Before First Gear

Mason Filippi is an American auto racing driver who competes in the TCR class of the Michelin Pilot Challenge for Bryan Herta Autosport. He's raced domestically and internationally as well as in Xfinity. Interestingly, Mason has launched OpenFender, a crowdsourcing platform for racing sponsorships.

Keegan is a young kart racer trying to pay his way into WKA events, then hopefully in Spec Miata and into a racing career. He discusses some of the costs associated with karting and ways to consider raising sponsorship dollars.

Ashton Harrison races in IMSA GTD and Lamborghini Super Trofeo. She also became the first female class winner in a global SRO event when she won the Indy 8hr.

Amber Balcaen is a Canadian professional stock car racing driver. She competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series and is most known for being the first Canadian woman to win in a NASCAR-sanctioned race in the United States. She started her career in Dirt Oval racing, finding some serious success in sprints and midgets, then accessed NASCAR through the Drive for Diversity program.

The son of a successful driver, Wayne Taylor, Jordan has forged an astounding career of his own becoming one of the top sports car racers of his generation. It hasn't always come totally natural to him, so it's super interesting and humbling hearing how he's managed to get to where he is today.

Jace Denmark is currently racing in USF Pro 2000 and discusses what it's like to be halfway through the most pivotal season of his career. If he performs well this season it'll set him on a direct trajectory to IndyNXT and IndyCar.

Corey is a MotoAmerica Superbike rider who's been involved in the sport since he could walk. Corey was selected for the Red Bull Rookies Cup in 2008, the since year it ran in the US and has raced in various series around the country. He also did a brief stint in American Flat Track, a move that would wind up becoming a turning point in his career.

Kyle has one of the more unique stories I've heard about getting into IMSA and finding ways to make the funding work. Today he drives for Wayne Taylor racing, but has experience behind the wheel of various #ferrari Lexus, Acura, Audi and prototype cars. He's a hugely talented driver and I found his optimistic outlook and pure drive to achieve his goals to be the most interesting parts of t...

Really interesting to hear from Rocco Landers, MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion and a guy who's been on two wheels since he could walk. He's still early in his career, so at a pretty foundational stage, which made hearing about the last few years even more interesting. He's raced both overseas, trying to progress to MotoGP and is now active in the Baggers series in MotoAmerica. Every rac...

Kyle Kirkwood is an IndyCar driver for Andretti Motorsports and had one of the most successful paths through the Road to Indy that landed him in IndyCar. In only his second full season he's already won several races and is on his way to what should be a legendary career.

Travis Wyman is a MotoAmerica rider who comes from a racing family. Him and his brothers have racked up loads of wins and Travis road in the 2008 Red Bull Rookies Cup during the year it was in the US. More than anything though, it's fascinating to hear from the insiders perspective of going from Flat Track to road racing and sport bikes to baggers. Follow Travis on his IG: https://www.instagra...

Pretty cool getting to chat with Louis Deletraz to hear more about his journey to becoming one of the top endurance drivers around, but also learn about his experience in the #f1 paddock as a reserve drivers, as well as being teammates with Robert Kubica. A few weeks after this interview Louis also went on to win the 12 Hours of Sebring with Wayne Taylor Racing. Louis's IG: https://www.instagr...

I met Misti when I went to the California Superbike school as she's a coach at the school and has become an absolute professional at helping riders gain speed. She also rips. She raced a few years in AMA, which as a female rider in the early 2000's was certainly a unique path to take. Speaking with she shared her story around how she worked to develop the skills to get all the way to AMA....

Corey has a pretty wild story, with some early connections to the Andretti's, but overall just a load of skill mixed with some luck and timing! His career has led him to Lamborghini, racing internationally and becoming the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Champ, as well as winning a Daytona 24hr GTD championship.

Pretty wild story hearing how Cater started indoor karting at a relatively late age and with a minimal budget, yet has managed to develop a promising career as both a professional racer and instructor. Follow along with Carter's career on his IG: https://www.instagram.com/carterfartuch24/ Check out Before First Gear's IG for clips from this interview amongst others. https://www.instagram.c...

Ryan has made it all the way to Xfinity following a successful early start in Bandolero's, then a ride in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program which really opened the door for him. More than anything though, his speed, but also determination around how he's raised sponsorship dollars and managed to succeed despite minimal funding sums up a pretty awesome story to where he is today. Ryan&...

Jake Gagne is absolutely one of the top American motorcycle racers today. He's won the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship that last 3 years in a row, raced in World Superbike and Moto 2 and is currently riding for a 4th MotoAmerica Championship for Factory Yamaha. He's a master at living in the present, and his laid back mentality has driven enormous success on the racetrack.

Sergio Pena is an insanely talented driver, having won multiple karting championships in the early 2000's and progressing right to the lower ranks of open wheel. Like so many drivers though, running out of funding to make the jump to the next step of the ladder in open wheels led him to find alternatives. In this case it was the early days of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program which put Se...

Davy is a Le Mans winner, Daytona 24hr winner, and Indy 500 runner up. His early days had him on a path to Formula 1 but the path that was dealt to him guided him back to Sportscar. He's raced with guys like Aryton Senna and Martin Brundle and has stories for days from all kinds of series he's driven in. One of the most interesting conversations I've had based on the success that Davy...