Victory Lane

Dawson Cram is the latest in a long line of racers, and he joins Davey on the podcast this week to dive into his season to date, career in racing and much more. Fresh off missing the show at COTA, Cram details what went wrong and why and touches on the uphill climb that small teams face in today’s landscape of NASCAR.

Marcus Lemonis has helped the Camping World Truck Series immensely this season, but Cram and his No. 41 team may have benefitted more than anybody, as the truck adorns Camping World, Good Sam and Overton’s almost every single week. Cram explains why Lemonis’ gratitude and financial assistance has helped him and his team immensely, and provides his thoughts on the Sheldon Creed Twitter exchange with Lemonis, looking at it from both perspectives.

As is par for the course, Cram began his racing career at the age of five in mini dwarf cars (he explains what those are) before moving from California to North Carolina to pursue his racing dream further. He recalls his memorable Truck debut that included white knuckles, snow postponements and hitting a pit crew member. They also discuss how his national series career grew from there, including his work with JD Motorsports alongside his driving duties. Plus, his family lineage in racing, who he leans on in the garage for advice and a little about who Dawson is away from the race track.

Davey provides his thoughts on the wet and wild race weekend at COTA, briefly previews the longest race of the year at Charlotte and Papa Segal gives an ode to the No. 09.

At only 18-years-old, Carson Hocevar has already torn up the short track scene and is making a name for himself in NASCAR. He joins Davey this week (12:50) to discuss his career behind the wheel, starting in Michigan at Berlin Raceway, and why NASCAR had to make a rule change to combat him winning as a 13-year-old. NASCAR champion Johnny Benson has mentored Hocevar over the years, and Carson explains how Johnny’s help has been instrumental to his growth in stock cars.

Hocevar details his journey to where he is now: full-time with Niece Motorsports, why he lost some confidence in his time running ARCA, how he regained it and why he’s just now hitting his stride with Niece in the Truck Series. Injuries haven’t stopped Hocevar in his young career, either, as he recalls breaking his wrist in a wreck but finishing the race one handed. Plus, how he powered through the end of a Truck race with heat exhaustion.

Despite not being known for dirt racing, the late Bryan Clauson had a profound impact on him. He explains why that is, how the information afforded to him in NASCAR is good to have, yet overwhelming at times and which races are left on his bucket list to win across the country.

Davey also recaps Hendrick Motorsports’ dominance at Dover and Alex Bowman’s second victory of the season, previews NASCAR’s inaugural weekend at COTA in Texas and more.

Life as a Truck Series driver/owner for a small, family-run, underfunded team isn't anything like the glitz and glamor of NASCAR racing, but for Cory Roper, it's been more than enough. The Texan joins Davey this week (15:45) to discuss why he decided to get into NASCAR racing, the chance encounters that led to his involvement ramping up, how his construction company factors into the equation and how Roper Racing Team's first event was a memorable (and snowy) one at Martinsville.

Roper explains how gaining experience has been a key as a driver, why not practicing is good for an owner but disadvantageous from the driver's perspective, what good runs do financially and morale wise for a small team, and what bad runs/wrecks do and more. Plus, he breaks down his third-place finish at Daytona this year, what bringing Chase Briscoe into the fold has meant to the team and reveals what his family thinks of him pursuing his passion on a grander scale.

Davey breaks down Martin Truex Jr.'s dominant win at Darlington and speaks on why performances like that should be appreciated rather than ridiculed. He also gives his thoughts on the 750 horsepower package, previews Dover and Papa Segal pays homage to Coo Coo Marlin.

Like many, he’s experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows in racing. But Jeremy Clements story is about as unique as it gets. From almost losing a body part as a teenager inside the race car to scoring his Xfinity Series win at Road America, Clements has gone through the ringer in his career, and joins Davey this week (18:30) to discuss it all.

They discuss the horrific injury he suffered and the recovery that followed, including visiting Victory Lane in an ARCA race only three years later. His time in the Xfinity Series dates back to the early 2000s, allowing him to race at iconic venues such as Pikes Peak, IRP and in Montreal. Clements reflects on being in the series for over a decade and the road to where he is now.

He also relives his Road America victory in 2017 and reflects on why that weekend was so special for him and his team. The No. 51 team is off to an incredible start in 2021, sitting firmly inside the top 10 in points ahead of countless powerhouse organizations. Clements explains the reason for the uptick in performance and why the key is staying up there consistently. Plus, his iconic Darlington Throwback honoring Dale Jarrett, life as the husband of a full-time fashion blogger/social media influencer and whether or not JCR will go Cup racing in the future.

Davey recaps Kyle Busch’s win in the Buschy McBusch Race (yes, really) and gives his thoughts on the tire debacle and NextGen car being unveiled this week. He also previews Darlington Throwback weekend and Papa Segal provides an ode to a late legend.

Matt Mills joins Davey this week (15:20) ahead of his Cup Series debut at Kansas. He explains how the opportunity with BJ McLeod Motorsports came about after running Xfinity for the organization the past couple years and the approval process given the drama surrounding it the past couple weeks. Mills also describes why his results in NASCAR don’t tell the full story while driving for an underfunded team.

After starting racing motorcycles as a kid, Mills transitioned to stock cars at age 12, but skipped ARCA/K&N before making his national series debut, choosing to focus on late models instead. He details his debut at Bristol of all places, driving for multiple smaller teams and the struggles that come along with it, mentorship from team owner BJ McLeod, his passions away from the track (including a Star Wars obsession) and why starting the Cup race this weekend will mean his childhood dream has been achieved.

Davey also recaps Brad Keselowski’s sixth career win at Talladega, Joey Logano’s comments on the superspeedway rules package, Jeb Burton’s emotional Xfinity win and more.

Toni Breidinger has and continues to be a trailblazer in motorsports. Being the first female Arab-American in NASCAR and winningest female in USAC history, Breidinger doesn’t pay too much attention to her historic achievements, but rather is focused on the here and now of making it in NASCAR. She joins Davey this week (14:45) to discuss her upbringing in California and getting started go-karting with her twin sister and father. She also recalls how breaking her arm in a crash at a young age didn’t deter her from pursuing her passion.

Breidinger details what being the first female Arab-American driver means to her personally, and why she was surprised that nobody came before her. She also explains how being a woman in racing doesn’t occupy her mind as much as it does others as well as her catchphrase: “the car doesn’t know gender.”

Hear the coincidental story of how she got the opportunity with Young’s Motorsports, and why she didn’t expect to be moving up the ranks this quickly. She dives into her racing career on pavement (and a little dirt), the learning process she’s going through and how the pandemic provided her unforeseen opportunities on track.

Plus, Breidinger’s appearances on The TODAY Show, The Ellen Show and others have introduced her to a national audience. Hear how Breidinger has navigated being in the national spotlight recently, how she deals with haters thinking she’s not truly a racer. How does she utilize social media (where she has over a combined 1 million followers) to her benefit? She explains, along with her experiences modeling and that leading to sponsorship on track, her struggles while moving to Charlotte and her pet bunny named Fetty Hop.

Davey recaps Alex Bowman’s win at Richmond and questions what’s happened to the Virginia short track in recent years. He also briefly previews Talladega and Papa Segal gives an ode to a 93-year-old who stays young behind the wheel.

Stefan Parsons has already made a name for himself and is continuing to do so with BJ McLeod Motorsports in the Xfinity Series this season. The latest in line of Parsons to get behind a steering wheel, the 22-year-old joins Davey this week (17:45) to discuss his start in the sport, and how David Ragan’s father, Ken, was influential in him beginning at Charlotte in bandoleros as a youngster. He also explains why starting racing at 12-years-old, relatively late compared to others, was actually a good thing in the long run.

Parsons dives into his father Phil’s career and how it’s impacted how he’s helped Stefan in his ascension up the racing ranks, his memories of Phil Parsons Racing in the mid-late 2000s, the cool moment of doing a prerace segment for FOX before his Truck Series debut and more. He also reflects on his uncle Benny’s induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame and why it meant so much for the Parsons family.

Stefan also describes the help those in the sport gave him over the years, most notably Carl Edwards, how his Dogecoin sponsorship (to the moon!) this year came full circle and why getting a college degree was important to him. Plus, his love of the Detroit Red Wings and golf, his friendship with Cup Series driver William Byron and more, including goals for this season in the No. 99 car for BJ McLeod Motorsports.

Davey also touches on Martin Truex Jr.’s short track dominance after yet another Martinsville win, explains why Josh Berry stole the weekend by giving hope to hundreds of racers across the country and previews Richmond Raceway.

Kelly Crandall joins Davey this week (8:30) to discuss and reflect on her impressive motorsports journalism career to date, which includes not one but two NMPA Writer of the Year awards. The industry veteran recalls hilarious (and horrific) stories from covering the NASCAR beat on the road over the years, and whether or not it feels like she’s been covering the sport full-time for almost a decade.

The 2001 Pepsi 400 at Daytona had Crandall hooked, and she was racing obsessed from there on out. Getting started writing whatever, wherever and however, she incrementally gained reps and parlayed that into an opportunity to lead Popular Speed’s coverage. After quitting her day job at home, she decided to make the move to Charlotte to pursue a full-time career in the sport, where she received a plethora of help from others in hopes of making it. She explains some tumultuous times while grinding to make it, and why she’s trying to pay it forward today.

Hear why she “was gonna throw up” when she realized she’d become the Writer of the Year and her reflection on the hard work that it took to get to that moment. She now spearheads Racer's NASCAR coverage and is loving every minute of it. Crandall discusses the creativity that is allowed in her current role and why it’s refreshing given her past. Plus, how she’s navigated being a female in a male dominated industry, if having a significant other in racing makes things easier and her love of WWE and Schitt’s Creek.

Papa Segal gives an ode to a Hall of Famer you probably didn’t know piloted the No. 02 car and Davey previews the action from Martinsville Speedway.

Amber Balcean made history, becoming the first Canadian female to win a NASCAR sanctioned race in the United States. But she’s now setting her sights on bigger and better things in the motorsports world. She joins Davey this week (17:00) to explain why joining the BMR Drivers Academy was the perfect opportunity for a driver like her and why racing has always been a constant in her life as a third generation driver.

She recalls her historic win at Motor Mile in 2016 and the celebratory reception that her hometown of Winnipeg gave her in the aftermath. But the lack of sponsors that followed were the realization that funding would be the biggest hurdle to overcome throughout this journey and she was going to have to grind for it. Balcean also describes the harrowing crash she was involved in at Valley Speedway, which left her with a severe concussion, burns and a collapsed lung. She dives into her two-month recovery and whether or not she had doubts of returning to racing post-recovery and more.

Some may recognize Balcean’s name from the reality show “Racing Wives” that ran a couple years ago. Davey gets to the bottom of what was real and what was fabricated on the show, and Balcean expresses frustration at her portrayal on the show, but also explains why taking the opportunity to be a part of it was a no brainer for multiple reasons.

Plus, Davey recaps the Bristol Dirt race, what was done well and what can be improved for the event next year.

The often imitated, never duplicated and distinguished motorsports journalist Jeff Gluck is the highly awaited guest for landmark Episode 100 of the podcast. Davey Segal chats with one of his biggest mentors and names in NASCAR about his illustrious career spanning multiple decades.

Growing up out West, Gluck details his upbringing (including being classmates with team owner Justin Marks) and how coming East to study journalism at Delaware kicked the next chapter of his life into high gear. After attending his first NASCAR race at Rockingham Speedway, he was hooked. From that point forward, he began covering the sport “on the side” any way he could while a high school preps reporter, which led to his upward trajectory.

Gluck recalls the hilarious way he got introduced to “NASCAR Scene,” which became his employer for some of the best years of his life. The glitz, glamor and glory of the sport in its heyday was stuff of legend, and Gluck shares some stories about NASCAR at its peak in the mid/late 2000s...before it all came crashing down and he was jobless.

From SB Nation, to USA Today, to starting his own website and everything in between, Gluck dives into each stop of his professional career along the way and what came along with them, including a time when Brian France and countless drivers were rather displeased with one of his articles and made sure to let him know.

Moving back out West to start a family could have come at the expense of his career, but it didn’t, much in part thanks to his patrons. Gluck gets real about how they literally changed his life, and why it made leaving for The Athletic such a tough decision. But he’s loving it, and tells Davey why this is the last job he’ll take in motorsports journalism. The two share laughs, stories and some heartfelt messages in what truly is an extravaganza of a 100th episode.

And as always, Papa Segal gives an ode to a lesser-known driver of the No. 0, and Davey reflects on reaching the 100th episode of the podcast.