Tyler Redick's historic NASCAR start with three consecutive wins is a major highlight, alongside discussions about diverse racing events including snow racing in Montana and upcoming F1 races. The hosts delve into technical driving styles, contrasting right-foot and left-foot braking techniques, and how these impact vehicle control on different tracks. They also cover IndyCar drama involving Team Penske’s leadership shakeup after a controversy, and the challenges of pit stops, particularly wheel changes. The episode blends race analysis, driver stories, and behind-the-scenes insights into racing strategies and team dynamics.
Three races. Three wins. The first 3-for-3 start in NASCAR history - and now the real question is… can he just win them all?
In this episode of Stacking Pennies, Corey LaJoie and Ryan Flores break down Tyler Reddick’s dominant performance at COTA (Circuit of The Americas), what makes road course racing different in NASCAR, and why right-foot braking might be the secret weapon separating the best from the rest.
We dive deep into:
Reddick’s historic start to the NASCAR season
COTA race breakdown (Cup + O'Reilly's)
The SVG vs Reddick horsepower debate
Why mechanical grip matters more than peak horsepower
Dario Franchitti’s return at 52 years old
Ford’s driver development concerns
Eli Tomac’s 8th Daytona Supercross win — and the trophy that knocked his tooth out
Snow racing in Big Sky, Montana
Phoenix Raceway preview (tire wear + strategy)
F1 season kickoff and Cadillac’s debut
From NASCAR Cup Series strategy to Supercross chaos to Formula 1 storylines, this week had everything.
"Well, he's on to a great start, three for three, first time in NASCAR history."
NASCAR is a type of car racing in the US where drivers race special cars on oval tracks. It's one of the most popular racing sports in America.
NASCAR is a popular American motorsport series known for stock car racing on oval tracks. It features highly modified production cars competing in various events throughout the year.
Formula 1 is a type of car racing with very fast, special cars that race on different tracks around the world. It's considered the top level of racing.
Formula 1 (F1) is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the FIA. It features the fastest and most technologically advanced racing cars competing on circuits worldwide.
"Eli Tomek wins his record eighth at Daytona, and then the trophy proceeds to knock his front tooth out."
Daytona is a famous race track in Florida where big car races happen, including some of the most important NASCAR races.
Daytona refers to the Daytona International Speedway in Florida, famous for hosting major motorsport events like the Daytona 500 NASCAR race and the Rolex 24 endurance race.
"when you look at it just from 40,000 feet, is the crown of the road in a lot of the places. And in these ..."
The Toyota Crown is a fancy and comfortable car mostly sold in Japan and nearby countries. People think of it as a top-quality car that looks nice and is good to drive. When someone says it's the 'crown of the road,' they mean it's one of the best or most respected cars around.
The Toyota Crown is a long-standing luxury sedan primarily sold in Japan and select Asian markets, known for its comfort, advanced technology, and prestigious status. It represents Toyota's flagship sedan and is often seen as a symbol of refinement and reliability on the road. Its mention as the 'crown of the road' highlights its dominance and respect in various regions.
"He bought the race track, yep, the race track Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He owns all of it."
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a big race track where famous car races happen every year.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a historic racing circuit in Indiana, USA, famous for hosting the Indianapolis 500, one of the most prestigious motorsport events in the world.
"It's the first time that there's only ever been one Ford."
Ford is a big car company that makes many cars and also supports race teams in competitions like NASCAR.
Ford is a major American automotive manufacturer known for producing a wide range of vehicles including performance and racing cars. In motorsports, Ford often fields teams and develops racing programs to compete in series like NASCAR.
"So it's like, where, it was like Chevy's and Toyota's."
Chevrolet is a big car company from America that also makes race cars and supports drivers in racing.
Chevrolet, often called Chevy, is an American car manufacturer that competes heavily in motorsports, including NASCAR, with factory-backed racing programs and driver development.
"Like they're going to have to make an investment into having a driver development program because let's just say, for you, for instance,"
A driver development program is a way that race teams help new drivers learn and get better so they can race in big competitions.
A driver development program is an organized effort by a racing team or manufacturer to identify, train, and promote young racing talent to higher levels of competition.
"But to the question of like, does karting matter? So like we're talking about rental go karting, but I do see like a lot of the kids that are having success right away"
Karting means racing small cars called go-karts. Many race car drivers start by driving go-karts to learn how to race and control a car better.
Karting is a form of motorsport using small, open-wheel vehicles called go-karts. It is often considered a foundational training ground for aspiring racing drivers to develop skills like vehicle control, racecraft, and competitive instincts.
""I know he said that his splitter was broken and he just got super tight there.""
A splitter is a part at the front of a race car that helps it stick to the road better by pushing the car down. If it breaks, the car can be harder to control.
A splitter is an aerodynamic part mounted at the front of a race car that helps increase downforce by directing airflow and reducing lift. Damage to the splitter can negatively affect the car's handling and grip.
""where kind of guys left for your quarter panel ripped off by like clearing too tight.""
The quarter panel is the side part of a car near the back wheel. If it gets damaged, it can change how the car drives and looks.
The quarter panel is the section of a car's body located between the rear door and the trunk, typically covering the rear wheel. Damage to the quarter panel can affect the car's aerodynamics and structural integrity.
"...be vocal on the radio of if they don't feel like they have enough of horsepower or what. I think that the horsepower range is close. The peak is comparable."
Horsepower tells you how strong a car's engine is. More horsepower means the car can go faster and accelerate quicker.
Horsepower is a unit of measurement that indicates the power output of an engine. It reflects how much work an engine can perform over time, influencing a vehicle's acceleration and top speed.
"It's close, but how they get there, if it's better on the bottom end, if it's better on the top end, that is different."
Bottom end power means how strong the engine is when you start moving or at low speeds, while top end power is how strong it is when you go really fast.
Bottom end power refers to engine torque and power available at low RPMs, which helps with acceleration and drivability. Top end power refers to power at high RPMs, affecting maximum speed and high-speed performance.
"So that tells me that TRD is doing a better job with their horsepower."
TRD is Toyota's special team that makes their cars faster and better for racing and performance.
TRD stands for Toyota Racing Development, the performance and racing division of Toyota. TRD focuses on enhancing Toyota vehicles' performance through engineering, tuning, and motorsports involvement.
"Well, we saw, I loved it because when Goodyear brings a new tire to the racetrack, the game with all, the game a team's trying to play..."
Goodyear is a company that makes tires, including special tires for race cars to help them go faster and stick to the track better.
Goodyear is a major tire manufacturer known for producing racing tires used in various motorsports, including NASCAR. They develop specialized tires to optimize grip, durability, and performance on different tracks.
""My kids think about MRO. There's MRO, shout out to MRO with motor racing outreach. They have a playground at the racetracks and that's where all the kids hang out.""
MRO is a group that helps people involved in racing and also organizes fun activities for kids at race events.
Motor Racing Outreach is a Christian ministry that serves the motorsports community, providing support and outreach programs including kid-friendly activities at racetracks.
""he's been one of the fast man on pit road for the better part of 20 years.""
Pit road is a special lane where race cars stop during a race to get new tires or fuel. Drivers have to be careful to follow speed limits there to stay safe.
Pit road is the area in a racing track where cars enter to receive service such as tire changes, refueling, and repairs during a race. Speed limits and specific rules apply here to ensure safety and fairness.
""Blake Houston, front tire changer. I love that kid. He's been there for a couple of years now.""
The front tire changer is the person who changes the front tires on a race car really fast during a pit stop to help the car get back on the track quickly.
The front tire changer is a crew member responsible for quickly removing and replacing the front tires during a pit stop in a race. Speed and precision in this role are critical to minimize time lost.
""Will Cooper, their tire carrier. He's one of the new additions to the team this year.""
The tire carrier is the person who brings the new tires to the race car during a pit stop so they can be changed quickly.
The tire carrier is a crew member who carries the tires to and from the race car during a pit stop. This role supports the tire changers and helps speed up the process.
""He's been crushing at the Jackman position. It's really interesting watching kind of...""
The Jackman is the person who uses a special tool called a jack to lift the race car up during a pit stop so the tires can be changed fast.
The Jackman is the crew member responsible for operating the jack to lift the car during a pit stop, allowing tire changes and other maintenance to be performed quickly.
""Cause everybody always tries something a little different whether it be the jack behind the back, the way they're dropping the jack...""
The 'jack behind the back' is a way the person lifting the car holds their tool behind them to work faster during a pit stop.
The 'jack behind the back' is a technique where the Jackman holds or maneuvers the jack behind their back to prepare for a faster or more efficient pit stop. Different teams use unique methods to gain time.
""And that's a diesel too, so they can run underwater halfway deep.""
A diesel engine is a kind of car engine that uses a different way to burn fuel, which can make it last longer and use less gas.
Diesel refers to a type of internal combustion engine that uses compression ignition rather than spark ignition, typically offering better fuel efficiency and torque compared to gasoline engines.
""Kyron was at an ice race? Where was it? Big Sky Montana.""
Ice racing is a type of car race that happens on frozen lakes or roads, where drivers have to be careful because the surface is slippery.
An ice race is a motorsport event held on frozen surfaces such as lakes or rivers, where cars race on ice, often requiring specialized tires for traction.
"This car's upside down underwater. Kyron was at an ice race? Where was it?"
The Ssangyong Kyron is a type of SUV made in South Korea that can handle rough roads and outdoor adventures. It's not very famous everywhere but some people like it for tough driving and even racing on ice. Saying it was 'upside down underwater' probably means it had a big accident or a cool stunt happened with it.
The Ssangyong Kyron is a mid-size SUV produced by the South Korean manufacturer Ssangyong, known for its rugged design and off-road capabilities. While not as globally popular as some competitors, it has a niche following and has been used in various motorsport events, including ice racing. The mention of it being 'upside down underwater' likely refers to a dramatic incident or stunt involving the vehicle.
"to see how Cadillac does. I think that, you know."
Cadillac is a car company that makes fancy cars. They are now also racing their cars in Formula 1, which is a big deal.
Cadillac is a luxury automotive brand from the United States, known historically for its premium vehicles. Recently, Cadillac has entered motorsports, including Formula 1, marking a significant step into high-performance racing.
"Man, you don't really know who's sandbagging in pre-season testing,"
Before the racing season starts, teams try out their cars to see how well they work and fix any problems. This is called pre-season testing.
Pre-season testing in racing is the period before the official season starts when teams test their cars on track to evaluate performance, reliability, and new developments. It helps teams prepare and strategize for the upcoming races.
"but Ferrari's new wing that we talked about last week, super cool."
A wing on a race car is like a special shape that pushes the car down onto the road so it can go faster without slipping.
In racing cars, a wing is an aerodynamic component designed to generate downforce, improving grip and stability at high speeds. Teams often develop new wing designs to gain competitive advantages.
"I'd love to see Lewis Hamilton. Because just like back in the day,"
Lewis Hamilton is a famous race car driver who drives very fast cars in Formula 1 races for the Mercedes team.
Lewis Hamilton is a British racing driver who competes in Formula 1 for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. He is one of the most successful F1 drivers in history.
""It seems like they kind of are on the next gen thing.""
"Next gen" means the newest version of the race cars that have new rules to make the races more exciting and the cars better.
"Next gen" refers to the new generation of Formula 1 cars introduced with updated technical regulations aimed at improving racing competitiveness and car performance.
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