landed a ride with them and the blunt feedback he’s provided to help improve their performance. Plus, how important it is for a driver to be surrounded by positive energy and in a good environment, and Allmendinger rediscovering his love of racing. With his role for NBC Sports, Allmendinger delves into whether he was giving up on racing, if having a full-time ride is over for him, and why he’s liked racing in the Xfinity Series (and why you should like watching). And lastly, where else can we expect to see Allmendinger behind the wheel this year? Music created by Tony Monge.

Upgrade your personal and professional sound and style with JBL. Visit www.JBL.com for speakers, headphones, gaming products, and other accessories.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Regan Smith has made it to his junior year as a NASCAR on Fox pit reporter, and it has been memorable thus far, mainly as he and his teammates cycle into races as the lone pit reporter at the track under the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions. Smith is back on the podcast for an extended interview to discuss the job and how far he’s come since his first year, and the lessons he’s taken from his television teammates. Smith has a unique relationship with each of his teammates, going back to 2011 when he won at Darlington and what happened afterward involving Matt Yocum. We discuss why Smith has never considered himself retired even though TV is his goal and focus, and if he ever admitted that racing was slipping away from him. From there, we get into stories about his substitution role with Leavine Family Racing and why Smith tried to appreciate those races so much, being the first rookie to complete all the races, and of course, how he feels about the 2008 Talladega race that could have been, and the experience of working with Mark Martin. Smith also explains what circumstance is “absolutely miserable” for a driver, and what to do when there is no outlet when feeling like he had finally developed into as good as he could be on track. Smith explains how and when the transition to television started to become more official and how being a broadcaster has changed his relationships in the garage area. Music created by Tony Monge.


Upgrade your personal and professional sound and style with JBL. Visit www.JBL.com for speakers, headphones, gaming products, and other accessories.


Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection visit www.breakingt.com/kelly.

Justin Marks has been adjusting to what has become a ‘new normal’ with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and as he does, he checks in with the podcast to discuss all he has going on. Some of that has to do with looking toward NASCAR’s future and plans that he’d like to see come to fruition. Marks discusses Next Gen and how that car could be attractive for NASCAR ownership, and where his interest in the business side of the things originated. Marks explains why he didn’t focus on racing before getting into different business ventures, and whether it has been easy to close the chapter of his life that included racing in NASCAR. How has GoPro Motorplex developed from the original idea, and what source of pride has it become for Marks as a tool for racers? He also talks on whether anyone has impressed him by using it, and how often he is there to have fun. And we end looking at what endeavors Marks could have coming soon. Music created by Tony Monge.


Upgrade your personal and professional sound and style with JBL. Visit www.JBL.com for speakers, headphones, gaming products, and other accessories.

As president of Kaulig Racing, Chris Rice takes a hands-on approach and is involved in just about everything the small operation has going on. Rice explains his duties and how he landed in the role from his previous position of crew chief. He also discusses if the organization is back on solid ground after a rough last half of 2019 following the death of Nick Harrison and a hauler accident. Rice explains the task of going from one full-time car to two and even throwing a third in the mix, and if he’s been pleased with the pace of Kaulig Racing’s growth. There is also a full checklist that Rice wants to see Kaulig Racing fill out this year. Plus, a unique reason he believes Kaulig is going to be even stronger now that racing is starting up again, some more on his background in racing, and the logistics a team faces with a busy revised schedule. Music created by Tony Monge.

Ryan ‘Rudy’ Fugle is one of the most successful crew chiefs in the Truck Series, mostly working with drivers at Kyle Busch Motorsports. We’re going to get to know Fugle as he breaks down his journey to KBM and the teams he’s worked for along the way. Fugle also digs into the work that he puts in that is a part of the success and explains the approach to preparing trucks for young drivers versus Kyle Busch. Although Fugle has two championships on his resume, we discuss lessons from the ones that got away, who has been the best mentor over the years to help shape Fugle into who he is, and what kind of leadership style he has. What quality does a good crew chief need to have to work with multiple drivers? Fugle gives some insight on how he’ll approach a hectic schedule of racing with the schedule beginning again in Charlotte, and he brags on his young driver, Christian Eckes. Music by Tony Monge.

Just to be clear, Brendan Gaughan is still hanging up the NASCAR helmet after this season. This week, Gaughan clarifies that even though Next Gen was pushed back a year, he will still make his final starts this year and then focus on his family, businesses, and off-road adventures. During the rest of a highly entertaining conversation, Gaughan brags about the Beard Motorsports family he runs the superspeedway races with and reflects on some of the other notable team owners he’s driven for over the years. He tries to explain what made him so good in the Truck Series at Texas, and even shares why he’s never talked much about the 2003 championship finale at Homestead - a race Gaughan doesn’t remember. Even though his only full Cup Series season didn’t go very well, Gaughan explains why he never bad-mouthed anyone, and if there were other opportunities for him through the years. Also, Gaughan on his Xfinity Series success with Richard Childress Racing, the battle over when to retire that included his dad, and the unique relationship of South Point being his sponsor and having to work with dad. And with the end near, is Gaughan satisfied with his time in NASCAR? Music created by Tony Monge.

Steve Letarte and his family have been finding ways to stay occupied during quarantine while waiting for racing to return. The NBC Sports broadcaster dishes on what it's like doing shows remotely and even calling some iRacing events from the comfort of his home. In his sixth season as a broadcaster, Letarte talks about how time has flown by, what he has learned about NASCAR in his new role, as well as everyone in the booth keeping each other accountable. Letarte explains why a broadcaster cannot hide behind the camera and the confidence he has to do the job, how he didn't envy those calling the Daytona 500 with Ryan Newman's horrific crash, and adapting to different booth setups while using the Peacock Pit Box. What was the real reason he started the Letarte on Location podcast? Also, Letarte's thoughts on how the rest of the season will play out from a television perspective. Plus, Letarte on appreciating his crew chief career the further away he gets from it, and what he's intrigued by with the 2020 season. Music created by Tony Monge.

This week ended up going in a different direction with fan-submitted questions from social media. Joined by fellow media members Matt Weaver, Jerry Jordan, Jim Utter, and Chris Knight, we dig into the return of NASCAR on May 17, thoughts on the upcoming schedule and races we may or may not see, and what we expect it all to mean for media coverage. Also, speculation around silly season and Kyle Larson. How we've been passing the time, thoughts on the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series and trying our hand at iRacing, Next Gen being pushed to 2022, and how that could interrupt other areas of competition. Could racing ever be indoors? Discussion on when a new manufacturer could enter NASCAR, how severe the pandemic is for local and regional racetracks, what the Race Team Alliance has been up to, and much more! Music created by Tony Monge.

Michael McDowell joins the show to discuss a little bit of everything from what is becoming a long-tenured NASCAR Cup Series career. To start, McDowell breaks down how the season started for his Front Row Motorsports team, what he felt in Phoenix with the different downforce package, and how he feels about his veteran status in the Cup Series. We also discuss if he’s comfortable with his place in the sport, what has made it easy to settle in and make a home with Front Row, and where he falls when it comes to providing feedback and his opinion to NASCAR. Plus, with so much racing experience, what has been McDowell’s favorite car to drive? His iRacing experience; having a rig built for him; being able to get sponsors exposure through iRacing; and if he’s worried about knocking the rust off when real racing returns. Music created by Tony Monge.

At one time, the Toyota Racing driver development program was one of the sport’s best-kept secrets. But today, it’s a program many young drivers would love to have attached to their name. Jack Irving and Tyler Gibbs, two integral people behind the scenes, are here to tell all. From correcting the misconceptions on how and why the program started to the complex way they go about scouting talent, and what it means when a driver is the program. What does Toyota do for them? Plus, a lot of fun tales from crisscrossing the country, and thoughts on the youngest drivers they’ve had in the program. Gibbs and Irving also share how the program has evolved over the years and why manufacturers should be involved in finding talent to climb the racing ladder. Music created by Tony Monge.

Justin Haley can barely remember what happened in the first four races of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season as the hiatus continues, but he’ll do his best to break down where Kaulig Racing stands. Haley is also going to speak about the development of the company today compared to when he first started; digging into what he and the 11 team need to do better this season; why he and teammate Ross Chastain can’t compare notes, and whether having a full-time teammate now puts more pressure on Haley. From drawing race cars and dreaming about racing when in school, Haley explains getting to where he is without having a last name to carry him. Plus, his fascination with trophy designs, being a reserved Cup Series winner, and if there are any additional Cup Series plans for him, how running both series is a benefit. Thoughts on running the Indianapolis road course and sharing the weekend with IndyCar; how he’s keeping busy during the hiatus, and some helmet talk. Music created by Tony Monge.

Back on the podcast, Todd Gilliland reveals how he's keeping busy during this unexpected racing hiatus and why drivers shouldn't treat this as a vacation. Gilliland also gives an early evaluation of his new Front Row Motorsports team; the swing of emotions going from one organization to another; if 2020 can be a mental reset, and facing the harsh reality of each series being harder and harder. Plus, Gilliland shares memories of being around Front Row when dad David raced for them; where he believes they will be at the end of the year; the DGR-Crosley alliance; thoughts on NASCAR expanding the Truck Series playoff field, and finding a comfort zone in the Truck Series. And Gilliland also shares his feelings on the surge in iRacing during this hiatus. Music created by Tony Monge.

Marty Gaunt has been involved in NASCAR for over 20 years and he’s here to share some stories from his journey around the garage and starting Gaunt Brothers Racing. Like most boys who grow up in Canada, Gaunt took to hockey from an early age before his brother helped him find a love for racing; he explains the chance he took moving to the United States in the late ‘90s; getting his start in NASCAR with Kranefuss-Haas Racing (with drivers like Robby Gordon, John Andretti and Jeremy Mayfield), and learning from Kranefuss and eventually Roger Penske; why he stepped away from the team side for a bit with Triad Racing and Toyota; the unique start to Gaunt Brothers Racing and what stands out a few years into team ownership; if Gaunt's able to tell what the setback was for the team missing the Daytona 500; the patience he has versus Daniel Suarez when it comes to progress; what he hopes is in the future for GBR. Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.


Pledge to drive safe with ClassicCars.com, the National Road Safety Foundation and Front Row Motorsports. Visit teamfrm.com/drivesafe to take the pledge and for a chance to win signed memorabilia from Michael McDowell, John Hunter Nemechek, and Todd Gilliland. One lucky winner will also receive race tickets for the championship race in Phoenix.

Ryan Preece had a rough start to the season but as of the most recent race in Phoenix, his team has some points on the board and it feels good. Preece is here to discuss the No. 37 JTG Daugherty group and how hard it is to be a Cup Series driver. Did you know that he used to have misconceptions about how easy the cars were to drive? Where Preece thinks games have been eliminated in the garage; what his relationship is with new teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and how they can help each other; having to adapt to so many changes in two seasons; what Preece thinks he does well behind the wheel and his belief in JTG to contend for wins and the playoffs. Plus, Preece shares how his wife Heather also being a former racer and the two beginning their relationship while racing against each other; thoughts on the new Camaro body, and what he believes needs to happen in his sophomore season. Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.


Pledge to drive safe with ClassicCars.com, the National Road Safety Foundation and Front Row Motorsports. Visit teamfrm.com/drivesafe to take the pledge and for a chance to win signed memorabilia from Michael McDowell, John Hunter Nemechek, and Todd Gilliland. One lucky winner will also receive race tickets for the championship race in Phoenix.

Danny ‘Chocolate’ Myers is known as NASCAR’s most famous gas man, having been a member of the No. 3 team with Dale Earnhardt. Meaning Chocolate has a lot of stories to tell and plenty of opinions on the sport. We start with an emotional story about coming into possession of his dad’s die-cast race cars; the origin of the ‘Chocolate’ nickname and if he’s ever called by his first name anymore; what personal highlights stand out from his career. Plus, a discussion on the benefits of being a weekly co-host on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio; where he feels the balance is between promoting the sport but being honest with his opinion; getting comfortable in his radio role. Then we shift gears and start walking through the Richard Childress Racing Museum and learn about some of the notable things that can be found there; whether Chocolate likes people still wanting to talk to him about Dale Earnhardt; the thought process behind assembling the museum and information on visiting; stories behind different cars in the museum; a hauler; a connection to 9/11; and how much longer Chocolate plans on being in the sport. Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.



Pledge to drive safe with ClassicCars.com, the National Road Safety Foundation and Front Row Motorsports. Visit teamfrm.com/drivesafe to take the pledge and for a chance to win signed memorabilia from Michael McDowell, John Hunter Nemechek, and Todd Gilliland. One lucky winner will also receive race tickets for the championship race in Phoenix.

Justin Fiedler (@Justin_Fiedler) has been jumping over pit wall for 14 seasons now as a rear tire changer and he’s sharing insight into the job. Fiedler currently works for Richard Petty Motorsports and the No. 43 car driven by Bubba Wallace, but he’s worn many different fire suits over the years. For someone like Fiedler who is not a college athlete who was recruited, how does one become a pit crew member? The story of his first time going over the wall; winning races; if a driver needs to have a close relationship with his team; some of Fiedler’s memorable moments on pit road with rogue fuel cans and finishing the job while on fire; what teams are doing in between pit stops; insight on pit practice and what else crew members are doing to be ready for Sunday. Then a change of topics as Fiedler also has a second job working for World Racing Group (which owns the World of Outlaws) and shares what dirt fans would recognize him for doing; how he splits his week between the office and changing tires. Plus, Fiedler’s thoughts on the changes coming to NASCAR with Next Gen and single lug nuts. Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.


Pledge to drive safe with ClassicCars.com, the National Road Safety Foundation and Front Row Motorsports. Visit teamfrm.com/drivesafe to take the pledge and for a chance to win signed memorabilia from Michael McDowell, John Hunter Nemechek, and Todd Gilliland. One lucky winner will also receive race tickets for the championship race in Phoenix.

We close out our time with Richard Childress Racing with two final interviews featuring another one of the drivers of the No. 21 and its crew chief. Myatt Snider is back on the podcast to discuss his opportunity to run part-time with RCR and how the first few weeks have been. Snider discusses how he likes to approach a controversial situation, like after being upset with Noah Gragson in Las Vegas; what he’ll do to stay up to speed with RCR and RSS Racing (who he’s also driving for) when he’s not competing; Snider’s relationship with teammates Anthony Alfredo and Kaz Grala; if he took away from the Euro Series what he’d hoped and the lessons that will translate; how and why he’s also going to run with RSS Racing; if he feels he needs to win in the RCR car. Then met Andy Street, who is getting his chance to be a NASCAR Xfinity Series crew chief after never imagining he’d get such an opportunity. Street shares some history on his own racing career before getting in the door at RCR; some of his memories from previous roles with the company for Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer’s teams; why he believes more and more teams are turning to engineers to become crew chiefs; what the challenges will be working with multiple drivers; what the makeup of the 21 team will be after most of the guys graduated with Tyler Reddick and Randall Burnett; the interesting dynamic with Street’s wife also working at RCR; and what the expectations for the 21 team should be. Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.


Pledge to drive safe with ClassicCars.com, the National Road Safety Foundation and Front Row Motorsports. Visit teamfrm.com/drivesafe to take the pledge and for a chance to win signed memorabilia from Michael McDowell, John Hunter Nemechek, and Todd Gilliland. One lucky winner will also receive race tickets for the championship race in Phoenix.

Randall Burnett and Tyler Reddick are bringing their success to the NASCAR Cup Series. Or at least the two hope so. This week Burnett joins the show to discuss the changes at Richard Childress Racing and the work of returning to the premier series. But first, Burnett closes the door on the Xfinity Series championship celebration and how the offseason has gone; how different it will be going from the Xfinity Series garage and procedures to the Cup Series; if Burnett hoped he would get the chance to be a Cup crew chief again, and the importance of staying with Reddick; how the decision was made; how much of the Xfinity team also graduated with Reddick and Burnett; his understanding of why the new Camaro will be better; the close nature of Burnett’s team with the 3 team and getting the cars set the same; what he believes it’s going to take to get RCR further forward. A history of Burnett’s career with Chip Ganassi Racing during a Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 triumph; how he ended up at Childress. Do drivers really understand drivers? The goals of the 8 team; why he believes the team and Tyler Reddick will be a success in the Cup Series. Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Deb Williams (@debwilliams72) has been a good friend and mentor for many years now, and she’s also been on the podcast before. But this week she is back to share exciting news about launching her own podcast! Deb shares insight into how “Racing Now and Then” came to be and the debut episode with Brendan Gaughan. But have no fear, Deb talks about her plans for the podcast to be more than just NASCAR as her various motorsports experience will result in wide-ranging interview subjects. Plus, her favorite interview subjects over the years; what Deb hopes the podcast interviews will accomplish; who is on her interview bucket list and other expectations for her new podcast. Music created by Tony Monge.


Find the first episode of “Racing Now and Then” here: https://www.spreaker.com/show/racing-now-and-then


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Adam Alexander might be one of the least known Fox Sports personalities, but he’s been around NASCAR for a long time. With the season starting this weekend, Alexander is hard at work getting back into the swing of things and will be juggling different responsibilities. He has many things he’s looking forward to both from a racing perspective and with the broadcast hat on. Alexander shares what it is like to work with Cup Series drivers in the broadcast booth for Xfinity Series races; if he finds any difficulty in transitioning back and forth between roles; his thoughts on the Fox virtual studio and giant green screen; why he chooses to take on so much at one time and what Alexander does to get away from racing. How did Alexander get to where he is now? We touch on when racing entered his life; his beginnings in broadcasting; working the Indianapolis 500; making a move to North Carolina and choosing NASCAR; what Alexander hasn’t done in the past that he is looking to do better this year. Plus, does he have anything he’d like to do in career before it’s over? Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Anthony Alfredo is still getting used to the reality of being one of the drivers for the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, so he’s going to do his best to explain the opportunity this week. Alfredo shares how he got the ride and the emotions behind knowing it was a done deal; what the benefits will be of starting his Xfinity Series career as a part-time driver; Alfredo’s impression of the Xfinity Series having watched from afar as his debut doesn’t happen until this March; how he feels about using a simulator and his thoughts on NASCAR’s push of iRacing and eSports; what relationship Alfredo has with Myatt Snider, who he is splitting the car with. He also discusses what he took away from a brief stint in the Truck Series last year; shedding insight into how involved Alfredo is in making his deals happen, setting up meetings, and other aspects of trying to get behind the wheel. Plus, how Alfredo got into doing YouTube videos and his emphasis on other social media platforms; why he is choosing to still get a college education; the origins of the ‘Fast Pasta’ nickname; and whether or not he believes he has to win this year. Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Chad Knaus is here this week and the podcast starts with news that Knaus didn’t even realize. The 2020 season is going to be his 20th full year as a crew chief and that has him reflecting a bit, which also helps from the younger group of guys on the 24 team who ask him about previous years. Knaus also explains what has been on the team’s agenda this offseason, including focus on the new Camaro and changing some team personnel around; how Knaus has been challenged in the last year than ever before; digesting how the 2019 season went with William Byron; what went into building a relationship with Byron and the certain way in which Knaus treated him. Plus, what goes into building a successful race team? If Knaus has changed the way he approaches the job; if his mentality has been different on the 24 versus years on the 48; looking ahead to another year with the aero package; thoughts on the 2021 car; sharing what is on the checklist for this season with the 24 team. Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Tanner Gray is a full-time driver in NASCAR this season as he’ll be competing with DGR-Crosley in the Truck Series. Gray is here to discuss the opportunity after getting a taste of stock cars last season having made a move away from a successful NHRA career. What has he been doing to prepare for this season when he doesn’t know what to expect; being a third-generation driver and if trying something else was an option; how long Gray had been thinking of making the change from NHRA to NASCAR even during a championship season; when he first discovered a love for NASCAR. Gray also explains why the adrenaline rushes of NHRA and NASCAR are different; a funny story about reflexes when wondering if they will be better than the competition in NASCAR; looking back on the experience of his first distance race; and what the draw of DGR-Crosley was. How much time with Gray give himself to learn before expecting results? The biggest challenges Gray has ahead of him and his early-season goals. Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Jamie Little (@JamieLittleTV) is here to kick off the 2020 season of The Racing Writer’s Podcast with an exciting conversation around her new show, America’s Top Dog. Little explains how she got involved in the show and what to expect when tuning in every Wednesday night on A&E. An avid animal lover, or obsessive, as he admits, when it comes to dogs, Little also digs into the rescue work she does in her personal time and once again looking forward to the Westminster Dog Show. If dogs and racing weren’t enough, wait until you hear what other ventures Little and her husband Cody have their hands in; her unique fitness routine; how much goes into Little’s work with FOX that leads into when viewers see her on pit road calling the action; how she stays connected to the sport when the FOX portion of the schedule is over; the rush of calling live action on pit road; previewing the 2020 NASCAR season. Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

The final podcast of 2019 called for more than one guest, so here’s four! Jeff Gluck (5:26) of The Athletic, Jim Utter (34:11) of Motorsport.com, Dustin Long (1:29:49) of NBC Sports, and Jenna Fryer (2:20:51) of the Associated Press are here to help me share how we, the media, cover championship weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It’s a jam-packed weekend with three series crowning three champions and various media opportunities throughout. We discuss if Homestead feels different from other race weeks, covering Homestead versus the other 35 races, how we approach a busy weekend, splitting coverage with co-workers, staying in the media center versus chasing stories outside, if we know what we’re going to write, quickly getting content out, separating ourselves from the others, and opining on the three NASCAR champions for this year, as well as leaving Homestead for ISM Raceway in 2020. Music created by Tony Monge.


Editor’s note on Dustin’s story title (Kyle Busch’s ride of a lifetime makes him forget past losses, if only briefly).


Twitter handles: @jim_utter; @jeff_gluck; @dustinlong; @JennaFryer


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

David Wilson is the president of Toyota Racing Development (TRD) and one of the best people to talk to in the NASCAR garage. This week Wilson reflects on a third manufacturer and driver championship in the NASCAR Cup Series; the 19 wins by Joe Gibbs Racing; the humble beginnings of TRD’s entry into NASCAR; thoughts on Kyle Busch being a two-time champion after being on the ‘brink’ with him early on in his tenure with Gibbs/Toyota; Wilson’s duties as TRD president. Also get to know David Wilson away from the track with his legendary airline status; reality TV; collecting watches; car enthusiasm; shoes becoming a part of one’s identity; love of technology; the discovery of coyote fencing; his proud collection of Apple products. Circling back to racing Wilson explains how he got started with TRD; the easiest and hardest decision he’s had to make in the last 30 years; what is left for TRD to do in NASCAR. Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Brad Keselowski had completed another year in the NASCAR Cup Series, his 10th full season, in fact. Keselowski shares some of the highs and lows from the 2019 season for the No. 2 Team Penske group; what the feeling is like for a driver at Homestead-Miami Speedway when they aren’t championship eligible; how Keselowski views just making the Championship 4 versus winning the championship; whether he thought he’d have a second championship by now; the stress of the playoffs; the incentive of playoff points and stage wins; constantly having to adapt as drivers; how the package has changed things for drivers; thoughts on the host Homestead has been for championship weekend; reflecting on 10 full seasons; Keselowski’s offseason agenda. Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

The tradition lives on! This time it's for the last time on the frontstretch at Homestead-Miami Speedway. An unedited recap of championship weekend with Matt Weaver, Jerry Jordan, Aaron Bearden, Jacob Seelman, and Jeff Gluck makes an appearance. Kyle Busch is a two-time Cup Series champion. Tyler Reddick makes it two in the Xfinity Series. Matt Crafton shocks the world in Trucks. Plus, Denny Hamlin's team blows it on the worst weekend while Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. also made mistakes. We break it all down and give our thoughts on the 2019 NASCAR season and leaving Homestead for ISM Raceway next season.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Landon Cassill has never won a NASCAR race or championship, but he’s got a few stories to tell from the many variables the sport has thrown his way. This week Cassill shares insight on StarCom Racing, how he came to be their full-time driver and what makes the organization a good fit for him. Having been in the sport since he was 18 years old, does Cassill feel like a veteran now? He digs into the many experiences he’s had even outside of the car, which includes being involved in race wins and championships; how Cassill wound up in NC with his grandmother and the fun memories involved there; getting his NASCAR start with Rick Hendrick; lost opportunities with Hendrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr.; remembering his first Cup start; if Cassill feels he’s been able to give everything he can for his owners; how hard it is to not get cynical; if he fears irrelevancy; what are some of the highlights from Cassill’s career that he thinks about; what he still wants to accomplish before being done driving. Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

David Gilliland is not as active as a NASCAR driver anymore but he’s still heavily involved in racing a co-owner of DGR-Crosley. Gilliland is going to discuss the improbable playoff run of Tyler Ankrum and making that happen and how impressed he’s been with his young driver. Why start DGR? Gilliland explains how it came to be and how he and Bo LeMastus paired up; who takes care of which responsibilities; milestones and accomplishments they set out to accomplish when starting the team; why Gilliland has a different take on driver development and what he’s trying to do about it. Has team ownership been what he expected? Gilliland explains how much DGR does in-house between its two buildings; what it was like racing against son Todd; if he would ever want Todd to drive for his team; how Gilliland decides the races he puts the helmet back on for; the long-term vision for DGR that includes looking at the state of the Cup Series. Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

A day before its annual fan fest at the Richard Childress Racing campus, Austin Dillon shares some stories from growing up at the facility and the memories at every corner. Dillon is in his sixth full season at the NASCAR Cup Series level and it’s been quite a journey so far, but he desires more. What has been the influence of crew chief Danny Stockman taking over the team? Considering RCR is his family’s organization, Dillon explains how involved he gets with the day-to-day operations versus just focusing on being a driver. Dillon reveals if there are brutally honest conversations at RCR that can put the family aspect aside for the betterment of business; the ‘tactics’ Childress uses on the Dillon family; how much weight Austin feels about the overall success and struggles of RCR; and addressing the critics who use the family card. How Dillon has had to change his mindset and expectations since moving to the Cup Series; whether he feels he adapts well to changes; describing his driving style; the simple things that make Dillon happy; how Dillon spends the offseason turning his brain off from racing. Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Austin Theriault has been associated with big name owners like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Brad Keselowski and he’s also had to scratch and claw for opportunities. His journey makes for quite a tale. To start, Theriault explains why running Cup Series races with Rick Ware Racing has been humbling and what emotions he remembers from making his first start in July; and he breaks down what his prospects were coming into the year and how he ended up in the Cup Series. In looking back, Theriault explains if his 2015 Truck Series accident altered his career path; shares some laughs about his pain and what he remembers doing when released from the hospital; if he ever followed up with NASCAR about safety aspects from his wreck; what he took away from his time with Brad Keselowski and using a spoon-feeding analogy to describe Keselowski’s style; what impact it made driving for Dale Jr. Reflecting on winning the 2017 ARCA championship and what that meant to Theriault. Does he hold out hope he will one day land a good opportunity or believe this is all he’s going to get? Theriault’s plans for the rest of the year and looking at 2020. Music created by Tony Monge.

Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Parker Kligerman is back! As promised Kligerman is back on the podcast and this time it’s a discussion only about racing and the some of the recent news to come from the garage. To start, Kligerman shares some thoughts on the Next Gen race car, including what it means when a driver says it drives like a race car and a common misconception in racing. Plus, whether Kligerman likes the direction NASCAR seems to be taking with the car. How does he go about educating himself on other forms of racing? Thoughts on the F1 documentary on Netflix and the benefit of having something like that in NASCAR; a NASCAR/IndyCar doubleheader; how important does he believe it is that a race car looks like its street counterpart. A shift to talking about silly season, including Christopher Bell and Tyler Reddick going Cup Series race in 2020; expectations for Wood Brothers Racing with Matt DiBenedetto; why he’s torn on the Ricky Stenhouse Jr. news and what can Chris Buescher do for the team; Kligerman’s love of analytics; his personal car collection; how his playoff predictions are coming along; his 2020 prediction for Erik Jones.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Alex Bowman traveled to Kansas City on Wednesday on behalf of Kansas Speedway and he’s going to explain the day that he had helping others. Bowman spent some time at the non-profit organization “Giving the Basics” which provides personal care products for those in need, and it certainly made an impact on the driver. Bowman is also going to look ahead to this weekend’s race at Talladega where he finished second in the spring, explaining what it’s like to be in the draft at a superspeedway race, how a driver knows when something might go wrong, and how Bowman feels as a plate racer. Should we expect anything less than manufacturer alliances? Does this round of 12 suit Bowman given his success at these tracks earlier this year? The surprise of the 1.5-milers being the strength of Hendrick Motorsports; why the numbers have been a bit deceiving since his Chicago win; if momentum is real. Has the 88 team used the car that won Chicago again? And how hard are the playoffs? Music created by Tony Monge.

Jeff Hammond was recently presented the Smokey Yunick Award for his impact on the motorsport’s community, and after hearing this episode you’ll know why. Hammond shares his emotions about receiving the award and shares some fond memories of his interactions with Yunick. From there come more stories and memories from Hammond’s career, starting with how he broke into NASCAR as a tire changer, how he became known as one of the best jackman in the business, working with Cale Yarborough, and then talking his way into a crew chief job. How did Hammond and Darrell Waltrip go from not liking each other to winning championships? Hammond explains if he ever thought he had a grasp on being a crew chief; the question that he often faces about his career; if there was on incident he wished Waltrip had not been involved in or something he had not said; explaining how he was blown away by Kurt Busch back when Busch arrived on the scene and Hammond worked with him. Is there a driver Hammond would have liked to have worked with and something he’d like to have accomplished? Reinventing himself in 2001 when joining Fox Sports; if he ever thought he’d be around the sport this long; what he finds most enjoyable about the sport now; giving his thoughts on the overall state of NASCAR. Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Chase Briscoe has been putting together a championship-contending season, but did he really see that coming? The Stewart-Haas Racing sophomore is the guest this week to dig into many topics about this season and his background. Such as how much his confidence changes after a strong run at a track that he was expecting to be a struggle (Richmond); if it’s disappointing to be putting together such a strong season and only have one win; why he feels like his team has been more competitive with the ‘Big 3’ lately but what they are still searching for. Briscoe has a very interesting racing background that includes his grandfather and father being race car drivers, so he explains how he grew up at racetracks and what went into convincing his parents that he wanted to race; the four-year gap between his first race and the next time Briscoe got behind the wheel; the uphill battle of expenses and equipment during his sprint car career and whether Briscoe felt he had to work harder because of those variables; the reasons why Briscoe felt he knew what to do when he finally got behind the wheel after years of just watching racing. Why make the switch and come to NASCAR? Moving to North Carolina out of high school, competing in a stock car dream challenge, working in the Cunningham shop and getting some ARCA starts and how he landed a full-time championship season. Which drivers have a better adjustment – dirt to asphalt or vice versa? Recalling the first time he got behind the wheel of a stock car; how much Briscoe is still learning and adjusting to stock cars and the Xfinity Series; being bitten by racing too nice and if he’s going to have to change that; trying to get better at the NASCAR lingo to communicate with his team; where he feels his strengths are and what would be a considered successful season for Briscoe when it’s done? Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Rick and Lisa Ware are sharing their story this week of how they make competing in the NASCAR Cup Series work for Rick Ware Racing. Why Rick says they are ahead of schedule when breaking down how the 2019 season has gone; what goes into deciding which drivers get a chance in one of their cars; the integral involvement of Lisa in the company; explaining what works for them in the series and being realistic in what they are doing; discussing charters and the RTA; calling themselves ‘The Biggest Little Team in Motorsports’ and already looking ahead to where RWR will be competing next season. Rick explains how long he has been involved in racing, which goes back further than some might think; plans for their youngest son Carson and why Cody isn’t a full-time RWR driver; a story about selling a stereo to buy some tires; Rick being a former driver himself and why he hopes to maybe get back behind the wheel again; the long-term vision for the company; speaking directly to the listeners, what Rick and Lisa want you to know about RWR. Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Tyler Reddick is not only here but it’s with tacos and beer! Before Reddick digs into his season with Richard Childress Racing and getting ready to chase a second championship, he offers and entertaining play-by-play of his chaotic day and the gender reveal for the first child he and girlfriend Alexa De León are expecting this coming winter. Once the serious conversation starts Reddick talks of whether he believes the reaction to him in the garage has changed being a champion; how his mental approach and attitude has been different this year after having to pull his head “out of my ass” last year. Was Reddick any bit surprised to start off the season so hot since the 2 team hadn’t won last year? How RCR only having one car has been a benefit; whether he feels he’s succeeded in not tearing up as many cars as last year; is this year the most fun Reddick has had in racing? Revealing what his escape from racing is; will he be doing anything different going into this year’s playoffs? What does Reddick expect the difference will be winning a championship versus defending one; digging into the what the weakness of his team is. Plus, going race-by-race with a playoff preview. And is it championship or bust? Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs are about to begin and that means Joey Logano will defend his ’18 championship and look to become the first driver since Jimmie Johnson in 2009-10 to win back-to-back titles. But you might be surprised by just how calm and unrattled the Team Penske driver is about being the reigning and defending champion and his approach to the next 10 weeks. In this bonus episode Logano reveals why he feels more confident this year than he did last; why there is nothing different from winning one championship to trying to win a second; how he would view a second championship; why he believes it’s not about the trophy but what you do with it. Logano reveals what have been the perks of being the Cup champion; if he agrees with crew chief Todd Gordon that the 22 team has the speed but needs to execute; how the rules package could be a variable in the playoffs; where Logano feels he is as a competitor, championship contender, and with his confidence. On a personal level, Logano has recently revealed an autoimmune disorder he is dealing with and why he’s going public with it. Plus, does he believe the gap has closed between the field and the Penske and Gibbs cars, and would not making a return appearance at Homestead be a disappointment? And now that he finally has his championship trophy back, where did Logano put it? Music created by Tony Monge.

Is Parker Kligerman the busiest guy in motorsports? It might be hard to argue that after hearing all about Kligerman’s adventures in this week’s podcast. Kligerman explains how much he travels during the week to do NASCAR broadcasting, TV shows, and meeting with Gaunt Brothers Racing team. But with everyone Kligerman has his hands on, does he feel creativity fulfilled? Kligerman also reveals how he approaches asking drivers questions being that he’s a driver himself and knows what direction to go in; if he’s made peace with how his career and life has played out over the last few years. How long does Kligerman keep doing everything that he is before giving up on driving? Understanding how much his appreciation for racing has changed because Kligerman understands the next time could be the last time. Plus, making his Cup Series championship prediction and how he thinks the Xfinity and Truck Series playoffs will shake out. Music created by: Tony Monge.

Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Jeff Burton is known as the ‘mayor’ because he’s always good for a quote or in-depth conversation. Burton lives up to that moniker today as he discusses NBC Sports again picking up the schedule at an exciting time for the sport; what has felt different this year compared to his first few as a broadcaster; whether broadcasting gets easier with time but how live TV is always going to have its challenges. Burton also reveals how one’s belief of what happened during an incident looks completely different inside versus outside of the race car (stay tuned for a Danica Patrick story!); Burton explains how he handled covering the Xfinity Series race at New Hampshire that featured his son Harrison; learning from Ned Jarrett; separating personal and professional in covering someone Burton may not like; his open-door policy with drivers to talk to him if they don’t like what they are hearing about themselves or the sport; Burton reveals how he’s had driver’s parents reach out to him during races; if being a former competitor has helped Burton in this role and why he says you have to work hard to stay on top of things. Plus, how has this job challenged Burton? The reason he scrolls through social media during the races; what he was most nervous about when deciding to joining NBC; what goes into Burton’s prep work, and does he have anything on his broadcast bucket list? Music created by Tony Monge.

Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Austin Cindric is red hot right now in the Xfinity Series and that includes finally scoring his first career win(s). Cindric is here to talk about getting the monkey off his back and how much, if anything, it has changed and whether the ones that got away stick with him. A funny story of how Johnny O’Connell motivates Cindric in the gym; if the season has gone as expected now that he’s a full-time driver for Team Penske; how mentally and physically different it has been just focusing on one team after spending ’18 jumping between Penske and Roush; expressing how he wanted his first win to be on an oval; how Cindric’s developed a new wave of confidence in what he’s doing; why he could have used another year in the Truck Series; what has been the biggest struggle in his career that has taken time to learn; Cindric explains his professional and personal growth from the last few years; if being a winner solidifies his sense of belonging in the Xfinity Series; looking ahead at the strengths and weaknesses of the 22 team for the playoffs. And is Austin Cindric the fourth championship contender? Music created by Tony Monge.


Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Gray Gaulding understands he was once viewed as young and dumb, donut boy, and that he made some mistakes as he climbed the racing ladder, and he’s not afraid to talk about it! Gaulding opens up about the career year he’s now having with Bobby Dotter and how their relationship started even before Gray had ever turned a single lap on a racetrack; how this year Gaulding has felt he’s had to prove himself even though he believes he can perform in the right opportunity; why he feels comfortable expressing his opinions and emotions even though he’s not in the best stuff; the ways in which Gaulding compares himself to an NFL or NBA player; how he views making or missing the playoffs. Gaulding started off as a motorcycle guy so he explains how the racing bug bit him and how a love for NASCAR started; why mom finally said he needed to get in something with seatbelts; the story of Gaulding connecting with Kevin Harvick, getting a go-kart from him and eventually beating Harvick in a race; how that led to a development deal; why he feels like his standout image has worked against him; owning up to being young and knocking drivers out the way; if he’s felt that his reputation has changed for the better; the ups and downs of being the ambassador for Krispy Kreme; looking into the future of Gaulding’s five year plan. Music: Tony Monge.



Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Daniel Suarez certainly thought making the playoffs with Stewart-Haas Racing would be easier, but he’s in a fight to make the postseason. Suarez reveals how SHR went in a different direction for a few weeks this summer trying things and then had to reverse course; why he’s so confident that his 41 team will make the playoffs and win a race in the new few months; trying to explain why he feels more confident and comfortable at SHR, and the differences with what he felt with Joe Gibbs; did Suarez think trying to win a Cup Series race would be easier? We also dig into the new aero package and how much of an adjustment that has been; the close relationship between Suarez, crew chief Billy Scott and the entire team; interactions between Suarez and team co-owner Tony Stewart; admitting his weakness is being patient; whether Suarez feels he has delivered on what he said coming into the year on proving to people what he can do. Music: Tony Monge.

Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Welcome to the Ty and Riley show! Ty Gibbs and Riley Herbst are good friends and fun personalities, and they show that off on today’s show. We begin on a semi-serious note talking about Gibbs finally breaking through for his first career ARCA Series win back at Gateway and how the Joe Gibbs Racing program has been fast but just needs the finishes to match. But then it turns into a wild ride with talk of running a Formula 1 car on the Eldora dirt (in a video game); how they began friends and how much of their shenanigans they can talk about; being banned at go-kart tracks; if they are competitive with each other; Gibbs offers up some insight about his personality such as likes and dislikes for music and food, why Dash from “The Incredibles” is his social media profile picture; a message from both about staying in school and much more! Music: Tony Monge.

Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Meet Rick Houston and Steve Waid, the gentlemen who have brought back Grand National Scene for Throwback Weekend at Darlington. The two sit down to discuss the project and the beloved publication that is no more as well as their popular podcast, The Scene Vault. How did a commemorative issue come to be? Was it a hard sell to Darlington? Both reveal the emotions behind holding the printed layout of the magazine – for the first in 10 years; the hurdles they needed to overcome; their thoughts on the throwback concept; an update on how the battle is going to restore the newspaper collection. Plus, how The Scene Vault podcast came to be and the important audio that helped get it started; insight into how they book their interviews; how it’s been good for the soul to relive moments of NASCAR history and if they are now able to share more of the story. Is there a bucket list guest for their podcast? The guys also share what is coming on their podcast. Music: Tony Monge.

Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Front Row Motorsports rookie Matt Tifft has found that expectations for competing in the Cup Series are a little bit different from reality. Tifft talks about what his ‘welcome to Cup’ moment was early in the season; the difference in intensity from Xfinity to the Cup Series; if not having a win in the Xfinity Series before moving to Cup bothers him; if Tifft can feel the difference in race lengths from Xfinity to Cup; digging into how a young driver learns and works to improve; the importance of having more data available in the Cup Series; learning the digital dash; what information he likes to use the most; how he feels about the simulator; the benefit of having a veteran crew chief in Mike Kelley and teammates David Ragan and Michael McDowell; how comfortable Tifft is speaking up in competition meetings; what teams FRM looks at that they need to beat every weekend to be successful; how different it has been for Tifft to change his personal expectations; breaking down a competitive, but not flashy, battle for Rookie of the Year. Music: www.bensound.com.

Harrison Burton is ready to “take it” on track in the NASCAR Truck Series and he’s going to tell you what that means. The ROY candidate for Kyle Busch Motorsports assesses what will make his team go from good to great; why he might have to change his methodical driving style; if his first full season is playing out as expected; if he struggles with his confidence and what led Burton to punching some metal stairs recently; his outlook for the playoffs now that Ross Chastain has thrown a wrench into the grid; if he’s a driver who asks questions of veterans around him; does he ever wish his last name wasn’t Burton and he didn’t drive for Kyle Busch? What it was like getting behind the wheel of a Xfinity Series car. Reflecting on the ending of his high school career, being able to focus more on racing, whether he’ll go to college, and it’s like for a driver balancing school work and racing responsibilities; what his ‘racing with #somethingtoprove' means in his Twitter bio; and looking at the next few Truck Series races he’d like to capitalize on before the dirt race at Eldora rolls around. Music: www.bensound.com.

Jamie McMurray is fully immersed in his new role as a member of the NASCAR on FOX team and he’s revealing how the transition has gone from what’s been fun to overwhelming and even the difference in expectations versus reality. What does his preparation look like and how does a day and week progress? McMurray also expresses how he uses his teammates for help on approaching his role; going from being focused on his team and career to discussing the entire sport, storylines, and drivers; how McMurray approaches offering an opinion and analysis; why interviewing drivers is the hardest part of the job and how that has changed his perspective on interviews. Does McMurray miss racing? Will he ever get behind the wheel again in NASCAR or somewhere else? How it has been working in the new FOX studio which is nothing more than a giant green screen; whether or not he analyzes his work; thoughts on how much he feels he knows the sport now versus when he was a driver; if McMurray has any desire to one day be in the race broadcast booth; if there is any reason why it seems McMurray has been more active on social media lately; what he is looking at as the second half of the NASCAR season begins. Music: www.bensound.com.

Jeb Burton is one of a few drivers getting the opportunity in JR Motorsports equipment this season and he’s very grateful for it. On this episode Burton offers early analysis of how things have been going with the 8 team; his belief in being able to win races with this team and how important that would be to him; the emotion of having the opportunity in good equipment; the dark days of wondering if he’d ever get the chance after things went downhill in the Truck Series; how mentally strong a driver has to be to deal with the tough business side of racing like Burton; why he fits in at JR Motorsports; how receptive Burton has been working with the other JRM drivers and teams; how Burton keeps buys when he’s not in the car; if he pushes too hard to succeed knowing he has good equipment; answering where Jeb Burton can get the job done against the best when given good equipment; how he’s already working on 2020 plans; explaining how involved he is in making deals happen and advancing his career; why he’s also running Cup Series races and prospects for the remainder of the year. Music: www.bensound.com.

Myatt Snider has done quite a bit of racing this season but most of it has been overseas, so he’s here to educate us on the NASCAR Euro Series. To start, Snider offers a little insight into why he’s not full-time in the Truck Series after winning Rookie of the Year last season; how he’s trying to learn from watching Johnny Sauter; how many races Snider thinks he’ll run this year. Then we talk how he landed in the Euro Series; his first impressions upon arriving in a new environment; how racing in the United States (being aggressive, etc.) is different than the Euro Series; why Snider ended up on probation after his first race weekend; early expectations Snider has for the season; enjoying traveling the world and taking in new cultures; looking long term to making something happen in one of NASCAR’s top three series; if there’s any crossover from the Euro Series to NASCAR Trucks; trying to stay relevant this year with plenty of seat time, including running late models; an update on his flying adventures and how that helps him with racing. Music: www.bensound.com.

Xfinity Series rookie John Hunter Nemechek joins the show to discuss his transition to GMS Racing and how content he feels after hoping he would be on the racetrack the last few years. Nemechek also discusses how seeing the tough business side of racing has matured him; the very valuable lesson he learned after wrecking his first race car as a youngster; owning up to how he wasn’t doing everything he could to be better as driver last year; how Nemechek’s grown into his own person over the last year with dad Joe now being able to play the role of dad instead of boss; how he’s adjusting to the Xfinity Series schedule versus the spread out Truck Series season; how the increase in spotlight has been; how he’s changed as a driver in the last year; revealing how frustrations with the 42 car last year changed his expectations; the physical transformation he has gone through with working out and the marathons Nemechek is eyeing; explaining how a pineapple became a part of his logo. Music: www.bensound.com.

Erik Jones welcomes us to his “toy shop” where he has some cool things to talk about, including his very first race car and the story behind its paint scheme. Jones also talks about the race cars he has hung onto from his career, including the famous Snowball Derby car and his first Cup Series win car from Daytona that is still covered in confetti. All of this leads to some great stories of Jones climbing the racing ranks. Jones also discusses what he’s learned as he has moved through the NASCAR national series ladder and how he has grown professionally and personally. Also in the space are some Craftsman tools he has that were once his dad’s and Jones admits whether he considers himself a handy man; the story of Jones being able to reclaim one of his father’s cars and how it is tied to his racing career; the love Jones has for classic cars; digging into his active lifestyle away from the racetrack and explaining ice fishing; if he’s getting more comfortable sharing on social media; an update on how Oscar is doing; what Jones would love to put in his storage space one day. Music: www.bensound.com

William Byron wants to share a different side of himself that most don’t get to see. So on this week’s episode after talking about the NASCAR Cup Series for just a little bit (his recent good runs, how important they are, and single-car qualifying), Byron reveals how he’s now living on his own for the first time; why it was a dire situation at first; why there are no racing artifacts in his apartment; why he’s one of many race car drivers who play golf; sharing what his workout regime is and how it translates to being behind the wheel; how his work ethic has changed through the years; an update on how college is going and being able to live a ‘normal’ life; what kind of sports fan Byron is and conversation about the Hornets, Panthers, and Hurricanes. Music: www.bensound.com.

Ryan Sieg and his RSS Racing team are having a fantastic run in the Xfinity Series and Sieg is here to talk about how it’s happened. Sieg begins by admitting whether he expected the type of performances he’s had or if it’s been surprising; the benefit of buying old RCR cars and having veteran Shane Wilson as his crew chief; if Sieg’s attitude has changed any with the uptick in performance; if finishing in the top 10 is now the weekly goal; reflecting on his top five run at Richmond and what that meant to everyone on the team; how it feels to challenge cars from big teams like Joe Gibbs and Team Penske; Sieg explains how much older his equipment was to the competition before buying the RCR cars; how many employees there are at RSS and working on his car at the track; how much Sieg feels he’s grown in his six years in the series and if he’s content there; how gratifying it feels to perform well on all kinds of tracks; whether Sieg has his eyes on a realistic shot at making the playoffs. Music: www.bensound.com.

Garrett Smithley returns to the podcast to talk about how things are going in the Xfinity Series with JD Motorsports. Smithley breaks down the start of his season and describes what a good day or ‘win’ is for his #0 team; whether making the playoffs is a realistic goal; how thin JDM is spread on personnel; whether he ever worries about the team going away; how important it is not to damage or wreck his cars and how much he thinks about that; how it has been to see others like Ross Chastain and Ryan Preece get an opportunity in good equipment; talking to Chastain about his chance with Ganassi and living vicariously though him; the comparison of running Xfinity versus Cup, and his deal with Spire to run the 77 Cup car; the experience of running all three races in one weekend back at Texas and advice Carl Edwards once gave him; what he is looking forward as he turns 27. Music: www.bensound.com.

It’s a full house on this week’s episode! Three ladies from the Toyota Racing Development driver development program are here to talk racing and much more. Maria Cofer is first up to share what she is doing in 2019; how she started her racing career and why it was on dirt; following in dad’s footsteps by finding a love of racing; whether she had to convince her parents to let her race; racing on the weekends but working on the family ranch during the week; aiming for more pavement experience and looking at a NASCAR future; how she became aligned with TRD. You’ll also learn more about Maria though fun questions like her nickname; what her routine is in the morning; being isolated where she lives and not watching much TV; the food she will eat the most; how she describes herself; the TV show she would guest star on; favorite racetrack; where you can find her when she isn’t racing; what she wants fans to know or think about her.

Hailie Deegan makes her return to the podcast to talk about how well things have been going since she was a guest last year. Among the topics of conversation is how special it is to be the K&N West point leader; having things happen and people around to keep her humble; why she has been adamant she must win races and the championship; what goes into working with a driving coach; learning how to diagnose a race car and express that to her team plus earning their trust in knowing what she’s talking about; the joy of media attention and the growth of her social media following; the weirdest things she’s been asked to autograph; what the benefits will be of moving to the east coast; whether she thinks she’s missed out having a typical childhood; what is upcoming on her schedule.

Brittney Zamora talks about moving into the K&N Pro Series West with Bill McAnally after two late model championships; the change in competition; being able to make more contact and be more aggressive; being a second-generation racer; her competitive nature and dad having to step in; growing up racing with family, who also served as her team and crew. Then get to know more about Brittney through tidbits about her nickname; biggest accomplishment; mentors; how she describes herself; the food she eats the most and the music she listens to; what television show she’d guest star on; what she’s likely doing when not racing and how that involves school; what she wants you to think when hearing her name. Music: www.bensound.com.

JR Motorsports driver Michael Annett makes his podcast debut not to talk too much about racing but what he was doing before climbing behind the wheel. In this episode, you’re going to hear Annett reveal what the difference is with his No. 1 team that has led to early success and the type of mindset crew chief Travis Mack has brought to the team, and if the social media haters have quieted down. Then the topic switches to Annett’s former profession, ice hockey. Annett explains his love of the sport and how he got into playing; why he never thought of it as a long-term career; the comparison he makes to the movie ‘Rudy’; stories he can’t tell because hockey players are dirty; a Sidney Crosby story and others who played with Annett that are now in the NHL; being the most penalized player on his team and the offense he was most guilty of — and finishing the episode off with, of course, some wrestling talk. Music: www.bensound.com.

Kaitlyn Vincie is the new Fox Sports pre-race host for the Gander Outdoors Truck Series and she’s here to talk all about it after spending four years on pit road. Vincie reveals her reaction to hearing she was taking over the role, working in front of the green screen and its magic, whether she made a conscious decision to focus so much on the Truck Series and her comfort level with the other two series plus we talk the difference in covering NASCAR and Supercross. We dig into how she caught the racing bug and if she knew what she wanted to do when trying to break into the sport, the amount of work she puts into the ‘Women in Wheels’ feature and how it comes together. Vincie on building a brand and large following and her approach to social media, the positive and negative feedback she encounters, which then goes into a conversation about NASCAR personalities, the advice she gives about breaking into the sport and her experience of putting herself out there. Lastly, the goal Vincie has for her NASCAR career before it’s over, and sharing some news of something she’s working on. Music: www.bensound.com.

Brett Griffin – otherwise known as Spotter Brett – is a veteran atop the roof guiding some of NASCAR’s most recognizable drivers to victory lane or keeping them out of trouble. In this episode Griffin tells stories he has never told before and also dishes on various topics. Griffin talks about what his relationship with Clint Bowyer was before the two started working together; how Elliott Sadler made him a better spotter; explaining his unfiltered personality and comments he makes over the team radio about other drivers; stories of the trouble Griffin has gotten in for things he’s said; whether there are other competitive personalities on the roof and if spotters don’t like each other; Griffin confesses how many times he actually relays messages to and from his driver; the most excited he’s been on the roof as well as the angriest, which led to Griffin being pulled away from another spotter; policies put in place by NASCAR for spotters; Griffin shares how exactly he got into racing and how quickly he knew what he wanted to do; the racing business Griffin has during the week that also ties into Kaulig Racing; how his podcast with TJ Majors started; what is on his bucket list before his career is over. Music: www.bensound.com.

The Chip Ganassi Racing No. 1 team is off to a great start in 2019 and crew chief Matt McCall is here to talk about their success. McCall notes about being “somewhat happy” with the way the season has started; why Kurt Busch has been tiptoeing into his new team and how McCall feels about working with a new driver for the first time in a few years; how the communication works between he and Busch as two guys who know race cars; what has surprised McCall about Busch and what about him that is “off” in the media; why a new driver and new package was what the team needed; the focuses of the team to get better and contend with the leaders; how McCall became a racer himself and his love of late models and short tracks; why he didn’t continue with a driving career and chose to work on cars; the differences in being a team engineer and the crew chief; what needs to happen for 2019 to be deemed a successful season for he and Busch. www.bensound.com.

Justin Allgaier makes his podcast debut to talk all things JR Motorsports and chasing a championship. Allgaier first explains the challenges of NASCAR’s west coast swing on a race team and how they are just trying to survive these three races; Allgaier’s thoughts on his early season speed and how important it is that all four JRM cars are running well; what are the rules of racing a teammate hard? how Allgaier and the other two full-time cars are adjusting to working with multiple drivers in the #8 this season; the most important things Allgaier can tell rookie Noah Gragson and the impressive phone call Gragson made before joining JRM; revealing how Allgaier came to JRM with a bad attitude and things he needed to change; whether he feels the 7 team is getting stronger over time; how long it took for the sting to go away of not advancing to Homestead last year; if winning a NXS title has always been something he considered realistic; how satisfying life has been being relevant in the sport and Allgaier’s early season forecast of how the championship is going to shake out. Music: www.bensound.com.

Truck Series champion Brett Moffitt returns to the podcast to discuss his move to GMS Racing and what he has seen from his new team three races into the season; whether there is a difference going from a Toyota to a Chevrolet; if Moffitt has changed his mindset or pressure being the reigning series champion and wanting top himself; the double-digit number of wins he’s aiming for; insight into working with veteran crew chief Jerry Baxter; whether Moffitt was worried during the offseason he was not going to land something good, although he had options on the table; the humor behind now driving the equipment he beat for the championship last season; stepping up his fitness game working with Josh Wise; having a teammate and what it has been like working with rookie Sheldon Creed; his thoughts on a spread out Truck Series schedule and his plans for the downtime leading to Martinsville. Music: www.bensound.com.

Kaz Grala has a deal with Richard Childress Racing to drive the 21 in a few races this season and he joins the podcast to provide all the details on how that came together; what it means for the 2020 NASCAR season; why he’s intimidated about starting his season at Texas and explaining how long it’s been since he has been on a mile-and-a-half racetrack; the pressure Grala is putting on himself when it comes to what he expects to do in the car; how a young driver approaches getting an opportunity in good equipment; his thoughts on how the Daytona Xfinity race played out and what he would have done; if Grala watches races as a fan or trying to learn, and what he’s looking for; whether Grala feels like his career has stalled out any by not having a full-time ride; some background on his experience with sports cars and what his aspirations are in that discipline; sharing stories on the other sports he tried while growing up; how many races he anticipates having this year with RCR; Grala’s relationship with new teammate Tyler Reddick; what he’s going to be doing to prepare for his first race at Texas. Music: www.bensound.com.

Richard Childress Racing rookie Daniel Hemric is the guest today for a wide-ranging conversation. In this episode Hemric closes the book on what it meant to be in the Daytona 500 and his genuine emotion of being a NASCAR Cup Series driver; working through the communication issues with his new team; how the team bonded throughout the offseason; why he compares the new Cup Series rules package to the Truck Series; staying open-minded about the rules package; selling to RCR fans why the company is headed in the right direction; digging into his relationship with owner Richard Childress; whether his routine has changed now that he’s a Cup Series driver; if he’s bothered having not won in Truck and Xfinity before moving to Cup; if the backflip will happen when he starts winning races. Music: www.bensound.com.

Sam Bass, the first officially licensed artist for NASCAR, passed away on Feb. 16. Sam was a friend to many, including me, and just an all-around wonderful person. His artwork is legendary and his personality infectious. On this episode I remember Sam with some others who knew him well, including Deb Williams, Dave Moody, Ryan McGee, Matt Weaver, plus a clip from Dale Earnhardt Jr. Then, my own personal sendoff to Sam.

Ahead of a new Truck Series season the defending series champion crew chief from Hattori Racing and his new driver are here to discuss their pairing and more. Scott Zipadelli shares insight into how the offseason has gone for the 16 team as they waited for the seat to be filled by a new driver; whether the team has had any turnover in personnel after winning the championship; first impressions of Austin Hill, who takes a turn to explain how he landed at HRE as well as his racing background for those unfamiliar; what the social media support has meant to him; Zipadelli breaks down the expectations for his team this season; how far HRE has come since he joined in 2017 and the put work in to get to where they are now; why his team has something to prove and clearing the air on Brett Moffitt leaving; and then how he views the Truck Series and its competition; Hill explains the difference going from a car to a truck and offers a lesson on a driver learning aero and drafting in the trucks; where he thinks his strengths will be this season; and whether he can win in 2019.

After that, Max McLaughlin joins the podcast to share how his deal to run K&N came to be with Hattori; digs into his dirt background and extensive success; why he wants to make the transition from dirt to asphalt; why he didn’t run more Truck Series races with Niece Motorsports in 2018 after making his debut at Eldora; learning from dad Mike, who has competed on dirt and in NASCAR; what he anticipates doing as he works in the Hattori shop on a weekly basis and expectations for the season. Music: www.bensound.com.

Deb Williams makes a return to the podcast for a discussion on the 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class. Not only has Deb covered all five individuals (Jeff Gordon, Roger Penske, Jack Roush, Davey Allison, and Alan Kulwicki) but she also spent a few years working for one! Ahead of this Friday’s induction ceremony (which you can watch on NBCSN at 8 p.m. ET), we dig into all five members of the new class with stories and thoughts on each. From Allison and Kulwicki fittingly going in together, Gordon being the headliner who has seemingly done everything, to great memories working for Penske and the always outspoken Roush. Music: www.bensound.com.

Andrew Kurland might be one of the youngest media members in NASCAR, but you’d never know it by how he handles himself. In this episode Andrew describes what he does for NASCAR Acceleration Nation; the unconventional way he started interviewing drivers in the garage; the commitment he receives from NASCAR to make races; the importance of working alongside his dad and how dedicated his father is to make things work for Andrew; the challenges he’s encountered working in the sport; how far he’s come feeling comfortable in the garage area; drivers he enjoys covering and one who is on his bucket list; background on how he got into the sport and making the transition from fan to journalist and learning objectivity; why he started his own podcast; looking ahead to college and balancing wanting to be at the racetrack; his highlights from the ’18 season. Music: www.bensound.com.

Chris Buescher says he’s starting to feel like a veteran and after his third full Cup season he evaluates what went right and what went wrong; explains how much work JTG has begun to do in-house; the benefit of having an alliance with Hendrick Motorsports; what success is with the 37 team; the fight for consistency; his mixed emotions on the new rules package; dealing with respect on the track and how he’s raced differently further up the leaderboard; how he feels he’s adapted to the Cup Series; whether being out of the spotlight has been nice after his Xfinity title and unexpected Pocono win; the stability of staying with the same team for multiple years; welcoming Ryan Preece to the company and working with the younger driver; expectations for the 2019 season. Music: www.bensound.com.

Fresh off the announcement that Corey LaJoie is taking over the No. 32 at Go Fas Racing he joins the podcast to talk all about it! Corey is going to explain what made Go Fas appealing and why he compares his career to playing a NASCAR video game; where his belief in crew chief Randy Cox comes from; the business of bringing sponsorship; running a full season and being the first LaJoie to do so in the Cup Series; whether he understood why his father, two-time Busch champion Randy LaJoie, was raising him a certain way and if he looks back with respect for dad; the story of why he never started where he qualified until the K&N Series; looking back on mistakes and missed opportunities; why he needs to thank Ron Devine; why he believes he belongs in the garage; explaining how he makes deals happen; what Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus tried to help him with; who he goes to in the garage for advice; what needs to happen for him to categorize 2019 as a success. Music: www.bensound.com.

It’s two for the price of one! Shortly after unveiling the 2019 Nationwide paint scheme Alex Bowman and Dale Earnhardt Jr. joined the podcast for a fun few minutes. Bowman explains the design behind his paint scheme before Dale Jr. offers his judgement and then admits whether he judges other driver’s paint schemes; the two break off into a banter about racing each other after Alex feels slighted Dale didn’t compete in the go-kart event; Alex reflects on his first season as a Cup Series playoff driver and what he’ll be doing to get ready for the ’19 season; Dale Jr. reveals whether he still looks at the 88 car as his car; Dale talks about whether his bias was ever questioned during his first season in the broadcast booth and why it’s hard to talk objectively about drivers you don’t like; what Dale will be doing to get ready for his second year; Dale on being the interviewer with Alex and then Alex on being interviewed by Dale! www.bensound.com

It’s part 2 of our conversation with the now-retired Elliott Sadler! Picking up the conversation the topic turns to Sadler’s career in the Xfinity Series, which he returned to full-time in 2011 and where he ended his career. In this episode you are going to hear his earliest Xfinity Series memories and the tryouts he had to get a job; how his mindset was different when he returned to the series full-time in 2011; proving himself and “restarting” in the series; battling Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for the title for two straight years; when Sadler realized he would never drive a Cup Series car again; how Xfinity competition is different than Cup competition; the devastation of the inaugural race at Indianapolis and what happened in the NASCAR hauler; if he ever thought a championship had to happen for him; driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr.; why he never did more in the Truck Series; the best Xfinity race he ever ran; favorite rivalry or competitor; why he’s not worried about how he’ll feel in the immediate weeks after Homestead; what he plans on telling his kids when they are older about his time in NASCAR. Music: www.bensound.com.

After 23 years in NASCAR, Elliott Sadler has hung up the helmet to spend more time with his family. Before the seaosn ended though, Elliott spent time reflecting on what had been a full career. In the first part of our conversation you’re going to hear about the adventure of his very first go-kart and stock car races; why he didn’t believe it was actually Eddie Wood on the phone calling him about a Cup ride; recalling in vivid details his first career win at Bristol; the first time he flipped at Talladega and what happened in the infield care center; why 2004 was his career-year in the Cup Series; why his Pocono wreck was worse than he thought it would be; the Daytona 500 that go away; how putting races behind him has changed over the years; how he wound up in a Kevin Harvick truck, which changed his career; highlights of his Cup career and the circus of the 19 team; the genius of Robert Yates and meetings at the Golden Corral; the best race he ever ran in the Cup Series. Music: www.bensound.com.

Perhaps you’ve heard of Will Rodgers, the young driver praised by Kevin Harvick after the two competed against one another in a K&N West race. If you haven’t, here is your chance to learn more about Will as he works his way up the NASCAR ladder. In this episode you’ll hear where he’s from and grew up; the love for racing in Hawaii; whether it’s hard not racing every weekend as a younger driver; working for veteran Ken Schrader; the differences in K&N and ARCA; learning the “air” on bigger racetracks; getting the Kevin Harvick bump in attention; where his reputation as a road course ace came from; explaining a driver mindset and knowing where they need to be on the track; answering why he wants to be in stock cars and NASCAR; sharing insight into his birth name and normal morning routine; his hobbies away from racing; a food story involving Italy; the vehicle he’d drive away in if he had unlimited funds; what the name Will Rodgers should mean to fans. Music: www.bensound.com.

RAW AND UNEDITED it's reaction straight from the frontstretch of Homestead-Miami Speedway following the conclusion of the 2018 NASCAR season. Joey Logano is the new Cup Series champion after taking down the Big 3. The Truck and Xfinity Series also has new champions. Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus are done, as is Furniture Row Racing. Matt Weaver is here to help break it all down, plus cameos from Caleb Whisler and even NASCAR's stat guru, Mike Forde! Music: www.bensound.com.

Danny Stockman is the crew chief of the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing team but has spent a lot of time working to get to this position. In this podcast you are going to hear how a week shakes out for a crew chief from one race to another; whether he knew of Daniel Hemric before working with him; praise for Hemric’s racing intelligence and how involved he is with the team; the difference in performance from 2017-18; Stockman’s racing background and connection to Brendan Gaughan; his history with Gaughan as well as champion Ron Hornaday; giving up driving to work on cars; the milestone Stockman set of when he wanted to reach crew chief status; spending his teenage years studying racing books and being distracted in school; settling into the Xfinity Series now for a number of years; working with the Dillon boys versus other drivers; preaching mental toughness to his team; his leadership style and how he has grown over the years; what other accomplishments he has on his list in NASCAR. Music: www.bensound.com.

ARCA Racing Series champion Sheldon Creed might be new to the NASCAR world but he has one heck of a racing background. In this episode Sheldon is going to reflect on his ARCA championship and whether he saw that coming; why the time wasright to make the transition to the Truck Series with GMS Racing; what his goals are for his four races; what goes into winning a Gold Medal at the X Games; getting to race against Robby Gordon; the transition from off­road and Stadium Trucks to pavement; why he didn’t like stock cars at first; where his initial interest in racing came from and starting at 3 years old; a run­through of his racing career to this point; why he believes experiencing an off­road race is more fun than a NASCAR race; his hope for Stadium Trucks to get more recognition and looked atfor driver talent; praising Hailie Deegan; the origin of his ‘Showstopper’ nickname; the first thing he does in the morning; what his during the week job is; his love of action sports; our mutual love of Mexican food; disagreeing over pizza toppings; what his end goal is for his racing career. Music: www.bensound.com.

Joe Gibbs Racing rookie and Xfinity Series title favorite Christopher Bell is the guest this week to share his approach to racing. In this episode you’ll hear how the assessment of Bell’s rookie season has changed from midseason to now; whether he is hard on himself; managing the highs and lows of NASCAR through a week; adjusting to the nearly year-long NASCAR schedule; how running dirt races helps with his NASCAR mindset; what the rules are for Christopher to be able to run dirt races; whether he envisions having to one day cut back on dirt racing; if he focuses on achievements and milestones; digging into his shy personality and how he doesn’t like to watch interviews or races of himself; if he feels comfortable in front of cameras and doing interviews; getting comfortable offering his opinion and speaking up; explaining the fun of JGR with the PB&J videos and activities with teammates Ryan Preece and Brandon Jones. Music: http://www.bensound.com

Ryan McGee, of ESPN fame, has co-authored a new book with NASCAR’s most popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., which is set to be released this week. In this podcast McGee is going to talk about how he became involved in the project; the meat of the book and what is in there that we don’t know; the breadcrumb trail Dale Jr. was already keeping years before retiring; how the process of putting this book together worked; what Ryan thought he was getting into when agreeing to the project; whether Dale Jr. needed to write this book; why Dale Jr. fans should read this book for closure; the challenge of writing in someone else’s voice; what readers should take away when done reading; and what Ryan took away from working on the book. Music: www.bensound.com

In the latest “Get to Know” episode it’s Camping World Truck Series driver Stewart Friesen. Friesen is going to explain racing all around New York while also playing hockey when he was younger, which eventually led to a decision. Friesen goes back to how he got into racing by working at the racetrack his grandfather owned, painting walls and cutting grass. You will also hear him talk about life as a husband and father, the business Friesen runs with his wife Jessica, and his Thursday Jersday television fun. Plus, why he calls himself a weirdo. Music: http://www.bensound.com

New NASCAR winner Hailie Deegan makes her debut on the podcast first to relive her K&N West victory over the weekend at Meridian Speedway and then shed insight into who she is. Deegan is going to explain why she had already thought about the move she would make if she found herself in second position again, and the priceless reaction Mom had filmed on Instagram. From there Deegan digs into her childhood and growing up following what famous father Brian Deegan did, wanting to be at the track and how she got her start in racing. Deegan also gives insight into her full birth name, nickname, favorite food, and funny morning routine. Plus, how would she describe her personality and what does she want people to think when hearing her name? Music: www.bensound.com

Another bonus episode is perfect when it’s post-ROVAL and Jeff Gluck along with photographer Chris Owens can help discuss the highlights of this inaugural and unique race from Charlotte Motor Speedway. Hear about how the last lap unfolded on the track and behind the scenes for those trying to sort things out and figure out what happened. A breakdown of whether Jimmie Johnson made the right move on Martin Truex Jr. How about that 15-car crash in Turn 1? Also, the three drivers who tied for the final spot with Kyle Larson having an eventful last lap. Music: www.bensound.com

It had been over a year since Regan Smith last sat in a Cup Series car when he got the call from Leavine Family Racing to fill in for Kasey Kahne at Indianapolis. Now Smith is amid a four-race run with the 95 team and is here to talk about the adjustment period for a driver getting back behind the wheel. Also hear him explain the feeling of being a race car driver again, if he ever questions why teams pick him to be their substitute driver, whether he considers himself retired, and the period when it felt like he was just getting started. Then before Smith goes and climbs into the car, he opens up about working in television and getting comfortable behind the camera. Music: www.bensound.com

BONUS EPISODE with the fantastic Robin Miller of Racer.com, RACER Magazine, and the NBCSN IndyCar broadcasts. Following a Mobil 1 special event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum where Robin, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett shared unbelievable stories from the Brickyard, it was time to chat with Robin about things happening in NASCAR, like Kyle Busch’s personality and Furniture Row Racing shutting down and whether stock cars should even be at Indy. Then we jump into some IndyCar Series talk as they get ready to crown a champion next weekend at Sonoma. Is the title locked up for Scott Dixon? Who is Alexander Rossi? Then we chat about the success of the Dirt Track at Indy, which Robin has been covering since the historic announcement. Music: www.bensound.com

Kelley Earnhardt Miller has her hands full as co-owner, vice president and business manager at JR Motorsport and in today’s episode we learn how crazy a weekly schedule can be for her. Kelley is also going to explain the many other business ventures JRM is involved in beside putting four race cars on the track each weekend, her thoughts on recent milestones the company has reached, and the involvement of Rick Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports, which also ties into the Earnhardt family. Plus, looking back on how JRM came to be and why it happened the year that it did, she offers insight on the current roster of drivers and then laments on working with Elliott Sadler and his time at JRM as he gets set to retire. Music: http://www.bensound.com

Tommy Joe Martins went from running his own Camping World Truck Series team to competing part-time in the Xfinity Series for BJ McLeod. How did it happen? Martins is here to explain the finances of trying to run a Truck Series team and when the decision had to be made that it couldn’t be done anymore. Also, in this episode Martins digs into being on the backside of the NASCAR garage and how success is defined, what Brian France once said about teams like his that bothered Martins, what he feels his reputation is within the sport, his knowledge and passion for racing that make him so outspoken and plenty, plenty more. Plus, the question I have always wanted to ask a driver in the same position as Martins! Music: http://www.bensound.com

It's another "get to know" themed episode with Riley Herbst, the 19-year-old full-time ARCA Racing Series driver for Joe Gibbs Racing. Herbst explains the 'Terrible Herbst' family nickname, what he likes to do off the racetrack that also helps him behind the wheel, what food he absolutely cannot eat, and his musical tastes. Before we end the episode, Herbst quickly runs through his climb up the racing ladder now into ARCA and NASCAR and what he would like people to think when they hear his name. Music: www.bensound.com

Cole Custer is on pace to crush all his career-high numbers in the Xfinity Series this season as the Stewart-Haas Racing driver marches onward in his sophomore year. Custer is the guest this week to discuss his development in the series, what he’s learned along the way and working with veteran and champion Kevin Harvick. He is also going to share insight into how the racing is different from being in the Camping World Truck Series, what it was like getting into a Cup Series car, and his outlook for the impending Xfinity Series playoffs. Music: www.bensound.com

In a different kind of interview on the podcast we “get to know” Xfinity Series driver Garrett Smithley. As the JD Motorsports driver explains, he doesn’t come from money and has worked to not only be able to climb into a race car but get the sponsorship to do so. In this podcast, Smithley explains how involved he is with taking care of the business side of his career, his family background and what he was like growing up. Smithley also talks school, his music and food preferences, plus his affinity for specific television shows. Then, why did he bring up the NASCAR Hall of Fame?

Ben Kennedy says he could have kept racing this season, but he chose to jump over into the other side of the family business. In this week’s episode, you’ll hear Kennedy talk about why the time was right to do so and what he’s learning in his new role as general manager of the Camping World Truck Series. Kennedy also explains his responsibilities on a weekly and weekend basis, whether he has plans to keep moving up the family ladder, and what his long-term vision is for the sport. Music: www.bensound.com

Kasey Kahne has been flying under the radar this …

Davey Allison lost his life 25 years ago today in a helicopter crash at Talladega Superspeedway. At just 32, Allison left behind a wife and two kids, and a career that was a long way from being complete. Liz Allison, Davey's widow, joins the show to share memories of their time together and shed light on who Davey was. Liz is going to recall the first time she and Davey met, what Davey was like as a husband and father, his goofy personality but competitive nature, and what winning was like for him. Liz is also going to lament on whether Davey knew how good he really was and what he envisioned his future looking like. Also, Liz shares what she is doing these days and how fans can up with her and still remember Davey.

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