With the Winter Olympics upon us, we figured we’d bring you another World Champion…. a figure skating World Champion. Six-time National Champion, Three-time Olympian and 1996 World Champion Todd Eldredge is not only one of the greatest American skaters in the sport’s history, but he’s a racer. A lifelong motorsport fan, he knows his stuff about the sport, burned through a few cars during track days, and is even an avid sim racer including DwR’s “Thursday Night Blunder.” In this episode, we present to you the guy that is Todd. Dinner was served at Gracias Madre in Irvine, CA, with the song “Champion” by Tyrone Briggs taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire and Acura and for making it all happen.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:43:37 — 142.7MB) | Embed
Subscribe: RSS
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.
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.
Born in New Zealand and growing up in Australia, Scott McLaughlin made his name as the absolute stud of the Australian V8 Supercar series, but in 2021 made the bold move to come to the United States with a rare opportunity to drive in IndyCar with Team Penske. A champion in nearly everything he’s driven, the multi-time SuperCar winner is now the IndyCar rookie-of-the-year, who, thanks to marrying an American, has learned a lot about living stateside. Lunch was served at the North Harbor Club in Davidson, NC, with the song “Crash & Burn” by Vanra taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura, and Valvoline for making it all happen.
Tim Keene is one of the most iconic behind-the-scenes people in the sport of road racing and open-wheel, and his success is only matched by his mouth. Working through a number of crew and manager roles in the sport, Tim has worked with Chip Ganassi Racing, Panoz, Meyer, Shank and now finds his home with the reigning IMSA champions at Action Express Racing. The guy has stories and opinions unmatched by anyone, and we’re happy for the time. Dinner was served by Tim himself in Denver, NC, with the song “Straight to Hell” by Hayes Peebles taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura, and Valvoline for making it all happen.
Jon Ikeda is a great one for us because he’s the boss’s boss’s boss at Acura. His current title is Brand Officer, but he’s more of a designer than a manager, but most importantly, he’s a racer. Yeah, he’s the boss, but we only chose to sit with him because he’s a character and a great storyteller and sheds a lot of light on just how it all works. Dinner was served at Saint & Second in Long Beach, CA, with the song “Future Hit” by Louis II taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura, and Valvoline for making it all happen.
Eric Foss is a classic journeyman driver who has gone from amateur racer to coach to now one of the staples of the touring and production ranks of current sportscar racing. Having won in nearly everything he’s competed in, Eric is a champion of the IMSA Pilot Challenge ranks and one of the most universally respected people in the paddock. Lunch was served at Fred’s Texas Cafe in Fort Worth, Texas, with the song “Father Texas” by Birdtalker taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura, and Valvoline for making it all happen.
Felipe Nasr is one of the modern greats of road racing, and his legend is only growing. A native of Brazil, Felipe found huge success in European junior racing, including winning the British F3 championship before moving on to Formula One. He scored a top-five on his debut. He’s since gone on to become one of the greats in IMSA prototype ranks, winning his second championship this year on top of wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring and beyond. Dinner was served at The Cellar in Corning, NY, with the song “I’ll be Fine” by Hayes Peebles taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura, and Valvoline for making it all happen.
Michael Printup is the current President of Watkins Glen International, but his history as one of the sport’s most dynamic track developers is long heralded. A staple of NASCAR and the former ISC family, Michael has developed race tracks ranging from California to Michigan, including one of the craziest stories on a development project in Staten Island, NY. Dinner was served at the Blue Pointe Grill at the Harbor Hotel in Watkins Glen, NY, with the song “Trust Be a Cop” by Husbands taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura, and Valvoline for making it all happen.
Butch Leitzinger is a legend of the sportscar scene, having driven for some of the most historic programs in the 1990s and 2000s, including the Nissan GTU, the Bentley LMP, and most notably, Dyson Racing’s famed series of programs. Affable and very easy to get along with, Butch’s success at events like Le Mans, Daytona, Sebring, and beyond have made him a respected veteran of the sport and a heck of a storyteller. Lunch was served at Mad Mex in College Station, PA, with the song “Tommy Schnebbit” by his old friends Jonesing for Soma taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura, and Valvoline for making it all happen.
Tommy Milner is a second-generation racer who has become a staple of American sportscar racing, most notably as part of Corvette Racing’s program. The son of Tom Milner, who has come up several times in our podcast, Tommy broke out of his family shadow by racing for some of the most prestigious brands in the sport, including BMW, Panoz, and eventually Corvette, where he’s gone on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans and just about everything there is to win in IMSA. Tommy and his wife Lauren joined us for dinner at The Seneca Lodge in Watkins Glen, NY, with the song “Where I Wanna Be” by Dazy Chain taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura, and Valvoline for making it all happen.
Jeroen Bleekemolen has become a staple of GT racing around the world; there’s virtually never a weekend where he isn’t driving something…somewhere. It’s because he’s good. Born and living in the Netherlands, Jeroen is a Le Mans winner, an IMSA champion, and was even a national hero when driving for the famed Dutch A1GP program. Breakfast was served at Donna’s Restaurant in Corning, NY, with the song “Everything You Need” by Jamie Lono taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura, and Valvoline for making it all happen.
Kevin Schwantz is one of America’s greatest motorcycle racers, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s funny as hell. Coming up through the American ranks in the 1980s, Kevin went on to become one of Suzuki’s MotorGP factory riders, engaging in legendary battles with Wayne Rainey through the 1990s until finally winning the MotoGP World Championship in 1993. Lunch was Chinatown in Austin, TX, with the song “Texas” by Loveland taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire, Acura, and Valvoline for making it all happen.
A special message to our fans on the future of our “Dinner with Racers” streaming service, with a special thank you to Continental Tire and our fans.
We’ve said we’d avoid doing remote interviews but, well, changing times call for changing approaches. The final in our series of catch-ups with previous guests, we reached out to Zach Veach, who in only five months has encountered a whole number of life changes, luckily he can laugh. Closeout song is “Climb Down That Tree” by Jacob Montague. Thanks to Continental Tire, Valvoline and Acura for making this happen.