Not a lot of people can claim wins in IndyCar, NASCAR, IMSA, the Baja 1000 and Paris-Dakar, but Robby Gordon can. Largely considered one of the most naturally gifted racers in the history of the sport, Robby’s place among the greats is unquestioned, with a fiery personality off-the-track playing a perfect match to his talent on the track. Transitioning from driving to business innovation, Robby’s enterprising nature has since led to his creation of the Stadium Super Truck Series (SST), as well as Speed Energy Drink, and he’s happy to talk about all of it. Dinner was served at Robby’s shop in Mooresville, NC, with food courtesy of Yoshii’s in nearby Huntersville and outro music by Red Remains. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great MDX.
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Danny “Chocolate” Myers is part of a rich NASCAR history dating back to the 1950’s. The son of one of racing’s original short-track heroes, “Chocolate” is primarily known as part of the famed “Flying Aces” pit crew for Richard Childress Racing, an elite group of guys who supported the legendary Dale Earnhardt through four of his famed NASCAR championships. A signature part of the Dale Earnhardt legacy, Chocolate’s bigger-than-life personality has made him an excellent storyteller, eventually landing him a role with SiriusXM satellite radio, where he now hosts the daily talk show “Trading Paint.” Lunch was served at Kerly’s BBQ in Welcome, North Carolina, with the music of Vince Johnson taking us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great MDX.
Tony Stewart, known to us as Mr. The Smoke, is one of the greatest racing drivers of all time. It’s almost an insult to even write a description. The first driver to win USAC’s “Triple Crown” in one year (Silver Crown, Midget, and Sprint Car Titles), a pole-sitter at the Indy 500, and IndyCar champion, a two-time winner of the Brickyard 400 and three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, the dude is a living legend. We cover it all… and he was awesome. So awesome, we broke it into two parts. Dinner was served at Port City Club in North Carolina, with the music of Rachel Paschket taking us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great MDX.
YRB (Young Ryan Blaney) is one of the most colorful characters in the NASCAR paddock. Raised in a racing family, he’s one of the leading chargers in NASCAR’s youth movement, driving for the famed Wood Brothers during the last two years and even making it to the later rounds of the playoffs this year on the back of a winning Cup season. A talented driver on the track, Ryan’s fun attitude and attention to hanging out with fans is what’s made him an instant favorite, with plenty of tales about alcohol to back it up. Heading in to 2018, Ryan faces his biggest challenge yet, driving for Roger Penske in a new third program. Breakfast was served The Famous Toastery in Davidson, NC,
Alex Bowman may not be a household name in NASCAR yet, but he’s about to be. Not only has he won in everything he’s ever stepped in to, but he’s about to take over one of the most legendary cars in the sport, the famed No. 88. Replacing the great Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is no easy feat, but at only 24-years old Alex is smart enough to know he can’t let that phase him, and charting his own course is the only way he’ll succeed. As intelligent off the track as he is fast on the track, we were extremely impressed with him… oh, and he’s awesome. An avid car guy, Alex’s taste in vehicles and motorsports is not what you’d associate with the role he’s taking on, which is why he’s pretty darn cool
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.
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.