Hauler Talk

NASCAR Communications' Mike Forde and Amanda Ellis are joined by NASCAR.com's Nate Ryan to review the YellaWood500 at Talladega. Coming up this weekend, Goodyear is bringing a new set a left-side tires to Martinsville for the penultimate race of the season. Plus, NASCAR's Managing Director of Track Development Jerry Kaproth explains how the San Diego street course was built. See Privacy Policy at...

Mike and Nate kick off this week's show discussing the biggest storyline of the weekend, the wreck between Ty Dillon and William Byron. Then Mike and Nate dive into what is considered an uncontrolled tire and how that is determined. Finally, they talk about the angle of a few inside walls at Talladega that got changed to reduce the impact, like we saw with Christopher Bell in the spring race. See...

This week, Mike, Nate, and Amanda talk all things Charlotte Roval, starting off with why it took so long to finalize the Round of 8 for the Xfinity series. Mike discussed Chastain's move in the final corner and explained if it would be considered a rules violation or not, and Amanda talked about if spotters are allowed to tell their drivers about the playoff points situation. See Privacy Policy at...

Mike, Amanda and Nate discuss the events from the Kansas race weekend, including Zane Smith's unintentional wall ride, Brad Keselowski losing the free pass, and the crew chief ejections. Then they look forward to this weekend's race at the Roval where Xfinity might end the race under the lights, the addition of tire packs, and playoff car post-race inspection procedures. See Privacy Policy at http...

Mike, Nate, and Amanda discuss the great racing at New Hampshire with the new tire, who parked Gibbs after coming out on track, and the New Hampshire tire test back in July. Then Mike drops some info about the options being weighed for the new playoff formats, and Chris Popiela joins to discuss the approval process for RAM or other OEMs to submit new bodies for competition. See Privacy Policy at h...

This week on Hauler Talk Mike, Amanda and Nate look back at the race in Bristol. They discuss the length of cautions, the unexpected high tire degradation and the fires that broke out under a handful of Fords during the race. Afterwards, they discuss why William Byron had his free pass recinded during the race, Denny Hamlin's crew member suspension, and the Richmond tire in New Hampshire this week...

Mike, Nate and Amanda recap the action at Gateway, kicking off the episode by discussing the brake markers that fell off during the weekend. After they dove into the Trackhouse cars, driving through the grass post-race, and the potential consequences that could occur. Looking ahead to Bristol a new tire will be raced, and we will eliminate four drivers from the playoffs at the end of the race. Wra...

Mike, Nate, and Amanda talk about the Xfinity race in Portland, what was learned, and Zilisch missing the first turn on the final restart. Then they talked about the action in Darlington and a new tire compound in Gateway. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

NASCAR's Mike Forde & Amanda Ellis alongside NASCAR.com's Nate Ryan discuss the 2025 regular season finale at Daytona and look ahead to Sunday's playoff opener at Darlington. (2:30) The 24 car fails inspection at Daytona. Crew Chief Rudy Fugle was ejected and the William Byron started at the back of the field. We go inside the inspection process. (17:30) Should NASCAR give relief drivers offic...

NASCAR EVP, Chief Venue & Racing Innovation Officer Ben Kennedy & Managing Director of Competition Operations Jusan Hamilton joins Mike Forde, Amanda Ellis & Nate Ryan to peel back the curtain on NASCAR's 2026 schedule release. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

This week Mike, Nate, and Amanda discuss what would've happened if the 19 team put one of their tires on the 23 car, Chase Elliott's pit road penalty, and Connor Zilisch's options for potentially returning at Daytona. Additionally, Dr. Eric Jacuzzi, Vice President of Vehicle Performance, joins the show to discuss the new A-post flap being introduced this weekend in Daytona and the process of creat...

Mike, Amanda and Nate discuss an eventful weekend at the Glen. They discuss victory lane procedures after Connor Zilisch's fall on Saturday, waiver scenarios for Zilisch and an update on Stewart Friesen's waiver situation that should be finalized by Richmond. The group broke down what happened with the big accidents on Saturday, if Austin Hill and Zilisch were going to get penalized, and what that...

Mike, Amanda, and Nate recap the action at Iowa, discussing the oil at the end of the Xfinity race, speeding penalties during the Cup race, and the possibility of more horsepower for short tracks in 2026. Mike and Amanda also sit down with Steve Swift, the Senior Vice President of Operations for Speedway Motorsports. They discussed the process of installing and tearing down a baseball field inside...

Hot off the press is the news that Austin Hill will serve a one-race suspension for the upcoming race in Iowa. Mike and Amanda explain how the decision was made to give out the suspension, and how the control tower determined to park Hill for five laps during the race. Nate asks Mike to explain how the random selection works for inspection each week, along with any changes surrounding the current...

Amanda sits down with San Diego track president Amy Lupo to discuss NASCAR's return to southern California. All three NASCAR national series will race in San Diego at Naval Base Coronado at the end of June. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Mike, Amanda, and Nate sit down to talk about a mostly clean race in Sonoma. They discuss how NASCAR viewed the situation between the pit crews of Brad Keselowski and Ty Gibbs during green flag stops, the Ty Dillon and Alex Bowman contact on the final lap, and why the race wasn't red flagged to fix the tire pack after the 47 contact. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California P...

Mike and Nate are back from vacation, joining Amanda to talk about the Chicago cautions. We saw big hits by #51 Cody Ware and #21 Josh Berry, and there was a caution due to a spectator emergency. Plus the end of the original Chicago contract is up so what does that mean for the future of the Cup series? Mike, Nate, and Amanda break it all down in this week's episode of Hauler Talk! See Privacy Pol...

This week on Hauler Talk, Amanda holds down the fort while Mike and Nate are on vacation and invites Kim Coon to cohost the show. The two speak with Director of Track Services Chase Brasears and Director of Technical Inspection Brian Goble, who walk them through their responsibilities when cars are wrecked. Amanda and Kim also discuss what happens behind the scenes as a pit road reporter. Markers:...

Mike, Amanda and Nate discuss the eventful weekend in Pocono! Everything from Dale Jr's win as a crew chief to Brad Keselowski's pit road mistake, and 23XI brake issues. The team then discusses the upcoming In-Season Challenge, which kicks off this weekend in Atlanta. Brian Herbst stops by to talk about broadcast partners and the thinking behind the In-Season Challenge. Brad Keselowski pit road mi...

Mike, Amanda, and Nate dive into Mike's experience during the Mexico City race weekend, where NASCAR visited the famed Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez for the first time. The team discusses travel issues, Hocevar's eventful weekend, what was learned from this weekend's race in Mexico, and the potential for NASCAR's return next year. Strap in for this week's edition of Hauler Talk! Mike's Mexico exper...

Mike Forde, Amanda Ellis and Nate Ryan recap one of the highest-rated races of the season at Michigan and then turn their attention to a historic weekend in Mexico City. NASCAR VP of Event Experience Michael Verlatti joins the show to discuss what to expect at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. RUNDOWN: 0:45 Bowman wreck 7:47: Hamlin penalty close call 11:25: Elliott penalty reversal 17:10: Keselowski...

Mike, Amanda, and Nate discuss this past weekend's events in Nashville, the penalty to the 16 Kaulig team, and the presence of any aero changes for Michigan. Then, Tom Bryant, VP of Racing Operations, joins to discuss the challenges and logistics of taking the industry to Mexico City. Time Codes: 1:22: Nashville recap 3:50: Kaulig Penalty 13:01: Logano crew no penalty on pit road 14:53: Are cars f...

Mike, Amanda, and Nate delve into the logistics of Kyle Larson's Double attempt, the great racing delivered on Sunday night during the Coca-Cola 600, possibly adding more horsepower in the future, and the conditions for the international provisional. Time Codes: 0:46: Larson's Double reactions 3:37: Raceday details for teams and media members 8:59: The possibility of delaying the Coca-Cola 600 for...

Mike, Nate, and Amanda talk about the successes and controversies from the All-Star weekend at North Wilkesboro. Then Jimmie Johnson joins to talk Kyle Larson's Double, Jimmie's career, his experience as an owner of Legacy Motor Club, and Hall of Fame. 0:42: Hall of Fame results 5:50: Looking back at Wilkesboro 11:59: Preece choose box 18:41: Reaction to the promoters caution 21:30: Possibility of...

BREAKING: The No. 17 is penalized after R&D center teardown. NASCAR Cup Series Managing Director Brad Moran has the details! NASCAR Communication Directors Mike Forde & Amanda Ellis are joined by NASCAR dot com reporter Nate Ryan to break down officiating and competition decisions at Kansas Speedway. Amanda takes you inside the room for optional drivers meeting at Kansas. Plus, rules and f...