Dirty Mo Live from Naval Base Corando with Ryan Blaney
About this episode
Racing and real-world grit collide at Naval Base Coronado as The Dale Jr. Download hosts Ryan Blaney for a live show with the U.S. Navy. They walk a course on an active base, comparing sim learning to rough, wide-corner reality, then dig into racing lines, late-braking “dive bombs,” and safety features like tire packs and a bail out lane. Between on-track strategy talk, they also cover street-course grip, points momentum, and plenty of off-track banter—scooters, call signs, and even flight-simulator Navy stories.
Ryan Blaney is joined by Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi LIVE from the Naval Base Coronado. The guy's chat about what it's like seeing an active Navy base turned into a NASCAR track, what their experiences were like coming out here, and what their call-signs would be.
Where does SVG need to start for the field to have a shot?
The Chase is finally back, but just how close do you need to be to have a shot? Some say top-6...but not Ryan Blaney.
Ryan's mustache has been the talk of the garage, but what exactly did Roger Penske say when he saw it?
Jeff and Ryan also blind rank drivers they would let babysit their kids. Plus, what it's like dealing with blowouts, upset llamas, and more.
America’s Navy. Forged by the Sea. Start your journey at Navy.com.
Check out Dirty Mo Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DirtyMoMedia
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sim work
"[190.8s] Yeah, you know, we did sim work. [192.8s] I will say a lot is different from the sim."
“Sim work” is practice in a computer driving simulator. It can help you learn the track and plan where to brake and turn, but it’s not the same as driving the real car on the real track.
“Sim work” means using a driving simulator to model the track and practice driving lines before getting on track. It helps teams and drivers study braking points, cornering behavior, and lap-time strategies, but it can’t fully replicate real tire grip and car feel.
scans
"[197.7s] I mean, we, they did the best they could with the scans. [200.1s] You know, they brought machines out here to scan the surfaces the best they could,"
In this context, “scans” refers to capturing detailed measurements of the track surface using specialized equipment. Those scan-based models are used to improve simulator accuracy and help teams understand how the real pavement will behave under tires.
lines
"[213.0s] But yeah, I mean, you're going to try to be able to find like through, you know, [217.5s] turn two, turn three, turn 45 you know, you're going to try to be finding [222.5s] different lines that are the smoothest"
“Lines” are the paths drivers choose through a corner. A good line is usually the smoothest one that keeps the car fast and stable from entry to exit.
In racing, “lines” are the planned paths through corners—where you turn in, how you position the car mid-corner, and where you exit. Finding the smoothest line helps reduce speed loss and improves lap time, especially in corners that are hard to balance.
dive bombs
"[243.8s] So kind of how do you race around people doing that? [246.4s] You're going to see a lot of dive bombs into there."
“Dive bombs” means braking extremely late to try to get ahead at the last second. It’s risky because you have to be very precise to avoid losing control or hitting the other car.
“Dive bombs” are aggressive late-braking moves where a driver brakes very hard and late to get into a corner ahead of another car. They’re common at tight or high-advantage braking zones, but they require precision because they can destabilize the car and increase the risk of contact.
practice qualifying
"[256.2s] So making fast lap time with those types of corners is going to be one thing for [260.9s] practice qualifying, but then racing around people."
“Practice qualifying” is like a practice session where drivers also try to go fast, similar to qualifying. It’s partly about learning the track and partly about seeing what pace you can run before the real qualifying.
“Practice qualifying” is a session where drivers push for fast lap times while still treating it like preparation for the actual qualifying/race. The focus is often on learning the best lines and setups, then translating that into race-ready driving under traffic.
protect those big open
"[263.6s] You're going to have to run those areas a different way to protect those big open [267.7s] kind of turn into tight corner areas."
“Protect” here means defending your position by blocking the best spots for other drivers to pass. It’s about controlling where they can go when the track gets tighter.
“Protect those big open” refers to defending the best racing space—keeping rivals from taking the inside or setting up a pass. In practice, that means choosing a line and timing that limits where other cars can go, especially when transitioning from a fast section into tighter corners.
tire packs
"And then looking at some of this track, though, there's tire packs out there. Yeah. Is there any way these tire packs don't get smoked?"
Tire packs are stacks of tires set along the track. They act like a cushion to help slow and absorb crash energy, but they can still get wrecked if cars hit them hard.
“Tire packs” are barriers made from stacked tires placed along a racetrack. They’re designed to absorb impact energy and reduce how hard a car hits a wall, but they can still get damaged or “smoked” during heavy contact.
bail out lane
"They made an opening now to where you have a bail out lane, which is good. Like a joker lane?"
A bail-out lane is a safety area on the track that gives drivers an alternate path if they mess up a turn. It’s there to help prevent crashes into the wall.
A “bail out lane” is an extra escape route on a racetrack that lets drivers get out of trouble if they miss the intended racing line or can’t make the corner safely. It’s meant to reduce the chance of a car going straight into a barrier.
joker lane
"Like a joker lane? Yeah. Like, I mean, if you miss the actual road course, you have to go do a stop and go."
A joker lane is an alternate route on the track you’re sent to if you don’t stay on the main course. It usually costs you time (like a stop-and-go), so it’s a penalty for going off-line.
A “joker lane” is an alternate section of track that drivers may have to use when they miss the main course. In this context it’s described as a stop-and-go alternative, meaning it costs time to discourage repeated mistakes.
Jersey barriers
"But if you are going to hit something, the tire packs are softer than the Jersey barriers and the walls that they got out here."
Jersey barriers are the long concrete blocks you see along roads and tracks. They’re meant to stop or redirect a car, and they’re much tougher than tire stacks.
“Jersey barriers” are concrete crash barriers shaped like long blocks (often with a curved face). They’re used along highways and racetracks to redirect vehicles and protect trackside areas, and they’re typically much harder than tire stacks.
looped it
"Two drivers kind of took it wide and basically looped it into the, you know, smack it with their back end on the wall."
“Looped it” means the car spun around (like it rotated too far) and lost control. That kind of spin often leads to hitting something.
“Looped it” describes a spin where the car rotates until it faces the wrong direction, often ending up at an awkward angle to the wall. In racing talk, it usually implies a loss of control severe enough to cause contact.
Chicago Street course
"And I think like Chicago Street course was a big indicator. [412.0s] A lot of guys are in their fastest lap,"
The Chicago Street course is a race track set up on city streets in Chicago. Because it’s a street course, the grip can improve as more cars run and leave rubber behind.
The Chicago Street course is a temporary street circuit used for racing in Chicago. Street courses often change grip as rubber builds up, which can make lap times and strategy evolve during the race.
fastest lap
"A lot of guys are in their fastest lap, [413.9s] two thirds of the way into that race when it was dry."
A fastest lap is the single quickest lap time a driver records during a session or race. It’s often used as a performance benchmark and can reflect how well the car is set up and how the track conditions are evolving.
rubber gets laid down
"Because the track gets faster on these street courses just because more rubber gets laid down. [423.0s] And the drivers figure it out too."
As cars drive around, they leave rubber on the track. More rubber usually makes the surface stickier, so cars can go faster.
“Rubber gets laid down” refers to tire rubber accumulating on the racing surface as cars drive on it. That usually increases grip, so the track can become faster over the course of a session—especially on street courses.
Sonoma
"So not a lot of elevation changes out here unlike Sonoma is a big hilly climb. [457.0s] Those two spots, those two downhill braking areas are going to be tricky."
Sonoma is a famous race track in California. It has more hills and elevation changes than some other tracks, which can make braking and cornering feel different.
Sonoma refers to Sonoma Raceway in California, known for significant elevation changes compared with flatter circuits. Those climbs and descents can affect braking points, tire loading, and how stable the car feels mid-corner.
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