Denny Hamlin wins for the second straight week and continues his march up the NASCAR record books. In Season 5, Episode 20 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier break down Hamlin's latest victory and what it means as he ties Kyle Busch for ninth on NASCAR's all-time wins list. 🏁 What Matters / What Doesn't Josh Berry announces he won't return to the Wood Brothers next season, creating another unexpected Silly Season storyline. Does it matter? NASCAR begins a stretch of unique tracks starting with Pocono. How much does this part of the schedule change the championship picture? 🎤 Turn 5 – Five Minutes with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ricky joins the show to discuss his season, navigating the ups and downs of the Cup Series schedule, and what drivers face as NASCAR heads to one of its most unique tracks. 📻 Say What? (Radio Chatter) Drivers react after the massive crash involving Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott at Michigan Bell suffered a broken hand but plans to race at Pocono The No. 11 team reacts after an accident Carson Hocevar may or may not have caused Bubba Wallace had a conversation with Hocevar after the race about choosing his spots — does Hocevar need to adjust his aggressive driving style? 🎙 Backstretch Conversation NHRA legend Ron Capps joins the show to talk racing, competition, and the similarities and becoming a Legend of Thunder Valley 🛠 Pit Notes Chris Carrier previews Pocono Raceway and breaks down the keys to winning at the Tricky Triangle, including strategy, shifting, braking zones, and why Pocono rewards drivers who can adapt quickly. Fast takes. Real insight. Inside the garage. Subscribe for weekly NASCAR analysis, driver interviews, and pit box perspective you won't hear

Denny Hamlin wins at Nashville and moves one step closer to NASCAR history.

In Season 5, Episode 19 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier break down Hamlin's 62nd career Cup Series victory, putting him just one win behind Kyle Busch for ninth on NASCAR's all-time wins list. At 45 years old, Hamlin continues to perform at an elite level — but just how impressive is this run?

🏁 What Matters / What Doesn't

🎤 Turn 5 – Five Minutes with Carson Hocevar

📻 Say What? (Radio Chatter)

🛠 Pit Notes

Fast takes. Real insight. Inside the garage.

Subscribe for weekly NASCAR breakdowns, driver interviews, and pit box perspective you won't hear anywhere else.

One week after the tragic and unexpected loss of Kyle Busch, the NASCAR community continues to reflect on the impact he had on the sport, the garage, and generations of racers.

In Season 5, Episode 18 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier open the show by sharing memories of Kyle Busch and discussing what his loss means to NASCAR. Chris also reflects on his team's relationship with Kyle Busch Motorsports and the influence Busch had on young drivers throughout the sport.

🎙 Special Conversation with Doug Rice

🏁 What Matters / What Doesn't

🎤 Turn 5 – Five Minutes with Michael McDowell

🛠 Pit Notes

This week's episode is part reflection, part racing conversation, and a reminder of the people who make this sport special.

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#NASCAR #KyleBusch #MichaelMcDowell #DougRice #DanielSuarez #NashvilleSuperspeedway #BackstretchPodcast #CupSeries

Kyle Busch's career has been defined by speed, intensity, championships, rivalries, and unforgettable moments. In this special episode of The Backstretch Podcast, we take a look back at the life and legacy of one of NASCAR's most impactful drivers.

From his early rise through the sport to his dominance at Bristol Motor Speedway, this episode features interviews with people who knew Kyle best, along with highlights from some of the moments that made him one of the most recognizable names in NASCAR.

🏁 In This Special Episode

Whether you cheered for him, rooted against him, or simply respected his talent, there's no denying the mark Kyle Busch left on NASCAR.

Join us as we celebrate the memories, the milestones, and the moments that made Kyle Busch one of the sport's most unforgettable figures.

Thank you for watching and for sharing your memories in the comments below.

#NASCAR #KyleBusch #BristolMotorSpeedway #BackstretchPodcast #NASCARHistory #RacingLegend

Shane van Gisbergen wins again at Watkins Glen — and once again the question comes up: are we watching the greatest road course driver NASCAR has ever seen?

In Season 5, Episode 16 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier break down SVG’s latest road course masterclass and what separates him from the rest of the field whenever NASCAR turns right.

We also dive into:

🏁 What Matters / What Doesn’t

🎤 Turn 5 – Five Minutes with Erik Jones

📻 Say What? (Radio Chatter)

🎙 Backstretch Conversation – Noah Gragson

🛠 Pit Notes

Fast takes. Real insight. Inside the garage.

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Chase Elliott gets the win at Texas — and reaches two victories earlier in the season than ever before.

In Season 5, Episode 15 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier break down what Elliott’s fast start really means — and whether he’s now the biggest threat to Tyler Reddick’s early-season dominance.

We also dive into:

🏁 What Matters / What Doesn’t

🎤 Turn 5 – Five Minutes with Dystany Spurlock

Dystany joins the show to talk her journey, opportunity in the sport, and what comes next.

📻 Say What? (Radio Chatter)

🛠 Pit Notes

Fast takes. Real insight. Inside the garage.

Subscribe for weekly NASCAR breakdowns, driver interviews, and pit box perspective you won’t hear anywhere else.

#NASCAR #ChaseElliott #DystanySpurlock #WatkinsGlen #KyleBusch #TylerReddick #CupSeries #BackstretchPodcast

Carson Hocevar gets his first career Cup Series win — and celebrates like it.

In Season 5, Episode 14 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier break down Hocevar’s breakthrough moment, what it means for Spire Motorsports, and why this win could be bigger than just one race.

It also felt like a big weekend for the sport — maybe even a shift.

🏁 What Matters / What Doesn’t

🎤 Turn 5 – Five Minutes with Chris Buescher

📻 Say What? (Radio Chatter)

🛠 Pit Notes

Fast takes. Real insight. Inside the garage.

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#NASCAR #CarsonHocevar #ChrisBuescher #Talladega #TexasMotorSpeedway #CupSeries #BackstretchPodcast

Tyler Reddick keeps rolling — five wins in the first nine races, this time at Kansas.

In Season 5, Episode 13 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier break down Reddick’s dominant start and what it means for the rest of the field as the season takes shape.

We’re also taking a step back to look at the bigger picture across NASCAR right now — what matters, and what doesn’t.

🏁 What Matters / What Doesn’t Ratings vs attendance — TV numbers may be flat, but crowds look strong. Does that actually matter? Trackhouse Racing continues to struggle, with owner Justin Marks calling it a rebuild — is this part of the plan or a real concern?

🎤 Turn 5 – Five Minutes with Riley Herbst. Riley joins the show to talk Kansas, early-season momentum, and how drivers deal with pressure — whether they’re leading or chasing.

📻 Say What? (Radio Chatter & Off-Track Talk) A funny exchange on the No. 7 radio… but one that points to a real issue Kyle Busch reveals his “hate list” on a podcast — is that mindset helpful, or does it create more problems?

🛠 Pit Notes Chris Carrier breaks down the keys to Talladega Fast takes. Real insight. Inside the garage.

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Ty Gibbs gets his first career Cup Series win — and he does it at Bristol Motor Speedway.

In Season 5, Episode 12 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams and crew chief Chris Carrier break down Gibbs’ breakthrough moment and what it means for his future — and the rest of the field.

We also dive into:

🏁 What Matters / What Doesn’t

🎤 Turn 5 – Five Minutes with Cole Custer

📻 Say What? (Radio Chatter)

🛠 Pit Notes

Fast takes. Real insight. Inside the garage.

Subscribe for weekly NASCAR breakdowns, driver interviews, and pit box perspective you won’t hear anywhere else.

#NASCAR #TyGibbs #ColeCuster #Bristol #KansasSpeedway #CupSeries #BackstretchPodcast

In Season 5, Episode 11 of The Backstretch Podcast, Heather Williams is joined by crew chief Chris Carrier to break down the biggest storylines from the first third of the season — what’s real, what’s not, and what’s coming next. We also bring in two great guests this week:

🎤 Turn 5 – Five Minutes with Erik Jones Erik joins the show to talk early-season momentum, where his team stands right now, and how drivers approach the grind heading into the next stretch of races.

🎙 Backstretch Conversation with Doug Rice The legendary voice of NASCAR joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of the sport, the season so far, and what fans should be watching moving forward.

🏁 What Matters / What Doesn’t Several big names — including Ross Chastain, Chase Briscoe, Kyle Busch, and Austin Dillon — are currently outside the playoff picture. Does it matter this early? 750 horsepower makes its debut at Bristol — will the added power actually change the racing?

🛠 Pit Notes Chris Carrier breaks down the keys to success at Bristol — his favorite track — including aggression, tire management, and why there’s no room for mistakes at “The Last Great Colosseum.”

From big-picture storylines to inside-the-garage insight, this episode sets the stage for the next phase of the NASCAR season.

Subscribe for weekly NASCAR breakdowns, driver interviews, and pit box perspective you won’t hear anywhere else. #NASCAR #ErikJones #DougRice #Bristol #CupSeries #BackstretchPodcast #KyleBusch #RossChastain