Podcast appearances and mentions of mike carpenter

It's getting real, folks. Illinois basketball looks like not only a contender in the Big Ten, but on the national stage as well. Their 84-44 win over Northwestern in front of a raucous State Farm Center crowd featured a team clicking on all cylinders. Mike Carpenter discusses the 12-game streak, elite offense, improved defense, and why the time to dream big is now.

Illinois basketball grabs their second straight top-five road win, this time a 78-69 triumph at Nebraska. Mike Carpenter reacts after the game, one in which Brad Underwood's team extracted revenge for their home loss in December. Keaton Wagler led the way with 28 points, while David Mirkovic, Jake Davis, and Tomislav Ivisic each scored in double figures.

Aaron Henry's three-year tenure as Illinois' defensive coordinator comes to an end, as he accepts a new position at Notre Dame. Mike Carpenter reacts during an emergency pod and discusses why the move had to happen, and what it says about Bret Bielema and his expectations for Illini football.

#9 Illinois wins their tenth-straight game with a 75-66 victory over a pesky Washington team. Fresh out of eye surgery, Mike Carpenter tries to suppress his annoyance at facing an opposing coach named Danny Sprinkle and a visiting team with "DAWGS" on the chest of their jersey. Fortunately, Keaton Wagler dropped 22, David Mirkovic added 19, and Ben Humrichous had himself a "podium game" with 14 off the bench. Next up: at #5 Nebraska on Sunday afternoon.

#11 Illinois grabs a huge road win at #4 Purdue 88-82 thanks to an all-timer from Keaton Wagler, whose 46 points set the freshman program record. Mike Carpenter reacts after the victory, one in which clutch threes by Tomislav Ivisic, David Mirkovic, and Jake Davis helped seal the deal. He also discusses Brad Underwood's 100th conference win, and the job he's done as the head coach of Illini basketball.

#11 Illinois passes their first test without Kylan Boswell, throttling the lowly Maryland Terrapins 89-70. Mike Carpenter reacts during the second half as the Illini put on an impressive display from deep, dropping 15 threes including four each from Jake Davis and Andrej Stojakovic, the star of the show who scored 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Up next: a far tougher test on the road at Mackey Arena, as Purdue returns home following a loss at UCLA.

Illinois basketball wins their seventh straight, withstanding a feisty Minnesota team in a 77-67 victory on Saturday at State Farm Center. Mike Carpenter recaps the game, along with the last month-plus of improved play from Brad Underwood's team. Since the Nebraska loss, how have the Illini been able to shore up their defense while continuing to have one of the best offenses in the country?

It wasn't the prettiest, yet Illinois basketball gets a second-straight road win - this time, against always-pesky Northwestern 79-68 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Mike Carpenter reacts during the second half, in which Keaton Wagler dropped 20 of his 22 points and Tomi hit two clutch threes on his way to 21. Kylan Boswell provided some much-needed toughness on a night when the Illini struggled on the boards. Brad Underwood's team improves to 14-3 (5-1 B1G) ahead of two home matchups against Minnesota and Maryland.

THE WES BUCK SHOW — EPISODE 410“NEW YEAR, NEW MILLION?”IT'S 2026.WE'RE BACK.AND WE'RE ALREADY TALKIN' BIG MONEY AND BAD FAST HOT RODS.To kick off the new year, we've got a couple of absolute hammers joining us to break it all down and fire it all up.First up, NHRA's own Brian Lohnes, the voice of the sport, the man behind the mic, and the guy who's gonna help us set the tone for a huge season ahead. He's fresh off the mic from the DI Winter Series and bringing the takes, the insight, and probably a few stories from the tower.Then we've got Jason Harris, and the dude is just flat-out on one right now. He rolled into Bradenton for the first leg of the DI Winter Series and left with the win and the number one qualifier spot. That's one race down, and if he wins two more, we're talkin' about a cool million dollars headed his way. Oh, and if he qualifies number one two more times? That's a brand-new Jerry Bickel Pro Mod. Stakes don't get much higher, and Jason is already halfway to the dream.The DI Winter Series is officially underway. The countdown to a million is on. And we're kickin' it all off with the best seat in the house.New year. New season. Same badass show.LET'S FREAKIN' GO.Each week on The Wes Buck Show, Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter bring their unique insights and analysis to the most electrifying moments and storylines from a packed weekend of drag racing.

#16 Illinois basketball grabs a huge road win at #19 Iowa 75-69 with a huge game from their backcourt trio. Mike Carpenter reacts as Keaton Wagler drops 19, with Kylan Boswell and Andrej Stojakovic adding 17 apiece, keeping the pesky Hawkeyes at bay despite a furious second half rally. Late free throws helped seal the deal and improve the Illini to 13-3 (4-1 B1G) on the season. Next up: at Northwestern on Wednesday, January 14.

Illinois basketball improves to 12-3 (3-1 B1G) with an 81-55 win over Rutgers at the State Farm Center. Mike Carpenter reacts during a sloppy second half, where the Scarlet Knights kept pace after trailing by 27 at the break. Nonetheless, Brad Underwood's team continued their run of strong defense, while Keaton Wagler continued his stellar play with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Tomislav Ivisic, Andrej Stojakovic, and Jake Davis each scored in double-digits. Next up: at Iowa for an early 11am tip-off on Sunday morning.

Illinois basketball nabs a 73-65 road win against Penn State at the Palestra in Philadelphia. Mike Carpenter reacts as the Illini overcome Keaton Wagler's foul trouble (16 points in 21 minutes) thanks to balanced scoring from Kylan Boswell, David Mirkovic, and Andrej Stojakovic. The victory improves Brad Underwood's team to 2-1 in the Big Ten ahead of a Thursday night home matchup against Rutgers. 

Illinois football wraps up their 2025 season with a 30-28 walk-off win over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl. Mike Carpenter was in Nashville (sitting in the actual 200 level) to watch Luke Altmyer and the offense control the clock and ice the victory, setting up David Olano's second game-winning field goal of the season. It wraps a bow on the best two-season run in Illini football history.

Luke Altmyer will wrap up his three-year stint as Illinois QB with one last rodeo in Nashville. Mike Carpenter discusses the importance of Altmyer in Bret Bielema's rebuilding efforts, how he stacks up with other Illini QBs, and his most memorable moments. Also, a look ahead to the upcoming Braggin' Rights basketball game against Missouri.

#13 Illinois basketball kicks off their Big Ten season with an 88-80 road win at Ohio State. Mike Carpenter reacts during the second half as Brad Underwood's team, led on by a star performance from Keaton Wagler and productive games from David Mirkovic and Zvonimir Ivisic, withstood FORTY-EIGHT FOULS CALLED and a red-hot Bruce Thornton. The Illini improve to 8-2 with the win ahead of Saturday's matchup against #23 Nebraska at State Farm Center.

Illinois revenue sports have invaded the city of Nashville! Mike Carpenter discusses #14 Illini basketball's huge 75-62 win over #13 Tennessee, in which Brad Underwood's team turned in their best performance of the year (at least in the second half) Tomislav Ivisic and Keaton Wagler led the way, while Big Z hit two crucial late 3's to help seal the win. Meanwhile, Bret Bielema's squad gets an invite to the Music City Bowl on December 30 to face (who else!) Tennessee.

Illinois football inks the #21 recruiting class in the nation on a successful Signing Day. Mike Carpenter reacts to Bielema's best haul yet, coming on the heels of an 8-4 season and quality bowl game. He also discusses the coaching carousel in college football, and where Illini basketball stands entering Saturday's non-conference showdown with Tennessee.

On a snowy night in Champaign, Illinois hangs on to the Hat with a 20-13 win over Northwestern. Mike Carpenter recaps an all-timer of an evening at Memorial Stadium, where Miles Scott and the Illini defense ended the year on a high note to the tune of four takeaways. While the offense sputtered, they managed just enough to get the win, including two field goals from David Olano on the windy, frozen tundra. Next up: Nashville?

Illinois basketball struggled offensively in a 74-61 loss to UConn at Madison Square Garden. Mike Carpenter reacts during the second half as Kylan Boswell balled out, but the rest of the team struggled to score, especially from three-point range (6/29 as a team). With comments from viewers of the stream, a conversation was had about the state of the program under Brad Underwood, and what expectations are going forward. Next up: Tennessee in Nashville on Saturday, December 6. 

Illinois football suffers a humiliating 27-10 loss to Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium. Mike Carpenter discusses what went wrong during the sloppy, lifeless performance, and what must happen in the offseason for the Illini program to take another step under Bret Bielema. Next up: that pesky Northwestern team.

THE WES BUCK SHOW – EPISODE 409“TRACK BOSSES, PRO MODS & MOTORSPORT MOVERS”THIS WEEK WE'RE DIVING INTO THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THIS SPORT GO, ON THE TRACK AND IN THE BOARDROOM.First up, it's the man behind Bradenton Motorsports Park, Victor Alvarez. Not only is he getting ready to host another killer DI Winter Series, but the guy is also behind the wheel of his own Pro Mod and laying down passes in preparation of the Snowbirds. We're talking about a dude who lives and breathes this stuff. Track owner. Promoter. Racer. All gas, no excuses.Then we're bringing in Doug Cook, the founder of Motion Raceworks and one of the biggest movers in motorsports right now. The guy has been buying up some of the most legendary brands in the game, including Mark Williams Enterprises and TBM Brakes. keeping them alive and thriving. Doug is changing the game for small and big business in racing and we're gonna dig into how and why he's doing it.Wes Buck is holdin' it down solo this week as Mike Carpenter and JT “Murder T” Hudson are both out for doctor's appointments. But don't worry. The takes are still hot and the vibes are still high.Big guests. Big ideas. Big horsepower.DON'T MISS IT. LET'S GOOOOO!Each week on The Wes Buck Show, Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter bring their unique insights and analysis to the most electrifying moments and storylines from a packed weekend of drag racing.

SOME WEEKS YOU GET HIGHLIGHTS.SOME WEEKS YOU GET HEADLINES.THIS WEEK? YOU GET HISTORY.We're comin' in HOT after a barn burner of a weekend out in Las Vegas, and we've got two absolute heavy-hitters joining us on the mic.First up, J.R. Gray, and let me tell you, the man is on FIRE. He took home the Pro Mod win at Vegas, and in the process, with the pressure on and the spotlight bright, locked up his first-ever NHRA Pro Mod Championship. Dude put on a clinic and walked it off like a boss. We're bringing him in to relive the moment and unpack the grind it took to get there.Then it's the one and only Brittany Force. The Top Fuel assassin from John Force Racing snagged a big-time W at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and reminded everyone why she's a world champ. Could this be the last win of her NHRA career? Rumors are flying that this is her final season running full-time, and if so, what a way to go out. A generational talent. A fan favorite. An icon. We're gonna talk wins, legacy, and what comes next.Two big wins. Two massive careers. One hell of a show.Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter are settin' the stage, firing the takes, and poppin' the tops on another WBS classic.DON'T MISS IT. LET'S GOOOOO!⸻Each week on The Wes Buck Show, Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter bring their unique insights and analysis to the most electrifying moments and storylines from a packed weekend of drag racing.

A messy second half performance finds the Illini on the wrong side of a 90-86 game against Alabama. Mike Carpenter reacts during the last twenty minutes of game time as the Crimson Tide hit a few too many timely shots, while Illinois struggles to find offensive consistency. Now 1-1 against ranked teams, Brad Underwood's squad has three more marquee non-conference games left: UConn at Madison Square Garden, Tennessee in Nashville, and Missouri in St. Louis.

Illinois football improves to 7-3 with a 24-6 win over Maryland. Mike Carpenter discusses the business-like win spurred on by an inspired defensive performance. No, it wasn't pretty (nor particularly memorable), but this victory gives Bret Bielema the most wins of any Illini coach through their first five seasons. Next up: a trip up to his old stomping grounds in Wisconsin.

Despite JT Toppin's 35 points and an absolutely atrocious flagrant foul call late in the game, a gritty Illinois team finds their way to a huge 81-77 win over Texas Tech. Mike Carpenter reacts happily . . . then angrily . . . then both! . . . during an up-and-down second half. Star turns by Andrej Stojakovic (23 points) and Kylan Boswell (22 points) led the way, while Keaton Wagler looked less like a freshman and more like a seasoned veteran. The Illini get their first non-conference home ranked win since 2011, and a victory that will help them out big time come Selection Sunday.

Illinois basketball scored another emphatic win, this time 113-70 over Florida Gulf Coast. Mike Carpenter reacts during the second half as the Illini offense steals the show. Kylan Boswell (31 points, 10 rebounds) and David Mirkovic (17 points, 11 rebounds) each nab double-doubles, while Keaton Wagler drops 22. While Tomislav Ivisic was out for the night, his brother Zvonimir nearly had a triple-double (16 points, 9 rebounds, 7 blocks). Next up: a huge matchup against Texas Tech at the State Farm Center.

THE WES BUCK SHOW – EPISODE 407“ANNOUNCEMENTS, RECORDS & RADIO ROUNDUP”THIS WEEK WE'RE LOCKED IN ON THREE MASSIVE STORIES IN DRAG RACING.BIG MOVES. BIG NUMBERS. BIG EVENTS.First up we've got Keith Haney on the mic after his major announcement at SEMA Show that he is teaming up with KB Titan Racing, the legendary NHRA Pro Stock team. The buzz says they might be bringing Pro Mod into the mix too. We'll dig into what that alliance means and how it could shake up the sport.Then we're checking in with Jimmy Taylor, fresh off his record‑setting run in a door car. His new eighth‑mile world record has people talking and wondering what's coming next. We're gonna break down the numbers, the machine, the mindset.And to round it out we have Barrett Green and Michael Hollis dropping in ahead of their upcoming event the Texas Radial Roundup this weekend. These guys are friends of the show, friends of the sport, and they never come to play, they come to show. We're giving them the mic and helping spread the word.Three segments. Three unstoppable guests.Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson and Mike Carpenter are on deck.DON'T MISS IT. LET'S GOOOOO!⸻

Illinois basketball kicked off their season in style with a 113-55 win over Jackson State. Mike Carpenter reacts to the undermanned-Illini's dominant debut, featuring a formidable frontcourt duo in Tomislav Ivisic and David Mirkovic, the steady veteran leadership of Kylan Boswell and Jake Davis, and big offensive performances from Ben Humrichous and Keaton Wagler. Next up: Friday night vs. FGCU.

Illinois football bounces back with a dominating 35-13 win over Rutgers. Mike Carpenter discusses the program's third bowl season in four years, an impressive bounce-back by the defense, and the continued excellence of Luke Altmyer. Next up: a bye week to rest up before Maryland comes into town.

After an embarrassing defensive effort at Washington, Illinois football looks to pick up the pieces against Rutgers. Mike Carpenter discusses the fallout of Saturday's loss, including Bret Bielema's quotes on how much he'll be involved with Aaron Henry's gameplan. Can the Illini bounce back with a Dad's Day victory heading into the second bye week?

The Wes Buck Show – Episode 406Buckle up, because Episode 406 of The Wes Buck Show is a heater. We've got a full lineup of heavy hitters joining the program this week, and we're talking about some of the biggest stories in the game right now.First up, the man at the center of the storm, Richard Freeman. Elite Motorsports is on fire after announcing Tony Stewart is joining the team, R+L Carriers is coming aboard, and a new crew chief is stepping in to shake things up. It's a massive power move from Freeman and company, and we're getting the inside story straight from the man himself.Then we're welcoming in Mike Finnegan, one of the most recognizable voices in motorsports and a true YouTube icon. From Roadkill to Finnegan's Garage to the drag-and-drive world, the dude has seen it all. We're picking his brain about what's happening in the scene right now, where drag-and-drive is headed, and what's got him fired up in 2025.And to wrap it up, we're catching up with Chase Lautenbach, co-owner and founder of Streetcar Takeover. Chase and his team are keeping the streetcar movement rolling strong, with big events on deck for next year. The grassroots side of drag racing has never been hotter, and Streetcar Takeover is right in the middle of it.As always, it's real talk about the sport we love, the cars, the people, and the passion that make drag racing the wildest show on earth.⸻Each week on The Wes Buck Show, Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter bring their unique insights and analysis to the most electrifying moments and storylines from a packed weekend of drag racing.

THE WES BUCK SHOW – EPISODE 405“WHEEL MEN, TRACK DOMINATORS & TIN SOLDIER TALES”THIS WEEK IT'S ALL ABOUT DRIVERS WHO CAN FLAT OUT HANDLE ANY MACHINE.First up, Travis Harvey. Whatever you put him in, whatever you line him up in, he delivers. He's a wheel man's wheel man. We'll sit down and break down what's driving him right now and how he keeps making magic happen on every stage.Then we've got Ken Quartuccio Jr., fresh off his win in Radial vs. The World at Duck X's No Mercy 16. He showed up and reminded everyone you do not want to line up against him. He's lethal in small-tire, big-tire, whatever tire you pick. And to round it out, Jason Terrell from Tin Soldier Race Cars. This guy's been building stories along with racecars. He's been carving a path in outlaw and no-prep circles. We're talking shop, grit, what drives him, and what's next for his crew. Big names. Big moves. Big stories.Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter are livin' in the booth, ready to stir the pot and let it rip.DON'T MISS IT. LET'S GOOOOO.⸻Each week on The Wes Buck Show, Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter bring their unique insights and analysis to the most electrifying moments and storylines from a packed weekend of drag racing.

Illinois football loses 42-25 to Washington in a game featuring yet another terrible performance from Aaron Henry's defense. Mike Carpenter reacts during the fourth quarter (just after the D gave up a 3rd and 18 - yes, a 3rd and 18) and watched as the Huskies sliced and diced their way down the rain-soaked field with ease. Now 5-3, Bret Bielema's team has to quickly regroup as Rutgers heads into town, while questions about the viability of Henry as defensive coordinator will only get louder.

After a bye week, #23 Illinois heads out west to face Washington. Mike Carpenter discusses the ramifications a win (or loss) would have on Illini football for the rest of the season, and if Luke Altmyer and the offense can outduel the Ryan Walters-led Husky defense.

Illinois basketball kicks things off with an exhibition game against Illinois State. Mike Carpenter reacts during the second half as an injury-depleted Illini show off some new toys (David Mirkovic, Big Z, Keaton Wagler, Brandon Lee) and play at the State Farm Center for the first time in the 2025-26 season.

Illinois football can't quite meet the moment, falling 34-16 to #1 Ohio State. Mike Carpenter discusses the frustrating miscues and mistakes, the impressiveness of Ryan Day's Buckeyes, and even some positives to glean from Bret Bielema's team's performance. Next up: a much-needed bye week ahead of a trip to Washington.

THE WES BUCK SHOW – EPISODE 404“NO MERCY, NO FEAR, NO FILTER”THERE'S COMEBACKS…AND THEN THERE'S STRAPPING INTO A TOP FUEL DRAGSTER AND WINNING IT ALL!!This week on The Wes Buck Show, we're locked and loaded for another rip-roarin' ride through the wildest headlines in drag racing.First up, Raul Torres, the boss man at South Georgia Motorsports Park, joins us to preview No Mercy 16, one of the most unpredictable, high-stakes races of the season. Small tire chaos, big-time drama, and a whole lotta horsepower about to hit the track this weekend. Raul's been in the trenches getting SGMP dialed in, and he's bringing the heat.Next, we're talkin' Pro Mod power with Derek Menholt, who's fresh off a massive NHRA win. He's on a mission, and we're checkin' in on what it took to get to the winner's circle and how he plans to keep this momentum rollin'.And then, the comeback story of the month, Shawn Reed joins us after returning to Top Fuel from injury and immediately grabbing himself a Wally. That's not just heart. That's horsepower with a purpose. Dude came back swinging, and we're gonna break it all down.Track owners. Pro Mod killers. Comeback kings.DON'T MISS IT. LET'S GOOOOO.⸻Each week on The Wes Buck Show, Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter bring their unique insights and analysis to the most electrifying moments and storylines from a packed weekend of drag racing.

THE WES BUCK SHOW – EPISODE 403“STAMPEDES, SWANFEST & PRO MOD SPICE”THIS WEEK WE'RE HEADING TEXAS-BOUND AND FULL SENDFOR MUSIC, MOTORING, AND MADNESS AT THE STAMPEDE OF SPEEDWe're bringing Christy Meyer into the mix to talk about one of the coolest weeks on the NHRA calendar, the Stampede of Speed at the Texas Motorplex. It's more than just a race, it's a festival, a celebration, a racetrack party, and we're takin' you behind the scenes of how it all comes together. Then we'll shift gears and bring in Joey Martin for some Pro Mod talk. He might even drop some breaking news, it's that kind of week.Next up is John DeFlorian, a Mountain Motor Pro Stock racer who's been turning heads with recent wins and a rising points lead. We're gonna dig into what's next for DeFlorian and where he's headed in the Pro Stock world.To close it out, Justin Swanstrom joins us ahead of his event Swanfest, putting it all on the line to make this one unforgettable. He's pulling from all corners prep, no prep, small, big, and this thing's gonna be a show.It's race talk, lineup drama, and full-on firepower.Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter are locked in, you don't want to miss this one.DON'T MISS IT. LET'S GOOOOO.⸻Each week on The Wes Buck Show, Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter bring their unique insights and analysis to the most electrifying moments and storylines from a packed weekend of drag racing.

Illinois football is faced with a rare opportunity on Saturday: the chance to take down #1 Ohio State in front of a sold-out, orange-clad crowd at Memorial Stadium. Mike Carpenter discusses how Bret Bielema's program-building efforts have led to this moment, one that could be THE signature game in Illini football history.

Illinois football improves to 5-1 after a 43-27 win at Purdue. Luke Altmyer's career-high 390 yards helped lead the way to victory, aided by a monster performance from Hank Beatty and the surefooted David Olano. Mike Carpenter discusses the high-octane offense, shaky defense, and Bret Bielema's 3rd 5-1 start as the Illini head coach. Next up: #1 Ohio State at Memorial Stadium.

After a dramatic Homecoming win vs. USC, Illinois football takes the short trip to West Lafayette to face Purdue. Mike Carpenter discusses the Battle for the Cannon, a particularly rough rivalry in recent years for the Illini. Can Bret Bielema and his team take care of business with minimal fuss, or will this matchup continue to be the bane of Illinois fans' existence?

Illinois football bounces back in a big way with a thrilling 34-32 win over USC. Mike Carpenter discusses the five-star day at Memorial Stadium, where a sellout crowd watched Bret Bielema's team respond just a week removed from the worst loss of his tenure. Luke Altmyer led the Illini down the field, setting up David Olano's 41-yard game winner as time expired.

THE WES BUCK SHOW – EPISODE 402“RECORDS, VIPERS & VICTORIES”WHEN YOU AVERAGE A SIX-ONE ON DRAG WEEK,YOU DON'T JUST SHOW UP —YOU REWRITE HISTORY.This week on The Wes Buck Show, we're rollin' out the red carpet for Ned Dunphy, fresh off a jaw-dropping performance at Hot Rod Drag Week. The man went full Terminator mode, locking in a world record average of 6.178 seconds across the week in his absolutely nasty twin-turbo Viper. That's not just fast. That's "did he just do that?" fast.Then we've got Mike Galimi jumping in to help us break it all down, the cars, the carnage, the chaos. Hot Rod Drag Week is a different kind of beast and we're bringing the full download.And if that wasn't enough, we're also checkin' in with Billy Banaka, who just took home the NHRA Pro Mod W at the Fall Four-Wides at ZMAX. The air was tight, the field was loaded, and Billy got it done in an ending we won't soon forget.It's a jam-packed show with winners, record breakers, and full-send machines.Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter are ready to rip it.DON'T MISS IT. LET'S GOOOOO.⸻Each week on The Wes Buck Show, Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter bring their unique insights and analysis to the most electrifying moments and storylines from a packed weekend of drag racing.

The time for Illinois football to lick their wounds is over as they welcome a potent USC team for Homecoming. Mike Carpenter discusses the upcoming matchup, how Bret Bielema's Illini can "get right" again, and the chances they have of pulling off a mild upset at Memorial Stadium.

THE WES BUCK SHOW – EPISODE 400“DOES A BEAR SH*T IN THE WOODS?”YEAH & TRAVIS & TOMMY SENT EVERYBODY'S SH*T PACKING.Four hundred episodes.From a duct-taped cell phone to one of the baddest drag racing shows in the world, we've come a long way. So for this milestone moment, we brought the heat.Lyle Barnett slides in as co-host this week and we're diving headfirst into the aftermath of the Southern 8 No Time Nationals — aka Bear Shit Only — one of the nastiest small-tire showdowns on the calendar.Travis Harvey got the call to hop in Tommy Youmans' weapon of a car and proceeded to make the rest of the field look like they were stuck in neutral. Lyle called it. Youmans built it. Harvey drove it like it was stolen. And now they're both here to talk about the mission they went on and the bodies they left behind.We're also talking IHRA drama, PDRA heat, and the latest out of NHRA as the season barrels toward the business end.It's only right we rang in EPISODE 400 with a full send.Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, Mike Carpenter, and Lyle Barnett on the mics.Big vibes. Big stories. Big Bear Shit.DON'T MISS IT. LET'S GOOOOO.⸻Each week on The Wes Buck Show, Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter bring their unique insights and analysis to the most electrifying moments and storylines from a packed weekend of drag racing.

THE WES BUCK SHOW – EPISODE 401“LEGENDS, WOODS, AND WINNERS”IT'S FUNNY CARS AND FAST TALK.STREET RACING AND STRAIGHT SHOOTIN'.WE'RE LOCKED IN FOR ANOTHER ONE.This week on The Wes Buck Show, we're welcoming a true icon in the sport — Cruz Pedregon. The Snap-on backed NHRA Funny Car legend found his way back to the top this weekend with a big win that had the pits buzzing. Been there, done that, and still stackin' W's like it's 1998. We're talkin' shop with one of the baddest to ever do it.Then we're pivoting from the big show to the backwoods as Jeff Thomas joins us ahead of his wild and rowdy War in the Woods event. One of the most anticipated grudge races on the map, it's part street, part jungle, part organized chaos — and Jeff is smack in the middle of it all.Also, Jennifer Folk drops in to talk about the Million Dollar Bracket Race, a legendary race in it's own rights!It's legends and outlaws.Nitro and no-prep.And it's all goin' down right here.Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter are in the saddle and ready to ride.DON'T MISS IT. LET'S GOOOOO.⸻Each week on The Wes Buck Show, Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter bring their unique insights and analysis to the most electrifying moments and storylines from a packed weekend of drag racing.

Illinois football gets trounced on the road, a 63-10 shellacking at the hands of the Indiana Hoosiers. Mike Carpenter, who was unfortunately in attendance for the embarrassment, recounts what went so wrong for Bret Bielema's team, and discusses what it means heading into a tough Homecoming matchup against USC.

#9 Illinois heads across the border to face #19 Indiana in a Saturday night showdown. Mike Carpenter discusses the huge opportunity for Bret Bielema's Illini, reasons to be optimistic and concerned against the Hoosiers, and what a win could mean for either team.

It was a tale of two halves again for Illini football as they cruise to a 38-0 win over Western Michigan. Mike Carpenter discusses the uninspired play of the first two quarters, and how Illinois responded following Bret Bielema's angry halftime speech. For the third time in four years, the Illini finish non-conference play undefeated.

Illinois football carries a top-ten ranking into a sold-out Saturday night matchup against Western Michigan. Mike Carpenter talks about the program's incredible turnaround under Bret Bielema, reasons for optimism following the Duke win, and Larry Gies' $100 million donation to the athletic department.