Bringing the Heat: Taking on the In-Season Tournament Challenge
About this episode
The hosts kick off with a bracket-style “in-season tournament challenge,” joking about podcast bragging rights and a punishment for the loser. They break down the tournament bracket—why Sonoma is a strong wild-card first round and how seeding is based on points—then debate matchups using recent form, road-course fit, and stage-two adjustments. The conversation widens to short-track racing changes, including NASCAR’s bumper-foam removal, plus driver/manufacturer angles like Ryan Newman’s Dodge return and Denny Hamlin’s Next Gen struggles.
Sonoma
"Of course starting at Sonoma Caleb. How about this before before we get in we kind of talked about this last week with Chris any initial thoughts on the bracket overall"
Sonoma is a famous race track in California. It’s a road course, so it tests driving skill in a way that can make results less predictable than at some other tracks.
Sonoma refers to Sonoma Raceway in California, a road course known for elevation changes, long corners, and heavy tire management. In NASCAR-style bracket discussions, it’s treated as a “wild card” because road-course skill can outweigh pure luck.
wild card
"Sonoma is interesting. Yeah enough of a wild card, but also like I think is a better wild card for the first round then"
A “wild card” is someone who gets into the bracket without being one of the top-ranked teams/drivers. They can be a surprise—sometimes they do great, sometimes they don’t.
In a bracket challenge, a “wild card” is a participant who enters the bracket without being seeded as one of the top finishers. The idea is that they can be unpredictable—sometimes they’re strong, but they’re not guaranteed to advance like the higher seeds.
points number one seed
"All right. Let's go in number one seed is Tyler Reddick this was based off points as they ran after Pocono"
“Points” seeding means the bracket matchups are determined by the drivers’ standings in the NASCAR points system. A “number one seed” is the highest-ranked entry based on those points, which typically gives them a theoretically easier path in the bracket.
road courses
"Lewis Hamilton is actually driving that car road courses... he's really improved especially when it comes to qualifying and and just getting a good starting position... on road courses"
Road courses are tracks with lots of turns and braking, not just left turns like an oval. On these tracks, where you start the race (your starting position) can be really important because it can be harder to pass.
Road courses are race tracks with a mix of left and right turns, braking zones, and elevation changes—more like traditional car racing than oval tracks. In NASCAR, qualifying and starting position often matter a lot on road courses because passing can be harder and track position can dictate how clean your laps are.
qualifying
"He's really improved especially when it comes to qualifying and and just getting a good starting position"
Qualifying is when drivers try to set the fastest lap before the race. Your qualifying result decides where you start, and on twisty tracks that can make a big difference.
Qualifying is the session where drivers set their fastest lap to determine the starting order for the race. On road courses, a strong qualifying run can be especially valuable because it helps secure track position and reduces the need to fight through traffic.
bracket challenge
"It would be interesting if like Bell started and then like hopped out if that would count in the bracket challenge"
It’s basically a contest where you pick who you think will win each matchup. If your picks keep winning, you “advance” in the bracket.
A “bracket challenge” is a prediction game where participants pick winners in a structured, elimination-style set of matchups. In motorsports, it usually means selecting drivers to advance based on expected race outcomes, often tied to specific stages or rounds.
stage two
"But I feel like by the time you get to stage two in the race they're starting to figure stuff out whether strategy or speed."
Some NASCAR races are split into segments called stages. Stage two is the second segment, and teams often change strategy as the race moves into it.
“Stage two” refers to NASCAR’s multi-stage race format, where the race is split into timed segments. Points and strategy can change between stages, so teams often adjust setups and tactics as the race progresses.
in the next gen
"But yeah, I feel like Jones is the all right pick there... I think like they're saying last night talking about Denny stats at Sonoma specifically in the next gen and it's been really bad"
NASCAR has different “generations” of race cars. “Next Gen” means the newer NASCAR car design, and the speaker is saying the driver hasn’t done well with that newer car.
“Next Gen” refers to NASCAR’s newer generation of race car platform introduced to standardize and modernize the cars. When someone says a driver’s stats in the Next Gen have been “really bad,” they mean that driver’s results with this specific car generation have underperformed.
mile and a half
"The toy has been too good at the mile and a half. It reminds me a lot of Kansas, you know, and that's where 2311's been really good"
In NASCAR, tracks are often grouped by length. “Mile and a half” means the oval is about 1.5 miles long, and that affects how teams set up the car and how the race is run.
“Mile and a half” refers to a track length category used in NASCAR, where the oval is about 1.5 miles long. This matters because car setup and race strategy (aero balance, tire wear, and drafting) tend to be different than on shorter or longer tracks.
Kansas
"It reminds me a lot of Kansas, you know, and that's where 2311's been really good"
Kansas is a NASCAR race track in the U.S. The hosts mention it because it’s the kind of track where certain cars/drivers tend to do well.
Kansas refers to Kansas Speedway, a NASCAR oval known for being a high-speed intermediate track. The hosts are using it as an example of where a driver/team has been especially strong on the “mile and a half” type of circuit.
Ryan Blaney
"SVG Ryan Blaney, unfortunately, I'll take Ryan Blaney. Okay devil's advocate. What if [1062.8s] Like Chicago's the race for something bad to go wrong with Blaney with this pit crew or something like that and"
Ryan Blaney is a NASCAR race driver. The hosts are arguing whether he’s the safer pick, including the idea that pit crew mistakes could hurt his chances.
Ryan Blaney is a NASCAR driver, and the hosts are debating whether he’s the best pick in a head-to-head matchup. They specifically mention the possibility of something going wrong with his pit crew, which highlights how pit execution can swing results.
Chicago land
"Larsen really good at Chicago land. I'll take him over Byron"
Chicagoland Speedway is a NASCAR oval track. The hosts are saying one driver tends to do better there than others.
“Chicago land” is shorthand for Chicagoland Speedway, a NASCAR oval that historically hosted races. The hosts are comparing drivers’ past results at that track, implying track-specific strengths.
Denny Hamlin
"Then Hamlin and Jones Hamlin and Jones. I'll take Denny [1084.9s] Yeah, I picked a win that race. I think I'm picking Denny at this point"
Denny Hamlin is a NASCAR driver. The hosts think he’s more likely to win than the other driver they’re comparing him to.
Denny Hamlin is a NASCAR driver the hosts pick as their preferred winner in the matchup they’re discussing. They contrast him with Eric Jones, suggesting Hamlin’s race execution and/or matchup advantages make him more likely to “make a run.”
Eric Jones
"So if it was anyone else that Eric Jones was going against like not only if we had big tie down [1093.0s] But if it was anyone else, I think Jones could make a run but because Denny"
Eric Jones is a NASCAR driver. The hosts are talking about how his chances in this matchup compare to Denny Hamlin’s.
Eric Jones is a NASCAR driver mentioned as the opponent in a comparison against Denny Hamlin. The hosts discuss how the outcome could change if “anyone else” were in Jones’s position, implying Jones’s chances depend on race conditions and execution.
tie down
"So if it was anyone else that Eric Jones was going against like not only if we had big tie down [1093.0s] But if it was anyone else, I think Jones could make a run but because Denny"
“Tie down” here is about how well the car is set up to stay stable and predictable. The hosts are saying that with the right setup, the other driver might have had a better shot.
“Tie down” is NASCAR shorthand for securing the car’s setup and/or controlling the car’s behavior—often tied to how tightly the car is “locked in” for stability. In this context, the hosts are saying that if the setup conditions were different, Jones could have a better chance to challenge.
Echo Park round three
"Now we're at Echo Park round three Tyler Reddick Zane Smith"
“Echo Park round three” is the name of a specific race event (with a sponsor) and it’s the third round of the tournament. They’re talking about who they think will advance from that race.
“Echo Park round three” refers to a specific NASCAR event round sponsored by EchoPark. The hosts are using the event stage (“round three”) to frame their bracket-style picks for who advances.
Zane Smith
"Now we're at Echo Park round three Tyler Reddick Zane Smith [1102.9s] Are we going Zane? You think I would pick, you know, he wanted Atlanta. He's got good luck [1121.1s] Smith to the semi-finals"
Zane Smith is a NASCAR driver. The hosts think he’s the better choice to move on to the next round of the tournament.
Zane Smith is a NASCAR driver the hosts repeatedly pick to advance, including to the semi-finals. They cite track fit and “good luck,” suggesting they believe his odds improve at this specific event/round.
Tyler Reddick
"Now we're at Echo Park round three Tyler Reddick Zane Smith [1102.9s] Are we going Zane?"
Tyler Reddick is a NASCAR driver. The hosts are deciding whether he or Zane Smith is the better pick for the next stage of the tournament.
Tyler Reddick is a NASCAR driver named as part of the “round three” matchup. The hosts are weighing him against Zane Smith for who should advance, which is a tournament-style decision rather than a single-race pick.
Atlanta
"Are we going Zane? You think I would pick, you know, he wanted Atlanta. He's got good luck"
Atlanta is a NASCAR race track. The hosts are talking about which drivers seem to match up well there.
Atlanta refers to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, another NASCAR oval that’s often discussed as a distinct “style” of track. The hosts are referencing a driver’s luck/fit for that venue as part of their in-season tournament picks.
semi-finals
"Smith to the semi-finals"
“Semi-finals” means the next-to-last round of a tournament. Whoever does well there moves on to the final round.
“Semi-finals” here is the tournament stage where winners advance to the final bracket. In NASCAR’s in-season tournament format, this changes how fans think about risk: drivers may need to secure points/position rather than gamble for a win.
Briscoe
"Let's go Zane. Bubba over Briscoe. I think Bob was just better at those tracks [1134.2s] Yeah, he's"
“Briscoe” is a NASCAR driver being compared to Bubba. The hosts are deciding which driver is more likely to win based on past track results.
“Briscoe” refers to a NASCAR driver in the matchup being debated against Bubba. The hosts are comparing who has been stronger at certain tracks, which is central to their in-season tournament picks.
Bubba
"Let's go Zane. Bubba over Briscoe. I think Bob was just better at those tracks [1134.2s] Yeah, he's"
“Bubba” is a NASCAR driver nickname. The hosts are saying they think he’s due to win one of the races in this tournament.
“Bubba” is a nickname reference to a NASCAR driver (commonly Bubba Wallace). The hosts are saying it’s time for him to win one of these tournament-style races, implying momentum and track familiarity matter.
energy absorbing bumper foam
"All right news that broke today ... with removal of energy absorbing bumper Foam from short tracks ... drivers have been pushing for this"
This is special foam inside the bumper area that’s meant to soak up crash energy. If NASCAR removes it, the car may get damaged more when it hits someone. The goal is to change how crashes play out on short tracks.
“Energy absorbing bumper foam” is a crash-structure material placed in/behind the bumper to help absorb impact energy in a collision. Removing it changes how the car’s front/rear absorbs crashes, which can increase visible damage after contact. In NASCAR, that affects how drivers experience and manage short-track impacts.
short tracks
" ... removal of energy absorbing bumper Foam from short tracks ... drivers have been pushing for this ... plow into someone at a short track"
Short tracks are smaller race tracks where cars are packed together more often. That makes bumping and contact more common. So changes to crash parts can matter more there than on bigger tracks.
“Short tracks” are smaller NASCAR circuits where cars run closer together and have more frequent, lower-speed-to-moderate-speed contact. Because the racing is more congested, rules changes that affect crash behavior (like bumper foam removal) can have a bigger impact on how often and how severely cars get damaged. That’s why the hosts connect the rule to short-track “consequences.”
Dodge Ram
"... a short track when their consequences now if you ram into someone at the short track Your car will lik..."
The Dodge Ram is a large pickup truck made for hauling and everyday driving. Because it’s heavy, what happens in a crash can be serious, so it may be mentioned when people discuss safety at a track. The key point is that hitting someone at speed can lead to major consequences.
The Dodge Ram is a full-size pickup truck known for carrying people and cargo and for being used in both work and everyday driving. In a motorsports or track discussion, it may come up in the context of how a heavy vehicle behaves in an impact and what the consequences can be when something goes wrong. That’s why it’s relevant to talk about safety and crash outcomes when a Ram is involved in a high-speed incident.
unsettled in the corners
"Whether this I'm hoping this will be something that will help but kind of get those cars unsettled in the corners"
“Unsettled” means the car doesn’t feel stable in the turn. The goal (in this context) is to make the car rotate and handle changes more instead of feeling glued to the track.
“Unsettled” refers to a car losing its composure—like the chassis is moving around more than expected—while cornering. In racing discussions, it often means reducing how “stuck” the car feels so it can rotate and change direction more easily.
tire wear
"Although I mean it has steadily gotten better over the last year or two as they've been doing more with the tire wear"
Tire wear means the tires get used up during the race. As the tread wears, the car can lose grip, so drivers may have to change how they drive.
Tire wear is how quickly a race tire loses tread and performance as it’s used. On short tracks, managing tire wear can change grip over a run, which affects how easily cars can turn and how aggressively drivers can push.
bumpers
"But yeah, I would like to see The bumpers be able to come into more of an effect ... I don't want guys being afraid to use their bumpers because they're worried about Like damaging their front end"
In stock-car racing, the bumper is more than just bodywork—it’s part of how cars make contact and how drivers can “push” or disrupt each other. The host is discussing rules/intent around allowing bumper contact to help create passing and more dynamic racing on short tracks.
North Wilkesboro
"what we'll see we'll see if it comes into effect that North Wilkesboro I feel like that tracks actually the corners have been really fast"
North Wilkesboro is a famous short oval race track in North Carolina. It tends to produce close, physical racing, so changes to car behavior or rules can noticeably change how the race plays out.
North Wilkesboro Speedway is a short-track oval in North Carolina that’s known for close racing and frequent contact. The host contrasts its current racing character with earlier eras and discusses how rule/track changes might affect corner speed and passing.
progressive baking
"You know your daddy or your grandfather's North Wilkesboro Got a little bit of that progressive baking and everything kind of more reminding more like an IRP type of thing"
This sounds like a track-prep method that changes how the racing surface grips as the event goes on. The host is using it to explain why the track feels different now than in the past.
“Progressive baking” is a track-prep/conditioning phrase implying the surface is being prepared in a way that changes grip over time (often becoming more consistent or more raceable). In this context, it’s used to compare how the modern North Wilkesboro feels versus older racing.
IRP
"Got a little bit of that progressive baking and everything kind of more reminding more like an IRP type of thing"
IRP is an abbreviation for another race track the host is comparing to. The point is that the track feel now is more like that other venue than the older North Wilkesboro.
IRP is used here as a shorthand for a specific racing facility the host compares North Wilkesboro to. Without the full name in the excerpt, the exact venue can’t be confirmed, but it’s clearly being referenced as a track-character comparison.
Bristol
"Wilkesboro Bristol might be another one, but then Martinsville is the one that really I think you'd be able to see"
Bristol is a well-known short track that’s famous for tight, aggressive racing. The host is saying it might react similarly if the rules or car behavior changes take effect.
Bristol refers to Bristol Motor Speedway, another high-banked short track known for intense racing and frequent bumper-to-bumper action. The host is suggesting it could show similar effects if the same “bumpers/handling” changes are applied.
Martinsville
"but then Martinsville is the one that really I think you'd be able to see What sort of a difference that this makes?"
Martinsville is a short oval track known for close racing and lots of driver-to-driver interaction. The host thinks it will clearly show whether the changes make cars behave differently in corners.
Martinsville Speedway is a short-track oval known for slow corners, heavy braking zones, and lots of close-quarter racing. The host believes it’s the best place to observe how the discussed changes affect car behavior and race outcomes.
in-season tournament challenge
"Bringing the Heat: Taking on the In-Season Tournament Challenge... Hopefully Newman and his consistency with racing with some of the modifies"
They’re talking about a special NASCAR event during the season, kind of like a tournament. It can affect strategy because the rules and how you advance can be different than a normal race stretch.
An “in-season tournament challenge” refers to a mid-season NASCAR points/format event where drivers compete under a special structure rather than only the standard season schedule. These formats can change strategy—who takes risks, how teams manage cars, and what “good enough” looks like in each round.
cup series polls
"43 of his 51 cup series polls"
They’re referring to “poles,” which means qualifying fastest and starting from the front. Starting up front usually makes the race easier to manage.
In NASCAR, “polls” is almost certainly a transcription of “poles,” meaning the driver/team qualifies fastest and starts first on the grid. Pole position is valuable because it reduces traffic risk and can set up a better race strategy.
modified racing
"you mentioned his skills have been staying pretty fresh with his modified racing"
“Modified” racing is a type of short-track stock-car racing with cars that are set up differently than NASCAR. Drivers who race modifieds often develop strong handling skills that can help them when they step into NASCAR.
“Modified” racing refers to a style of stock-car racing (commonly regional series) where cars are built and tuned for short-track competition. Drivers coming from modifieds often bring strong car-control skills that can translate to NASCAR road/short-track events, though the cars and rules differ.
FRM
"it would be great to see those ramps start to get in more towards the front of the field competing with the Toyotas with the Fords with FRM with Tricon"
FRM is a racing team name. In NASCAR, the team’s people and resources can make a big difference in how well the car performs.
FRM is a NASCAR team/organization mentioned in the context of manufacturer competition (alongside Toyota and Ford). In NASCAR, team resources and engineering support can strongly influence how competitive a car is, especially when conditions are tight at short tracks.
Tricon
"competing with the Toyotas with the Fords with FRM with Tricon"
Tricon is a racing team name. In NASCAR, teams work on car setup and strategy, and that can affect how competitive they are race to race.
Tricon is referenced as another NASCAR team competing in the same “front of the field” conversation. Team engineering, setup development, and driver fit are key factors in NASCAR performance, particularly when the field is close.
dive bomb
"Noah now if you're trying to pass someone you would Instead of going right you just go straight and dive bomb and Noah wasn't trying to pass anyone there"
A “dive bomb” is when a driver brakes really late and turns in hard to try to pass. It’s a bold move that can go wrong if there isn’t enough space or traction.
In racing, a “dive bomb” is an aggressive late braking move where a driver commits to turning in very close to the braking zone to get past the car ahead. It’s risky because it can overwhelm grip and spacing, especially if the other driver isn’t expecting it.
fastest lap
"KMAG just was a star and he got the fastest lap granted It was because he had clean track and fresh tires, but still you get the fastest lap."
“Fastest lap” is the quickest one-lap time anyone did in that race. It usually means the car and driver were really quick for at least one lap.
“Fastest lap” means the single quickest lap time recorded during the race session. Even if a driver doesn’t win, setting the fastest lap often indicates strong pace—commonly helped by factors like clean air and fresh tires.
clean track
"It was because he had clean track and fresh tires, but still you get the fastest lap."
“Clean track” means there aren’t cars in your way. With clear space, it’s easier to drive your best line and go faster.
“Clean track” refers to driving without other cars nearby, so the driver isn’t slowed by traffic and can use the full racing line. It also reduces aerodynamic disruption, which can make it easier to hit consistent lap times.
fresh tires
"It was because he had clean track and fresh tires, but still you get the fastest lap."
“Fresh tires” are tires with lots of grip left. Newer tires usually let the car stop and turn better, especially for a quick lap.
“Fresh tires” are newly installed tires (or at least tires with more remaining grip) that haven’t been heat-cycled and worn down by earlier laps. Fresh rubber typically improves traction and braking consistency, which can help a driver set the fastest lap.
checkered flag
"The checkered flag is out and it's time for the final thoughts"
The “checkered flag” is the official signal that the race is over. It’s waved at the finish line when the checkered flag moment happens.
The “checkered flag” is the signal that a race (or a session) has ended. In most motorsports, it’s shown at the finish line to indicate the winner and that the final laps are complete.
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