Victory Lane

Davey welcomes on NBC Charlotte sports reporter Ashley Stroehlein (15:35) to discuss her career in the industry and the roller coaster road she'd taken to get to this point. From working as a math teacher and basketball coach to eventually following her dream and landing a full-time job sports reporting, "Stro" describes how specific opportunities came about, why she chickened out of attending broadcasting school for the first time and how she balances everything that life throws her. No day is the same as a sports reporter in the 704, which makes for a fun yet stressful job. Stroehlein explains why "finding beauty in the struggle" is cliché yet true and why being one-dimensional in the field won't cut it nowadays. Plus, how she prepares for her various different roles, her work at Bristol Motor Speedway, relationships with Amy Earnhardt and Amanda Carter and more. Also, how does every photo she posts look like a professional shot it? We get the answer. Davey recaps Richmond's playoff race won by Martin T

Amy Long has had quote the journey, both in and out of motorsports, to get to where she is now. She joins Davey this week (17:00) to explain how the the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Superman got her interested in journalism, along with her inherent curiosity, attending Florida State University, working as a one woman band MMJ out of college and how she learned the internet as it became a thing in society. Traveling with the IMSA Patron team and working on the Miss Coors Light activation team got her feet wet in motorsports. Being put in a box by some, Long shares her thoughts on being a female in motorsports, and why she enjoys her role now with NASCAR Fantasy and Trackside Live way more. Long details how her relationship with current World of Outlaws sprint car racer (and former NASCAR driver) Kasey Kahne came to be, including seeing racing from his perspective, having the general public discover how good he really is (and has been), traveling on the road with him and what she can cook up inside the mot

It's been a long time coming, but Rajah Caruth finally joins Davey this week (12:10) for an all-encompassing conversation. The duo touch on his upbringing in Washington DC, getting hooked on NASCAR, sim racing, mentorship from Bubba Wallace, his rapid progression up the ranks, the announcement of him moving to the Xfinity Series part-time in 2022 with Alpha Prime Racing and more. Caruth explains how his relationship with Tommy Joe Martins began and progressed to this point, why moving up to Xfinity next season is the right choice, all the while with his focus remaining on ARCA with Rev Racing, and how much he's learned every step along the way. A surprise road trip to Richmond in 2014 changed his life forever, and he recalls the moment he knew being a race car driver was what he wanted to do, including the subsequent steps he took to try and accomplish his goal. Dealing with everything life has thrown Caruth's way, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, hasn't been easy, though. He gets real about struggl

The IMSA mechanic, Twitter professional, biscuit connoisseur and all-around cool guy Bozi Tatarevic joins Davey Segal this week (15:25) to discuss his career in racing and immigrating to the United States from Serbia. He details the motorsports culture (or lack thereof) in Serbia growing up and how he became involved once moving to the U.S. Working with Vasser Sullivan in IMSA, Bozi details his day-to-day duties, experience working the Rolex 24 at Daytona (including lots of napping and snacking) how he got involved working in the IMSA garage and why he thinks IMSA has seen a rise in popularity recently. He also explains how and why Racing Spaces has become such a success on Twitter, his love of social media, why people seem to resonate with his in-depth coverage on a "quick hits" platform and answers "the question" about Criss Angel. He's also a writer, and explains what led him to begin creating content for numerous publications and whether or not the NextGen car is worth the hype. Bozi is also the biggest

A trailblazer in his own right, Armani Williams, the first openly autistic NASCAR driver, joins Davey this week (14:35) ahead of his Camping World Truck Series debut at Worldwide Technology Raceway at Gateway. Williams dishes on why time time is right to make his debut, understanding his equipment and trying to stay out of the way of playoff contenders, what drew him to racing in general, how a trip to play mini golf sparked his interest in driving and the process that followed getting him behind the wheel. While racing with autism has its challenges, there are also some benefits that help Williams behind the wheel. Williams discusses them, why using racing as a platform to get out the message about autism is important to him and his family, the story behind his “tell me I can’t so I can show you I can” mantra, his time in the Pinty’s Series with mentorship from DJ Kennington and being comfortable in the spotlight. Plus why he’s studying mechanical engineering at Oakland University while pursuing a racing ca

You probably know Joe Graf Jr. as that guy who failed to qualify in a RCR Xfinity car, but Davey shines a light on the SS Green Light driver on and off track this week. The two chat (17:30) about how Graf got started in racing being from the Northeast and how he currently is balancing being a full-time college student at NYU with racing full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He also dives into why attending school is important to him, despite the logistical hurdles involved with managing it. Graf discusses his first career ARCA win and one that he thinks he *should* have won, including racing with a broken foot and making some people mad along the way. As an intern with Richard Childress Racing, Graf got the opportunity to race in the Xfinity Series, but made headlines by failing to qualify. He's in good spirits about the weekend now, and explains why his mindset has switched to making light of the situation rather than avoiding it altogether. Graf also dishes on his fight with Gray Gaulding earlier this y

For somebody who had no NASCAR aspirations growing up, Josh Bilicki has done pretty well for himself. He joins Davey this week (9:00) to discuss his career in racing and lack of stock car/short track experience, despite growing up literally right next to an iconic venue. He details why he didn’t pursue NASCAR from the start and chose sports cars instead, spending his own dime to go race, how spec miatas compare to Cup cars and how a Facebook message helped him secure a ride for his first NASCAR race. Bilicki has some insane stories from his time with Victor Obaika, including his first time driving for the team at Road America, missing seat belts and window nets, unkept promises, checks that never showed up and how it all led to Roger Penske of all people buying him an ice cream cone (yes, really). He also explains why he treats Cup races like IMSA events running for Rick Ware Racing, his relationship with his teammates, reflecting on being a full-time Cup Series driver, his goals and aspirations for the futu

It may not be a high school commitment announcement, but Brad Perez is on the podcast this week to share his exciting news: he’s going ARCA racing! The beloved NASCAR personality on social media details how his opportunity to run at Watkins Glen with Josh Williams Motorsports came about, why he decided to pursue the chance, his relationship with the team owner/driver, how social media posts aided in his efforts to secure the necessary sponsorship and what he did when he got the call that his deal was official. He also explains what he does for Martins Motorsports and Rackley W.A.R. in the Xfinity and Truck Series, how a tire specialists role holds many different duties, why relationships are crucial to success during a race and more. Plus, he explains why racing is “the coolest addiction ever,” moving to Charlotte to pursue it, his time developing in spec miatas and how it translates to NASCAR, his multiple jobs throughout it all outside of racing and more, including his dance skills, softball league and why

You've probably seen her post about her cat, Criss Angel, cars and racing, and this week Alanis King joins the podcast to talk about all that and more. Davey and King discuss her current role at Business Insider and time spent at Jalopnik, where she blogged anything and everything from pink splitters to NASCAR to Yu-Gi-Oh! (yes, really). She also dives into how she's handled the countless haters and threats thrown her way over the years, all while learning how to handle and blog on the internet while finishing college. She also discusses why " the cat lady who writes about cars" could not be more accurate, how "Racing Spaces" began on Twitter and asking Denny Hamlin "the question," driving a Monster Truck, drag racing in her moms Hyundai, riding in a Ferrari with Sebastian Vettel and a MotoGP bike around COTA. Nobody is more obsessed with Criss Angel than Alanis, and she explains why/how the fandom began. After she reveals her ridiculous take on pizza (and it is RIDICULOUS), Davey accidentally makes her cry

Check your mail, because The Postman is here! Davey sits down with Steve Post (19:10) to dive into his career in motorsports, spanning over 30 years. From a young fan attending races on Pennsylvania short and dirt tracks to manning pit road for the Motor Racing Network, Post has done and seen it all, and continues to do so with radiant positivity. He explains how he got into racing, his days working as an announcer locally, how he handled life when he moved to North Carolina and why he always had an eye on joining MRN. Before his time wearing the famed blue shirt, Post was a public relations representative for Kenny Wallace and Ricky Rudd in NASCAR, and shares countless stories of his time on the road/at the track with the two drivers. He also explains how he wound up getting hired by MRN, a job he’s held for almost 20 years, and what it was like to be a part of the sport in its booming years throughout the 2000s. Post also outlines his other jobs and passions, including sprint car racing, diecast cars, the

The NASCAR garage is full of characters, and Josh Williams is one of the biggest. The Xfinity Series mainstay joins Davey this week (9:00) to reminisce on his racing career, a path that isn't often replicated nowadays. From working on and building his own stuff and cutting his teeth in ARCA with his family team, Williams has scratched and clawed his way to success in motorsports at all levels throughout his career. From his wins in legends and bandoleros, spending time with Chris Buescher while getting scolded by Ken Ragan, participating in "Humpy's Heroes" as a teenager, the four-wheeler accident that put him in the ICU for five days and what made him laugh when he finally woke up, Williams' stories seem to never stop. Plus, additional tales of his first ARCA win, what made pulling all nighters worth it, his time starting and parking in multiple series, crew chiefing in the Xfinity Series on the side while driving, his relationship with team owner Mario Gosselin and more. Why is he confident that he'll not

We're keeping it ~spicy~ this week, as professional emcee and award-winning speaker Jose Castillo joins Davey this week (16:45) to chat about his career, how he got involved with NASCAR through Bristol Motor Speedway, transforming the big screen experience for fans, when he realized public speaking was the path for him and where the passion came from. He also discusses his eclectic background, why "keeping it spicy" is truly a personality trait of his, how he's pivoted to the virtual world during the pandemic, cultivating relationships with the drivers while having fun, the positivity he radiates and more. Plus, what's the spiciest interview Castillo has ever had over the years? Davey also breaks down the double dose of action from Pocono Raceway, ponders why the racing was so compelling and looks ahead to Road America. In this week's wayback segment, Papa Segal gives an ode to one of the greatest racers of all-time.

Canada’s finest, Alex Labbe, joins Davey this week (17:00) to discuss racing north of the border and the culture that comes along with it. Labbe details his career path spanning go-karts, late models and more, before landing in the Pinty’s Series, where he raced against big names and some of his racing heroes. After winning the series championship in 2017, he and his sponsor Can-Am decided to go Xfinity Series racing, where they still compete today for DGM Racing and Mario Gosselin. The two discuss the travel logistics Labbe goes through crossing the border to get to races, how popular motorsports are in Canada, the harsh penalty NASCAR laid down on Labbe and DGM at the Daytona Road course and why it was overturned, why he chose to get a college degree in the U.S. while racing full-time in Canada, his career aspirations and more. Davey recaps another dominant performance from Kyle Larson at Nashville and gives his thoughts on the track’s first weekend hosting races in a decade. He also briefly previews Poco

One of the best to ever grace the screen, legendary broadcaster Allen Bestwick joins Davey this week (25:00) to discuss his illustrious career and his new venture as the play-by-play voice of SRX. He answers how the opportunity to get back in the booth for the new series initially came about, how he thinks the initial weekend at Stafford went and how his preparation for SRX events differ from calling other forms of motorsports and sports in general. Bestwick is used to local New England short tracks, given that he began calling races at Seekonk Speedway in Massachusetts at 16 years of age. He details his career path from that point forward, including stops at MRN working alongside Barney Hall and Ned Jarrett, NBC with Benny Parsons, ESPN with Rusty Wallace and a plethora of other legendary names on track and behind the microphone in between. He explains why no specific race that he’s called stands out to him, but reveals what does stick with him reflecting on his years traveling the circuit. Davey and Allen

You've probably seen her on NASCAR's digital platforms, but Alex Weaver didn't grow up an avid follower of the sport. She joins Davey this week (8:20) to discuss her career path that began at Clemson University covering football and eventually led her to NASCAR. Despite being involved in sports from a young age, she almost pursued a career as a scientist before deciding otherwise. Working behind and in front of the camera at Clemson, she learned the tricks of the trade before trading in her purple and orange. Originally hired to work in the partnership division of the company, Weaver learned the ins and outs of NASCAR before dabbling in on-camera content. As she improved, her time on screen rose. She describes the challenges being a female in female dominated sport present (including when a driver tried to mansplain something to her), how she's leaned on broadcasters like Kaitlyn Vincie, Shannon Spake and Jamie Little among others and what interviews have been her most memorable. Plus, being a cat mom, her C

Currently full-time in the ARCA Menards Series, Nick Sanchez joins Davey this week (12:05) as the two reminisce and discuss his career to date, which only started seven years ago. After some time go-karting at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Sanchez and his mom searched “how to become a NASCAR driver” on the internet, and the rest is history. After being accepted into NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program, Sanchez began competing in legends and late models for Rev Racing, where he honed his craft in full-bodied stock cars for the first time. He explains why winning the Wendell Scott Trailblazer award was such a big deal to him, and recalls his first couple starts in the K&N Pro Series at South Boston in 2019. Now full-time in ARCA, Sanchez details why Rev upgraded their inventory ahead of the ambitious 20-race slate, how his skillset has improved, what it’s like racing against Ty Gibbs and more. Plus, some stories of karting with Indy 500 champions and Formula 1 winners, his passions away from the track (notably w

Dawson Cram is the latest in a long line of racers, and he joins Davey on the podcast this week to dive into his season to date, career in racing and much more. Fresh off missing the show at COTA, Cram details what went wrong and why and touches on the uphill climb that small teams face in today’s landscape of NASCAR. Marcus Lemonis has helped the Camping World Truck Series immensely this season, but Cram and his No. 41 team may have benefitted more than anybody, as the truck adorns Camping World, Good Sam and Overton’s almost every single week. Cram explains why Lemonis’ gratitude and financial assistance has helped him and his team immensely, and provides his thoughts on the Sheldon Creed Twitter exchange with Lemonis, looking at it from both perspectives. As is par for the course, Cram began his racing career at the age of five in mini dwarf cars (he explains what those are) before moving from California to North Carolina to pursue his racing dream further. He recalls his memorable Truck debut that inclu

At only 18-years-old, Carson Hocevar has already torn up the short track scene and is making a name for himself in NASCAR. He joins Davey this week (12:50) to discuss his career behind the wheel, starting in Michigan at Berlin Raceway, and why NASCAR had to make a rule change to combat him winning as a 13-year-old. NASCAR champion Johnny Benson has mentored Hocevar over the years, and Carson explains how Johnny’s help has been instrumental to his growth in stock cars. Hocevar details his journey to where he is now: full-time with Niece Motorsports, why he lost some confidence in his time running ARCA, how he regained it and why he’s just now hitting his stride with Niece in the Truck Series. Injuries haven’t stopped Hocevar in his young career, either, as he recalls breaking his wrist in a wreck but finishing the race one handed. Plus, how he powered through the end of a Truck race with heat exhaustion. Despite not being known for dirt racing, the late Bryan Clauson had a profound impact on him. He explains

Life as a Truck Series driver/owner for a small, family-run, underfunded team isn't anything like the glitz and glamor of NASCAR racing, but for Cory Roper, it's been more than enough. The Texan joins Davey this week (15:45) to discuss why he decided to get into NASCAR racing, the chance encounters that led to his involvement ramping up, how his construction company factors into the equation and how Roper Racing Team's first event was a memorable (and snowy) one at Martinsville. Roper explains how gaining experience has been a key as a driver, why not practicing is good for an owner but disadvantageous from the driver's perspective, what good runs do financially and morale wise for a small team, and what bad runs/wrecks do and more. Plus, he breaks down his third-place finish at Daytona this year, what bringing Chase Briscoe into the fold has meant to the team and reveals what his family thinks of him pursuing his passion on a grander scale. Davey breaks down Martin Truex Jr.'s dominant win at Darlington an

Like many, he’s experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows in racing. But Jeremy Clements story is about as unique as it gets. From almost losing a body part as a teenager inside the race car to scoring his Xfinity Series win at Road America, Clements has gone through the ringer in his career, and joins Davey this week (18:30) to discuss it all. They discuss the horrific injury he suffered and the recovery that followed, including visiting Victory Lane in an ARCA race only three years later. His time in the Xfinity Series dates back to the early 2000s, allowing him to race at iconic venues such as Pikes Peak, IRP and in Montreal. Clements reflects on being in the series for over a decade and the road to where he is now. He also relives his Road America victory in 2017 and reflects on why that weekend was so special for him and his team. The No. 51 team is off to an incredible start in 2021, sitting firmly inside the top 10 in points ahead of countless powerhouse organizations. Clements explains the