Five-time Spec Miata champion Preston Pardus joins Davey Segal this week (5:30) ahead of his first attempted Xfinity Series race of 2025. He dives into the revenge he's seeking after failing to quality for COTA last year, why he and Pardus Racing chose the select races they did for this year, how his NASCAR experience has been thus far and how his father Dan's experience at the top level of stock car levels has guided his time thus far.

Pardus also details his iconic 2017 SCCA runoffs victory that started it all in Spec Miatas, his super sweep in 2020 and how they've done it all while building cars in their backyard in New Smyrna, Florida. Pardus explains why the No. 50 he's running now in Xfinity is special to the family, racing against his sister (and dad) and why he's so appreciative of his loyal fanbase.

Davey also recaps Christopher Bell's win at Atlanta, looks ahead to COTA and Papa Segal pays homage to Bobby Labonte.

Episode 261: Preston Pardus

Veteran crew chief Trent Owens joins Davey Segal (5:45) to discuss his career in the sport and time thus far with Kaulig Racing. They dive into working with AJ Allmendinger once again, how the relationship has been thus far, capitalizing on road courses while trying to improve their oval track program, the "One Welcome" approach with Richard Childress Racing and information flow between the four crew chiefs at RCR and Kaulig.

Owens also reflects on nearing 400 starts as a crew chief, working with countless drivers along the way, including Kyle Larson in 2013, his driving career in ARCA and Trucks, family connection to racing being related to Richard Petty and Barry Dodson, what he's learned from them and at his stops along the way and more, including how being a father of a child with autism has impacted him off track.

Davey also recaps Josh Berry's impressive victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, looks ahead to Homestead-Miami Speedway and Papa Segal pays homage to a pioneer of NASCAR.

Episode 264: Trent Owens

Ahead of his CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut this weekend at Martinsville Speedway, reigning SMART Modified Tour champion Luke Baldwin joins Davey Segal (6:49) to discuss his excitement ahead of The Paperclip and why ThorSport Racing was the right team for his first foray into NASCAR's national series.

Baldwin also explains how his preparation has been for a vehicle he's never raced before, what he and the No. 66 team are hoping to accomplish in their limited practice time and why Kansas and North Wilkesboro were the other races chosen for 2025. He also dives into his rapid ascension up the ranks, winning the SMART Modified Tour title last season as a rookie and how he even surprised himself a bit.

Plus, how his father Tommy Baldwin Jr. has helped and influenced him along the way, convincing his mom to let him race, how busy his 2025 racing schedule is, pulling triple duty this weekend, how the Northeast racing culture has shaped him thus far, what his realistic expectations are for this weekend and more.

Davey also recaps Kyle Larson's near weekend sweep from Homestead-Miami Speedway, looks ahead to The Paperclip and Papa Segal pays homage to Red Byron.

Episode 265: Luke Baldwin

Championship winning crew chief Jonathan Toney joins Davey Segal (6:42) for an insightful and feel-good conversation that spans over two decades with one single team. Toney explains how working with Sheldon Creed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series really isn't too different so far than it was working with Cole Custer, the rash of runner-up finishes Creed has scored, team chemistry at Haas Factory Team in this new iteration of the organization and more.

Toney also dives into all the change the team has seen over his time, from Haas CNC Racing to Stewart-Haas Racing and now HFT. He explains why he's stayed loyal to the company despite numerous offers to go elsewhere over the years, why the Xfinity Series is the right place for him to be as a crew chief right now from a work/life balance perspective, the conversations leading up to 2023 before he finally got his chance to be a crew chief for the first time and how rewarding it was to win a championship with Custer in his first year at the helm.

Toney also reminisces on the 2011 title run with Tony Stewart, what it was like to be a part of that team, some memorable tales from Homestead-Miami Speedway on championship weekend and more, including the vibe at the team when Stewart came in at first and his Hickory, North Carolina roots.

Davey also recaps the tripleheader weekend of action at Martinsville Speedway and addresses the debacle of an Xfinity race that saw Sammy Smith penalized, previews Darlington Raceway and Papa Segal pays homage to Raymond Parks in this week's wayback segment.

Episode 266: Jonathan Toney

19-year-old phenom and current Hendrick Motorsports driver Corey Day joins Davey Segal (8:55) to discuss his transition from dirt to asphalt and adjustment to stock cars. They also discuss how he's preparing for Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend, going back somewhere for a second time, how the Truck and Xfinity car differ, leaning on crew chiefs Brian Pattie and Adam Wall for advice and the clear distinction that's been made of him being a HMS driver - NOT a development driver.

Day also dives into how Jeff Gordon recruited him to Hendrick and the funny story that resulted in Gordon having to prove it was actually him on the other end of their text conversation, how he's keeping his new busy schedule straight, why live pit stops and racing as a profession have been extra difficult to adjust to and his beginnings on two wheels and transition to dirt in California.

Plus, how he deals with being heralded as a "generational talent" and "phenom" of sorts, why he loves the haters writing him off, how it feels to have the support and belief from Kyle Larson, Gordon and other racing legends, what his goals are for the rest of this year and more, including why he's such a Taco Bell lover.

Papa Segal also pays homage to the late Eddie Jordan and Davey recaps Darlington while looking ahead to Bristol.

Episode 267: Corey Day

Front Row Motorsports Crew Chief Jon Leonard (7:45) join Davey Segal this week to discuss his new digs at FRM calling the shots for Chandler Smith on the No. 38. Leonard details how late things came together to even make the second FRM Truck Series entry happen, the thrash that ensued to get things ready for Daytona, why Chandler being involved in the hiring process for team members has made everyone closer and how nice it was to get a win early this season at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Leonard also discusses his career as a crew chief, calling races for Leavine-Family Racing in the Cup Series for Kasey Kahne and Regan Smith, being promoted admittedly a little too quickly, learning on the fly, being a first-generation racer turned 14-year NASCAR veteran and more.

Davey also reviews Austin Cindric’s Talladega win, looks ahead to Texas and Papa Segal pays homage to one of the greatest of all-time in Formula 1.

Episode 269: Jon Leonard

Current Wood Brothers Racing crew chief and longtime Team Penske engineer Miles Stanley joins Davey Segal (5:15) for a wide-ranging conversation that dives into his career in motorsports and background in racing. Stanley discusses the treacherous nature of Texas Motor Speedway, how winning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has allowed them to take more risks, when that win truly set in and how big winning a race for WBR really is.

Stanley also discusses what he's learned from championship-winning crew chief Todd Gordon, who he worked with for over a decade, how working with all three current Team Penske drivers in some capacity has eased his transition to Josh Berry and the Wood Brothers, why he and Josh seem to be gelling so well so quickly and more.

Plus, how he got started in motorsports with Formula SAE, his football career at Dayton and Akron, how racing engineering proved to be a career path for him, his transition from open wheel to stock cars, working with Robby Gordon Motorsports, why the Dakar Rally was one of the coolest experiences he's ever had, why his work at Penske as Head of Performance Engineering was so gratifying (hint: the last 3 championships in a row), why he doesn't go by his given name and more.

Davey also recaps Joey Logano's win at Texas, previews Kansas and Papa Segal pays homage to Ron Bouchard.

Episode 270: Miles Stanley

Richard Childress Racing Crew Chief Randall Burnett joins Davey Segal this week (5:40) to discuss how the 2025 season has been thus far, working with Kyle Busch, what he's learned from the two-time Cup Series champion and what the public misunderstands about Rowdy. They also discuss the one year anniversary of the infamous fight at North Wilkesboro Speedway (and Davey's assist in helping Kyle), his journey to Cup Series shot caller from the St. Louis area and how/why he opted to forgo his driving career to pursue an engineering degree at UNC Charlotte.

Burnett also explains what it's like working for Hall of Famer Richard Childress, what it's like when he comes on the radio unprovoked, working with Kyle Larson in his rookie season at Chip Ganassi Racing, almost sweeping the crowned jewels in 2010 with Jamie McMurray, his son racing at Millbridge Speedway, Burnett's Mario Kart skills and more.

Plus, Davey recaps Kansas, looks ahead to the All-Star Race and Papa Segal pays homage to Johnny Mantz.

Episode 271: Randall Burnett

Veteran Crew Chief Mike Kelley joins Davey Segal (5:40) for a reflective and emotional trip down memory lane and deep dive behind Hyak Motorsports with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Kelley explains how the team is punching above their weight right now in the NASCAR Cup Series, how they operate with no technical alliances in todays day and age and why he and Stenhouse have so much trust in one another.

Kelley also recalls his early beginnings in motorsports, including some funny stories when he started working for Ernie Irvan (not as a driver, as he initially thought) and emotional ones while working as Michael Waltrip’s car chief at Dale Earnhardt Inc. Kelley opens up about why the 2001 Daytona 500 is still emotional for him, the relationship he had with Dale Earnhardt and how the team and sport moved forward following his passing.

He also dives into winning the 2004 Cup championship with Kurt Busch at Roush, why earning that title meant so much to him, getting hooked up with Stenhouse Jr. as a young, baby-faced kid, winning back-to-back Xfinity Series championships and more, including his leadership style, why he takes pride in teaching the younger generation, his work with Lake Norman Humane and more.

Plus, Davey discusses Christopher Bell’s All-Star win, looks ahead to the Coca-Cola 600, Kyle Larson’s double attempt and Papa Segal pays homage to 2026 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Ray Hendrick.

Episode 272: Mike Kelley

Sam Hunt Racing Crew Chief Kris Bowen joins Davey Segal (7:05) to discuss building up their current Xfinity Series outfit and how things are going working with Dean Thompson full-time. Bowen explains how and where the recent strides and speed has come from on the No. 26 team, his relationship with Thompson, why having kids of his own helps him work with drivers, how having a racing background himself has made the transition to crew chief a rather smooth one and the decision making process behind hanging up the steering wheel for good.

Bowen also dives into his relationship with owner Sam Hunt, why it works despite Hunt being a decade younger than him, the satisfaction he gets from building something from the ground up, why he has no plans or desires to go anywhere else in NASCAR, his dedication to fitness (5 am crossfit workouts for 15 years!), his unhealthy gummy bear obsession to relieve stress atop the pit box, realistic expectations for the rest of the season and more.

Davey also recaps the Coca-Cola 600, Ross Chastain's improbable march to victory, explains why the Prime Video broadcast was so good, looks ahead to Nashville and Papa Segal pays homage to Humpy Wheeler.

Episode 273: Kris Bowen

Welcome to the place everybody wants to be: Victory Lane! Davey Segal hosts your one stop shop for all things NASCAR, including in-depth interviews, discussion, news and more.

New tracks tagged #nascar podcast