Victory Lane

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

NASCAR weatherman extraordinaire Brian Neudorff (known as @NASCAR_WXMAN on Twitter) joins Davey this week (10:25) to explain how he started providing unofficial forecasts for races on social media and how he got started in the field of meteorology in general. He discusses his passion for racing growing up in the midwest, how he provides information in an easy-to-digest form for the race fan, dealing with vitriolic (and unjustified) feedback, knowing he won't get the forecast right every single time and why he hasn't been as active with NASCAR forecasts but is changing that. Plus, is Darrell Waltrip's infamous vortex theory real? Davey discusses the uncharacteristic racing at Martinsville this past weekend and why it was different, Ty Gibbs vs. Sam Mayer post-race and previews Bristol Dirt. Plus, Papa Segal pays homage to Richard Petty and Davey shares a story of a memorable interaction with his birthday buddy: Richard Petty.

Davey Segal welcomes on pit reporter Mike Massaro (9:10) to discuss his extensive career in motorsports broadcasting. Starting in the Northeast at Stafford Speedway, Massaro outlines why he gravitated towards the microphone rather than a steering wheel, tells some hilarious stories from the track involving legends Mike Joy and Jack Arute and how that sent him on a path to work in racing. He also details his first time meeting Dale Earnhardt while auditioning for MRN Radio, his time at Inside NASCAR on TNN, how Allen Bestwick helped him land that job along the way, landing at ESPN to help spearhead their NASCAR coverage and the unthinkable first assignment he was put on: the 2001 Daytona 500. Massaro explains why coverage at the event was a logistical nightmare, how they navigated it, the delicate nature covering an event like that race takes, lessons learned that year and how they were applied in 2014 while covering the Tony Stewart/Kevin Ward Jr. incident. After leaving ESPN due to the NASCAR television r

Spotter and racer extraordinaire Derek Kneeland joins Davey Segal (5:25) to discuss his career in motorsports atop the spotters stand and behind the wheel. He details his early racing career in the Northeast, why he wound up hanging up the helmet before his parents asked him to and how he stumbled into spotting to remain in racing. Kneeland explains how he got his start on the roof, how he balances working in multiple series with multiple drivers, how he tailors spotting to his drivers and whether he does his job differently, the feeling of winning races and championships in NASCAR and more. Plus, how he got his nickname "daddy" from Juan Pablo Montoya, how spotting has evolved over the years, not living "locally" in the Charlotte area, early days in Cup with Kyle Larson, ice fishing with Tyler Reddick, his current late model racing, whether staying behind the wheel helps him as a spotter. Davey also touches briefly on Atlanta and COTA, the change in how racing and going for wins are approached nowadays an

Monica Palumbo's enthusiasm, energy and positivity radiates in this wide-ranging conversation with Davey Segal(4:45), where she details her insanely busy schedule, how she balances it all and her time in motorsports as the original Miss Sprint Cup. Palumbo's career started out in acting, and she explains why she went down that road and how she wound up working with A1 celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Jack Black. A former Miss North Carolina pageant winner (and Miss Congeniality, to nobody's surprise), Palumbo also worked with Sandra Bullock to help promote a movie that loosely mirrored her life. As if that wasn't enough, she also co-hosted with hit show "Live with Regis and Kelly" the legendary Regis Philbin and details how that opportunity came about. Most know Palumbo from her work as the OG Miss Sprint Cup in the mid/late 2000s. She recalls why that position was created, how she was chosen for it, how she and Sprint went about being the liaison between drivers and fans, pressure with representing the

Niece Motorsports' Kris Wright joins Davey Segal (6:05) to discuss his start in motorsports, why he was encouraged to take up golf as a profession instead of racing and how his career behind the wheel wound up progressing. From sports cars to open wheel and now NASCAR, Wright details the steps and decisions along the way, including why he wanted to go down the open wheel path, coming oh-so-close to winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona, racing overseas in Europe and how his lack of success impacted him personally and professionally and how it wound up leading him to stock cars and NASCAR only three years ago. Competing in stock cars for the first time in 2020, Wright explains how and why that opportunity came about, going "from Silverstone to Hickory" and the dichotomy that comes with that change, his relationship with fellow Pittsburgh native Chip Ganassi and Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday Jr., how he wound up at Niece Motorsports for this season, what his short and long term goals are and more. Davey also discusses

Davey Segal welcomes on Pete Pistone (5:55), co-host of The Morning Drive on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, for an extended conversation about his background in the sport, how he wound up in his current role, some intricacies of the show and more. Pistone details his beginnings in motorsports with his uncle "Tiger" Tom. From riding inside his race car down the highway while eating popsicles, Pistone's passion for racing was evident. After attending Northern Illinois University, he started calling local races at Rockford Speedway as the PA announcer, where he also wore various other hats, where the next phase of his career took shape. Chicago born and bred, Pistone spent time at WGN covering multiple stick and ball sports (while also focusing on racing). He recalls the phone lines lighting up when he spoke about racing on the radio for the first time, writing for the Chicago Sun Times and being an early adopter to the digital media age and starting an online motorsports blog. Pistone explains how he got the job alo

Graphic designer extraordinaire Harris Lue joins Davey (6:00) to discuss his background in motorsports, passion for cars and Mustangs, working for NASCAR and now Stewart-Haas Racing, the influence of the late Sam Bass on his career and more. Lue details how he became interested in graphic design, attending East Carolina University to further his interest, his day-to-day roles and responsibilities and how it's more than just making cool looking graphics. Logistical hurdles are aplenty in his role, and Lue goes behind the scenes to explain how something simple like a hero card to something complex like a paint scheme takes a monumental effort from all involved. It's impossible to overstate how the late Sam Bass impacted Lue. He explains why he was drawn to Bass' work, his first interactions with the artist, how he grew into a friend and mentor and how his legacy lives on after his passing. Plus, if he's ever had to pinch himself while working with some big name drivers and clients, his passion for Mustangs, i

NASCAR Track Communications veteran Matt Humphrey joins Davey (6:25) this week to discuss his career in motorsports and working for the sanctioning body for the last decade plus. Humphrey played an intricate role behind the scenes in the marketing and planning of the Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and explains how the one-of-a-kind event went off without a hitch. He also outlines what his day-to-day entails from a track communications perspective. Humphrey recalls how the trajectory of his life changed at a young age, as he chose to drop out of college in his first year (where he was on a music scholarship) when he started a family. Forced to make a living to provide as a teenager, he picked up a job at the local sewage plant that he kept until he got sick of it...and from it. He explains how a trip to the hospital made him decide to pursue journalism full bore, which led him all over the country and eventually to Orlando, where he forged a relationship with a young, up-and-coming dri

The incomparable Danielle Trotta joins Davey (8:30) for a wide-ranging discussion on her esteemed career in media and motorsports. The current SiriusXM NASCAR Radio host dives into why media and journalism sparked her interest as a young girl, what made her want to get involved in sports and obtaining internships and gaining experience at a younger age than usual. She attended four (!) different colleges before getting her degree and starting her career in the business. But her on-air journey didn't come easy. She explains the importance of relationships, fostering them and building rapport while working behind the scenes before getting her first shot on camera in Charlotte. That was before the NASCAR world came calling in the form of SPEED Channel. She explains why she made the move to racing without seeking it out and the insanely steep learning curve that followed, the influence she received from the late Steve Byrnes, how her relationship then with Larry McReynolds evolved and her eventual departure fro

After a lengthy and unplanned offseason/holiday break, Davey is back to get up to speed on all the happenings in the wide world of NASCAR. He discusses what he's been up to, some news and notes over the last month or so and Papa Segal gives an ode to a NASCAR Hall of Famer before Austin Wayne Self stops by for an all-encompassing conversation (8:50). A longtime Truck Series competitor, Self discusses his time in the series and what his growth has looked like over the years. Plus, he details how he got into racing in the first place, growing up in Texas before moving to Indianapolis, winning his first ARCA race and going through an obscene number of crew chiefs in a single season. Self provides his perspective on his suspension from NASCAR due to substance abuse and rapid reinstatement as well as his other off-track run in with the law. He also dishes on the John Hunter Nemechek incident at Martinsville, competing in the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown and Battle at the Beach and more. Plus, why did Self

And *poof* the 2021 NASCAR season has come to a close. Davey is back from Phoenix and recaps the Championship 4 weekend festivities that saw Kyle Larson earn his 10th victory of the season and first career Cup Series title. He speaks on why second chances are a good thing, the Cliff Daniels/Larson marriage that may be lethal for years to come, the other drivers coming up short and more. Plus, Daniel Hemric and Ben Rhodes earned championships of their own in the Xfinity and Truck Series, respectively. Davey breaks down Hemric's pursuit of that elusive victory, the race-winning move on Austin Cindric and his backflip celebration. Rhodes' press conference may have been more memorable than his race, thanks to his new "Bud" and champagne. But both drivers, despite not being dominators over the course of the season, were deserving champions, as Davey explains. Papa Segal pays homage to a legend who may have the most nicknames in NASCAR history, Davey hits on Lug Nuts including silly season news, crew chief suspen

It's Championship 4 week, which means Julie Giese is one busy woman. Despite that, she still found some time to chat with Davey (14:55) about Phoenix Raceway hosting their first "real" championship weekend. Hear why she calls it "nervous energy," how the city of Phoenix has embraced the race track/event and how preparations for the title race weekend differ from their spring date. Giese didn't have being a track president on her radar five years ago, moreover growing up a race fan on a dairy farm. After deciding that the agricultural route wasn't for her in college, she opted to pursue her passion of racing. But not before getting rejected...a lot. She still has those rejection letters and explains why she keeps them, how she got her first job in the sport and worked her way up from the bottom. From Watkins Glen to Daytona to ISC and now Phoenix, Giese has done it all, gotten her hands dirty and learned along the way. She describes what life was like starting in the sport at a tumultuous time, heading up mu

Ryan Ellis joins Davey (14:20) for an episode full of laughs, memories, reflection and even some trivia. A new father, Ellis details what life has been like with minimal sleep while working his 9-5 job AND racing. Also a third-generation driver, Ellis explains how his late grandfather and father started racing, how Ryan got involved and his fond memories of the early days of go-karting. After getting selected to appear on a Discovery Channel show in the Jetta-TDI Cup Series, Ellis seemed to be on the ride, but his confidence was fluctuating. He explains why, and details his Grand-Am experiences and how Jimmy Means gave him a start in NASCAR, something he admittedly wasn't seeking out. From Obaika Racing to BK Racing and everywhere in between, Ellis has been through the ringer. He tells the good, bad and ugly stories of his time working for countless car owners and why he made it a point to stay out of the way in his first ever Cup start, which also happened to be his hero Jeff Gordon's penultimate one. The

You may have been introduced to Ernie Francis Jr. this past summer thanks to SRX, but there's much more to his story. The seven-time Trans-Am champion joins Davey this week (13:30) to discuss how he got into racing, his father's origins in the sport, sanctioning bodies bending the rules to let him race, the dynamic working for his dad and why he likes to tinker and work on cars. He gives a primer on what the Trans-Am series is about and it's importance, why it's lost popularity over the years and winning his seven titles (in a row!) at such a young age. He also dives into his time running SRX this summer, how he got the invite from Ray Evernham, influence from Willy T. Ribbs, his victory over Scott Speed at Lucas Oil Raceway and how it feels to see fans wear his merchandise. Plus, why he stayed with Tony Stewart in his motorhome during the Knoxville Nationals, how it felt rubbing elbows with racing legends, how he adjusted to running short tracks with a road course background, his time in NASCAR with Rev Ra

Newly crowned ARCA Menards Series East champion Sammy Smith joins Davey (9:40) to discuss what life is like for a teenager who also happens to be a NASCAR champion. He also dives into how he got his start in racing, his experience in legends cars (and heartbreak) before graduating to super late models and stock cars, driving for an extensive list of big names in motorsports and the pressure of driving for said big names (i.e. Kyle Busch). He also discusses winning the pro late model championship at only 14-years-old at New Smyrna Speedway, how his ARCA East campaign with Joe Gibbs Racing came about, why his goal was to win the championship from day one despite not knowing if they’d run the full season and when he knew he was going to be the dominator of the season. Smith’s relationship with Ty Gibbs is a close one, and he details how the two met, formed a friendship, whether or not he races him any differently and why the public perception of the 18-year-old is a skewed one. Plus, his living situation in Iow

Santino Ferrucci joins Davey this week (24:15) to discuss his career in motorsports that saw him move to Europe at an early age and become a child prodigy dubbed "The Great Santino." He details what the racing culture was like in Europe for an American, why he wasn't fond of it as he grew older and some of the huge names he competed with and against while working his way up the ranks. On track to make it to Formula 1, Ferrucci was involved in controversy that involved he and his teammate colliding and skipping a stewards meeting, which ultimately led to his release from the team and move back stateside. Ferrucci dives into the details of what really happened, why it was a blessing in disguise that he was able to come back home and how it led him to his current escapades in IndyCar and NASCAR. It wasn't all bad in Europe, though. As a test driver for Haas F1 Team, Ferrucci recalls the fond memories he has driving a Formula 1 car and why he had to zip tie his helmet to his HANS device while racing it. Plus, w

Chris Lambert is back with Davey for part two of their conversation (14:10) fresh off his Las Vegas victory, and they begin by discussing the day that changed his life forever. He describes what he remembers about the day he lost his then wife Hailey and 15-month-old son Austin, how he coped with the unimaginable losses, the moment he realized he needed to pick up the pieces and start over and why he decides to share his story in public. The two also discuss his Southern 500 victories, and why they mean more to him than his three Daytona 500's, his trophy collection over the years (and whether the team gets trophies the drivers do), meeting Michael Jordan at a UNC basketball camp (as a now Duke fan) and while working with Denny Hamlin, how his Red Sox and baseball fandom came about and why he feels the chances of the No. 11 team securing that elusive championship are as good as ever in 2021. Davey touches on the Las Vegas tripleheader weekend, takes a peek at the 2022 Xfinity and Truck Series schedules and