Cleetus's Advice From Drivers, Lee Pulliam's Emotional Embrace & Dale’s Fired Up
About this episode
Martinsville-style racing gets real as the hosts talk about why drivers both expect and resent contact—trading sheet metal, not escalating wrecks, and how different tracks change the “rules” of aggression. They also debate NASCAR’s TV-driven caution/commercial timing and whether longer yellows (or fewer green laps) would feel better. The conversation then shifts to Kyle Busch’s struggles with a finicky car, Shane van Gisbergen’s Martinsville road-course knack, and Cleetus McFarland’s transition into NASCAR—highlighting the pressure, the massive sport “machine,” and his creator/content advice. A heartfelt dad-moment with Cleetus’s daughter closes it out.
Only have 30 minutes? Well, this episode of Dirty Thirty packs a full-sized podcast punch into a half-hour runtime - and it's all the best parts from Dirty Mo Media's shows, including: Dale's Martinsville Rant, A Really Angry Fan Voicemail & Jeff Gluck's Interview with Cleetus McFarland.
We start off with Dale Jr. giving us a rant for the ages, where he gives a fiery explanation about how he differs from drivers who get upset about door banging at Martinsville.
Batting second in the proverbial DMM lineup is Actions Detrimental with Denny Hamlin and his explanation on why they run so many caution laps in between stages.
Next up, we had to highlight the callers in Door Bumper Clear's Reaction Theatre segment who covered everything from makin' babies to not-so-nice Easter wishes.
Plus, ahead of his race for Richard Childress Racing at Rockingham, Cleetus McFarland chatted with Jeff Gluck on the Gluckcast about advice he's gotten, how to grow a YouTube channel, and what he wants NASCAR fans to get out of him racing in the sport.
And last, but certainly not least, break out the tissue boxes — Lee Pulliam recounts the emotional embrace he shared with his daughter before climbing the JR Motorsports No. 9 at Martinsville and how much she knew it meant to her dad.
Thanks for listening! See you next week, right back here on the Dirty Thirty.
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Martinsville
"And especially at Martinsville, like damn, you're supposed to get run into. [66.5s] I would go to Martinsville and I want Jesse and everybody to hear this."
Martinsville is a NASCAR-style short track where the racing is close and bumping happens a lot. Drivers often expect contact and plan for it so they can keep the car under control.
Martinsville Speedway is a short track in Virginia known for tight racing and frequent contact. Because of the track’s shape and braking zones, drivers often anticipate being “run into” and manage the risk of damage.
road courses
"You go to, you go to, you go to Kansas and Chicago and road courses and all these tracks."
A road course is a type of race track with lots of turns, not just going left in a circle. Cars have to slow down, turn, and speed up repeatedly, so tires and grip matter a lot.
“Road courses” are race tracks with a mix of turns, straights, and braking zones, unlike oval-only tracks. Drivers often need to manage grip and tire wear across many corners per lap.
donuts
"Somebody put some donuts on this mother f***ing, let's go."
“Donuts” means spinning the tires in a circle to make smoke and show the car still has power. It’s usually done for fun or celebration, not as a serious racing tactic.
“Donuts” are circular tire-spinning maneuvers used to generate smoke and show control of the car. In racing contexts, they’re often used as a playful celebration or to demonstrate that the car can still move under power after contact.
save the race car
"Can we save some f***ing race car? Cause I'd have both sides lit up like flooding the sheet metal market here."
“Save the race car” means don’t wreck it further and keep it running well enough to finish. If the car gets damaged, it can get harder to drive and could end the race.
“Save the race car” means managing the car’s condition so it can finish the race despite damage. In stock-car racing, even small body or handling issues can worsen quickly, so drivers try to avoid further contact and preserve tires and drivability.
sheet metal
"Cause I'd have both sides lit up like flooding the sheet metal market here."
Sheet metal is the thin metal outer parts of the car—like doors and fenders. When someone says the “sheet metal” is lit up, they mean the body panels are getting smashed.
“Sheet metal” is the thin stamped metal used for body panels like doors, quarter panels, and fenders. The speaker uses it to describe widespread body damage from contact, implying the car’s outer panels are getting hit and replaced.
door hit / left side door impact
"...hit me in the left side door, you know, it was, it's what I went to Martinsville to f***ing expect."
A door hit is when another car smacks the side of your car, near the door. It can make the car harder to drive and can be a sign of how rough the racing got.
A “door hit” is side-impact contact where another car strikes your door area, often affecting both aerodynamics and structural integrity. The speaker specifically mentions a left-side door impact, emphasizing the kind of contact they expected at Martinsville.
got loose
"And when a guy came, when a guy got loose under me and f*** me, you know, it was, it's what I went to Martinsville to f***ing expect."
“Got loose” means the tires lost traction and the car started sliding. When that happens in a race, it can be hard to control and can cause crashes.
“Got loose” means the car lost grip and started to slide or rotate unexpectedly. In racing, being loose under another car can lead to contact, especially on tight tracks where there’s less room to recover.
spin a guy out
"I'm not going to knock, I'm not going to spin a guy out. I'm not going to f***, you know, ruin somebody's day."
“Spin a guy out” means you make their car rotate and lose control. It’s a big deal in racing because it can quickly turn into a wreck.
“Spin a guy out” means causing another driver’s car to rotate uncontrollably, usually from contact or a bad line. In racing, it’s considered dangerous because it can lead to crashes and debris.
escalate
"I'm not going to take you out now. I don't want it to escalate. That's when it gets carried away."
“Escalate” means it gets worse—like a small bump turning into a bigger fight or crash. Drivers try not to let it escalate so nobody gets hurt.
“Escalate” here means turning a minor exchange of contact into a larger, more dangerous situation. Drivers try to avoid escalation because retaliation and momentum can quickly lead to spin-outs or multi-car wrecks.
caution
"Back to this, this, this caution thing though... You throw the caution, they watch us gather up, they go to commercial for a while."
A caution is when the race slows down because something is happening on the track. Everyone drives more carefully, and teams often get chances to pit during that time.
A “caution” is NASCAR’s slowed-pace period (yellow flag) used when there’s an incident or debris on track. It changes how cars move, how teams can pit, and how race strategy is timed.
yellow
"they're like, all right, we're going to do it during yellow. Well, the time, the running time of the commercials has to remain whatever it is."
“Yellow” is what people call the caution period. Cars slow down and follow the rules for safety, and TV often uses that time for commercials.
“Yellow” is shorthand for a caution period where cars slow and follow the pace car. NASCAR and broadcasters use these yellow periods to fit in commercials, which can extend the overall time spent under caution.
pit stops
"I will say, though, that like showing the pit stops, I do think helps build the race up."
Pit stops are when cars pull into the pits to refuel and/or change tires. Timing matters a lot, especially when there are cautions.
“Pit stops” are scheduled stops in the pit lane for services like fuel, tires, and adjustments. In NASCAR-style racing, cautions can compress or stretch the timing of pit strategy.
practice
"Do you think practice lack of practice has anything to do with that? I mean, obviously he doesn't need practice, but I feel like he he does need it. Like, but to get comfortable, I think."
Practice helps you learn how the car reacts. Even great drivers need seat time to feel confident and consistent in a specific car.
In racing, practice time is used to learn the car’s behavior and refine setup and driving technique. The speaker suggests that while the driver may be naturally talented, additional practice would help him get comfortable with the car’s feel.
get it right for him
"But I guarantee you, if you get it right for him, you know where he's going to be. Yeah. Right."
They’re saying if the team sets the car up the way that driver likes, he’ll perform better. With a touchy race car, setup matters a lot.
This implies driver-specific setup and tuning—adjusting the car so it matches the driver’s preferences and driving style. In sensitive race cars, the “right” setup can be the difference between struggling and running up front.
Kyle Busch
"But yeah, I think like Tommy said, if you put put Kyle Busch in the fastest car, he's going to be at the front."
Kyle Busch is a famous NASCAR driver. The point here is that if you give him a really good car, he’ll likely be near the front.
Kyle Busch is a well-known NASCAR driver, often associated with top-tier performance and strong racecraft. Mentioning him reinforces the idea that driver talent can translate into results when the car is competitive.
wrecking us
"because it ended up wrecking us. But that was that was his fault last week."
In racing, “wrecking us” means there was a crash that hurt the team’s chances. It can damage the car and force extra repairs or pit stops.
“Wrecking us” refers to a crash that damages the team’s car or ruins their race strategy. In racing, even a single incident can lead to repairs, lost track position, and additional time in the pits.
RCR
"having this opportunity with RCR is I'm not just getting in a car and hoping to figure it out in the first 50 laps, you know, they have. I've never been given so much data, so much communication for anything in my life."
RCR is a professional racing team. Here, they’re helping the driver improve by giving lots of coaching, feedback, and information.
RCR refers to Richard Childress Racing, a major NASCAR team and driver development organization. In this segment, the emphasis is on the team providing extensive coaching, data, and communication to accelerate the driver’s learning curve.
data
"I've never been given so much data, so much communication for anything in my life. I mean, I probably I got less data when I became a pilot."
“Data” here means recorded information from the car while you drive. It can show what you did and how the car responded, so you can improve faster.
In modern racing, “data” typically means telemetry and performance logs—things like throttle/brake traces, steering inputs, speed, and sometimes tire and suspension readings. More data helps drivers and engineers pinpoint what to change to improve lap time and consistency.
communication
"I've never been given so much data, so much communication for anything in my life. I mean, I probably I got less data when I became a pilot."
“Communication” means the team talks to the driver during and after sessions. They share what they’re seeing so the driver knows what to try next.
“Communication” in a racing context usually refers to real-time feedback between driver and team—often via radio—plus post-session debriefs. Good communication helps translate data into actionable driving adjustments.
simulator
"I've been spending hundreds of laps on the simulator every day, hosting races on iRacing."
A simulator is a racing video setup that lets you practice driving. You can learn tracks and improve your habits before you drive the real car.
A simulator is used to practice track driving and refine decision-making without the cost and wear of real-world testing. Drivers can build familiarity with braking points, racing lines, and setups, then apply that learning when they get on track.
stay out of the way
"Dale Jr. and these guys are saying, just get out there, stay out of the way and learn. And that's my hopes."
This is basically advice to avoid getting in the middle of other cars’ problems. In close NASCAR racing, that can mean fewer wrecks and a better chance to finish.
“Stay out of the way” is racecraft advice aimed at reducing the chance of getting caught in other drivers’ mistakes. In NASCAR-style pack racing, positioning and timing matter as much as speed because contact and sudden braking can create multi-car chaos.
NASCAR
"You know, you could really tell that you've gained such a firsthand appreciation for NASCAR... The single largest thing, I mean, the machine of NASCAR is massive, right?"
NASCAR is a big American race series where teams race purpose-built stock cars. It’s not just the track—there’s a huge community and a lot of effort behind the scenes.
NASCAR is a stock-car racing series in the United States, known for oval-track racing and highly regulated race cars. When someone says “the machine of NASCAR,” they’re usually referring to the scale of the series—teams, cars, competition, and the fan/community ecosystem.
drag race
"When I'm doing the drag race and YouTube stuff, it's pretty fun to jump over here."
Drag racing is racing in a straight line to see who accelerates fastest. It’s a different style than oval racing, so the cars and setups can feel very different.
Drag racing is a straight-line motorsport focused on acceleration over a short distance, typically from a standstill. The skills and car setup priorities can differ from NASCAR because drag racing emphasizes traction and power delivery rather than sustained cornering/oval stability.
bigger deal than that
"So when you see somebody win, like you think, oh, that's great, but it's a way bigger deal than that."
They’re saying a win is harder than it looks. It usually takes a lot of things going right over the whole race, not just one good lap.
The speaker is emphasizing that a race win represents more than a single moment—it’s the end result of sustained performance, clean execution, and avoiding trouble in a chaotic environment. This frames winning as a complex achievement rather than a simple “drive fast” outcome.
Kenny Wallace
"Honestly, him and Kenny Wallace have kind of been like some of the few guys who've had my back"
Kenny Wallace is someone with a lot of NASCAR experience. If he’s backing you, it usually means he sees real driving skill.
Kenny Wallace is a former NASCAR driver and broadcaster. His mention highlights that the speaker values feedback from experienced drivers who understand vehicle control and racecraft.
funnel
"You know, you may want to interpret what could open your funnel up. And, you know, next time you make a title for a video,"
A “funnel” is just a way to describe how people go from seeing something to actually taking action. Here, they’re saying your video title and thumbnail should help pull people in.
A “funnel” is a marketing concept describing the steps from attracting attention to converting that attention into action (like watching videos or visiting a channel). The speaker is applying it to how video titles and thumbnails influence whether viewers “come into the door.”
video title and thumbnail
"next time you make a title for a video, think, all right, who's gonna understand this? ... and the title and the thumbnail are the most crucial part of that, of getting people in the door."
In video marketing, the title and thumbnail are the primary “click drivers” that determine whether people stop scrolling and watch. The segment emphasizes that clarity and audience understanding are crucial for getting viewers to engage.
O'Reilly's
"I got this crazy opportunity to run in O'Reilly's with RCR and Tommy's Express Car Wash."
O'Reilly’s is a company that sells car parts. They also sponsor racing, which helps pay for teams to compete.
O'Reilly’s is an automotive parts retailer that commonly sponsors racing teams and drivers. In motorsports, sponsorships like this help fund race programs and provide brand visibility.
Tommy's Express Car Wash
"I got this crazy opportunity to run in O'Reilly's with RCR and Tommy's Express Car Wash."
Tommy’s Express is a car wash business. They sponsor racing teams, usually to get their name in front of fans.
Tommy’s Express Car Wash is a car wash brand that appears here as a co-sponsor. In racing, sponsors like car-wash companies often support teams financially in exchange for marketing exposure.
racing
"And she, you know, she, my girls go to the race [1405.5s] and they're still not sure what racing is, right?"
Here, “racing” means cars competing on a track, going around and around to try to be fastest. The kids might be there with their family but still not understand why everyone is watching the cars.
In this context, “racing” refers to motorsport events where drivers compete for position over laps. The speaker is describing how kids may not fully understand the purpose of racing yet, even if they’re present at the track.
led laps
"[1433.5s] It was a special moment. [1434.8s] It was the, the, we raced all day, we led laps,"
“Led laps” means the driver was in the lead for some of the laps. It’s basically saying they were out front during parts of the race.
“Led laps” means the driver was in the first position for one or more laps during the race. It’s a key performance marker because it shows the car had the pace to run at the front, even if the final result isn’t mentioned here.
post race meeting
"just, when we had the post race, [1613.9s] when we had that post race meeting Monday morning here, [1619.5s] yeah, the team meeting."
After the race, the team usually gets together to talk about how it went. They review what worked, what didn’t, and what they’ll try to do better next time.
A post-race meeting (often called a debrief) is where the team reviews what happened during the race—strategy, execution, and driver feedback. It’s a common part of motorsports operations and helps identify what to improve for the next event.
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