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Antonelli Rules Monaco, Newgarden Owns St. Louis & Hamlin Matches Busch

Antonelli Rules Monaco, Newgarden Owns St. Louis & Hamlin Matches Busch

SPEED with Harvick and Buxton Jun 09, 2026 63 min
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About this episode

Monaco’s weekend gets derailed by weather, but the hosts still dig into why the circuit feels like “an event” and how “Monaco is all about qualifying.” They break down Kimi Antonelli’s dominance—keeping pole, lapping George Russell, and handling red flags/restarts—while also discussing how penalties and team execution can swing outcomes. The show then pivots to IndyCar St. Louis, where Joseph Newgarden wins, and to NASCAR, including Denny Hamlin’s comeback and Hamlin tying Kyle Busch’s win mark. They wrap by previewing Le Mans 24 hours.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Person

Lance Stroll

"But luckily, Lance Stroll did Lance Stroll things and clattered into the barriers fairly close to the end, which brought out full course yellow."

Lance Stroll is a Formula 1 race car driver. Here, they’re saying he hit the barriers during the Monaco race, which is especially easy to do on a narrow track.

Term

full course yellow

"fairly close to the end, which brought out full course yellow. Then we got a red flag when Charlotte Claire bumps into the barriers."

A “full course yellow” is when the race is slowed down everywhere because of an incident. Drivers have to be careful and can’t race at full speed or try risky passes.

Term

red flag

"Then we got a red flag when Charlotte Claire bumps into the barriers. And what we got was a pretty exciting end to the race."

A “red flag” means the race is stopped. Something dangerous happened on track, so everyone has to slow down and wait for officials to clear it.

Person

Kimi Antonelli

"the level of Kimi Antonelli, this 19 year old phenom, five race wins in a row, the youngest winner in Monaco ever. Dude, he lapped George Russell."

Kimi Antonelli is a Formula 1 driver. The hosts are praising how he was extremely fast at Monaco—first in qualifying, then in the race—showing he could manage the car and the situation like a seasoned driver.

Person

George Russell

"Dude, he lapped George Russell. He left his teammate."

George Russell is another Formula 1 driver. When they say Antonelli lapped him, it means Antonelli was so fast he got a full lap ahead during the race.

Term

qualifying lap

"First of all, his qualifying lap on Saturday and Monaco is all about qualifying, right? It is it is take your skill, your guts, everything that you have about you create that one perfect lap to give yourself the best opportunity of winnings."

A “qualifying lap” is the timed lap drivers do to set their starting spot for the race. At Monaco, qualifying matters a lot because it’s hard to pass once the race starts.

Topic

Monaco qualifying and race control

"First of all, his qualifying lap on Saturday and Monaco is all about qualifying, right? ... And then on Sunday, just controlled it, pulled away from the field, drove with so much maturity and skill and calm."

They’re talking about why Monaco is won in qualifying and how a driver can then manage the race afterward. The point is that being fast once (qualifying) and then staying calm (race control) leads to big results.

Term

Formula One

"And I look back at, you know, when Max Verstappen broke into the sport or when [289.1s] Lewis Hamilton broke into the sport, even Michael Schumacher, when he came in,"

Formula One is the highest level of race car competition in the world. Drivers race very advanced, open-wheel cars on tracks around the globe. Teams and drivers earn points across the season to win championships.

Place

Barcelona

"And now everyone's saying, when Barcelona, George Russell's got Kim, [338.8s] he's got almost double the points that George Russell has at this stage of the season."

Barcelona here points to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, a common Formula One venue. It’s known for a mix of high-speed corners and heavy braking zones, which makes car balance and tire management important. Teams often use it as a benchmark for setup changes.

Term

penalty situation

"The one thing that sticks out to me was this whole penalty situation [347.3s] in the team dropping the ball. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah."

A penalty situation means the race officials decided someone broke a rule. The penalty can cost them position or time during the race. In F1, that can quickly change who finishes where.

Term

team cars

"So so when you see that and you see what like we expect George Russell [354.7s] to at least run second, right? [356.3s] Like he shouldn't see the gap in the team cars."

Team cars are the two cars from the same Formula One team. The team tries to coordinate strategy so both drivers can score well. If something goes wrong, like a penalty, it can affect how far apart the cars end up.

Term

yellow flag

"He had the penalty and they brought him in to make a pit stop under the yellow flag, right? So you have to come into your box, you stop for five seconds."

A yellow flag is a warning that something is wrong on the track. Cars have to slow down and drive carefully, and teams often time pit stops during this period because it can be safer and sometimes saves position.

Term

five second penalty

"So you have to come into your box, you stop for five seconds. Then the team can start work on the car... George thought that he would have taken his five second penalty by waiting behind Kimmy, but you can only serve it once you're in the box."

A five-second penalty is a punishment where the team has to stop the car for five seconds before it can continue. The timing matters a lot—if you don’t serve it correctly, you can get an additional penalty.

Term

double stacked

"Mercedes double stacked their drivers. So George is waiting for Kimmy to have his stop. Then he rolls in."

Double stacking is when a team brings two cars into the pits close together, one after the other. It can save time, but it also makes communication and timing more complicated.

Term

pit box

"And in Formula One, they have one pit box that serves both cars. They don't have individual pit stalls per car number as we see in in carp or as we see in Indy car."

A pit box is the designated spot in the pit lane where a race car pulls in to get serviced. Different racing series organize these spots differently, which can affect how penalties and timing work.

Term

drive through penalty

"So he then got a drive through penalty for not observing the five second penalty when he took that initial stop, which is what dropped him all the way back down the order and outside of the points."

A drive-through penalty means you have to go through the pit lane without stopping, while driving slowly. It’s a penalty for breaking a rule, and it usually costs you positions because you lose time.

Person

Verstappen

"Yeah. And you know, I think when you look at the start of the race, you you have the Verstappen problem at the beginning of the race... Not having to worry about Max on the original start."

Max Verstappen is a top Formula One driver, and the transcript says an early-race problem involving him changed how the race played out. The “whole complexion” comment refers to how one incident can reshape strategy and outcomes across the field.

Brand

Ferrari

"everyone's expecting Ferrari to dominate this weekend. They were quickest all the way through practice..."

Ferrari is a famous Formula 1 racing team. When people say Ferrari is expected to dominate, they mean Ferrari’s cars are likely to be the quickest and most competitive all weekend.

Term

generational laps

"They were quickest all the way through practice and then you get two phenomenal generational laps, one from Max, one from Kimmy..."

“Generational laps” is a dramatic way of saying someone set an amazing lap time—something really rare and impressive. It suggests they were driving and the car was working at a top level.

Term

front row of the grid

"generational laps, one from Max, one from Kimmy, puts them on the front row of the grid. Then the lights go out..."

The grid is the starting order for the race, and the front row means the two cars lined up directly at the front. Starting from the front row is valuable at Monaco because track position helps you avoid traffic and reduces the chance of getting stuck in incidents.

Concept

pressure at Monaco

"So for a 19 year old, you know, there's there's two forms of pressure at Monaco. One is when you have somebody right up behind you... The other one is when you have such a lead that your mind wanders..."

They’re talking about how Monaco creates pressure in two ways: when someone is right behind you, and when you’re leading and start to lose focus. Either way, a quick mistake can send you into the wall.

Car

Seagull

"I guess I love it. Yeah, I mean, Seagull, Seagull stealing the pizza straight off the tabl..."

“Seagull” here doesn’t appear to be a car. It sounds like a nickname or part of a story, not something you’d look up as a vehicle.

Brand

McLaren

"McLaren, it was their one thousandths... The McLaren MTB M2B is for me to say, put my dentures back in, which made its debut in 1966 was out on track."

McLaren is a well-known race team and car brand in Formula 1. Here, they’re celebrating a big anniversary and bringing out a historic car.

Place

Vegas

"And also confirmed over the weekend, Vegas. Vegas will be on the calendar now almost to 2040."

“Vegas” is shorthand for the Formula 1 race in Las Vegas. They’re talking about how long it’s expected to stay on the calendar and how big it’s become for the city.

Term

live session

"I mean, it's and you're not allowed over that wall to cross that pit lane during a live session. You're not allowed to do it."

A live session means the race is actively happening on track. Because cars are moving at speed, officials enforce the rules very strictly.

Term

pit lane

"I mean, it's and you're not allowed over that wall to cross that pit lane during a live session. You're not allowed to do it."

The pit lane is the area next to the track where race teams pull in to work on the car. During the race, it’s controlled and you’re not supposed to cross boundaries or enter it the wrong way.

Term

Pit Road

"Yeah. Well, only thing I've seen like that in NASCAR is when, you know, the tire would roll across Pit Road into the infield and, you know, the crew guy would run while the cars were were under green to go grab the tire out of the infield grass."

In NASCAR, Pit Road is the official pit area where teams work on the cars. It’s a specific part of the track/pit complex with rules about when and how teams can act.

Term

under green

"the crew guy would run while the cars were were under green to go grab the tire out of the infield grass."

“Under green” means the race is in normal mode—no slowdown or caution. Cars are still going fast, so teams have to be careful about what they do in the pit area.

Term

full course cautions

"And I want to thank everybody for tuning in last night and sticking with us through full course cautions, through red flags for rain,"

A full course caution means the whole race slows down because of something on the track. Drivers have to follow the slowdown rules, and it often changes the race strategy.

Place

St. Louis

"because we got an absolute barnstorm at Joseph Newgarden, [1177.4s] his sixth win in St. Louis. ... [1234.9s] Newgarden comes home the winner."

St. Louis is where this race happened. The hosts are talking about who won and how the drivers finished on the podium.

Person

Joseph Newgarden

"because we got an absolute barnstorm at Joseph Newgarden, [1177.4s] his sixth win in St. Louis. ... [1203.4s] But you can never discount Joseph Newgarden not here."

Joseph Newgarden is a professional race car driver in IndyCar. In this segment, they’re talking about how he won again in St. Louis and how hard it is to beat him there.

Term

pyro

" [1180.7s] As always, I love that pyro, man. [1183.4s] Nearly rocked the commentary box off the top of the grandstands."

In motorsport broadcasts, “pyro” refers to the use of controlled fireworks or flame effects for spectacle, often triggered at the start, during cautions, or for big moments. The host is reacting to how dramatic the show was at this event.

Term

poll

"[1188.9s] Polo took the poll by over a mile an hour, and we were like, [1192.5s] he's just going to walk this, right?"

“Poll” means pole position, the best starting spot at the front of the race. They’re saying Polo qualified really fast compared to everyone else.

Person

Marcus Erickson

"[1196.4s] Marcus Erickson led the most laps of his Indy car career last night [1200.3s] and looked so comfortable, so in control. ... [1236.7s] Erickson came home second."

Marcus Erickson is a professional IndyCar driver. In this race, he led the most laps of his career and finished second.

Person

Christian Rasmussen

"[1209.1s] put on a masterclass display, great battles with Christian Rasmussen, [1213.5s] who had signed a new deal earlier in the week with ECR. ... [1238.3s] Rasmussen came home third."

Christian Rasmussen is a race driver in IndyCar. They say he’s usually very exciting on short tracks, and in this race he fought up front and ended up third.

Company

ECR

"[1213.5s] who had signed a new deal earlier in the week with ECR. [1216.4s] Been a horrible year actually for ECR and for Christian Rasmussen,"

ECR is a racing team. The hosts are saying Rasmussen joined them and that the team hasn’t had a great year.

Term

short ovals

"[1220.0s] who we know is such an electrifying driver on the short ovals, [1222.9s] but he was second last in points coming into this weekend in St. Louis,"

“Short ovals” are smaller oval race tracks. Because the laps are shorter, drivers deal with more cars and more frequent passing, and the host says Rasmussen shines in that kind of racing.

Term

points

"[1222.9s] but he was second last in points coming into this weekend in St. Louis, [1227.0s] but showed us the old Christian Rasmussen,"

“Points” are how drivers earn standings in the championship. Finishing well in races gives you more points, and the host is saying Rasmussen was near the bottom before this weekend.

Company

Chip Ganassi racing team

"But a disaster, disaster for Alex Polo for the whole Chip Ganassi racing team, [1253.9s] actually, because with all of the cautions coming out and the rain falling,"

Chip Ganassi Racing is a race team. Here, the discussion is about how their strategy during a messy, rainy race led to problems for their drivers.

Person

Alex Polo

"But a disaster, disaster for Alex Polo for the whole Chip Ganassi racing team, [1253.9s] actually, because with all of the cautions coming out and the rain falling,"

Alex Polo is a driver. In this race story, he ran out of fuel at the wrong time, which dropped him back and forced extra work to recover.

Term

push, push, push

"The majority went push, push, push. [1265.9s] Ganassi tried to play the smart game with the fuel."

“Push, push, push” means the team told the driver to keep going hard instead of backing off. The goal was to stay fast, but it can be risky if you don’t have enough fuel.

Term

ran out of fuel

"Kiffin Simpson ran out of fuel. [1270.6s] Scott Dixon had to take emergency fuel and a closed pit lane,"

Running out of fuel means the car runs out of gas. In a race, that’s a big problem because you can’t keep going normally and you lose a lot of positions.

Term

emergency fuel

"Scott Dixon had to take emergency fuel and a closed pit lane, [1275.1s] and ultimately ended up getting thrown to the back of the field"

Emergency fuel refers to an unscheduled, urgent fuel top-up—typically when a car is at risk of running out. It’s a sign the team’s normal fuel plan didn’t work out, so they scramble to keep the car running and avoid being stranded.

Person

Scott Dixon

"Scott Dixon had to take emergency fuel and a closed pit lane, [1275.1s] and ultimately ended up getting thrown to the back of the field"

Scott Dixon is a race driver. In this moment, he had to get extra fuel when things went wrong, and because the pits were closed he ended up far behind and had to work his way back.

Term

fuel mileage strategy

"But those are rare mistakes that you see out of that Ganassi bunch [1312.5s] with all the fuel mileage strategy."

Fuel mileage strategy means deciding how long you can stay out before you have to pit for gas. If you guess wrong and try to stretch it too far, you can run out of fuel before the next stop.

Concept

pit to get ahead of something that could happen on track

"They're so good at usually kind of seeing ahead of time and figuring out, OK, we're in a dangerous window, so let's pit to get ahead of something that could happen on track and then boom, that thing happens on track."

Teams sometimes stop in the pits at a very specific moment to come out in front of other cars. The idea is to beat other drivers to the next “event” on track. If the timing is off, you can lose positions quickly.

Concept

hero or zero

"And look, it's as it always is in racing, mate, when you take those chances is hero or zero, it pays off for you. You win the race, your heroes, if it doesn't."

In racing, one big strategy decision can go really right or really wrong. If the timing works out, you look like a genius; if it doesn’t, you end up with a bad finish. Weather and cautions can make that swing happen fast.

Term

yellows

"And the yellows fell at precisely the wrong time for them. The rain arrived at precisely the wrong moment for them."

“Yellows” means the race is under caution, so cars slow down and drivers have to be careful. It can shuffle positions because everyone is moving differently than during normal racing. Strategy teams watch for it because it can make or break a pit call.

Term

road and street courses

"of being used to road and street courses, it was the most unnatural for me. And yet they're the races that I enjoy the most now because I love the amount of passing."

Road courses and street courses are two types of circuit layouts: road courses are purpose-built tracks, while street courses use city streets with temporary barriers and tight geometry. Street courses tend to feel more “unnatural” to drivers because the track is narrower, has less run-off, and passing is harder.

Term

throwback livery

"Throwback livery and respect for the past. Nobody does it better than Penske."

A throwback livery is a retro paint job. It’s meant to look like the car/team from an earlier time, usually for an anniversary.

Brand

Penske

"Nobody does it better than Penske. They do it in Indycar. They do it in the Cup series."

Penske is a big racing team/organization. In this segment, they’re praised for doing really impressive retro paint schemes in different racing series.

Term

IndyNext

"But make look, we were talking about IndyCar. For me, though, the driver that we can didn't come from from IndyCar at St. Louis, it came in IndyNext, which is the feeder category for IndyCar."

IndyNext is a junior racing series that trains drivers for IndyCar. Think of it as a stepping-stone where drivers prove themselves before moving up.

Term

feeder category

"it came in IndyNext, which is the feeder category for IndyCar. And Miles Rowe, he was so fast in qualifying..."

A feeder category is a lower-level race series that helps drivers get ready for a bigger, higher-level series. It’s where drivers learn and prove themselves on the way up.

Term

qualifying run

"And Miles Rowe, he was so fast in qualifying that he forgot he'd already completed his qualifying run and did an additional lap."

A qualifying run is the timed session where drivers set their starting position for the race. If a driver forgets they already completed qualifying and does an extra lap, it can affect how they’re scored and where they start.

Term

high line

"took the lead two thirds of the way through the race, passed everyone on the high line on the inside."

The high line means driving near the outside of the track. Drivers use it to keep momentum or set up a pass depending on grip and track layout.

Term

inside

"passed everyone on the high line on the inside. Didn't matter where he found you."

The inside is the part of the track closer to the middle. Passing on the inside usually means you’re trying to get alongside and get the better line through the corner.

Term

USF 2000

"Seeing him come up through the ranks in USF 2000."

USF 2000 is a stepping-stone racing series for young open-wheel drivers. It’s one of the places drivers build experience before moving up to higher levels like IndyCar.

Term

oval specialist

"He's become more of an oval specialist. [1654.0s] He's not bad on road or street courses."

An “oval specialist” is a driver who’s really good on oval tracks. Those tracks are high-speed and mostly turn one direction, so the driving style is different from road courses.

Term

road or street courses

"He's not bad on road or street courses. [1656.3s] He just hasn't had the victories to back up what he's able to do on an oval."

These are the non-oval tracks. Road courses are normal race tracks built for racing, while street courses use regular city streets that are closed for the event.

Topic

Indy 500

"If not a full season, I want to see him at the 500. [1665.9s] So do you think is there I mean, is that a realistic opportunity for him"

The Indy 500 is a huge open-wheel race in the U.S. It’s run on a big oval track in Indianapolis, and getting to race there is a big deal for a driver’s career.

Company

AJ Foyt

"If he's not in a third AJ Foyt entry for the Indy 500 next year, [1684.9s] if Roger doesn't front up the cash to put him in one of his own cars"

AJ Foyt refers to AJ Foyt Enterprises, a historic IndyCar team associated with multiple Indianapolis 500 entries. The mention of a “third AJ Foyt entry” implies the team could field multiple cars for the Indy 500, increasing the odds of a seat for the driver being discussed.

Term

front up the cash

"if Roger doesn't front up the cash to put him in one of his own cars [1688.1s] and Penske runs a fourth car at the 500 next year, then I don't know."

It means someone has to provide the money to make the racing entry happen. In racing, a driver’s seat can depend on who pays for the car and team effort.

Topic

Indianapolis 500

"I don't just want to see him in a seat. [1719.9s] I want to see him in a good seat at the Indianapolis 500. [1723.4s] Because, my God, he would electrify that place."

The Indianapolis 500 is the famous IndyCar race at Indianapolis. It’s a big oval event, and drivers really want to get a good chance to race there.

Person

Kyle Busch

"So Kyle Busch still just can't believe that we're sitting here talking about Kyle Busch not being here."

Kyle Busch is a well-known NASCAR driver. The hosts are talking about his win record and how the race included a tribute connected to him, even though he wasn’t there.

Term

unapproved adjustment

"had to change some of the under bodied and so that is an unapproved adjustment, had to go to the back of the field."

An unapproved adjustment means the team changed the car in a way NASCAR didn’t allow. That can lead to penalties, like having to start at the back.

Term

last restart

"Methodically worked himself through that field, got a great last restart with like 38 laps to go, beat him by 11 seconds and 38 laps."

A restart is when the race starts again after a caution. The last restart is the final restart, so it usually matters a lot because the race is almost over.

Term

on board

"I saw I saw that took a mass. I mean, I've seen the on board of this as well."

“On board” means the video is filmed from inside the race car. It helps you see what the driver is seeing during the action.

Term

safer barrier

"And you see both of those cars hard into the wall. Bell making, you know, the biggest impact right there. But that that's safer barrier."

A safer barrier is a crash wall designed to absorb energy when a car hits it. Instead of staying rigid, it’s meant to crumple in a controlled way to help protect the driver.

Term

jaws of life

"They had to literally take the jaws of life and the port of power to get this wall back out in order to get the foam back in in place"

“Jaws of life” refers to heavy-duty rescue equipment firefighters use to cut open a wrecked car. It helps free people when the car is too damaged to open normally.

Term

port of power

"They had to literally take the jaws of life and the port of power to get this wall back out in order to get the foam back in in place"

A port-a-power is a hydraulic tool set that can push or lift heavy things with a lot of force. Here, it’s used to move parts of the crash barrier back where they belong.

Term

foam back in place

"to get this wall back out in order to get the foam back in in place to get the safer barrier back intact."

The foam in a safer barrier system is part of the energy-absorbing design that helps manage crash forces. After a major impact, the barrier may need to be disassembled and rebuilt so the foam and structure can perform as intended in a future crash.

Person

John Hunter Nemechek

"he was just a little offline with the 42 car of John Hunter Nemechek got into him and tried to square that car back up while he was against the bumper"

John Hunter Nemechek is a NASCAR race driver. In this clip, he’s involved in the contact that starts a big crash.

Term

square that car back up

"got into him and tried to square that car back up while he was against the bumper shot Nemechek to the right and that wiped out everybody from second place back"

This phrase means getting the car pointed straight again after it gets shoved or starts to turn the wrong way. It’s about regaining control so you can keep driving instead of spinning out.

Term

against the bumper

"got into him and tried to square that car back up while he was against the bumper shot Nemechek to the right and that wiped out everybody from second place back"

This means one car is right up behind another car, very close to the back bumper. That kind of close racing can create pressure, but it also makes it easier to accidentally hit and cause a crash.

Term

wreck

"shot Nemechek to the right and that wiped out everybody from second place back at the front of the field took out Tyler Redick, Ty Gibbs. Diddy Hamlin actually spun around in the middle of this wreck and didn't get hit."

A “wreck” here means a crash. The hosts are describing how one hit caused a chain reaction that took out several cars.

Person

Tyler Redick

"at the front of the field took out Tyler Redick, Ty Gibbs. Diddy Hamlin actually spun around in the middle of this wreck and didn't get hit."

Tyler Reddick is a NASCAR driver. The hosts are saying a crash in the front of the pack took him out.

Person

Ty Gibbs

"at the front of the field took out Tyler Redick, Ty Gibbs. Diddy Hamlin actually spun around in the middle of this wreck and didn't get hit."

Ty Gibbs is a NASCAR driver. In this clip, he’s one of the drivers caught up in the crash.

Person

Diddy Hamlin

"Diddy Hamlin actually spun around in the middle of this wreck and didn't get hit. That's that tells you where his luck is at right now."

This is likely Denny Hamlin, a NASCAR driver. The point here is that he spun during the crash but managed to avoid getting struck.

Term

left front

"You see Austin Dillon right there, massive hit, you know, to the left front of his car. So after the afterwards, though,"

“Left front” means the front-left corner of the car took the impact. Hits there are often serious because they can mess with how the car steers and handles.

Person

Austin Dillon

"You see Austin Dillon right there, massive hit, you know, to the left front of his car. So after the afterwards, though,"

Austin Dillon is a NASCAR driver. The hosts say his car got a big hit on the left front corner, which is usually a serious impact area.

Person

Bubba Wallace

"Bubba Wallace kind of sat next to the wall with Hosevar and was trying to explain to him that he needed to figure out how to be aggressive, but also not wreck cars."

Bubba Wallace is a NASCAR driver. After the crash, he’s shown talking with another driver about how to race hard but avoid causing wrecks.

Person

Hosevar

"Bubba Wallace kind of sat next to the wall with Hosevar and was trying to explain to him that he needed to figure out how to be aggressive, but also not wreck cars."

Hosevar is another NASCAR driver mentioned in the conversation. The hosts say he’s very aggressive, but he’s been improving and learning how to race without wrecking people.

Term

aggressive

"Bubba Wallace kind of sat next to the wall with Hosevar and was trying to explain to him that he needed to figure out how to be aggressive, but also not wreck cars."

Here “aggressive” means racing hard and pushing for position. The point is to do it in a way that doesn’t cause crashes.

Person

Kevin Harvick

"Kevin Harvick told me, I don't know, whenever I was hitting four or five years ago, he said, stop hitting and your finishes will result show."

Kevin Harvick is a well-known NASCAR veteran driver. Here he’s being quoted saying that if you stop making contact, you’ll usually finish better because you avoid wrecks and damage.

Term

air pressure up, air pressure down

"Because now you're not getting any direction to be able to fix your cars during the race to say, well, Conor likes, you know, he liked the car up or down or, you know, whatever the adjustments are, air pressure up, air pressure down on whatever tires."

They’re talking about changing how much air is in the tires. That changes how the tire “touches” the road, which can make the car grip better or handle differently. Teams adjust it to help the car work better during the race.

Term

behind the wheel

"We've seen him on the, on the fuel before, but I hadn't seen him behind the wheel."

“Behind the wheel” is a racing-specific way to say the driver is actually controlling the car on track. In this context, it contrasts with other roles (like appearing on TV or doing fuel-related duties) and emphasizes that the person is now driving competitively. It’s not a technical term, but it’s a meaningful role distinction in motorsport.

Term

pit stop practices

"And I think to see him lean into all this stuff at the pit stop practices at the race and now in the car, he's got a pretty good teacher up there with with Jeff Gordon on the radio, though."

Pit stop practices are practice runs for the crew to change tires and do the stop quickly. The better they practice, the faster and smoother the real pit stop goes during the race. It can directly affect track position.

Person

Jeff Gordon

"And I think to see him lean into all this stuff at the pit stop practices at the race and now in the car, he's got a pretty good teacher up there with with Jeff Gordon on the radio, though."

Jeff Gordon is a famous NASCAR driver. In this segment, he’s mentioned as being on the radio, meaning he’s helping the driver with advice during the race. It’s like having an expert coach talking to you in real time.

Term

supercars

"Supercars, Aussie Supercars standout, Matthew Payne was set to make his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series Chevrolet, wanted to place him with RCR in Sonoma."

“Supercars” here means the big Australian touring-car racing series. The point is that some drivers from that series are being considered for NASCAR.

Term

NASCAR Cup Series

"Supercars, Aussie Supercars standout, Matthew Payne was set to make his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series Chevrolet, wanted to place him with RCR in Sonoma."

NASCAR’s Cup Series is the top tier of NASCAR racing. It’s the main championship series teams and drivers aim for.

Car

Chevrolet

"Supercars, Aussie Supercars standout, Matthew Payne was set to make his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series Chevrolet, wanted to place him with RCR in Sonoma."

Here, “Chevrolet” means the race team would be running a Chevrolet-branded car in NASCAR. NASCAR lets teams compete with different manufacturers.

Company

RCR

"Supercars, Aussie Supercars standout, Matthew Payne was set to make his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series Chevrolet, wanted to place him with RCR in Sonoma."

RCR is a NASCAR racing team. The host is saying they were hoping to put Matthew Payne with that team.

Place

Sonoma

"Supercars, Aussie Supercars standout, Matthew Payne was set to make his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series Chevrolet, wanted to place him with RCR in Sonoma."

Sonoma is a race track in California that NASCAR visits. It’s a road course, so it favors drivers who handle twisting corners well.

Term

road courses

"However, as we look at the impact that a Shane van Gisburgen has obviously had on Cup after transitioning from supercars and how brilliant he is on road courses, it makes sense that more people would be looking at supercar standouts."

Road courses are tracks built from a mix of left and right turns, often with elevation changes and braking zones that resemble real-world roads. In NASCAR, they’re distinct from oval tracks and can favor drivers with touring-car or road-racing backgrounds.

Term

Gen Seven car

"And I think that the supercar guys have, I think with SVG coming over here and showing just how much common ground there is between the Gen Seven car and the supercar over in Australia."

“Gen Seven” is NASCAR’s newer generation of race car. The host is saying it’s similar enough to the Australian supercars that drivers can adapt more easily.

Term

cup car

"I can't wait to see him consistently in that cup car. Yeah, pretty stuff."

A “cup car” is the main kind of stock car used in NASCAR’s top series. It’s the top-tier race car that teams build and tune for the Cup races.

Topic

arca race

"Geo Rogero won the arca race this this weekend. They had a little bit of weather like you guys over there in St. Louis."

The ARCA race is part of a stock-car racing series that’s connected to NASCAR. Drivers often use it to build experience before stepping up to bigger NASCAR races.

Concept

race actually wound up being called early because of of the rain

"So that race actually wound up being called early because of of the rain. But that kid is amazing."

If it rains, race officials may stop the race early for safety. They decide whether to end it based on how bad conditions are and how much of the race has already been run.

Topic

truck race

"Cletus was back in the truck, had a little spin out, got involved in an accident at the end of the truck race."

A “truck race” is NASCAR’s series that uses race cars shaped like pickup trucks. It’s a major stepping-stone series for drivers aiming for the top NASCAR levels.

Term

spin out

"Cletus was back in the truck, had a little spin out, got involved in an accident at the end of the truck race."

A “spin out” is when the car starts sliding and turns around instead of going straight. It usually happens when the tires lose grip.

Car

Chevrolet Spin

"... back. Cletus was back in the truck, had a little spin out, got involved in an accident at the end of th..."

The Chevrolet Spin is a small family vehicle meant to carry passengers and luggage. In the podcast context, it’s mentioned because someone had a “spin out” and an accident involving that vehicle.

Term

pole

"He's actually on the pole for the arca race this weekend. Qualified on a freaking pole."

“Pole” means you qualify fastest and start the race in the first position. It’s a big advantage because you’re not stuck in traffic at the start.

Place

Eldora

"Well, we also had the Eldora dream this weekend, [2861.8s] which pays a 100000 dollars to win dirt, late model race. ... So Eldora's have you been to Eldora?"

Eldora is a famous dirt-racing track. The hosts are talking about a big race weekend there where drivers qualify through heats and then race for a large prize.

Term

dirt, late model

"Well, we also had the Eldora dream this weekend, [2861.8s] which pays a 100000 dollars to win dirt, late model race. ... Bobby Pierce, he charged from his 13th starting position"

“Late model” is a type of race car used in dirt-track racing. It’s a specific racing class, not just a generic description of a car.

Term

flat tire

"Bobby Pierce actually had a flat tire there [2889.6s] and he wound up going around him on lap 59."

A flat tire is a sudden loss of tire pressure, which can drastically reduce traction and control. In dirt racing, it often forces a driver to lose positions immediately because the car can become unstable or slow enough to be passed.

Term

heat races

"But this this whole process to get all these dirt cars qualified [2897.3s] and into these races is like a three day process of qualifying heat races, [2903.1s] B mains, and then they all go out on the racetrack and do what they do."

Heat races are smaller races before the main race. They help decide which drivers move on and how they line up for the big event.

Term

B mains

"But this this whole process to get all these dirt cars qualified [2897.3s] and into these races is like a three day process of qualifying heat races, [2903.1s] B mains, and then they all go out on the racetrack and do what they do."

“B mains” are extra qualifying races. If you don’t make it straight through the heats, you race again to earn a spot in the main event.

Term

high limit sprint cars

"Kyle Larson, high limit sprint cars. [2930.9s] My goodness, this guy is on an absolute tear right now."

High Limit sprint cars are a big dirt-racing category for sprint cars. It’s where top drivers compete for large prizes.

Term

throttle

"High limits, they put the throttle down with their schedule. But Kyle Larson is in he's in full blown."

The throttle is the pedal/command that tells the engine how much power to make. “Put the throttle down” means press it hard to get maximum acceleration.

Term

cup side

"needs a little bit of that over to carry over to the cup side. But can't blame it on the driver because he is on the gas"

“Cup side” means the top NASCAR series, the Cup Series. The speaker is saying what works in sprint cars should help when the driver moves to NASCAR’s biggest level.

Term

victory line

"If they're going to get back into victory line and not just rely on the team and getting them and drive them, but he can get in and drive them."

“Victory line” is a racing way of saying the spot you want to be in to have a real shot at winning. It usually means being near the front and positioned well when it matters most.

Person

Denny Hamlin

"So Denny Hamlin, I mean, back to the front again, just an absolute clinic. Yeah, hell of a drive, drive."

Denny Hamlin is a famous NASCAR race driver. Here, the hosts are saying he drove really well and deserved the top honor for the week.

Person

Marz Rowe

"For me, it was Marz Rowe. I already spoke earlier in the show about what a phenomenal performance I thought he put in one of the best open wheel drives I've seen in a very, very long time, just sensational. No strategy, no pit stops, just got the job done."

Marz Rowe is the driver the hosts pick as the winner of “driver of the week.” They’re praising how he handled the race without needing extra pit stops or complicated strategy.

Term

open wheel

"I already spoke earlier in the show about what a phenomenal performance I thought he put in one of the best open wheel drives I've seen in a very, very long time, just sensational."

“Open wheel” means the race car’s wheels are exposed (not covered by the body). It’s a common look for top-level open-wheel racing.

Term

pit stops

"No strategy, no pit stops, just got the job done. Also for contention this week was Kimmy Antonelli,"

A pit stop is when a race car pulls into the pit lane to get serviced. Here, the hosts are saying Marz Rowe didn’t need to stop for tires or other changes to win.

Person

Kimmy Antonelli

"Also for contention this week was Kimmy Antonelli, obviously winning in Monaco and Mark Marquez,"

Kimmy Antonelli is a driver the hosts mention as a strong contender. They say he won in Monaco, which made him part of the conversation for driver of the week.

Person

Mark Marquez

"obviously winning in Monaco and Mark Marquez, the bruised and battered Mark Marquez taking the win."

Mark Marquez is another driver the hosts mention as a winner. They’re emphasizing that he still won even though he sounded banged up.

Topic

IndieNext

"because the IndieNext is not. [3400.6s] You know, it's not Cup. [3402.0s] It's not Formula One."

They’re talking about a racing series called “IndieNext.” The point is that it’s not as famous as the biggest series, but the racing can still be really impressive.

Topic

Indie 500

"And guys, we've had Monaco. [3443.0s] We've had the Indie 500. [3444.2s] What's left in the motorsport triple crown?"

They’re talking about the Indy 500, a huge American race. It’s famous for racing on an oval at very high speed for a long time, which makes strategy and consistency really important.

Topic

Le Mans 24 hours

"[3444.2s] What's left in the motorsport triple crown? [3446.6s] That's right. [3447.5s] The Le Mans 24 hours is this weekend."

They mean the 24-hour race at Le Mans. Cars and drivers have to keep going for an entire day, so it’s as much about staying reliable and consistent as it is about being fast.

Place

circuit de la Sarth

"At the circuit de la Sarth in France, always a massively enjoyable one."

That’s a race track in France. The hosts are talking about it as a place where racing weekends are fun to watch.

Place

Pocono

"NASCAR Cup Series is in Pocono. [3468.0s] O'Reilly is, of course, in Pocono."

Pocono is a well-known NASCAR track in Pennsylvania. It’s a big stop on the racing calendar.

Company

O'Reilly

"[3464.5s] NASCAR Cup Series is in Pocono. [3468.0s] O'Reilly is, of course, in Pocono."

O’Reilly is an auto parts company. The hosts are saying it’s involved with the event at Pocono.

Topic

cars tour West

"The cars tour at Dominion Raceway, cars tour West. [3475.1s] Stateline Speedway."

This sounds like a regional racing series event in the western part of the schedule. The host is saying he’ll be racing there.

Place

Dominion Raceway

"The cars tour at Dominion Raceway, cars tour West."

Dominion Raceway is another race track where a racing series is running. The hosts are listing where different races are happening.

Place

Stateline Speedway

"[3475.1s] Stateline Speedway. [3476.6s] And that is your final lap and all the races for this weekend. [3486.7s] because I will actually be at Stateline Speedway in Idaho,"

Stateline Speedway is a real race track in Idaho. The host is saying he’ll be there racing a late model.

Topic

24 hours Le Mans

"When you talk about the Le Mans race and the 24 hours Le Mans, [3510.0s] if it's on, you at least have to watch some of it, because it's just"

Le Mans is a famous endurance race that lasts 24 hours. Cars and drivers have to keep going for a full day and night, and it’s a big event to watch.

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