WFO Radio Podcast May 13, 2026

Life's a Drag Windy City Preview - NHRA Route 66 Nationals

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Term

Funny car

A "funny car" is a specific type of drag race car. It’s built to go as fast as possible in a straight line, and it competes in its own NHRA class.

Concept

Top Fuel

Top Fuel is the biggest, fastest class in NHRA drag racing. The cars are dragsters built to accelerate extremely hard over a very short straight track.

Term

chip

“Chip” here sounds like team slang for a key step or item they have to finish before the car is ready to race. The host is asking whether they’ve reached that readiness point yet.

Concept

race car

Here, “race car” means the special car built and set up for racing, not a normal street vehicle. Drag racers are tuned for quick starts and fast runs in a straight line.

Concept

A to B

“A to B” here just means “get from the start to the finish.” It’s about making sure the car works and the run happens.

Concept

diamond Wally

“Wally” is the trophy people win in NHRA drag racing. A “diamond Wally” is a special, more prestigious version of that trophy.

Concept

drag racing

Drag racing is a type of racing where cars race in a straight line over a short distance. The winner is usually the one that gets to the finish line fastest.

Concept

pit

The “pit” is the backstage area for the race team. It’s where the crew can work on the car between runs.

Concept

warmup procedure

A warmup procedure is the set of actions the team performs before the car is staged to bring key systems up to operating temperature. In drag racing, this can include warming the engine and drivetrain so the car responds consistently when it’s time to launch.

Concept

starting line procedure

In drag racing, there’s a checklist for how you line up and get ready to launch. The crew and driver follow signals and timing so the car is staged correctly for the lights.

Concept

burnout

A burnout is when the driver briefly spins the tires to warm them up. Warmer tires grip better, which helps the car get off the line more effectively.

Concept

hand signal type stuff

The crew may use hand signals to communicate with the driver right before the run. It helps everyone coordinate the steps for the start.

Concept

staging

Staging means getting the car positioned for the start lights and timing. The crew guides the driver so the car is in the right spot before the race begins.

Concept

beams

“Beams” are the sensors on the track that detect where your car is. When the crew brings you into the beams, it means the timing system is ready for your start.

Concept

starting line pistol

In drag racing, there’s a special signal at the start line that tells everyone when to go. People talk about it like a tradition—timing your launch to that signal is a big part of the sport.

Topic

NHRA Route 66 Nationals

This is a drag racing event in the NHRA series. Teams show up with their race cars to qualify and then race each other to advance.

Car

Ford Dark Horse

The Ford Mustang is a sports car made by Ford. It’s designed to be fun to drive, with powerful engine choices depending on the model. It may be mentioned in a race discussion because it’s a common, performance-oriented car people compete with.

Concept

NHRA Drag Race Bracket Bonanza

This is an NHRA event with a bracket-style format. Instead of only trying to be the quickest, racers are trying to hit their dial-in target and run consistently.

Term

dry hops

“Dry hops” is a slang term for a quick tire-spinning launch technique. The idea is to get the car moving and gripping without doing the longer, traditional burnout.

LIVE

This is WFO Radio.

Hello.

This is the new version of Life's A Drag with, uh, I'm Elan Warner and my good buddy.

Abby Warner Woodward.

So Abby, how are you doing?

I'm good.

Energy is high.

We're going to Chicago this week.

Uh, we're going to the motorplex this afternoon.

So race tracks all around.

Yeah.

So as you're tuning into the show, please share it.

Like it.

Buy the merch.

Abby's actually wearing some other drag racing merch from our good friend.

That's a, that's a Apple art girl.

Correct.

I can never get her.

Apple girl art.

Katie.

Sorry.

Sorry, Katie.

I wear it cause she's BFFs with the guests that we're going to have on later today.

So it just felt, it felt appropriate.

So, and this is also just one of my favorite t-shirts and soft and cute.

So how many racing t-shirts do you have?

Not that many, to be honest.

Um, I don't like a lot of racing t-shirts.

They are very fire flames, naked women.

Like, oh, there's a lot going on.

Usually like, um, I have this one.

I have a national trail raceway t-shirt that I won the other dear PV league last year.

Um, I have a, I have a Sadie Glenn t-shirt.

I think that's about it.

I'm sure by the end of the year I will have a Maddie Gordon shirt.

Um, I do have a lot of hats because people just give us hats.

I feel like all the time.

Um, and I'm not even like a big hat person, but cause one, I have bangs.

So once you put a hat on, you have to commit to it.

Toast.

That's, that's a big problem for me too.

Deal with my bangs.

So exciting to kind of get the new life to drag off the ground.

Chicago this weekend.

Um, I think the weather looks very good for Chicago.

It does.

And I think we're due for some good weather.

We are, we are due for a good, nice, solid two qualifying sessions on Friday,

two qualifying sessions on Saturday race on Sunday.

Um, we got to deal with a little unrelated rain delay in our own life on Sunday.

Yeah.

Mother's Day.

We went to the sting concert on Mother's Day because, you know, what way,

what better way to celebrate my mom, your wife.

Uh, we went with some family friends outdoor venue,

Toyota music factory in the Dallas area.

Shout out Toyota.

And, uh, anyways, um, we knew, like we knew it was going to rain.

Like, so we all brought our ponchos and our rain jackets and all that.

We were sitting like out in the grass, uh, lightning starts.

We have to see cover and the people who communicated this,

we're not super nice about it.

Like anyone that complains about how NHA communicates about rain delays,

check yourself because the people at Toyota music factory were, they were

having no, they, no, no funny business.

No funny business.

And then they heard of us.

We, at first we went to like the concession area that was very well sheltered.

And then you have to go.

Pavilion area.

So they crammed us all into one or two sides.

And then we just stood there for two hours.

Well, and then they also, I feel like did a really bad job about communicating.

Like after did all the shoving.

Like I feel like to the NHA is credit, at least when they have rain delay,

I feel like we're getting updates either on social media or on NHA dot TV.

Or like over the PAs, like probably,

Jason Galvin's Jason Logan's rescue.

Like every, like at least like every 20 ish minutes,

even if we can clearly see that it is still actively raining.

And they also try to give like, once it has stopped raining,

like a good to their best ability, like a good return time based off like how

long it's going to take to dry the track and whatnot.

So, I mean, people have a lot to complain about,

but I do think how the NHA can communicate during rain delays is one of their

stronger breaks.

All right.

So speaking, we were talking about rain delays in Chicago.

And, well, this, this came up.

I know public dust storms this time.

Can I, can I tell you a story from last year?

Yes.

So last year, Chicago was like when the shake and bake leak was like the idea

for it was formed.

Courtney came to us and was like, Hey, we're already kind of informally like

saying our picks and people are busting our chops when we don't get them right.

So we love to create a league that way people can actually play against us and

whatnot.

So she invites me over and we're in Spencer's trailer talking about this,

have no idea what's going on around us.

Right.

We're just like yapping away, yapping away.

We make these plans.

I'm going to send her some stuff.

We exit and it's the dust and it was, it was truly like,

like entering the trailer on planet earth and walking out and it being planet

Mars.

Like just like, cause like I didn't, I wasn't paying attention to my phone.

I was in a meeting.

Like we were.

So just the complete, like not knowing what was going on outside and then

walking just right into it.

It was like very jarring.

Yeah.

So no dust storms this year.

Yeah.

Knock on wood.

So Chicago is probably one of the tracks.

You have the longest tenure at attending.

Oh yeah.

When I was the JFR.

Like when I was like nine, like eight or nine.

I just remember like, yeah, going to Chicago cause we made a little weekend out of it with

mom and Nick, my brother.

So we went to the aquarium and I think we went to like Lego world or something,

Lego land, I guess.

Um, and then of course the race, um, where I'm sure at least one of the JFR

drivers won.

That was the scene of your first, uh, racing disappointment though.

Cause of one year, everybody lost in the first round.

Oh, I do.

Didn't we like go see like Evan Almighty and yes, we had a flight out that night

and the, you guys were like, Hey, uh, so what happens now?

And I was like, we F and keep our heads down.

I'm going to do my story and we're going to get out of here.

And it was like six hours until our plane took off and we're like,

what are we going to do now?

So yes.

We went and saw Evan Almighty and then.

I mean, Morgan Freeman is just meant to play God.

Yeah.

So sure.

Not a terrible way to spend your Sunday, but yeah,

much rather being a winner circle.

Yeah.

So Chicago also, um, you probably didn't recognize this,

but this guy was at the race for a number of times,

but your mom was walking, your mom told me the story.

She's walking you and Nick through the pits and just kind of as you're walking,

she pops up behind a huge guy.

She said, uh, that had a huge tattoo on his back of two topless,

very busty women making out a very detailed tattoo.

You know,

our fans are known for being the classiest around.

Hey, don't, don't hate on art.

Don't, don't be an art hater.

You know, I, I appreciate a good tattoo.

I do.

Uh, I have one myself.

So like, I, I, I mean, not anything that detailed,

but anyways, uh, I mean, we see fun t-shirts.

All the time.

Yeah.

We have our eye out for, for the, uh, let's just say kind of the eye

catching t-shirts at races that are seen.

Um,

it's my favorite when there's a particularly eye catching t-shirt.

With some language on it.

And it's worn by a person who is like walking around with their

toddler.

Yes.

Or they're in the kid autograph line.

Exactly.

Really, really pins a picture.

Yeah.

So this is a track we're going to see records.

So, uh, coming out of Georgia,

Sean Langer runs three 45.

You know,

and three 44 crazy.

Uh, you were not in Georgia, but like when you see as someone

that's followed, you know, you see a guy post that kind of

speed,

what does your fan head do?

And what does your PR head do?

Well,

fan head, it's just like, Oh my gosh, that's incredible.

I'm having FOMO not being there.

Like, cause last year I was in Sonoma when Brittany went 343.

I think during Q four because it was dark out.

So it might have been Q two.

It was for sure.

But like the stands were packed and that was probably the most

electric moment that I've ever experienced at a drag race.

Just like people exploded because it was so cool to see.

So like,

I hope there was like a similar level of magic.

There was for sure it was like,

cause also at South Georgia Motorsports Park,

the stands are like right on top of the race track.

I mean,

so that, that was a huge, it huge moment.

And then,

I think Chicago with the true stadium style seating should be

really cool.

Yeah.

Well, and so yeah,

so that's like the fan part might be the PR part of my brain is

like, all right,

we need to get this everywhere, which it was, it was on the AP,

it was on Yahoo news.

Like that's the kind of thing that really kind of breaks out of

like our full circle.

And so that's like always really fun to see when like the

drag racing conversation hits the mainstream.

And then I was also just really happy for South Georgia Motorsports

Park,

like being the place that that happened at because I mean,

they put so much time and effort and you know,

putting on a national event for the first time is kind of

terrifying, I'm sure.

And so to be able to have your track associated with something

so cool like that is just like really exciting for them.

Yeah.

So Chicago this weekend.

Yes.

You're super involved with Richard Gadson and the big brothers,

big sisters program.

So we got

that program.

So can you,

I would love to hear from you like how fun that is and also how

insane it is finding

five individuals,

a lot of them that have never been to a track.

Yes.

And then giving them a drag racing experience on Saturday.

Oh yeah.

So what we do to help Richard,

one of my favorite parts of my job.

when I was in college, like I studied strategic, I have a

strategic communications degree and I have a poly side degree.

And I thought for a minute that I might want to do nonprofit

work.

And that,

so this initiative kind of like feeds that part of my heart

and Richard is just like a truly good dude,

like through and through.

And he's also a kick-ass motorcycle rider.

So we've worked with some really great chapters.

All the chapters are local

and they do a really great job of working with us and within their

processes to get these tickets to them.

The biggest thing as far as like getting them to track is most of

the time we don't have like their contact information

for privacy reasons more than anything else.

And so because of that, like they know the meeting point,

they know,

like I get them a description of what I'm wearing.

And then they're supposed to be on time, but you know,

if you've never been to the track before,

you don't know how long it takes to park.

If you like,

when you're picking up your little like that might go long, yada,

yada, yada.

So I'm usually standing out there like for like 45 ish minutes

to meet these five pairs of littles.

And I don't,

I usually have like a first name and then like an age of the little.

So I'm like scanning the crowd, trying to find an adult,

with a child that might be like 14, I guess.

And then also I'm trying to like, not stereotype,

but just like I'm going to assume that the little does not

necessarily look like they're big.

Like they're not family.

And sometimes the bigs are wearing big brothers,

big sisters t-shirts, which is super helpful.

But most of the time they're not, they're just an adult.

And so it's like, you get a little nervous cause you don't want to

like approach someone and that and be like,

are you with big brothers, big sisters?

And then be like, no.

And so it's just like a very like delicate balance,

but we always, we give them water, ear protection.

I show them where they're sitting, kind of explain like,

Hey, this is what you're going to be seeing.

You're going to be seeing these speeds.

It's going to be very loud.

Please utilize the ear protection.

You're welcome to walk around the pits before we do more of like

the guided tour.

Um, and then I let them free, be free for a couple hours before

I meet up with them again.

And so in, in Charlotte, we tour Jasmine Selena's pit,

Daniel Wilkerson's pit and then Richards.

And so, and Dan has been helping us since about halfway through

last season and he, he gives these guys like the tour of a lifetime

like going through both haulers, explaining like how everything

works, talking a mile a minute, answering questions, getting on

their level, like trying to compare it to things that they're

interested in.

So in Charlotte, he and Q3, I think throws the rods out.

And so I stopped by his pit and I'm like, I'm like, Dan,

I can like, we can pivot.

I can move on.

You guys look like you do not look like you have time to do a tour.

You could also just like say hi.

Like they, these, I don't promise these guys anything.

Right.

Like they're just kind of there to get these things.

They don't know what they're going to ski so they don't know what

they're not getting.

Exactly.

So like, if you only say hi, they don't know what they're missing

out on and he's, he's like, you know what, I'll give them, I'll

give them the nickel tour and was still like the

greatest thing and they were like wildly impressed.

And so, yeah, so they saw Dan and then they saw Jasmine and the

great thing about that is, you know, two different car classes.

So they're talking about different things and then also Dan being

a former crew chief is a lot more mechanically minded.

So he's talking a lot more about the cars themselves and Jasmine's

talking a lot more about like the perspective of just being a

driver.

This one thing that was really cool in Charlotte was it was, we had

four teenage boys and then 18 year old girl who was Hispanic.

And so that was just really cool.

I feel like for her to see Jasmine Selena's another Latina driver,

like we got some really cute photos.

And that's the whole deal.

Like Richard, you know, they get to spend a ton of time with Richard

and Richard talks about he's, you know, you know, he's been where

they are, you know, kind of getting this unique experience.

So being able to share that is really cool to hear Richard tell his story.

Oh yeah.

So yeah.

And then we rounded out with Richard, of course.

And so that's like just, yeah, once again, really cool for them to see

like he was very much once in their shoes.

And now he's made it to the greatest level and winning a championship.

And he's just, he's so grounded.

And what he does really well is once again, like asking what they're

into, because he does, he has no expectation for them to actually

be interested in racing, but he really encourages them to decide

what they're interested in and then just go for it.

Like he talks about like how he's all of his free time he spent as a

teenager was either at the racetrack or watching racetrack film.

He just threw himself into that.

And then he went to school for engineering because he thought it

would help him at the racetrack.

And so he's like, it doesn't matter what your thing is.

If it's basketball, if it's art, you just have to invest yourself in it.

And I think that's really cool for them to hear because I think they

might hear at school like, oh, you have to do things one way.

And if their interests deviate from that, I think it's good for them

to hear about a success story that isn't just like academically focused.

That's kind of non-traditional.

Exactly.

So Chicago has kind of a cool layout.

They have everybody on the one side.

So it is interesting you're kind of meeting them up as they're kind of

coming around by the Nitro Mall and doing all that stuff.

But that's one thing that we're talking about like accessibility

and things like that.

Chicago does a great job, I think, of going to that and really being able

to see everything conveniently and then going right into the grandstands.

I mean, I really like that facility.

And it's really kind of like the motorplex.

Like to me, Chicago and Zmax are the motorplex on steroids.

Yeah, I would agree with that.

I don't think there's any, I don't think there's a Chicago without a motorplex

because the motorplex was the first one to kind of have that stadium design.

So it definitely was the inspiration for a lot.

Yeah.

And the one thing I do also like about Chicago is a little bit of the grub opportunities.

So I think we'll try to do a little deep dish pizza.

Oh yeah, for sure.

So there's the whole, you know, deep dish pizza, Chicago style, New York style.

I do kind of like my Chicago style, but I feel like the Chicago style pizza

is almost better the next day because it gets kind of runny.

It does.

So it has a chance to solidify a little bit when it's a leftover.

So we're open to, you know, I don't really have like, because we stay in Joliet,

which apparently also seems to be constantly under construction.

Like we got the, did you get the email from Michelle about highway construction?

Exactly.

And how we should enter the track.

Yeah.

Which I kind of read that, but it also kind of gave me tired head.

Yeah.

I'm going to circle back to that before we get there tomorrow.

But also I'm very rarely the person driving.

So right.

So I know like last year we went out Gary Nostasi.

So we'll probably try to do some kind of dinner with some people there.

And obviously, you know, you do.

Yeah.

Like a, like Pete says, you have also have Jake and Elwoods, blues brothers.

And Chicago is kind of a track that has had really cool,

especially cars and things like that.

So it'll be interesting to see how that all, you know, kind of comes together.

Oh yeah.

Can I share a Chicago story?

Yes.

So long as it's not embarrassing to me.

It's not embarrassing to you at all.

It might be embarrassing to me.

So you've been doing work with TJ Zizzo.

For a really long time.

And I remember he, in addition to paying you would send you a like a.

Luminati pizza.

Yes.

Luminati's pizza.

And it came, it was a box of food.

It wasn't just the pizza.

It was like the pizza and like hot dogs, hot dogs,

maybe some other meats and then cheesecake.

And it was a really, really good cheesecake.

And this happened a couple of times where he sent you stuff.

And in my naked eyes, little brands were like, man,

if dad could just get paid and cheesecake, like all the time.

Great.

This would be great.

Because, you know, we didn't, you know,

know about bills and responsibilities yet.

So it's funny.

So TJ has done that for us.

And then also the great Chris King has done that.

And last year.

A pizza.

Just box from Luminati's just showed up.

And, you know, it has like the comment deal.

And the comment was just like.

Merry Christmas.

And we didn't know who it was from.

So we're wrecking our brains on all our Chicago people.

And we didn't want to like be like, Hey, did you send me pizza?

And like, we have like sponsors.

See what's from Chicago, TJ.

And then like three weeks after the Christmas.

I think it was a PRI.

We see Chris King and we're doing stuff with Chris.

And he's like, Hey, did you get that pizza?

And I was like, Oh my God, thank you so much for,

I feel so terrible because there was no identification anywhere

on the pizza box.

Where it came from.

Oh yeah.

Yeah.

That happened with Adam and I on wedding gifts.

Like we got some very specific things with like no identification

of where they came from.

And we're like, we just want to thank you.

But who sent us these very thoughtful things.

Yes.

So Chicago this weekend, you want to do who,

who are you liking for your a drag race,

break bonanza picks or who do you think is going to win the race?

I really,

I think it's been really hard to stop either of the Coletta guys.

Like they keep qualifying basically like 12

if not 12 like one and three.

And so then they're not even on the same sides of the ladder.

Right.

And then they're just, they feel unstoppable right now.

I mean, they're picking up qualifying points.

They're winning mission too fast to tasty challenges.

They're, they've won the bulk of the races at this point.

If it's not them, I'm looking at the list.

Justin Ashley, I feel it's due for a win.

He's, I think made it to least one final.

And I just, I love me, some Justin Ashley.

And I, do you remember if he's won this race before?

I can't remember.

I don't think he has.

But I feel like, I feel like that would be fun for him.

But also, I mean, I'm also always going to be reading for TJ's as

well. So once again, I think, I mean, and TJ's qualified number

one race before, as well as like St. Louis.

And he always has a really strong car.

And so he, I mean, people know, like the other teams know that when

he rolls up, like this team means business.

And so, yeah.

So I think, I guess like my head, my head pick would be one of the

Colettas.

And then my heart, TJ's is actually probably number one for this

particular race.

And then Justin Ashley number two.

What about, what about funny car?

Funny car.

Still rooting for Spencer Hyde or Daniel Wilkerson to get their

first win.

Like, I mean, so once again, that's a, that's a, I guess a heart pick.

Um, Ron Kapps is just having like a really good season so far.

And so it wouldn't surprise me if he wins another, picks up another

race win.

Um, and then maybe, yeah, another good strong head pick would be

JR, once again, JR Todd, the Colettas.

They really have, I feel like all their stuff figured out and

they're firing on all cylinders across both classes.

What about you?

Um, I, I like, uh, give me Justin Ashley, um, and top fuel and give

me Spencer Hyde or Dan Wilkerson and funny car.

Um, and then we'll, we'll circle back to pro stock after this, but

let's, um, let's pay some bills and then we'll pop right on with our,

we are, we have our featured guest, the great Krista Baldwin in the

waiting room.

And we come back from a couple of little paying the bill sponsor posts.

We'll, we'll get all things Chicago from her.

Oh yeah.

Huge ship.

If it takes a pistol, total seal could build a better ring.

And pick your winners today.

For more information, be sure to visit dpfxfit.com.

All right.

I cut you off there.

Sorry about that.

So Abby, do you want to do a nice little intro for our featured

guest on lives of drag?

She is making her return to NHA top fuel.

She's the daughter of her granddaughter, my bad, of the Greek.

You can recognize her.

I think by cheetah print alone, we are super excited to have Krista

Baldwin.

Krista, what is going on?

What's up you guys?

Thank you so much for joining us.

So you're our, you're our maiden guest for the Abby Elan lives of

drag iteration.

I am still honored.

You guys like I'm super excited to be here.

Well, we're excited to have you back in Chicago and number one,

you know, you're, you know, celebrating your grandfather,

who will be one of the nature of legends.

But I'm just such a big fan of you because you're running your own

operation.

And what, what is the Krista Baldwin stress level now?

Have you hit the chip yet or are you almost on the chip?

Um, we hit the chip maybe about midnight last night when we were

loading the race car.

But we're going through it.

I'm literally just left my shop and we're on our way to Chicago

now.

So like the stress level is coming down a little bit.

But the, now the excitement is starting to pick up like, okay,

like we're like T minus like two days of me hitting the gas.

And I cannot wait.

So when you're driving, what, what does Krista, what goes through

Krista Baldwin's head?

Cause like Abby gets, like when I'm driving on an extended trip,

all I'm doing is blowing up Abby's phone with ideas.

How many people are you calling with?

Have we checked this?

What about this?

Um, I mean, I have a lot of people that are checking in on me.

That's, that's not anything new, but I mean dash wherever the

wind takes us is what we're doing.

So that's the fun part.

How do you pass the time when you're, when you're driving your

rig?

Are you calling people?

Are you listening to pass?

Are you listening to the radio?

Uh, talking on life's a drag.

Um, mostly it's at the radio.

I mean, this is like a cool moment because I've always loved the

fact that like I want to be hands on, hands dirty, get the car

ready and things like that.

And so like to actually like drive my own rig is like a sense of

like accomplishment of like, okay, we finally got to this point.

Like we are literally the next thing I'm going to see is the

gates to route 66.

So it's like, it's like kind of like a full circle moment for like

the whole off season.

Oh yeah.

And there's also, I mean, that's what your grandfather did.

I mean, your grandfather drove, you know, in all of his, you

know, match races and, you know, the NHRA events, but it's got to

be kind of cool to like truly be following in the family footsteps

on that.

It is.

And like a lot of people, like I totally get the cross country

road trips are probably going to be like really tough.

But I don't know, like I said, like it's a sense of like

accomplishment, a sense of pride that like, yeah, this is my

stuff.

Like I put it together with my team and I'm driving it to the

race.

And I mean, there's no ego here.

Like I am anything from the parts washer to the brake driver to

whatever you need me to be on here for the team.

So, but now I truly do love being able to go down the road

like this.

Could you ever have imagined your life?

Krista Baldwin, marketing executive, Krista Baldwin, you

know, something else besides Krista Baldwin, drag racer.

I mean, so obviously this, this drag racing life is can be

very brutal.

And you probably need a backup plan.

So one thing that my family always instilled on me is that

like I had to go to school.

It's like I had to go to college.

I had to go get a good degree.

I had to have something to fall back on.

And so when I finally, you know, got my, uh, what got my

degree at Northern Arizona University and Flagstaff and I

mean, shoot, Paul Lee literally hired me as an intern.

And I've been with Paul for gosh, I think this is 12 years

now.

And the fact that like I've been able to like create my own

department within the Warton automotive group is like super

cool.

And so like a few different assets of my life, I'm super

proud of like the accomplishments that I've had.

Uh, but definitely I love driving this race car the most out

of all of it.

I feel like I remember you mentioning on another podcast

like a while ago that your rig is your like for, is your

grandfather's former rig?

Is that true?

So it was.

Um, so when I bought Pat Dakin's operation, I'm using Pat

Dakin's rigs now.

Um, but the truck that I'm in is actually grandpa's truck.

And it still says Chris Kierman seen us on the side of it.

That is awesome.

That is really awesome.

Um, what are your goals for this weekend, Krista?

A to B.

That's all I'm asking A to B.

Like when I talked to Ron Douglas a few weeks ago and asked

him if he wanted to do this with me, I'm like, look, I don't

need to put the world on its side.

Like I just want to go A to B.

I want to have a, you know, a strong presence and be able to,

you know, possibly go around or two on Sunday.

Obviously the ultimate goal is to win the race and get myself a

diamond Wally because those things are sick.

I want one so bad.

But I mean, just to have fun and to like be there with grandpa,

like it's like to celebrate his 70 years in drag racing.

I mean, not a lot of people can say that they've been in drag racing

since the beginning of drag racing.

Right.

Well, you have a lot of family there because of.

Yeah, a lot, a lot of our friends, a lot of our family, um,

because obviously he still lives in Chicago.

So a bunch of his friends are coming out and between my pit

and Jim heads pit, it's going to be a celebration all weekend

long.

Awesome.

How I'm super excited.

You've got Ron Douglas to in your car.

Ron and I go back to like the JFR days and then the Josh Hart days.

Um, how, how does that conversation, you know, without secret sauce,

but like, how does that conversation is that do you call him and say,

Hey, can you do this?

Or is it just kind of a mutual deal or kind of how did that all come together?

So I called him, I reached out to him.

Uh, so when Spencer Massey bought the, uh,

Nitro Ninja from Dom Lagana, the team went with him.

And so now I'm like, all right, what am I going to do?

How am I going to get to Chicago?

Because obviously like I've known about Chicago for a few months now.

And this was always a goal.

So I called Ron up and like, Hey man, this is going to be tough.

I have all the things and I have funding.

I just need someone to come and run it and bring their crew.

And Ron's like, yeah, dude, that sounds like fun.

And it's so far it's been super fun. Uh,

the last two weeks, Ron and Doug Wilson have been in my shop.

We're just trying to get everything ready for this weekend.

And we've had a great time so far. So like,

I am super excited to go to the racetrack with Ron Douglas.

Like I just think it's going to be great.

And the fact that he's already been on a girl car makes it even better.

Right.

And, uh, the one thing I think, you know,

are your musical tastes lined up with Ron Douglas? Cause I know.

He likes him some, some rock and roll.

He does. He definitely likes himself some rock and roll, but,

and we can play whatever we want in the pit because the pit is also the vibe.

Like you have to create the cool vibe. Everyone has been meshed together.

So like the music will be blaring no problem.

And it's going to be like the hot mess of a mix.

I feel like we're going to go from like pink pony club to, uh, the who,

like, you know what I mean? Like it's going to go all crazy.

So if you're like walking by the pit, you should hear, like,

listen to what's happening. Is it my playlist or Ron's playlist?

Yeah, that, that, that'll be a great game to play. Uh,

it was always great with JFR when he and Guido were on Ashley's car.

They would always play start me up like right before they warmed the car up.

And then Gloria from, you know,

that's a big player for him. Um, but it was funny that one time he was

wearing a forever the sickest kids t-shirt and this was like, you know,

such a random band that I actually knew one of the guys in that band that

came to a race and I hooked him up with Ron and it was like the craziest

thing, but I was like, it was very funny to see him in a forever the sickest

kid t-shirt. Cause to me that was like a quintessential Ron Douglas.

I'm going to find this band in this whole genre.

Like he's somewhere plugged into music than I am. It's just very, it's, it's wild.

Yeah. No, we've had the music blaring in the shop the last couple of weeks,

but it's been fun.

And so when you say, like, when you have like this,

a crew chief come over just in general, when it joins a team,

they kind of evaluate what you have. And then I do not understand how these

cars work, Chris, at all. I've been around them for 30 years.

I still, I mean, it's amazing and so impressive every time they start.

Like to me, that's the man.

Well, and that's the other part too that I don't think a lot of people

understand is you literally win the races in the race shop.

So like the better prep that you have, the better, the smoother,

the quicker the weekend's going to be. And so like with Ron,

like I have everything like ready to go.

In fact, like I was so geared up last year because I had a couple more races

on my schedule, but it just, the funding fell through,

but I had everything was ready to go.

But every crew chief has their own little taste, right?

Their own little twist on something.

So I, we've modified a few of my things for Ron,

just because it'll make Ron more successful as a racetrack.

And so that part's been fun too, where like,

we've been trying to like go back and forth like, okay, well, what do you do?

I'm like, well, I do this. What about you? What do you do?

So trying to find the middle ground has been kind of hilarious.

Actually, like we're going through the, the warmup procedure.

We're going through the starting line procedure.

And it's just so funny, like how I was doing it one way.

He does it another way.

And it's like, okay, how are we going to combine them both?

So like we both feel comfortable.

And is that like length of burnout type stuff or how long it is,

or like backing like backup speed,

or is it more like hand signal type stuff?

We're like hand signal type stuff.

But it's also like whose jobs are wet on the starting line.

That's the big thing. Like, okay.

So who's going to like tell me to go for the burnout?

Who's going to bring me into the beams? Who's going to, you know,

what is Ron's hands going to look like?

Like if he has to tell me something in the car,

what is that going to look like?

So it's, um, it's funny because it just, it's going to be good.

I don't, I'm not afraid of that part.

And a lot of it is like kind of self-explanatory.

I mean, Elon, you and Abby, you guys been around this for a long time.

It's pretty much everyone does about the same thing.

It's just a little tweak here and there. So.

So do you think you'll naturally figure out,

at least he, do you think he's going to give you like the finger point?

Or will he do the thumbs up? I mean, he won't do the funny car,

just on the hood on your dragster. Cause that would be a little violent.

But you know, I think that's always, I like watching all the little hand

signals. And to me, one of the, the favorite ones is,

and I'm sure your grandfather may or may not have seen a fair share of

these or whatever,

but the Jim Dunn pistol on the starting line is to me,

I would almost want to get a car leaves to Jim Dunn just to get the pistol.

Right. Right.

Abby, are you familiar with this move from Jim Dunn?

Yes.

It's so great.

It's iconic.

Just.

So did your, did your grandfather have any moves like that?

Or I mean, besides like the golden Greek and the golden dragster,

but were there like some subtleties that you are like, that's really cool.

I would love to be able to kind of carry that on.

Well, the biggest thing is that he was the one working on his own car.

And so like that's one thing that like I want to continue to carry on is that,

because in a lot of the fans, like obviously when I was younger and he was

still racing, they wouldn't understand like why he wouldn't come to the ropes

as often to sign stuff and talk to them, whatever,

because he was literally working on the race car.

Like he is there to race.

And so he, like his priority is to get that race card together.

So I kind of like blend that between like how, what I do and you know what he

used to do.

And like obviously I love the fans and I love interacting with them.

It's one of my favorite parts of the weekend,

but also I love working out my race car too.

Like I love learning more things and learning how it goes fast.

And you know, hey, I heard this or I felt this on the racetrack.

What's happening as it's happening.

It'll just make me a better driver.

The more I understand what's happening behind me.

Perfect.

So the car will have a little bit of a tribute look, correct?

Yes.

We're going to unveil it.

Q one.

And I'm so excited.

Like I've never unveiled a race car on the starting line before.

So I'm like, this is like the Tony Schumacher stuff.

You know,

You've made it big.

So can I ask one question?

Will you still have live fast pet dogs on the back?

Of course I will.

That's my favorite.

That's my favorite part of your car every time.

So that makes me happy that that's staying.

All right.

Well,

Christa,

we cannot wait to see you at the track.

Get there early on Friday, everybody.

So you can see her car unveil and get out there and support the

Greek as an inventory legend.

And please be safe on the road.

Christa.

Well, thank you.

Thank you guys for inviting me for the inaugural.

Abby and feeling.

Life's a drag.

I appreciate it.

And for sure,

we're going to be rooting for you in Drag Race,

Brackle Bonanza too.

Oh yeah.

Yes.

You and Katie make your picks together.

Right.

Oh yeah.

We late.

When we get home or get back to the hotel room,

we make our picks that Saturday night.

I love it.

All right.

Christa, thanks so much.

We will talk to you here in a couple of days.

All right.

He's the best.

Thank you very much.

Christa Baldwin.

That was awesome.

That was exactly what I was hoping.

Not too much nuts and bolts talk,

more inside baseball talk.

She's just a ray of sunshine.

Like you can't help but root for her.

Both because she's, she's an incredible human.

And because she's got a really cool,

like family history story to her too.

Right.

And I mean, just the whole vibe.

So Christa will be back starting her season this year.

We'll also have the return.

We touched on that a little bit.

TJ Zizzo.

Yes.

Get to the track early on Saturday.

To get your nitro cakes.

I'm already thinking about it.

I mean,

that is so great.

He does pancakes and bacon.

And just come up and get a plate.

And it's TJ flipping, flipping the pancakes.

It's, it is big fun.

And it's so funny because he has so many fans and then other

drivers come over and other crews.

Basically everyone plans on getting their breakfast and

TJ's is on Saturday morning.

Oh yeah.

It's just part of part of the Chicago routine.

So last year they had stickers too.

So I'm not sure it's going to be a thing again this year,

but like for the first few, like,

I think it was like the first hundred fans or something last

year they had stickers.

So that was a fun wall addition too.

And TJ will be back.

We'll have Chris King,

Chicago firefighter on the scene in his funny car,

which would be exciting.

He was hoping to do Gainesville,

but you know, trying to get parts and all that stuff.

But so he'll be there.

Great story and competition plus about Chris King,

both his racing career and his firefighter career.

And then also his TV career on Chicago fire, the TV show.

So there is a chance we might get some Chicago fire actors at

the race.

We love that.

Still working on that.

But it's really cool to have guys like Chris that are trying

to build their program because he'll have,

he basically opens up his pit to,

if you're a firefighter or first responder in the past,

he's let him sign his car,

but always, always welcome into his pit.

He upgraded his rig last year.

So he's got a really nice looking setup.

Got a hole.

We've got a very cool setup.

And he was actually driving yesterday to get to Chicago.

So I think they're getting there today.

And they're going to start getting set up.

Yeah.

So I love the Chicago race because I feel like it's kind of

the jump off for the summer because we got this race.

Yes.

The Memorial Day.

And then it's just,

then you're off to the races.

No pun intended.

Yeah.

All right.

So pro stock picks for the race.

I think for me,

it is hard for me to bet against the mustache.

Greg Anderson,

because I just love him so much.

You do love him so much.

However,

I do like it when Matt Hartford wins because he brings me beer

in the press room.

You do love your beer in the press room.

So I think this could be a good Matt Hartford race.

And on the pro stock motorcycle side,

man, that Matt Smith bike was so strong in Georgia.

I think MSR is going to give the Vance and Heinz guys all,

all they can hope for in that race.

And my dark horse is Chase Van Zand.

I think he's,

he's got a little something going on there.

So I have a soft spot for Dallas Glenn.

And so he's kind of always my default pick for dear BB,

or at least he has been the past couple of years.

I, I guess from my dark horse,

I feel like Greg Stanfield has a chance.

Like he's, is he on, yeah, he's still on that tree list for this week.

So yeah,

I feel like he's consistently qualifying really well and going rounds.

And so, and I mean, he won what Sonoma last year.

So, and I think,

I think he's kind of the leading contender right now to get elite,

their first diamond Wally of the season.

So he, I think will be, yeah,

my dark horse pick for pro stock.

My default pick for pro stock motorcycle is just Richard Gatson.

I'm sorry.

Actually, I'm not even sorry.

Like, I'm not going to apologize.

I'm a, I'm a Richard Gatson fan.

Okay.

Love Chase Vansant too.

I think Clayton Howie is my dark horse.

Yeah.

That would be a good one.

Michael.

He has been working with Kelly Klontz and, you know,

once again, going rounds really consistent is,

and is making the right moves.

And so, I mean, if it's not this race,

I definitely think he's going to get a win at least some point this season.

And he's, he's just another, like, I mean,

every time I've interacted with him, just good dude doing the right

things, head down and enjoys working with the Klontz's.

Yeah.

So, which I think one of the, one of the cool,

many benefits of driver's break with Anza is our ability to talk to

people we wouldn't normally talk to.

Oh yeah.

In that, you know, this weekend,

it's Brackabin Anza is being sponsored by Peak.

So it's totally free to sign up.

You can join the Peak Squad.

There's extra prizes.

We're going to have Alex and Nick Taylor doing a special bracket.

But it's just, it's just really kind of cool that, you know,

we get to know guys like Clayton Howie or the Stanfields or

Carl Settenstein or, you know, all these guys you don't normally see,

but you're like, we want to make sure you're included in Brackabin

Anza.

So have you had some fun interactions with guys you normally,

or gals you wouldn't normally have met?

Oh yeah.

I mean, part of like my weekly routine or race week routine,

I should say, is I check the entry lists after they've closed

and make sure that we have driver photos for everyone.

So if there's a part-time guy who hasn't raced since DRBB was

created, then I make a note of it and then I stop by their pits on

Friday.

So I've interacted with pretty much every driver in the past,

driver or writer that's entered a race within the past three years.

And I am not nearly as extroverted as you are,

but having a real cause of like a real reason to or a mission,

I guess, to go in and introduce myself,

explain what DRBB is if they aren't familiar.

And most of the time, they're pretty hyped for it.

And I'm trying to think, I'm a faceless person, everyone.

So I really don't, everyone offends anyone if I don't remember

their name.

There was a pro stock motorcycle rider who competed in a few races

last season, taller guy.

Was it Ron Tornow?

No, it wasn't Ron Tornow.

He was new.

I'll look it up.

But you, you put me on the spot as far as like funny.

But he, when I took his photo, like squatted later, like,

like he broke his legs apart like that.

When I took his photo, cause he was probably like 64

like, I mean, at least as tall as you.

And it was just funny, like how he intentionally stood to like

try to like make it easier for me to take his photos.

So anyways, but yeah, no, everyone's always super nice.

Especially the pro stock motorcycle riders.

They are all just so appreciative for like our promotion and

whatnot.

So yeah, I just really love, I mean, and what I love about

Drag Race Bracket Bonanza too, is I know I feel like have a

pretty good grasp on what's going on.

Like class, like across all four pro categories, cause growing up,

I really only ever paid attention to nitro.

And there is so much interesting stuff happening in pro stock,

so much interesting stuff happening in pro stock motorcycle.

So just having a reason to pay attention, know who's hot,

know who's, you know, on the rise is a lot of fun.

And cause there's an interesting story in every single class out

there. So I don't know.

Yeah. Sorry.

So we got Bracket Bonanza this weekend brought to us by peak.

Yes.

We got the Greek as the legend.

Oh, yes.

What are you going to say?

Just, I was going to once again emphasize all the really cool prizes.

Yes.

Run them down for us.

So our standard plaques for overall top fuel funny car pro

stock, pro stock motorcycle.

If you win a plaque, you're also going to get a peak prize pack from

peak. They will send that to you.

And so that's in the past included things like flags and stickers.

And I think sometimes the die cast, I don't want to promise anything

because they always kind of mix it up.

So you, the plaque winners will get that.

Additionally, five people who just fell out of bracket randomly

doesn't matter how you finish.

We will randomly pick five people to win a peak Brittany force

top fuel dragster die cast that Elon has in his possession and

that he will send those out.

And then the winner of the peak league for this race will also

get a peak prize pack.

And so if you're not already playing in the peak league,

I highly recommend it.

The, the, the league code is force.

F O R S E all lowercase.

So if you are F O R C E.

What did I say?

You said S E.

Did I say S?

I know how to.

Anyway.

All right.

So prizes, prizes, prizes.

We have a special guest that just popped into the,

into the green room that we're going to pull on right now and see

now, Joe has VIP something because he popped right up in the

middle.

Yeah.

It was off to the side.

He's just that special.

Nope.

I think it has to do with it.

I didn't want to blow the show up.

The soft land.

You know, try to get her in the middle.

So hello, Joe Costello.

Hello, life's a drag.

And I just wanted to jump on here and welcome Abby to the life's

a drag family tremendous efforts.

You were Jason Logan last week and your feet wet.

And now you with Krista and it's not easy doing this,

throwing yourself out into the world.

And you're doing a great job.

And I just want to give you a tremendous vote of confidence.

Thank you.

What you should have done is remove Abby and then insert the

guest into the show and then re add Abby and the guest will be in

the middle.

I was going to text you that, but this is why you're the expert,

Joe.

We're, we're, we're building it as I always love to do in so many

areas of my personal and professional life,

constantly building airplanes while I'm currently flying.

That's it.

And everybody loves that.

They love the failures and the little crashes and the problems.

And oh man, I was watching life's a dragon.

It was a total disaster.

I can't wait to watch next week.

I got to tell you,

I think your interview with Krista might have been better than

mine.

Oh, that's the very, that's very kind of you.

Maybe people should go back and do comparison right after this

show is over.

Yeah, for sure.

Chris, that's the beauty of life's a drag is there's racing

shows and then there's kind of technical shows.

And then with us, you're going to get, hey,

what kind of rock and roll music is Ron Douglas rolling out in

the pit area?

Can I, can I be real honest though?

Yes.

This is just me.

What's that dry when they're driving.

Oh, that made me very nervous.

You know, just, I don't want that kind of moment.

Luckily, since I'm not with JFR anymore,

representing the auto club, I didn't have a vested interest in

feeling like I was, you know, promoting anything.

But again, she, she goes 330 miles per hour in a

top field, right?

What's the problem?

I'm going to put her on car safety.

No.

Tony trailer, by the way, guys, like in case you didn't notice

through the back window, you know, she's got a tag along back

there, whatever it was, fifth wheel and no problem.

Krista has got all the personality.

She can.

Handle that like a champ.

Most people I know can't drive a trailer around.

I just, I wish my new life goal was to do the podcast while

I'm driving with my wife in the car.

Oh man.

That'd be great.

Well, that's what happens where she could run the show while

you're driving.

She would not do that.

She gets so irritated when I even just do calls in the car.

Because I can't just, I mean, she can be passenger princess.

He's a hand talker.

That's what.

Also problems.

Maybe I'm hand talking.

And the hand talkers are the worst people in the world.

I know.

Ask me how I know I too am a hand talker.

All you got to do is watch one feature of attention, the pits,

and I'm like trying to take off flapping my wings out there.

It never works.

Yeah.

I am also very excited about the route 66 nationals.

And one thing that, you know, remember last year,

we had that big hubbub.

Yes.

Through the big storm came through like once in a hundred years.

Yeah.

Being there right in the Midwest, always cool man.

And the Greek, you know, honoring the Greek.

I'm not saying there won't be another legend there,

but this one legend can carry the race.

Yeah.

I mean, he, he's iconic.

We were talking about just, you know,

all the things he did for the sport and, you know,

particularly on the match race side, like he was instrumental in

getting us more mainstream because of the match races and things

like that.

I think.

Oh, absolutely.

Well,

match racing is something that I think we all, you know,

in our,

what we'd like to see return to drag racing at some level that,

you know, the longer burnouts,

people wish they could have dry hops.

You can't, they're gone,

but it was cool when it, when it happened and also sending out

samples to the world through match racing, man, that was cool.

Right. Like little tracks, two cars go out there, show what nitro is

about.

And if you come to a national event, you'll see 16 or more.

Like what a great, you know, development program.

But anyway, that's not why I'm here.

I just wanted to come on and Abby's maiden voyage and wish her good

luck and congratulations and tell her she's doing a great job.

And you're doing all right.

You know, you could be better,

but I could be constantly, I'll go back,

critique and we'll get out of the show.

I've already been making some notes.

So we're going to do, if you don't watch the whole show,

which we encourage you to do, watch this show, watch WFO radio,

but look for more clips of the, of the,

of the interesting things people brought up.

The lead generation mechanism that is clips on social media.

It is, is so true.

And hey,

I do want to mention on the hear it from Heiner show,

which is Michael Heiner, who, you know,

pro stock crew chief,

private show for the VIP patrons only,

really interesting deep dive this week with Kyle Bates,

who is a crew chief from elite motor sports.

They raced each other in the second round at South Georgia.

Kyle as crew chief for Troy Coughlin Jr.

Michael as crew chief for Derek Kramer.

And they had this really interesting deep dive conversation on

here from Heiner.

Now it's only available for the WFO patrons, right?

But if you've ever considered joining the Patreon,

this might be a reason really heavy pro stock intensive

learned so much about Kyle Bates guys.

Wow.

What a great kid.

He's 36,

but still so much like one of these people that has devoted

their lives to drag racing at 10 years old said,

I'm going to work in racing for the rest of my life at 10 and

he's doing it.

So something to think about if you're looking for some more

content.

All right guys, I'm out.

All right.

Joe, later.

Later.

All right.

Abby, let's go ahead and put a put a pin in this show.

Thank you very much.

I thought it was a great show.

Great first effort.

We'll be back next Wednesday.

Live at noon Eastern.

Please share the show like the show.

You know,

tell your friends,

share our social media.

This has been a life to drag with Elon and Abby.

And we will check you guys out next Wednesday.

This is WFO radio.

0:00

61:39

Life's a Drag Windy City Preview - NHRA Route 66 Nationals

Funny car

Top Fuel

chip

race car

A to B

diamond Wally

drag racing

pit

warmup procedure

starting line procedure

burnout

hand signal type stuff

staging

beams

starting line pistol

NHRA Route 66 Nationals

Ford Dark Horse

NHRA Drag Race Bracket Bonanza

nitro

pro stock

peak

VIP

match racing

dry hops

About this episode

Original notes