Dale Earnhardt Jr. and co-host Mike Davis wrap up the week as they react to their Wednesday interview with Josh Berry. The guys reflect on how much they’ve enjoyed documenting Josh’s career progression over the years through his appearances on the Download, and Dale explains that he wishes he would have touched on what Josh’s promotion to the NASCAR Cup Series means for late model racing. It’s also time to give out mid-season accolades for the Cup Series and make some new final four predictions. Plus, no Thursday show would be complete without hearing from the Short Track Insider!

On the biggest day of his racing career, Josh Berry joins Dale Earnhardt Jr. and co-host Mike Davis to share the news that he’ll be replacing Kevin Harvick in the Stewart-Haas Racing number 4 next year. Josh has been a frequent guest on the Dale Jr. Download throughout the years and could think of no better way to celebrate this major milestone than to sit down and reflect on his time spent at JR Motorsports. The interview covers how the deal to go Cup racing came together, and how Josh’s time spent filling in at Hendrick Motorsports earlier this year served as almost an audition in the decision-making.

Dale inquires about how Josh was able to juggle so much at the same time this year, between racing full-time in the Xfinity Series, filling in for Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman, and working on putting together his 2024 Cup plans. Dale and Josh discuss the prospect of being a career late model racer and how his success at the short track level eventually led to the opportunity to run 12 races for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series. They also recognize that Josh’s first career Xfinity win at Martinsville helped change the perception of him as a driver and paved the way to his eventual Cup series opportunity.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and co-host Mike Davis are back from their Father’s Day festivities to compare their experiences from the weekend:

During the Ask Jr. segment of the episode, listeners wrote in questions regarding:

In the second chapter of Next Level, Mario Andretti, and host Andrew Kurland discuss his entry into the F1 world. He shares what it was like amidst the protest that kept him out of his debut race in Monza, starting on the pole in his first start at Watkins Glen, and the highs & lows of his 1978 World Championship season.

Andretti and Kurland also discuss the dangers of racing, where Mario describes the agony of losing several close friends to the sport. He also touches on the financial aspect of motorsports and explains the difficult times he and his family endured as he tried to make a name for himself in the sport.

Watch the Next Level video series on Youtube: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFUhDMhE1U5TcDZEPO6-I3uE8VnVV_YXm

It’s the crack era. The most violent time in New York City history. The NYPD is fighting a losing battle and instead of protecting the city from drug dealers, some police officers have become them. This is the never-before-told, first-person documentary of the biggest police corruption scandal in NYPD history and the investigation that uncovered it all. From Audacy Originals and Zak Levitt, the Emmy, Peabody, and NY Press Club Investigative Journalism Award-winning creator of Root of Evil, Gangster Capitalism, and Relative Unknown.

In the dramatic conclusion of their conversation, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and co-host Mike Davis talk to longtime NASCAR engine builder Richie Gilmore about his time at Dale Earnhardt Inc. Richie recounts the time at Talladega when he was approached by Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Ty Norris about coming to work at DEI, heading up the engine program for Dale Jr.’s imminent Cup debut. Once there though, Richie realized the grass is always greener on the other side, and work environment and disorganization almost sent him packing back to Hendrick Motorsports. It was then that he had an unforgettable meeting with Dale Sr. that would solidify his place at the organization for years to come.

Dale Jr. and Richie have a vulnerable exchange about the fallout at DEI and the responsibility they felt for the way things unfolded. Richie talked about the transition from running the engine shop to running the team’s day-to-day operation when he was promoted to Vice President of Competition after Norris’ departure. Richie also gives listeners some insight into the 2020 merging of Richard Childress Racing and HMS’ engine-building efforts and the effect it has had on Chevrolet’s NASCAR efforts.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. reunites with a major figure from his career as he and co-host Mike Davis sit down with former Dale Earnhardt Inc. engine builder Richie Gilmore. After getting his start working on his uncle Jim Landry’s supermodifieds in the New Hampshire short track scene, Richie found his way into the NASCAR Busch North Series garage, and eventually gravitated to North Carolina, It was there he found a position working for Bob Whitcomb Racing, and in 1990 with Derrike Cope behind the wheel, the small but mighty outfit scored an upset victory in the Daytona 500.

The interview gives an in-depth look at that 1990 Daytona victory and how the Whitcomb team miraculously completed the entirety of Speedweeks with the same power plant, which Richie helped assemble with his mentor Keith Dorton. Richie also speaks on his time working with Keith’s brother Randy Dorton at Hendrick Motorsports, and how he spearheaded HMS’s engine leasing program to Joe Gibbs Racing, which resulted in Dale Jarrett’s 1993 Daytona 500 triumph.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is back from vacation to join co-host Mike Davis and chat about life, Sonoma, and endurance racing:

During the Ask Jr. segment of the broadcast, listeners sent in questions regarding:

As Kelley Earnhardt Miller’s conversation with Joe Mattes continues, she and co-host Mike Davis ask him about his time spent between Earnhardt-related companies, where he ended up working for the NASCAR.com superstore. When the time came for Dale Jr. to leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 2007, Kelley knew she wanted to work with Joe on setting up the branding and marketing for the new endeavor. Joe highlights how he came to work at JR Motorsports and the planning that went behind the announcement of Dale Jr.’s departure from DEI.

The conversation covers what was considered one of the best-kept secrets in NASCAR history, as many merchandise vendors were involved but the news of Dale Jr.’s team switch somehow remained sealed. The 2007 announcement and merchandise campaign would go on to be one of the biggest retail successes in auto racing history, and ultimately it was carried out by a handful of people. The interview also gives insight into some of the most memorable Earnhardt-related merchandising and how it all came to be.

Kelley Earnhardt Miller is back for another installment of the Business of Motorsports as she and co-host Mike Davis sit down with JR Motorsports’ Senior Vice President of Business and Strategy Joe Mattes. After spending years in the banking and garment industries, Mattes was connected with Dale Earnhardt Sr. through Don Hawk. Before Joe knew it, he was moving into Dale Sr.’s lake house and taking over a racing empire.

Joe fills listeners in on how he and the Earnhardt team created some of the most iconic racing souvenirs of all time, including the Winston 25th Anniversary and the 1996 Olympics diecasts. He also explained the importance of not only working with large distributors and outlets but also directly with smaller vendors and collectors. The episode explains Joe’s departure from Dale Sr.'s enterprise and his early involvement with e-commerce through NASCAR.com. In part two, Joe details his journey back into the Earnhardt inner circle, this time through Dale Jr. and JR Motorsports.