The Racing Writer's Podcast

Shannon Spake is about to be one of the busiest reporters in sports. Spake is here to share how the year has unfolded for her on the television side; why she says her year starts in September; time blocking and working well under pressure; the synergy between NASCAR on Fox and NFL on Fox teams with her schedule; the balance of football and NASCAR in the fall and with a new personal life change hap...

Warrick Scott Sr. knows all about hustle, and that can be seen in his work through the Wendell Scott Foundation and sponsorship of Rajah Caruth. Scott joins the podcast to explain his everyday work with the Wendell Scott Foundation; trying to reach as many youths as possible through its programs; the moment of realization for a foundation; success stories and the different benchmarks that come wit...

Jessica Hook is an engineer at Hendrick Motorsports, but her exact role is to be determined as Hook looks for her next challenge. However, she was heavily involved in Garage 56 and she’s among the team now closing the chapter on that historic event as the parts and pieces are back at the shop. Hook recalls when she was brought into the loop by Chad Knaus with five minutes' notice; the science behi...

It’s the second full year of Craftsman Truck Series competition for Dean Thompson but his first in the No. 5 for Tricon Garage. Thompson breaks down how the year has gone; the difference in his progression as a driver; fitting into a new environment at Tricon; being surrounded by people (like Frank Kimmel) who are honest but helpful; ways that Tricon is different from other teams; the benefit of u...

Mandy Chick and her small family-owned race team are trying to do big things with very little, and it’s getting Chick plenty of attention. In this conversation, Chick shares how busy her summer has been; what it’s like to be an intern for Chevrolet and top-secret projects; being a very hands-on person from early in life; working on multiple college degrees; why it’s important for Chick to go throu...

Jordan Taylor is having a heck of a year as a race car driver, and we’re digging into all of it this week. That includes Taylor recently making his 100th start in IMSA; explaining the dynamic of coming from a well-known racing family; getting the first win of the season out of the way for Corvette Racing; how things are going with a new class type in IMSA; if the series is experiencing a swing of...

Drew Herring is getting interviewed once again! It’s been a while since Herring was the topic of discussion but a few years into his new role as a spotter, he’s here to share how it’s been going. Herring explains how he landed the job at Martin Truex Jr.’s team; still getting the adrenaline rush and fast-paced feel for the sport; what his prior relationship with Truex was; not taking heated moment...

Mike ‘Rocky’ Rockenfeller believes the buzz from NASCAR’s entry in Le Mans is still going strong, and he’s still relishing having the opportunity to be a part of it. Rockenfeller compares the dynamic of the experience to his past trips to compete in Le Mans; the adjustment as a driver of not racing for an overall victory; if he believes the entry did just as much for sports cars as it did NASCAR;...

Bernard Pollard is hooked on NASCAR, and for the last three years, he’s lived the best of both worlds, learning the sport and getting to engage through a partnership with Ally. Pollard opens up about he didn’t expect to be this invested in NASCAR; recalls what initially drew him into wanting to watch a race for the first time; being intrigued by a different kind of athletic competition as a former...

Natalie Torrence is living the dream of working for herself and one of the most successful businesses in drag racing. Torrence discusses everything she and her team have their hands in; the unique and personal backstory of the business name; the impressive list of clients Torrence has in the NHRA; having something of her own at the racetrack away from her husband’s team; balancing when she wants t...

Winston Kelley was the first employee of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and as its executive director, we dig into its history and what it’s like to work with NASCAR history. Kelley explains how the Hall of Fame is part of a larger organization in Charlotte; what the selection process was like for Charlotte to become the chosen city; what his role entails and why you can still see him at the racetrack;...

Jesse Little is no longer a NASCAR driver, but he returns to the show to share how he’s now a NASCAR official. Little shares about his new role and what it entails; what has gone into the last half year of learning and fitting into the new job; working through the emotions of not being at the racetrack as a driver; not leaving open the possibility of driving again; the quick close on the book on h...

Andrew Kurland was an early guest of the show and only a teenager at the time looking to find a way into the sport. Kurland has done that now and we go through putting a cap on those early projects; what he got out of the college experience after already having real-world experience; if starting his media career ruined or changed the sport for him; the difference in driver reaction to him over the...

Trevor Bayne still wants to be a race car driver but also really enjoys making television with Fox Sports. In discussing those topics this week, Bayne explains what a typical week looks like for him based out of Knoxville; selling the coffee business in anticipation of running full-time in NASCAR again; the coffee business being a distraction in the immediate aftermath of his Cup Series ride going...

JJ Yeley, the NASCAR driver, not the incorrectly labeled Formula 1 champion, visits the podcast to discuss his role with Rick Ware Racing; what he still gets out of racing; not wanting to get a real job; how his perspective and appreciation of racing has changed over the years and through teams; his career not being as imagined after starting with Joe Gibbs; if there are any regrets coming to NASC...

Jasmine Salinas is a second-generation drag racer, and she’s quickly making a name for herself in NHRA. We get to know Salinas in our conversation, starting with what being at a dragstrip feels like; the most defining moment of her career to this point; the impact of her massive 2021 crash at Gainesville; how long the doubts about racing lasted after the crash; coming back a year later and dealing...

Bobby Labonte is a former NASCAR Cup Series champion who now spends his time … racing. Labonte is keeping busy with SRX and modifieds, as well as television work for Fox Sports. Labonte explains what keeps him coming back to SRX; how competitive the series is; getting to compete against the best drivers from all over; how this chapter of his racing career is different; why it’s hard for drivers to...

Laura Beth Barnhardt is the NASCAR race producer/director for PRN, and the tables have turned as she’s the one behind the microphone. Barnhart shares about the adrenaline of not being able to edit the show together later; being a strong leader in the booth directing men; the easiest way to understand what a race director does; going viral with a BTS video from the booth; why live pit stops are her...

Joey Cohen would say he is the chief complaint officer at Legacy Motor Club, but that’s only in jest. Cohen’s title is actually competition director, and he explains what that means; the unique dynamic of GMS Racing being the truck operation and Legacy Motor Club the Cup Series operation; not coming from a racing family but wanting to be a race car driver; dad building Cohen a go-kart track; racin...

It feels good for Ryan Preece to hear himself be called a NASCAR Cup Series driver again. Preece shares what it was like to be out of sight and out of mind in 2022 as he worked behind the scenes at Stewart-Haas Racing; using the year to become a better person and driver; unique ways to build a bond with a team; what being a reserved driver is all about; there being no guarantee of a ride when sign...

Fresh off a big win with his new team, Christian Eckes shares how they celebrated; what an early win does for Eckes; what the win does for a team who had never won before; if the fast start has been a surprise; delivering a first win for Bill McAnally; why it was a hard offseason; having a chip on his shoulder and being out to prove something; what kind of work Eckes can do to be better with McAna...

There was a lot of anticipation for Connor Mosack as he waited his turn to get behind the wheel in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for the first time this season. Mosack will run the majority of the season with Sam Hunt Racing and he discusses how the test at Charlotte Motor Speedway went; being tuned in to what has gone on with the team already; preparing to race the most he ever has in a single season...

In his second full season of NHRA competition, Josh Hart hopes people are starting to take notice that his team isn’t messing around. Hart discusses preparing for a new season; what he learned last year; balancing between the driver and owner hat; experiencing the Countdown for the first time; the mental game of NHRA; being one of the quietest and calmest drivers in the pits; fitting into the pits...

Brittany Force enters a new season as a two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion and is hungry for more. But before we talk racing, Force shares how she got away from racing over the last few months traveling around the country; having extracurricular activities away from racing; what she learned to enjoy or do from the first championship to the second championship; digesting and appreciating the run her t...

That damn Brian Lohnes! Once you hear the conversation you’ll be in on the joke because Brian is a wonderful guy that is really good at what he does. In our conversation you’ll learn everywhere you can find Brian; the early work to becoming an announcer and sleeping at racetracks; taking in the moments his voice will be connected to in NHRA history; the necessity of being a jack of all trades; the...