Host Will Marotti breaks down the IndyCar season finale at Laguna Seca, celebrating Scott Mclaughlin taking the chequered flag and Alex Palou wrapping up another championship run. The show tackles the business of racing head-on, evaluating new Indy NXT regulations and examining how the charter system creates a deliberate pipeline bottleneck for young drivers fighting to secure a seat at the top level of open-wheel racing.

Sim Gaming Expo founder Jorge Anzaldo joins the show to discuss the rapid expansion of the Sim Gaming Expo, from digital competition pathways to interactive motion rigs and high-end manufacturer showcases. Later, sports car rising star Westin Workman details his dominant campaign with Rafa Racing, navigating multi-series competition in GT4 and the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, and what it takes to climb the modern driver ladder.

Our Guests Today

- Jorge Anzaldo: Sim racer, community leader, and founder of the Sim Gaming Expo. Anzaldo built the event into a massive exposition bringing together sim racers, exhibitors, and esports leagues to forge tangible digital-to-real-world pathways in motorsports.

- Westin Workman: Rafa Racing driver and Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout winner competing across the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge and GT4 competition. Workman is a former national karting champion and 2024 MX-5 Cup Rookie of the Year on a fast track toward factory GT3 racing.

Inside This Episode

- 00:00 - IndyCar Finale: Scott Mclaughlin Wins Laguna Seca & Alex Palou Claims Title

- 05:00 - The Business of Racing: Indy NXT Rules, Charters, and Pipeline Bottlenecks

- 10:03 - SVS Insiders Sponsor

- 10:32 - Jorge Anzaldo on Sim Gaming Expo Growth & Virtual Racing Tech

- 16:47 - Launching Digital Competition & Grassroots Esports Pathways

- 21:05 - Schaeffer Manufacturing Sponsor

- 21:28 - Sim Gaming Expo Event Details & Community Expansion

- 32:05 - Americas Christian Credit Union Sponsor

- 32:36 - Westin Workman on Rafa Racing & Climbing the GT4 Ladder

- 40:27 - Redline Ace Sponsor

- 40:57 - Career Roadmap: IMSA VP Challenge & Future GT3 Goals

- 48:23 - Will Marotti Closing Thoughts: Driver Value & Show Wrap-Up

Sponsor & Social Blocks

This episode is brought to you by:

- Schaeffer Manufacturing: https://www.schaefferoil.com

- SpeedSport: https://www.speedsport.com

- Americas Christian Credit Union: https://americaschristiancu.com/pits

Connect with The Pits Are Open:

- Website: https://www.pitsareopen.com

- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pitsareopen

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pitsareopen

#IndyCar #SimRacing #GT4 #Motorsports #LagunaSeca #ThePitsAreOpen #WillMarotti #Esports #IMSA #SRO #RafaRacing #SimGamingExpo #MX5Cup

The pits are open for a high-octane episode featuring maximum horsepower and deep IndyCar debate! First, NHRA Funny Car driver and professional firefighter Chris King joins host Will Marotti to break down the intense reality of handling a 12,000-horsepower nitro-burning beast. Chris reveals the crucial chassis modifications his team made, what it takes to survive 6G acceleration and 5G parachute deceleration, and the terrifying moment his chutes failed at 300 MPH in Dallas.

Then, Lali Michelsen, co-host of the Business of Speed, steps in to recap the wild Milwaukee IndyCar doubleheader. From Pato O'Ward sweeping both races in 24 hours to Alex Palou capturing his historic fifth championship in six years, Will and Lali dive deep into the ultimate debate: Is Alex Palou already an all-time GOAT alongside Foyt, Andretti, and Dixon?

Our Guests Today:

- Chris King: Lieutenant firefighter on Chicago's North Side and NHRA Nitro Funny Car driver competing at the highest level of drag racing with his team's modified DSR Hemi package.

- Lali Michelsen: Co-founder of Business of Speed, motorsports media consultant, content creator, and passionate IndyCar and Formula 1 insider.

Inside This Episode:

- 00:00:24 - Show Opening & SpeedSport 1 Welcome

- 00:01:51 - Episode Preview: Drag Racing & IndyCar

- 00:02:30 - Milwaukee Doubleheader Recap: Pato O'Ward's Historic Sweep

- 00:03:31 - Alex Palou's 5th Championship & GOAT Trajectory

- 00:06:16 - Introducing NHRA Funny Car Driver Chris King

- 00:07:55 - Chris King on Firefighter Life & US Nationals Prep

- 00:08:44 - Chassis Upgrades & New Competition Products Livery

- 00:11:34 - Engineering a 2008 Nitro Chassis to Run in the 3.90s

- 00:14:03 - Handling 12,000 HP & 6G Acceleration Forces

- 00:17:43 - Extreme Visibility Challenges Inside a Funny Car Cockpit

- 00:22:41 - Near Misses & Parachute Failures at 300 MPH

- 00:31:28 - US Nationals Thursday Night Fan Event in Indy

- 00:33:53 - Lali Michelsen Joins The Pits Are Open

- 00:35:18 - Pato O'Ward's Double Victory & Fan X-Factor

- 00:41:34 - Inside McLaren Hospitality & F1 Industry Interest

- 00:45:32 - The Ultimate Debate: Is Alex Palou an IndyCar GOAT?

- 00:51:03 - Business of Speed Updates & Final Race Predictions

Sponsor & Social Links:

- Schaeffer Manufacturing: https://www.schaefferoil.com

- SpeedSport: https://www.speedsport.com

- America’s Christian Credit Union: https://www.americaschristiancu.com/pits

- SVS Insiders: https://www.svsinsiders.com

- Show Website: https://thepitsareopen.com

#IndyCar #NHRA #DragRacing #ChrisKing #LaliMichelsen #AlexPalou #PatoOWard #MilwaukeeMile #Motorsports #ThePitsAreOpen #BusinessOfSpeed #SpeedSport #NitroFunnyCar

Host Will Marotti breaks down the historic Freedom 250 in Washington DC, an iconic street course event that brought the unmistakable electricity and feel of the Indy 500 to the nation capital. Brought to life by Penske Entertainment, Fox, and the US Department of Transportation, the race delivered high-stakes drama, bold moves on the track, and a massive operational triumph for IndyCar.

Beyond the track action, this episode dives deep into the business of racing, perseverance, and career acceleration. Our guests reveal what it takes to overcome life-altering injuries, transition from driving to championship team ownership, leverage cutting-edge driving technology, and bridge the gap between short-track late models and high-downforce open-wheel machinery.

Our Guests Today:

- Sam Schmidt: Former IndyCar driver, team owner, and co-founder of Conquer Paralysis Now. After a career-ending crash in 2000 left him a quadriplegic, Sam built a decorated legacy in motorsports, winning seven Indy NXT championships, pioneering semi-autonomous driving technology with Arrow Electronics, and inspiring thousands through his bestselling book, No Finish Line.

- Kaeden Ballos: A fourth-generation stock car driver from Concord, North Carolina competing in the zMAX CARS Tour. Balancing deep family racing heritage with rigorous physical and cognitive training at PitFit, Kaeden is actively expanding his racing portfolio from late models to testing Ligier Formula 3 open-wheel cars with Havoc Motorsport.

Inside This Episode:

- 00:00:24 - Freedom 250 Washington DC Street Course Recap

- 00:03:14 - Sam Schmidt on Family Roots, Off-Road Origins & Rick Mears

- 00:06:37 - Overcoming Tragedy: How Sam's Father Inspired His Perseverance

- 00:11:43 - The 2000 Disney Testing Crash & The Rehabilitation Journey

- 00:15:42 - Mindset & Accountability: Overcoming Physical Limitations

- 00:21:43 - Arrow Electronics Tech & Dancing at His Daughter's Wedding

- 00:25:33 - Faith, Purpose & Building a 7-Time Championship Team

- 00:32:02 - Host Will Marotti Reflects on Sam Schmidt's Impact

- 00:34:44 - Kaeden Ballos on 4th Generation Racing Heritage & CARS Tour

- 00:37:29 - Late Models vs. Open-Wheel: Testing the Ligier F3 Car

- 00:41:25 - SVS Insiders & Modernizing Motorsports Career Funding

- 00:44:44 - Short-Track Mentality, Historic Nashville Fairgrounds & What's Next

Sponsor & Social Blocks:

Schaeffer Manufacturing: https://www.schaefferoil.com

SpeedSport: https://www.speedsport.com

America’s Christian Credit Union: https://www.americaschristiancu.com/pits

Website: https://www.pitsareopen.com

Weekly Newsletter: https://www.pitsareopen.com

Hashtags:

#IndyCar #Freedom250 #SamSchmidt #NoFinishLine #CARSTour #KaedenBallos #Motorsports #ThePitsAreOpen #SpeedSport #OpenWheel #RacingBusiness #PitFit #Formula3 #LateModel #SVSInsiders

Host Will Marotti dives deep into the high-stakes world of motorsports, starting with the long-awaited unveiling of the new IndyCar IR-28 chassis at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. From initial driver reactions to the sleek aerodynamic updates, safety enhancements, and roomier cockpits, the series is taking a bold step into the future while replacing the iconic DW12. Will also highlights the business side of racing, sharing massive engagement metrics from the show newsletter, discussing new ladder initiatives like the American Formula Series, and breaking down the capital challenges drivers face when making the jump from karting to cars.

Joining the broadcast are two incredible figures in the paddock representing different stages of motorsport careers. First, young journalist and kart racer Asher Farris stops by to share how he started interviewing racing legends at six years old, how he is working to rebuild his YouTube presence after a recent hack, and his aggressive push to transition up the open-wheel ladder. Then, Havoc Motorsports GM John Harkenrider joins to provide an update on his team recovery following a devastating shop fire, the outpouring of support from the racing community, and their work as the official dealer introducing the new Ligier JS F326 to North America.

Our Guests Today

- Asher Farris: One of the youngest journalists in the IndyCar paddock, Asher has been interviewing motorsports icons since 2019 while building a competitive kart racing career across KA100 Junior and LO206 Junior classes.

- John Harkenrider: General Manager of Havoc Motorsports, John brings deep expertise in driver development, open-wheel preparation, and team management as he leads Havoc recovery from a major shop fire and oversees their partnership as an official Ligier reseller.

Inside This Episode

- 00:00 - Introduction and IndyCar IR-28 Unveiling at IMS

- 04:04 - Episode Overview: Asher Farris and John Harkenrider

- 05:22 - History of the DW12 Chassis and IR-28 Safety Upgrades

- 07:12 - IndyCar Drivers React: Rossi, Ericsson, Power, Kanaan, and Palou

- 09:47 - Sponsor: SVS Insiders

- 10:42 - Interview: Asher Farris on Media Career & YouTube Channel Rebuild

- 17:52 - Asher Farris on Karting, Sim Racing, and Moving Up the Ladder

- 20:33 - Sponsor: America's Christian Credit Union

- 21:32 - SVS Insiders, American Formula Series, and Asher's Racing Future

- 30:32 - Sponsor: Schaeffer Manufacturing

- 31:05 - Interview: John Harkenrider on Havoc Motorsports Fire Recovery

- 35:48 - Ligier Partnership, JS F326 Delivery, and F3 Development

- 39:43 - Sponsor: Redline Ace

- 41:03 - Bringing the New Ligier to SCCA FA & Lowering Costs for Young Drivers

- 49:55 - Host Wrap-Up and How to Support the Guests

Sponsor & Social Links

- SVS Insiders: https://svsinsiders.com

- America's Christian Credit Union: https://americaschristiancu.com/pits

- Schaeffer Manufacturing: https://schaefferoil.com

- Redline Ace: https://redlineace.com

- SPEED SPORT 1: https://speedsport1.com

- Show Website: https://thepitsareopen.com

#IndyCar #IR28 #DW12 #MotorsportBusiness #HavocMotorsports #LigierJSF326 #Karting #OpenWheel #SVSInsiders #ThePitsAreOpen #WillMarotti #SPEEDSPORT #FormulaRacing #SimToReal

In this packed episode of The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti breaks down the major business moves transforming motorsports. From the landmark $12 million to $13 million IndyCar charter sale that is reshaping entry into the sport to the ongoing debate over the future of NASCAR racing at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway Brickyard 400, Will delivers the unfiltered truth on where modern racing is headed.

Beyond the headlines, we dive into the rich history and practical realities of running race teams and preserving legendary tracks. Our guests share personal insights on everything from the grit required to operate independent prep shops to the grassroots movement fighting to save historic venues like the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.

Our Guests Today

Lee Anne Patterson

Lee Anne Patterson is a trailblazing motorsports executive with decades of experience spanning team ownership, series management, and public relations. Throughout her career, she managed prep shops running in IndyCar, Indy Lights, and Formula Atlantic, notably helping guide Sam Schmidt into IndyCar. Hired by Carroll Shelby as Series Director for the Dodge Shelby Pro Series, Lee Anne has done it all in racing and is also the author of the children's book The Trouble with Howard.

Greg Goodman

Greg Goodman is a lifelong racing enthusiast and national mortgage executive whose roots run deep in NASCAR history. His father, Benny Goodman, partnered with Bill France Sr. to build over a dozen race tracks across the South, including the historic Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. Today, Greg pilots Mario Andretti's former race car in Vintage Indy events and is actively working to preserve local short tracks for future generations.

Inside This Episode

00:00:28 - Welcome & How to Subscribe to The Pits Are Open

00:02:21 - IndyCar Charter Analysis: Dreyer Reinbold Purchase & Grid Expansion

00:08:32 - Brickyard 400 Review & NASCAR's Future at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

00:12:03 - Lee Anne Patterson: Breaking Into Motorsports at Sears Point

00:14:12 - Working with Carroll Shelby & Dodge Shelby Pro Series History

00:16:01 - Running an IndyCar Prep Shop & Guiding Sam Schmidt

00:23:40 - The Business of Racing & Grassroots Sponsorship Marketing

00:27:37 - The Trouble with Howard: Children's Book & Historic Skunk Story

00:32:27 - Greg Goodman: Owning & Driving Mario Andretti's Vintage IndyCar

00:41:13 - Benny Goodman, Bill France Sr. & The Golden Era of NASCAR Track Building

00:46:07 - Fighting to Save Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway & Short Track Racing

Sponsor & Social Blocks

This episode is brought to you by:

- Schaeffer Oil: https://www.schaefferoil.com

- SpeedSport: https://www.speedsport.com

- America’s Christian Credit Union: https://www.americaschristiancu.com/pits

- SVS Insiders: https://www.svsinsiders.com

- Redline Ace: https://www.redlineace.com

Connect with The Pits Are Open:

- Website: https://www.thepitsareopen.com

- Subscribe on YouTube & Spotify!

#IndyCar #NASCAR #Motorsports #ThePitsAreOpen #WillMarotti #VintageIndy #SearsPoint #Brickyard400 #NashvilleFairgrounds #CarRacing

The Will Marotti Show Episode 112 | December 10, 2024

Chris Powell weighs in on the United Healthcare murderer is caught, murders in CT increasing, the real reason for the education gap, and how the church could do a better job fixing family issues

OUR GUESTS

Chris: ChrisPowellColumn.com

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twitter.com/willmarotti

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The Will Marotti Show Episode 111 | December 9, 2024

Steve Bucci joins us to talk about Trump's clear message to Hamas, the Middle East falling apart, and where America stands on the remaining tension in the area.

OUR GUESTS

Steve: heritage.org/staff/steven-bucci

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Our Channels...

rumble.com/c/c-6594085

facebook.com/willmarotti

instagram.com/willmarotti/?hl=en

twitter.com/willmarotti

youtube.com/channel/UCQyJFuWCmXUufzmPOL_22hg

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podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-will-marotti-show/id1751300831

The Will Marotti Show Episode 110 | December 5, 2024

Reese is on the PODCAST talking about how they got their start on radio, the United Healthcare CEO murder and possible motives, Trump vs Biden administration, and the the broken justice system: of course Biden pardoned his son!

OUR GUESTS

Reese: ReeseOnTheRadio.com

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Our Channels...

rumble.com/c/c-6594085

facebook.com/willmarotti

instagram.com/willmarotti/?hl=en

twitter.com/willmarotti

youtube.com/channel/UCQyJFuWCmXUufzmPOL_22hg

open.spotify.com/show/4OyeMv81XsOoFOkqpDxUmt

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-will-marotti-show/id1751300831