Matt Swiderski, the man affectionately known as "Squid" joins Davey Segal (7:40) to discuss his intriguing career that has spanned motorsports and aerospace. He explains why and how Daniel Suárez and the No. 99 team have turned a corner and flipped a switch ahead of the playoffs, why they were experimenting throughout the spring and summer and reflects on the option tire used at Richmond.

Squid dives into his background in racing growing up in the midwest, working on street stocks and super late models in and around Chicago and how he wound up being a first-generation racer before getting hired at Richard Childress Racing after college as a data acquisition engineer. He explains what the role entailed, winning a then Busch Series title in 2007 with Clint Bowyer, working with Kevin Harvick, Casey Mears and others before making a career change.

Swiderski explains why he opted to leave motorsports for a job at SpaceX, how his skillset transitioned to aerospace and his one-on-one interview with, you guessed it, Elon Musk. But his time there was short-lived, and he explains why racing was calling him back home to Welcome, North Carolina and RCR just 8 months later.

He discusses his eventual rise to the crew chief role, why he was never dead set on pursuing that full-time, but once he got a taste he wanted more of it, stops along the way at Team Penske and Kaulig Racing, the recruitment process to Trackhouse, an ironic story of when he interviewed for the No. 99 crew chief position the first time, the culture at the team being similar to SpaceX, what he's learned in his 100+ Cup races as a shot caller, his realistic expectations ahead of his first playoffs and more.

Davey also touches on Tyler Reddick's Michigan win, previews Daytona and Papa Segal pays homage to a NASCAR pioneer.

Episode 240: Matt Swiderski

Fresh off his first win as a NASCAR national series crew chief, Andrew Overstreet joins Davey Segal (7:30) to debrief and discuss the JR Motorsports No. 88 teams dominant win at Watkins Glen and Connor Zilisch's masterclass of a debut. He explains how he was in awe of Zilisch going quicker when asked to back off, his poise to withstand a chaotic finish and what his potential is moving forward.

He also discusses Carson Kvapil's limited starts in the No. 88 this year, his time at JR Motorsports over the last several years and how it compares to his various stops along the way, working at Hendrick Motorsports while in college under Chad Knaus with Greg Ives, how simulation implementation was in the early/mid 2000s, climbing the ladder to a race engineer and more.

Plus, his friendship with Ryan Blaney that was forged at Penske and the Wood Brothers, his Petty fandom as a child that helped accelerate his professional career, how a middle school science teacher helped give him the push to pursue motorsports as a career, stories from his win with Nelson Piquet Jr. at Michigan in the Truck Series, working alongside his brother, Tyler, in the sport, what his 2025 plans may look like and trying to go back-to-back with Dale Earnhardt Jr. back in the seat this weekend at Bristol.

Davey also discusses Chris Buescher's win at Watkins Glen, the playoff leaderboard heading into Bristol to end the Round of 16 and Papa Segal pays homage to an iconic site of many land speed records.

Episode 244: Andrew Overstreet

Industry veteran Wendy Venturini joins Davey Segal this week (7:40) to discuss her vast career in and out of motorsports spanning almost a quarter of a century. She explains the misconception with her last name and ARCA Menards Series powerhouse Venturini Motorsports, growing up in a racing family, pursuing motorsports as a career avenue and starting at the bottom in production before working her way up to on air broadcasting.

Venturini also shares the story of how the opportunity at SPEED came about while working at NASCAR Productions, the experience of working on NASCAR RaceDay with Rutledge Wood, Kenny Wallace, Jimmy Spencer, John Roberts and more, the differences and nuances between television and radio and what makes each discipline unique.

She also reflects on her near fatal accident in 2018 at Sonoma, where she suffered a basilar skull fracture after being struck by a car, the road to recovery that followed (figuratively and literally) and those that helped her along the way to return to broadcasting some 2 months later (!) at Bristol Motor Speedway, of all places.

She also dives into her entrepreneurial success as an owner of Burn Boot Camp franchises, how it may have helped save her life, what she'd still like to accomplish in her career and more.

Davey also discusses Kyle Larson's dominant Bristol win and the ensuing industry reaction to the performance, previews Kansas to kick off the Cup Series Round of 12 and Papa Segal pays homage to "Big Daddy" Don Garlits.

Episode 245: Wendy Venturini

He’s back! Ryan Reed joins Davey Segal this week (6:10) ahead of his return to the Craftsman Truck Series at Talladega Superspeedway with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing. He explains what he's expecting out of the one-off opportunity, how he's preparing, knowing he'll have a winning-caliber Truck underneath him and why Talladega owes him one.

He also gets us up to speed on what he's been up to the last several years since full-time driving dried up and how he's stayed involved in the sport, the emotions associated with not being a full-time racecar driver anymore and how he wrestled and subsequently settled with that, working a 9-5 day job and racing on the side and more.

Plus, growing up in California in a racing family, moving East at 18-years-old to pursue a career, overcoming the odds as a type 1 diabetic, memories of his triumphant 2015 win at Daytona in the Xfinity Series, the long road to get to that point with Roush Fenway Racing and more.

Davey also discusses Ross Chastain's Kansas win, previews Talladega, the new antitrust lawsuit filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR and Papa Segal pays homage to a broadcasting legend.

Episode 246: Ryan Reed

Crew Chief Charles Denike joins Davey Segal this week (5:45) to discuss the No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing team's playoffs to date in the Truck Series, having only one finish outside the top 10 to this point, goals and expectations for the remainder of the postseason and the stop/start nature of the NCTS playoffs.

Denike also dives into his background in racing in Virginia before enlisting in the armed forces for almost a decade. He details what he did in the U.S. Army and why he opted to return to motorsports upon finishing his time serving.

He also touches on some parallels in racing and the Army, goes through his rise from K&N to GMS to MHR, explains what kind of a boss Bill McAnally is and more, including what his 2025 plans may include.

Davey also recaps Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s win at Talladega Superspeedway, looks ahead to the Round of 12 cutoff race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL and Papa Segal pays homage to Les Richter.

Episode 247: Charles Denike

Joe Gibbs Racing's newly named full-time Xfinity Series driver for 2025 Taylor Gray joins Davey Segal (3:10) this week to discuss how the deal came together and the cool story behind why the entry will be the No. 54 instead of the No. 19 involving his best friend Ty Gibbs.

Gray also details the differences between the Xfinity car and Truck vehicles, working with crew chief Tyler Allen next year and how that relationship has been so far in 2024, how important the driver/crew chief pairing is, pressure associated with running for the winningest team in series history, how he'd characterize his season to date, racing with his brother Tanner and more.

Davey also recaps the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL won by Kyle Larson and the headline news of Alex Bowman failing post-race inspection, being disqualified and Joey Logano being added back in to the Round of 8. Plus, a preview of Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Episode 248: Taylor Gray

Rackley W.A.R. President and COO Willie Allen joins Davey Segal this week (2:25) to discuss the news of the team joining forces with Kevin Harvick Incorporated for the 2025 season and beyond. Allen explains why Dawson Sutton is the right driver to pilot their full-time Truck Series entry next season and his unique background, how conversations began with Harvick and KHI, what Kevin brings to a team like theirs and how the alliance on the late model side will impact their national series efforts.

Allen also dives into his career as a driver, spanning numerous NCTS and Xfinity Series starts, including for Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss, reflects on Matt DiBenedetto's Talladega triumph for the team, what led to him getting involved in team ownership on the national series side, his future aspirations as an owner and more.

Davey also discusses Joey Logano's win at Las Vegas to punch his ticket to the Championship 4, previews Homestead-Miami Speedway and more.

Episode 249: Willie Allen

Short track legend Bubba Pollard joins Davey Segal (2:45) ahead of his second career NASCAR Xfinity Series start this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Pollard explains how the deal with Sam Hunt Racing came together, why Martinsville Speedway should be a good venue to showcase his skillset and reminisces on his first start in the series earlier this season for JR Motorsports at Richmond.

Pollard also dives into his background as a third generation racer from Georgia, his involvement in running Senoia Raceway back home, how the nickname "Bubba" came to be and why he always has run the No. 26 on track.

Plus, he explains why winning the Oxford 250 was the biggest win of his illustrious career spanning over 100 wins and 15 championships, the current state of short track racing and why he's a bit conflicted from multiple perspectives, his expectations for this weekend at The Paperclip and more.

Davey also recaps Tyler Reddick's daring move to win at Homestead-Miami Speedway and lock himself into his first ever Championship 4 and looks ahead to the penultimate race weekend of the season at Martinsville.

Episode 250: Bubba Pollard

Industry veteran and OG pit spotter Walter Cox joins Davey Segal this week (2:20) to explain what the role of a pit spotter entails and how he and the role began over three decades ago. Cox explains how many feeds he listens to at once during races, what he provides on-air talent with, how he goes about information gathering ahead of races and how the job has evolved over the years.

Cox also dives into his famous trades in the garage area, where he gives canned fruits and vegetables for racing memorabilia, and explains how Kasey Kahne helped make them more known. He also shares anecdotes from his interesting life in and out of racing, including his time as a "Waffle Belly," a radio host and being in a music video.

Davey also recaps the Martinsville manipulation and penalties divvied out in the wake of the penultimate race of the season, Ryan Blaney's impressive win and previews the Championship 4 weekend at Phoenix Raceway.

Episode 251: Walter Cox

Davey's better half joins him to recap Championship Weekend from Phoenix Raceway that saw Joey Logano, Justin Allgaier and Ty Majeski triumph in the Cup, Xfinity and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, respectively. They discuss the playoff format, those calling out Logano for not being a worthy champion based on the format, the possibility of the title race rotating venues, the current antitrust lawsuit between 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports and NASCAR, the Martinsville manipulation, look ahead to 2025 and more.

Episode 252: Racin' with Robin (Part 4)

For the second year in a row, Allison Thorson and ThorSport Racing are CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. She joins Davey Segal this week (5:35) to dissect Ty Majeski's 2024 NCTS title, the dominant performance he put in at Phoenix Raceway, how this title feels different than the others and what it means to win back-to-back championships for the second time in ThorSport history.

She also provides some analysis on the organizations driver lineup in 2024, what Conner Jones can learn moving forward from his Homestead-Miami incident, the history of ThorSport, why they've never entertained the thought of moving from Sandusky, Ohio, why her parents don't do a ton of media, what's next for the team, her passion for horses and reigning and more.

Davey also runs through some of the news that came across the wire this week and Papa Segal returns wit a wayback segment.

Episode 253: Allison Thorson

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 240: Matt Swiderski

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