Dinner with Racers

The latest of our RE-HEATED series, where we re-issue episodes that might share something with racing stories in the news… Episode 30 featuring Johnny O’Connell. If you’re going to do a podcast about icons of motorsport, then Johnny O’Connell is a mandatory visit. As one of the most charismatic guys in modern sportscar, Johnny is wicked fast, you’ll know this because he’ll tell you…. having (accor...

The latest of our RE-HEATED series, where we re-issue episodes that might share something with racing stories in the news… Episode 106 featuring Rick Mearsi. With the month of May upon us, we figured it was a good episode to re-visit. It’s Rick Mears, do you really need a description? He grew up in Bakersfield as an amateur off-road racer… then somehow he became a driver for Roger Penske’s IndyCar...

The latest of our RE-HEATED series, where we re-issue episodes that might share something with racing stories in the news… Episode 106 featuring Rick Mearsi. With the month of May upon us, we figured it was a good episode to re-visit. It’s Rick Mears, do you really need a description? He grew up in Bakersfield as an amateur off-road racer… then somehow he became a driver for Roger Penske’s IndyCar...

The latest of our RE-HEATED series, where we re-issue episodes that might share something with racing stories in the news… Episode 108 featuring Alexander Rossi. With the month of May upon us, we figured it was a good episode to re-visit. His story is still being written, but Alexander Rossi is the poster child of an American success story. Growing up in Northern California, Alex grew up in the Ca...

The latest of our RE-HEATED series, where we re-issue episodes that might share something with racing stories in the news… Episode 222 featuring Chris Pook. With the Long Beach Grand Prix happening this weekend, we figured it was a good episode to re-visit. A known figure for a number of motorsport ventures, including running CART for some time, Chris’s wild idea to hold a street race in the Calif...

The latest of our RE-HEATED series, where we re-issue episodes that might share something with racing stories in the news… Episode 223 featuring Jim Michaelian. One of the pioneers behind the Grand Prix of Long Beach, Jim unfortunately passed on Saturday, March 21, but we were fortunate to spend an extended amount of time with him in 2021 in our “Building Long Beach” video and podcast series. One...

The FIRST of our RE-HEATED series, where we re-issue episodes that might share something with racing stories in the news… Episode 150 featured RJ Valentine. RJ Valentine is one of sportscar racing’s greatest characters, and beloved by our hosts. A businessman first, RJ grew up under tough circumstances in South Boston through the 1940’s and 1950’s, building a hugely successful series of businesses...

One of the most prolific television commentators in the sport, Matt Yocum has made an art of being a pit reporter in an endless series of motorsport categories. Known for a three-decade run in NASCAR, Matt has been everything from pit reporter to show host, eventually transition to a career today in IMSA as one of the stapes of both the NBC broadcast as well IMSA’s “Endurance Hour” podcast. Lunch...

One of racing’s most colorful journeymen, Anthony Lazzaro defines character and perseverence. Growing up with little means, Anthony become a phenom of the 1970’s-1990’s karting scene, doing everything he could to break into the car racing scene, and eventually doing so by taking opportunities all over the landscape. His efforts would culminate in not only winning the 1999 Formula Atlantic champion...

A modern day “gentleman driver” and not offended by the word, Ted’s noteworthiness in motorsport doesn’t just come from his achievements on the track, but also his incredible story off of it. With a lifelong career in different facets of hospital operations and medical billing, Ted’s rise to notoriety most notably came in the field of “billing neutrality,” where Ted discovered a massive error in t...

INDYCAR’s most recent first-time winner, Christian Rasmussen is coming off an incredible sophomore season as a driver that saw him not only in victory lane, but consistently in the headlines for his bold and aggressive driving. Originally from Denmark and with only modest means to pull himself through the junior ranks, Christian’s story is one of high risk and incredible tenacity, eventually landi...

“Ziggy” Harcus is one of the most well-known and respected behind-the-scenes figures in modern INDYCAR racing. Originally from New Zealand, a chance opportunity would see him entering the world of racing mechanics during the 1980’s, sending him on a journeyman career that would see him work as a mechanic to some of the biggest names in the sport like Al Unser Jr. and Danny Sullivan, to a tea...

Known today as the “the third L” in RLL Racing, Mike Lanigan’s enthusiasm and contribution to the sport has amassed nearly four decades. A businessman-first, his family-owned MiJack Products completely revolutionized the transportation and shipping industry over the last seven decades, eventually expanding out to a family of businesses that are all now held under the Lanco Corporation. Capitalizin...

Another drag racing addition to the roster, Tony Pedregon is a one-of-a-kind figure to the NHRA. The son of “Flamin’ Frank” Pedregon and the product of the Southern California drag scene, Tony went from working-class roots to becoming a two-time NHRA champion and working for the legendary John Force before starting his own team with his brother Cruze. Beyond his on-track success, Tony is most know...

Mark Dismore, Jr. has one of the most unique and notable careers in the sport. A true racer’s racer, Mark emerged as a karting phenom to navigate his way all the way into IndyCar…. and we managed to get NONE of that story. Instead, here’s Zach Veach. Dinner was served at Dawson’s on Main in Indianapolis, IN, with Sun Way Street’s “Who Said I Cared” taking us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for mak...

Ross Chastain has become one of the most revered names in modern NASCAR, and after listening to this episode you’ll see why. Heavily engrained in his family’s business of water melon farming, Ross’s career has had an endless number of stops and restarts before landing at Trackhouse Racing, where he’s enjoyed a career renaissance and has become a threat at nearly any track he goes to. Dinner was se...

Adding another NASCAR Hall of Fame member to our roster, Ron Hornaday Jr. is one of the most beloved members of the community. A start of the western stock car scene through the 1980’s and 1990’s, Ron’s primary fame came from his success in the NASCAR Truck Series, amassing countless wins en route to three titles, as well as enjoying success in the Cup and Xfinity series. Outside of the car, Ron i...

SVG!!! Do we need to write an introduction? It’s Shane van Gisbergen… we’re guessing you’ve heard of him, unless you’ve never heard of NASCAR, Australian V8 Supercars, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, FIA GT racing. Shane has a number of distinctions to his career, such as winning like 100 V8 Supercar championships, winning his first-ever NASCAR race, NASCAR Rookie-of-the-Year, and beyond. SOUP was served...

Put simply, Brian Beierwaltes is the boss! His technical title is Head of Marketing at Continental Tire, but as far as DwR is concerned, he’s the guy. Don’t be fooled though, Brian is also a racer. A club racer way before he ever joined Continental, Brian eventually went to IMSA and their marketing department, ultimately serving as a driving force in the re-launched IMSA following the merge of Gra...

Chances are you already know who Kyle Larson is, this is truly a pointless description… unless you’ve never heard of NASCAR, USAC, World of Outlaws, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, or the Indianapolis 500. It’s Kyle Larson. Seriously, what do you want from us? Lunch was served at 44 Mills Kitchen & Tap in Mooresville, NC, with Katrina Stone’s “I Don’t Care” taking us out. Thanks to Continental Tire f...

Cory Kruseman is another dirt racing legend. Part of the 1990’s/2000’s pack racing against names like Tony Stewart and JJ Yeley, Corey has won the Chili Bowl twice, multiple sprint championships, ultimately claiming his place in the Sprint Car Hall of Fame. Today, Corey is most known for having the lone dirt oval racing school on the West Coast, “Cory Kruseman’s Sprint Car and Midget Driving Schoo...

Matt Farah is a diverse and well-know automotive journalist, but most notably he really made his name with his hit YouTube and podcast series, “The Smoking Tire.” A show that has really fostered a variety of segments within the car culture, Matt has spent the last three decades earning a reputation as one of the most influential people in the space, and also with an appreciation for motorsport as...

Steve Hallam is one of the great unsung heroes of the sport. Raised in Liverpool, what began as a career in automotive engineering turned into one of the most prolific careers in motorsport, engineer for teams such as Lotus, McLaren, TRD, Tekno and with drivers that include Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Mika Hakkinen, Shane van Gisbergen and of course… Ben Barnicoat. He’s had a dream career but don...

The Snake! Along with previous guests like Don Garlits, Don Prudhomme is one of the pioneers of the modern drag racing scene, coming from modest means in California’s San Fernando valley to one of the staple characters of the NHRA as the series grew. Critical to drag racing history, Don is best known as part of the infamous “Snake and Mongoose” rivalry against Tom McEwen, where the duo partnered w...

Kamui Kobayashi is one of the most exciting guests that we had this year. Widely considered one of Japan’s greatest drivers, his career has spanned from Toyota’s Junior program to becoming one of F1’s most insane drivers, to eventually becoming a staple of Toyota Gazoo Racing’s prototype where he’s won Le Mans like 100 times, and juggles his role as both driver and Team Principal. Dinner was serve...