This podcast is hosted by a racing-focused network. It’s where you’ll usually hear motorsports news and discussion.
Topic
Boulevard
“Boulevard” sounds like a named part of the weekend—maybe an event or activity people went to. The key point is the guest says they had fun but got rained on and it’s partly a blur.
A “first-time winner” is someone who just got their first career win. It’s a big deal because it means they finally broke through and proved they can win.
ARCA (Automobile Racing Club of America) is a stock-car racing series that often serves as a stepping stone to NASCAR. Winning an ARCA series title is a major career milestone because it demonstrates consistency across a full season.
A crew chief is the team’s lead strategist and technical decision-maker during a race. They coordinate car setup, pit strategy, and adjustments with the driver and crew to optimize performance.
“Sim” refers to using racing simulation software to practice and study tracks, setups, and driving lines. Teams often use sims to reduce the time needed to learn a track and to prepare for race-week changes.
A late restart is when the race restarts after a caution, but it happens close to the finish. Because everyone is packed together again, it’s a big moment where drivers can gain positions fast.
On a restart, cars line up in rows. Being in the first couple rows usually means you’re closer to the front and more likely to get a good launch when the race starts again.
During a caution, the race slows down and the order can change when cars line up again. That’s why being in a good spot before the restart can suddenly make a big difference.
The last lap is the final lap of the race. It’s when everything gets more intense, because there’s no time left—so drivers have to decide when to push and when to be careful.
They’re talking about racers who don’t just drive—they also help wrench on their own cars. Doing that can help the team stay ready for the next race because problems can be handled faster.
Topic
Arkham and art series
The transcript references a racing “series” (spelled oddly in the transcript) where these shop-working driver/owners compete. This is likely a specific motorsports series the hosts follow, and it frames the context for why car preparation and shop time are emphasized.
They’re pointing out that the team is working on the car even while the next race is coming up soon. Racing cars need constant attention, so the work doesn’t stop after a race.
The transmission is the part that changes how the engine’s power gets to the wheels. In racing, it matters a lot because the right gear setup helps the car accelerate and behave correctly on different parts of the track.
“Blue collar” here means the person learned racing by getting their hands dirty—working on cars and helping build them. That can make it easier to talk to the crew and understand what changes will actually help the car.
Chassis guys are the people who help set up how the car handles—like how it turns and sticks to the track. Car builders are the crew members who put everything together and make sure the race car is built correctly.
Topic
goodies dash series
This sounds like the name of a racing series TJ competed in early on. Series like that are often where drivers learn the ropes and move up to bigger opportunities.
“Good on the radio” means communicating well during the race. It helps the driver and team coordinate decisions like strategy and adjustments.
Topic
Daytona arc race
This sounds like a particular race event at Daytona. Early races like that can matter a lot because teams are still figuring out what works best for the track.
A spotter is a person on the track who helps the driver by watching what’s happening around them. They tell the driver where other cars are so the driver can make safer, smarter decisions.
A “groove” is basically the best path around the track that other cars have worn in. Drivers try different ones to find where the tires grip best and where the car feels easiest to control.
The Daytona 500 is NASCAR’s biggest race. Winning it usually means the driver is excellent at race strategy and handling the chaos of pack racing.
Topic
NARCA
It sounds like they meant NASCAR, which is the main stock-car racing series in the U.S. The point is that the person doesn’t need to hype themselves up about racing anymore.
Topic
Toledo, Michigan
They’re talking about adding another race location in Michigan. New tracks mean the team has to adjust plans and get the car ready for that venue.
Watkins Glen is a famous race track. When a team says they’re going there, it means they’re preparing for that specific track’s driving style and setup.
“Car ready” means the team is getting the race car prepared for the next event. That usually involves checking it over and making sure everything is set up to run well.
A “tear down” means taking the race car apart. The team does it to check everything closely and replace anything that’s worn or damaged before the next race.
“Fire bottles” are onboard fire-suppression cylinders used in race cars to quickly extinguish engine or fuel fires. They’re typically triggered automatically or manually and are part of the safety system required by many racing series.
Road course season means the schedule is focused on tracks with lots of corners. The car often needs different setup and parts than it does for oval tracks, so teams reconfigure it.
Cletus McFarland is a well-known motorsports content creator who has competed in various stock-car and ARCA-style events. The hosts discuss how his on-track performance and fan attention can impact a series’ visibility and competitiveness.
Drafting means you drive close behind another car so the air resistance is lower. That lets you carry more speed and stay close enough to make a move later.
Three-wide is when three cars are next to each other at the same time. It’s risky because there’s less space for everyone, but it can help you get around the pack.
Concept
towing (to the next car)
Towing here means using another car’s airflow to help you go faster. Drivers coordinate it so one car can help the other get past trouble or a slower car.
Blocking is when a driver moves to stop someone else from getting around them. It’s a common late-race tactic, but it can be dangerous if the other car can’t slow down.
Talladega is another big NASCAR track where cars usually race in tight groups. Drafting tactics are crucial there, so drivers practice how and when to run alongside each other.
A bump draft is when one car uses a controlled nudge to help another car’s momentum, typically by running close enough to create aerodynamic and aerodynamic-pressure effects. A “big” bump draft implies a more aggressive, higher-contact setup that requires precision to keep the car straight.
The modified scene is the group of racers who run cars that have been changed a lot from how they come from the factory. It’s more about the racing community and the type of cars they build and race.
Sometimes when you’re fixing a car, you have to take parts off just to make room. It’s not always fun, but it helps the mechanic put everything back together correctly.
The bell housing is a metal cover between the engine and the transmission. It helps protect and hold the parts that connect the engine to the gearbox, so mechanics sometimes have to remove things near it to do the job.
The shifter is what you move to select gears. If it doesn’t fit during a repair, it usually means something is in the way or the parts aren’t lined up correctly.
G-force is how hard your body is being pushed compared to normal gravity. In racing, turns and braking can make you feel much heavier or lighter, which can wear you out.
The Stanley Cup is a famous championship trophy in hockey. They’re joking that their trophy might travel around to different places the way the Stanley Cup does.
They’re referencing a debate about whether race car drivers count as athletes. The point is that racing can be physically demanding, even though it looks like you’re just driving.
At a race, there’s usually a special building or area for reporters and interviews. The media center is where people go to talk to drivers and teams, so it’s normal to travel between it and the rest of the event.
At big race events, people sometimes use small electric carts to get around faster. It helps when the different areas are far apart and you’re carrying equipment.
In racing, “wins” refers to finishing first in a race or earning victory in a competition. When hosts talk about getting more wins, they’re usually discussing performance goals for the season or upcoming events.
They’re talking about a heated exchange between a TV personality and a NASCAR driver. It’s more about the conversation and reactions than car mechanics.
“NASCAR fans” refers to the dedicated fanbase that follows stock-car racing and its drivers closely. In this segment, the hosts frame the media back-and-forth as something that affects how fans perceive drivers and personalities.
Topic
NASCAR drivers vs "athletes" debate
The hosts connect NASCAR’s public perception to a broader cultural debate about whether drivers are “athletes.” They argue that even non-fans share the view, and that the controversy is partly about how people define athleticism.
They’re talking about a disagreement where Joey Logano responds to Stephen A. Smith. The big question is whether NASCAR drivers count as athletes, and they bring up what other people think too.
They’re arguing about what it really means to be an “athlete.” Some people think it’s only certain sports, while others say any sport with high skill and competition counts.
They’re discussing what makes someone an athlete. They’re basically saying racing drivers have to be very fit and mentally sharp too, not just pro athletes in gyms or on fields.
They’re talking about how hot a car can get when it’s sitting in the sun. If it’s around 150°F for hours, it’s basically an endurance test for the person inside.
This part is a discussion about a disagreement in NASCAR—who responded, who should have responded, and whose point was stronger. It’s about reputation and statements more than technical car details.
Jimmy Johnson is referenced as an example of a NASCAR driver who is clearly an athlete. The segment uses his reputation to challenge the idea that “not all NASCAR drivers are athletes.”
Mark Martin is brought up as another NASCAR driver who supports the argument that NASCAR drivers can be athletes. The mention is used rhetorically rather than as a technical or performance discussion.
Talladega is a famous NASCAR track where cars run very fast and often race in tight groups. Even if one race wasn’t great, the weekend can still be exciting because of big moments like new winners.
A burnout is when a driver spins the tires briefly to generate tire smoke and heat. In NASCAR, it’s often used as a celebratory gesture after a win, and it can be part of the show for fans and media.
After the race, winners sometimes meet with reporters for questions. The hosts are saying it’s rare for NASCAR’s top executives to show up for those sessions.
Bill France Jr. was an important NASCAR leader. The hosts are using his name to compare how long it’s been since NASCAR executives showed up for post-race media.
A racetrack is the course where the race happens. If two events are planned too close together, it can create scheduling problems for people involved.
Topic
Vegas incident
They’re referencing a well-known situation that happened in Las Vegas. The point here is that it would have been a bad time to deal with scheduling or PR issues.
Topic
drivers like him
They’re talking about whether other drivers get along with him. In racing, reputation matters a lot inside the group.
They’re talking about staying safe during a race. “Hit the wall” means crashing into the track barrier, and the helmet comment is about protecting the driver.
They’re talking about who’s running NASCAR and how noticeable that leadership is to fans. The point is that leadership can change how much attention the sport gets.
Topic
trial raised awareness
The segment references “the trial” as something that raised awareness for NASCAR and for specific people involved. The discussion implies that media attention or controversy can affect who gets opportunities within the sport.
Jim France is a key NASCAR executive figure, and the hosts credit him with “handcuffing” teams or limiting what they can do. In racing, leadership decisions can directly affect rules, series priorities, and how teams plan car development.
IMSA is another major racing series, but it focuses more on sports cars than NASCAR-style stock cars. The hosts are suggesting that attention to IMSA can affect what happens in NASCAR.
Concept
updating a race car vs building a whole new car
They’re basically saying you don’t always need a brand-new car. Sometimes it’s better to keep the same car and just improve the parts that need it.
A “generation” is a big update cycle. Instead of changing everything every year, manufacturers and teams usually redesign the car every so often, then keep improving it with smaller upgrades in between.
Topic
poor one-out segment
They’re talking about a recurring joke/tribute segment they do on the show. It’s basically a quick, fun moment before they get to the next part of the episode.
“Blew an engine” means the engine suffered a catastrophic failure—often something like a major internal failure or severe damage that makes it unsafe or impossible to continue. In racing, it typically triggers an emergency plan: replace the engine and reassemble quickly to meet race-day requirements.
ARCA practice is the time before the race where drivers and teams get the car dialed in. If something breaks during practice, the team may have to scramble to fix it quickly so the driver can still race.
An “engine swap overnight” is a rapid replacement done between sessions—here, after a failure in practice and before the race. It highlights how teams manage logistics (parts, labor, and setup changes) under extreme time pressure, which can affect reliability and performance.
A road course car is tuned for tracks with lots of corners. The point here is that the car was meant for road courses, but it still performed well enough to lead late in the race.
They’re talking about a driver who worked their way up from smaller, more local racing instead of starting with huge money and resources. It’s the kind of story fans like because it feels earned.
They’re talking about a very large, very fast NASCAR track. On tracks like that, the cars often run at high speed and drafting and stability matter a lot.
Topic
NASCAR needs a personality
They’re saying NASCAR needs drivers who are fun and relatable to fans, not only fast. Being a recognizable personality helps grow the sport.
They’re saying they’ll be at the race track again soon. That typically means there’s a racing weekend coming up with sessions like practice or qualifying.
Topic
Texas weekend coverage
They’re saying they’ll be in Texas for a racing weekend and will post stories and updates from there. It’s basically “we’ll be covering the event live” energy.
Term
EVs response
They’re referencing a public reaction to a controversy. It’s about what someone says/does after something happens, not a specific car part.
They’re talking about a group viewing session—basically everyone watches together and chats about what’s happening. It’s common for big racing weekends.
LIVE
You
You
Look this way it's Andy J
Hey
Andy J
Drove till he saw
Checkered flag or God in the wall
One night race plenty of times
Then it wake and open his eyes
Degas mean but it gives out dreams, but oh man those day good night
Tell me more tell me more about the boulevard. Tell me more. Tell me more. I can't let's talk race cars
He delivered pizza to me dance
Now he's beaten
Cleatess and friends
Now we got him on a podcast
Wonder when he will win next
And in J
Nothing's his way
But now
Let's party
Tell me
More impressed you you went like four different types of
Singing they're welcome on in ladies and gentlemen to another edition of the front stretch happy hour podcast
I'm your host mr. Brian on presented by Billy's tequila
Alongside me are the guy you just heard mr. Michael Massey and mr. Dalton Hopkins gentlemen. How are we doing?
Massey I'll start with you buddy
Yeah, I was trying to channel my inner John Travolta there. I want to surprise Andy with the with the song
I love you loved it or hated it, but I
Got you now
I'm a huge grease fan. So that that that just fits perfect
I was when I was little my mom said I woke up every morning. I had to watch grease or I guess after that was toy story
But yeah, no, that was as soon as you started strumming. I'm like, I've heard this one before I'm like, no, I haven't
Alongside mr. Michael Massey we have the other guy that was in Talladega with the mr. Dalton Hopkins
Have you recovered from from the Boulevard mr. Hopkins?
We surprisingly recovered
Relatively quickly believe a lot quicker than I thought we were going to so it was it was actually a really really nice
Sunday morning
Yeah, but the Boulevard was was a lot of fun. We got rained on a little bit
But I'm gonna be honest with you. I don't I remember about maybe 50% of it
And the other bit the rest of it is kind of a blur. So but overall recovered really nicely
Happy to have one of the three first-time winners from this past weekend on this was a this was a cool weekend
We got a lot to talk about. Yeah, I think this is our first ever time
We're having a guest on that one the previous weekend the first ever time that Andy Jan co-act
Andy J as well as what we call him is an arca winner. He joins the happy hour podcast Andy J
You were an arca series winner. Um, did you ever in your wildest dreams?
Have think that that title was gonna gonna be a part of you
In my wildest dreams, yeah, I dreamt about it a few times
You know
We kind of started this this this is a venture
You know it's six years ago and it was probably for me more just about
I'm having an opportunity to compete
Honestly compete at extracts like Daytona and Talladega and I didn't think I get I didn't think I get too far past the first year
But you know, we bought a car from Kent Schrader and
The I expected to go there and be competitive, right?
But you know, it'd be you know winning would be a pretty tall order. So that seemed pretty pretty far-fetched for sure
but you know as this
whole
Operation that has become class motorsports came together
You know, we've we've always performed very well. I think we have
Really good people involved with
With with every facet of the operation and that kind of started with buying that first car from Schrader
But I was getting help right away from we got Mike Dayton as a crew chief and we got Andy Sice was
Let me hang out on and the sleep isn't sleep on his couch and hang out in his garage and he'd come over and tinker with us a
little bit and I never envisioned it becoming what it became but
You know, we we had a sponsor with Kevin LaPierre that was
Starting to get interested in what we were doing
He was he had been involved in motorsports years prior to that and then got out of it for for quite a few years and then got back into it
so
Yeah, it's just been
Kind of a whirlwind, but I think as
Things have gone on and I've seen the the commitment from Andy and Mike and the investment and everyone pushing me to
You know study a little harder and sim a little you know and do all the do all the little stuff that you know
I probably never would have had time to do when when we were kind of just trying to scrap it together by myself
but
Let me kind of focus more just on being a driver and I
Think we could you know, there's been instances where we've been in the hunt for a lot of these races
And I think we bring good enough cars
You know, we kind of call ourselves like the big little team like we're not probably you know
We're like the PRG and nitro cars are but
Obviously the Gibbs cars, but we're competitive with them and on the right day
You know we can we can hang in there and
For us it was just always about putting ourselves in those
We always talked about being in the first two rows on a late restart and I guess this one ended up being the third third row
but just just being in the mix at the end because you know
You never know what's gonna happen when things start getting shuffled up and
You know, we we've always been fast enough to hang in there for sure
And if you know one one person makes a mistake you just never know what could happen and
Saturday the stars just aligned
But it almost seemed like what when you did the interview with with Caitlyn Benzia after you'd won
Like you were almost in shock almost more than you were like happy
Is that is that a fair assessment? Like had it did it take a while to actually think in that?
Yeah, I know part of it was you didn't know that it was the last lap
They never told me
But
Was that like how long did it take for it to actually it's like sink in that you had won the race?
I don't know that it a hundred percent has to be honest
It's still such a how?
It's just crazy
It's hard to process I guess like it really is it's it's such a
I don't know you really I really did dream about doing something like that my whole life and
You know it's so
Hard to imagine how you you know how you can find that opportunity and and be able to capitalize on it
none the less and
It's just hard to imagine that this all really happened. I guess like it's not that you know
I don't think it happened. It's just like it's really hard to believe that you know
It all it all happened the way that it happened and and we're sitting here today talking about this, but
You know I I
I just don't I can really say is I've been really lucky
I've been lucky to be involved with this team and these people and the only thing I've ever can say for myself as I just been
Able to surround myself with with good people not just not just smart people, but but good people and I think
When you look across
You know everyone that's involved with with my race team here at class motorsports and and my modifies and my midgets and everything else
Like, you know, it's just we're all just good racing people and everyone's always taking really good care of me
And that's probably the only reason that this could happen, but it's it's pretty surreal, you know, it's
It's just
It's such a rare accomplishment, you know, and it's it's
It's an achievement that I share with with so many people and I'm just I'm grateful for that I
I
Just want to point out to everyone that when Andy originally will initially first off for the for the audio listeners
Who don't get to see what we're looking at Andy is inside of his race shop right now
He's working on race cars as we speak on a Tuesday night
And he was very nice enough to take away from that time because he's got to get ready for in two weeks
You're ready for walking Glen
So he's working hard even though he just won a Talladega
Which is I mean maybe not Arka's biggest race, but I would I would venture maybe maybe top three
You know, and he's he's still working on these. He's still working on his shop
You know, there's no rest for a guy like him
And I think that's something to appreciate about a guy like Andy and not just Andy
but a lot of other guys in the Arkham and art series who are
racer owners or drivers who
Take the time to still go into the shop and work on their cars and Andy was just talking about this
But he's not nitro. He's not Gibbs. He's not PRM, but
Or PRG, but he's still
In the shop working on it and he just proved to everybody that he can win go out and win and
Be in the shop and race next week. So for a question for me Andy is
What do you have to say to those guys and I'm sure you know plenty of them
I'm sure he talked to him a lot but a lot of the other driver
owners in the field who also have to
Go home and go work on those race cars. They'll say very same race cars in the Arkham and art series
Well, I'll just say I've I've I've spent quite a bit of time on the phone. I promise I'm not I'm not working that hard this week
I'm leaning on the through quite a bit
I promise I'm I nibble at stuff for a little bit here and there and then
You know, usually take a phone call and and not just
You know media stuff, right? It's just catching up with a lot of family
You know, it's just been it's been kind of a crazy week and and just trying to
Enjoy this a little bit and celebrate with everybody and I haven't gone home yet
So, you know kind of just been talking to everybody through the phone, but
Man, I don't know. I don't really you know for for the small role that I play over here
You know, obviously Andy and Mike are the guys working on the cars and I'm more just just the helper and I've
I've done it the other way where I was, you know, when we first started I was trying to do more than I probably knew how to do
And really did need these these guys's help. So it's it's nice to be in that position where I am still helping
I am still, uh, you know working on cars and
I'm going to try to shove a transmission in the road course car here and when we hang up, but
Um, you know, I also am afforded, you know, quite a bit of time just to you know, work on the simulator stuff and and uh,
You know, just you know, make sure I'm in good shape. I went for a good run right before we left for Talladega
so I do have a lot of uh
Comfortable advantages in that regard that have come come come my way as time has gone on here
So I'm very very blessed in that way, but um
I think uh
You know for me just coming from a blue collar racing background
I do love being in the shop and being part of it and I do think that uh
In a way, I think it does, you know, probably help
You know with with the crew seeing the driver there because um,
I've always kind of had a say and I I never try to ask anybody that I wouldn't
At least attempt to do myself. So, um, I guess that's probably just, you know, not getting arca until I was
32 probably just just coming up that way and and you know learning from from people that worked on their own cars
And uh, Billy Mislin and Trey Hoddick were kind of my early mentors and they were
chassis guys and car builders and it was just always kind of the way I was taught and um,
You know, Andy Andy Sice who's the one of the team owners. He's he's very involved with his cars, obviously and
And uh, Mike Dayton, you know our crew chief, you know, there's just everybody everyone's always
You know had had his own racing career, but but same deal always always involved with his own cars and building his own stuff
so I think it's uh
I think it's important for me. Um, you know, it's obviously a little bit different different these days with some of the drivers coming up and
obviously if you're uh
You know in a certain situation where you know, you're you're just going to be the driver
It doesn't always work out that way
but I've always considered myself lucky to be in in a situation where we are, uh,
you know, we're the big little team right and and
You know, it's uh, it's not so big that there's not a place for me
In the shop, you know, I can still be here in the shop and and be helpful and and bring some of my knowledge and expertise to it and
Um, you know, we're we're kind of in the middle on that regard, I guess
Now tj major still spots for you, correct? Andy jay? Yes, he does
So I was I was I was reading an article that our our one of our friends john newbie
Wrote and he was talking he talked with tj about how
Throughout the week tj gives like little video montages to his drivers about like what to prepare for and what what to expect
Does he do that for you as well? And then just how did that relationship come to fruition?
So me to tj is actually from buffalo. I don't know if a lot of people know that but uh, he's originally a western new york racer
He met jr. Doing some online racing and and uh, dale asked him to come down and they did
The goodies dash series with him as the driver and at some point
They figured out that he was pretty good on the radio and and I guess the career the career shifted a little bit at that point, but um
Now we we had some connections to uh, both of us being through buffalo
So when we were going to do the that first arc race at Daytona, we asked him if he'd do it
He said he would so that was uh, that was a blessing because there was a lot of things that I didn't I didn't know what I didn't know and and he really
Um, you know, he's he's the best spotter up on the tower
You know barn on in my mind, but I think uh early on in those early years
He was the advantage of having him was was far greater just because he
He knew all these little things that I didn't I didn't know I didn't know
So it was really important to have him him involved early to shorten up the learning curve quite a bit
But no, he's uh, he's very competitive. He's he's you know, he
He's he's always given me little study sheets like like just like you said and um, you know
We we work on stuff and we we go on the simulator and I'll I'll actually go to his house sometimes at night when I'm down here
And we we'll do little sessions over there
We'll just work on running different grooves if we're going to like a Kansas
He'll you know or say okay run 120 laps up by the wall run 20 laps
You know make big arc and and kind of giving me little like spots on the track where you know
I'm gonna lift points and stuff like that. So he's always a wealth of knowledge in that regard and
um
You know Daytona 500 winner and and and everything that he's achieved in his career
You know, he doesn't really have to get excited about you know race and narca
I wouldn't think but he he brings that uh, he brings that enthusiasm to everything that he does and then that makes us batter for sure
So these these last
48 ish hours or so
How how have they been for you like
Has it been just a whirlwind of stuff or has his life been any different or was it like monday morning back to the grind?
kind of deal
What what are these fast few days been like?
uh, no, it's it's been a lot of um
scheduling scheduling media obviously a lot of my uh, a lot of my
My friends from from buffalo actually, uh, you know reached out and you made with some of their connections and got me some
We're on a couple shows back home and doing some media and buffalo
but I've been doing a little bit of a little bit everything with that so that the phone's definitely been busy and then um
You know, we kind of been
kind of
We had a couple team meetings
um
Just trying to figure out kind of how we want to a
You know approach these these next few weeks now because
You know the the the whole world's different for us right now than it was a few days ago
So just trying to figure out how to capitalize on these opportunities to achieve our ultimate goal
Which is to race more, right? We're in this industry. We're trying to generate money. We're trying to generate
Um helpers and just anything we can do to go to the racetrack. So, um, you know
Trying to use this opportunity and this this this big win that we had to try to propel us to to race more
In and add more races to our schedule. Um, we're also fourth in points. So, um
You know, we're only 11 points out. So I what we're working on right now
We're going to Watkins Glen regardless, but we're working on adding Toledo, Michigan and Pocono
Which are the next three after Watkins Glen, which were not on our original schedule
so we're working on
Trying to find some some people that might want to get involved and helping us get to those races and
um
You know to the point where we're gonna we're I'm actually staying here for a few extra days just to help get a car ready for
Toledo and and kind of
making making progress towards that possibility, but um
You know, we're lucky to have a really good ownership group with with Kevin who's uh, who's obviously
You know, he's excited and everyone's pretty pumped up and um, you know the the the the trending
The momentum right now is going towards adding
You know at least Toledo and possibly a couple races after that and and then kind of going at race by race to see where
We are in the points and how things are going. So
Um, you know, that's exciting. So it's been a lot of
Thinking about how to approach stuff like that and and and make the most of of this wonderful, uh situation that we
We found ourselves in with winning this this big race and all the uh attention and and wonderful things that are coming with it
but
um, also trying to get some race cars done because obviously, uh, you know the
The you know, we're on our phones quite a bit and stuff like that. We're not holding the wrenches, right? So
uh
our road course car over here is probably uh
I've been I've been over picking on it. I did all the interior stuff
But we had to do a tear down of the talladega car and get all the parts and uh fire bottles and seat out of it
and fuel cell and everything else and the engine out and
um, kind of switching uh, those parts over to where we're going road course racing now because uh,
you know, just the uh, super speedway car goes back into storage at this point in the year and uh, you know,
It's all of a sudden it's road course season here and uh in may which is strange for us. Usually it's in august, but um
You know kind of all hands on deck with that, but obviously, uh, you know
Moving moving a little slow on that with everything going on. But uh, we're lucky to have a a crew chief
who uh, doesn't really uh
Bask in the in the limelight too much. He he's pretty much happy just to keep grinding. Um
One is first arc a race is a as a crew chief this past week. Uh, mr. Mike Dayton. He's a
former cup series crew chief and and been in the sport for
for, um, I guess probably at least
25 30 years if not more uh, and down here in north carolina making a go at it and
Got his got his first win and he was he was super excited and happy and uh, probably it was one of like the
The best feelings we had as a team was was getting mike his first win as a crew chief and um, you know, he
We enjoyed it for an hour and then he grabbed his suitcase and shook my hand said be there monday morning
We got work to do and that's kind of kind of where uh, he's leading the charge
So we're probably probably lucky we got him. He has uh, he's not much for uh, all the uh, the excitement. He's just uh
Okay, that was fun ready to go back to work
I know I know we got to move on but you were talking a little bit about him before we started recording but uh
You you did finish in front of you had to battle against cletus mcfarland in a photo finish to the line
And he was leading up to that point
I mean you heard the cheers and everything and you saw the the attention that he got and he and squirrel mcnut both
And then i'm looking i'm actually looking at the ratings right now and uh, the arca race at taladega was up by 150 000 130 000 views
year over year so
How and i'm assuming that's the cletus effect. So
How important you said you were you know impressed by him?
Uh, you thought it was good to have him on the track. How important is it to have a guy like that in the series?
Well, I mean we got to be honest. I mean he raced extremely well
You know, he made he made moves that helped me win the race. So i'm you know, i'm i'm i'm i'm happy to
Happy to say that you know, he he had a fast car
I knew he had a fast car and we were lined up on the start and our our spotters were actually communicating and
We were trying to draft earlier and he was he was working a line that I couldn't really make work and we kept getting separated and
I I
Asked tj on the radio if he could talk to a spotter and ask him to change a couple things and I said if he if he'd do it
I'd stick with him and
um, we knew the 18 had damage so the plan was
to
Jump out three wide, but I needed him to make sure he towed me past the 18 and I said I'd push him if he did that and he kept his word
you know and
um, you know, he made excellent moves though, you know, he was he wasn't afraid to go outside three wide there at the end and
um
At the end of the day it was it was probably going to be him or gust Dean coming to the line
But when he moved down to block gust Dean
Um, you know, they got stalled out a little bit and and you know me and tj on the simulator, right?
The only thing we ever really practiced at Daytona and taladega is timing our side drafting and you know, we we've done this
This it seems monotonous at times, but he'll he'll just sit there on that simulator
And he'll say okay, like this is where you want to pull out and you want to
Slow him down because if you do the side draft too soon, then he'll side draft you back, right?
And
You know the the the C's parted and I I heard tj in my ear said okay go down there pull him back
Which you know, it didn't it didn't it didn't matter one bit
Lap I knew we were on or any of that just because I had tj in my ear
And we done this a thousand times and it was it was time to go pull him back and go grab the lead and it just um
It just worked out perfectly, you know, and uh
I'm grateful for that and and I I'd say uh, you know
If I wasn't following cletus up there through the field and if he didn't make good moves there on the last lap
You know, we probably wouldn't have won the race, but it was definitely a team effort
So, uh, you know, I gave him a heck of a shove down the back straight away and often turn three
And uh, you know, there's there's drivers that wouldn't be able to keep it straight with uh
With a big bump draft like that and he he never even wiggled. So I'll uh
I'll I'll say I'm I'm grateful to him and then we'll look forward to racing with him some more here now
Uh, so Noah Gregson said that he met you on the boulevard that night and said you're a cool dude
Was there was there anyone that like reached out and congratulated you that kind of blew you away that
you know, they
I don't know
Yeah, I don't know about like bloat, you know, blown me away or that mean Kenny Schrader called
He was one of the first calls. Um, you know, Todd Bodein shot me a text
Uh, Michael Walchip reached out through through my email and I thought that was really cool
because I'd never had an opportunity to meet him, but uh, man, you know
I I I hope I have found all the messages because I I haven't even got into like my instagram and my
My facebook inboxes or anything like that. It took me two days to answer the text messages and uh, those who know me
No, I'm not the most
You know pristinely organized person when it comes to, you know, some of the scheduling and and and emails and stuff like that
So, uh, that that part's definitely been a struggle. So I hope that I didn't miss any important ones for sure. But um
Now just just a lot of a lot of friends back home even, um, you know
Guys that I've I've raced with for years in the north st. New York scene that uh, you know
Maybe we bumped and banged over the years. Uh, ryan flores came to victory lane jesse. Love came to victory lane
um
So I I think it was uh, you know, I'm always humbled by that and um, you know
I try to do the same thing for my competitors when when there's a big win
I'll shoot him a message or whatever, whatever, uh, you know, whatever it takes to do that, but
Now, um
Just just uh, just an overwhelming response of of people just kind of being happy for me
And it was just a lot of fun to share that with my class motor sports team first and foremost
just because those
Those guys worked so hard and gave me this opportunity where I could be in that position
So it was it was neat, uh, you know, Andy had his family there. So that was really cool. And um,
You know, all my buffalo guys are still on the team and and you know, sharing it with them was really special
But uh, you know, there's a lot of my mentors and and people that have helped me along the way and in the modified scene
That reached out, uh
Like like trey hotek and I got to talk to mike tico and billy misslin and just all the people that have been
Along with me for the journey. It was for me really really fun to
You know get to get to get a chance to catch up with some of them and kind of share the moment a little bit and cherish
Cherish, uh, cherish the journey, you know, because it's uh
No matter what happens from here on out. I hope we win 20 more of these things
but just uh getting that first one is just sort of uh
It's it's a it's a life changing kind of kind of moment and it's it's definitely a a marker in time for sure
Now now andy we're we're gonna move on into some
NASCAR, you know topics of the week and talk about you can stay and hang out and you know give your
thoughts and opinions and stuff or you you can uh, you get back to working on the car
It's completely up to you. Um, but
I'll tell you what i'm probably uh, i'm actually uh
I think i'm gonna jump back in underneath the car over there. I actually have another one coming up in about uh 15 minutes
So i'm gonna try to jam this transmission in
You should do that one underneath the car like position the phone over your head
Oh god, no, you don't want to see me do that
I know right
They're they're they're especially the road course. They're they're so freaking heavy
So what I really do because I can't I can't you okay
I can lift him right but when you're underneath the car
You don't have you can't use the same muscles that you would use as if you're standing up because you're so low, right?
So you gotta you gotta use these like weird muscles like in your elbows that and I don't know what they are
But they don't get worked out in
I have a a contortionist way of doing it that involves basically like rolling the transmission up on my body
Like on my stomach to get it like kind of off the ground
And then I kind of like bring my foot backwards a little bit
And I get my foot underneath there and kind of prop up the back and then I get my knee in there
And I just just slowly start inching it up until like if you as soon as you get the uh
The front of it into the back of the bell housing that'll hold half of it, but um
The crew chief had left left me with this chore and he he mentioned last year
He thought that we had to pull the shifter off because it wouldn't fit in so
um
I'm I'm not looking forward to that, but it's uh, it's it's part of the adventure and
It's the only job he gave me tonight. So one way or another it should be
Should be able to knock that out and kind of kind of get onto some other things here
So hopefully uh get uh, I think we're actually doing my podcast tonight, too
So uh racing the class you guys want to check it out. So
Uh, you guys definitely let me know when this is on though. I I've uh that that's strong at the beginning that that that's that's a hit
I'm uh, I can't wake up
I can't wait to wake up tomorrow and check the billboard top 100 charts and
I don't know about that buddy. I don't know if we'll see that there the ballot of andy j by puke combs
Look it up. Let's uh real real quick before we get y'all talking about the
Torting and all lifting the stuff and all that our next topic. We're talking about the steven a smith
Our our NASCAR drivers athletes. Well, what do you think about that? I'll stick around for one. I think um, um
You know what I'll say I I think it's uh, it's such a fluid conversation
Okay, so let me ask you this is tom brady the same athlete as the other 10 10 guys on the field
No, no, he's not he's not he's not an athletic guy
You know josh Yellen is the exception because josh Yellen is perfect and he's beautiful and perfect in every way
But if you look at like, you know, you look like a ben ropless burger or tom brady like those guys are not
You know the same athletic type people as a lot of the receivers in the cornerbacks and a lot of guys play in different positions
But you know, who's who's the greatest football player of all time?
You know
Until josh yellen wins a couple super bowls. It's probably tom. It's tom brady
you know, so I I think
I think it's um, I think you got to look at it and in
I don't know. It's it's it's one of those debates that you can never really win or lose
um, there's there's just there's too many elements to it. I think that um,
you know
Everyone like like like okay like I like racing the indoor midget cars, right?
And and some people point out like well, you know, you're you're a little skinnier and you have a little bit of a weight advantage
I'm like well, I really wanted to be an nfl linebacker
But you know, I can't do that and you know, no one no one really picks
You know, so it's you kind of you kind of get what you get and we all have a special skill set and
You know, I don't I don't know that that jason kelsey could could sit in a car for four hours under that kind of heat and
G force and in in crash and be able to come back next week and do it all over again
But you know, I sure as heck couldn't couldn't uh, you know block bryan urlacher either
So I don't know. I think it's I think it's fair to say that we don't have the same
um
You know athleticness of a lot of the other sports will require like I don't think
I think that's very fair to say but um, I don't think it's fair at all to say that we're not athletes and and we don't require
You know certain athletic traits that that separate us from um, you know, everyone else
Very well said
Well said
Well, Andy jay, we we will let you go my friend. I know you got that transmission. You need to uh put in
Oh, no, please please for the love of
It's just it's just waiting for me ominously down there
How much does that thing weigh?
I don't want to know. Well, it plays much as the dang trophy. They gave us the other day
I'm still hurting from that. Actually, I'll give you my last question. Where are you going to put the trophy?
I gave it to the car owner
um, you know, because he he gave us all this and and um, it was
Um, I'm only giving away two trophies. That was the second one
I gave away my uh, my sportsman championship trophy in 2010 to my car owner, but uh, he snuckered us a little bit
He uh, snuck it back in the truck
On or he snuck it back into the motorhome that was coming here because I think he wanted it to be at the shop
So, um, the trophy is sitting on the bench. I don't know if we've we found a home for it yet
So, uh, maybe it'll just sort of be like the Stanley Cup
It'll so we'll get to go visit buffalo and visit charlotte and the car owner is over in texas. So
Um, you know, only problem is I don't think you're flying with it. I don't think that would uh, yeah
I don't think that would make it in your luggage. I don't think the plane could take off
Yeah
It was funny, you know, it's funny is
So there was a video we posted of uh, me trying to drag that thing to the media center and they're like, you want to ride?
I'm like, nope
Just like I need to because I was just like
I need to burn off some steam or energy or something. So I I'm just going to carry and I'm carrying and then
Our social media guy Aaron thought it thought it would be good to film me and
Carrying it the whole way and then posted the video and you know, I was struggling towards the end
But uh, there was one of the comments on there was I guess steven a smith was right drivers are not athletes
So there you go. Oh my god
I don't know. Look, I saw how heavy that thing was man. I think that proves the opposite
I think that's about 75 made it all the way
Damn
Yeah, 75 pounds every time. Actually, I should just weigh the thing. It's sitting right here. I'm gonna weigh it tonight
I don't know why they made the base a lead brick because that like the way that the way you were picking it up the effort
I saw that it took to pick it up like that was that thing was heavy
Yeah, no
That's for a ride
Uh, I I did I didn't and then I walked to the media center and then like you want to ride back to the trailer
And I said nope and the trailer was a good half mile quarter mile walk
And um, I started walking and some guy pulled up with a golf cart just stared at me. I'm like, alright, I give
Give me a ride. So there was uh
Yeah, just just I don't know
Happy to do it
Happy to get to carry that thing around like not complaining
Oh
Andy it's been a pleasure. Thank you so much. I know you've got another another podcast to do
So so we'll let you go buddy. Um, but congrats again and um, let's have you on again sometime down the road my friend
Yeah, hit me up. I was happy to do it. Uh, just let me know when you guys post this and uh, hope you guys have a good show and uh
You know, hopefully we'll go get some more wins and give you some more to talk about
I love it my friend
Andy jay the
Winner from italidega joining the program here gentlemen. Let's continue on with our with our show here
um
Apparently
Steven a and joey legano got a little bit
messy
Which do you should I start with you michael massy? Because apparently
Steven a is not happy
You are you are walking a thin thin line, right?
Let's make that that line even thinner
Look here that's steven
hey
smith
I don't know that name
for some reason this man
worships
those
who can take a
orange ball
and put it in a net
Or those who could take a pig skin
and throw it
fall
But any other skill set in that anyone who wasn't naturally born
seven foot tall and 300 pounds
And you know, they raise michael all of what candy
Those race car drivers are only four foot three
So they don't count as athletes
They don't count as athletes
It's more outsharp did or whatever
I mean listen now when joey legano comes on disrespects me
Disrespects steven a smith
I'm not doing the rest that like that. I'm gonna I'm gonna pop a freaking vein
I mean the guy I mean the guy
wants
I mean, what do we have we have the nfo draft the nba playoffs
The m o the m o b is going on the nhl playoffs and he wants to talk about this
What are we doing here folks?
apparently
Joey legano a three-time NASCAR champion got under his skin
Now, I don't know what steven a's deal is
But nasi I do think
That steven a accomplished what he wanted and that was to get under the NASCAR people's skin the NASCAR fans
spoke out
Drivers spoke out you talked with some of the drivers
And and then they fired back and now we're we're in a pissing match right now
I think joey legano also got what he wanted
Because he got talked about on a different outlet
By steven a smith by people that don't usually hear his name NASCAR got talked about
On a national radio show. That's not you know a different series according to steven a smith
That's the number one radio show number one morning radio show
I mean Dalton there is a uh, there there's a podcast that they maybe sometimes advertise on floxter nascar
That says it's the number one NASCAR podcast. So
Take that for what it's worth even though it's actually dale jr
Uh-huh. Say do it again. Stay off the weed
Amen steven. Hey
I'm here. Let's get a weed. He ain't getting busted for using weed
Amen, stay off the weed. Good job fray. That was actually brilliant
I
Whoa, what were you gonna say? I don't even remember it was like the voice of god
Oh
But yeah, you know, I I don't see how
It's a bad thing for nascar for him to be talking about this because I think that
His opinion is what a lot of the population actually thinks if you're not a nascar fan
Because I have friends that's to this day. They're like, yeah, they're not athletes
And I've argued with them, but it's just something we agree to disagree on
so
You know and you heard in that clip. There were a lot of callers calling in agreeing with them
So I I think that it is good to get that out there and actually
Have logano explaining his side of things have some of the callers
You needed more of it because honestly joey's comments weren't even
The best like ryan priest had the best comments on go look at that on our youtube page
some of the other drivers
And it's one of those things like
The the definition of an athlete is so
Gray area that nobody's really right on it. It's kind of just opinion no matter what
Uh, so that I mean like
Kind of what denny said he was like, how do you define an athlete? I mean
And kind of what also what noa said on dbc. He's like, it's a long snapper athlete
It is a kicker an athlete like I mean
They they are an nfl player and people come to nfl players as athletes
But I mean, they're just kicking kicking a ball
It's it's the way I define athlete is somebody who is doing some who is very good at doing some physical activity
And whether it be swinging a club
Whether it be kicking a ball whether it be running on a track whether it be sitting in a hot
Car at 150 degrees for four hours. Um
Whether it be doing that like that. I feel like is is an athlete. I I know that
People pick when you hear the word athlete
I think that was the voice of god again. Um, I said a drunk like god's having a little drunk
Um, I know when you hear the word athlete you think of tom brady
You think of an nfl player and you think of a basketball player and that's fine
That's because those guys are freaks and they they're really good at what they do
I mean freaking a good way, of course, but you know
You have to respect the guys who aren't lifting bench pressing 400 pounds and
Running a hundred yards and 4.5 seconds. Like it's it's
There's the different levels of it and just go out there and say
These guys who like I said sit in a metal tank for four hours at 100 that are it's 130 degrees
And have to deal with the g forces while doing it have to deal with the mental acuity of having to do it in the reaction time
If I'm to do it why why?
Why that's not that's not that's not fair. That's not fair at all
Did you ever see sorry?
No, no, go ahead. Go ahead. Oh, did you ever see miguel cabrera when he played baseball?
The guy was fat fatter than any nascar driver roof
He hit a homerun coming at you the snickers. It's like it's like the shame gillis toker. It's like he has he has
Here's uh, old curly he runs if he runs a 60 minute mile. He's the fastest man of life
Massey, I know you're not a brewers fan, but prince field prince fielder. That guy was a chunky boy
That guy was sick man
The I bet steven a would call him an athlete
Steven a do you have a reply to what we're talking about? He doesn't know who we are and you know
I know
Who is on crack?
Yeah
Exactly. Thank you much
And I can I know he doesn't know who we are because he didn't even uh,
He didn't even reference us or give us any credit when he used our audio on his show. Yeah, thanks for stealing your content steven a
Um, you'll be talking to our lawyers here pretty soon. Um, so anyway
That was a joke
All right, so
So anyway
Uh, no, I do want to call him out a little bit on this. Um, I feel like I
I do want to call him out a little bit on this because like what massey said earlier massey already brought it up
Like why didn't he should have replied to ryan priest?
I know joey legando is a three-time champion. I know he's a little bit more
Um, well known in the nascar community, but ryan priest made a much better
Um, a much better statement. I feel like he made a much better argument in which I for those of you who don't know
Uh, he said well, I'd like to see him barrel roll 13 times and then have to do what he does
on it with two black guys the very next week
like
If anybody has been through the worst of it, it's him. It's ryan priest
I mean
Oh, sorry don't go ahead. No, no like in and then
But he doesn't he didn't use that he used the joey legando one which honestly legano was like
Kind of tame and the only thing that he really replied to was the fact that joey legano said he's just saying this to get credit
He's just saying this to get some kind of notoriety to to get some kind of reaction, which he did
Um, and then some people had to go ask the drivers what they thought about his comments me
And and massey, but some people had to go ask those
The work I am the reporter
In reference my voice is on a steven a smith show now that is actually kind of cool though. I mean like yeah, it's cool
I wish he said my name, but I am I am referenced as the reporter. So
um
For for in future reference you will refer to me as captain hopkins
um captain hopkins, but but another anyway like
And not to mention like what really kind of what also kind of got under my skin a little bit about his reply was
He kind of changed what he said
He almost like retroactively changed what he said. He said I
For the his response to joey legano was
I said that not all nascar drivers are athletes
I'm sure there are some nascar drivers who are athletes and joey legano is probably one of the elite ones
In which I in which I kind of like said to myself like no, that's not really what you said
You said nascar drivers are not athletes period
absolute
Like that that that is an absolute sentence. So
But if you you talk to jimmy johnson that dude's an athlete
You talk to mark mark
But here's the thing though and no colman says he's just looking for attention
We're giving him exactly what he wants and that's true. Um, and that's how he has made his living
That's how he's made seven but you know what if that's what it takes to get joey legano's name on on his show
Or any kind of nascar drivers name on his show? Yeah
Let's do it man. Yeah, let's do it
Let's go after calder people are talking about nascar
Howard would do would would compare him to like slice bread and actually bring out bread now joey legano
It was like this piece of sliced bread
um
But last thing here before he
Transition because we're way over uh on time. Um, if you're trying to make a point
Bring facts
Don't don't come uh, don't say
Denny hamilton say denny hamlin
You got a backup fact and don't and don't and actually realize who you're talking about the st. Louis hamilton
We're not dating kim Kardashian. We're talking 23 11 team owner denny hamlin
Bobby
Um
No, he's I know it wasn't just a slip of the mouth because he did twice. He said is that he did twice
Um, but I will say I was a little confused at first
Why so many nascar drivers took offense to it?
Because uh, he didn't say nascar drivers aren't athletes. He said they're not athletes
And I don't know what an athlete is. I know I know where an athlete is an nascar driver is an athlete
But I don't know what an athlete is a student athlete
He is not an athlete
From that, let's dive on into our next topic of the program
I don't even know what our next topic is massy. Help a brother out
uh, so
The that cup racer sucked
Yeah
Do I talk to cup racer karson hosemar great time. Let's move on
We probably got top time for one topic. So which do we want to do we want to talk about how it's how
Shitty the racing was or do we want to talk about a potential superstar and karson hosemar?
Can we you know what massy? I'm gonna pivot it actually a little bit. I'm gonna introduce a third topic. Oh
You're feeling off the rails. I feel like we should bring this up. We should bring up stevo donnell
okay
Yeah, because we were talking about this, right? I mean like I know look. So yeah, we talladega wasn't
The best talladega race. I think I've ever seen in karson hosemar. Look, but despite the fact despite that like
I feel like this weekend was still a great success just because of
the cool winners
Um, you know the first time winners andy j cori day
Uh karson hosemar, you know those it's having those guys in victory lane. It's a really cool thing
And it's always a cool story to see first time winners and things like that
but karson
doing what he did doing that burnout that he did and then
Coming into the media center
And doing this post race presser and massy brian you can vouch for me
When is the last time you've seen nascar's chief executive osse or any winners post race press conference?
I mean literally, I don't think I ever have i'll give you i'll give you multiple choice. Is it a never
That's it. That's it. That's your only choice the answer is a don't we haven't seen that but sure bill france jr
But that's the last one. Yeah, but way back in yeah way back in we weren't early 2000
Yeah, but that's that was a long time ago, right? I mean, I we never saw jim france in the
Uh in the media center. I don't know where he was
But we go into the media center and steve o'Donnell sitting right behind us
And he's in the media center watching karson host of ours press conference and karson right there directly
I thought this was kind of cool because karson right there was like steve is this is this still cool
Like the burnout he means it's sitting out of the car and doing and steve. I didn't see what he said
Um, I didn't see what he did because it was not verbal but steve went out and it was clearly an affirmative
Um, it was clearly a positive reaction to see to hear that. I mean, I'm sure he's probably they probably are
Rethinking like that a little bit but to see him there to see him present
Is already a huge step ahead than what it was than what it was before
Um, if you guys if you guys wanted to talk about something else, I'm totally okay with that
But I just wanted to mention that no, I think it's it's fantastic and from everything I've heard
I mean he he did a presser on saturday. You guys were there. Um, he was part of uh, I mean ben kennedy was
I was out waiting for coletus mcfarlane
Okay, so you guys were on the same racetrack
Yeah, you were on the same racetrack. That was bad scheduling
That was a horrible scheduling
Oh, oh, you that would have been awful for me if you know, you know, hashtag vegas incident. Um, massive definitely knows about that. Um, but
I mean, apparently according to no breaks and he was on the boulevard on saturday night
He appeared on the tear down. Um for about five minutes. I mean, he's talking to
People he wants to get better. He wants to work with with people and um, apparently
Noah says steve's a real g the the skew police or whatever. However, he said it
Uh on dbc. He's like, uh, the the bad people are gone and apparently
The driver's like him. So, um, I I do feel like this is almost in the right direction
Say that. Yeah, some of the drivers like him
A. J. Elmenday
Yes, my apologies Tony Stewart too, but Tony's not around. Yeah
Yeah, anybody
Yeah, that's true. Um, but I mean when he I mean
Who would have thought it would have been okay that karson osavar was gonna get the green flag to continue doing his burnout
I certainly did and then odonals like no, I thought it was awesome. He can continue to do it
I'm like, wow, this is definitely a new leaf. Massey because I could almost gear
Guarantee. Oh, sorry. That was charles barkley not steven a my bad. Um
Same same network. Let's go after him next
Me and chuck. I love chuck. He that's my guy. Um, but I mean they wouldn't have happened in the old in the old, um,
Regine, so I do feel like we're turning a corner here
Yeah, it's it's it's a fresh feeling. I do wish that karson would keep his helmet on maybe for that
Hit the wall or not. Definitely not. Definitely not hit the wall. Um, but no, it's the most visible nascar leadership has been
It's like I said since bill france jr. Uh, it just that needs to say the case
I mean when you have jeff gluck who's covered the sport for 20 years over 20 years
say they're like
This is the most visible. He's seen a nascar CEO like that. That speaks volumes. Um, so just keep it up, you know, obviously
I think part of it is
He's doing all this stuff because he just started but hopefully he doesn't retreat back after I don't think he will because he's
Always been a very
Public guy, even when he was just like the competition director
Um, so and he seems like a likeable guy. He seems like the stuff from december
kind of raised awareness the the trial
kind of raised awareness to a lot of people that
him and and steve felps, which is too bad for steve felps because he would have been in this job
Could you imagine what he what he's feeling right now? Yeah
It's just not for the richard children's comments. He would be in this job right now
um, but
Oh don it seemed like those guys were fighting for
The best thing to do for nascar and you can tell steve odano loves nascar loves racing
But they were just handcuffed by jim france
um, and look
We went to this car that is awful because of jim france being an impsa guy now. We have an impsa car running everywhere
um, and so maybe od will help us with the next car, which I don't think we're that far away from
You know a couple years down the road going to a next car. Um, yeah, I think he'll steer us
This works now. Are we like video game consoles where like we just have a new car like every
10 years we're five years into this one
So it could be fair though don't wait do we but i'm saying do we have to change into a new car?
with this one, yeah
Well, I mean like it brings me like everybody's like
When I was a kid it was all playstation 2 and then they moved to playstation 3 then they moved to ps4
Then they made a ps5. We haven't had a playstation 6 in a long time. It's just stayed playstation 5
I mean i'm open
I'm not sure how that relates to this but
I'm saying no i'm saying that like they feel the need to update they feel the need to change it all the time
Yes, it's like an iphone like you feel like you have to make a new version and I don't
No, like you you just invested like hundreds of millions of dollars into this car
Like fix the car just make it just change what you can
I mean if you got to make a heavy amount of modifications, so be it don't make a whole new car
So we go through four generations of cars and freaking 25 years. That's crazy
Come on
Some of these things I think my point was he's going to steer us back to a better
car whether that's improving this car or making a new
generation
um
So i'm excited i'm excited for those on layer
You know what i'm excited for i'm excited for our uh poor one-out segment which is coming up next here on the front
It's happy hour program
That's typically whenever whenever the ad plays
Which we may not have under mexico's blazing under under the agave fields of mexico's blazing sun
Every okay, so apparently that producer is uh, maybe our producer. I he better be dead because if he's not gonna make him that
Um, so with that being said, let's dive on in either. We love you billies
Hey, do you want me? I can we don't love our producer right now. Mr. Trey lyle because our other from the agave fields of jaleesco
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God, I need some billies tequila right now after that. Yeah, I
totally hell
God bless trey lyle. That's all i'm gonna say. I think that is the hardest i have. We miss you chris
He's the hardest i have ever laughed on this podcast. Oh my god
That was so funny
Yeah, um, we miss you chris. Let's all that's all i'm gonna say him and mike neff are currently hanging out in myrtle beach right now
So i've been on some
I they are probably sipping off
Hey, you know my place hotels and sipping on some billies tequila. Yep. Yep, um, and with mike neff
You never know what's gonna happen good or bad. Um, so god bless them
But uh, we'll start with mr. Michael massie since um, you are
Just going want to go just chugging right now. What are you gonna be uh, you're gonna be sipping this time brother?
Well, uh, i'll do two
You know pour one out first of course for um, I guess the andy jay goodness
Um, but also pour one out for my place hotels being awesome when we're on the road. Amen. Unlike
ramada hotels
You know, there's no my place in birmingham, unfortunately
Then yeah, let's let's get one in mr. Was we'll stay there gladly
Uh, so we had to stay at a ramada in birmingham and let's just say that it is that hotels
I mean look if you want to have an orgy in a harrowing convention, that's true
And it's a great hotel for you. That's your family
according to chris goodman that there
There was the third and fourth floors were apparently rented out for a highly illegal orgy now
I don't know how hot how orgy's are highly illegal unless have drug use are involved because i'm pretty sure orgy's are legal in america
but
But I mean in all honesty my place hotels if you want to stay at a comfortable place that is
That is safe. That is that smells good. That has fresh everything
My place. Sorry mass. Yeah, I overtook you. I just wanted to say the orgy part
Yes, adult and I at the ramada slept on top of harrowing needles and and bed bugs and
All kinds of fluids that we don't know
We slept at a cleaner spot
At the racetrack at the bowl of our gary sexton super nice camper that uh took us in
But uh, yeah to all those people that but not you ramada because you suck
and not the good kind
Also trying to scam michael massi out of 300 dollars
Oh, I I'm work. I'm still working on that by the way. I think they are gonna there
We are gonna say swipe or no swiping because i'm i'm getting my my damn money back. That's
Sure
Dalton, what's on your mind? Yeah, i'm uh, i'm gonna keep it on the racetrack
This week, I guess. Um, yeah, we I mean look there's honestly so many guys that we can pour one out to
I think the obvious ones are like the first time winners. Obviously is like karson host of our
um, steve o'donnell
Cory gay annie j like all these guys some top five thinner some top ten guys, you know, noa graxon zane smith
I'm gonna give it to a guy that I feel like didn't get enough attention this weekend
I feel like you really should have i'm gonna give it to will kimmel and that's because
Of what he had to go through this weekend
so, uh, for those of you who don't know blew an engine during arca practice on uh on sarah friday
and then uh, basically has to
Scrounge up enough money to come together in building or to buy another engine
installs it in the car over overnight
and then goes out to race on saturday
and takes the lead on the last lap he was in position to win that race and
The real kicker is that's not even a super speedway car. That was a road course car
That was will's road course car
That he used to take the lead at talladega on the last lap
I mean you got it promptly taken away from him seconds later
But I digress the fact that he was up there. I think he finished 11th though
So, you know, I wasn't able to stay up there
But the fact that he was in the mix at the end just kind of goes to show that was a that was a real real
Grass roots blue collar racing story and I we appreciate that so I gotta give it pulling out to will kimmel
I'm gonna I'm gonna pour one out to uh our three first time winners
I mean people never forget about their first their first win and for for andy j
I mean this guy, uh, I mean you you saw it tonight. He was working on his race car
While he was talking with us
So sort of kind of you know what I mean, um for quarry day
I mean Dalton mass we talked about this probably what was it after after lana or after kota or something
I mean people were pissed off at quarry day. I mean because he had he had tremendous talent
But he could not control it all and I know it's super speedway, but I mean the guy got to go to victory lane
He's in great equipment and I think he's gonna start reeling off these victories and um speaking us
Reeling off these victories. I truly think that uh, we're gonna be riding the dente quite a bit with karson osavar
And this is what nascar needs folks. They need a personality. They need a guy that is willing to go all out
Uh, basically begging sabrina carpenter to date him or at least go on a date to chillies with them
More power to you brother preach it. I I approve, bro
You could do better garson. No, just stop just stop just stop
Uh, you you probably pick in half the way over over sabrina
No, no, we're gonna have to have this conversation off air me and mass he got like a screaming mad yesterday about her
um, but anyway, um and
This is what nascar needs nascar could have a generational superstar
He's talented. He's personable, which is what nascar really needs and they can build off with him for the future
So happy for those three people
You know, I'm happy for I'm happy for bringing the heat with trey lyle and and uh, we got a very very special guest
Joining trade this week. Jeff thomas. He's gonna be joining from my place hotels. We're gonna be uh, uh talking about why
My place is the best hotel
for
This website and honestly for it for everybody. I mean, I would not want to say it any other
Uh hotel, we're gonna be staying there for the indy 500. You boys are gonna be staying there for the coke 600
Um, so we're gonna be using the hell out of my place hotel. So uh, check out uh trades article with jeff thomas
Wait, we have a we have a live place for charlotte. We are you do? Yeah. Oh sick. Yeah, man. Hell. Yeah
Brother. Yep. Yeah. Oh my god. Like I'm so that's actually so relieving. Oh
Like to know that we're gonna have a good hotel
And you get your own hotel room. So uh, oh man
I have to listen this guy snore. No, that that that is a serious. That is honestly that folks
Michael massey with Michael massey, you know, oh my god
It is so bad
Say thank you trey even even trey
That's duna smith again
That's
I swear Michael massey needs to go to a sleep doctor. I already been
Stay off the weed
Duh
Um
Yeah, we got a good guest next week too for this. We do it is gonna be an awesome guest. It is not steven a but
It is
One of the most notable media personalities. I'm pretty sure he breaks the most news dalton
Could you could we say that? I guess you could refer to him as a as a bomber of sorts. He drops bombs every once in a while
I'm not talking about the stern bombs. I'm talking about the bianchi bombs
That's right
We're getting mr
Short and bianchi the more sharp dressed man and all of the media center and I kind of feel like we need to
We gotta dress up for that. I kind of feel like it's a good tomorrow
It is then wear a nice
latin american
A nice friendly, uh, latin american, uh attire and and you can drink some nice billy's tequila while you're at it too
Make you know, I'll wear my I'll wear my golfing attire that I it's just like a polo shirt. It's bright and it's colorful
and
Was that do something good to my
It's how I dress up
You told me to dress up. That's how I dress up
Um
Anyway, um, you need to stay off the week. Um, sorry, steven is all up in my head now
Um, gentlemen, what are we gonna be cooking up on front stretch dalton?
You're gonna be on the track again this weekend. So I give a little teaser on what you're gonna be cooking
Yeah
Yeah, I'm gonna be with kevin next who texted me earlier today
I did not respond to him because I've been really busy. I've been busy all day moving
It has been a very stressful day. I feel gross and I need a shower and I said many swears today
Um
But anyway, yeah, no, I'll be fair though dalton. You've kind of been moving for like a week now
Yeah, I have a lot of well. Ah, gee. I wonder why it's almost like I've been away from my house in my home
For five days. I feel like you're like moving one box. No, I'm about to leave like 10
He's adam cheek in this thing. He's thinking like a he's moving one box at a time
It's just so good
I do have a lot of stuff. Um
Anyway, no, I'm uh, no, I'll be at texas. I'll be with kevin nix. We're gonna go ride that dentae
Um, I'll be the we'll be there on friday saturday sunday. I'll be writing sidebars
I'll be writing whatever stories and probably following up on some some storylines that are already occurring
I'll probably be end up asking joy legano
About evens response to which you will probably give me an absolute
Very very neutral response that will not do anything. Um, because they're gonna probably not bow out of that
Whole controversy. But anyway, uh, yeah, no, check it out. Check that out. We're gonna have a lot of cool
content coming out from texas this weekend. So
Stay tuned
Mr. Michael massy, I think you deserve the nice weekend at home
I'm hopeful that you're gonna be actually at home and not traveling somewhere. Am I um, am I in the clear for that?
Yeah, I'm not going anywhere. Let's go
Hey, I never know you you've got an active social life. So you could be hanging out with friends or something, but I'm not sure
Yeah, I appreciate you. You think I'm that popular, but uh
Yeah, no, I'm taking it easy this weekend. I might join on the watch party on sunday, you know
I will be joining on the watch party apparently
Apparently adam cheek is also gonna join the watch party. I don't know. Whoa. I know but no matter what it will be my cheeky appearance
I know I know
Finally gonna clap the cheeks on the on the
On the watch party. We're gonna be clapping clapping all kinds of cheeks on on the watch party
But no no matter what it will be myself and my knaft and potentially
Mr. Michael massy um trellisle you
May be there as well. So uh, stay tuned
But at least two of the guys that I just mentioned will be there. So, um, stay tuned for that
Stay tuned for bringing the trellisle. Um, and through the gears as well as stop car scoop coming up next week
Like we said, Mr. Jordan Bianchi big. Thanks to andy j big. Thanks to mr trellisle dollum hotkins
Thank you so much. Michael massy. You're the best for everybody associated with front stretch
I am bryan on this was another edition of the front stretch happy hour program. We will talk with you next week here on
youtube
About this episode
Andy Jankowiak joins to relive his Talladega ARCA breakthrough, from the long build of his small team to the simulator work, drafting plan, and help from spotter TJ Majors. The conversation also tracks how quickly the team is moving on to Watkins Glen and possible additions to the schedule. Later, the hosts dig into Stephen A. Smith’s comments about NASCAR drivers being athletes, then praise Steve O’Donnell’s visible presence at the track before wrapping with sponsor banter and weekend travel plans.
