The Backstretch

A big shocker as Spire Motorsports cuts ties with Rodney Childers. The All-Star race makes some interesting changes and NASCAR heads to Talladega. Zane Smith is the guest.

No off weeks on the Backstretch, though this a little less formal an episode. Heather and Chris talk about the race at Bristol and look forward to Rockingham. Plus a quick chat with Austin Dillon.

There were some technical issues on the Backstretch, so this podcast was from before the Bristol race, but we thought you might have a good time listening to how wrong we were about what might happen on Sunday, and the chat with John Hunter Nemechek is a good one

Xfinity drivers put on track behavior debate back in the spotlight. Heather and Chris talk about that as well and Denny Hamlin ending his Martinsville winless streak and preview Darlington. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. is the guest. Heather's final thought is on Darlington throwback weekend.

Kyle Larson came really close to sweeping the weekend at Homestead. Can he do it in a few weeks at Bristol? Heather and Chris talk about that plus where the championship race should be, and they preview the race this weekend at Martinsville. Erik Jones is the guest. Heather's final though is on the Championship Race location.

Josh Berry gets his first Cup Series win, he is the guest this week on the podcast. Heather and Chris talk about Josh's win plus the smart call in the pits by the 20 team and they preview the race at Homestead. Heather's final thought is about the continuing debate about who should be cleared to drive in Cup Series Races.

Christopher Bell is red hot. Heather and Chris talk about C-Bell's third straight win, who should be given the chance to run a cup car and they preview this weekend's race at Las Vegas. Alex Bowman is this week's guest and Heather's final thought is on the points system.

Heather and Chris break down a fun finish at COTA, just how good Christopher Bell is and they preview Phoenix. Heather chats about the NASCAR penalty news of the week and her final thought is about the schedule to start the season.

It was a wild weekend in Atlanta, Heather and Chris talk racing to the line, aggressive driving, and preview COTA. Ty Gibbs is the guest.

Our Crew Chief Chris Carrier joins us to talk about his lost appeal of the Henderson Motorsports disqualification at Daytona. Josh Berry is the guest. He talks about joining the Wood Brothers this season. In Heather's final thought, she gives a shoutout to Legacy Motor Club after putting all three of their cars in the top 11 at Daytona.

NASCAR is back with the season opener at the Daytona International Speedway. Our Crew Chief Chris Carrier gets us ready for 2025 and SVG joins us to talk about his rookie season

In a special edition of the Backstretch Podcast, Heather takes a look back at the playoffs and the road to Sunday's Championship race in Phoenix

Just one race to go before the championship four is set in NASCAR. Heather and Chris talk about Tyler Reddicks incredible run at Homestead to lock himself in the championship race and who might join him. Christopher Bell stops by and discusses the pressure of trying to make the final and how this year is different from the previous two. Heather's final thought is on who might join Joey Logano and...

Joey Logano got back into the playoffs and took advantage, advancing to the championship four with a win at Vegas. Logano is this week's guest. Heather and Chris discuss Logano's win, which drivers are in trouble heading to Homestead, and whether the playoffs are broken. We get a bonus visit from William Sawalich. Heather's final thought is about the tracks in the NASCAR playoffs.

Heather and Chris discuss Kyle Larson's domination at the Roval, Alex Bowman's disqualification, and why a light car is an advantage. Ryan Blaney is the guest and he talks about getting his teammate back in the playoffs and the 12 team's drive for back-to-back titles. Heather's final thought is on the impact Doug Rice has had on the sport as he gets ready to call his final race at Las Vegas.

Heather and Chris discuss a wild finish at Talladega, the importance of a NASCAR Charter, and preview the cutoff race at the Charlotte Roval. Heather's final thought is on whether chaos is good for the sport.

NASCAR is sued by 23XI and Front Row Motorsports. No playoff drivers are safe as the Cup series heads to Talladega after non-playoff driver Ross Chastain wins Kansas. William Byron stops by to talk about how he's navigating round two of the playoffs and his latest Lego project. Heather's final thought is on a rough week for Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. How you can help flood victims...

Round two of the playoffs opens at Kansas, Christopher Bell is the guest. Plus was Bristol a good race?

A playoff crasher wins at Sonoma putting some big names below the cutline as we head to Bristol. Austin Cindric has shocked many people and shaken up the playoff as he sits third in the standings. Heather's final thought is on Playoff format haters

Heather and Chris talk about Penske's hot streak in the postseason, NASCAR's Charter chatter, and preview Watkins Glen. The Champ Ryan Blaney is the guest. Heather's final thought is more on the charters.

The NASCAR playoffs start this weekend at Atlanta, Heather has some thoughts of the drivers racing for a championship, and then Heather and Chris break down the field. AJ Allmendinger is this week's guest. Heather's final thought is on the current playoff system.

The NASCAR playoffs will be set Sunday night under the lights at Darlington. Heather and Chris talk about Harrison Burton's big win at Daytona to steal one of the final playoff spots, who has to the best chance to get into the playoffs this week at Darlington, and the big penalty to Denny Hamlin's team. Chase Brise is the guest and chats about playoff pressure and the final days of Stewart Haas ra...

It has been a wild week in NASCAR with a lot going on. Heather and Chris discuss Tyler Reddick's win, Corey Lajoie's flip, and the final playoff spots with two races to go. Bubba Wallace stops by to talk about anger management, playoff pressure, and becoming a dad. Heather's final thought is on Denny Hamlin's penalty.

Austin Dillon wins the race but loses his playoff eligibility. Heather and Chris talk about why he did it, NASCAR's punishment, and the punishment for Joey Logano for his postrace outburst. They also preview Phoenix. Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman recaps Richmond, if he would go for a win at all cost, and previews Michigan. Heather's final thought is about crime and punishment.

NASCAR is back after the two-week break for the Olympics. We talk with drivers Austin Dillon and Todd Gilland about this week's race at Richmond. As always Chris Carrier stops by to provide his expertise.