Victory Lane

Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Blake Harris joins Davey Segal (7:15) to discuss getting off to a hot start in 2024, replicating their early 2023 success and what that'll take to make happen. He also dives into the relationship with Alex Bowman, getting hired at Hendrick Motorsports and time spent in Colorado with Furniture Row Racing. Plus, how he met his wife Kaitlyn Vincie of NASCAR on FOX, stories from his driving days in Texas, the infamous yellow go-kart, who the best bowler on the No. 48 team, ginger or yum-yum sauce (you'll get it, I promise) and more Papa Segal also pays homage to the late Cale Yarborough as the 66th running of the Daytona 500 is in the rearview mirror.

Happy Daytona race week! 2021 winner of the Great American Race Michael McDowell joins Davey Segal (7:00) to discuss his mindset heading into the 2024 season, coming off a career-best year that saw him make the playoffs, his relationship with crew chief Travis Peterson and things staying the same on the No. 34 team. McDowell also chats about the process to get to the closing laps on Sunday, starting weeks (and months) before cars hit the track in Daytona, how the Next Gen car has helped teams like Front Row Motorsports, what his expectations are for the upcoming year and why he feels like he has a lot ahead of him despite being a series veteran who's experienced the highest highs and lowest lows. Papa Segal also pays homage to Perfect Peter Grigg and Davey previews the opening points-paying weekend of the 2024 season.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Crew Chief Ben Beshore joins Davey Segal (7:50) to discuss the teams transition from Chevrolet to Toyota and his acclimation process back to the Cup Series after spending some time in the Xfinity Series. He also dives into what makes he and driver John Hunter Nemechek click, who called who to get him with LMC and more. Beshore also outlines how he feels about the short track package for 2023, why having a year under his belt with the Next Gen car may pay major dividends this season, his humble upbringing in Pennsylvania, what brought him to Virginia Tech, working with his brother RJ on the same pit crew and how often people STILL mispronounce his name. Papa Segal also pays homage to some recent Hall of Fame inductees by reminiscing on "Tiregate" as we inch closer and closer to the start of the 2024 racing season.

Newly named Spire Motorsports driver Chase Purdy joins Davey Segal (6:00) to ring in 2024 and another year of the pod. They discuss their mutual hatred for Michigan (but congrats, I guess), why his new opportunity with Spire Motorsports isn't really all that new, working with crew chief Jason Trinchere, how Spire is beefing up their program ahead of their first full-time Truck Series campaign and working with teammates Carson Hocevar, Zane Smith and Corey LaJoie. Purdy also discusses his career year in 2023 and why he's aiming for bigger and better in 2024, getting more comfortable in the seat after his two-year hiatus, how he deals with being labeled as a "pay driver" and more, including his background to get to this point and realistic expectations for this season. Papa Segal also pays homage to Hurley Haywood ahead of the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.

Kaden Honeycutt joins Davey Segal (6:50) on the heels of another runner-up finish in the Thanksgiving Classic. He explains why the finish stung for multiple reasons, the battle late with Josh Berry and Brenden "Butterbean" Queen and whether or not he'll increase his aggressiveness moving forward. He also details his upbringing and start in motorsports in Texas, the moment he realized he was capable of doing and achieving big things, making racing more than just a hobby, the influence of his father Kirby on his career, winning the ARCA West owners championship for MMI Racing, working at Niece Motorsports while racing against them in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, when his 2024 plans could be announced, previewing the Snowball Derby this weekend and more. Plus, Papa Segal pays homage to a famed member of the Alabama Gang.

The champ is here! Tire changer on the No. 12 Cup Series championship winning team Ryan "Skip" Flores joins Davey Segal (6:15) to discuss the title winning afternoon the squad had on pit road, including the money stop, the pressure associated with performing in the Championship 4 and what it now feels like to officially be a champion. Skip also compares what it's like to win a Daytona 500 as a tire changer compared to a championship, how journey to get to this point as a veteran changer in the Cup Series, from getting fired in the middle of the Daytona 500 to being doubted by countless people along the way. He also shares how he used those haters as motivation, what he's planning for the banquet in Nashville and more. Davey also discusses all three national series' finales, including Corey Heim and Carson Hocevar's run-in, Ben Rhodes' second title, Cole Custer's triumph, Blaney's hot streak culminating in his first career championship and Papa Segal also pays homage to Fonty Flock.

Ahead of Championship Weekend in Phoenix, Dr. Eric Warren, a literal rocket scientist, joins Davey Segal (6:17) to discuss Chevrolet clinching all 3 NASCAR national series manufacturer championships in what's been an ultra-successful season to date. Warren shares his thoughts on Chevrolet's chances of bringing home additional driver and owner championships this weekend, what his title as Executive Director of Global Motorsports Competition entails and his humble beginnings in the sport. Dr. Warren, who received his PhD from N.C. State in the late 1990s, explains how he helped further advance science and technology into the motorsports landscape, why he had to learn how to be a racer (despite his accent), helping create the first unofficial "war room" and how it helped immensely during COVID as well as the planning and building of the GM Technical Center in Charlotte and more. Davey also previews the Truck, Xfinity and Cup Series Championship 4 from Phoenix Raceway, the weekend that was at Martinsville Speed

Champion crew chief Rodney Childers joins Davey Segal (6:25) on the heels of the sentimental weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where he gave the command to fire engines. He details the moment with his family, why he didn’t have an Adam Sandler moment, gathering members from the 2014 championship team to reminisce, take photos and the No. 4 team’s up and down race on Sunday. Childers also discusses his desire to give Kevin Harvick one more win in his final season, why their partnership has worked so well for so long, how 2024 preparations are coming along with his soon-to-be driver Josh Berry and recently eclipsing the 600 starts mark as a shot caller in the Cup Series. Plus, his work with Layne Riggs and KHI Management on the late model side of things, why Michael Jordan’s continued presence at the track is beyond cool, what he thinks about the current landscape of the sport and more, including a fun story about Davey’s experience watching the No. 4 team win the 2014 championship. Davey also discusses C

Lauren Edwards of Reine Digital and Consulting joins Davey Segal this week (5:30) to discuss her unique role in the racing industry behind the scenes and how she's built a company that's vital to many drivers and brands on a daily basis. Edwards recalls the origin of Reine Digital, stemming from a call from a gondola in Colorado from Jimmie Johnson, and why pushing her outside her comfort zone was a blessing in disguise. Edwards explains how she built her company from the ground up, why she never aspired to be a business owner or work in NASCAR, how she initially got involved in the industry with Hall of Fame Racing, the Sprint program and eventually developing a social presence for Jimmie Johnson at the early onset of social media. Plus, Edwards shares which social campaign she's most proud of, what the future of Reine may look like (inside and outside of motorsports), the importance of empowering women in a male dominated industry and more. Davey also discusses Kyle Larson's Las Vegas win, Ryan Blaney's

2023 ARCA Menards Series East champion and Joe Gibbs Racing development driver William Sawalich joins Davey Segal (6:15) to discuss his wildly successful season to date, ending his ARCA season in Victory Lane at Toledo and how big of a change it's been to dip his toe into the Truck Series competition wise. A first generation racer from Minnesota, Sawalich explains what sparked his interest in motorsports in the first place, the pride he takes in being a Minnesotan, how his schooling works while pursuing a career in racing and why he can't wait until he turns 18. He also dishes on how he got hooked up with Toyota, JGR and TRICON Garage, his interesting nickname, the dynamic of his sister dating one of his future competitors, what it's like working with people significantly older than him, his 2024 (and 2025) plans in NASCAR's national series and more, including his outlook on some upcoming late model races to close out the calendar year. Davey also discusses the Round of 12 finale at the Charlotte Motor Spe

You know him, you love him, and you wish you had his hair (at least I wish I do). The legendary Boris Said joins Davey Segal this week (7:30) ahead of his start for Hendrick Motorsports in the Xfinity Series at the Charlotte ROVAL. Said explains how the deal came together as an early Christmas present from Rick Hendrick, his time in the sport spanning multiple decades, how he's seen road course racing evolve and what he thinks the future of road course racing with stock cars looks like. Said also explains why winning at the Nürburgring is one of his top career accomplishments, that famed day in 2010 at Montreal where he earned his first career NASCAR win, the close call at Daytona in 2006, how and why he got started relatively late in racing, and of course, his infamous spat with Greg Biffle at Watkins Glen. Plus, what does he think realistic expectations are for the weekend? If things go well, will this be his last time ever racing in NASCAR? Does he still think Biffle is "the most unprofessional little sc

Crew Chief Dave Elenz joins Davey Segal (7:20) to discuss LEGACY Motor Club's recent uptick in speed, including the No. 43 teams run at Texas. They also discuss how Elenz is re-adjusting to life in the Cup Series, this time as a crew chief, why he waited purposefully for the Next Gen era, why the driver is more important than ever and how the relationship he has with driver Erik Jones works so well. Elenz also reminisces on his early days growing up in Michigan, always surrounded by racing and eventually pursuing it as a career. After graduating from Clemson with an engineering degree, Elenz had stops at Jasper, MB2, Red Bull and Penske before landing at Hendrick Motorsports, where he won the 2013 Cup Series championship with Jimmie Johnson. Elenz explains why that achievement was beyond his wildest dreams and details the celebration (or lack thereof) afterwords. Plus, who calls him David? What's it like to crew chief from the war room while suspended? How did his back-to-back Xfinity Series championships c

LEGACY Motor Club's Joey Cohen joins Davey Segal (6:15) to discuss the teams recent surge of speed with Erik Jones and Carson Hocevar, the recent signing of John Hunter Nemechek and what he can bring to the team in 2024, the impending manufacturer switch to Toyota and how his day-to-day duties changed with his recent title change from Competition Director to VP of Operations. Cohen also relives his racing days as a driver, recalls his college years in Charlotte being classmates with Cliff Daniels, Rudy Fugle and other successful crew chiefs, interning with Hendrick Motorsports, being an early adopter to simulation tools and analytics in NASCAR and explains what it's like answering to two 7-time champions in Jimmie Johnson and Richard Petty. Plus, why he doesn't crew chief much anymore, what LEGACY's goals for the remainder of the season are, his side hustle(s) and why he may need a visit to the infield care center come Talladega weekend. Davey also recaps the Round of 16 finale at Bristol, Kevin Harvick an

Fresh off their first ever playoff berth, Big Machine Racing crew chief Patrick Donahue joins Davey Segal (6:05) to discuss the relief of locking up a postseason spot after their impressive day at Kansas. He explains the satisfaction he's had with building the team from nothing, how he got hooked up with team owner Scott Borchetta in the first place, Parker Kligerman's growth as a driver this season, their technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing and more. Donahue, who's been around the sport for over two decades, recalls his early stops at Hendrick Motorsports where he worked with a young Jeff Gordon and Ray Evernham, building other race teams from nothing to something, some stories from the infamous BK Racing days and more. Plus, would he ever entertain a move back to the Cup Series as a crew chief? And how far does he think Big Machine Racing can realistically go in these playoffs? Davey recaps Tyler Reddick's OT win at Kansas, Martin Truex Jr.'s struggles heading into the Round of 16 cutoff, pr

We've made it: Episode 200 is HERE! And one of the biggest guests in podcast history joins Davey Segal (4:45) celebrate the landmark episode: Kyle Larson. It's "Yung Money" like you've never heard before, as he discusses life on and off the racetrack, including whether he likes his nickname or not, his crew chief Cliff Daniels' competitive spirit (and is he actually a robot?), if he's ever gotten into a fight at the track and being a father of three. Larson also recalls the first time he saw his wife, Kaitlyn, shotgun a beer, what's on his racing bucket list, how Indianapolis 500 preparations are coming along, the next race he really wants (or wanted...) to win, how he feels about being compared to racing legends and how he feels about bringing home Cup Series championship No. 2 in 2023. Davey also reflects on 200 episodes of the pod and shares what lies ahead for the show.

Trackhouse Racing Director of Performance, Project 91 crew chief and Cup Series champion Darian Grubb joins Davey Segal (6:05) to discuss his all-encompassing role at the team and gearing up for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Grubb explains what his role entails on a daily basis, why he got back stop the pit box for Project 91, the unforgettable weekend in Chicago with Shane van Gisbergen and the feelings of visiting Victory Lane again as a crew chief. Grubb also explains what makes Trackhouse different, what attracted him about the organization, what he's learned after stops along the way at Hendrick, SHR, JGR and more as well as working with Hall of Fame talent like Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin. He also relives the memorable 2011 season that saw him simultaneously lose his job and win a championship with Smoke over Carl Edwards. Plus, what's the latest on SVG's move to NASCAR? Would he entertain a move back to full-time crew chiefing? How much satisfaction does he get from helping build

Daytona International Speedway Track President Frank Kelleher joins Davey Segal (7:30) ahead of the stock car world descending on The World Center of Racing for the Cup Series regular season finale. The two discuss preparations for this weekend compared to February's Daytona 500, all the motorsports events the facility puts on throughout a calendar year and how Kelleher's role has changed dramatically since taking this position. Kelleher also details his racing background as a WKA Karting champion, his humble roots in Scranton, Pennsylvania, racing with fellow NASCAR executives (including Ben Kennedy), why he's worked for one company and one company only over 20+ years in the sport, why he stays in a RV in the track campgrounds during big weekends, his impressive blazer collection, Wawa and Coke Zero Sugar intake and more. Davey discusses the relatively straightforward race at Watkins Glen, previews Daytona and explains why NASCAR's new deal with Netflix is a big deal for all involved. Plus, Papa Segal pays

Winner winner Brickyard dinner! Front Row Motorsports crew chief Travis Peterson joins Davey Segal this week to revel in and discuss the No. 34 teams triumphant and dominant Indianapolis Road Course win (5:55). Peterson explains the satisfaction of dominating the race instead of lucking into a win, the nerves he had before and during the race, how small FRM is comparably to some other large teams he's worked with and where/how Michael McDowell stacks up on the long list of drivers and Hall of Famers he's worked with. Peterson explains the lunch conversation that started it all and why McDowell liked one of his answers to a question, proving himself, doing more with less at Front Row, why the win wasn't a huge surprise, outlook for the playoffs, Watkins Glen this upcoming weekend and more. Davey also discusses the Verizon 200 more in depth, including the length and time of the race, International drivers' performances and the fierce bubble battle with two races to go before the postseason. He also looks ahea

NASCAR's favorite "Gaucho" Miguel Paludo joins Davey Segal ahead of his third and final start this season for JR Motorsports on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course (6:40). Paludo dives into the performance of his first two races this season, the struggle of getting into a rhythm while running a partial schedule and comparisons of the Xfinity car to his Porsche Carrera GT3 Cup car he races overseas. Paludo also dives into why and how he got involved in GT3 racing, the Brazilian racing culture, the influence the great Ayrton Senna had on him and the nation, why he opted to move to the United States to pursue NASCAR full-time, his time with Red Horse Racing and Turner Scott Motorsports in the Truck Series and why adapting to NASCAR was so difficult (and long). Plus, does he have any interest in running the Next Gen car? What does he make of all the international drivers flocking to NASCAR? Why does he still travel overseas multiple times per month? The answers to those questions and more are in this al

Christian Eckes is no stranger to the playoffs, but giving McAnally-Hilgemann Racing their first ever postseason berth is something to be proud of. Eckes joins Davey Segal this week (7:00) to discuss his mindset ahead of the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series playoffs, his two wins this season at Atlanta and Darlington, the ups and downs of his career to get to this point, rebounding after leaving Kyle Busch Motorsports and how the deal to get hooked up with Bill McAnally came together. Eckes also dives into his newfound leadership role at the team, working with crew chief Charles Denike and teammate Jake Garcia, what it's like and what it's going to be like racing good friend Zane Smith for a championship, winning the Snowball Derby as a young teenager and the wild story of why he missed a race during his ARCA championship season. Plus, his timeline for moving up the national series ranks, his physical fitness regimen, a preview of the first round of the playoffs, whether consistency or winning will get you from round