The Racing Writer's Podcast

Elon Werner is the creator of Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB), a game that has qiuckly taken over the drag racing world. Werner is here to tell all as he explains finally taking the leap to create the game and how it works on the backend; the most important thing he wanted to incorporate in DRBB; the retention rate from week to week and keeping people playing; being a data resource for fans and not just a game with all the information incorporated; a run-down of the many prizes available to players; the range of the game reaching other countries; getting the industry to buy into a new game and have it sweep the sport; always thinking about what is next and continuing to evolve the game.  Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Charles Denike has Bubba Wallace off to the best start of his NASCAR Cup Series career, and he's done so as a new crew chief in the series. Denike dishes on settling in at 23XI Racing; how it feels to get off to a strong start this season; impressions of Wallace from afar and now working with him; why the time was right to make this career move; the positive reviews about him before the season even started; the adjustment from the Craftsman Truck Series to being in the Cup Series; if he's been able to enjoy the fast start to the season or had the pressure that comes with it; finding the same structure in NASCAR as in the military; why he went into the military after high school; his background and experience in the military; going into racing as his second career; the crossover from military into racing; the engineering crossover from one to the other; his NASCAR start being in the K&N Series and then going Truck Series racing; memories from Truck Series racing and his unconventional first career win; seeing his former truck win at at Martinsville Speedway; things that translate from the truck to cup; the balance of how he wants to lead the team but not changing things to change them; what Charles wanted from Bubba and want Bubba wanted from Charles as they paired together; the No. 1 thing the team needs to have accomplished by the end of the year.Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Lyn St. James is an icon in the motorsports landscape and now as the co-founder of Women in Motorsports North America. We're digging into how St. James view the growth of motorsports by encouraging more inclusion of women; the non-existent NASCAR ladder system and women trying to break into the sport; not being surprised by the current landscape of women in racing in the year 2025; the future of WIMNA in the motorsports space; WIMNA opening the door to a new generation learning about who St. James is and her career; the emotion of being inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame; recommendations for reading material and learning for women in racing.Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Antron Brown is off to another solid start to an NHRA Top Fuel season, and we've got him fresh off a win to reflect and look ahead. Brown starts, however, with his takeaways from a visit to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for NASCAR racing and getting a different perspective in person; looking as good as a chocolate bar joke; the pedal fest at Gainesville where Brown won to start the season; explaining what pedaling the car is and the easiest mistake to make; what he learned about his team during a tough weekend; the boost of winning the first race of the season after ending the previous year as champions; how a team prepares for a new season after winning the championship; his optimism for a very competitive Top Fuel class; being up for a new challenge in competition; chasing prize money for being regular-season champion; the impending departure of Toyota from the sport and if a team can go without a manufacturer partner; the many hats of being a team owner; what keeps him going after decades of success of in the sport.  Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Katherine Legge has had time to download her NASCAR Cup Series debut, and there has been a lot to process from what happened. Legge shares what she's been thinking about since last Sunday at Phoenix Raceway; why she felt embarrassed by what happened; the multiple phone calls Legge has made since Phoenix; reflecting on some of the highlights from the experience; having B.J. McLeod in her ear during the weekend; the characteristics of the Next Gen car versus other vehicles Legge has driven in racing; the overall takeaway of Cup Series racing/competition; having Andy Lally in her corner; wanting people to like her; why she loves stock car racing so much; the reason she came back to stock cars after a gap from her first foray into the sport; if the clock is ticking to check off bucket list items; making herself uncomfortable again; entering the podcast space herself this year and what she hopes to accomplish there; what is next on her racing calendar.  Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

The second part of our conversation with Sadie Glenn starts by switching into how she formed her own social media and photography company, SR Driven Media. Glenn works for a number of drivers in NHRA, such as her husband Dallas, Angie and Matt Smith, Corey Reed, and others. She then digs into having a degree but also being self-taught with the spacing changing over the years; what she tries to accomplish with her work for her clients; the importance of having something (the business) for herself; the openness and honesty Glenn brings to her personal social media pages; her plans for the 2025 season with her racing and her business.  Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Sadie Glenn is ready for a new NHRA drag racing season that begins this weekend in Florida. Not only as a businesswoman and wife, but as a racer herself. We start the first part of our conversation discussing being on the verge of a new NHRA season; living in NASCAR country; the background of her start in drag racing; the balance of being a part-time driver and her husband being a full-time driver; the approach to her driving career and how often she competes; the reality of trying to be a driver and how that was going to look; the idea of driving being good for the soul; being a cancer survivor and how that effects her today.  Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Jimmie Johnson thought Legacy Motor Club had a win in a Daytona duel race, but the button doesn't lie. Johnson gives his perspective on the ending of the duel race and Erik Jones being so close before going into an in-depth conversation about now being the organization's majority owner. Johnson breaks down the progress of the team and working through getting everything in place with Toyota, as well as being self-sufficient with processes in-house; choosing to go without an alliance partner; the type of owner Johnson wants to be; becoming comfortable as a leader of hundreds; the approach to being present as a team owner; finding opportunity for Legacy while living in England; the reason why racing expansion for Legacy Motor Club is in the plans; shooting down the Indianapolis 500 rumor but if that race would be one to look at in the future; things Johnson better understands about racing now as an owner; ways that he's been challenged and has challenged himself the last few years; learning a different side of the patience game; becoming comfortable communicating with NASCAR as an owner; closely monitoring the 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports and NASCAR lawsuit; understanding the Open Exemption Provisional; being in the team owner space with some of his former rivals; the reason Johnson will only contest two races this year and if the end of his driving career is over; hearing the critics about his current driving career, and how the performance changed his expectations; if the end of his driving career is approaching; balancing ownership, family, and starting his own podcast.Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Layne Riggs is back with Front Row Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series, and we check in with the sophomore driver before he heads to Daytona. Riggs also discusses recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and how it felt during the Rockingham test last month; the shoulder making him go viral after winning at Milwaukee; what it's like competing in a NASCAR national series for the first time; the adjustment to racing wide open; going through the learning pains of a rookie season; the biggest thing about having one season under his belt; where he's most looking forward to returning; learning to race inches from the wall; the physical exhaustion of racing; the overall feeling entering a new season; expectations versus reality of being a driver; leaning on other drivers for guidance; not having to balance school anymore; having NASCAR's John Patalak as a professor; being interested in the safety side of the sport; being hands-on with his truck; the finals days of the offseason.  Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

William Byron spent the weekend driving his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for the first time in 2025, and now he's on the podcast. We start by seeing how Byron is physically feeling after the first race behind the wheel; the warm-up race leading into a season; ramping up training going into a season; the focus during the season on keeping the body strong and learning more about that over the years; having a week between the Clash and Daytona; returning to Daytona as the defending champion; what he remembers most about the 2024 victory; the change in confidence at superspeedways over the years; the feel of Next Gen drafting versus previous generation of race car; preparation for Daytona; going into his eighth year with Hendrick Motorsports; the difference from his first year to where he is now; how a driver builds confidence and comfort at the Cup Series level; the potential of the 24 team on a weekly basis; the attention and emphasis put on Phoenix as the finale; the change in team mindset after two Championship 4 appearances; quick thoughts on the change to the 2025 playoff schedule; being more accustomed to success; spending time in Japan during the offseason.  Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Rodney Childers hit the ground running with Spire Motorsports after the 2024 season finale, and now he's sharing how much work has gone in with the No. 7 team to prepare for a new year. Childers shares the emotions of starting with a new organization; the dynamic of joining a new team and who is and isn't familiar; the changing expectations within Spire; changing the entire cockpit for Justin Haley and the team basically starting over; building a relationship with Haley; defining expectations for the team; understanding Next Gen going into the fourth year; the overall feeling approaching a new season with a new team and driver, and what it has to do with alarms; how much Childers is putting on his shoulders; dealing with multiple winless seasons; what a week looks like for a crew chief during the season; interest from his twin sons in racing and being at the shop; the difference in Daytona preparation from years gone by; thoughts on the change to the Damaged Vehicle Policy (DVP); looking ahead to another year on the job and hitting 700 starts.  Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Carson Hocevar is the new NASCAR Cup Series rookie of the year, and the offseason hasn't yet slowed things down for him because of the award. Hocevar joins the show to discuss what he's been up to since Phoenix; what he gets out of being at the shop regularly; what winning Rookie of the Year means to him; the difference in his expectations versus those around him; the growth process throughout the year; the races that stand out or Hocevar is most proud of; quickly taking to the Next Gen car; the idea of sim work and how much he does; what the stats don't show about the season; things that need to be improved for next year; what did or didn't surprise him about full-time Cup Series racing; reflecting on a fast five years in NASCAR.Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall 

The social media team for RFK Racing does things a little differently than most others with its mix of serious and straightforward and fun and honest content. We're meeting the team behind the accounts and how they got to RFK Racing. Then we jump into one member transitioning into motorsports from college athletics; how the posting process works with multiple people having account access; any approval process for posting; it being a conscious shift in how in-race updates are presented; keeping the emotions in check during the race; the change in engagement over the years; having other race teams engage with the content; the return on investment with social media; who spends them mot time online; content or a post they are each most proud of contributing.  Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

‘NASCAR Mavericks: The Rebels and Racers Who Revolutionized Stock Car Racing' is the latest coffee table book for fans to explore the history of their favorite sport. Holly Cain, a long-time NASCAR writer and one of the co-authors of the books, shares how one begins to dig into what makes a maverick; the process of working with another author, and the personal battles Cain was going through during the project; the importance of the Smokey Yunick chapter; his Hall of Fame chances; including Mario Andretti; memories of Bill France Jr. and his famous expressions; the unrecognizable names in the book; anything that was left out of the book; the parts Cain enjoyed writing the most; the hope or goal with the book; information on another book Cain has written and where to follow her current work.  Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Wayne Auton, the NASCAR Xfinity Series managing director, returns to the podcast as he wraps up his tenure in the garage. Auton shares what it's been like to go through this year and how folks have treated him; plans for 2025; going through the adjustment of what comes next and a changing lifestyle; how he views being a resource in the future; drivers wanting to share their success with him; what he wanted to get out of the final season; the drivers who stand out having seen them grow and get to where they are now; memorable moments from inside the hauler; the hauler being a place for teams as much as NASCAR; the chances of still being surprised this long on the job; staying aware of everything involved with the series; dealing with the coming and going of drivers on a frequent basis; what he is most proud of from his tenure in the role as it comes to an end.  Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Ida Zetterström is finally getting her feet underneath her in NHRA Top Fuel competition and a lot has happened in just a few races. Zetterström gives a detailed breakdown of her first five races; earning a red light for the first time in his drag racing career; the boost a big coming out weekend gave her and her team; continuing to get comfortable in a different dragster from her European machine; finding her routine and rhythm again after being out of the seat for over half a year; the competition not overlooking her team as a field filler; why she said a championship ring was a very American thing; experiencing a baseball game for the first time; the goals Zetterström wants to hit before the end of the season.  Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Kenny Wallace still has so much going on in life that he's living by the motto: don't let the old man in. Among the priorities is still racing dirt, and he explains what he gets out of doing that; the physical differences of not racing for a living; what it meant to be involved with Trackside Live at the SMI facilities; needing to get away from NASCAR after driving and loving it again now; coming back and being heavy into the media space of motorsports; the approach to doing interviews and having a podcast; the serious preparation done ahead of time; changing the Google algorithm for searches of his name; learning so much more about motorsports personalities through his interviews; why people should care about his opinion and content; the way he engages on social media; finally being at peace with himself and life.  Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Marc-Antoine Camirand is a two-time NASCAR Canada Series champion and he's here to talk about his latest accomplishment. Camirand shares how they've celebrated; already thinking about being the first to win back-to-back championships; recapping championship weekend; why he said that race was special; what experience from the first championship taught Camirand ahead of the second; the highlights and battles from the season; the unreal consistent from his race team; the pressure he felt with a car so good and how the team approached that every week; a surreal and fast trajectory to the top in the series; putting a new team together two years ago; the difference between the first and second championships; selling fans on the NASCAR Canada Series; a look at how he got into racing; how to learn more or follow Camirand.  Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Leigh Diffey took over as the lead announcer for NBC Sports last month and he's had everyone's attention since then. Diffey joins the show to share what the experience has been like in the garage; the races we've seen so far; being prepared to make great calls during a race; the approach to being prepared; having good information retention; becoming a better storyteller with NBC Sports; doing a bit of motorcycle racing early in life; broadcasting not being the first choice of profession; but broadcasting always feeling natural; the Australian version of NASCAR; the most memorable thing about the job and being in the booth.  Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Holly Jones is a former race car driver and now the wife of a NASCAR Cup Series driver, and also a fur mom to a dog and bunny. Soon, she and Erik Jones will be parents to a tiny human. We're covering those topics plus what it's like being a driver's significant other; the benefit of being a former driver and relating to what is going on; still having a competitive side; taking in the race from the pit box and superstitions; balancing home and road life, and the importance of routine; the highlights from being at the track over the years; the racing background of Jones; why doing it for a living was never in the cards; the initial plans for getting a job in the real world; finding enjoyment being at the track and as a support system; information on the foundation and the work it does across various issues; the Read with Erik program; upcoming events for the Foundation to know about; the impact the Foundation has had over the years.  Original music created by Tony Monge. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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.Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall 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. Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandallThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

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.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

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.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

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.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

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.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

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.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

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.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

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.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement