Late to Grid - Grassroots Racing

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to go from watching the Daytona 500 as a kid to driving your own BMW on track and becoming deeply involved in the motorsports community? In this episode of Late To Grid, we sit down with Rory Gamble to discuss his motorsports journey, which began with one of the most memorable Daytona 500 finishes in NASCAR history. Rory shares how a childhood passion for racing...

Send us Fan Mail You asked for it, and we’re delivering it: a deep dive into NASA Time Trials with Darek Koman from NASA Great Lakes. In this episode of Late To Grid , Darek joins us in the Atomic Autosports studio to talk about his motorsports journey from HPDE, autocross, and track days into NASA Time Trials and wheel-to-wheel Super Touring competition. If you’ve ever wondered how to move from s...

Send us Fan Mail How does a bet between friends turn into one of the Midwest’s best-known track day organizations? In this episode of Late To Grid, Bill sits down in the Atomic Autosports studio with Ken Grulich of Three Balls Racing to talk about his motorsports journey, the origin of Three Balls Racing, and what drivers can do to make their next track day smoother, safer, and a whole lot more fu...

Send us Fan Mail What sport did you letter in during high school… and why wasn’t it racing? 😄 In this episode, Bill sits down with Jonathan Eckelberg to talk about one of the most promising “future of grassroots racing” stories out there: the High School Racing Association (HSRA). It's a program that helps high school students get involved in local short track racing, build real-world skills...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when your favorite race track suddenly disappears? In this episode of the Late to Grid Podcast, we sit down with Christian Robinson from SEMA and PRI’s Government Affairs team to break down one of the most important issues in motorsports today: Right to Race legislation. If you’re involved in autocross, track days, endurance racing, or grassroots motorsports, this is...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to build a real motorsports journey? In this episode of Late to Grid, we sit down with Eric Kaul to talk about the road from accountant to a well-known name in the paddock, and why networking at the race track can be just as important as speed behind the wheel. Eric shares how he got started in autocross, grew through HPDE and track day events, and eventually mad...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a 10-second drag racer and a 15-year fire service veteran takes over a 50-year motorsports legacy and decides to modernize the hustle?  You get something bigger than a shop. You get a standard of excellence.  In this episode of the Late to Grid Podcast, we dive into the career of John Harkenrider, General Manager of Havoc Motorsport. John talks about the transiti...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a global social media manager for one of the world’s most iconic tire brands decides to spend his weekends chasing podiums in a mud-filled Copart Mustang? You get something bigger than a hobby. You get a masterclass in technical curiosity and community. In this episode of the Late to Grid Podcast, we sit down with Chris Armbruster to discuss his journey from chil...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a former educator and industry veteran looks at the fragmented world of motorsports networking and decides to build a bridge? You get something bigger than an app. You get a connection. In this episode of the Late to Grid Podcast, we dive into the launch of RACERSHIP with founder Heidi Bandish. Heidi talks about what it means for racers, brands, and mentors to fi...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a nationally recognized motorsports organization partners with a local performance shop that lives and breathes track days, endurance racing, and driver development? You get something bigger than an announcement. You get momentum. In this episode of the Late to Grid Podcast, we dive into the exciting partnership between NASA Great Lakes and Atomic Autosports. Bil...

Send us Fan Mail In racing, problems are inevitable—but they happen much more often when you don't have a plan. Bill Snow sits down with Thomas Gaydos , a polymer engineering student at the University of Akron and a rising talent in SCCA club racing, to discuss his unique entry into motorsports.  From burning through a DVD of the movie Cars to competing at the prestigious SCCA Runoffs, Thomas...

Send us Fan Mail Think the racing season ends when the checkered flag flies? Think again. Bill Snow returns to the Atomic Autosports studio to explain why he calls the winter months the "Growth Season" .  In this episode, Bill breaks down seven actionable strategies to ensure you hit the ground running for 2026. From deep-diving into your RaceKeeper video to find hidden tenths, to the &q...

Send us Fan Mail Think you know sponsorships? Think again. In this episode, Bill Snow welcomes JP Moery to the Atomic Auto Sports Studio to peel back the curtain on high-level motorsports partnerships. From his roots in the Washington D.C. business community to managing sponsorships at the IndyCar level with A.J. Foyt Racing, JP shares why true "activation" is about more than just slappi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Late to Grid podcast, Bill Snow takes us inside the 2025 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show in Indianapolis. Covering over 1,000,000 square feet of exhibitor space, Bill explains why this is his favorite industry event and how grassroots racers can benefit from attending. He breaks down the importance of arriving with a clear "game plan" to nav...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Late To Grid , Bill sits down with Jay Chapman of Goodyear Racing to unpack a motorsports career built from karting roots, NASCAR weekends, Grand-Am adventures, MX-5 Cup development, and now supporting racers across vintage and grassroots programs. Jay shares stories of growing up in a karting family, wrenching and volunteering his way into professional motorspo...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the Late To Grid Podcast, Bill sits down with Brock Yates Jr. — the man carrying on the legacy behind the legendary One Lap of America. If you know the Yates name, you know the stories run deep. And if you don’t know Brock yet… you will by the end of this episode. Brock shares: Growing up surrounded by racing legends How One Lap of America evolved from its Canno...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Late to Grid podcast, we sit down with Jon Miller —autocrosser, rally racer, and performance cooling expert from Mishimoto . Jon shares his deep-rooted motorsports journey, which began with his grandparents racing SCCA rallies in the '50s and '60s, and an early secret lesson in driving a manual transmission Ford SHO. Jon dives into his experience a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Late to Grid, we talk to Nigel Boyce , a mechanic who went from zero wheel-to-wheel experience straight into a 24-hour endurance race ! Nigel shares his unique path, starting with a lifelong love for cars, graduating to autocross and time trials in his Honda Civic Si, and finally finding his track car in a  Dodge Neon . Nigel recounts the chaos of his first endu...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Late to Grid , Bill sits down with Nisa Borghi to talk about her path into motorsports—from giving her VW GTI a personality on Instagram, to celebrating 100K miles at her first autocross, to taking on the challenge of a rear-wheel-drive Miata. Nisa shares what it was like stepping into the SCCA community, co-driving with her husband, flagging at Nelson Ledges, and lea...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Late to Grid, we sit down with Jon Krolewicz to dive into his incredible motorsports journey. He shares how a third-grade book report on the Indy 500 sparked a lifelong passion , and how a chance meeting with a pro driver his own size transformed his dream into a plan. Jon offers practical wisdom for anyone looking to get started or level up their game. He reveals the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Late to Grid , we sit down with Mike—driver, mentor, and seasoned wrench turner—to explore how seat time, smart preparation, and family support all come together to shape a successful race weekend. Mike shares how his years on track and in the garage have sharpened his approach to racing, teaching him what really matters: learning every time you go out. From tal...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Late to Grid , we sit down with Jack Butler—a rising star in grassroots motorsports. What started with video games and weekend karting sessions has transformed into real-world racing experience in Champ Car, open-wheel training at the Lucas Oil School of Racing, and competing in 14-hour endurance events at Daytona. Did we mention Jack just graduated high school?...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Late to Grid , we sit down with Dexter Shreve, who shares the story of finally chasing down his motorsports dream—starting with a Track Night in America event…in his daily driver Toyota Camry. Dexter walks us through the nerves, the excitement, and the learning curve of getting on track for the first time. From buying his first helmet on the way to the event to...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Late to Grid, we dive into the checklist every racer needs to have before heading to the track. Whether you’re new to autocross or you’ve got a season of wheel-to-wheel under your belt, this is your solo survival kit for stress-free events. Bill shares his essential gear picks, pro tips for packing, and lessons learned from a very wet practice day at Mid-Ohio. L...

Send us Fan Mail Thinking about doing your first track day but don’t know where to start? In this episode of Late To Grid , we flip the script—Josh asks the questions that every new track driver wants answered, and Bill delivers a masterclass on getting started in motorsports. From picking the right helmet and prepping your car to managing on-track nerves and avoiding rookie mistakes, this episode...