Michael’s Motor Alley

Ken Avann, President of the Canadian Snowcross Racing Association (CSRA), invites Michael on an exciting journey through the evolution of snowcross racing. From his early introduction to motorsports at 16 to steering the CSRA through three+ decades of growth, Avann unveils the sport's remarkable achievements including its new partnership with Pennzoil as the official oil of the 2024 CSRA Canadian Snowcross Racing Championships.

James Deane, Formula Drift legend from Team RTR, charts his 17-year journey in drift car racing with Michael today. From taking the wheel at 14, clinching victories in European circuits, to dominating in the 2023 Formula Drift season, James reveals all. Ready to hear Team RTR's vision for FD 2024? Hit play now.

We're kicking it into high gear today with Rhys Millen - drift, rally, and stunt driving legend. Rhys takes us on a ride through his extraordinary career including his passion-fueled family legacy and becoming one of the most sought-after performance stunt drivers. Buckle up – you won't want to miss this!

Jonny Grunwald, auto enthusiast icon, returns to Michael's Motor Alley for round three! Dive deep into the massive projects from this year, including his experience from Pikes Peak alongside Rhys Millen, and his secret rotary-powered RX7 build for the 2023 SEMA Show. Plus, they unravel the myths surrounding rotary engines, explain the transformative power of Pennzoil synthetics, and the beauty of the unique Pennzoil family. Fasten your seatbelts, car enthusiasts; it's a journey you won't want to miss.   Don't forget to follow @Jonny.Grunwald to keep up with his latest projects.   We always suggest checking your owner's manual for the recommended motor oil for your vehicle. In general, conventional motor oil is recommended for rotary engines. For information on your specific vehicle and its motor oil requirements, check out the Oil Selector at Pennzoil.com: https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/oil-selector.html#iframe=L2VuX3VzL29pbC1zZWxlY3Rvci9famNyX2NvbnRlbnQvcGFyL2lmcmFtZWRhcHAuc3RhdGljL2lmcmFtZS0xNjEyMTkuaHRtbCMvdXMvZW4tdXM 

Dive into the world of performance modification with Ashleigh, a member of the Shell Lubricants marketing team whose passion from a young age drove her to the auto industry. Discover how her learning journey—from high school lift-kit projects to intricate camshaft installations—informs her customer-centric marketing strategy. 

On today's episode, Michael sits down with Justin Doerris, an educational manager at Universal Technical Institute, and his former student, David Choe of @choe_fdm. Together, they discuss the automotive programs at UTI, the transition from being a student to becoming an influencer, and more. Plus, learn about how Pennzoil products power the next mile at UTI in and out of the classroom. Tune in today!

On today's episode, Michael sits down with NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney to talk about all the parts of racing you don't see on screen. Learn more about the extreme temperatures that Ryan's No. 12 car experiences, his pre-race diet, and his favorite types of tracks. Plus, hear details about how to save on your next Pennzoil Ultra Platinum purchase, newly available on shelf at Advance Auto Parts, and find a store near you at Pennzoil.com or Pennzoil.ca. Don't miss this conversation, recorded LIVE from the 2023 Pennzoil 400.

Get ready to kick your racing skills into high gear! On today's episode, Radford Racing School's expert instructor, Dominic Starkweather, brings Michael behind the scenes of the world-class racing school. Tune in for a deep dive into the benefits of attending a professional racing school, his journey as a professional racer, and how his passion for racing motivated him to teach others. Brace yourself for a high-octane episode that you won't want to miss!

Today's guest, Nikki Moorehead, is an experienced Jeep off-roader with a passion for adventure. She sits down with Michael to dive into how her off-roading hobby led her to be featured in the Long May We Drive commercial. You won't want to miss conversations about diversity and relationships in the off-roading community, and Nikki's modifications and maintenance for her Jeep Wrangler.

Today's guest is Torsten Gross, one of the stars of Pennzoil's new campaign, Long May We Drive. After getting his first taste of track driving in 2021 with hand-controls, he quickly developed a need for speed! As a C6 quadriplegic, he has made it his mission to get more people who need hand-controls behind wheel of performance vehicles. In 2022, he founded the Just Hands Foundation to do just that. Listen to his interview to hear more about his story, his foundation, and the Long May We Drive campaign.

Michael sits down with Aamir Dassat, an automotive content creator, who's passionate about educating and entertaining his audience of over one million social media followers. In this episode, Aamir discusses how he combines his background in mechanical engineering with his passion for pursuing automotive content creation. You won't want to miss hearing Aamir's take on trends in the industry, how he first became interested in cars, and all about his current car collection lineup, including a hint at a surprise new addition! Find Aamir on Instagram and TikTok at @sixspeed.official to keep up with the latest tips and tricks for your vehicle.

Alex Taylor has many titles; co-host of Hot Rod Garage on MotorTrend TV, top drag racer, YouTube influencer, and latest guest on Michael's Motor Alley! She joins Michael once again from Pennzoil's “Dare to Perform” booth at the SEMA Show to talk about her start with Hot Rod Garage and how she balances her busy schedule. Plus, you won't want to miss the story behind one crazy build for Roadkill Nights. Listen today!

Are you a busy parent looking to take better care of your vehicle? You won't want to miss this conversation! Michael answers questions from Tyra, a busy Texas mom, about motor oil change intervals, reading a dipstick, and other important vehicle maintenance topics!

Thinking about overriding your OEM motor oil recommendations? Think again! Michael sits down with Jeff Harmening at the American Petroleum Institute (API) to discuss the latest on motor oil specifications. They cover everything from the difference between API and ILSAC specifications, to what happens when an engine is filled with the wrong viscosity, and more!

Michael is joined by Adam Koester of the legendary Koester family for a fun conversation where the two discuss classic cars, Adam's first car, his family's tractor pulling legacy and much more!

Flip the top down, put on your shades, and hold on to your hats! You're joining Michael as he breaks down the top convertibles on the market, and how to enjoy them in upcoming cooler weather.  

From playing with Hot Wheels as a kid to having 3.5 million YouTube followers, Adam LZ has always lived and breathed cars. Today, Michael sits down with the formula drifter to discuss their first cars, the Formula Drift season, and the drivers that inspired him to get into the sport.

On today's episode, Michael heads up North to talk all things Canada with automotive journalist, Peter Bulmer! As a resident of and industry expert in Canada, Peter Bulmer gives his input on the country's transition to EVs, the truck driver shortage, and adoption of synthetic motor oils.  

Today, Michael talks to his colleague from Marketing, Andrea, who's an Italy native and auto enthusiast. They get into Andrea's background growing up in the Italian automotive scene, his racing passion and more! 

The heat is ON in today's episode, as Michael gives his quick advice on taking care of your vehicle during the toasty days of the summer, including some tips, tricks and what to stay away from.

Michael is heading back to school in today's episode with Pennzoil sponsored collegiate athletes Maggie MacNeil, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Charlotte North as they chat about their personal road to success and goals for the future. In March, Pennzoil announced its first ever name, image and likeness (NIL) deal, inking sponsorships with the best of the best. Maggie is an Olympic Gold Medalist who recently announced she would be continuing her collegiate career at Louisiana State University; Trayce is heading into his senior year as a forward for the Indiana University Men's Basketball Team and is a draft prospect; and Charlotte is a two-time Tewaaraton award winner and national champion for the Boston College Women's Lacrosse Team who is now bringing her success the U.S. Women's National Team. These three not only prosper in their respective sports but also know their way around a vehicle! Check out all three athletes on social media to follow their next steps.  Maggie MacNeil: Instagram Trayce Jackson-Davis: Instagram Charlotte North: Instagram

Live from Branson, Missouri - Michael is swapping a racecar for a big rig at the 40th Annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs! Tune in to hear all the action, including conversations with Shelby from Happiness by the Mile, Natalie Ortiz from Diesel World Magazine and more.

Today, Michael sits down with Daniel Mac, the world's largest automotive content creator on Tiktok, with a combined 18 million followers across all of his platforms. He is most known for asking supercar owners and celebrities the iconic phrase "What do you do for a living?" Featuring individuals like: Paris Hilton, Jason Derulo, Jay Leno, Helen Mirren, Tom Brady, and more in his short form videos! Michael and Daniel get to discussing Daniel's start, his inspirations and his upcoming Europe and Dubai car tour.    Check out Daniel Mac on Instagram and TikTok to follow his adventures! 

Jonny Grunwald, Motorsports Creator and Automotive Special Projects Build Manager, returns to the podcast for another insightful conversation with Michael. Today they discuss Jonny's upcoming automotive plans, how the closing of race tracks is affecting the automotive community, and more. Don't forget to follow Jonny on social media @Jonny.Grunwald to check out what he's up to! 

Today's episode takes us back to #FlashbackFriday with Michael talking with Derek Bieri, from YouTube's famous 1 million+ subscriber Vice Grip Garage channel, at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show (PRI) in December 2021. Derek talks about how he started Vice Grip Garage from his passion to save classic automobiles and muscle cars, how important it is to use high-zinc Rotella T line motor oil in his classic cars, and Michael and Derek's experience working in the automotive industry.    Don't forget to check out Derek and Vice Grip Garage on YouTube! 

Kelly Telfer is an award-winning automotive artist and has specialized in motorsports art for decades. After creating the art for his own racing team, Telfer Bros. Racing, Kelly started and ran an apparel business in the 80's and 90's. He also created apparel for many of the top racetracks, race teams and manufacturers, including the Indianapolis 500, F1, NASCAR, Chevrolet, Ford, Dale Earnhardt, Mario Andretti, and many more. His art is on permanent exhibit at The Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed, in Lincoln, NE, and his art is available at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, CA, and the LeMay America's Car Museum in Tacoma, WA. Kelly's works have also been featured in art galleries, magazines and in corporate and private art collections around the world.    Check out his original art, fine art prints and more: www.kellytelfer.com To contact Kelly, please email: kelly@telferdesign.com 

Today, Michael sits down with Jennifer Maher, who serves as CEO/Executive Director of TechForce Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity. TechForce's mission is to champion all students to and through their education and into careers as professional vehicle technicians. Also, in 2019, Jennifer was named "Woman of the Year" by the Auto Care Association's Women in Auto Care division. In this episode, Michael and Jennifer discuss TechForce's mission, the ongoing technician shortage, and how joining TechForce's free technician social network community can give technicians the resources they need to be in the industry.    Check out www.techforce.org to learn more and to join TechForce's free technician social network community, go to www.jointechforce.org!

Fireball Tim Lawrence is a Hollywood Automotive Concept Artist responsible for over 400 vehicle designs of some of the most famous Hollywood Movie Cars including Batman, Avengers, Priest, and more! His 1989 Batmobile is currently at the Petersen Museum in Hollywood. Also, Fireball currently has one of the coolest automotive coloring book series with featured automotive talents and vehicle sketches from across the globe! In today's episode, Michael and Fireball discuss how Fireball got his name, his automotive designs and work in several different movies, and how a shared passion for automotive vehicles brings people together. 

Today's episode welcomes Frank Leutz, an award-winning national car care expert, automotive industry consultant, analyst and enthusiast. Frank is the founder of Desert Car Care, full automotive service shops in Arizona, and is the host of the radio lifestyle car talk show, Wrench Nation, on 88.7 FM The Pulse, local to Phoenix, Arizona. Michael and Frank discuss a variety of topics including the importance of automotive education and skilled labor in society.    Check out Michael on Wrench Nation Radio Show  For more info, check out Wrench Nation and Frank's Online Automotive Training 

Hold on to your seats, folks! We have the very FIRST Michael's Motor Alley podcast, LIVE from the Pennzoil 400 in Las Vegas, as Michael hosts a round-robin of five exciting special guests!   Follow today's guests on social media to keep up with their adventures and which awesome vehicles they're driving:   Hennessey Performance: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube  Chelsea DeNofa, RTR Vehicles: Instagram  Expedition Overland: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube  Mitchell Stapleton: YouTube, Instagram, TikTok  Brian Jannusch: Instagram 

Get those engines going today! Michael chats with Madison Conrad, a Universal Technical Institute graduate, who is a Powertrain Reliability Specialist at Roush Yates Engines. Roush Yates is the exclusive Ford engine builder for NASCAR, including Team Penske race cars. They discuss several topics including how Madison's passion drove her to build engines, Joey Logano's win at the Clash at the Coliseum, and more! 

Join Michael and three different guests from the ‘Internet's Number One Motor Oil Web Site' Forum – Bob is the Oil Guy – for a round robin of in-depth automotive and motor oil questions! 

Universal Technical Institute is the nation's leading provider of technical training for automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians, and more, with 14 campuses around the United States. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) is the hot topic today, as Michael chats with Jorge Moreno, an Automotive Instructor at Universal Technical Institute's Dallas, Texas campus. Michael and Jorge touch on nationwide automotive trends, what it's like to teach the future automotive technicians and more! Learn more about Universal Technical Institute at www.UTI.edu. 

Patrick Hayes is the CEO of Driven by Diversity, a non-profit organization with a mission to educate individuals and organizations on the value of diversity and inclusion in motorsports, while also providing educational resources and services that directly address growing diversity in the motorsports industry.   Patrick's love for motorsports goes back THREE generations and he has always been a motorsports and car enthusiast. He spent his adolescent years growing up in a house only four miles from the historic Los Angeles County Raceway. As an adult living in Okinawa, Japan, while serving in the U.S. Marines, he immersed himself in the Japanese car culture and became one of the few Black men to work for a major Japanese aftermarket performance manufacturer. Patrick's journey through the industry has spanned over 20 years, with his newest chapter focusing on helping push for diversity and equality within motorsports. 

Who doesn't love a great car movie? How about an exhilarating chase scene or the final lap in a racing flick? The list of classic movies goes on and on. In this episode, Michael dives into some of his favorite car movies and chase scenes from the last several decades. What are your favorite car movies of all time? Let us know by tagging @Pennzoil on social media!

Michael rings in the new year with his Top Trends in the Automotive Industry, highlighting some big and exciting changes coming in 2022 and on: vehicle smart connectivity with more vehicles communicating with each other for safer roads, growth in autonomous cars and trucks, increased vehicle artificial intelligence which will monitor and calculate vehicle surroundings and more!

For the final episode of 2021, Michael fittingly reaches the finish line while recording live from the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) trade show in Indianapolis (December 9-11, 2021). Special guest, Alex Taylor, also stops by to chat with Michael! Alex is an automotive builder, racer, influencer and content creator with an unquenchable desire to go fast. At 23, Alex started her own high-performance automotive company: Alex Taylor Racing. She has 155k+ Instagram followers (@AlexTaylorRacing) as well as 88k YouTube subscribers

John Hennessey is the founder & CEO of Hennessey Special Vehicles, Hennessey Performance, Tuner School, and Lonestar Motorsports Park. Born with a passion for speed and fast cars, John found early racing success behind the wheel of a modified Mitsubishi 3000GT at events such as the Pikes Peak Hill Climb and the Silver State Classic. Not to mention, Hennessey set a world speed record in his class at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Today, the Hennessey facilities in Texas include a large manufacturing plant and a dedicated test track – where vehicles may be tested at speeds of up to 150 mph. Overall, more than 12,000 specialty vehicles, including mid-engine supercars, six-wheeled supertrucks, and modern muscle cars have been enhanced by Hennessey's performance modifications. Grab your racing helmets and buckle up folks, as Michael and John talk all things speed and performance! 

Any car enthusiast cannot hear ‘drifting' without thinking of world champion drifter, off-road racing champion, and Professional Fun-Haver, Vaughn Gittin Jr. Vaughn joins Michael on this rubber-burning episode to talk about his origins with drifting, following his true passion, and how Pennzoil motor oils have enhanced Vaughn and the RTR Motorsports team's performance. As a bonus, Michael recaps his experience from attending the 2021 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. 

Today's episode features our very first IndyCar driver on Michael's Motor Alley! Scott McLaughlin is the IndyCar driver of the #3 Dallara-Chevrolet for Team Penske. Michael sits down with the 2021 IndyCar Rookie of the Year winner to discuss his introduction into racing, his experience since moving to the United States and what's on tap for him next. 

Craig Jackson is the CEO of Barrett-Jackson, The World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions, and briefly sits down with Michael during September's Houston auction to discuss the future of the automotive industry, automotive technology and car collecting.  

Michael covers the quiet, but important role that antifreeze and coolants have in vehicles, how they have evolved over the years, how to have your coolants checked properly and busts the myth of mixing antifreeze.

Today's episode features our very first NASCAR driver on Michael's Motor Alley! Michael chats with Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Pennzoil Ford Mustang for Team Penske, about the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 race in Las Vegas, what it's like being a NASCAR driver and answers questions submitted by fans on social media. Listen to this exclusive interview now!

Did you know certain cars from this millennium are considered classics? For vehicles 20 years in age and older, they hold ‘classic' status! In this week's episode, Michael gets into several topics, including; why high zinc motor oil is needed in classic car engines, tips on ensuring the correct transmission fluids are used in classic cars and a special announcement about the next episode's guest.

Michael's guest adventures continue as he connects with Don Schumacher Racing Top Fuel driver Leah Pruett! Pruett shares how she prepares for her events, like the upcoming Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals, taking place September 3rd - 5th. Tune into this special edition National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) episode!

Eric Harley, our very FIRST guest, joins us on the show to recap the 2021 Rotella SuperRigs Trucking event and his experience as a judge, talk trucking and some crazy trucker tales! Eric Harley's radio career spans 37 years and he currently co-hosts Red Eye Radio, heard on over 200 radio stations nationwide on the Westwood One Radio Network. Eric has been hosting the all-night show, very popular with truckers, for 25 years.

Can low mileage vehicles use high mileage motor oils? Today, Michael will answer that exact question, while discussing high mileage motor oils: why/when they were developed and how seal conditioners play a part.

If you own diesel truck or a vehicle that is fed diesel motor oil, then today's episode is for you! Michael addresses some common diesel motor oil questions that are typically asked, including: the good and the bad of using diesel motor oils in a gasoline engine and how higher levels of zinc in these oils affect older/newer engines. 

In the third episode, Michael discusses a variety of topics including an exciting listener giveaway opportunity, while answering questions like: ‘To add or not to add aftermarket oil additives with Pennzoil?' and ‘Is there a shelf life on motor oil?'. He also provides additional resources for your oil analysis needs.

Michael sits down to discuss the age-old question: Can you mix different types of motor oils?  Additionally, he takes on the topic of how to approach using synthetic blend motor oils in your vehicle's engine.