Victory Lane

Another week, another member of Bills Mafia on the pod! Alan Cavanna joins Davey (4:30) for an off-season chat with a lot of laughs. Growing up in New England racing against the likes of Joey Logano, Ryan Preece, Doug Coby and more, Cavanna details why his racing career never took off, despite a championship and over 100 trophies.

Cavanna tells the story of how he and his wife, CNN correspondent Dianne Gallagher, met in a courtroom, with a computer, and a friend request. Years later, they’re happily married and finally living together for the first time in Charlotte. A proud Syracuse graduate, he recalls his time on campus for the 2000 national championship run, and how learning the tricks of the trade in journalism during his college years shaped him professionally upon graduating.

Amid the infamous Jeremy Mayfield suspension saga, Cavanna was the first (and only) person to speak with Mayfield, and the backstory on how their conversation came to be is truly remarkable. Plus, some incredibly hilarious (and true!) stories of his time in local news, including a dead dog named shithead, a “creepy masturbator” and much, much more. Patrolling Truck Series pit road this past year for NASCAR on FOX was a challenge, yet rewarding and full of moments. The two discuss being on hand for those, and how Cavanna’s creativity, coupled with his background in news, have aided in his execution of unique content throughout his accomplished career.

As one of the up-and-coming NASCAR media members, Dustin Albino is onto his next opportunity at Jayski for 2021. But getting to this point has been a journey filled with trials, tribulations, blood, sweat and tears. Davey and Dustin chat (8:15) about growing up in in New York and why an introduction from his grandmother to Bobby Labonte’s green No. 18 car sparked his interest and love for NASCAR.

The two have worked at multiple motorsports blogs together, including Frontstretch for the better part of the last five years. Albino describes the learning experiences while being at the track while credentialed, including cultivating relationships, breaking stories (including freaking out to Davey before doing so), reliving “The Gauldashian” saga that put him on that map and leaning on mentors throughout the process. They also get real about the grind that is trying to make it in the industry, and why achieving success in this media landscape makes the work all the more rewarding.

Plus, his love for WWE, proposing to Nikki Bella, basking in the glory of the Buffalo Bills finally being good, that time when Clint Bowyer offered to pay for his travel expenses, the “Dustin Special” and more.

Papa Segal also gives an ode to one of the most famed numbers in NASCAR (and his heart): the 88.

These two go way back, and boy do they have some stories to tell. Davey welcomes on Camping World Truck Series driver Derek Kraus (6:00) for a wide-ranging off-season chat, with multiple appearances from the entire Kraus family (and his girlfriend Stephanie). Fresh off his best ever finish in the Snowball Derby, Kraus details why the enormous super late model event carries the weight it does, and how the winner (and his roommate) Ty Majeski put the iconic trophy in some questionable places. Plus, after officially announcing his 2021 plans, what are his realistic expectations in year two?

Kraus relives his dominant K&N Pro Series days, including his initial test with Bill McAnally Racing at Kern County at the age of 15-years-old, his first win a year later at the same track and the interaction he had with Kevin Harvick after the two made contact at, you guessed it, Kern. Plus, his perspective on the infamous Hailie Deegan dump in Colorado, including the aftermath immediately and weeks after, and his championship celebration (once he got the bottles popping) at Phoenix.

The two chat about Wisconsin producing a ridiculous amount of racing talent, his time at the Slinger Nationals, his rookie season in the Truck Series, adjusting to showing up with no practice and racing, his connection with other NAPA drivers, missing out on typical teenage activities in favor of racing, food preferences, his Jack’s Pizza obsession, his fear of heights, his love of wrestling, his theory about Danica Patrick’s significant others and so, so, SO much more. A can't miss conversation that's one for the ages.

She’s been breaking barriers for the better part of two decades, and 2021 will be no different for Jamie Little. The FOX Sports reporter joins Davey (12:05) to discuss her career in racing, including how she got started in the industry and how being bold and brave led to her first professional opportunity in Supercross. As they say, the rest is history.

From covering her first Indianapolis 500 for ESPN (and becoming the first female to do so) to paving the path for a plethora of other females in motorsports, Little hasn’t had much time to reflect on her accomplishments. But she does exactly that in this conversation while remaining humble and knowing there’s more left to do. Being named the first woman to call television play-by-play for a national racing series (ARCA) for the 2021 season comes with a unique set of challenges, in addition to learning a new skillset. Little details those, and explains why the timing was right to make this move.

Little dives into how she’s been able to do her job flying solo due to COVID, with the aid of many group chats and people in her ear. Plus, that time when she beat Truck Series legend Mike Skinner in a Toyota Pro/Celebrity race and proved Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick wrong.

Also, in this week’s Wayback segment, Papa Segal pays homage to a frequent visitor of the show (if you know, you know) and it went about as weirdly as you’d expect.

Gracie Trotter became the first female to ever win an ARCA sanctioned event earlier this season, but there’s much more that meets the eye with this third generation racer. Trotter joins Davey (7:40) to discuss her upbringing in racing, including her father’s journey to North Carolina from Texas at age 21 and working on his go-kart in his mother’s living room. She recalls an evening at the track where being the trophy girl wound up sparking her interest in driving instead, as well as when her father spun his seven-year-old daughter out while karting.

Trotter was selected as a part of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity class in 2019 and just finished up another season competing for Rev Racing in late models, as well as her rookie campaign with Bill McAnally Racing in the ARCA Menards Series West. Her victory at The Bullring in Las Vegas was historic, and came in the same month as her late model victory at Hickory. Trotter details the two wins, and why sharing the Victory Lane experienced with her father meant the world to them both. Plus, the trials and tribulations of being a female in racing, life as a Toyota development driver, her love of Whataburger and reminiscing on when she couldn’t test a car because she was too short to reach the pedals (yes, really).

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David Ragan makes a return appearance to the program (7:50) to give us an update on how retired life is treating him and his family. But he hasn’t slowed down completely, earning his best career Daytona 500 finish earlier this season and hopping behind the wheel of a DGR-Crosley Truck twice. Plus, he gives us a sneak peek into what his role with Ford Performance is and will be next year to help with the development of the NextGen car. Ragan reminisces on his time at Roush Racing, why it wasn’t the best of times, being hand-picked by Mark Martin to replace the Hall of Fame driver and why, looking back on it, he was so stupid on and off track.

He also details how he came to be the replacement driver for Kyle Busch in 2015 at Joe Gibbs Racing and whether or not his results in the No. 18 were characteristic of how they performed. After finishing out the year at Michael Waltrip Racing, Ragan made a stop at BK Racing before landing at Front Row Motorsports for the second and final time, where he finished out his full-time Cup career in 2019. Topics also include participating in the “Driver X” program, his father Ken playing an integral part in his career, his thoughts on the topsy-turvy 2020 NASCAR season and more.

Not many 15-year-olds are champions in any major racing series, but Jesse Love can call himself one—the youngest in ARCA Menards Series West history at that. The wise beyond his years Menlo Park, California kid joins Davey this week to discuss his dominant 2020 season that saw him win three times and lead the series in virtually every statistical category. Hear why Love believed he was the favorite to win the title before the season even started with Bill McAnally Racing, and why he fell short of preseason expectations for himself despite being crowned champion.

Plus, the two dive deep into his racing upbringing (including the influence from Jeff Gordon and John Bickford), his time spent on dirt with Keith Kunz Motorsports and their incredible stable of talent, why he was always eyeing stock car racing, having the support of Toyota through his development and a speak peek of what he’ll be doing in 2021.

Fresh off the 2020 ARCA Menards Series championship, Bret Holmes joins Davey this week (6:50) for an all-encompassing chat. For a small, family-run team, a series title is beyond belief. In fact, Holmes and company weren’t planning on running a full-time schedule this season. But when their plans changed, so did their expectations, performance and results. Holmes delves into what the turning point in his season was and how he celebrated the title at Kansas. His father has been integral in his racing development. Holmes details sharing the title with him, as well as crew chief Shane Huffman, and why the people associated with his team mean so much to him personally.

From Munford, Alabama, Holmes grew up racing on the Talladega Short Track (and eventually broke his father’s track record). His upbringing included competing against NASCAR Hall of Famer Red Farmer, who he developed a familial relationship with. But as time went on, the realistic aspects of racing caught up with him. Holmes explains how he overcame mental hurdles amid a winless drought to come out better on and off track. Plus, Holmes is closing on in his degree from Auburn University, and recalls the decision making process of attending college, being at the famous “Kick Six” game and more. Plus, his 2021 plans are beginning to take shape, with the potential for a move to the Truck Series appearing imminent. And did you know his name actually isn’t Bret?

And with that, the 2020 NASCAR season is over. But not before Chase Elliott etched his name into the history books, earning his first career Cup Series championship at the ripe age of 24. Davey details how Elliott grabbed the victory, got over the hump with some help from crew chief Alan Gustafson and the proverbial passing of the torch at Hendrick Motorsports from the retiring GOAT, Jimmie Johnson, to Elliott.

Davey also gives the Xfinity and Truck Series champions Austin Cindric and Sheldon Creed their due, and details how each earned their titles with similar pit strategies at the end of the race. Plus, a team owner wins for the first time since 2012, Bill McAnally Racing keeps on dominating, Brett Moffitt is big mad and an ode to "Herman the German" from Papa Segal.

After becoming the youngest ever NHRA champion, Tanner Gray decided to switch things up. The third generation racer joins Davey (26:45) to discuss his move to circle track racing and stock cars, including why his mind was made up before his championship season, the reason he was so dead set on it for years, whether or not his family legacy in NHRA put any pressure on him and a funny story of the first time he strapped into a dragster. Gray also details growing up in New Mexico, where racing wasn’t very popular, and devoting his focus to baseball, not being so hard on himself and why he wasn’t totally able to enjoy his first K&N Pro Series win at South Boston.

The two also chat about a few other memorable moments in his K&N tenure, being a part of the Ford Development Program, the competition difference from K&N to ARCA to Trucks, driving for David Gilliland and working with championship crew chief Shane Wilson in his first full-time season in the Truck Series. Plus, his love of golf (and how good he really is), his dog, Leo, a potential nickname and a hysterical story of when his brother, Taylor, strangled him at the go-kart track.

Davey recaps the mayhem from Martinsville, which saw Kevin Harvick's shocking elimination from the playoffs while Chase Elliott's clutch performance earned him a Championship 4 spot. Is there a problem with this format? He gives his take. Plus, a complete preview of the title deciding weekend in Phoenix for all three national series.