If you’re a fan of the 2000’s era of ChampCar, then you know Mario Dominguez, or at least you think you do. With one of the most, errr, unique stories in coming up through the Mexican junior ranks, Mario went from a karting national champion, to a Russell School scholarship winner, to driving for some Mexico’s most questionable race teams. Persevering through a diverse range of challenges, Mario’s career was highlighted with multiple wins in ChampCar, and no shortage of stories from the era. Lunch was served by Mario at his home in Mexico City, yes Mexico City, with the song “Flix” by Vic Savage taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire and Acura for making it all happen.
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Continuing our tradition of unsung heroes behind the wall, Chris Willes is a consummate tinkerer whose engineering and head for innovation has led him to working on a number of cool sportscar programs, from creating factory-killer Trans Am cars to championship-winning TCR efforts, Chris is one of those guys who can work within the means of a program to turn around incredible results. Equally noteworthy, Chris’ career got off to an amazing start out of college, being involved from the ground-up in one of the sport’s most heralded program, the Nissan GTP cars during IMSA’s 1980’s era. Chris has recorded all of these great memories into his book, “Developing a Champion: The Electramotive Nissan GTP Story,” available at www.chriswillesautoracingbooks.com. Lunch was served at Pacific Coast Grill in Cardiff, CA, with the song “Its Not Your Fault” by Yotam Ben Horin taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire and Acura for making it all happen.
If you think you know Townsend Bell because you’ve seen him on TV, you don’t know Townsend Bell. Here in 2022 he’s known as one of the booth commentators for the NTT INDYCAR Series, but the crazy adventure he’s been on starting as just a kid in San Francisco is unlike any other. From the most elaborate “trade” we’ve ever heard to get into racing school, to fighting his way through the Indy Lights, F3000, and eventually IndyCar ranks, Townsend truly defines tenacity. We promise you, this is one to listen to because you likely have no idea just how hard he pushed to make his career a reality. Dinner was served at Townsend’s house in the Pacific Palisades, CA, with the song “No More Empty Glasses” by ATELLER taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire and Acura for making it all happen.
John Morton would fit in our legends category. If you’ve seen “Ford vs. Ferrari” then you’ve heard of the legends of Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles. Well, John Morton’s first job was with Carroll Shelby, and his CO-DRIVER was Ken Miles… so the guy’s been around. A class winner at Le Mans, a winner of millions of touring/GT races with Datsun and Nissan, John was the quintessential sportscar driver from the 1960’s through 1980’s, and he has no shortage of crazed stories to go with it. Lunch was served at the Metro Cafe in El Segundo, CA, with the song “Friend to the End” by Gabe Price taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire and Acura for making it all happen.
When it comes to Touring Car legends, there is no bigger name than Andy Priaulx. Growing up in the small island of Guernsey, an island between the England and France, Andy went through an insane career and financing path to go through the junior ranks and eventually land a ride in a factory BMW within the now-defunct World Touring Car Championship. The WTC became Andy’s staple, winning four World Titles, as well as driving in DTM and Ford’s renowned GTE program. He’s also our first MBE for his charitable efforts in the UK. Dinner was served at Ronin Sushi in Daytona Beach, FL, with the song “Blanket” by Van Stee taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire and Acura for making it all happen.
Continuing our run of sportscar staples, Graham Goodwin joins us a journalist/commentator who’s become the standard. Beginning his career as a Press Officer for the British government, Graham is an example of someone who grew to pursue his passion later in life, ultimately becoming the main guy dailysportscar.com, one of the industry leading sites for sportscar news, as well as a commentator and podcast host. Recognized by DwR who just fundamentally “gets it,” Graham is phenomenal at explain his own career and the state of he sport. Lunch was served at the Peach Valley Cafe in Ormond Beach, FL, with the song “Bring it Back” by Notize taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire and Acura for making it all happen.
Oliver Jarvis is yet another staple of the global sportscar scene. Born in the UK, Oliver was a standout in junior formula racing, winning the Autosport Young Driver Award and eventually the hyper prestigious Macau Grand Prix in Formula 3. Finding a career in sportscars, Oliver’s biggest successes came as an Audi factory driver, where stints in LMP1, DTM and beyond led to wins at Le Mans and no shortage of other accolades. Note: At the time of recording he was with Meyer Shank Racing and Acura, however he has since moved on from the program. Dinner was served at Bland Mediterranean Grill in Ormond Beach, FL, with the song “Hahaha” by Hey Judy taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire and Acura for making it all happen.
René Rast is largely considered one of the greatest sportscar drivers of the modern era. Hailing from Germany, René grew up in the traditional European junior ranks before finding his way into the famed Porsche Supercup, eventually launching him on a career path that would lead to a factory ride with Audi Sport, and with wins at Daytona, Spa, Nurburgring, and most notably THREE DTM CHAMPIONSHIPS IN FOUR YEARS. Note: At the time of recording he was with Audi, however he has since been named to BMW’s factory squad as well as McLaren in Formula E. Lunch was served at Dancing Avocado in Daytona Beach, FL, with the song “Crossbow” by OK Otter taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire and Acura for making it all happen.
A special announcement on the future of the “Dinner with Racers” video series…
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 get in to the weeds of ice skating for those interested, getting in to the complicated details and offering some cautionary tales analogous to sportscar. Dinner was served at Gracias Madre in Irvine, CA, with the song “Winter Dress” by Humming House taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire and Acura and for making it all happen.
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.