Bringing the Heat: Jeremy Clements, the Man With the Most O’Reilly Starts
About this episode
Jeremy Clements’ record-setting run takes center stage as the hosts talk Pocono starts and look ahead to San Diego, where he’s set to break the all-time NASCAR/Raleigh Auto Parts starts mark. Clements explains how funding realities shaped his path to becoming a full-time owner driver in 2011, including moving series when payouts couldn’t sustain winning. The conversation also touches a Kenny Wallace–honoring paint scheme, plus broader “silly season” and broadcast talk.
owner driver
"2011 was the first year you became a full-time owner driver what made that what made this you know I had done some practice qualifying stuff for Gibbs"
An owner driver is someone who races and also runs the team. They’re responsible for getting the car and budget together, not just driving the race.
An owner driver is a racer who not only drives but also owns (or co-owns) the team and is responsible for much of the operation and funding. In NASCAR-style racing, that often means tighter budgets and more hands-on work compared with being a hired driver for a well-funded team.
practice qualifying
"I had done some practice qualifying stuff for Gibbs when they were the Kyle and Bush and Joey Logano were were racing for them their teams"
Practice qualifying is basically practice runs meant to get ready for qualifying. Drivers use it to learn how the car feels and how fast they can go before the official qualifying session.
Practice qualifying refers to sessions where drivers run timed laps or prepare for qualifying conditions without necessarily being in the official qualifying spot. It’s a way to learn the car setup and track behavior and to gauge performance before the real qualifying attempt.
Gibbs
"I had done some practice qualifying stuff for Gibbs when they were the Kyle and Bush and Joey Logano were were racing for them their teams"
“Gibbs” is short for a well-known NASCAR racing team. The speaker is saying they couldn’t get the same kind of money to drive for that team.
“Gibbs” refers to Joe Gibbs Racing, a major NASCAR team known for fielding competitive cars and developing drivers. In this segment, it’s mentioned as the team whose cars and funding level the speaker couldn’t match.
Kyle and Bush and Joey Logano
"I had done some practice qualifying stuff for Gibbs when they were the Kyle and Bush and Joey Logano were were racing for them their teams"
These are NASCAR drivers. The speaker is using them to point out that the team had top-level talent, which came with big funding.
This is a reference to specific NASCAR drivers associated with Joe Gibbs Racing during the era being discussed. Mentioning them signals the level of team competitiveness and the funding barrier the speaker describes.
Arca
"it's been a great place to be you know we we moved from Arca to here and we were running up front in Arca"
ARCA is a racing series where teams compete in stock cars. The speaker is comparing how things went there versus in the series they race now.
The speaker compares their time in ARCA to later series. ARCA is a stock-car racing ladder where teams often build experience and results before moving up to higher-profile NASCAR divisions.
financial decision to keep racing
"but the payout was just terrible so you couldn't you couldn't even win and sustain it so we had to we had to make a financial decision like we want to keep racing"
They’re talking about money driving the decision. If the prize money isn’t enough, a team has to change plans so they can keep racing.
This segment highlights how teams make financial decisions based on payout and sponsorship support. When the payout isn’t enough to sustain the effort, teams may switch to a series that better matches their budget and can keep them “afloat.”
Road America
"you know I mean I never even raced the road course till 2011 we were full time in this series so [394.5s] now it was Road America to go so what I'm saying is we just try to learn what we would need and [401.7s] we and we did obviously because we went to Road America one there so that was a big accomplishment"
Road America is a well-known road course in the U.S., famous for long straights, heavy braking zones, and fast, flowing corners. For racers, it’s a benchmark track where setup and tire management can make a big difference.
sink the ship
"I've seen a lot of comers and goers in this sport they come in and they're here for a season or two [421.1s] and then they're gone and and it's it I can see why it's very easy to sink the ship [429.2s] but you managed to make it all this time now you know record tying start 547"
“Sink the ship” is a racing-team metaphor for how quickly a program can fall apart when results, funding, or momentum slip. In motorsports, small setbacks can snowball because you need consistent development, sponsorship, and operational stability to keep improving.
record tying start 547
"but you managed to make it all this time now you know record tying start 547 first of all you [435.6s] got the you got the really awesome paint scheme this weekend just with the county passing the torch"
A “start” is an official race appearance where the car begins the event (typically from the grid or pit lane). “Record tying start 547” indicates the driver matched a long-standing series record for the number of races started, which is a measure of longevity and consistency.
O'Reilly
"but you managed to make it all this time now you know record tying start 547 first of all you [435.6s] got the you got the really awesome paint scheme this weekend just with the county passing the torch"
O’Reilly is a major U.S. auto-parts retailer that sponsors and supports motorsports programs. When mentioned alongside “starts” and records, it’s typically tied to a series or event sponsorship identity.
paint scheme
"record tying start 547 first of all you [435.6s] got the you got the really awesome paint scheme this weekend just with the county passing the torch"
A paint scheme is the specific livery design—colors, graphics, and sponsor placement—applied to the race car. In series like NASCAR-style racing, schemes are often tied to sponsors, special events, or tributes and can be a major part of the car’s identity.
throwback scheme
"we wanted to do something to honor him we looked at maybe doing a throwback scheme of his [467.7s] car that race but didn't that didn't didn't really work out so then yeah just talking to my designer"
A throwback scheme is a livery designed to reference an earlier era of a driver’s career or a past car. Teams use it for nostalgia and branding, often matching the look of a specific historic car or sponsor arrangement.
Buick Grand National
"...eading last night on the show Massey showed off a grand national scene newspaper from 1983 and I'm going that was ..."
The Buick Grand National is a fast, sporty car made by Buick in the early 1980s. It used a turbocharged engine to make more power than many cars of its time. People bring it up because it was a well-known performance model during that period.
The Buick Grand National is a performance car from the early 1980s known for its turbocharged V6 and strong straight-line speed. It’s often discussed as an iconic example of the era’s “muscle car” evolution, especially because it became a recognizable name in motorsports and car culture. In a podcast context, it may come up through period materials like a 1983 newspaper because that’s when the model’s reputation was being widely established.
Jesse Love
"Jesse Love is a big big talent um I would say even probably a better talent outright than what we saw from Connor Zillich"
Jesse Love is a NASCAR race driver. The hosts are saying he’s a standout talent and that his move could make his new team more competitive.
Jesse Love is a NASCAR driver being discussed as a major talent moving into the Ford/Wood Brothers orbit. The hosts argue his experience and speed could help him consistently run near the front of the field.
Connor Zillich
"um I would say even probably a better talent outright than what we saw from Connor Zillich and Connor Zillich came in with a ton of hype"
Connor Zillich is another NASCAR driver mentioned for comparison. The hosts are basically saying his early hype didn’t translate the same way as Jesse Love’s longer track record.
Connor Zillich is referenced as another driver who arrived with “a ton of hype,” but the hosts compare his trajectory to Jesse Love’s. The point is that Love has been in stock cars longer, so his readiness is viewed as more proven.
Josh Berry
"I think whatever car he goes into uh I think he has a pretty safe uh I'll just say floor uh with a certain junior motorsports in the NASCAR Rally Auto Part Series"
Josh Berry is a NASCAR driver being talked about. The hosts think he’s been unlucky and that wherever he goes next, he should still be able to perform consistently.
Josh Berry is discussed as a driver who has faced “bad luck” and is tied to team/brand context (D&S and Ford) in the hosts’ view. They suggest he has a stable “floor” depending on where he lands next.
NASCAR Cup Series
"I could see him still getting a cup ride because he is one at the cup level which again that's a that's a big thing"
The NASCAR Cup Series is the highest level of NASCAR racing. A “Cup ride” means getting a full-time spot to race in that top series.
The NASCAR Cup Series is NASCAR’s top-level stock-car racing series in the U.S. When the hosts say a driver “has a cup ride,” they mean a seat in this premier series.
Le Mans
"a lot of championships and also I will have to say had a lot of fun this weekend in Le Mans uh was Jimmy Johnson"
Le Mans is a famous endurance race in France. It’s a different kind of racing than NASCAR, and it’s a big deal when someone competes there.
Le Mans usually refers to the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in France, one of the most famous motorsport events in the world. Mentioning it signals Jimmy Johnson’s participation outside NASCAR, in a different style of racing.
Jimmy Johnson
"well a guy who's won a lot uh in the NASCAR Cup Series and a lot of championships and also I will have to say had a lot of fun this weekend in Le Mans uh was Jimmy Johnson"
Jimmy Johnson is a well-known NASCAR champion. The hosts are saying he had fun at Le Mans and that there’s a video going around online.
Jimmy Johnson is referenced as a decorated NASCAR Cup champion who also competes internationally. The hosts mention his Le Mans weekend and a circulating video, highlighting his crossover beyond stock-car racing.
the chase
"you know we talked about points earlier is actually in line to make the chase if it started today i don't like neph would hate that uh but he he is surged as of late uh he's currently sits at 15th in points tied with austin centric"
In NASCAR, “the chase” is the playoff part of the season. Drivers who are high enough in the season standings get a chance to fight for the championship.
“The chase” refers to NASCAR’s postseason format where top drivers in the points standings qualify for a championship run. The key idea is that you must be in the right points position to contend later, but you also need strong finishes during the season to get there.
points
"you know we talked about points earlier is actually in line to make the chase if it started today i don't like neph would hate that uh but he he is surged as of late uh he's currently sits at 15th in points tied with austin centric"
“Points” are how NASCAR keeps track of who’s doing well across the whole season. Finishing better in races earns more points, and those totals help decide who gets into the playoff chase.
In NASCAR, “points” are the season-long scoring totals that determine standings. Drivers earn points based on race finishing position and other factors, and those totals decide who qualifies for the postseason “chase.”
Toyota
"this upcoming year got some more people familiar with toyota and it just appears to me that uh legacy is now arrived as a uh at least a credible team"
Toyota is referenced here as the manufacturer that Legacy Motor Club is becoming “more familiar” with, implying a stronger alignment with Toyota’s program. In NASCAR, manufacturer support can affect engine/technical direction, parts, and overall team development.
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