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Andrew Kurland was an early guest of the show and only a teenager at the time looking to find a way into the sport. Kurland has done that now and we go through putting a cap on those early projects; what he got out of the college experience after already having real-world experience; if starting his media career ruined or changed the sport for him; the difference in driver reaction to him over the years; working for Dale Earnhardt Jr. now; being a jack of all trades in the content space; making sure there is correct and up-to-date information for the Dirty Mo shows; starting so young working to his advantage in getting a job; having people in his corner along the way; the change in approach to interviews and stories; the skills he can improve on; the future of the ‘Next Level’ podcast; making the move to North Carolina; what could be next to accomplish after already doing so much in the sport; it finally feeling like a job. Music created by Tony Monge. This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

Trevor Bayne still wants to be a race car driver but also really enjoys making television with Fox Sports. In discussing those topics this week, Bayne explains what a typical week looks like for him based out of Knoxville; selling the coffee business in anticipation of running full-time in NASCAR again; the coffee business being a distraction in the immediate aftermath of his Cup Series ride going away; how long it’s taken to be at peace with where his career is at currently; how realistic it is that he’ll race this year; if Bayne feels behind when he does race because he’s not doing it every week; making the phone call to get into the Fox Sports rotation; how tuned he is to the racing each week and the preparation; the emotion of being on television compared to being in a race car; seeking out feedback to get better at the craft; watching other sports differently now knowing how television is made; what he wants fans to think of him being on television; how the fans view Bayne when seeing him in public; why he’s doing an hour of radio on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio each week; balancing opinion versus relationships in the garage; if not being in the NASCAR hub is a good or bad thing; if there is a timeline of when he needs to decide his future. Music created by Tony Monge. This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

JJ Yeley, the NASCAR driver, not the incorrectly labeled Formula 1 champion, visits the podcast to discuss his role with Rick Ware Racing; what he still gets out of racing; not wanting to get a real job; how his perspective and appreciation of racing has changed over the years and through teams; his career not being as imagined after starting with Joe Gibbs; if there are any regrets coming to NASCAR; the IndyCar experience; getting confidence back in USAC; memories of his 2003 triple crown season and the ribbing with Tony Stewart about it; becoming Stewart’s NASCAR teammate; not having things come easy in NASCAR as Yeley was used to in dirt racing; any lessons from his father; still going back dirt racing when it makes sense; explaining why injuries are more prone to happen in dirt racing; how fulfilled he feels with racing today. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

Jasmine Salinas is a second-generation drag racer, and she’s quickly making a name for herself in NHRA. We get to know Salinas in our conversation, starting with what being at a dragstrip feels like; the most defining moment of her career to this point; the impact of her massive 2021 crash at Gainesville; how long the doubts about racing lasted after the crash; coming back a year later and dealing with the emotions and winning at the same racetrack; her earliest memory of being at a track; when she wanted to be a race car driver; having limited experience compared to the competition; learning how to be a competitor; how she was raised leaving an impression; a family business others didn’t understand when she was younger; being the oldest of four girls; dealing with the pressure and judgment of following her dad’s footsteps; the importance of having family at the track; having mom come around to her daughters racing; who is the most competitive one in the family; the mental game in trusting the car and trusting your ability; balancing her driving career and being the general manager of the family team; the indescribable feeling of Top Fuel testing and dad being a hot mess; scaring herself in the lead up to testing; why next year is the time to go Top Fuel racing; what is going to happen lining up against dad one day; how she uses social media. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

Bobby Labonte is a former NASCAR Cup Series champion who now spends his time … racing. Labonte is keeping busy with SRX and modifieds, as well as television work for Fox Sports. Labonte explains what keeps him coming back to SRX; how competitive the series is; getting to compete against the best drivers from all over; how this chapter of his racing career is different; why it’s hard for drivers to give up racing; Labonte’s relationship with the media as a driver to how its changed doing Fox Sports work; giving opinions and looking at the sport as a whole; how TV has changed his view or understanding of the sport; his first booth experience at Darlington with Fox Sports versus second one recently at Martinsville; the disconnect between what fans enjoy in a race and what drivers enjoy; if he wants to do more booth work; if NASCAR has a responsibility to keep former drivers involved; how to define this version of Bobby Labonte. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

Laura Beth Barnhardt is the NASCAR race producer/director for PRN, and the tables have turned as she’s the one behind the microphone. Barnhart shares about the adrenaline of not being able to edit the show together later; being a strong leader in the booth directing men; the easiest way to understand what a race director does; going viral with a BTS video from the booth; why live pit stops are her favorite segment to produce; PRN waiting for its first race of the season and having a choppy schedule; juggling three different jobs as PRN isn’t her day job; the tools inside the broadcast booth to do the job; the dynamic of working with Doug Rice, who is the boss; landing on Rice’s radar for a PRN job; working through the PRN system to her current role; directing NASCAR versus college football; what drew her to radio in the first place; being a gear head; what sports have taught her. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

Joey Cohen would say he is the chief complaint officer at Legacy Motor Club, but that’s only in jest. Cohen’s title is actually competition director, and he explains what that means; the unique dynamic of GMS Racing being the truck operation and Legacy Motor Club the Cup Series operation; not coming from a racing family but wanting to be a race car driver; dad building Cohen a go-kart track; racing coming naturally to him as he moved through the ranks; a newspaper article leading to truck racing; the recognizable names Cohen raced against in VA; when the time came to figure out his future; the NASCAR garage feeling like a college reunion; the reception from the garage when engineering became a bigger tool; learning under Steve Letarte; why Cup Series racing wasn’t for him; taking opportunities with many different teams; lessons from working for Pratt & Miller brought to NASCAR; pitching Maury Gallagher on Cup Series racing; the unexpected growth and changes since that decision was made; what brings Cohen the most enjoyment in his job; the full circle moment of Cohen’s son now beginning to race. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

It feels good for Ryan Preece to hear himself be called a NASCAR Cup Series driver again. Preece shares what it was like to be out of sight and out of mind in 2022 as he worked behind the scenes at Stewart-Haas Racing; using the year to become a better person and driver; unique ways to build a bond with a team; what being a reserved driver is all about; there being no guarantee of a ride when signing with Stewart-Haas; if Preece went to bat for himself as ’22 went on; the conversations had about his career; funding being the story of his career; if not having a straight upward path has any upside; falling in love with racing as a third generation driver; the sacrifices to race; being the one son (of three) who went into racing; why working on his race cars was the chosen way; how Preece’s first national series start came together; what he thinks has been the defining moment of his NASCAR career. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

Fresh off a big win with his new team, Christian Eckes shares how they celebrated; what an early win does for Eckes; what the win does for a team who had never won before; if the fast start has been a surprise; delivering a first win for Bill McAnally; why it was a hard offseason; having a chip on his shoulder and being out to prove something; what kind of work Eckes can do to be better with McAnally; what a team can do for a new driver coming in; taking the next step with multiple wins in a season; telling the team he came to win races and championships; what Vegas showed Eckes about the team; what his responsibility is with a growing team; being a mentor to a rookie teammate and passing along lessons; fitting into the Chevrolet camp; why the Truck Series is so hard for younger drivers; the good thing about going from ARCA to Trucks; truck racing being as crazy as they look; the meaning behind his helmet design; an update on the golf game and it being a draw for drivers. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

There was a lot of anticipation for Connor Mosack as he waited his turn to get behind the wheel in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for the first time this season. Mosack will run the majority of the season with Sam Hunt Racing and he discusses how the test at Charlotte Motor Speedway went; being tuned in to what has gone on with the team already; preparing to race the most he ever has in a single season; any translation from the Trans Am car to Xfinity; looking forward to road course races; starting his career later than most and if he felt behind the learning curve; how it went from something that seemed unrealistic to a career; the feeling of driving a race car for the first time; lessons learned from the CARS Tour and late models; how Mosack's opportunities have presented themselves; using his college degree; the family adjustment to getting into racing; if Mosack thought about what he’d be doing if it racing never came along; the differences between Sam Hunt Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing; the adjustment of working with different teams; building year versus a prove himself year. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

In his second full season of NHRA competition, Josh Hart hopes people are starting to take notice that his team isn’t messing around. Hart discusses preparing for a new season; what he learned last year; balancing between the driver and owner hat; experiencing the Countdown for the first time; the mental game of NHRA; being one of the quietest and calmest drivers in the pits; fitting into the pits with drivers Hart once looked up to; Don Garlits as a mentor; how his drag racing career started from troubles on the public roads of Indianapolis; starting his racing career later than most; adjusting to the business of drag racing; knowing it was sink or swim and changing his life; some lessons of being a pro driver; trying to get comfortable in his dragster this season and referencing Days of Thunder; recalling the first time hitting the 330mph mark; if he thinks 340mph is out there for dragsters; where he thinks life would have taken him if not for drag racing; if any team changes were made for 2023 and his season expectations. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

Brittany Force enters a new season as a two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion and is hungry for more. But before we talk racing, Force shares how she got away from racing over the last few months traveling around the country; having extracurricular activities away from racing; what she learned to enjoy or do from the first championship to the second championship; digesting and appreciating the run her team had in the Countdown last year; what it was like to watch the first round at Pomona with the title on the line; getting crew chief David Grubnic his first championship; if her team can hit the 340 mph mark this season and if she wants to; balancing breaking records but not getting the race win; the work done in preseason testing; having a new car this year; having crew members all switch positions a year after winning a championship; the battle to constantly evolve; the growing depth of the Top Fuel field; the motivation in drag racing from the number on the side of the car; setting new challenges for herself every year; the addition of competition within competitions in the sport; returning to Chicago this year; needing an update to the Twitter bio. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

That damn Brian Lohnes! Once you hear the conversation you’ll be in on the joke because Brian is a wonderful guy that is really good at what he does. In our conversation you’ll learn everywhere you can find Brian; the early work to becoming an announcer and sleeping at racetracks; taking in the moments his voice will be connected to in NHRA history; the necessity of being a jack of all trades; the origin story of his love of cars and racing, and how consuming it became; the live and in-person experience of drag racing; having other racetrack experience that bleeds into his current role; the lightbulb moment of a broadcasting career and what a tryout with drag racing entails; how an NHRA on Fox broadcast works for a mostly non-live sporting event; the work to be honest on the broadcast about what the viewer is seeing; the state of NHRA going into 2023; how the Pro Stock division has come back to life; the chase for 340 mph; a class-by-class breakdown of what to expect this season. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

Josh Bilicki is back for another season of NASCAR racing in both the Xfinity Series and Cup Series, but before he does that, he experienced the Chili Bowl for the first time. Bilicki shares what it was like to compete in Tulsa; why he wanted to try his hand at the biggest dirt event in the country; if seat time of any kind actually helps a driver hone their craft; turning right to go left on dirt; why he is not based in the Charlotte hub; choosing a stock car path despite having a background and love of road course racing; shooting his shot with a Facebook message to get a NASCAR ride; taking charge of his destiny; all that Bilicki handles on his own for his career; the mental balance of businessman and driver; what being a driver coach looks like; better weighing his career options and business deals; what is going on in the middle of the pack that might not be seen; the weird journey of Next Gen; being attractive to sponsors; the surrealness of his life; details on his part-time deal with DGM Racing; why people want to drive for B.J. McLeod and Matt Tifft; why 2023 will be different for Bilicki. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

Wayne Auton is the managing director of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and that means he wears many different hats. Auton keeps things and people in order, and he had to do plenty of that in 2022, so we begin our conversation on the balance of being a mentor but also an enforcer. We then shift into a lesson about having drivers sign autographs and Auton’s mentors; the lack of a family nickname; a family history in racing but not wanting to be a driver; working his way up the ranks starting at Hickory Motor Speedway; overseeing the Craftsman Truck Series in its inaugural season; if the job changes when going into different series; Auton’s outlook for the 2023 Xfinity Series season. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

Lindsey Mandia is the VP of production at Fox Sports, and she is in the middle of a three-week stretch working on the Busch Light Clash, the Super Bowl, and the Daytona 500. Mandia explains how the second year of planning production for the Clash will be different from the first; what Fox brought to NASCAR about presenting the Clash; what exactly the VP of production does; managing the talent; the birth of ideas, and the ones that never see the light of day; the Clash vs. the Super Bowl vs. the Daytona 500; a football broadcast vs. a racing broadcast; preparing for everything leading up to a live event; where Mandia is stationed during a broadcast; busy work and life balance; the birth of the virtual Race Hub studio; plugging into other sports; broadcast bucket list. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

Amanda Busick loves to work and loves motor sports, which is why you’ll never see her in just one place. Busick is most known for being the top-end reporter for NHRA on Fox, but she has some news to share on the podcast in addition to taking us into how she got to where she is today. We start by learning how she kept busy in the winter without racing; the catalyst to saying ‘yes’ to everything; branching into NASCAR for Fox Sports; compartmentalizing each job and being present; balancing racing consumption and taking breaks; what makes Busick uncomfortable with how many series she covers; falling in love with sports and racing at an early age; being a child of trauma and the bond created with Mom; having to pivot away from broadcasting early in her career to sell meat; fitting into the drag racing community; what it’s like reporting from the top end of the NHRA track and the pressure that comes in those chaotic moments; being at peace with stories that never get told; the reason behind the signature red lipstick; moments of appreciation; if the dream looks like what Busick hoped for it to be. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

Mike Bagley is a turn announcer with Motor Racing Network (MRN) and co-host of The Morning Drive on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (7 a.m. – 11 a.m., Mon. – Fri.) Bagley joins the show to discuss various topics about his roles, including what he would be doing after a SiriusXM show and where he’s normally located for the show; being a big notetaker and prep work; the approach to an early morning daily talk show; working with David Poole in his early days of TMD; what makes Bagley and Pete Pistone work well together; becoming an interviewer; the responsibility and value of having a NASCAR official visit the channel every week; learning radio broadcasts from the greats; the carpets, radio, and matchbox cars that shaped his fandom; seeing the evolution of radio over time; breaking out of being an introvert; struggling to take a compliment; the view of going from fan to professional; consuming racing content; what else is still to do in his racing career. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

Julie Giese is preparing for her final race as president of Phoenix Raceway before shifting to the Chicago street course. Giese explains what goes on a racetrack in the final weeks before an event; how championship weekend is different from spring race weekend; what being a track president means; sitting with race fans for the start of the events; going from a dairy farm to working in racing; what it was like to come into NASCAR in 2001 during an intense time for the sport; experiences and projects that get thrown your way while in marketing and communications; being involved in finding her successor at Phoenix; overseeing the Chicago street course; addressing the concerns over the event; being involved in seeing if it was even possible to do; praise from the industry of her name being attached to big projects; learning hustle and work ethic from the farm; if knowing the Midwest will help in any way plan the Chicago street event; some of the important things on her agenda; what she’s looking forward to in her final Phoenix weekend. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement

Andrew Combs is the executive chef for Stewart-Haas Racing, but what exactly does that entail? Combs takes us inside a busy week leading into the Charlotte Roval; what prep looks like before a race weekend; previous roles in the sport before turning to cooking; trying to describe the setup in the garage; knowing when it’s time to start feeding everyone; putting together complex meals; having his working station custom made; how the equipment travels; sticking to favorites versus changing things up; accommodating for diets and other preferences; having a Smithfield sponsorship; how many people Combs feeds on a given weekend; watching and comparing to other team cooks; having a culinary degree and a long-time love of cooking; rules and regulations of the garage; having a Facebook page to share his cooking and racing adventures; doing some filming with the Food Network; what is the most fulfilling for Combs in his job. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3228370/advertisement