The Racing Writer's Podcast

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Bonus | Ep. 165 | Michelle Martinelli ("The Sneak" podcast) Apr 16, 2021

Show notes

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

Ep. 164 | Johnny Gibson (World of Outlaws) Apr 12, 2021

Show notes

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

Ep. 163 | Mike Joy Apr 05, 2021

Show notes

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

Ep. 162 | Samantha Busch Mar 29, 2021

Show notes

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

Ep. 161 | Tad Geschickter & Grant Dexter Mar 22, 2021

Show notes

Tad Geschickter and Grant Dexter are here for a conversation about the business side of racing and fan engagement during a pandemic. First, Geschickter talks about the start of the season for his JTG Daugherty Racing team; the parts freeze and Next Gen; getting into the sport first as a part of Proctor & Gamble advertising; the bootstrapped early days of starting his team versus where the organization is now; looking at ownership differently than others because of his marketing/advertising background; how the pandemic forced a change in fan and sponsor content; the immediate ways JTG adapted to the pandemic; what their partnership with Fanaply means for fans; how Fanaply works for the fans and making it unique and exclusive; if the partnership is working; if things have leveled out a year into the pandemic; how he feels about the future.
Dexter walks us through what Fanaply is and how the idea of digital collectibles came about just two years ago; how they quickly attracted big name artists like One Direction and Lizzo; connecting with JTG and bringing NASCAR into the fold; what he is seeing from the partnership; the perks and rewards fans get by collecting the badges; why fans should collect and how they go about doing so; why more NASCAR teams haven’t started doing this and the outlook to add more. Music created by Tony Monge.
Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Ep. 160 | Aric Almirola Mar 15, 2021

Show notes

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

Ep. 159 | Scott Zipadelli Mar 08, 2021

Show notes

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

Ep. 158 | Ben Rhodes Mar 01, 2021

Show notes

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

Ep. 157 | Freddie Kraft Feb 22, 2021

Show notes

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

Ep. 156 | Rick Houston Feb 15, 2021

Show notes

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

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