Late to Grid - Grassroots Racing

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What does it take to build a career in motorsports while staying connected to grassroots racing?

In this episode of the Late To Grid Podcast, we sit down with Mitch Bloom from Öhlins to talk about his journey through autocross, track days, SCCA events, suspension development, and the motorsports industry.

Mitch shares stories from Solo Nationals, Öhlins’ 50th anniversary celebration in Sweden, suspension testing, vintage racing at Put-in-Bay, and the wide range of racing applications supported by Öhlins. We also discuss his family’s racing history, his own track cars, a memorable brake failure at Road America, and the lessons that come from learning the hard way at the track.

Whether you're interested in racing careers, high-performance driving, driver education, or simply getting more out of your car, this conversation offers plenty of insight from someone who works across both professional and grassroots motorsports.

Learn more about performance driving, track preparation, and motorsports support with Atomic Autosports.

The racing season may be winding down, but now is the time to start preparing for the next one.

If you’ve spent this season building a list of upgrades, repairs, or performance improvements for your race car or track car, don’t wait until the first event of next season is right around the corner.

Atomic Auto Sports can help you create a plan and get the work scheduled so your car is ready when it’s time to head back to the track.

Before you head out for your next track day, autocross, HPDE event, or racing weekend, make sure your safety gear is ready.

Track First offers the motorsports safety equipment racers and performance-driving enthusiasts need to get on track with confidence. Visit their showroom in Akron, Ohio to check out the gear in person, or stop by Atomic Autosports in Wickliffe, Ohio, where you’ll find a smaller Track First showroom with essential racing safety equipment.

You know me as the host of Late To Grid, but my biggest shift wasn't on the track, it was leaving corporate life to own a Rad Air location. It gave me the freedom to turn my passion for cars into a career and actually get to the track more often. Ready to own your future? Visit radairfranchise.com and let’s get you living life in the fast lane.

Thanks for listening and taking an interest in growing grassroots racing.  The Late To Grid podcast shares the stories and inspiration that help listeners along their motorsports journey. 

Find all episodes on the Atomic Autosports website.

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when an E21 BMW changes the course of your life?

John Butler joins Late To Grid to share his journey from discovering cars as a kid to autocross, endurance racing, track days, time attack, and a career in the motorsports industry.

We talk about getting started in racing, the importance of networking, learning from experienced drivers, and how simply saying “yes” can open unexpected doors in motorsports.

If you’re looking to get into racing, improve your driving, or find your place in the motorsports community, this episode is for you.

Subscribe to Late To Grid for more real stories from the people behind grassroots racing.

Learn more about Atomic Autosports and get involved in your own motorsports journey.

The racing season may be winding down, but now is the time to start preparing for the next one.

If you’ve spent this season building a list of upgrades, repairs, or performance improvements for your race car or track car, don’t wait until the first event of next season is right around the corner.

Atomic Auto Sports can help you create a plan and get the work scheduled so your car is ready when it’s time to head back to the track.

Before you head out for your next track day, autocross, HPDE event, or racing weekend, make sure your safety gear is ready.

Track First offers the motorsports safety equipment racers and performance-driving enthusiasts need to get on track with confidence. Visit their showroom in Akron, Ohio to check out the gear in person, or stop by Atomic Autosports in Wickliffe, Ohio, where you’ll find a smaller Track First showroom with essential racing safety equipment.

You know me as the host of Late To Grid, but my biggest shift wasn't on the track, it was leaving corporate life to own a Rad Air location. It gave me the freedom to turn my passion for cars into a career and actually get to the track more often. Ready to own your future? Visit radairfranchise.com and let’s get you living life in the fast lane.

Thanks for listening and taking an interest in growing grassroots racing.  The Late To Grid podcast shares the stories and inspiration that help listeners along their motorsports journey. 

Find all episodes on the Atomic Autosports website.

Send us Fan Mail

Back on Late to Grid! Bill recaps a challenging racing season with the RX-7, including Mid-Ohio, Nelson Ledges, suspension upgrades, a transmission failure, and the lessons learned along the way.

Then, Bill shares five practical tips for getting better results from a performance shop, from finding the right shop and sourcing parts to communication, budgeting, relationships, and planning ahead.

Whether you're into autocross, track days, endurance racing, HPDE, or grassroots motorsports, this episode has plenty of lessons to help you get more out of your car and your racing season.

Learn more about performance driving and racing support with Atomic Autosports.

Don't be late to grid.

The racing season may be winding down, but now is the time to start preparing for the next one.

If you’ve spent this season building a list of upgrades, repairs, or performance improvements for your race car or track car, don’t wait until the first event of next season is right around the corner.

Atomic Auto Sports can help you create a plan and get the work scheduled so your car is ready when it’s time to head back to the track.

Before you head out for your next track day, autocross, HPDE event, or racing weekend, make sure your safety gear is ready.

Track First offers the motorsports safety equipment racers and performance-driving enthusiasts need to get on track with confidence. Visit their showroom in Akron, Ohio to check out the gear in person, or stop by Atomic Autosports in Wickliffe, Ohio, where you’ll find a smaller Track First showroom with essential racing safety equipment.

You know me as the host of Late To Grid, but my biggest shift wasn't on the track, it was leaving corporate life to own a Rad Air location. It gave me the freedom to turn my passion for cars into a career and actually get to the track more often. Ready to own your future? Visit radairfranchise.com and let’s get you living life in the fast lane.

Thanks for listening and taking an interest in growing grassroots racing.  The Late To Grid podcast shares the stories and inspiration that help listeners along their motorsports journey. 

Find all episodes on the Atomic Autosports website.

Send us Fan Mail

What does it take to go from watching the Daytona 500 as a kid to driving your own BMW on track and becoming deeply involved in the motorsports community?

In this episode of Late To Grid, we sit down with Rory Gamble to discuss his motorsports journey, which began with one of the most memorable Daytona 500 finishes in NASCAR history. Rory shares how a childhood passion for racing evolved into rental karting, track days, HPDE events, and eventually owning and tracking a BMW M2 and E46.

We dive into the emotional side of racing, the importance of preparation before your first track day, the value of mentors and instructors, and how organizations like NASA and the broader motorsports community help newcomers succeed. Rory also shares lessons learned from his first experiences at Mid-Ohio, the challenges of getting started, and why grassroots racing remains one of the most welcoming areas of the motorsports industry.

Whether you're considering your first HPDE event, building a track car, exploring autocross, or simply love hearing stories about how people found their way into racing, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.

If you've ever wondered whether you should take your car to a track day, this conversation may be the push you need to get started.

🏁 Topics Covered:

• Motorsports journey and racing inspiration
• The 2007 Daytona 500 and becoming a racing fan
• Rental karting and early motorsports experiences
• Buying and tracking a BMW M2
• First HPDE experience at Mid-Ohio
• NASA HPDE programs and driver development
• Grassroots racing culture
• Building confidence behind the wheel
• Lessons for new track day drivers
• The importance of community in motorsports

Looking to get your car ready for the track? Atomic Autosports helps drivers maximize reliability, performance, and confidence whether you're heading to your first HPDE, autocross event, or endurance race. Contact us to learn how we can help support your motorsports journey.

The racing season may be winding down, but now is the time to start preparing for the next one.

If you’ve spent this season building a list of upgrades, repairs, or performance improvements for your race car or track car, don’t wait until the first event of next season is right around the corner.

Atomic Auto Sports can help you create a plan and get the work scheduled so your car is ready when it’s time to head back to the track.

Before you head out for your next track day, autocross, HPDE event, or racing weekend, make sure your safety gear is ready.

Track First offers the motorsports safety equipment racers and performance-driving enthusiasts need to get on track with confidence. Visit their showroom in Akron, Ohio to check out the gear in person, or stop by Atomic Autosports in Wickliffe, Ohio, where you’ll find a smaller Track First showroom with essential racing safety equipment.

You know me as the host of Late To Grid, but my biggest shift wasn't on the track, it was leaving corporate life to own a Rad Air location. It gave me the freedom to turn my passion for cars into a career and actually get to the track more often. Ready to own your future? Visit radairfranchise.com and let’s get you living life in the fast lane.

Thanks for listening and taking an interest in growing grassroots racing.  The Late To Grid podcast shares the stories and inspiration that help listeners along their motorsports journey. 

Find all episodes on the Atomic Autosports website.

Send us Fan Mail

You asked for it, and we’re delivering it: a deep dive into NASA Time Trials with Darek Koman from NASA Great Lakes.

In this episode of Late To Grid, Darek joins us in the Atomic Autosports studio to talk about his motorsports journey from HPDE, autocross, and track days into NASA Time Trials and wheel-to-wheel Super Touring competition. If you’ve ever wondered how to move from simply turning laps to competing against the clock, this one is for you.

We dig into why Time Trials is such a powerful stepping stone in motorsports, especially for drivers who want competition without immediately jumping into a fully caged race car. Darek shares how he uses track time to experiment with tire pressures, dampers, sway bars, alignment, driving lines, data, and the all-important “butt dyno.” Yes, it’s technical. Yes, it’s useful. And yes, your car may still decide the differential is no longer interested in differential-ing.

This episode covers:

• How Darek got started through NASA HPDE and Time Trials
• Why Time Trials is a smart bridge between track days and wheel-to-wheel racing
• How to use data to understand where you are gaining or losing time
• Why tire temperatures, setup notes, and weather conditions matter
• The value of using every session you paid for
• Why rain sessions are some of the best car-control training available
• The community side of grassroots motorsports and NASA Great Lakes
• How a street car can evolve into a serious track or race car

Whether you are new to HPDE, chasing faster lap times in Time Trials, building a track car, or considering your next step in grassroots racing, this episode is packed with practical advice from someone who has lived the progression.

The racing season may be winding down, but now is the time to start preparing for the next one.

If you’ve spent this season building a list of upgrades, repairs, or performance improvements for your race car or track car, don’t wait until the first event of next season is right around the corner.

Atomic Auto Sports can help you create a plan and get the work scheduled so your car is ready when it’s time to head back to the track.

Before you head out for your next track day, autocross, HPDE event, or racing weekend, make sure your safety gear is ready.

Track First offers the motorsports safety equipment racers and performance-driving enthusiasts need to get on track with confidence. Visit their showroom in Akron, Ohio to check out the gear in person, or stop by Atomic Autosports in Wickliffe, Ohio, where you’ll find a smaller Track First showroom with essential racing safety equipment.

You know me as the host of Late To Grid, but my biggest shift wasn't on the track, it was leaving corporate life to own a Rad Air location. It gave me the freedom to turn my passion for cars into a career and actually get to the track more often. Ready to own your future? Visit radairfranchise.com and let’s get you living life in the fast lane.

Thanks for listening and taking an interest in growing grassroots racing.  The Late To Grid podcast shares the stories and inspiration that help listeners along their motorsports journey. 

Find all episodes on the Atomic Autosports website.

Send us Fan Mail

How does a bet between friends turn into one of the Midwest’s best-known track day organizations?

In this episode of Late To Grid, Bill sits down in the Atomic Autosports studio with Ken Grulich of Three Balls Racing to talk about his motorsports journey, the origin of Three Balls Racing, and what drivers can do to make their next track day smoother, safer, and a whole lot more fun.

Ken shares how his love for speed started with his dad, sand dunes, motorcycles, quads, and three-wheelers before eventually leading him to road course driving. What started as a challenge between friends involving a 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo, a 1969 big block Corvette, and a track rental at Gingerman Raceway  grew into a grassroots track day organization that now hosts events at tracks like Gingerman Raceway, Grattan Raceway, Waterford Hills, and Mid-Ohio.

This conversation is packed with advice for new and experienced drivers, including why you should talk to people in the paddock, why video can make you faster, why showing up late to a track day can ruin more than your schedule, and what tools and spares you should bring before your next HPDE or track day.

Ken also shares one of the wildest bucket-list stories from a Three Balls Racing event and explains why comfort, confidence, seat position, preparation, and community matter just as much as horsepower.

If you’re interested in motorsports, track days, HPDE, grassroots racing, autocross, endurance racing, racing teams, or building your own motorsports journey, this episode is for you

The racing season may be winding down, but now is the time to start preparing for the next one.

If you’ve spent this season building a list of upgrades, repairs, or performance improvements for your race car or track car, don’t wait until the first event of next season is right around the corner.

Atomic Auto Sports can help you create a plan and get the work scheduled so your car is ready when it’s time to head back to the track.

Before you head out for your next track day, autocross, HPDE event, or racing weekend, make sure your safety gear is ready.

Track First offers the motorsports safety equipment racers and performance-driving enthusiasts need to get on track with confidence. Visit their showroom in Akron, Ohio to check out the gear in person, or stop by Atomic Autosports in Wickliffe, Ohio, where you’ll find a smaller Track First showroom with essential racing safety equipment.

You know me as the host of Late To Grid, but my biggest shift wasn't on the track, it was leaving corporate life to own a Rad Air location. It gave me the freedom to turn my passion for cars into a career and actually get to the track more often. Ready to own your future? Visit radairfranchise.com and let’s get you living life in the fast lane.

Thanks for listening and taking an interest in growing grassroots racing.  The Late To Grid podcast shares the stories and inspiration that help listeners along their motorsports journey. 

Find all episodes on the Atomic Autosports website.

Send us Fan Mail

What sport did you letter in during high school… and why wasn’t it racing? 😄

In this episode, Bill sits down with Jonathan Eckelberg to talk about one of the most promising “future of grassroots racing” stories out there: the High School Racing Association (HSRA). It's a program that helps high school students get involved in local short track racing, build real-world skills, and (in some schools) earn official recognition like letters and jackets.

Jonathan’s racing roots run deep; he grew up at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway watching his dad race, jumped into the Hornet division as soon as he was old enough, and went on to race for 17 seasons, including years in pro late models (with some legendary post-race Pabst stories along the way). Eventually, life priorities changed and he hung up the helmet...right as he stepped into a new role that keeps him in the sport: HSRA Series Director.

From there, the conversation gets into what HSRA really is and why it matters:

•  Why racing can be a perfect fit for students who don’t connect with traditional stick-and-ball sports 
•  How HSRA mixes hands-on automotive work with STEM, marketing, communication, and teamwork
•  Why tracks are getting involved (and why it’s urgent as the average pit/stand age climbs) 
•  How HSRA reaches schools through auto programs, tech ed, and athletics/activity directors
•  The biggest barriers for new families (cost, tools, storage, truck/trailer) and how the program helps connect them with resources and mentors 
•  What “success” looks like when HSRA students graduate out and move up into other divisions 

Jonathan also shares what he’s most proud of: watching brand-new families enter motorsports for the first time, then build confidence, community, and a pathway that can stick with them for life.

Learn more about HSRA here: https://highschoolracing.org/
 

Question for you: If your high school offered racing as a sport, would you have joined as a driver, crew, media/marketing, or sponsor-hunter? 

The racing season may be winding down, but now is the time to start preparing for the next one.

If you’ve spent this season building a list of upgrades, repairs, or performance improvements for your race car or track car, don’t wait until the first event of next season is right around the corner.

Atomic Auto Sports can help you create a plan and get the work scheduled so your car is ready when it’s time to head back to the track.

Before you head out for your next track day, autocross, HPDE event, or racing weekend, make sure your safety gear is ready.

Track First offers the motorsports safety equipment racers and performance-driving enthusiasts need to get on track with confidence. Visit their showroom in Akron, Ohio to check out the gear in person, or stop by Atomic Autosports in Wickliffe, Ohio, where you’ll find a smaller Track First showroom with essential racing safety equipment.

You know me as the host of Late To Grid, but my biggest shift wasn't on the track, it was leaving corporate life to own a Rad Air location. It gave me the freedom to turn my passion for cars into a career and actually get to the track more often. Ready to own your future? Visit radairfranchise.com and let’s get you living life in the fast lane.

Thanks for listening and taking an interest in growing grassroots racing.  The Late To Grid podcast shares the stories and inspiration that help listeners along their motorsports journey. 

Find all episodes on the Atomic Autosports website.

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when your favorite race track suddenly disappears?

In this episode of the Late to Grid Podcast, we sit down with Christian Robinson from SEMA and PRI’s Government Affairs team to break down one of the most important issues in motorsports today: Right to Race legislation.

If you’re involved in autocross, track days, endurance racing, or grassroots motorsports, this is a conversation you can’t afford to miss.

We dive into how legislation is actively shaping the future of racing and how local tracks across the country are being threatened by development, lawsuits, and regulatory pressure. Christian shares behind-the-scenes insight into how SEMA and PRI are fighting to protect the $69B motorsports industry and the small businesses that keep it alive.

You’ll also learn:

• What “Right to Race” actually means (and why it’s simpler than you think)
• Why grassroots race tracks are disappearing
• How legislation moves through state government
• Real examples of laws that almost shut down racing
• What YOU can do right now to protect your local track

This episode isn’t just about policy, it’s about preserving the motorsports journey for future drivers, teams, and fans.

You need to get involved! Go to:

https://www.semahq.org/campaigns/right-to-race

The racing season may be winding down, but now is the time to start preparing for the next one.

If you’ve spent this season building a list of upgrades, repairs, or performance improvements for your race car or track car, don’t wait until the first event of next season is right around the corner.

Atomic Auto Sports can help you create a plan and get the work scheduled so your car is ready when it’s time to head back to the track.

Before you head out for your next track day, autocross, HPDE event, or racing weekend, make sure your safety gear is ready.

Track First offers the motorsports safety equipment racers and performance-driving enthusiasts need to get on track with confidence. Visit their showroom in Akron, Ohio to check out the gear in person, or stop by Atomic Autosports in Wickliffe, Ohio, where you’ll find a smaller Track First showroom with essential racing safety equipment.

You know me as the host of Late To Grid, but my biggest shift wasn't on the track, it was leaving corporate life to own a Rad Air location. It gave me the freedom to turn my passion for cars into a career and actually get to the track more often. Ready to own your future? Visit radairfranchise.com and let’s get you living life in the fast lane.

Thanks for listening and taking an interest in growing grassroots racing.  The Late To Grid podcast shares the stories and inspiration that help listeners along their motorsports journey. 

Find all episodes on the Atomic Autosports website.

Send us Fan Mail

What does it take to build a real motorsports journey? In this episode of Late to Grid, we sit down with Eric Kaul to talk about the road from accountant to a well-known name in the paddock, and why networking at the race track can be just as important as speed behind the wheel.

Eric shares how he got started in autocross, grew through HPDE and track day events, and eventually made the leap into endurance racing. Along the way, he explains how community, mentorship, and showing up for others helped shape both his racing career and his business in the motorsports industry. He also dives into the value of fitness, preparation, and being the kind of person people can count on when things go sideways at the track.

This episode is packed with insight for anyone interested in motorsports, racing, autocross, high-performance driving, and the relationships that help drivers and teams grow over a racing season. If you are looking to get started or go further in grassroots racing, this one is a reminder that success is not a solo mission.

Looking to build your own path in racing with the right support system behind you? Atomic Autosports is here to help you move from interested enthusiast to confident driver.

The racing season may be winding down, but now is the time to start preparing for the next one.

If you’ve spent this season building a list of upgrades, repairs, or performance improvements for your race car or track car, don’t wait until the first event of next season is right around the corner.

Atomic Auto Sports can help you create a plan and get the work scheduled so your car is ready when it’s time to head back to the track.

Before you head out for your next track day, autocross, HPDE event, or racing weekend, make sure your safety gear is ready.

Track First offers the motorsports safety equipment racers and performance-driving enthusiasts need to get on track with confidence. Visit their showroom in Akron, Ohio to check out the gear in person, or stop by Atomic Autosports in Wickliffe, Ohio, where you’ll find a smaller Track First showroom with essential racing safety equipment.

You know me as the host of Late To Grid, but my biggest shift wasn't on the track, it was leaving corporate life to own a Rad Air location. It gave me the freedom to turn my passion for cars into a career and actually get to the track more often. Ready to own your future? Visit radairfranchise.com and let’s get you living life in the fast lane.

Thanks for listening and taking an interest in growing grassroots racing.  The Late To Grid podcast shares the stories and inspiration that help listeners along their motorsports journey. 

Find all episodes on the Atomic Autosports website.

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when a 10-second drag racer and a 15-year fire service veteran takes over a 50-year motorsports legacy and decides to modernize the hustle? 

You get something bigger than a shop. You get a standard of excellence. 

In this episode of the Late to Grid Podcast, we dive into the career of John Harkenrider, General Manager of Havoc Motorsport. John talks about the transition from the high-stakes world of firefighting to managing one of the nation’s premier open-wheel arrive-and-drive programs at Autobahn Country Club. 

From building nitrous-fed Trans Ams... to becoming a team "gopher"... to now overseeing a fleet of F3 and Formula Mazda cars, this episode is about the relentless work required to run a professional racing organization. It’s about the evolution from grassroots drag strips to championship-winning Atlantic Open programs. And it's about why "Work Harder" is more than just a banner on the wall—it's a requirement. 

🏁 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How John transitioned from 15 years in the fire service to leading a top-tier race team 
• Why LinkedIn has become the ultimate tool for landing international drivers and title sponsors 
• The reality of Arrive and Drive programs and why the "Bumble" model of sponsorship is changing the game 
• What happens when a renter "isn't vibing" with a car and how it affects lap times 
• The massive financial investment of scaling a fleet of six-figure F3 chassis 
• Why John’s favorite quote is: "Early is on time, on time is late, and late equals go home" 

This isn’t just a 9-to-5. This is a 24/7 commitment to precision and performance. A professional paddock built on discipline, leadership, and racing spirit. 

Havoc Motorsport blends a half-century of history with the modern necessity of high-level networking. Whether you are a karter looking to make the jump to open-wheel, a brand seeking a VIP hospitality presence at the track, or a driver wanting a "one-stop-shop" for coaching and data, this episode reveals what it takes to operate at the highest levels of the SCCA and FRP. 

And with Atomic Autosports focusing on the same "Atomic Prep" philosophy, the connection between technical excellence and shop-level discipline has never been clearer. 

The racing season may be winding down, but now is the time to start preparing for the next one.

If you’ve spent this season building a list of upgrades, repairs, or performance improvements for your race car or track car, don’t wait until the first event of next season is right around the corner.

Atomic Auto Sports can help you create a plan and get the work scheduled so your car is ready when it’s time to head back to the track.

Before you head out for your next track day, autocross, HPDE event, or racing weekend, make sure your safety gear is ready.

Track First offers the motorsports safety equipment racers and performance-driving enthusiasts need to get on track with confidence. Visit their showroom in Akron, Ohio to check out the gear in person, or stop by Atomic Autosports in Wickliffe, Ohio, where you’ll find a smaller Track First showroom with essential racing safety equipment.

You know me as the host of Late To Grid, but my biggest shift wasn't on the track, it was leaving corporate life to own a Rad Air location. It gave me the freedom to turn my passion for cars into a career and actually get to the track more often. Ready to own your future? Visit radairfranchise.com and let’s get you living life in the fast lane.

Thanks for listening and taking an interest in growing grassroots racing.  The Late To Grid podcast shares the stories and inspiration that help listeners along their motorsports journey. 

Find all episodes on the Atomic Autosports website.