Christian Eckes is no stranger to the playoffs, but giving McAnally-Hilgemann Racing their first ever postseason berth is something to be proud of. Eckes joins Davey Segal this week (7:00) to discuss his mindset ahead of the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series playoffs, his two wins this season at Atlanta and Darlington, the ups and downs of his career to get to this point, rebounding after leaving Kyle Busch Motorsports and how the deal to get hooked up with Bill McAnally came together.

Eckes also dives into his newfound leadership role at the team, working with crew chief Charles Denike and teammate Jake Garcia, what it's like and what it's going to be like racing good friend Zane Smith for a championship, winning the Snowball Derby as a young teenager and the wild story of why he missed a race during his ARCA championship season.

Plus, his timeline for moving up the national series ranks, his physical fitness regimen, a preview of the first round of the playoffs, whether consistency or winning will get you from round to round and more.

Davey also briefly recaps Chris Buescher's win at Richmond, previews Michigan and Papa Segal finally relents to pay homage to "Jaws."

Episode 195: Christian Eckes

Truck Series veteran Grant Enfinger joins Davey Segal (6:05) to discuss his season thus far and how the adjustment (or maybe lack thereof) to CR7 Motorsports has been going. He explains how the decision to join forces with Codie Rohrbaugh was a natural one, how far back their relationship goes, the alliance CR7 has established with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing and why it may take awhile to make CR7 into a weekly race winning contender.

Enfinger also dives into his career as a trucker, how the series has changed over the last decade or so, what the current state of the series is, how long it took him to get over how the 2023 season ended with GMS Racing at Phoenix, the cool backstory on how he wound up with his adorable pet pig, Wilbur, and more, including how much longer he may want to race in NASCAR.

Davey also recaps the wild and wacky race we saw at Bristol, previews COTA and Papa Segal pays homage to a Busch Series legend.

Episode 218: Grant Enfinger

17-year-old Connor Zilisch (and a surprise/unexpected guest) join Davey Segal this week (7:15) on the heels of his impressive NASCAR national series debut at Circuit of the Americas. Zilisch explains what went wrong in Turn 1 from the pole, dives into the wildly successful season he's had to date, winning the 24 Hours of Daytona, where his Rolex watch is, why the 12 Hours of Sebring was a different kind of gratifying and how he got hooked up with Justin Marks and Trackhouse Racing.

Zilisch explains how and why his time spent overseas karting in Europe was beneficial to his young career, learning the fundamentals of race craft, how teammates and team members treat him given the large gap in age, balancing homeschooling and racing, adjusting to oval track racing and his upcoming Truck and Xfinity Series events. Plus, why he doesn't care if people mispronounce his last name.

Davey also discusses William Byron's second win of the season and dominant performance at COTA, Papa Segal pays homage to a country music legend and more.

Episode 219: Connor Zilisch

Former Busch Series winner and current spotter Tim Fedewa joins Davey Segal (7:30) to discuss how his the transition to a new driver in Ryan Blaney has been going in 2024, the process and reasoning behind the switch and why he's learned to not take fiery outbursts from drivers on the radio personally in the heat of battle.

Fedewa also dives into his background in racing as a proud Michigander, being inducted into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame with several other of his family members, his driving career and wins at Nazareth, who he served as a driver coach for once his driving career dried up, the transition to spotting and more.

Plus, the infamous sandwich incident at Indianapolis and the real story behind it (Free Timmy!), why he's a Spartan fan and not a Wolverine supporter, which races stand out to him that he's won and that got away (as a spotter and driver) and more.

Davey also recaps the first ever Cup Series points race started on wet weather tires at Richmond, Denny Hamlin's jumped final OT restart, previews Martinsville and Papa Segal pays homage to Dick Hutcherson.

Episode 220: Tim Fedewa

JR Motorsports driver Carson Kvapil joins Davey Segal (8:20) on the heels of his impressive 4th-place finish in his Xfinity Series debut. The two discuss what the lead up to the race was like, leaning on Bubba Pollard, Josh Berry and Dale Earnhardt Jr. among others, how tire conservation came into play, why his CARS Tour background helped and his relationship with crew chief Andrew Overstreet.

He also dives into his CARS Tour success, defending his Late Model Stock title this year, missing Hickory this past weekend and what it's going to take to make up the lost ground, how competitive the series is and how Xfinity compared, why he had two different firesuits at Martinsville, what it was like winning at North Wilkesboro Speedway last year and more, including where he sees himself in 5 years and the influence his father, Travis, has had on him.

Davey also discusses the current short track product in the Cup Series, what could potentially be done to fix it and looks ahead to Texas Motor Speedway. Plus, Papa Segal pays homage to one of the greatest racers of all time.

Episode 221: Carson Kvapil

Veteran crew chief Luke Lambert joins Davey Segal (6:40) on the heels of his first top 10 finish of the 2024 season with rookie Carson Hocevar and Spire Motorsports. He explains why he's been pleased with the start to the season thus far, what it's been like to come into the organization amid the rapid growth and what it's like working with Stephen Doran and Ryan Sparks as Cup crew chief counterparts.

Lambert also dives into his background, starting as an engineer back in 2005 with Richard Childress Racing, how the sport and his job(s) have evolved in the nearly two decades since, getting thrusted into the crew chief role midway though the 2011 season, his memorable Championship 4 run with Ryan Newman and RCR in 2014, why he opted to leave the organization for Roush Fenway and how COVID impacted his career trajectory more than you'd expect.

Plus, how his passion for engineering blossomed at NC State, working with countless drivers along the way and what's next for him in the sport.

Plus, Papa Segal turns the wayback machine on a complicated historical figure and Davey talks Chase Elliott's big win at Texas and looks ahead to the 2.66-mile behemoth of Talladega Superspeedway.

Episode 222: Luke Lambert

The man, the myth, the legend: Kyle Petty joins Davey Segal this week (6:30) ahead of the 28th annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America. KP dives into the facts and figures associated with this years ride, beginning in South Dakota and ending in North Carolina.

He also discusses the origins of the ride, how it's evolved to the event it is today, the vetting process of getting riders ready to go, some fun anniversaries that coincide with this years ride and some memories from the open road over the last near three decades.

KP also weighs in on the current happenings of NASCAR, including why he saw the "it" factor in William Byron so early, his various other media escapades, including being a musician, and more.

Papa Segal also continues to pay homage to "The Juice" and his complicated story while Davey checks in from overseas (sort of).

Episode 223: Kyle Petty

Fresh off another Monster Mile win, Ryan Truex joins Davey Segal (7:00) to chat about how and why this win was so much different than his first career dub last season at his home track, staying in the game and chipping away at things, what was giving him fits throughout the day and how he sent it on into Turns 1 and 2 hoping it would stick on the final restart.

He also explains the difficulties in being a part-time driver and finding a rhythm inside the car, frustrations with not finding adequate sponsorship to run full-time with Joe Gibbs Racing yet, giving his brother, Martin Truex Jr., some crap for not holding up his end of the bargain this year, what he specifically does for JGR when he's not driving the Xfinity Series car and why he may need to do a little house remodeling to fit another Miles the Monster trophy.

Papa Segal pays off the O.J. Simpson saga, pays homage to a Kansas native as we enter the month of May and Davey discusses Denny Hamlin's Dover win, why the No. 11 team are far and away the ones to beat right now and looks ahead to Kansas Speedway.

Episode 224: Ryan Truex

Missed it by *that* much. RFK Racing crew chief Scott Graves joins Davey Segal (6:40) on the heels of Chris Buescher and the No. 17 team coming up 0.001 seconds shy of winning at Kansas, the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history. Graves explains the roller coaster of emotions he experienced from thinking they had the win to realizing they didn't, what answers he got from NASCAR when he went to talk to them before leaving the track, the conversation he had with Chris post-race and the photo finish technology the sanctioning body implements.

Graves also dives into the speed RFK has shown as of late with four runner-up finishes and how close they and Ford really are to breaking through and running better every week. He also dives into getting his start as a crew chief in NASCAR, working with a then young Chris Buescher, winning the 2015 Xfinity championship together, leaving Roush for Joe Gibbs Racing before ultimately returning and being a part of Ryan Newman's harrowing 2020 crash at Daytona.

Plus, why the No. 17 should be one to watch this weekend at Darlington, Graves' passion for fitness, background in racing and why he didn't immediately get into it upon graduating from Texas Tech and why he knows the "what's up brother?!" meme.

Davey also discusses the finish that still has everyone buzzing at Kansas, previews throwback weekend at Darlington and Papa Segal pays homage to Bobby Johns as we continue in the month of May.

Episode 225: Scott Graves

Just a couple of Waffle House enthusiasts chopping it up this week on the pod. CARS Tour standout Brenden "Butterbean" Queen joins Davey Segal this week (6:15) ahead of his NASCAR National Series debut with TRICON Garage in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at North Wilkesboro Speedway. He explains how he deal came together on the heels of some strong 2023 results, his reaction when Toyota called him to let him know, preparations for this weekend's race, his realistic expectations and if he feels pressure to perform and make the most of this opportunity.

Butterbean also explains the story behind his nickname and why it wound up sticking and his recognizable No. 03 video game font, why building his brand has been very intentional, how he learned about race craft, working on his own stuff, the influence from team owner and mentor Lee Pulliam, winning 3 track titles at Langley Speedway and the current high level of competition on the CARS Tour.

Plus, the reason for his mullet, finishing his degree at Old Dominion University his Waffle House order and much more.

Davey also discusses Brad Keselowski's Darlington won and why his career arc has potentially endeared him to some fans, why Chris Buescher had every right to be upset with Tyler Reddick and previews the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Papa Segal also pays homage to Chargin' Charlie as the Month of May rolls on.

Episode 226: Brenden "Butterbean" Queen

Ahead of tackling the motorsports double, spotter Tyler Monn joins Davey Segal (7:00) to dive into the preparation, logistics, learning and excitement the month of May has had in store thus far. Monn explains how the idea to spot the double came about, why he feels thankful that Kyle Larson put his trust in him, how he's gone about familiarizing himself with IndyCar terminology and the series in general and why it isn't as hard as it seems to spot a car going 40-50 mph faster than he's used to.

Monn also reflects on being a part of the closest finish in NASCAR history at Kansas, his recruitment to become a part of the No. 5 team at Hendrick Motorsports, growing up a Terry Labonte fan and Darlington being a full circle moment, going from the back of the field to champion in 365 days, his friendship with crew chief Cliff Daniels and why he got into spotting in the first place.

He also explains how and why a motocross accident ultimately stopped his racing career behind the wheel (or in his case, handlebars), his experience at Pit Crew U, what a successful Sunday looks like at both Indianapolis and Charlotte and more.

Davey also dives into the Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch scuffle at North Wilkesboro Speedway and shares his unique perspective having found himself become a part of it (A.K.A. a landing spot for KFB), touches on the $75K fine handed down to Stenhouse Jr. and previews NASCAR's longest race. Papa Segal also pays homage to another racer who has completed the double as Motorsports Christmas looms.

Episode 227: Tyler Monn

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.

Episode 195: Christian Eckes

Davey Segal

Related tracks