The Racing Writer's Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 65: Matt McCall (RWP) Mar 25, 2019

Show notes

The Chip Ganassi Racing No. 1 team is off to a great start in 2019 and crew chief Matt McCall is here to talk about their success. McCall notes about being “somewhat happy” with the way the season has started; why Kurt Busch has been tiptoeing into his new team and how McCall feels about working with a new driver for the first time in a few years; how the communication works between he and Busch as two guys who know race cars; what has surprised McCall about Busch and what about him that is “off” in the media; why a new driver and new package was what the team needed; the focuses of the team to get better and contend with the leaders; how McCall became a racer himself and his love of late models and short tracks; why he didn’t continue with a driving career and chose to work on cars; the differences in being a team engineer and the crew chief; what needs to happen for 2019 to be deemed a successful season for he and Busch. www.bensound.com.

Ep. 64: Justin Allgaier (RWP) Mar 18, 2019

Show notes

Justin Allgaier makes his podcast debut to talk all things JR Motorsports and chasing a championship. Allgaier first explains the challenges of NASCAR’s west coast swing on a race team and how they are just trying to survive these three races; Allgaier’s thoughts on his early season speed and how important it is that all four JRM cars are running well; what are the rules of racing a teammate hard? how Allgaier and the other two full-time cars are adjusting to working with multiple drivers in the #8 this season; the most important things Allgaier can tell rookie Noah Gragson and the impressive phone call Gragson made before joining JRM; revealing how Allgaier came to JRM with a bad attitude and things he needed to change; whether he feels the 7 team is getting stronger over time; how long it took for the sting to go away of not advancing to Homestead last year; if winning a NXS title has always been something he considered realistic; how satisfying life has been being relevant in the sport and Allgaier’s early season forecast of how the championship is going to shake out. Music: www.bensound.com.

Ep. 63: Brett Moffitt (RWP) Mar 11, 2019

Show notes

Truck Series champion Brett Moffitt returns to the podcast to discuss his move to GMS Racing and what he has seen from his new team three races into the season; whether there is a difference going from a Toyota to a Chevrolet; if Moffitt has changed his mindset or pressure being the reigning series champion and wanting top himself; the double-digit number of wins he’s aiming for; insight into working with veteran crew chief Jerry Baxter; whether Moffitt was worried during the offseason he was not going to land something good, although he had options on the table; the humor behind now driving the equipment he beat for the championship last season; stepping up his fitness game working with Josh Wise; having a teammate and what it has been like working with rookie Sheldon Creed; his thoughts on a spread out Truck Series schedule and his plans for the downtime leading to Martinsville. Music: www.bensound.com.

Ep. 62: Kaz Grala (RWP) Mar 04, 2019

Show notes

Kaz Grala has a deal with Richard Childress Racing to drive the 21 in a few races this season and he joins the podcast to provide all the details on how that came together; what it means for the 2020 NASCAR season; why he’s intimidated about starting his season at Texas and explaining how long it’s been since he has been on a mile-and-a-half racetrack; the pressure Grala is putting on himself when it comes to what he expects to do in the car; how a young driver approaches getting an opportunity in good equipment; his thoughts on how the Daytona Xfinity race played out and what he would have done; if Grala watches races as a fan or trying to learn, and what he’s looking for; whether Grala feels like his career has stalled out any by not having a full-time ride; some background on his experience with sports cars and what his aspirations are in that discipline; sharing stories on the other sports he tried while growing up; how many races he anticipates having this year with RCR; Grala’s relationship with new teammate Tyler Reddick; what he’s going to be doing to prepare for his first race at Texas. Music: www.bensound.com.

Ep. 61: Daniel Hemric (RWP) Feb 25, 2019

Show notes

Richard Childress Racing rookie Daniel Hemric is the guest today for a wide-ranging conversation. In this episode Hemric closes the book on what it meant to be in the Daytona 500 and his genuine emotion of being a NASCAR Cup Series driver; working through the communication issues with his new team; how the team bonded throughout the offseason; why he compares the new Cup Series rules package to the Truck Series; staying open-minded about the rules package; selling to RCR fans why the company is headed in the right direction; digging into his relationship with owner Richard Childress; whether his routine has changed now that he’s a Cup Series driver; if he’s bothered having not won in Truck and Xfinity before moving to Cup; if the backflip will happen when he starts winning races. Music: www.bensound.com.

Ep. 60: Remembering Sam Bass (RWP) Feb 20, 2019

Show notes

Sam Bass, the first officially licensed artist for NASCAR, passed away on Feb. 16. Sam was a friend to many, including me, and just an all-around wonderful person. His artwork is legendary and his personality infectious. On this episode I remember Sam with some others who knew him well, including Deb Williams, Dave Moody, Ryan McGee, Matt Weaver, plus a clip from Dale Earnhardt Jr. Then, my own personal sendoff to Sam.

Ep. 59: Austin Hill, Scott Zipadelli, Max McLaughlin (RWP) Feb 04, 2019

Show notes

Ahead of a new Truck Series season the defending series champion crew chief from Hattori Racing and his new driver are here to discuss their pairing and more. Scott Zipadelli shares insight into how the offseason has gone for the 16 team as they waited for the seat to be filled by a new driver; whether the team has had any turnover in personnel after winning the championship; first impressions of Austin Hill, who takes a turn to explain how he landed at HRE as well as his racing background for those unfamiliar; what the social media support has meant to him; Zipadelli breaks down the expectations for his team this season; how far HRE has come since he joined in 2017 and the put work in to get to where they are now; why his team has something to prove and clearing the air on Brett Moffitt leaving; and then how he views the Truck Series and its competition; Hill explains the difference going from a car to a truck and offers a lesson on a driver learning aero and drafting in the trucks; where he thinks his strengths will be this season; and whether he can win in 2019.
After that, Max McLaughlin joins the podcast to share how his deal to run K&N came to be with Hattori; digs into his dirt background and extensive success; why he wants to make the transition from dirt to asphalt; why he didn’t run more Truck Series races with Niece Motorsports in 2018 after making his debut at Eldora; learning from dad Mike, who has competed on dirt and in NASCAR; what he anticipates doing as he works in the Hattori shop on a weekly basis and expectations for the season. Music: www.bensound.com.

Ep. 58: Deb Williams on the Hall of Fame Class of 2019 (RWP) Jan 28, 2019

Show notes

Deb Williams makes a return to the podcast for a discussion on the 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class. Not only has Deb covered all five individuals (Jeff Gordon, Roger Penske, Jack Roush, Davey Allison, and Alan Kulwicki) but she also spent a few years working for one! Ahead of this Friday’s induction ceremony (which you can watch on NBCSN at 8 p.m. ET), we dig into all five members of the new class with stories and thoughts on each. From Allison and Kulwicki fittingly going in together, Gordon being the headliner who has seemingly done everything, to great memories working for Penske and the always outspoken Roush. Music: www.bensound.com.

Ep. 57: Andrew Kurland, NASCAR Acceleration Nation (RWP) Jan 14, 2019

Show notes

Andrew Kurland might be one of the youngest media members in NASCAR, but you’d never know it by how he handles himself. In this episode Andrew describes what he does for NASCAR Acceleration Nation; the unconventional way he started interviewing drivers in the garage; the commitment he receives from NASCAR to make races; the importance of working alongside his dad and how dedicated his father is to make things work for Andrew; the challenges he’s encountered working in the sport; how far he’s come feeling comfortable in the garage area; drivers he enjoys covering and one who is on his bucket list; background on how he got into the sport and making the transition from fan to journalist and learning objectivity; why he started his own podcast; looking ahead to college and balancing wanting to be at the racetrack; his highlights from the ’18 season. Music: www.bensound.com.

Ep. 56: Chris Buescher (RWP) Jan 07, 2019

Show notes

Chris Buescher says he’s starting to feel like a veteran and after his third full Cup season he evaluates what went right and what went wrong; explains how much work JTG has begun to do in-house; the benefit of having an alliance with Hendrick Motorsports; what success is with the 37 team; the fight for consistency; his mixed emotions on the new rules package; dealing with respect on the track and how he’s raced differently further up the leaderboard; how he feels he’s adapted to the Cup Series; whether being out of the spotlight has been nice after his Xfinity title and unexpected Pocono win; the stability of staying with the same team for multiple years; welcoming Ryan Preece to the company and working with the younger driver; expectations for the 2019 season. Music: www.bensound.com.

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