Victory Lane

Truck Series competitor Colby Howard joins Davey (6:25) to dive into his motorsports career which has led him to piloting the No. 91 Chevrolet for McAnally-Higlemann Racing in the Truck Series. But before he was on four wheels on pavement, he raced on two wheels on dirt. He recalls the accidents and hospital visits that led him to ultimately pursue stock cars. A third generation racer, Howard explains why motorsports was always going to be a part of his life in some form or fashion, how he wound up making his first Truck Series starts with Young's Motorsports and what it was like racing on an intermediate track for the first time. From there, he joined JD Motorsports before unceremoniously splitting toward the end of the 2021 season. Howard gets real about the split, how it went down, his feelings about it and why he made the decision to go down to the Truck Series with MHR full-time from the Xfinity Series. He also dives into his relationship with teammate Derek Kraus, the lack of practice for a younger dr

The man known as HD3, Howie DiSavino III, joins Davey Segal (7:35) to discuss his career in motorsports as a first-generation racer. He dives into how racing got on his radar while growing up on a farm in Chesterfield, Virginia, the trip to Richmond Raceway that wound up being the catalyst for his career, getting started in arena racing, why he calls going late model racing after that "the dumbest step" of his development and racing at iconic tracks like Southside and Dominion. DiSavino's ARCA debut was a memorable one at Elko Speedway, as he came home with a top 10 finish. He recalls that event, his first time running on the high banks of Daytona, his Truck Series debut and the decision to race at Las Vegas mere days after losing his mother to cancer. He also discusses how he met Austin Theriault, how instrumental the former driver has been in his career, giving back to the veteran and cancer communities, how he wound up with Alpha Prime Racing and the approach he takes with limited practice. Davey discus

Tasked with being one of the many voices of NASCAR at the Motor Racing Network, Alex Hayden joins Davey Segal (6:25) to discuss his unique background and career in and out of motorsports. He dives into why he initially wanted to go into medicine or acting before racing, his time working at Universal Studios and playing football in high school before racing came calling. Hayden explains how his father's job as a racing photographer was the catalyst for his passion in motorsports, how he got his first job at Wayne County Speedway and the memorable story of a secret tape recording wound up helping him land an audition at MRN. After nerves at Disney World Speedway, Hayden officially was a member of the team, and did so with broadcasting legends by his side in the late 1990s at Rockingham Speedway. He dives into what his first race on the mic was like, progression from pit reporter to turn announcer to now in the booth, the moment he felt like he'd made it in the sport, advice from the late Barney Hall (includin

Fresh off a top 10 finish in his Truck Series debut, late model ace Layne Riggs joins Davey Segal (6:50) to discuss how the race went, why he wanted more despite turning plenty of heads at IRP, how the deal came together in the first place and why he's even more excited to head to Richmond for his second race with Halmar Friesen Racing. After his debut, Riggs (on virtually no sleep) won at Dominion Raceway the next day, continuing his success in the Weekly Series. He explains why he opted to gun for that championship in 2022 instead of running on the CARS Tour, his long-term goals in the sport following in his father Scott's footsteps, the respect level on the late model side vs. Truck Series and more. Plus, Riggs dives into the adjustment level between NASCAR and late models, his first experience with the Toyota simulator, his confidence level already being high, why he started racing only after his dad got out of the sport as a driver, what it's like having his das as a crew chief, pursuing a mechanical e

Dylan "Mamba" Smith radiates positivity in everything he does, and joins the podcast to do so this week (4:50). He dives into what his role as Chief Hype Officer (yes, that's his actual title) at NASCAR entails, why he chose that specific title and how he got his "Black Mamba" nickname. Mamba is set to make his ARCA Menards Series debut at IRP for Young's Motorsports, a culmination of a lifelong dream and promise. He explains how the deal came together with the help from many in the industry, including why he chose to pay homage to friend AJ Allmendinger with his paint scheme. IRP likely will be his only race of the year, and Mamba explains why he'll be busy during the week of the Snowball Derby this year. He also dives into how he first got involved in racing growing up in Vermont, how northeast racing values shaped his view of the sport and when/why he opted to move down to Charlotte to pursue a driving career, how his experience in the Drive for Diversity program wasn't what he imagined and how he kept t

Mike Bagley joins Davey Segal for part two of their discussion (7:20), focused on Bagman's time at SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, including how the opportunity to host on the channel came about, learning the intricacies of being an interviewer and why he was a bit nervous when originally taking the job. In the early stages of "The Morning Drive," Bagley unexpectedly lost his then co-host David Poole. He details how he and the channel picked up the pieces to move forward a when Pete Pistone came into the picture as his co-host. He also dives into creating a bond with the listeners, asking fair but hard questions and his usual schedule working early mornings. Plus, a memorable story involving a Dale Earnhardt interview, reflecting on his career to this point (including his time with NBC), memorable moments on TMD, his fascination with technology, why he's moved a lot and what he'd like to do when his time in motorsports comes to an end. Davey also recaps Christopher Bell's second career win and first at New Hampshir

At long last, Mike Bagley of MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio joins Davey (5:45) for the first installment of their long awaited chat. He dives into his recent trip out West, what he did before becoming involved in motorsports, how his passion for racing began in Delaware and how the sport played an integral part in his relationship with his father. While playing with toy cars on carpets modeled after race tracks, Bagley grew infatuated with the radio and the art of it. He dives into how he first wound up working for MRN, his first on-air broadcast at Watkins Glen being "a big mess," learning from broadcasting legends on the job, honing his craft, how his role with MRN progressed and when he felt comfortable in his own skin. Stick around next week for Part 2 with The Bagman! Davey also analyzes Tyler Reddick's first career Cup Series victory at Road America, Noah Gragson's polarizing move on Sage Karam and Papa Segal pays homage to a large fellow named Tiny.

Another week, another bonus episode! This time, the winner in the Cup Series stops by in the form of Tyler Reddick. The Road America victor discusses his son Beau stealing the show by sleeping through the victory celebration, why his son is a Chase Elliott fan, whether the win has actually sunk in or not, if he doubted himself in the aftermath of Bristol, if the No. 8 team can legitimately contend for the championship and more.

The man with one of the coolest jobs in NASCAR joins Davey Segal this week, as Cup Series assistant director and pace car driver Kip Childress (4:45) discusses his upbringing in the sport as a third-generation NASCAR official, how he got his start officiating at Caraway Speedway and a story involving peppermints and the legendary Bill France Sr. Childress has worked at every level of the sport, be it local, regional, even international and all three national series. He takes us through his journey to assistant Cup Series director, explains why he's learned tips and tricks of the trade every step along the way and outlines how he choreographs hauler parking every week for the unsung heroes of the sport. Childress also dives into driving the pace car every week, what goes into it that fans don't see, if he's ever come close to wrecking, cool celebrities he's driven with, how the duties of the pace car differ from track to track and more, including his time behind the microphone past and present, how often peo

Nashville Superspeedway track president Erik Moses joins Davey Segal this week (7:05) ahead of the venue's second annual Cup Series race weekend. They discuss the road Moses took to become the first black track president in NASCAR history, whether holding that title means anything to him, why "representation matters," how much NASCAR was on his radar before taking the job, learning an entirely new industry on the fly, who he leaned on for information and why the challenge of revitalizing a dormant race track was the reason he took the position. The two also discuss Moses' time in the XFL with the DC Defenders, working in the nations capitol as the "Sports Commissioner," his time as a lawyer and teaching at Georgetown University. steps the track has taken to alleviate the parking issues that plagued them in 2021 and more. Davey briefly recaps the Truck Series event from Knoxville, previews Nashville Superspeedway and Papa Segal pays homage to a well-known No. 53.

Surprise! In a rare bonus episode this week, Davey Segal chats with 2018 Cup Series champion Joey Logano with 10 races to go in the 2022 regular season. They discuss stages on road courses, whether the Cup Series will reach the 16 winner mark this year, the lack of off weekends and Nashville Superspeedway. Plus, Davey also faces the music from Joey after impersonating him on TikTok for the last year and a half. Does Joey watch the videos? What does he think of them? And how good is Davey's actual impression of Joey? The answers to those questions and more in this bonus episode.

Niece Motorsports general manager Cody Efaw joins Davey Segal (6:50) to dive into his extensive career that has led him to helping run one of the premier NASCAR Camping World Truck Series organizations. He recalls his early exposure to racing on dirt with his family, why he fell out of love with racing and his eventual decision to drop out of college and move to North Carolina to pursue a career in motorsports. Shortly after settling in NC, he landed at Roush Racing in the midst of its heyday, where no job was off the table. From a tire changer to a car chief and everything in between, he gained valuable experience and mentorship from Matt Puccia. But the grind became too much and he opted to step away from the sport for a second time. In came Al Niece, and Efaw was drawn back in on the competition side. He details how Niece convinced him to help run the organization in its infancy, meeting Ross Chastain and knowing he had that "it" factor, the whirlwind 2019 season, why there'd "be no company" without Chas

In a bit of a different conversation this week, Davey Segal chats with graphic designer Noah Sweet (7:00) about the importance of mental health and his struggles with it over the last few years. On September 2, 2020, "Lefty," as he's affectionately known, vanished. Multiple social media posts left his friends and family worried for his safety. He was in a bad place. For the first time publicly, Sweet opens up extensively about the darkest time in his life, the events that led to him hitting a breaking point, why he felt he needed to just get away, what the specific time period for him was like, dealing with anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and how he is continuing to work his way through it. Shortly after he returned home, Ally presented him with the chance to design a car for his hero: Jimmie Johnson. Sweet explains why, in hindsight, he didn't necessarily love how it all played out, but felt it was an opportunity he couldn't turn down given the solidarity the community showed him. But he's now conti

Sonoma Raceway EVP and General Manager Jill Gregory joins Davey Segal (7:30) to discuss her impressive career in motorsports that has led her back home to Northern California. She discusses her time in marketing with Texaco, Sprint and Bank of America before working for over a decade at NASCAR, where she left an indelible mark on the sport with her marketing and diversity and inclusion efforts. She also played an integral part in helping NASCAR return to racing amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and dives into some of the specifics that led to the sanctioning body returning to the track. Shortly thereafter, she wound up heading back West to assume her current role at Sonoma Raceway. She tells Davey why she opted to make the change and how things are going at the track. Plus, what to expect for their upcoming race weekend, how influential she feels as a prominent female in motorsports for multiple decades and more, including her potential second calling in the wine industry. Davey also recaps an action-pack

Motor Racing Network lead play-by-play anchor and Berlin Raceway general manager Jeff Striegle joins Davey Segal (5:05) to discuss his career in motorsports, spanning driving, ownership, broadcasting and track operation. He dives into how a trip to Berlin at an early age started the wheels in motion, why he wound up starting his driving career at 23-years-old and the reasons for him hanging up the helmet. Once that door closed, others opened in the form of broadcasting. Before MRN came calling, Striegle implemented a a MRN-style radio broadcast at Berlin, which gave him experience and exposure to eventually land a gig with them. He recalls his memorable audition at Daytona, his first broadcast and errors he made, the nerves that he had on the mic with legends and the art form that is picking up and handing off from one announcer to another on a live race broadcast. Striegle explains why he decided to take the GM job at Berlin, why he frankly doesn't think he should be in the job as currently constructed, wh

Camping World Truck Series rookie Dean Thompson joins Davey Segal (7:15) to discuss how his first season in NASCAR's National Series is going, how the opportunity with Niece Motorsports came about in the first place and why Carson Hocevar was a major help throughout the process. Thompson dives into his start in racing as a kid before choosing to play hockey over motorsports. He explains why he made that choice and his years as a goalie before eventually coming back to motorsports thanks to Cole Custer inviting him to Auto Club Speedway for a race weekend. After tearing up the local racing scene in California winning multiple track championships at Irwindale Speedway, Thompson went ARCA racing. The next logical step? The Camping World Truck Series. Thompson also gets real about the importance of enjoying racing and not making it purely a job, how he handles those thinking he got to where he is purely based off family money, how he felt racing in his first ever Truck race and more, including forgetting his ha

Brad Gillie of PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio joins Davey Segal this week (5:40) to discuss how he got started in the broadcasting industry and his early passion for racing. He describes the racing scene in Texas and why despite a lack of asphalt short tracks, the vibrancy of motorsports was on display early and often. Working at Texas Motor Speedway shortly after its grand opening, Gillie worked as the PA announcer, ran the dirt track, fire and EMS teams, among other roles. He dives into his roles and responsibilities at TMS, working for and with Eddie Gossage and when broadcasting on a more regular basis came calling in the form of PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. He explains what his role as Program and Affiliate manager at PRN entails, how preparation for race broadcasts versus talk radio differ, recalls stories from years gone by, discusses working with legendary crew chiefs Jeff Hammond and Todd Gordon, his passion for motorcycles and more. Davey analyzes Joey Logano's move on William Byron for the win

Spire Motorsports crew chief Ryan Sparks joins Davey Segal (6:50) for a wide-ranging conversation. He details his beginning in racing, why he chose to go down the engineering path and how he wound up at Richard Childress Racing straight out of college, where he stayed for 13 years. Sparks wasn't intimidated joining a championship organization, and honed his craft as a data acquisition engineer. He explains what his role and responsibility was, winning the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600, growing with Austin Dillon through the ranks and how he eventually wound up at Go FAS Racing, in part thanks to a phone call Childress personally made recommending Sparks for the job. Going from a small fish in a big pond to a big fish in a small pond, Sparks had to adjust. He did so again, following Corey LaJoie to Spire Motorsports prior to the start of the 2021 season. He explains what his philosophy of building Spire "brick by brick" means, gives his thoughts on the four-week suspensions to crew chiefs for loose wheels an

Championship crew chief Rich Lushes joins Davey Segal (7:10) to discuss his storied career in motorsports that culminated in NASCAR's ultimate prize last season with Ben Rhodes and ThorSport Racing. He chats about his early days at the track and father's ownership of a local Ohio short track, why and when he realized driving wasn't the path for him, the culture of racing in Ohio where ThorSport is based and why the team likes avoiding "the swamp" in North Carolina. Lushes has helped multiple young drivers blossom into short track and NASCAR stars, including the likes of Landon Cassill and Erik Jones. He recalls stories of the then teenagers honing their craft in the shop and on track before moving onto bigger and better things in NASCAR. While successful, including an ARCA championship with Frank Kimmel in 2013, Lushes had never been a crew chief at the NASCAR level until 2018. He got his chance with Myatt Snider, but was demoted the following year. He gets real about his feelings in the two years that foll

Bringing up the rear for over a decade, Brock Beard (A.K.A. Lastcar) joins Davey Segal this week (5:45) to discuss the work he does and how the concept of covering the back half of the NASCAR garage began in the first place. He explains the origins of his passion for racing and spotlighting those often overlooked, how he approaches covering drivers running in the rear, the reaction from fans and industry members to his coverage and more. Beard also details giving out his LASTCAR Awards each year, if he gets nervous presenting it to drivers and some instances of when people in the garage didn't take too kindly to his work. He explains how he presents his content to someone who is unfamiliar with the purpose behind it, the effort to avoid the satirical label, his loyal following, passion for motorsports history, deep dives on YouTube and recent project authoring the biography of the late J.D. McDuffie, including the undertaking that helped that project come to life. Papa Segal pays homage to another Petty and