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

McAnally-Hilgemann Racing's Tyler Ankrum joins Davey Segal (6:35) to discuss his best start to the season in his NASCAR career, how and why his habits to prepare for races have changed and if he can pinpoint why his performance has taken an uptick in 2024.

One reason why may be his new team. Ankrum dives into how he's gelling with MHR, what Bill McAnally is like as a team owner and leader, why Mike Hillman is the right crew chief for him, how low his confidence got over the last few years and how good it feels to be running back up front with regularity again. He also explains what the teammate dynamic is like at MHR, looks ahead to Worldwide Technology Raceway at Gateway this weekend and shares what the No. 18 needs to improve upon with 5 races to go before the playoffs.

Plus, what a typical weekday looks like for him as a farmer, the money-making business it truly is, how many cowboy boots he has, what brought him to Davey's backyard in Washington, D.C. recently and more.

Davey also discusses Kyle Larson's foiled double attempt thanks to the weather interfering, why he should and will get a waiver from NASCAR and shares his take on Stewart-Haas Racing ceasing operations at the end of the 2024 season. Papa Segal also takes us wayback and Davey looks ahead to Gateway.

Episode 228: Tyler Ankrum

Veteran crew chief Kevin "Bono" Manion sits down with Davey Segal (8:15) to discuss his illustrious career in NASCAR that has seen him work with close to 50 drivers, win multiple championships, crowned jewel races and currently with Rev Racing and Nick Sanchez in the Truck Series, where they already have two wins to their credit in 2024.

Bono explains what makes Sanchez so good in qualifying, why the consistency the No. 2 team has showed, the stop/start nature of the Truck Series schedule and reflects on being in the sport for over two decades. He also dives into his upbringing in Massachusetts, who he started racing with, moving down south on a whim with Tommy Baldwin and the friends and racers that lived with the duo down in NC.

Bono wound up winning in his first ever start as a crew chief, at Daytona of all places, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. as the driver. He reflects on that day and getting paired up with Martin Truex Jr. at Chance 2 Motorsports (which he was hand picked to help start), where they won back-to-back championships to begin his full-time crew chiefing career. Bono and MTJ then moved up to the Cup Series together before Jamie McMurray came into the picture. Remember that storybook 2010 season? Bono does too, but it wasn't all good, as he explains.

He also touches on what made working at DEI so special, what working at so many different teams taught him as a crew chief, why he enjoys where he's at in the Truck Series with Spire/Rev, being the class clown of the team and pulling pranks on his people, expectations for the No. 2 team for the rest of 2024, what else he wants to accomplish in his NASCAR career and where the nickname "Bono" actually derived from.

Papa Segal pays homage to Ernie Irvan and Davey discusses Austin Cindric's surprise Gateway win, NASCAR granting Kyle Larson a playoff waiver and looks ahead to Sonoma.

Episode 229: Kevin "Bono" Manion

2018 Truck Series champion and Iowa native Brett Moffitt joins Davey Segal this week (5:45) ahead of his return to the Xfinity Series and return to Joe Gibbs Racing at his home track of Iowa Speedway. Moffitt explains the excitement surrounding the opportunity to race in competitive equipment at his home track, what it'll be like having friends and family in attendance, how the partial repave will level out the playing field on a track he's won at multiple times and what it's been like getting re-acclimated to JGR after more than a decade away.

Moffitt also dives into getting to know his crew chief for the weekend, Seth Chavka, his partial NCTS schedule with TRICON Garage and why his lack of rhythm has been hindering him during races thus far. He also reminisces on his 2018 championship with Hattori Racing Enterprises and Scott Zipadelli (and Davey shares a funny (and intimate?) story from that night), his time in the Cup Series and why it was a struggle, whether or not he'd like to get back there one day, working as a simulation driver for Hendrick Motorsports, how his time with AM Racing came to an end at the end of 2023 and more, including what it's like now being a father of two, his realistic expectations for Iowa this weekend and some must-dos for those visiting Newton for the first time.

Papa Segal also pays homage to the late Parnelli Jones while Davey recaps Kyle Larson's Sonoma victory and looks ahead to the Cup Series' first trip to the land of corn.

Episode 230: Brett Moffitt

Team Penske veteran and recent Cup Series winning Crew Chief Brian Wilson joins Davey Segal this week (6:25) to reflect on the No. 2 teams triumph at Gateway a couple weeks ago and why the win was a validation of the process he and Austin Cindric have been trusting together. He also shares what Roger Penske told him after the win and the gains that Ford Performance and Penske have seemingly made in recent weeks.

Wilson details his 21 illustrious years at the company, starting out as a shock specialist before working his way into an engineer role, winning 50 (and counting) times along the way, garnering multiple championships and working with countless drivers. He also touches on his start in racing growing up in Michigan, why his father's influence loomed over him and helped get him started in the sport, why his driving career was short lived and memories working for Frank Kimmel's ARCA team as a 21-year-old fresh out of college.

Wilson also explains what makes he and Austin Cindric work so well together, if anybody ever confuses him with some *other* famous Brian Wilson's out there, previews New Hampshire Motor Speedway and why he said some may be right to write the No. 2 team off come playoff time, but they may surprise some people.

Davey also recaps the Cup Series' inaugural trip to Iowa Speedway, Martin Truex Jr.'s impending retirement and Papa Segal pays homage to a legend of Le Mans.

Episode 231: Brian Wilson

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 226: Brenden "Butterbean" Queen

Davey Segal

Related tracks