The Down & Dirty Radio Show

Things are going well and life is good for Kyle Petty and the projects he’s working on, which he’s here to talk all about. Petty explains how COVID-19 changed his job and way of doing things; what it means to now be back in the garage area; the approach to ‘Coffee with Kyle’ conversations; learning the concept of shutting up and listening; how ‘Coffee with Kyle’ came to be; how much makes the finished show or gets left unseen; the difference with the ‘Dinner Drive’ show; if these projects serve as a way for Petty to talk to his heroes; reinventing himself and staying in the sport; details on the Charity Ride Revival. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

In the first of a three-part interview, Kevin Lepage talks about how he first got started in the sport, moving from his native Vermont to go Busch Series racing, sponsorship from the Vermont Teddy Bear Company – and we’ll later remember some of the OTHER unusual sponsors the sport has had over the years. Finally, Kevin tells the story of a very rocky relationship he faced when he first moved South. Then, in our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid thumb through the August 19, 1982 issue of Grand National Scene. Steve had a column in this issue in which he picked out the members of his own race team and a feature story on D.K. Ulrich prompts Rick to tell the story of a good racing friend, former driver Al Loquasto and Schaeffer beer.

The last time we spoke to Anthony Alfredo he was grasping the fact that he had a ride with Richard Childress Racing, so we’re checking back in with him to see what it’s like to be a Cup Series rookie at Front Row Motorsports. And it’s a challenging time to be a rookie, too. Alfredo explains why; if there have been any seconds thoughts or frustrations; how big the Olympic break was for his team; adjusting to longer races and a longer schedule; how the people at Front Row have helped with his development; finding there are more critics at the Cup level; how life changes when you become a Cup driver; ways Alfredo’s training has changed; looking at another driver’s visor camera and using SMT data; the advice that has stuck with him; working hard for little gains; new interest in his nickname; why he was operating heavy machinery lately; a new sponsor for Michigan and Richmond. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

The Mount Washington Auto Road just became the first-ever hillclimb course on iRacing, and we're here to tell you about it! And who better to describe the mountain than the man who currently holds the world record for its fastest run? That's right—Travis Pastrana stopped by the studio to join the show (and get some extra seat time in the sim)! Be sure to follow along with the event on Sunday as Travis tries to extend his record!

In one of the most emotional episodes we've ever produced, Shawna Robinson and hosts Steve Waid and Rick Houston discuss the impact cancer has had on their lives.

Alan Reinhart is the voice you hear when it comes to the NHRA, either over the PA system at the racetrack or if you’ve watched NHRA.TV. Reinhart takes us through the journey of being in the right place at the right time to start announcing; the knowledge and one-liners he brings to the job; views from the booth, material, and knowing when information is relevant; Shirley Muldowney stopping by the broadcast booth; working with Joe Castillo; his travel schedule between races; NHRA still being a niche sport; selling the NHRA to race fans; working for Brian France back in the day and Reinhart’s NASCAR connections; NHRA headlines this season; Reinhart’s offer to you the race fan. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall Visit www.carpys.com for all your screen-printing needs and get it shipped nationwide

On this week's General Tire Down & Dirty radio Show Powered by Polaris RZR Jim Beaver welcomes NHRA winner Ron Capps to the show to talk about his win this weekend in Pomona, David Higgins to talk about his winning return to rally, and Tyler Hoover from YouTube's Hoovie's Garage. Jim also talks on the 2021 Off-Road Hall of Fame inductees, the 2022 Supercross Schedule, Sturgis, and the Olympics. Be sure and follow @JimBeaver15 on social media and subscribe on Apple Podcasts.

This week, we share the second of what will be three installments of our interview with Shawna Robinson. In this episode, Shawna talks about the 1994 weekend in Atlanta in which she experienced the highest of highs in becoming the first woman to win a Busch Series pole position and the lowest of lows on the very first lap of the race. She also also talks about how motherhood impacted her career, her decision to start racing again and the ups and downs that she experienced after that. In our second segment, we go back to the March 17, 1994 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which featured coverage of Winston Cup rookie Jeff Burton's strong at Atlanta, before giving way to eventual winner Ernie Irvan; Shawna's pole win and a controversial first-lap incident with Mike Wallace and Joe Nemechek. Finally, Bobby Labonte experiences a scary landing of his plane on his way home from the Atlanta race weekend.

Michael Waltrip has seemingly done it all – racer, team owner, television, author, and now beer. We start our conversation by talking about what led him to start a brewing company; then we move into his experience running with SRX this summer; the opportunity to race against some motorsports greats; if SRX scratched any itch of getting into a race car; how it feels to be in his 25th year of broadcast work and the opportunities he’s on the media side; memories of Waltrip’s early days in TV; rehearsal or no rehearsal; thoughts on the critics and if anyone from the garage has ever questioned his opinions; what Waltrip enjoys about the broadcast side of the sport; going from friend and competitor to interview; what Waltrip identifies as these days; if he would have done anything differently; if there is anything left that hasn’t been told; looking ahead to the last portion of the Truck Series season. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=57288151&fan_landing=true Visit www.carpys.com for all your screen-printing needs and get it shipped nationwide. Also, visit www.carpys.com/racing-writers-podcast-merch/ to buy merchandise for the podcast!

Jim Beaver has short course star and Red Bull athlete Andrew Carlson on the show this week as well as racer/influencer Pleasant Cook aka 4x4 Barbie. Chris Leone also calls in from on-site at the New England Forest Rally to talk about David Higgins return. Jim also talks off-road news and the olympics.

Shawna Robinson was the first woman to win a NASCAR touring series race when she won a Charlotte/Daytona Dash Series event at Asheville. She was the first woman to win a pole in the Busch Series and she is also the first woman we’ve featured as an interview guest here on the show. And what a story she has. We’re going to do three episodes with Shawna … the first two on her career, and then the third and final show will focus on her battle with breast cancer. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid dig into the October 10, 1991 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which featured coverage of the fall Charlotte weekend at Charlotte. Geoff Bodine and Junior Johnson stretched their fuel mileage to the very last vapor and won the Winston Cup event, after Mark Martin had dominated the event. Morgan Shepherd and Dave Marcis were involved in a pretty heated confrontation. There was also an announcement in Level Cross, North Carolina that stirred up a lot of emotions for a lot of people.

Mike Dillon has had many different roles over the years in racing, but today he is the senior vice president of business operations at Richard Childress Racing. Dillon explains his responsibilities and how there is much more taking place on the RCR campus than building race cars; how the company is already looking to shift resources to other jobs when Next Gen comes around; if RCR might have an advantage with Next Gen because they’ve been working with NASCAR from the beginning; how Childress became the team to work with NASCAR on the prototype; how the atmosphere of the campus is different this year with two competitive teams; what the best thing is leadership can do during lean years; if it’s easier so many years in to separate family and business; what hat Dillon wears when watching races; a quick story from being a spotter. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=57288151&fan_landing=true Visit www.carpys.com for all your screen-printing needs and get it shipped nationwide. Also, visit www.carpys.com/racing-writers-podcast-merch/ to buy merchandise for the podcast!

If the first hour of our conversation with Tony "Rambo" Liberati, Chris Hussey, Gere Kennon and Buddy Parrott was eventful, they were only getting warmed up for the second and final episode.

Krista Baldwin is a businesswoman, team owner, and Top Fuel driver following in the footsteps of her grandfather Chris 'The Greek' Karamesines and late father Bobby Baldwin. She breaks down the many hats that she wears and balancing it all; the family tree of race car drivers; reliving and sharing the details of her big run at zMAX Dragway; what it’s like for Baldwin's mom to watch her daughter race; why Baldwin got a late start to her racing career; trying to explain the diversity of NHRA when it comes to women; if she felt she had to follow the family career or wanted to do it; when it became the plan for her to succeed her grandfather; learning from him over the years; the nervousness being on the starting line; what gives Baldwin a different understanding of what goes into racing; getting a Top Fuel license; getting used to the different physical wear on the body during a run; fire suits at the laundry mat; her love of eating; what Baldwin’s schedule looks like. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=57288151&fan_landing=true Visit www.carpys.com for all your screen-printing needs and get it shipped nationwide. Also, visit www.carpys.com/racing-writers-podcast-merch/ to buy merchandise for the podcast!

It's been a while, eh? We're bringing the heat to make up for lost time on iRacing Downshift with Steve Myers as our special guest to talk track reconfigurations, NASCAR Next Gen, Chicago, and all the other cool stuff you've been seeing lately. We also catch up with all the other new series and content releases of the past couple months, talk the eNASCAR playoff picture, and look ahead to some exciting new special events. Check out information on 2021 Season 3 right here: https://www.iracing.com/iracing-season-03-2021/