The Racing Writer's Podcast

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Ep. 305 | David Ragan Jul 15, 2024

Show notes

David Ragan might not be a full-time NASCAR driver anymore but he hasn’t gone far. Ragan is still involved in the sport and we’re catching up this week to see what that is like and life post-driving. We start our conversation about Ragan doing simulator work for Ford; what does and does not translate to the racetrack; still having deep ties to Ford; the transition to post full-time racing life, and having time for other things in life; racing just enough to scratch the itch; the difficulty of competing on a limited basis; the changing perspective on his career the further in the rearview it gets; the end of Race Hub; being more plugged into the sport now than when he was driving; doing the EV demo in Chicago and things learned along the way with the project; the feel of driving an electric race car and the difference in steering wheel; his message to fans about the EV.
Original music created by Tony Monge.
Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Ep. 304 | Jeg Coughlin Jr. Jun 24, 2024

Show notes

Jeg Coughlin Jr. doesn’t look like a driver who retired for three years because he’s back in NHRA Pro Stock competition, and back to winning races. Before heading to his home track this weekend, Coughlin discusses what it’s like to indeed be back with Elite Motorsports; getting back up to speed on the racetrack; a driver falling behind when out of the seat for an extended period; the competitiveness of the class; coming back into competition with a team/people he knew; seeing his nephew pilot the famous black and yellow JEGS colors; having a new identity of his own in the SCAG colors; the time being right to come back; the contrast of his retirement year in a pandemic to a thriving sport now; assessing the first part of the season and having two wins; any different feelings with winning now versus before retirement; previewing Norwalk and a potential first win there.
Original music created by Tony Monge.
Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Ep. 303 | Jon Wood Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

Jon Wood has been president of Wood Brothers Racing for nearly two months, and while he was already doing some of the responsibilities, there’s still been an adjustment period. Wood is back on the show to discuss if his leading the team was always the plan; the company being around longer than expected in the racing business; the added weight and pressure that comes with working for the family team; the dynamic of a family business; having a different sense of connection with the company because of the new role; the state of the union on Wood Brothers Racing and looking at the future; not just wanting to be in the sport but be relevant; the decision to go full-time again in 2016 being the right one; the difference in performance with a Team Penske alliance; being prepared for tough decisions and conversations, and the harsh reality that brings; the work and effort not seen by race fans.
Original music created by Tony Monge.
Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Ep. 302 | Ash Vandelay Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

The media world is changing and that means how people are consuming content. Along the way comes titles such as ‘Content Creator,’ such as Ash Vandelay. We’re having an open conversation about the role this weekend. But we start with her having a stage name for her online pages; recently moving to Charlotte; her background in content creation; adjusting to doing work from the racetrack; what seems to be the most popular with the social media algorithm; using the label of content creator and how the motorsports landscape is changing; having access and using it correctly or effectively; not all content is meant for everyone; playing the algorithm game; the toughest thing about creating in the motorsports space; the substance and effort behind posting content; doing a part for inclusion of women in motorsports; a message for others or those coming into content creation.
Original music created by Tony Monge.
Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Ep. 301 | Doug Duchardt Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

Doug Duchardt, the president of Spire Motorsports, has been busy since joining the organization at the end of 2023. Duchardt takes us inside the walls of the race shop and how things are going for everyone; the expectations versus reality moments for him with a new organization; going from established, successful companies to one trying to get to that level; having incentives in place for team members through the season; bringing experience from other companies to Spire; the importance of mindset for employees; the special feeling around the Truck Series program; the comfort of having younger talent in the pipeline; how big it was to sign Michael McDowell; focusing on the tangibles and intangibles McDowell brings; making the 71 a full-fledged Spire Motorsports effort; changing expectations for 2025; managing the number of cars in an organization; a look at the three drivers under the Spire Motorsports banner this season; grading the organization halfway through the regular season and forecasting the rest of the season.
Original music created by Tony Monge.
Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Ep. 300 | Chris Gabehart May 27, 2024

Show notes

Chris Gabehart is offering more insight into what race day is like for a Cup Series team after allowing full access at Darlington Raceway. Gabehart explains digging into the data to form and execution during the race; the hours of work that take place after leaving the garage on Saturdays; taking the information from Saturday’s on-track activities and finding the medium with expectations for Sunday; being pretty sure of the approach going into the race; knowing early how the race is going to unfold; the facetime with Denny Hamlin on race day; painting a picture of the information available on the pit box and the radio channels; Gabehart tracking his car and monitoring the competition; managing information from the data versus Hamlin’s feedback; the television broadcast being a part of the information Gabehart wants; starting the screen war on the pit box; dealing with the internet going down on the pit box; the differences between resources on a pit box in the Xfinity Series and the Cup Series; conversations on the private radio channels; the difficulty of being aware of how the race is playing out outside the 11 team; the takeaway of being embedded with a race team.
https://racer.com/2024/05/14/race-day-with-chris-gabehart-and-the-joe-gibbs-racing-no-11-team/
Original music created by Tony Monge.
Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Ep. 299 | Jade Avedisian May 20, 2024

Show notes

Jade Avedisian is a name that you’re going to keep hearing about if you haven’t already. Avedisian is a dirt star who is beginning to transition into pavement racing, too. And with the attention comes interview requests, which she’s enjoying after one day hoping it would happen. Avedisian explains what that means; having NASCAR stars like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell believe in her talent; having a calm and focused personality; understanding the balance of life with racing and being a teenager; what’s to come this year; expectations for going back and forth between dirt and pavement; working with a spotter for the first time; getting into racing at a young age but taking time to stick; the craziness of dirt racing; dirt racing helping pavement racing; what a lap is like behind the wheel of a dirt midget; the sensation of a flip or wild ride in a midget; the opportunity to run GR Cup this season; what the most thrilling thing about racing is for her and the accomplishment most proud of so far; how important it is to have a championship on her resume; the experience of doing ice racing; the desire to go Cup Series racing one day; where to watch her race and follow her online.
Original music created by Tony Monge.
Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Ep. 298 | Angie Skinner (pt. II) May 13, 2024

Show notes

It’s the second part of our conversation with Angie Skinner, and it’s chock-full of laughs. Skinner discusses the dynamic of ‘Skinner Roundup’ for SiriusXM NASCAR Radio as husband and wife; wanting to be involved more on the radio; thoughts on staying visible in the sport and asking for what you want; the misperceptions about the personalities of the Skinners; recalling the start of the Craftsman Truck Series; the story of how Mike got back into the Truck Series years later and the others who followed; tales of shady team owners, aligning with Toyota and racing with Bill Davis; rivalries and memories of Truck Series competition; what people should know about Angie Skinner.
Original music created by Tony Monge.
Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Ep. 297 | Angie Skinner (pt. I) May 06, 2024

Show notes

The view is different but the fun is still the same for Angie Skinner at the NASCAR racetrack. Skinner explains how she gets to mix business and pleasure on the road these days; goes in-depth on how the sport has evolved, including its merchandise; not being a typical driver’s wife and working hard to have her own identity; the jobs along the way and wanting to focus more on herself; striving to be creatively challenged but not pigeonholed; aiming to imitate Barbara Walters when looking at some upcoming projects.
Original music created by Tony Monge.
Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Ep. 296 | Kenny Lubanski Apr 01, 2024

Show notes

Kenny Lubanski is an old friend and our paths have crossed again in the racing world. We’re going in between the lanes of an NHRA drag racing as we learn what a co-starter is and the many responsibilities it entails; how to operate the Christmas tree; working his way into the position; the unique travel schedule and options; getting his start at Englishtown and persistently handing out a resume to break into the NHRA; being next to starting line blow-ups and massive incidents; having nerves of steel at the starting line; working on the track after a rain delay or incident; wearing rubber for days; why someone should experience a drag race at the racetrack.
Original music created by Tony Monge.
Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

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