The Racing Writer's Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 235 | Julia Landauer Jul 25, 2022

Show notes

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

Ep. 234 | Steve Newmark (RFK Racing) Jul 18, 2022

Show notes

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

Ep. 233 | Lawless Alan Jul 11, 2022

Show notes

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

Ep. 232 | Dylan "Mamba" Smith (NASCAR) Jul 04, 2022

Show notes

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

Ep. 231 | Camrie Caruso Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

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

Ep. 230 | Blaine Perkins Jun 20, 2022

Show notes

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

Ep. 229 | Luke Lambert Jun 13, 2022

Show notes

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

Ep. 228 | Ty Majeski Jun 06, 2022

Show notes

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

Ep. 227 | Kevin "Bono" Manion May 30, 2022

Show notes

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

Ep. 226 | Tony Schumacher May 23, 2022

Show notes

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

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