Willy T. Ribbs is, hands down, one of the most unique characters you’ll ever meet. A star on the rise in the junior categories, Willy’s journey took him to the top levels of IMSA and Trans-Am in the 1980’s and 1990’s, ultimately netting him a chance to qualify for the Indy 500, where he became the first-ever African American to qualify for the Indy 500. What makes Willy so unique, however, is his larger than life character. Honestly, there’s no point in describing it… just listen. Seriously, holy shit. Dinner was served at Trattoria Lisina in Driftwood, TX, with the music of Tyler Royse taking us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great MDX.
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Lyn St. James is an absolute pioneer of the sport. Beginning her career in the grassroots sportscar rank, her business acumen set her apart from her peers, using her combination of speed, tenacity, and salesmanship to catch the eye of Ford in the 1980’s, eventually becoming a factory driver in their prestigious IMSA and Trans-Am programs, netting her a number of wins accolades and beyond. After getting a taste of IndyCar racing, Lyn’s ultimate accomplishment would occur in 1992 when she would not only quality for the Indy 500, but she’d enjoy a competitive run that would earn her Rookie-of-the-Year honors, the first woman in history to do so.
We’re pretty sure he doesn’t need a description, but Paul Tracy is one of the most iconic characters of the IndyCar and former ChampCar scene. The “thrill from West Hill,” this Canadian burst on to the scene as the ultimate checkers or wreckers type of driver, with a wild driving style that saw him win often, or crash trying. Driving for names like Penske and Newman/Haas, Paul’s career settled in when he became part of the Team Kool Green program, kind of winning the 2002 Indianapolis 500, and ultimately driving Forsythe Racing where he would finally take his much sought after first championship. This two-part episode takes us throughout his career, including some of the funniest moments, the most tragic, and everything in between. Dinner was served at Dominick’s Steakhouse in Scottsdale, AZ, with the music of Wes Sp8 and the Apollo taking us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great MDX.
What if we told you a Canadian go kart racer who lives in Colorado would go on to be this year’s championship-winning Crew Chief in NASCAR? Well we got ‘em, and he’s awesome. One of the youngest Crew Chiefs in the sport, Cole Pearn moves to the beat of his own drum, breaking from the traditions of NASCAR by growing up in Canada, getting an engineering degree, and using his scientific approach and methodology to become of the most successful active Crew Chiefs in the sport. As part of the Denver-based Furniture Row team, Cole’s approach with driver Martin Truex Jr. made them a dominant combination in 2017, winning the championship! Join us for a unique look at one of the sports most unique characters.
If you’re a lover of Porsche machinery, you probably know the name Alwin Springer. If you don’t, you should. Alwin is probably the biggest name in Porsche’s rise to dominance in North American sportscar racing. Working for Vasek Polak, the man who responsible for growing the U.S. market for Porsche throughout the 1950’s and ’60’s, Alwin went on with two partners to create ANDIAL, the premier Porsche performance tuning business in the U.S. Through ANDIAL, Alwin and his team were a big part of the legendary Porsche 962 success, servicing a variety of Porsche machinery until finally becoming part of Porsche Motorsport North America in the 1990’s. While Alwin theoretically retired years ago, it’s not exactly true, and we get a rare opportunity to hear about all of that and more.
Jeremy Shaw is, without a doubt, one of the most influential people in the careers of many road racing stars in the U.S. We’d call him a long-time motorsport journalist, but according to Jeremy he’s a motorsport writer, not a journalist, demonstrating the humility that makes Jeremy one of the most beloved folks in motorsport. Parlaying his writing career in to a broadcasting one, Jeremy is now one of the most recognized figures in road racing broadcasting, including serving as a key part of the fames IMSA Radio team. Most notably, Jeremy is also the founder of the famed Team USA scholarship, a one-of-a-kind program that sends two deserving young Americans to the prestigious Formula Ford Festival every year. Dinner was courtesy of Hacienda on the Lake in Mission Viejo, CA with the music of Dain Norman taking us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great MDX.
Scott Tucker and his epic “Level 5” sportscar program is the thing of legends. We actually owe a little something to Scott and Level 5 because our own “Level 5 Special” is the most downloaded one in our history. Imagine having a team owner, with a passion for racing, who has the means to fund things properly and really do things “right,” which is code for going big. That’s what Level 5 was, and Scott Tucker was the man behind it. Unfortunately his personal business would meet sharp criticism and controversy as the team went on, eventually folding the team as Scott concentrated on his ongoing legal matters. For the amazing racing stories, tune in to our previous episode. For the business and legal side of the story, as told by Scott, enjoy this one. Dinner was courtesy of the Full Schilling in Wall Street, New York City. Music was provided by Graveler. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great MDX.
Parker Kligerman is a perfect example of resilience ahead of career challenges, and it’s because of that he should have a long career ahead of him. Beginning as a road racer, Parker saw the writing on the wall and went stock car racing, then had a Penske development contract at 18, only to see it all end when things didn’t work out. Recognizing opportunity when he saw it, Parker has since moved on to a broadcasting career with NBC Sports Network, and sure enough that has re-introduced him to driving opportunities, funny how that works!
Do we really need to explain who Mario Andretti is? It’s Mario Andretti. IT’S MARIO ANDRETTI. He gave us so much time that we had to split the episode in two…BECAUSE YOU DON’T EDIT MARIO ANDRETTI. PART TWO
Brian Till is a classic racing tale of a guy who has never stopped working, and in such has carved out his own place in sport. A champion of various junior level categories, Brian enjoyed a brief stint in IndyCar and Trans-Am racing before finding an eventual home as a television broadcaster, and during the entirety of his career has always been a racing instructor at a variety of locations. His ability to relate, tell stories, and be a genuinely likable guy- combined with his work ethic- is what’s kept him around and you can really hear it in this episode.
A special edition for Dinner with Racers, we decided to cut Craig Hampson’s recording in to two parts. While his main episode focused largely on his stories and bigger picture examination, we wanted to focus exclusively on how he cut his teeth as a young engineer, specifically for our large audience of aspiring engineers who are curious about a career in motorsports. If you’re curious about what it takes, involved in Formula SAE, or just want to hear tales of young Craig Hampson, this is the episode for you.
What makes Ryan Lewis such an interesting guest is what his role isn’t in the sport. In a season of holy sh**, Ryan’s career has maybe not gone according to plan, despite being very talented and very articulate, which is why we thought we should sit with him. With a keen mind for evaluation and self diagnosis, we walk through Ryan’s career to look at the good, the bad, and the future. He also didn’t know what he was walking in to, and got drunk as f***.
For fans of historic sportscar racing, Dorsey Schroeder is a true living legend. What makes him amazing is that he’s a legend for his off-track exploits as much as on. Making his biggest name in the golden era of Trans-Am, Dorsey was the key figure in the era of the Roush Mustang, before moving to NASCAR and eventually broadcasting, where he has amazing stories across the board. This episode features no shortage of drunk tales, stories about Dale Earnhardt, and living by a lake.
Love him or hate him, Robin Miller is one of the most entertaining people you could ever meet in the IndyCar scene. A career journalist with multiple accounts of failing at driving or anything mechanical, Robin Miller’s enthusiasm for all things open wheel and IndyCar racing is unparalleled, and it’s because of that passion that he’s endured a five decade career in the sport as a journalist and broadcast for a variety of mediums. We weren’t sure what to expect, but walked away loving the guy… his enthusiasm is real, he’s freakin’ hilarious, and he pulls no punches.
According to his college degree, Doug Boles began his career as a lawyer, yet when you sit down with him, you hear about anything but that. Serving every non-mechanical role that you could in the sport, Doug has gone from team principal, to strategist, to spotter, to somehow ending up as the President of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a job which he takes on with an immense out of passion and enthusiasm. Reflecting on his career, join us for some amazing insight into being the most important man to the sport’s most iconic track.
The “Iceman” has long been known as someone who keeps his personality hidden from the public. Not only is Scott Dixon a three-time IndyCar Series champion, Indy 500 winner, and the winningest active driver out there, but the dude is hilarious and absolutely awesome to have lunch with. We were blown away by how funny he was, and how willing he was to share, including his account of getting robbed at Taco Bell, just how many sheep live in New Zealand, driving with a pillow strapped to yourself, and more.
You think you’ve heard it all, then you hear Dr. Jerry Punch. An MD by profession, a broadcaster by trade, this likable Tennessee-native has created a niche exclusive to him, carving out a four-decade career that has combined his experience as an ER doctor with his love of motorsport and college football to become a true legend of the sport. Dr. Punch has been a pitman reporter in NASCAR since the 1980’s, as well as the Indy 500, but also ran an ER in Daytona Beach for several years, before starting his own practice. Be ready to hear some amazing tales of driver recovery, life on the road and much, much more. Dinner was served at Calhoun’s on the River, located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Music was provided by Freek (available on CD Baby). Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great car.
You couldn’t ask for a more dream opening to Season Three than with Dario Franchitti. One of the most storied drivers of IndyCar, Dario is a three-time Indy 500 winner, a four-time IndyCar Series champion, and easily regarded as one of the all-time greats. With his soothing Scottish voice, Dario joined us to not just tell tales of IndyCar racing, but life away from the track, his brief stint in NASCAR, the amazing tale of being robbed at gunpoint, getting involved in high speed chases with people breaking in to his home, and life after forced retirement. It’s an amazing listen, and afterward he drove us for the rest of the trip! Dinner was served at Santé a restaurant at the Fairmont Mission Inn in Sonoma, California. We kick off our third season with the music of Desure, a favorite of Patrick Long. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great car.
Being the son of one of racing’s all-time legends hasn’t phased Alex Gurney one bit, and that’s probably because he’s done an excellent job of carving out his own career. Despite beginning his racing career at 19 and competing against guys who started 11 years before him, Alex would continue on to become a two-time Rolex Sports Car Series champion, and currently helps to run AAR, known to many as All American Racers, one of the most storied companies in all of motorsports, started by his father Dan. Learn about his career path, some legendary tales of his father… and his gambling problem. Dinner was served at Eureka in Irvine, California, with the music of Jarrod Gorbel to close out our second season. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Honda for providing a great car, we hope to announce the future plans of Dinner with Racers soon.
Brendan Gaughan is one of NASCAR’s most unique and colorful characters. After a successful career in off-road as well junior open-wheel categories, the Las Vegas native turned his attention to NASCAR, ultimately becoming a multiple winner in the Truck Series, and eventually landing opportunities in both the Cup an Xfinity cateogories, where he has continued to win and even qualified for the 2016 Chase. What makes him especially unique, however, is an upbringing unlike anyone else. A member of the famous Gaughan family, Brendan’s grandfather and father have made huge careers out of the casino business, owning a series of casinos in both Las Vegas and beyond, with the most current noteworthy one being the South Point Casin in Southern Las Vegas. Oh, and the dude can play basketball, having helped train with NBA legend Allen Iverson while playing at Georgetown. Dinner was served at possibly the nicest restaurant in the history of the series, Michael’s Gourmet Room, located in the South Point Casino. Music was provided by Kari Holmes. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Honda for providing a great car.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is one of NASCAR’s top stars, now entering his fifth season of the top-tier Cup category. Part of the wave of “development drivers” that burst on to the scene 10 years ago, Ricky has been part of the Roush family for nearly a decade, and in the process has won two consecutive Xfinity series championships, multiple victories in various categories, and is on the cusp of a Cup breakout. He was also a close friend of the late Bryan Clauson, who we were fortunate enough to meet during our first season. Meeting up at Fresco Italiano in Las Vegas’s Westgate hotel, the real surprise of the day was Ricky bringing three of his friends: his buddy Aaron, and then fellow NASCAR stars Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney. With such a dynamic group, you get an idea of what it’s like to just “hang out with the guys,” with the episode being closed out by the music of Jarrod Gorbel. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Honda for providing a great car.
Peter Cunningham is a staple of the American sportscar scene, and has been for three decades. The owner and former driver of RealTime Racing, the Wisconsin native is one of the most heralded drivers and team owners in World Challenge Series history, having been with the series as a driver since inception, and with both driver and team amassing a record number of wins and championships along the way. A staple of the Honda / Acura brand, “PD” also owns and operates the largest private collection of vintage Honda machines in the USA, oh and he’s also Ryan’s boss. Breakfast was served courtesy of the world-famous Peppermill, a historic coffee shop in downtown Las Vegas. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Honda for providing a great car.
Eddie Gossage is what most of us would define as a “boss.” As the President of Texas Motor Speedway, this is the man behind some of the most glorious stunts in all of racing, including everything from Robosaurus, to Robby Knievel jumping over the entire IndyCar grid, to literally having a monkey sell his race programs. A true entertainer and consummate businessman, hear about the world of track management as only Eddie can tell you. Dinner was served courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway’s very own Speedway Club, with the music of I See Hawks in L.A. closing us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Honda for providing a great car.
Randy Lanier burst on to the motorsport scene in the late 1970’s, eventually forming Blue Thunder Racing with Bill and Don Whittington. The group became a legend of the 1980’s, with Randy winning the 1984 IMSA GTP championship over factory rivals, and then turning to IndyCar where he steadily began to gain results by his second year. What later came to light was the entire operation was funded by a marijuana smuggling ring that Randy orchestrated, eventually getting arrested and serving 27 years in jail, only recently getting out. He tells us EVERYTHING. Yes, EVERYTHING. That’s all we’ll say. Dinner was served courtesy of Cabana El Rey in Delray Beach, Florida, with the music of Jarrod Gorbel closing us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Honda for providing a great car.
Don Whittington, or “Donny Dubbs” as he allowed us to call him, is one of the most unique characters in all of racing. First off, the dude is a real racer. A REAL racer. Sports cars, IndyCar, stock cars, off-road, even AIRPLANES, this guy has raced and been competitive in all of them. This includes winning the 1979 Le Mans 24 overall, team with his brother Bill and Klaus Ludwig to beat out the more powerful factory teams. In addition, Don was also part of a 1980’s sportscar scene that would eventually lead to his arrest, pleading guilty in 1986 to money laundering, and serving 18 months in federal prison. Not afraid to speak his mind, Don continues to own and operate World Jet, a private airport in Fort Lauderdale, and is one of the most outspoken guys we’ve had on the show. Dinner was served courtesy of Pizza Fusion (owned by the brother of IMSA’s very own Shea Adam), with the music of Richard Sherfey and All God’s Children. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Honda for providing a great car.