Hosts recap the New England Nationals and set up a Bristol preview with Richard Gadson. They talk road-trip prep, then dive into Bristol qualifying strategy: lane choice tied to points, Q1/Q2 timing, and how resurfacing and weather can swing performance. Richard shares why Bristol changed his mindset, plus the hot, muggy conditions that suppress ETs/times. The conversation also covers community/pit culture, milestones like Greg Anderson’s 1000th round win, and Bristol fan events such as Legends of Thunder Valley and autograph sessions.
"So we are going to recap a little bit of a epping. Talk about Bristol. We're going to have the great pro stock motorcycle world champion Richard Gadson join us in a couple of minutes at the top of the show. ... excited to experience the joys of Thunder Valley."
“Thunder Valley” is a nickname for the drag-racing track at Bristol Motor Speedway. When people say it, they mean that specific Bristol event and the vibe that comes with it.
“Thunder Valley” is the nickname fans use for Bristol Motor Speedway’s drag strip in Bristol, Tennessee. It’s a well-known venue in drag racing culture, so mentioning it signals the episode is about a specific, historic stop on the drag-racing calendar.
"And this is almost my favorite version of completing a race, because now if you come to Bristol, you're going to get three days of racing. ... They've just resurfaced Bristol."
Bristol is a famous race track where drag races are held. If the track surface was recently redone, it can change how fast and consistent the cars feel.
“Bristol” refers to Bristol Motor Speedway, a major drag-racing venue where NHRA-style events are held. The host specifically mentions that they’ve resurfaced Bristol, which can change grip and make lane choice more important.
Term
Q1
"Because now if you come to Bristol, you're going to get three days of racing. ... Friday they'll do Q1. And then at the end of Funny Carnot, end of Top Fuel, the last pairs will be Q2..."
Q1 means the first qualifying session. Drivers run to earn a good starting position for the next part of the event.
In drag racing, Q1 (qualifying round 1) is the first session where teams run to set their qualifying position. Your qualifying results determine things like matchups and lane choice for later rounds.
Term
Q2
"And then at the end of Funny Carnot, end of Top Fuel, the last pairs will be Q2 for Sean and Leah, and then also the final of that thing."
Q2 is the second qualifying session. It’s another chance to post a fast run so you start in a better spot for the racing that follows.
Q2 (qualifying round 2) is the second qualifying session. It’s used to further sort the field, often affecting lane assignments and who advances to the eliminations rounds.
"And then at the end of Funny Carnot, end of Top Fuel, the last pairs will be Q2 for Sean and Leah..."
Top Fuel is a top drag-racing category. It’s for super-fast nitro dragsters, and the schedule around it affects when qualifying sessions run.
Top Fuel is a drag racing class for purpose-built, nitro-burning dragsters. It’s one of the premier categories in NHRA-style events, and the host references it to describe when Q2 happens relative to class sessions.
Term
Funny Carnot
"And then at the end of Funny Carnot, end of Top Fuel, the last pairs will be Q2 for Sean and Leah..."
This sounds like it was meant to say “Funny Car.” Funny Cars are a drag racing class with a car-like body shape, built specifically to go fast in a straight line.
“Funny Carnot” appears to be a transcription error for “Funny Car,” which is another drag racing class. Funny Cars are shorter than Top Fuel dragsters and typically use a body that resembles a production car shape, but they’re still purpose-built for drag racing.
Term
Mission Foods Too Fast Too Tasty
"So then you go Saturday into Mission Foods Too Fast Too Tasty, which all of those guys will obviously be back in Mission Too Fast Too Tasty."
That phrase is a sponsor-branded event name. It’s basically a named part of the race weekend schedule, not a specific car technology.
“Mission Foods Too Fast Too Tasty” is a branded event segment name tied to the race weekend schedule. It’s not a car or performance term; it’s essentially a sponsor-labeled block of on-track or broadcast programming.
"Q1, your lane is decided by your points position. ... So it is possible for Sean Langdon... has lane choice... So for Sean, he's number one in points, so he will start in, let's say the right lane."
A lane is which side of the track you run on. Sometimes one side is better because of grip or track condition, so lane choice can affect results.
In drag racing, a “lane” refers to the two parallel tracks (typically left and right) that cars run in. Lane assignment matters because track conditions can differ, and the host notes Bristol’s resurfacing may make one lane faster or more consistent than the other.
"basically Q1, your lane is decided by your points position. ... for Sean, he's number one in points, so he will start in, let's say the right lane."
Points position is where a driver ranks in the season standings. In this format, your ranking can help determine which lane you get during qualifying.
Points position is a driver’s ranking in the season standings based on accumulated results. The host says lane choice for Q1 is decided by points position, so higher-ranked drivers can get preferred lane assignments.
"They've just resurfaced Bristol. ... So there's a chance you could get into a right lane is better than the left lane or left lane is better than the right lane."
Resurfaced means the track was redone. A fresh surface can change grip, so the cars may hook up differently than before.
Resurfacing means the track surface has been replaced or reworked. In drag racing, that can significantly affect traction, tire wear, and how consistent the car’s launches are from run to run.
"Is Bristol one of your favorite tracks since you got your first win there last year and it sets you up for the championship? It absolutely is."
They’re talking about the overall season competition. Winning a race helps you earn points that can put you in a better position for the final title.
“Championship” here means the season-long points battle where results at each race add up. A win at a specific event can move a driver up in the standings and improve their chances of finishing the season on top.
"How do you, how do you feel about bringing that wild card into the mix?"
A “wild card” is a surprise or guest racer who isn’t normally in the main group. The host is saying Joey’s return could make the races tougher for the regular competitors.
In racing, a “wild card” is an additional or guest competitor who isn’t part of the usual lineup or points structure. The host is discussing how adding Joey Gladstone as a wild card changes the competitive mix and raises the bar for everyone else.
Place
Ankle Raceway
"I've known Joey literally, I watched his first passes down the drag strip at ankle raceway or some of his first passes down the drag strip."
Ankle Raceway is the drag strip where the host watched Joey race early on. It’s mentioned to show the host has seen Joey’s progress from the beginning.
Ankle Raceway is the drag strip where the host says he watched Joey Gladstone’s early passes. For listeners, this anchors the story in a specific local racing venue, helping explain why the host feels Joey’s pace and skill are credible.
"He was on like a little Ninja 250 or Ninja 500 skip."
The Kawasaki Ninja 250 is a smaller, beginner-friendly sport bike. The host is saying Joey started racing on a bike like this before he got better and faster.
Kawasaki Ninja 250 is a small-displacement sport motorcycle that’s often used as an entry point for riders learning race starts and track/strip basics. In this segment, the host mentions Joey Gladstone being on a Ninja 250 during early drag-strip passes, which signals he started in a beginner-friendly platform before moving up.
Term
MSR bike
"I'm not excited about him being on, on a MSR bike because I know his capabilities and I know, and I know how fast their motorcycles are right now."
“MSR bike” is a particular racing bike setup the host is talking about. The host is basically saying Joey is very capable, and the MSR bikes are already fast, so it could shake things up.
“MSR bike” refers to a specific team or manufacturer setup in the racing paddock, and the host is using it to contrast Joey’s known ability with the current speed of that bike class. The key idea is that the bike platform/team is fast right now, so Joey’s presence on it could significantly affect results.
"And I knew that he was going to, I mean, he was running like really, really good eighth mile times and he was just cutting throttle at the top end"
In drag racing, some tracks run a shorter distance called the “eighth mile.” The “eighth mile time” is how many seconds it takes the car to reach the end of that distance.
“Eighth mile” refers to a drag-racing distance of 1/8 mile (about 201 meters). “Eighth mile times” are the elapsed time it takes the car to cover that distance, used to compare acceleration and tuning changes between runs.
"he was running like really, really good eighth mile times and he was just cutting throttle at the top end, but, uh, he's ready."
“Cutting throttle” means letting off the gas (or backing off quickly). Racers sometimes do it near the end of the run to keep the car behaving the way they want as speed and engine RPM change.
“Cutting throttle” means quickly reducing or lifting off the accelerator. In drag racing, drivers often do this near the top end to manage traction, shift behavior, or engine speed so the car stays in the best power/traction window through the run.
"As a, as a rider, like, do you like that it's a little bit more like of a who's who of who's going to take home a Wally at the end of the weekend?"
“Wally” here means the trophy people win at drag-racing events. When they say “take home a Wally,” they mean win the big award for the weekend.
“Wally” is the trophy name commonly associated with NHRA drag racing event awards. The speaker is using it as shorthand for winning the weekend’s top prize in their class or category.
"The number one source of friction in your engine is not what you think. Piston rings rubbing against the cylinder walls generate more friction than any other part of the engine."
Piston rings are small metal rings that sit on the piston inside the engine. They help keep the engine sealed and also manage oil, but if they don’t fit or wear well, they can create extra friction and wear.
Piston rings are the thin metal rings on a piston that seal the combustion gases and help control oil on the cylinder wall. In this segment, they’re also discussed as a major source of friction when they rub against the cylinder walls.
"The number one source of friction in your engine is not what you think. More friction and temperature means more wear and less horsepower."
Friction is the “drag” between moving parts in the engine. More friction means more heat, which can wear parts out faster and hurt how much power the engine can make.
In engine terms, friction is the resistance to motion between moving parts, which turns some energy into heat instead of useful work. The segment argues that friction from piston rings contacting cylinder walls can be a dominant contributor to wear and power loss.
"Piston rings rubbing against the cylinder walls generate more friction than any other part of the engine. More friction and temperature means more wear and less horsepower."
The cylinder walls are the inside surfaces of the engine’s cylinders. The piston and its rings move against them, and that contact can create friction—especially if things are worn or not designed to reduce rubbing.
Cylinder walls are the inner surfaces of the engine’s cylinders where the pistons move up and down. When piston rings slide along these surfaces, friction and heat increase, which can accelerate wear and reduce power.
"Fortunately, the team at Total Seal knows how to reduce friction and wear through innovative piston ring design."
Total Seal makes piston rings for engines. The claim here is that their rings are designed to rub less and wear less over time.
Total Seal is an aftermarket piston-ring brand known for designing rings intended to reduce friction and wear. In this segment, they’re credited with “innovative piston ring design” to improve efficiency and longevity.
"Drag racing fans, check out Drag Race Bracket Bonanza. It's the free, family friendly fantasy bracket game."
Bracket Bonanza is a game for drag racing fans where you choose winners like a bracket. You make your picks after qualifying, and it’s meant to be fun while you follow the races.
Bracket Bonanza is a drag-racing-themed fantasy bracket game where you pick winners across pro classes. The segment ties it to drag racing qualifying, saying you fill out brackets after final qualifying at each national event.
"Now, after your final qualifying at every national event, you can fill out your bracket for all the pro classes."
Qualifying is when race cars run before the main races to determine how they’ll line up. In this segment, it’s when you’re supposed to make your fantasy bracket picks.
Qualifying is the session where cars run to set their positions and/or establish performance metrics that determine how they’ll be matched up in the event. Here, the host uses it as the timing point for when you make your bracket picks.
Redline Oil is a brand of engine oil aimed at performance driving. The host is saying it’s designed to help engines do well when you’re pushing them.
Redline Oil is a performance-focused lubricant brand. The segment presents it as an oil formulated to win, implying it’s meant to improve engine operation under demanding conditions.
Term
C5
"And then there was someone, something about the weight of your bike, will the weight of your bikes make enough difference from C5?"
“C5” is a drag-racing class—basically a ruleset for a certain type of car. The discussion is about whether changing weight (from the bike/vehicle setup) will matter compared to that class’s expectations.
In drag racing, “C5” refers to a specific class/category of car based on rules like weight and modifications. The host is comparing whether bike weight (likely the vehicle’s setup/weight) makes enough difference versus the C5 class baseline.
"... weight of your bikes make enough difference from C5? Yeah."
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car built for fast driving and good handling. If you add extra weight—like carrying bikes—it can change how the car accelerates and steers. That’s why people might talk about weight differences using a Corvette as an example.
The Chevrolet Corvette is a performance sports car known for its lightweight design and strong power, with multiple generations that enthusiasts often compare. In a discussion about how weight affects performance (like towing or carrying bikes), the Corvette may come up because its handling and acceleration can be noticeably influenced by added mass. That makes it a relevant reference point when debating whether small weight changes matter.
"I'm a, I'm a Joe Castello fan at heart.
So this is this is where I'm going with this.
Joe Castello is not competing."
Joe Castello is a drag racing driver. The host is saying he’s not in the race they’re talking about, but he is racing in another bracket.
Joe Castello is a drag racer referenced here as a competitor/fan favorite in the funny car and bracket context. The host notes he is not competing in the specific event category being discussed, but is competing in a different bracket.
"Joe Castello is competing though in Drag Race bracket."
A “bracket” is how drag races are organized into elimination rounds. Drivers race to advance, and the bracket keeps track of who moves on each round.
A “bracket” in drag racing is an elimination format where cars race in rounds based on a handicap/ET (elapsed time) system or class rules. It determines who advances until the winner is crowned.
"Yes, we filmed the pilot for talking funny cars with Buddy Hall of Cruise up on the hill... He's the winningest funny car driver ever there."
Funny cars are a type of drag racing car. They’re built to accelerate extremely fast in a straight line, and they’re famous for big power and loud, dramatic runs.
“Funny cars” are a drag racing class where purpose-built cars run with very large engines and short wheelbases, typically with a distinctive front-end body shape. They’re known for high power, dramatic acceleration, and frequent wheelstands, and they’re a major part of NHRA-style events.
"Yes, we filmed the pilot for talking funny cars with Buddy Hall of Cruise up on the hill."
Buddy Hall is a well-known figure in drag racing media and culture, referenced here as the person the hosts filmed a pilot with at Bristol. The context suggests he’s associated with “Cruise,” and the show/pilot is specifically about funny cars.
"They have a Legends of Thunder Valley... Ron Caps is their legend... He's the winningest funny car driver ever there."
Ron Caps is a legendary drag racer tied to Bristol. The hosts say he’s the most successful funny car driver in that track’s history.
Ron Caps is described as the “legend” of Bristol’s “Legends of Thunder Valley” program and is credited as the winningest funny car driver ever there. In drag racing terms, being labeled a track legend usually reflects long-term success and a major impact on the venue’s history.
"They'll do it kind of in two waves... They'll start after Nitro and get all the guys in the tent and do a free autograph session."
“Nitro” is the special fuel used by many drag racing cars. The hosts mean the autograph session starts after the nitro races are done.
“Nitro” refers to nitromethane fuel, commonly used in top drag racing classes, especially funny cars and top fuel. In event scheduling, “after Nitro” typically means after the nitro-fueled main races have run, before fan activities like autograph sessions.
"So I will say like for pro stock motorcycle, I'm going to get,
[2796.3s] I'm going to go, it's either going to be Richard or Joey Gladstone."
Pro Stock Motorcycle is a drag-racing category with strict rules about what you can change on the bike. Because the rules limit modifications, winning usually depends on getting the bike set up right and launching consistently.
Pro Stock Motorcycle is a drag-racing class where riders compete with purpose-built, highly regulated bikes designed to run specific performance targets. The rules heavily constrain engine and chassis modifications, so success often comes down to setup, traction, and consistency rather than unlimited power.
"I'm going to go, it's either going to be Richard or Joey Gladstone.
[2800.1s] Wow."
Joey Gladstone is a motorcycle drag racer mentioned as a possible finalist. The host thinks he has a strong chance in the upcoming rounds.
Joey Gladstone is referenced here as a Pro Stock Motorcycle rider who could reach the final round. The host is framing him as a likely contender based on recent form and the matchup at the event.
Person
Richard
"I think like what Richard said about Joey's is going to be on a really,
[2807.4s] really good bike.
...
[2834.6s] He's going to be coming in as the defending event winner for the first
[2837.7s] time in his career."
“Richard” is the rider the host is talking about as a strong favorite. They say he’s coming in with the confidence of having won the last event and is trying to keep the points lead.
“Richard” is discussed as a Pro Stock Motorcycle rider who could win and defend a points lead. The host also calls him the defending event winner for the first time in his career, implying he’s entering the next race with momentum.
Person
Angie
"I think it'll be a Richard Angie final personally.
[2829.3s] Cause I think Richard is going to be fired up to maintain that points lead.
...
[2839.7s] But on the flip side, I think Angie's at the beginning of a terror right now."
“Angie” is another rider the host thinks could take the win. They describe her as being in great form and pushing hard to come out on top.
“Angie” is referenced as another Pro Stock Motorcycle contender, with the host predicting she could win the final round. The discussion suggests she’s currently in a strong competitive stretch and is driving aggressively enough to challenge for another win.
"I think it'll be a Richard Angie final personally.
[2829.3s] Cause I think Richard is going to be fired up to maintain that points lead."
In drag racing series, the points lead is the rider (or team) who currently has the most championship points after prior rounds. Hosts often mention it because it affects strategy—someone leading may prioritize consistency and avoiding big mistakes.
"Yep. I get that pro stock.
[2865.9s] Greg Anderson, like do Jenae way and in on Angie getting another win.
...
[2880.7s] 1000th round win."
Greg Anderson is a top motorcycle drag racer mentioned here as someone with a huge career milestone. The host says he’s coming back to a place tied to his 1000th round win.
Greg Anderson is mentioned as a Pro Stock Motorcycle rider returning to a venue where he previously achieved a major milestone. The host specifically references his 1000th round win, highlighting his long-term success and consistency in the class.
"Pro stock, Greg Anderson coming back to the spot where we got his
[2880.7s] 1000th round win."
A “round win” means you won that head-to-head race and moved on to the next round. Getting to a “1000th round win” is a big career milestone showing the rider has been winning for a very long time.
A “round win” is a victory in a single elimination round of drag racing, where riders advance by beating their opponent head-to-head. Reaching a “1000th round win” is a career milestone that signals exceptional longevity and consistent performance across many events.
Topic
1000 round win club
"We'll get eping finished up, get Bristol in, 1000 round win club, Drag Race, Braco Bonanza, autograph sessions"
The “1000 round win club” is a bragging-rights milestone for drag racers. It means someone has won a huge number of race rounds over time.
The “1000 round win club” is an achievement milestone in drag racing based on accumulating a large number of round victories. The hosts mention it as part of the event’s excitement and prestige.
Hello and welcome to another edition of Life's a Drag on the WFO Radio Network.
I'm one of the hosts, Elon Warner, joined by my partner in crime.
Abby Warner-Wilford.
So we are going to recap a little bit of a epping.
Talk about Bristol.
We're going to have the great pro stock motorcycle world champion Richard Gadson join us in a couple of minutes at the top of the show.
And let's, we're right in the middle, two down of three in a row. How are you feeling, Abby?
I'm feeling good.
I'm feeling a little behind a laundry, but you know, we're, we're, we're excited to, it's, this is going to be my first time attending Bristol in person this weekend.
Exactly.
Exactly.
Excited to experience the joys of Thunder Valley.
And yeah, and then before you know it, we'll be at Norwalk. So, very excited.
Also very funny you mentioned laundry because I actually loaded the washing machine before the show did not start the washing machine.
Oh no.
I just, I just realized that.
So if commercial break is just a little bit longer, guys, you'll know what you'll see.
Yeah, when it comes back and it's just the life's a drag, you know, highlight for just a few seconds. That's just me running into my laundry room to start my washer and dryer because I only have 30 seconds.
But producing on the air, all the commercials are not like the continuous two minutes.
They're 30 you have to switch them manually. So good news is it's always so I did, I did car stuff yesterday. So did you.
Yes.
Got tires checked because we're driving to Norwalk.
Yes.
So that got the Explorer all geared up for that.
Did car stuff, did bank stuff, did post office stuff.
You went to the theater last night.
I saw Wicked last night. I got my hair cut yesterday.
All the things.
All the things.
So yes, but I like this whole three in a row thing. I mean, do I want to do it maybe all the time? Probably not.
But it's a really fun way to get the summer of racing. I feel like, like really, really.
And I mean, I also like that if we're going to have, and we'll talk about this more later on in the show, if we're going to have an incomplete race, I would much rather go ahead and complete it literally the next weekend.
Yes.
And this is almost my favorite version of completing a race, because now if you come to Bristol, you're going to get three days of racing.
Yes.
Because they're going to, so Friday they'll do Q1. And then at the end of Funny Carnot, end of Top Fuel, the last pairs will be Q2 for Sean and Leah, and then also the final of that thing.
Yes.
And then same deal for Jordan and Beckman. So it gets tricky in that, yeah, are you racing? Are you trying to qualify? Because that's the, you know, really, really good session.
Yeah.
But if you win the race, you're probably going to run really good. So then you go Saturday into Mission Foods Too Fast Too Tasty, which all of those guys will obviously be back in Mission Too Fast Too Tasty.
And then you go into the race on Sunday, which here is an interesting deal I was talking with someone yesterday about the way they, and I don't know which lane they do this, but basically Q1, your lane is decided by your points position.
Okay.
So it is possible for Sean Langdon, I think, has lane choice, and I think Jack Beckman does.
But more importantly for Sean, he's number one in points, so he will start in, let's say the right lane.
Okay.
They've just resurfaced Bristol.
Yes.
So there's a chance you could get into a right lane is better than the left lane or left lane is better than the right lane.
They'll sort it out because Sean will get to run Q1 in lane, in the right lane and Doug, who's number two in points, will run in the left lane.
So the quality guys will get information on both lanes.
If one lane is obviously better than the other, then Sean could pick that lane because he'll have lane choice in the final.
And let's say he starts in the right lane.
The right lane is a better lane.
Okay.
He's going to run the right lane again on Friday night.
Yeah.
Saturday rolls around.
He'll have lane choice again for Q3, the first round of Two Fast Two Tasty.
He could pick the right lane again when final round of Q4, right lane again.
Yeah.
So he could basically go into race only having run in the right lane and could stay in the right lane all day on Sunday.
Yeah, if he keeps going low.
And I think that's really interesting that you could basically go to a track and only run one lane the whole weekend and win the race, which I never thought of it like that before.
He could also go to four and five races in a row in one weekend.
Wild.
So it's the last time someone's done that in a nitro class, Steve Toritz.
Yeah, like five in a row I think is Steve when he swept the countdown.
Yeah.
But it's, it's just all these little things can get set up in Bristol.
Also, we could have weather.
You know, I looked at the forecast on my phone, which really doesn't mean anything because I don't control the weather.
But it looks like while it's saying rain, it could just be kind of rain in the evening or rain in the morning.
So I feel pretty good about getting racing.
We did not, you know, also became so close and epic.
I know.
I was actually, I was beginning to get a little cocky towards the end and then that obviously bit us, which I'm sure I'm sure it rained because I got cocky, obviously.
But yes, I posted something on my Instagram story, just kind of complaining about we were doing so good.
And then we had to end it with less than 10 seconds of racing left.
All we needed was about 10 physical minutes to get 10 seconds of racing done.
And you go back and you just do all the math of all the little things that bogged us down.
Yes, during the day.
The pollen and epping was off the charts.
Like swirling pollen.
It was, it was disgusting.
Like you could feel it on your clothes.
I felt like all weekend we were just like constantly like trying to not trying to get yellow green dust off your body.
Exactly.
Yeah, so I think that contributed a little bit to some of the funny cars hitting cones.
Yes.
Yeah, I've never seen so many people hit cones in a row.
To the point where we had a conversation in the press room of like, how many cones, how many cones do we have?
Like at what point do we accidentally run out of cones?
Right.
Like what, you know, and if you run out of cones, is there, I mean, are we just done?
Yeah.
What happens then?
Race stop because ran out of cones.
So that, that was just wild on that front of just like that.
And then we got so close with the rain and then it stopped.
And this is the part that is just soul crushing.
I shout out to the safety safari guys, all the track guys, they had extra tractors there.
They got the track ready to go.
And then they're pulling the cars out of the pits and they get basically they're starting to roll towards the starting and it's not that far.
No, it's not.
And then it starts really raining after that.
And then you're like,
I'd gone out to the car to call my husband who was doing like Homer pairs and just, I was like, you know, because the press room one is not very big.
And I didn't want to disturb other people.
And I was like, we are so close to racing.
And then I just watched the heavens open up again.
And I was like, we're not racing.
But we did, we did cap off Sunday night with some success of going to Brown's Lobster Pound, even though you're not a seafood fan, you took one for the team.
I'm not ever going to yuck anyone's young.
If I'm the, if I'm the minority, I'll still go to the seafood restaurant.
You just can't judge me for ordering a burger.
No.
And that was a pretty solid burger.
That was a, it was a delicious burger.
And also, I mean, your lobster looked great.
You enjoyed eating it.
And of course you can't beat the company of Richard chute and Garrett of Stasi.
So it was a great dinner all around.
So were you a bit concerned when you walked in and just saw the big pool of lobsters and then saw me just pick one and you, you did have a funny text exchange in our family group text.
Do you want to recount that a little bit?
Well, I should have screenshotted it, but it was just funny because I was, I took a picture of the lobster, you know, before the poor guy knew it was about to hit him, you know, still live being weighed.
And it's like, we're here.
We're about this guy's about to go into the fry.
Actually, before you put me on the spot, you should have told me.
Oh, sorry, I was, I was expecting to.
No, it's okay. Because the how I'm, I'm not recounting it well.
I said the lobster dad is about to eat. He won't be alive for much longer.
And a family, the family friend Brian Lampkin, shout out Brian responded that is no way to talk about your father.
And then I went, I responded just went into the boiler and you responded.
That's at least how I pictured it in my head.
Yeah, that's that's that's exactly what I would if you drop me into a boiling bucket of water, that's exactly the sound it would sound very high pitched.
All right, well, enough talk about lobster and then you possibly boiling me alive. We are joined by the great Richard Gadson, pro stock world champion, all around good guy.
How are you doing, Richard?
How you guys doing? Thanks for having me real quick.
We're doing great.
The place that we go is like 20 minutes from the track right on the coast and literally the lobsters that they are serving were, they tell you like a lot of them were in the ocean that morning.
Yeah, they could not be fresher.
Yeah, I've been up there. I went to lowering main one time for land speed race. Yeah, I've done land speed racing too.
And and we had fresh lobster. I mean, we were right on the water and it changed my whole like, you know, like I have a hard time going somewhere in order to main lobster and it's like no, no, no, but I've had a real one.
Yes, kind of one of those deals.
So, but yeah, I totally know what you're talking about. It's one of the reasons why, you know, I'm not lobbying for it or anything like that.
But I wish that bikes were on the epping schedule.
Yeah.
Just because I want to go to that area for that reason.
So out of the five races that bikes don't do or at least aren't doing with this year's schedule, which is the one that you have the most FOMO about when you're not there.
FOMO, what's that mean? I'm old.
Oh, fear of missing out.
Oh, OK.
God dang it. These these Gen Z kids, Richard.
Yeah, I didn't want to do that. I was trying to think like.
But props to you for not trying to just gloss over it. Just straight up saying, I don't know what that means.
FOMO for races. So if I could think of them there, what are the five if you know if this is Phoenix?
Pomona.
OK, Pomona one. So we go later. So not that one.
Phoenix, epping.
And I think right.
Yep, brainer. Yeah. So so I would say epping.
Phoenix is up there too. And most of those my reasons don't have anything to do with racing is just the area. Like I want to go to the area for some reason or another.
Not like I ever actually do. We go to the racetrack and then we go to the room and go to sleep and then we go back to the racetrack.
But my mind tells me that one of these days I'll actually get out and go see the areas and enjoy this this opportunity while we do travel to circuit.
You know, I may never see some of these places ever again.
One of my biggest regrets is even being on the on the circuit when before Vance and Heinz when I was with Bostic, I never went to the Denver race.
So now I'm living with super regrets that I never got to see Denver.
So but yeah, Phoenix and Phoenix and epping, probably epping for the for the light nudge.
Yeah, we they started later on Friday in epping.
And Abby and I, we found a cool breakfast spot that the Stanfields were also at and then Gary and Astasi showed up and then we have like kind of two and a half out.
We didn't want to be the people that just go to the track at 11 o'clock and then sit there for six hours.
Yeah, so we actually drove to Hampton Beach before and Richard, you know what we wear at the races, black pants, black shirt, you know, quarter zip black.
So we actually went to the beach and walk the boardwalk and our clothes toed shoes in our clothes toed shoes in our race uniform.
We look like darks. Yeah, we completely look like so everybody's in bikinis, flip flops, getting all their stuff and we're just walking around getting fried dough and
credit. We could have bought everything needed swimsuits, sunscreen, beach toys, chairs, boogie boards, boogie boards, but obviously we weren't going to get gross and sandy before heading to the track.
But yeah, we looked ridiculous.
You don't think anybody noticed.
Oh yeah.
Oh yeah.
People, it was an equal balance of I guarantee you people looking at people that were like really incredibly body confident for the swimsuits they were wearing, which shout out to those people.
Yeah.
And then looking at us like, why are you wearing that?
That's hilarious.
Is this your first day on planet Earth?
Yeah, just now discovering what exactly a beach is.
I would have just started telling them like even if that thought they were looking at it, just so y'all know I was on my way to racetrack.
I just came in and just started just talking.
They were like, what are you talking about?
What's going on?
Yeah, so then, but it was nice.
So now we are probably next year, I think we'll plan a little bit better to get up a little bit earlier and then actually do because it's just kind of those deals where we took our time, but we did find a great breakfast joint, which is always key.
Northeast breakfast is a whole different ball.
Me and Eddie talk about it all the time.
We're like, man, if racing doesn't work out for some reason, we're going to open up a Northeast style breakfast place in Indy.
And I swear we wouldn't, we would only have to open until a small right the other day, maybe even take a couple days off or whatever, because it would be so packed.
I guarantee it.
But yeah, I've never been that far Northeast for breakfast, but I just know if somebody asked me what I missed the most about Northeast, it would be breakfast.
So what is your go to like breakfast setup?
I'm super simple.
I am very like when I take my girl to Philly, she's always like, all right, show me your favorite breakfast.
I just like diner style, just turkey bacon, but not turkey bacon.
It's something like you could buy in the supermarket, the little thin paper like thick sliced real turkey bacon, eggs, white American cheese and and home fries with peppers and onions.
Well done.
Like the well done part, how crispy they are matters.
That's my breakfast.
That's super simple.
And if I was to like overhype it and give it to somebody like this is what you want, but it's just different.
I can't get it scrambled.
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's right.
Yeah.
See, I've transitioned.
I've become old man because I remember growing up my dad would always get like over medium eggs and stuff.
And I was always like, that's ridiculous.
Yeah.
And I can't do it.
But now I've transitioned into old man eggs too.
I will get my eggs over medium and you know, but I'm also big home fries with the onions and peppers.
Yeah.
You know, I will occasionally get still that the southern guy in me will still.
You love a hash brown.
I love a good hash brown, but I also like a big biscuits and gravy.
Yeah, biscuits and gravy.
I got some spots out here that I can get good biscuits and gravy.
That's for sure.
But if I ever go to breakfast with you, man, I'll let you let me try to over easy.
I hadn't done that myself.
I don't know when I made the trend.
I can't even remember when I just decided, huh, okay, I need to do this.
Yeah.
But yeah, so finding good breakfast spots is like the gold standard on the tour for me because we had some spots really like an English town.
Yeah.
That's what I'm talking about is like this town area, New Jersey.
Yes.
But I, you know, as a competitor, we don't get to do like we go to the racetrack so early early.
We just kind of like, I mean, if we even stop for, honestly, God, my team does not stop for breakfast.
What they'll do is is they'll stop at a gas station to get ice or the cash to pay for the run sheets.
Yeah.
I'll run inside and hope to God that there's a dunk and no, I think they know I like coffee now.
So they try to stop at a gas station has got like coffee and and I'll just run inside and get something quick, but we don't get to.
They'll say then like, you know, it's even same deal for dinner.
Sometimes after, after your last qualifier, and then you check in over the bikes or God forbid you got to put a change in the motor or something like that.
When you leave to go to dinner, it's like, okay, well, these are the only things that are open for the next 30 minutes.
So you just go to the same stuff that you can get at home.
I rarely get to go to a local, you know, the food wrap.
But we don't I'm going to start kicking and screaming a little bit, see if I can get the guys that we try to do that in Maryland.
Like we asked everybody like where where's the local spots and they weren't super helpful.
Yeah, you know, you got to ask if you I don't remember the name of the seafood place, but everybody goes there.
So you got to ask Boo Brown.
It's right down there.
Yeah.
Right down there on the water.
Hopefully Lord willing, we're going back to Maryland next year.
I think so.
Awesome event.
So hopefully all the new tracks are good for a couple years.
Yeah.
Okay, sweet, sweet, sweet.
So it's not like it's just a one year trial.
That makes me that makes me happy.
Yeah.
So and then this past race, we got a couple good recommendations.
Yeah, our hotel, the girl who checked us in our hotel.
New ones up and recommended a couple sheep.
Well, one of the places she recommended we actually went to twice.
Yeah.
And then another I went to with Sadie Woodruff and it was also awesome.
Just great dive bar kind of vibes.
But I mean, this is this is how you know it's a good restaurant though.
The first time we went, we want we have our dinner, have a great experience with our waiter.
He has a couple great beers.
I have one of the best cocktails I've had all summer.
Great food.
We walk out.
We pass by the patio.
And who do we run into?
Greg Anderson.
Greg Anderson.
Yeah, food is a great joy.
Gladstone who you'll be competing against.
Yes.
So then we end up staying for another like hour.
Just drinking.
Drinking with them.
Yeah.
I'm going to start ditching my squad and come with you guys at night.
It's a ride.
This was Thursday night for the week.
There was a little bit more time.
I'm going to start ditching my squad.
You guys are going to get a text message here.
That's fine.
We're always here for any time.
And then we went back Saturday night, right?
Yeah, Saturday night.
We went back to the same spot.
And as we're sitting down in the restaurant,
our waitress comes like, oh, I think you're supposed to be upstairs.
There's a group.
Again, because we're in all black.
Are you here for the races?
And we were like, I think you're supposed to be upstairs.
I think there's a race.
There's like 100 people up there.
And I was like, is it Skag?
Because Skag does a big team dinner for all their dealers and stuff.
And she's like, yeah.
And I was like, well, we're not supposed to be up there,
but I know all those people.
I'm going to say hello to Randy and Maria and Will and Dave
and Justin and Dan.
And so it was just funny that that's where they were that night.
Yeah, it's definitely got to be the spot around there.
Exactly.
All right.
We're headed to Bristol.
Is Bristol one of your favorite tracks since you got your first win there
last year and it sets you up for the championship?
It absolutely is.
Not just because of the win, the first win last year,
obviously that's given it a violent shove towards the top of the list,
but it's beautiful.
Like it's on the top few, you know, you got your Sonoma,
you got, you got a Norwalk, you got in Bristol.
Like Bristol is probably the second prettiest backdrop setting, whatever.
I'm one of the guys that care about that stuff for whatever reason,
but just a facility is top tier.
So yeah, I love Bristol.
You know, the, you know, first win obviously last year in 2025.
So one year anniversary of that.
I'm going to go there and try to try to do the same thing.
You know, I've been, I've been kind of on a little bit of a roll
since Bristol.
Bristol was a big, big, big game changer for me.
I think even mentally.
So happy to return there as a, as a more confident racer than I was
at when I, when I entered Bristol last year.
So, you know, definitely one of my favorite stops on the tour.
The weather always is hot and muggy.
So you don't see spectacular ETs or times there, but or speeds there.
But, you know, we all got to deal with the same thing.
So I'm looking forward to it.
All right.
Just did some, just did some magic Richard.
I moved into the middle of the screen for the first time in a life's
to drag history.
So I'm trying to figure out this whole deal.
So we talked, touched on having Joey Gladstone back.
Yeah.
He, I mean, that's on Matt Smith's bike, bike.
Yeah.
That's a pretty potent one to punch.
How do you, how do you feel about bringing that wild card into the mix?
Yeah, man.
You know, the, the, the Mortimeria, obviously the war, you know, it's a,
it's a, he's, he's, he's a very, very, very good racer.
I've known Joey literally, I watched his first passes down the drag strip at
ankle raceway or some of his first passes down the drag strip.
He was on like a little Ninja 250 or Ninja 500 skip.
If you look at the, the, the, the documentary, the chasing speed series
and skip walks over to me.
He's like, I've known you since you were this tall.
He's making a joke.
He's got the same height as me, but you know, but, but he was a,
I've known those guys a long time since Joey was just a,
just barely old enough to be at the racetrack.
And you know, I'm excited to see him back.
He's a capable rider and competitor, the class needs people like Joey,
you know, to make it that much more competitive.
I'm not excited about him being on, on a MSR bike because I know his
capabilities and I know, and I know how fast their motorcycles are right now.
But it was no different with chip, you know, chip was that same deal,
but I know chip is very involved in his boat racing and his daughters racing.
And he has a business to run.
So Joey's more available at the racetrack.
So it's going to be tough.
It's going to be tough sledding.
You know, I know that he'll have the 60 foot times.
I know how he rides.
And, you know, we just going to come to go there and do our best.
And, you know, the first person at the 1320 will be,
will be boys underneath the tower and at the end of the racetrack.
But I got to treat him like he's Matt over there on the red rocket.
While we're in the beams.
So how much of his pro-cycle motorcycle prowess do you think is on the floor of
the barber shop now that he does not have the long hair?
Now, man, easy.
He's going to be fine.
Somebody asked me that yesterday, 23 runs.
I think definitely by Sunday.
He'll be not only riding, he'll be ready to race.
I think he's made enough runs on these bikes.
It's different when you're new to riding the bikes.
And, you know, even if you're a good rider, it still takes a while to get used to
the, but, but him being, uh, him having hundreds of runs on a pro stock motorcycle,
I don't think to two years off will matter.
Um, he came in and rode Angie's bike for a race or two.
Uh, I think in 24 and Charlotte and Vegas or something like that.
And they were kind of doing just like a blocker deal at that time.
But, you know, you could still see, he was like, kind of like activating the
tree, but then take off later, but you can still watch his riding.
And I knew that he was going to, I mean, he was running like really,
really, really good eighth mile times and he was just cutting throttle at the top
end, but, uh, he's ready.
He's ready to race.
He's going to be, he's going to be good to go just a few runs and he'll be in
the mix just like the rest of us.
Perfect.
Um, first run, I think he'll run a number.
I just think that it would take a few runs for him to be comfortable.
But he'll be in the top three or four on this first run.
So there's been quite a few different winners this season so far between you
getting in Gainesville and Gage's won a race and now Angie's won a race and
Matt's won a couple.
This is one of the, I feel like more competitive seasons as far as like
multiple people kind of being in the mix and then not just being like the
you and Gage show or whatever.
As a, as a rider, like, do you like that it's a little bit more like of a who's
who of who's going to take home a Wally at the end of the weekend?
No, absolutely.
I do.
You know, you, you, you want to win obviously, but you want it to be
interesting and in our perception, me and Gage's perception as a little bit
different because it may look like the Richard and Gage show.
23 was the Gage show.
24 was the Gage show.
25, I think everybody was, it was up for grabs as well.
It was just, we kind of found a way to do a better job when it mattered this
year.
I think the first two races was the same deal.
And, but the other guys are fast.
Angie, I'm a Angie Smith fan.
There's no secret about it.
I love Angie.
I like seeing her do good.
I think she's a badass.
And she, I was really happy for her to get that win.
And I was really happy for Ryan Taylor.
How could you not be even as a competitor?
Like, you know, like I lost to him.
I was the guy in the other lane.
I had the best seat in the house to his six 69.
But, you know, that's one of those rounds when you turn off the end of the
race track and you, you shake his hand, you daft him up and you can't even find
a bone in your body to be mad that you lost because you're so happy for,
for somebody who's worked so hard.
And yeah, so we like the competitiveness.
We like the competition.
I know that the internet says van signs just wants to dominate and we don't
want, you know, anybody close to us.
That is the furthest thing from the truth.
The boys like a good, like a good race, good uphill battle.
It just pushes us all to be as good as we can be.
Um, them on their laptops and us behind the control, the controls,
I call it the ones and twos.
So, uh, well, uh, we just going to keep digging, keep trying to be better.
You know, this is, this is a spot where I feel like we need to find a couple
of few hundreds and I got full confidence in my team that we'll find it.
But in the meantime, I think, I hope it is a good show to the fans and,
uh, and people watching where they can see, uh, multiple winners in this class.
So, uh, we'll see how the rest of the year goes.
Perfect.
Um, in addition to your writing, Richard, you do, uh, you know, you've been
helping the big brothers, big sisters out for a couple of years.
Um, how, how fulfilling is that?
And we got a couple of pictures.
I think this one is from Charlotte and it's you kind of showing your bike to,
uh, to some of the, you know, bigs and littles, but how fulfilling is that
when you can show kind of where you came from and where you are now?
You know, it's, it's really cool.
One of the things that's really cool about this whole deal is when you see,
like when the kids first come to the trailer, they're kind of like to themselves.
They don't want to talk.
They like kind of shy.
They don't know what to think of you.
But by the time I get done, the whole thing, they're talking to you,
they're asking questions, they loosen up.
And it's just really fun to me to, to, to kind of, I guess break that barrier
with a lot of the, the kids.
Uh, you know, it's still a very special thing, uh, for me and not only just
the kids, the bigs as well, you know, just showing them that I appreciate them
being a part of the program and, uh, and what they do for the kids.
And just kind of, you know, I don't know if sometimes you might do something
and it might get lost in the sauce of what it means to the person.
You know what I mean?
But like as a kid, my big brother meant the means a lot.
He still means a lot to me.
So just showing those bigs that it matters.
Um, you know, I really appreciate you guys, obviously for doing all the leg
work and helping us do this and put this on.
Um, it's something that I plan to do as long as I possibly can.
And, uh, and, uh, and again, I've said it a couple times this year,
but I, and, and the follow up with being a big myself someday.
I think, I think that that's the, uh, that's the icing on cake right now.
This is what I can do.
That is what I plan.
That's what I plan to do.
Well, and you sent me a text the other day that you're beginning to see the
impact beyond just the immediacy of us bringing kids out to the track.
Someone reached out to you about being inspired by what you're doing.
Do you want to talk about that?
Yeah, that's, that was pretty cool.
Actually, um, um, a gentleman reached out to me on Instagram.
I'm sorry.
I wish I remembered his name.
I could check my phone, but I wish I remembered his name.
If so, I would shout him out right now.
He's actually from Canada and he was paying attention to what we've been doing
and, uh, and it inspired him to do something similar of his own, um,
up there in Canada.
And I've actually, this is a good reminder.
I need to send them a few signed, uh, hero cards and, um, and maybe,
maybe some other things to give to the kids.
But, uh, you know, we're inspiring people to do something that matters,
something that's, uh, you know, there's no money involved.
There's a, there's not a whole lot of things involved.
It's just more so, uh, if it matters, it matters to you.
Uh, it matters to the kids.
So, uh, you know, yeah, we've been, we've been getting big feedback from stuff like that.
I got some of the parents have reached out to me about their kid going home.
Here I am thinking the kid really didn't, couldn't care less one way or the other.
Sometimes every now and then you get a kid, you're like,
I don't think he really bought this whole deal, but then you get home and the,
and the parent says, my kid hasn't stopped talking about you.
And that's like when it really, really, really drives home that it mattered.
I'm really excited about what we've been doing.
It's a, it's a good time. I appreciate you guys.
Well, it's, it's just really fun to be able to do something like that.
And the fact that, you know, I always get a kick out of the fact that you started it by yourself.
Yeah.
I just wanted reading, um, but that it has grown and it's very cool about our community that
down Wilkerson's asked to help Jasmine Salinas, Gianna Salinas, you know,
they really, you know, the community really sees the benefit of.
Yes.
Giving back. And I think, you know, you're, you know, leading the way on that and,
you know, it doesn't help sometimes to kind of break the monotony of race day to
just have people in the pits, not just big brothers, big sisters, but can you kind of
mentally like, okay, I can focus on this for 15 minutes and it gives your brain a break.
Yeah, for sure. Um, definitely gives me a break.
Uh, gives me an opportunity to, um, Abbey can attest to this.
I'm learning how to even talk about it.
Like racing is something that I do just kind of like subconsciously.
So when they ask a question about how to do it, I'm always sitting there like, man,
I gotta kind of like think about how to tell this to somebody else.
But yeah, it's a break for, for a little bit.
Um, and, uh, you know, it's just like, it's so much hustle and bustle throughout the day.
And my team is really, really, really cool about it.
Like we don't, people don't walk through our pits.
It's you guys do.
You just come on in, but most people don't walk through our pits and, uh,
they've been really cool about, about this whole deal, really supportive.
Um, you know, and, uh, and that's, that's about as close and personal as there's people
that come to the HRA races and have been there years and they don't ever see a bike
that close.
They walk right up on it.
So, uh, you know, it's, it's really cool.
It's really cool to do in the Saturday, Saturday, Sunday.
I don't know if I'll be able to do it.
No, no, no, I wouldn't, I wouldn't even think about suggesting a Sunday deal.
I don't even like to do like pre-morning, but it was, I will tell you,
it was really cool to see your mom in Maryland.
Cause she's such an awesome lady.
And what I think is most impressive is when you were a little kid,
she saw the opportunity to give you the chance to be part of big brothers, big
sisters.
And I do think there's a little bit of a stigma against that.
I'm like, oh, you know, it doesn't mean you're not doing your job as a parent.
It means you're creating an opportunity.
And I think that's good parenting.
That is doing your job, signing your kid up for a program like that.
That is doing your job.
Right.
Uh, you know, and she saw the same thing.
She just wanted me to have experiences.
She wanted me to have positive mentorship and positive influences.
Uh, you know, outside of, you know, we're not like, you know, I'm actually
from like, I don't like the term the streets, but literally,
like Philly row home, you know, not great neighborhoods.
Right.
And, uh, you know, and she didn't want me, she, I think she always knew that,
that I was a little bit better than that.
She always knew that, uh, that, you know, that I could make it out so to speak.
So I think that that was one of her ways.
She signed me up for Boy Scouts.
I didn't, I didn't do too good at that.
I didn't do too good at that.
That took away too much time for me watching racing.
But, uh, she was always, she was always wanting to sign me up for things.
She tried to have me playing different instruments.
I mean, she tried everything she could.
The big brothers, big sisters, the one that stuck though.
That's awesome.
Well, man, I can't wait to see you here in a couple of days.
Thank you so much.
Did we miss anything or anything you want to shout out before we get to Bristol?
Um, no, I don't think so.
Uh, I'm getting excited to get there.
I'm getting excited to go back racing.
Uh, we're writing the thick of things.
Um, still holding the points lead by slim margin over, over Angie and, uh,
and she's coming in with momentum.
So, uh, you know, I'm kind of like, you know, starting to get a little nervous a little bit.
But, uh, you know, I've held this in Charlotte too.
Last year, I can hold it on a little bit longer.
So, uh, three races left in the regular season.
Uh, I hear a lot of people say they don't pay attention to points because it doesn't matter.
So I want to win the regular season champion.
Yeah.
All these things matter.
And I don't know if that makes you two time or not,
but I don't even care about claiming anything from it, but I just, it's just,
it's just something you want to feather in your cap.
So, uh, I'm going there as competitive as, as ever.
So we'll see you guys in a few days.
I'm excited to go to Bristol.
Awesome.
Thanks so much, Richard.
Thank you guys.
I appreciate it.
Talk to you later.
Talk to you later.
All right.
Let's, uh, let's pay some bills and then we'll come back and, um,
talk about our predictions for Bristol and then also about some of the other
exciting things with bracket bonanza and a thousand round win club and all that good stuff.
Sounds good.
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And we are back.
I could talk to Richard all day.
Same, same.
And I feel bad that people were throwing comments in there and I just couldn't break the momentum of talking to him.
So I don't know about it.
We'll find out about his championship merch.
Yes.
And then there was someone, something about the weight of your bike, will the weight of your bikes make enough difference from C5?
Yeah.
So we'll try to find that out and give you guys.
But yeah, so just, I just love talking to Richard because he's just, you know, I think, you know, Walt hits it on the head right there.
Then also, you know, Dujne weighs in.
You know, so it was just great having him on and I'm just so, it was so cool to be in Bristol last year when he got that first win.
And then, you know, he holds on for the championship and he still got the, like he said, he said the points lead for, you know.
Since the beginning of the season, since he won that race.
And this will be the first, this will be the first race where he's not competing in mission too fast to tasty.
Right.
So he's just continuing to, you know, go enough rounds to maintain that points lead.
So I think him winning the regular season championship at this point is completely feasible.
Yeah, for sure.
And I think that is a big deal.
I mean, he, I think being able to say your regular season champion, you know, things don't go your way in the countdown, you're still written in didn't go that with Tony Stewart still a regular season champion from last year.
That's a big deal.
So, all right, let's let's dive into wrapping up epping.
Mm hmm.
Who are you picking in your funny car.
And now top fuel finals.
Okay.
I'm a, I'm a Joe Castello fan at heart.
So this is this is where I'm going with this.
Joe Castello is not competing.
Joe Castello is competing though in Drag Race bracket.
Oh, okay.
And I am pretty sure that if both Sean Langdon and Jack Beckman win the race, he's going to win overall for the race.
And I would really love for Joe Castello or good friend, the creator of the WFO radio network to finally win a drag race.
So for that reason alone, as much as I love Jordan, as much as I love Leah, I'm rooting for Jack Beckman and Sean Langdon.
I am also rooting for those because I would love to see Beckman get a win.
Yes.
In the peak car, I am also a fan of streaks.
And I would love, I would love to see Sean Langdon get like go four in a row and five in a row within a span of 48 hours, possibly.
So a sweep weekend would be like for Sean, for instance, would be wrapping up his race with an epping on Friday night.
Yep.
Friday night, going provisional number one in the process, earning, fully earning number one on Saturday while winning Mission Too Fast Too Tasty and then winning the race in Bristol, correct?
It could be, yes, it could be a four win hat forum or four hat weekend.
Yep.
You get the epping winners hat, you get the number one qualifier hat, you get the Mission Foods Too Fast Too Tasty hat and then you get the race win hat.
It was kind of funny in the press room on Saturday and epping.
Jordan was like doing the whole two hat situation.
Like he was like, how do you wear both of these?
So he just stacked them halfway through his press account or my bank account needs Lee and Jack to win, but I agree the streak this show.
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Sign up because you need to be becoming an affiliate so we can a little bit of that Apple.
Thank you very much.
But yeah, so just that whole weekend deal, I mean, and just think about how much confidence that gives anybody, you're just constantly getting hats.
They've got a cool media center in Bristol that actually has a nice interview room and they get great media turnout.
Anthony Vessel and Becky Cox run the PR for that track so they get good media.
It's going to be lots of TV.
They've got a great spot up on the hill at Bristol where they'll do like TV live shots and see Kenny the Hawk Hawkins will be on the scene.
Was Bristol where you filmed the like pilot episode?
Yes, we filmed the pilot for talking funny cars with Buddy Hall of Cruise up on the hill.
So yeah, so Bristol has a lot, a lot going on and it's just a famous track.
They have a Legends of Thunder Valley.
The track's been around for over 60 years and Ron Caps is their legend.
He's the winningest funny car driver ever there.
So shout out to Ron Caps.
I was there and Force went in.
I mean, that's just a really big, big, big honor snakes in there.
So I think it's really cool that, you know, Don's in there and now Ron is and they used to race, you know, Ron used to race for him.
So they'll do a big presentation for that.
They do arguably one of the coolest autograph sessions Saturday night at the races.
They'll have all, they do it kind of in two waves.
They'll do it.
They'll start after Nitro and get all the guys in the tent and do a free autograph session.
And it has great turnout.
And then, you know, then they'll get the pro stock guys over there.
So this is okay.
That's a real first world problem.
Yeah, I love but I'm stuck in Barcelona.
Yeah, I don't know.
I would consider it stuck in Barcelona at the F1 race.
I unfortunately do not have too much sympathy for you, Pete.
That's a bit of a flex, but that's okay.
So, but Bristol, you know, they do all kinds of sweet visits.
They, when it was on Father's Day, they would do donuts and dads in the morning.
Oh, Father's Day, which is really kind of cool.
They just have a lot going on.
They've got a great Nitro club that the MCs, they're always a lot of fun.
But they've resurfaced the track.
So it's going to be interesting.
I mean, I hope it's only a good thing.
And I think so will be, I have to think it will be, you know, they got,
they didn't just do it in a vacuum.
They got input and they talk, you know, talk to what needed to happen.
So hopefully it will be just a tremendous racing surface.
It'll take a while to get some rubber on it.
But I think once, once it gets up and running, could be really exciting.
So we'll have all four categories, which is the best way to run a race.
Agreed.
So I will say like for pro stock motorcycle, I'm going to get,
I'm going to go, it's either going to be Richard or Joey Gladstone.
Wow.
I think that's that.
I think like what Richard said about Joey's is going to be on a really,
really good bike.
And I think he's going to come in with nothing to lose.
And so I think it could be, it could be a Joey Richard final round.
And then it's a coin flip.
That would, that would be really fun to see.
That would be really fun to see.
I think it'll be a Richard Angie final personally.
Cause I think Richard is going to be fired up to maintain that points lead.
He's going to be coming in as the defending event winner for the first
time in his career.
But on the flip side, I think Angie's at the beginning of a terror right now.
That bike is a bad mofo.
So I think she's driving, she's driving it like a champ.
And I think, I mean, yes, Joey's going to be on the bike,
but I think she holds, she's going to hold a little bit of a,
like got to do this for Matt kind of energy.
Yep. I get that pro stock.
Greg Anderson, like do Jenae way and in on Angie getting another win.
Pro stock, Greg Anderson coming back to the spot where we got his
1000th round win.
Yep.
Won the race.
Defending champion, you know, running really good.
I mean, basically, you know, sometimes Greg's biggest enemy is Greg.
Yes.
So, you know, I will of course pick, pick Greg for this race.
I know.
Shocker.
Shocker.
We taught, we talked in, in Epping in the winter, in Dallas' winter circle.
And I think he's, you know, again, it's just, you know, he's got to hit his spots.
And I think he's going to be ready to go in Bristol.
Oh yeah.
Oh yeah.
I think Dallas could get it done again, which I know that's not a very adventurous pick,
but he, I feel like he rarely makes a mistake.
And I mean, he went, what double of two in that final in Epping, which I understand is
actually kind of stressful for these guys because they're, they're immediately like,
I was very close to going red, but that really does not happen for him often.
Right.
Like at all.
And I don't know.
He's another one where like Greg in qualifying got snuck past him into the points lead by
like one point with those extra bonus points.
And Dallas said, yeah, I'm just going to take that.
Yeah, take the points right back.
Greg had the points lead for like 24 hours.
Yes.
Barely.
If that.
So I don't think he's going to really want to give any leeway to Greg again.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So funny car is wild, wild west.
I think of all the categories.
That is the one that's just the most wide open that agreed.
You know, Beckman's cars coming around Vandergrift cars coming around.
Obviously JR Todd's been going great.
You know, we constantly have the hopeful first time winners of Spencer Hyde and Dan
Wilkerson.
You've got this, you know, the multi-time winner of Chad Green.
Hagen has run good there.
I mean,
And then obviously caps.
And then caps.
Great.
You know, I'm sure he's, I'm sure he would love to win in Bristol on the weekend.
He's put into their industry of being, you know, the winningest driver there.
No matter who wins this, this epic final, whether it be Jack or Jordan, I have less confidence
that either of them could sweep the weekend in the same way that either Sean or Leah could,
if that makes sense, just because of how chaotic the funny car class has been in a good way.
Right.
But I just think it will be a lot harder for either of them to make that clean sweep
compared to in top fuel.
But so who do you think your pick is?
It sounds like caps, but I'll let you know.
I think it's, I think I like either caps or JR.
I just, I feel like that JR's car is just like right there and JR's doing a good job driving
it.
I think that that could be a deal.
My, my pick is either going to be JR or Crock because I think probably losing first round
this past weekend at a race that meant a lot to the Tascas is going to just like further
Stoke that fire.
Stoke that fire because I'm sure like, I'm sure he feels so like infinitely better since
they got that first win.
Right.
But now I'm sure there's a little bit of like, well, now we still got to back it up so people
can't just be like, well, it was a fluke.
Right.
Yeah.
So there's still, I think some pressure to back it up.
And so I think I could see them getting it done.
Yeah.
All right.
Top fuel.
I'm not even going to debate it.
All Sean liked it all the time until he is that car is just running so well.
He's driving.
He's got the new, you know, came out that he has the new steering wheel.
Yes.
And that's helping him keep that car straight.
I predict by the end of the season, even more drivers will have that steering wheel.
Agreed.
And it's so crazy how that could be the difference.
Yeah.
That a side to side movement of just a couple inches that now races are being decided by
10,000th of a second.
Yeah.
While I think, I think Sean gets everything this weekend.
I really, I am a really approved fan.
I think Sean is just, just to be clear.
And like, I want to give her the benefit of the doubt that she could get it done.
But yeah, I just think Sean Langdon is like almost impossible.
Impossible to be right now.
And I do have to give it all to Sean.
So, and I too am a lover of a streak.
And I also think that like the energy of getting a streak where like fifth,
if he does win at all, that would be five races,
three of those being three in a row.
How fun is that? Just like,
we have to come up with a, someone needs to get a broom.
You know, it's the Eastern swing.
You know, so it's, it just have to, you know,
we need to establish it as, as a thing.
And it needs to just stay because it's been, you know,
you got these old tracks, you got a lot of history.
And then if Sean went all three and, you know,
you want to see history.
I mean, you kind of, you know, he's just done so much that that would be,
that'd be very cool.
So Bristol will be a banger weekend.
We had like, we'll, we'll touch a little bit on signing up for Drag Race
Bracket Bonanza.
Yes, always.
Bracket Bonanza is being sponsored by the Thousand Round-Win Club.
And for those of you that don't know what the Thousand Round-Win Club is,
it is something we came up with last year at the end of the year.
After Greg won, you know, got his Thousand Round-Win at the banquet,
we presented Greg and John with custom tuxedo jackets and certificates of
membership into the Thousand Round-Win Club.
And that's, that's a thing now.
So they're the only two members caps is potentially on the verge,
probably next year of being a member,
but we this weekend to commemorate Greg's achievement,
we are launching the first autographed item for the Thousand Round-Win Club.
It is a five by seven card that John and Greg will physically sign same
signature on the same card.
It's one of a thousand.
You can order it now at thousandroundwinclub.com,
but it's a really unique, cool piece of history.
And then here's kind of an up close picture of it.
This is actually a prototype when it'll be black signatures for Greg.
But yeah, they're available now at thousandroundwinclub.com,
75 bucks plus shipping and handling.
So and it'll come with a certificate of certificate of authenticity.
That always trips me up.
Always trips you up.
We're getting them all put together now.
They'll be shipped right after the 4th of July.
Yeah.
So but there truly are only a thousand.
So if you're a big fan of Greg and John or historical pieces like that,
you know, go to thousandroundwinclub.com and get that piece.
So I'm excited to kind of have that out there.
We, you know, people are starting to get, you know,
there's going to be big talk about it this weekend.
Yes.
But it's been really cool to basically honor these two guys that are in,
what I think is the most elite achievement club in motorsports.
Oh, for sure.
You know, it's not just longevity, but it's winning.
And it's dominating.
Yes.
Well, and I went back and watched because I,
you mentioned earlier that Greg both got reached a thousand rounds last
year in Bristol and went on to win the race.
Yeah.
I could not remember if that was the same deal with, with John.
So I went back and watched it.
And he in fact did not win that St. Louis race.
He lost, he lost to Robert height in the next round,
but he won his 1000th round win against Ron caps,
which I think when Ron eventually hits that will be kind of a fun full circle
moment.
But in the like TV footage of him winning that 1000th round,
they were like, we'll see if we'll ever see this happen again.
Cause it was just so like hard, like hard to even fathom that it had been
done much less what could be repeatable.
And I mean, I think that shows how crazy it was for John to hit it since he
hit it in 2008 and no one hit it again until 2025.
Yeah.
And John did it in his 500 and first race.
So here's the picture of John doing it at the top end,
which is very funny because if you look off to the right hand side and you
see like somebody's arm and somebody's leg, that's my arm and leg,
which is very funny.
Like I thought I was just enough out of the picture,
but I was not quite close enough.
And then you see Mike Neff in the old spice funny car force got his 1000th
round win.
And then immediately after that, Mike Neff got his first round win.
So, and then we did after Greg did it last year,
we did photos with Greg again with the Goodyear tires and this is,
this photo makes me laugh so hard because Kim Anderson and Tamara,
who runs social media and marketing for KB Titan racing,
they were the ones that kind of suggested this pose.
And it just very funny.
So, yeah, very excited to be honoring Greg in this way by kicking off
this commemorative piece this weekend.
I hope that lots of people will in autograph sessions and whatnot are
coming up to his ropes.
Right.
Just kind of further congratulating him for hitting this milestone.
Get it.
Get him to sign those.
Get him to sign his hero cards.
Greg Anderson.
1000 rounds.
Exactly.
Because he's at a 1040 or something.
So, but yeah, it's Bristol's going to be great.
Can't wait to get there.
We'll get eping finished up, get Bristol in, 1000 round win club,
Drag Race, Braco Bonanza, autograph sessions,
Ron Caps is a legend.
I mean, what more?
Joey Gladstone on a pro stock motorcycle.
It's just going to be a great, great weekend.
What, what do you think is going to be the highlight for you this
weekend, Abby?
Going back to Richard talking about how it's like a top two track
for him, as far as like it being just really pretty and really scenic.
Once this is the first time I'll attend this race in person.
So I'm just excited to like experience Thunder Valley.
Like it sounds like, and also to experience the sound because I
call it Thunder Valley.
Cause I want to, I want to see if it does live in fact live up to
its name.
So I think that's the part that I'm most excited for this weekend.
Awesome.
Well, thank you everybody for watching, listening.
Please share the show.
Yes.
By the merch.
And we will be live next Wednesday to recap Bristol and got a
little bit of a gap before Norwalk.
But thanks everybody for tuning in.
Go to the archives.
Watch Joe's show from yesterday from WFO radio.
Watch this show, share it.
And thanks everybody.
Have a great rest of your week.
See you soon.
This is WFO radio.
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