Enjoying a long-lasting and diverse career, Scott Sharp went from a staple of Trans-Am, to a staple of IndyCar, to finishing his career in the IMSA ranks. Most importantly, he won in all of them… a lot. A true American racing icon, Scott’s ability in the car is only matched by his relationship and business acumen outside of it, which has helped him maintain some of the longest running sponsorships in the sport, and even running his own racing team. Lunch was served at Sailor’s Return in Stuart, FL, with the song “Layaway” by Chief Keef & T-Shyne taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura and Valvoline for making it all happen.
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Jack Hewitt is unlike any other in the sport, which is probably for the better? A dirt track legend, Jack has no shortage of accolades in different dirt track categories, including winning the famed Triple Crown and being the first to win all four categories in one night at the Four Crown Nationals. He’s probably most know, however, for his mouth. You’ll have to listen to understand Dinner was served at Three Bananas in Crescent City, FL with the song “Bad” by Royal Deluxe taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura and Valvoline for making it all happen.
Again, do we need to describe Helio Castroneves. The most recent inductee to the famed Indianapolis 500 four-timers club, Helio is one of the true legends of IndyCar and racing as a whole, not just for his winning on-track, but his inviting personality off of it. We also learn it’s 100% real, and he gets to a level of candidness we honestly hadn’t expected. Lunch was served at Canoe in Atlanta, GA with the song “Chasin” by Kairo taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura and Valvoline for making it all happen.
It’s Ken Schrader, do we really need to explain? This guy has literally driven, and won, in just about everything. Beginning in the midwest short track scene, he won big in USAC before pursuing a career in NASCAR, where he drove for such legends as Elmo Langley, The Wood Brothers, and of course Hendrick Motorsports. Even in his 70’s, “Kenny” is still at it today racing what seems like 100 times a week, to the point it’s taken us three years to make this happen. Dinner was provided by Sorellis Italian Restaurant and eaten in Kenny’s Shop in Dittmer, MO with the song “Broken Cowboy” by Jesse Woods taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura and Valvoline for making it all happen.
If you like winners, like his boss Chip, then you’ll like Chris Simmons. A stronger driver in his own right throughout the junior open wheel and USAC ranks, Chris Simmons successfully transitioned from a promising open wheel driving talent to one of the best engineers in the history of the sport, having worked with a number of drivers like Tony Kanaan, Paul Tracy, and Dan Wheldon to winning about 300 INDYCAR championships at Chip Ganassi Racing with Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon, where he now serves as the Director of Performance. Dinner was served at Tegry Bistro in Indianapolis, IN with the song “Can’t Bring Me Down” by Stone Caskets. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura and Valvoline for making it all happen.
One of the most legendary engineers in INDYCAR, Michael Cannon has endured a nearly 40-year career as a driver, mechanic, engineer, most notably working with a number of legendary teams including Forsythe Racing, Dale Coyne and Chip Ganassi Racing, and drivers like AJ Allmendinger, Patrick Carpentier, Alex Palou, Scott Dixon and more. Dinner was served at Tegry Bistro in Indianapolis, IN with the song “Can’t Bring Me Down” by Stone Caskets. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura and Valvoline for making it all happen.
The reigning 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, Alex Palou has burst on to the American open wheel scene as a major force, beating all of the legends including his own teammate in Scott Dixon. Hailing from Catalonia, Alex’s career has been anything but linear and traditional, growing up with modest means and crossing the European and Japanese ranks to get here. Lunch was served at Juniper on Main in Carmel, IN with the song “Lucha by The Shears taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura and Valvoline for making it all happen.
The first-ever guest we’ve travelled back to re-visit! If you want the origins of Justin Marks, travel back to Episode 46. This episode is about the insane changes of Justin’s career since meeting in 2016, where beyond climbing some of highest mountains in the world, he’s also started a NASCAR Cup team, aligned with a major celebrity musician, and bought out the legendary Chip Ganassi Racing. Dinner was served at The Diner in Nashville, TN with the song “Nashville Sun” by Matt McCloskey taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura and Valvoline for making it all happen.
When it comes to breaking barriers in racing, Deb Williams is one of the true unsung heroes of the sport. Having performed nearly every media function possible in the sport, from acting as a reporter for a wire service, writing for numerous stock car and road racing magazines, television, and even working in the PR department for Penske, Deb has been awarded numerous accolades along the way, and being the first woman to find herself in a number of these positions. Dinner was served at Harrisburg Family House in Harrisburg, NC with the song “50’s Kind of Love” by Paul Moody taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura and Valvoline for making it all happen.
While Corey LaJoie is a driver from a family of racers, including a father who won the Xfinity championship, Corey LaJoie’s story is very much his own. From winning nearly everything in the Junior ranks to effectively being unemployed, the peaks and valleys of Corey’s career has led him to a current position of hunger and thankfulness, which he elaborates in his own podcast, “Stacking Pennies.” Lunch was served at 44 Mills Kitchen & Tap in Concord, NC with the song “I Need to Go Somewhere” by the Neighbors taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura and Valvoline for making it all happen.
It’s hard to grasp that in just a two-decade career, AJ Allmendinger has gone from dominating everything in the American junior open wheel ranks, to a dominant force in ChampCar, to an eventual NASCAR winner who eventually won at the Brickyard and nearly the Xfinity Championship. AJ’s had a crazy ride of a career, with no shortage of peaks and valleys and he shares it all. Dinner was served at On The Nines in Mooresville, NC, which AJ co-owns, with the song “Top Shelf Liquor” by Redlands taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura and Valvoline for making it all happen.
Chances are if you’re listening to this you already who know who Will Power is, but you may not know the “real” Will Power. One of the most dominant figures in INDYCAR competition for nearly 15 years, Will is an Indianapolis 500 champion, an INDYCAR Series champion, but more importantly he’s one of the most unique characters in the sport. In this two-parter we cover it all, from his on-track success to numerous stories of growing up in Australia to his philosophies on life today. Lunch was served at Jeffrey’s Restauranti in Mooresville, NC with the song “Immortalized” by Tyrone Briggs taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acur
If a word could define Daniel Suarez, it would be perseverance. Growing up with modest means in Monterrey, Mexico, the idea of being a top-level NASCAR Cup series was as far fetched as it could be, yet Daniel’s talent and tenacity has elevated him to going from a kid who first moved to the US without knowing English, to a NASCAR Xfinity champion, and now with the very competitive upstart Trackhouse Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. Dinner was served at Eez Sushi in Huntersville, NC with the song “Hacerte el Amor” by Cossy taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura and Valvoline for making it all happen.