The Racing Writer's Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 85: Jeff Burton (RWP) Sep 03, 2019

Show notes

Jeff Burton is known as the ‘mayor’ because he’s always good for a quote or in-depth conversation. Burton lives up to that moniker today as he discusses NBC Sports again picking up the schedule at an exciting time for the sport; what has felt different this year compared to his first few as a broadcaster; whether broadcasting gets easier with time but how live TV is always going to have its challenges. Burton also reveals how one’s belief of what happened during an incident looks completely different inside versus outside of the race car (stay tuned for a Danica Patrick story!); Burton explains how he handled covering the Xfinity Series race at New Hampshire that featured his son Harrison; learning from Ned Jarrett; separating personal and professional in covering someone Burton may not like; his open-door policy with drivers to talk to him if they don’t like what they are hearing about themselves or the sport; Burton reveals how he’s had driver’s parents reach out to him during races; if being a former competitor has helped Burton in this role and why he says you have to work hard to stay on top of things. Plus, how has this job challenged Burton? The reason he scrolls through social media during the races; what he was most nervous about when deciding to joining NBC; what goes into Burton’s prep work, and does he have anything on his broadcast bucket list? Music created by Tony Monge.
Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Ep. 84: Austin Cindric (RWP) Aug 26, 2019

Show notes

Austin Cindric is red hot right now in the Xfinity Series and that includes finally scoring his first career win(s). Cindric is here to talk about getting the monkey off his back and how much, if anything, it has changed and whether the ones that got away stick with him. A funny story of how Johnny O’Connell motivates Cindric in the gym; if the season has gone as expected now that he’s a full-time driver for Team Penske; how mentally and physically different it has been just focusing on one team after spending ’18 jumping between Penske and Roush; expressing how he wanted his first win to be on an oval; how Cindric’s developed a new wave of confidence in what he’s doing; why he could have used another year in the Truck Series; what has been the biggest struggle in his career that has taken time to learn; Cindric explains his professional and personal growth from the last few years; if being a winner solidifies his sense of belonging in the Xfinity Series; looking ahead at the strengths and weaknesses of the 22 team for the playoffs. And is Austin Cindric the fourth championship contender? Music created by Tony Monge.
Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Ep. 83: Gray Gaulding (RWP) Aug 19, 2019

Show notes

Gray Gaulding understands he was once viewed as young and dumb, donut boy, and that he made some mistakes as he climbed the racing ladder, and he’s not afraid to talk about it! Gaulding opens up about the career year he’s now having with Bobby Dotter and how their relationship started even before Gray had ever turned a single lap on a racetrack; how this year Gaulding has felt he’s had to prove himself even though he believes he can perform in the right opportunity; why he feels comfortable expressing his opinions and emotions even though he’s not in the best stuff; the ways in which Gaulding compares himself to an NFL or NBA player; how he views making or missing the playoffs. Gaulding started off as a motorcycle guy so he explains how the racing bug bit him and how a love for NASCAR started; why mom finally said he needed to get in something with seatbelts; the story of Gaulding connecting with Kevin Harvick, getting a go-kart from him and eventually beating Harvick in a race; how that led to a development deal; why he feels like his standout image has worked against him; owning up to being young and knocking drivers out the way; if he’s felt that his reputation has changed for the better; the ups and downs of being the ambassador for Krispy Kreme; looking into the future of Gaulding’s five year plan. Music: Tony Monge.
Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Ep. 82: Daniel Suarez (RWP) Aug 12, 2019

Show notes

Daniel Suarez certainly thought making the playoffs with Stewart-Haas Racing would be easier, but he’s in a fight to make the postseason. Suarez reveals how SHR went in a different direction for a few weeks this summer trying things and then had to reverse course; why he’s so confident that his 41 team will make the playoffs and win a race in the new few months; trying to explain why he feels more confident and comfortable at SHR, and the differences with what he felt with Joe Gibbs; did Suarez think trying to win a Cup Series race would be easier? We also dig into the new aero package and how much of an adjustment that has been; the close relationship between Suarez, crew chief Billy Scott and the entire team; interactions between Suarez and team co-owner Tony Stewart; admitting his weakness is being patient; whether Suarez feels he has delivered on what he said coming into the year on proving to people what he can do. Music: Tony Monge.
Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Ep. 81: Ty Gibbs & Riley Herbst (RWP) Aug 05, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to the Ty and Riley show! Ty Gibbs and Riley Herbst are good friends and fun personalities, and they show that off on today’s show. We begin on a semi-serious note talking about Gibbs finally breaking through for his first career ARCA Series win back at Gateway and how the Joe Gibbs Racing program has been fast but just needs the finishes to match. But then it turns into a wild ride with talk of running a Formula 1 car on the Eldora dirt (in a video game); how they began friends and how much of their shenanigans they can talk about; being banned at go-kart tracks; if they are competitive with each other; Gibbs offers up some insight about his personality such as likes and dislikes for music and food, why Dash from “The Incredibles” is his social media profile picture; a message from both about staying in school and much more! Music: Tony Monge.
Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Ep. 80: Rick Houston and Steve Waid (RWP) Jul 29, 2019

Show notes

Meet Rick Houston and Steve Waid, the gentlemen who have brought back Grand National Scene for Throwback Weekend at Darlington. The two sit down to discuss the project and the beloved publication that is no more as well as their popular podcast, The Scene Vault. How did a commemorative issue come to be? Was it a hard sell to Darlington? Both reveal the emotions behind holding the printed layout of the magazine – for the first in 10 years; the hurdles they needed to overcome; their thoughts on the throwback concept; an update on how the battle is going to restore the newspaper collection. Plus, how The Scene Vault podcast came to be and the important audio that helped get it started; insight into how they book their interviews; how it’s been good for the soul to relive moments of NASCAR history and if they are now able to share more of the story. Is there a bucket list guest for their podcast? The guys also share what is coming on their podcast. Music: Tony Monge.
Lionel Racing is the market leader in the design, promotion and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. A division of Lionel Trains, Lionel Racing makes and sells replica NASCAR® and other racing die-cast through a variety of channels, including corporate and national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Located near Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lionel Racing has the pulse of the motorsports community and is committed to giving fans the very best in die-cast collectibles. For more information, visit www.lionelracing.com.

Ep. 79: Matt Tifft (RWP) Jul 15, 2019

Show notes

Front Row Motorsports rookie Matt Tifft has found that expectations for competing in the Cup Series are a little bit different from reality. Tifft talks about what his ‘welcome to Cup’ moment was early in the season; the difference in intensity from Xfinity to the Cup Series; if not having a win in the Xfinity Series before moving to Cup bothers him; if Tifft can feel the difference in race lengths from Xfinity to Cup; digging into how a young driver learns and works to improve; the importance of having more data available in the Cup Series; learning the digital dash; what information he likes to use the most; how he feels about the simulator; the benefit of having a veteran crew chief in Mike Kelley and teammates David Ragan and Michael McDowell; how comfortable Tifft is speaking up in competition meetings; what teams FRM looks at that they need to beat every weekend to be successful; how different it has been for Tifft to change his personal expectations; breaking down a competitive, but not flashy, battle for Rookie of the Year. Music: www.bensound.com.

Ep. 78: Harrison Burton (RWP) Jul 01, 2019

Show notes

Harrison Burton is ready to “take it” on track in the NASCAR Truck Series and he’s going to tell you what that means. The ROY candidate for Kyle Busch Motorsports assesses what will make his team go from good to great; why he might have to change his methodical driving style; if his first full season is playing out as expected; if he struggles with his confidence and what led Burton to punching some metal stairs recently; his outlook for the playoffs now that Ross Chastain has thrown a wrench into the grid; if he’s a driver who asks questions of veterans around him; does he ever wish his last name wasn’t Burton and he didn’t drive for Kyle Busch? What it was like getting behind the wheel of a Xfinity Series car. Reflecting on the ending of his high school career, being able to focus more on racing, whether he’ll go to college, and it’s like for a driver balancing school work and racing responsibilities; what his ‘racing with #somethingtoprove' means in his Twitter bio; and looking at the next few Truck Series races he’d like to capitalize on before the dirt race at Eldora rolls around. Music: www.bensound.com.

Ep. 77: Jamie McMurray (RWP) Jun 24, 2019

Show notes

Jamie McMurray is fully immersed in his new role as a member of the NASCAR on FOX team and he’s revealing how the transition has gone from what’s been fun to overwhelming and even the difference in expectations versus reality. What does his preparation look like and how does a day and week progress? McMurray also expresses how he uses his teammates for help on approaching his role; going from being focused on his team and career to discussing the entire sport, storylines, and drivers; how McMurray approaches offering an opinion and analysis; why interviewing drivers is the hardest part of the job and how that has changed his perspective on interviews. Does McMurray miss racing? Will he ever get behind the wheel again in NASCAR or somewhere else? How it has been working in the new FOX studio which is nothing more than a giant green screen; whether or not he analyzes his work; thoughts on how much he feels he knows the sport now versus when he was a driver; if McMurray has any desire to one day be in the race broadcast booth; if there is any reason why it seems McMurray has been more active on social media lately; what he is looking at as the second half of the NASCAR season begins. Music: www.bensound.com.

Ep. 76: Jeb Burton (RWP) Jun 18, 2019

Show notes

Jeb Burton is one of a few drivers getting the opportunity in JR Motorsports equipment this season and he’s very grateful for it. On this episode Burton offers early analysis of how things have been going with the 8 team; his belief in being able to win races with this team and how important that would be to him; the emotion of having the opportunity in good equipment; the dark days of wondering if he’d ever get the chance after things went downhill in the Truck Series; how mentally strong a driver has to be to deal with the tough business side of racing like Burton; why he fits in at JR Motorsports; how receptive Burton has been working with the other JRM drivers and teams; how Burton keeps buys when he’s not in the car; if he pushes too hard to succeed knowing he has good equipment; answering where Jeb Burton can get the job done against the best when given good equipment; how he’s already working on 2020 plans; explaining how involved he is in making deals happen and advancing his career; why he’s also running Cup Series races and prospects for the remainder of the year. Music: www.bensound.com.

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