Victory Lane

Champion crew chief Rodney Childers joins Davey Segal (6:25) on the heels of the sentimental weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where he gave the command to fire engines. He details the moment with his family, why he didn’t have an Adam Sandler moment, gathering members from the 2014 championship team to reminisce, take photos and the No. 4 team’s up and down race on Sunday.

Childers also discusses his desire to give Kevin Harvick one more win in his final season, why their partnership has worked so well for so long, how 2024 preparations are coming along with his soon-to-be driver Josh Berry and recently eclipsing the 600 starts mark as a shot caller in the Cup Series.

Plus, his work with Layne Riggs and KHI Management on the late model side of things, why Michael Jordan’s continued presence at the track is beyond cool, what he thinks about the current landscape of the sport and more, including a fun story about Davey’s experience watching the No. 4 team win the 2014 championship.

Davey also discusses Christopher Bell’s clutch win at Homestead to vault himself into the Championship 4, the trouble for other JGR drivers, previews Martinsville and Papa Segal pays homage to another NASCAR Hall of Famer.

Lauren Edwards of Reine Digital and Consulting joins Davey Segal this week (5:30) to discuss her unique role in the racing industry behind the scenes and how she's built a company that's vital to many drivers and brands on a daily basis.

Edwards recalls the origin of Reine Digital, stemming from a call from a gondola in Colorado from Jimmie Johnson, and why pushing her outside her comfort zone was a blessing in disguise. Edwards explains how she built her company from the ground up, why she never aspired to be a business owner or work in NASCAR, how she initially got involved in the industry with Hall of Fame Racing, the Sprint program and eventually developing a social presence for Jimmie Johnson at the early onset of social media.

Plus, Edwards shares which social campaign she's most proud of, what the future of Reine may look like (inside and outside of motorsports), the importance of empowering women in a male dominated industry and more.

Davey also discusses Kyle Larson's Las Vegas win, Ryan Blaney's rescinded disqualification, the 4EVER 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway and more. Plus, Papa Segal pays homage to Speedy Thompson.

2023 ARCA Menards Series East champion and Joe Gibbs Racing development driver William Sawalich joins Davey Segal (6:15) to discuss his wildly successful season to date, ending his ARCA season in Victory Lane at Toledo and how big of a change it's been to dip his toe into the Truck Series competition wise.

A first generation racer from Minnesota, Sawalich explains what sparked his interest in motorsports in the first place, the pride he takes in being a Minnesotan, how his schooling works while pursuing a career in racing and why he can't wait until he turns 18.

He also dishes on how he got hooked up with Toyota, JGR and TRICON Garage, his interesting nickname, the dynamic of his sister dating one of his future competitors, what it's like working with people significantly older than him, his 2024 (and 2025) plans in NASCAR's national series and more, including his outlook on some upcoming late model races to close out the calendar year.

Davey also discusses the Round of 12 finale at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, why AJ Allmendinger's win was so emotional, previews the Round of 8 and Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Papa Segal pays homage to Ralph Earnhardt.

You know him, you love him, and you wish you had his hair (at least I wish I do). The legendary Boris Said joins Davey Segal this week (7:30) ahead of his start for Hendrick Motorsports in the Xfinity Series at the Charlotte ROVAL. Said explains how the deal came together as an early Christmas present from Rick Hendrick, his time in the sport spanning multiple decades, how he's seen road course racing evolve and what he thinks the future of road course racing with stock cars looks like.

Said also explains why winning at the Nürburgring is one of his top career accomplishments, that famed day in 2010 at Montreal where he earned his first career NASCAR win, the close call at Daytona in 2006, how and why he got started relatively late in racing, and of course, his infamous spat with Greg Biffle at Watkins Glen.

Plus, what does he think realistic expectations are for the weekend? If things go well, will this be his last time ever racing in NASCAR? Does he still think Biffle is "the most unprofessional little scaredy cat" he's ever seen? Those answers and more lie in this conversation.

Davey also recaps Ryan Blaney's win at Talladega to advance him into the Round of 8, previews the ROVAL, shares some takes on the 2024 schedule and Papa Segal pays homage to Mark Donahue.

Crew Chief Dave Elenz joins Davey Segal (7:20) to discuss LEGACY Motor Club's recent uptick in speed, including the No. 43 teams run at Texas. They also discuss how Elenz is re-adjusting to life in the Cup Series, this time as a crew chief, why he waited purposefully for the Next Gen era, why the driver is more important than ever and how the relationship he has with driver Erik Jones works so well.

Elenz also reminisces on his early days growing up in Michigan, always surrounded by racing and eventually pursuing it as a career. After graduating from Clemson with an engineering degree, Elenz had stops at Jasper, MB2, Red Bull and Penske before landing at Hendrick Motorsports, where he won the 2013 Cup Series championship with Jimmie Johnson. Elenz explains why that achievement was beyond his wildest dreams and details the celebration (or lack thereof) afterwords.

Plus, who calls him David? What's it like to crew chief from the war room while suspended? How did his back-to-back Xfinity Series championships compare to his Cup title? And what are goals for the remainder of 2023 with LMC ahead of their manufacturer switch to Toyota?

Davey also recaps the Round of 12 opener at Texas, William Byron's triumph, Martin Truex Jr.'s struggles, previews Talladega and Papa Segal pays homage to the late NASCAR Hall of Famer Mike Stefanik.

LEGACY Motor Club's Joey Cohen joins Davey Segal (6:15) to discuss the teams recent surge of speed with Erik Jones and Carson Hocevar, the recent signing of John Hunter Nemechek and what he can bring to the team in 2024, the impending manufacturer switch to Toyota and how his day-to-day duties changed with his recent title change from Competition Director to VP of Operations.

Cohen also relives his racing days as a driver, recalls his college years in Charlotte being classmates with Cliff Daniels, Rudy Fugle and other successful crew chiefs, interning with Hendrick Motorsports, being an early adopter to simulation tools and analytics in NASCAR and explains what it's like answering to two 7-time champions in Jimmie Johnson and Richard Petty.

Plus, why he doesn't crew chief much anymore, what LEGACY's goals for the remainder of the season are, his side hustle(s) and why he may need a visit to the infield care center come Talladega weekend.

Davey also recaps the Round of 16 finale at Bristol, Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano being eliminated, Denny Hamlin's win and subsequent boos from the fans, previews Texas and Papa Segal pays homage to an Xfinity Series legend.

Fresh off their first ever playoff berth, Big Machine Racing crew chief Patrick Donahue joins Davey Segal (6:05) to discuss the relief of locking up a postseason spot after their impressive day at Kansas. He explains the satisfaction he's had with building the team from nothing, how he got hooked up with team owner Scott Borchetta in the first place, Parker Kligerman's growth as a driver this season, their technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing and more.

Donahue, who's been around the sport for over two decades, recalls his early stops at Hendrick Motorsports where he worked with a young Jeff Gordon and Ray Evernham, building other race teams from nothing to something, some stories from the infamous BK Racing days and more.

Plus, would he ever entertain a move back to the Cup Series as a crew chief? And how far does he think Big Machine Racing can realistically go in these playoffs?

Davey recaps Tyler Reddick's OT win at Kansas, Martin Truex Jr.'s struggles heading into the Round of 16 cutoff, previews Bristol and Papa Segal pays homage to the number 200 (albeit a week late).

We've made it: Episode 200 is HERE! And one of the biggest guests in podcast history joins Davey Segal (4:45) celebrate the landmark episode: Kyle Larson.

It's "Yung Money" like you've never heard before, as he discusses life on and off the racetrack, including whether he likes his nickname or not, his crew chief Cliff Daniels' competitive spirit (and is he actually a robot?), if he's ever gotten into a fight at the track and being a father of three.

Larson also recalls the first time he saw his wife, Kaitlyn, shotgun a beer, what's on his racing bucket list, how Indianapolis 500 preparations are coming along, the next race he really wants (or wanted...) to win, how he feels about being compared to racing legends and how he feels about bringing home Cup Series championship No. 2 in 2023.

Davey also reflects on 200 episodes of the pod and shares what lies ahead for the show.

Trackhouse Racing Director of Performance, Project 91 crew chief and Cup Series champion Darian Grubb joins Davey Segal (6:05) to discuss his all-encompassing role at the team and gearing up for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Grubb explains what his role entails on a daily basis, why he got back stop the pit box for Project 91, the unforgettable weekend in Chicago with Shane van Gisbergen and the feelings of visiting Victory Lane again as a crew chief.

Grubb also explains what makes Trackhouse different, what attracted him about the organization, what he's learned after stops along the way at Hendrick, SHR, JGR and more as well as working with Hall of Fame talent like Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin. He also relives the memorable 2011 season that saw him simultaneously lose his job and win a championship with Smoke over Carl Edwards.

Plus, what's the latest on SVG's move to NASCAR? Would he entertain a move back to full-time crew chiefing? How much satisfaction does he get from helping build a team brick by brick? The answers to those questions and more lie in this chat.

Davey also discusses Chris Buescher's Daytona win to close out the regular season, Ryan Preece's harrowing crash, the 16-driver Cup Series playoff field and the opener this weekend at Darlington. Papa Segal also pays homage to the No. 99 as we inch closer to a landmark episode.

Daytona International Speedway Track President Frank Kelleher joins Davey Segal (7:30) ahead of the stock car world descending on The World Center of Racing for the Cup Series regular season finale. The two discuss preparations for this weekend compared to February's Daytona 500, all the motorsports events the facility puts on throughout a calendar year and how Kelleher's role has changed dramatically since taking this position.

Kelleher also details his racing background as a WKA Karting champion, his humble roots in Scranton, Pennsylvania, racing with fellow NASCAR executives (including Ben Kennedy), why he's worked for one company and one company only over 20+ years in the sport, why he stays in a RV in the track campgrounds during big weekends, his impressive blazer collection, Wawa and Coke Zero Sugar intake and more.

Davey discusses the relatively straightforward race at Watkins Glen, previews Daytona and explains why NASCAR's new deal with Netflix is a big deal for all involved. Plus, Papa Segal pays homage to the sad end of legend LeeRoy Yarborough.