The Backstretch

Shane van Gisbergen does it again. With another road course victory at Sonoma, SVG is now just two wins behind Jeff Gordon for the most road course victories in NASCAR Cup Series history. Is he already the greatest road course racer the sport has ever seen? In Season 5, Episode 23 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier break down another dominant performance by S...

Corey Heim pulls off a surprise victory on NASCAR's historic street course at Naval Base Coronado, adding another chapter to what's already been an unpredictable season. In Season 5, Episode 22 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier break down Heim's breakthrough win and what it means for one of NASCAR's brightest young stars. 🏁 What Matters / What Doesn't The l...

Denny Hamlin wins for the third straight week. At this point, what else can you say? One of NASCAR's all-time greats continues to add to his legacy while proving he can still compete with the sport's best week after week. In Season 5, Episode 21 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier break down Hamlin's incredible run and what it means as the NASCAR season heads...

Denny Hamlin wins for the second straight week and continues his march up the NASCAR record books. In Season 5, Episode 20 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier break down Hamlin's latest victory and what it means as he ties Kyle Busch for ninth on NASCAR's all-time wins list. 🏁 What Matters / What Doesn't Josh Berry announces he won't return to the Wood Brothe...

Denny Hamlin wins at Nashville and moves one step closer to NASCAR history. In Season 5, Episode 19 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier break down Hamlin's 62nd career Cup Series victory, putting him just one win behind Kyle Busch for ninth on NASCAR's all-time wins list. At 45 years old, Hamlin continues to perform at an elite level — but just how impressive...

One week after the tragic and unexpected loss of Kyle Busch, the NASCAR community continues to reflect on the impact he had on the sport, the garage, and generations of racers. In Season 5, Episode 18 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier open the show by sharing memories of Kyle Busch and discussing what his loss means to NASCAR. Chris also reflects on his team...

Kyle Busch's career has been defined by speed, intensity, championships, rivalries, and unforgettable moments. In this special episode of The Backstretch Podcast, we take a look back at the life and legacy of one of NASCAR's most impactful drivers. From his early rise through the sport to his dominance at Bristol Motor Speedway, this episode features interviews with people who knew Kyle best, alon...

Shane van Gisbergen wins again at Watkins Glen — and once again the question comes up: are we watching the greatest road course driver NASCAR has ever seen? In Season 5, Episode 16 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier break down SVG’s latest road course masterclass and what separates him from the rest of the field whenever NASCAR turns right. We also dive into:...

Chase Elliott gets the win at Texas — and reaches two victories earlier in the season than ever before. In Season 5, Episode 15 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier break down what Elliott’s fast start really means — and whether he’s now the biggest threat to Tyler Reddick’s early-season dominance. We also dive into: 🏁 What Matters / What Doesn’t Carson Hoceva...

Carson Hocevar gets his first career Cup Series win — and celebrates like it. In Season 5, Episode 14 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier break down Hocevar’s breakthrough moment, what it means for Spire Motorsports, and why this win could be bigger than just one race. It also felt like a big weekend for the sport — maybe even a shift. 🏁 What Matters / What D...

Tyler Reddick keeps rolling — five wins in the first nine races, this time at Kansas. In Season 5, Episode 13 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier break down Reddick’s dominant start and what it means for the rest of the field as the season takes shape. We’re also taking a step back to look at the bigger picture across NASCAR right now — what matters, and what...

Ty Gibbs gets his first career Cup Series win — and he does it at Bristol Motor Speedway. In Season 5, Episode 12 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier break down Gibbs’ breakthrough moment and what it means for his future — and the rest of the field. We also dive into: 🏁 What Matters / What Doesn’t The 750 horsepower package has now been tested across multiple...

In Season 5, Episode 11 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams is joined by crew chief Chris Carrier to break down the biggest storylines from the first third of the season — what’s real, what’s not, and what’s coming next. We also bring in two great guests this week: 🎤 Turn 5 – Five Minutes with Erik Jones Erik joins the show to talk early-season momentum, where his team stands right now,...

Chase Elliott gets it done at Martinsville — and on a track where patience and precision matter most, that win could signal a major shift in the season. In Season 5, Episode 10 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and former NASCAR Cup Series crew chief Chris Carrier break down Elliott’s Martinsville victory and what it means for Hendrick Motorsports moving forward. We also dive into: 🏁 W...

Tyler Reddick gets it done at Darlington — and once again proves he’s one of the most complete drivers in the field. In Season 5, Episode 9 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and former NASCAR Cup Series crew chief Chris Carrier break down Reddick’s win at one of the toughest tracks on the schedule, and what it says about his consistency early in the season. We also dive into: 🏁 What Ma...

Denny Hamlin makes history at Las Vegas — and the NASCAR garage is heating up on and off the track. In Season 5, Episode 8 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and former Cup Series crew chief Chris Carrier break down Hamlin’s latest win as he moves into the Top 10 on the all-time wins list — and what that says about his legacy right now. We also dive into: 🏁 What Matters / What Doesn’t T...

Ryan Blaney takes the win at Phoenix — and on a track where precision and discipline matter most, that victory could mean more than just another early-season trophy. In Season 5, Episode 7 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and former NASCAR Cup Series crew chief Chris Carrier break down Blaney’s Phoenix victory, what the 750 horsepower package looked like at the flat mile, and why tire...

Tyler Reddick has done it again — three straight wins to start the season. In Season 5, Episode 6 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and former Cup Series crew chief Chris Carrier break down what Reddick’s dominant start really means for the championship picture — and whether the rest of the garage is already feeling the pressure. We also dive into: What Matters / What Doesn’t The debut...

Tyler Reddick is 2-for-2 to start the season — and the garage is officially on notice. In this episode of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and former NASCAR Cup Series crew chief Chris Carrier break down what Reddick’s back-to-back wins really mean for the championship picture — and how early dominance can shift the mindset across the field. We also dive into: 🏁 What Matters / What Doesn...

On this episode of The Backstretch Podcast (Season 5, Episode 4) we break down a HUGE week in NASCAR:  Henderson Motorsports runs inside the Top 10 with Corey LaJoie in the Truck race at Daytona… until disaster strikes. Chris explains what happened. What Matters, What Doesn't Tyler Reddick wins the Daytona 500, putting Michael Jordan in Victory Lane as a Cup Series owner — does that matter? Fans v...

he Great American Race is here — and Episode 3 of The Backstretch Podcast dives headfirst into everything that makes Daytona unlike anywhere else. In Heather and Chris’ Opening Laps, they break down what truly makes Daytona special — from the history and intensity to the pressure that builds the moment Speedweeks begin. Then in Turn 5, Chase Elliott joins the show to talk about coming heartbreakin...

Season 5 rolls on!  In Episode 2 of The Backstretch Podcast, hosts Heather Williams and Chris Carrier break down all the biggest moments from the Clash. In What Matters | What Doesn’t, the crew debates a question every NASCAR fan is asking: Does it really matter to win the Clash, or is finishing well the real victory? Then it’s Say What… time as we dissect the heated radio exchanges between Bubba...

The Backstretch Podcast is back for Season 5! News 5’s Heather Williams and NASCAR Crew Chief Chris Carrier kick off the new season by breaking down the cold weather—and possible snow—heading into The Clash. They also recap the offseason, discuss which drivers they’re watching closely this year, and explain the latest changes to the NASCAR points system. Plus, the show features exclusive conversat...

Heather and Chris breakdown the Cup Championship weekend in Phoenix, including why each driver can win and why they might lose. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. is our guest. Heather's final thought is on Denny Hamlin's father's illness and the loss of her own father.

There are two races to go in the regular season and one last chance for drivers to make the Championship Four. Heather and Chris talk about that, plus Daniel Suarez's move to Spire Motorsports and this weekend's race at Martinsville. Suarez and Erik Jones are this week's guest.