SVG'S Greatest Comeback Ever! Lundgaard's Late Pass + Kasey Kahne Is Back On The Podium
About this episode
SVG’s Watkins Glen win gets framed as a late-race masterpiece: he pits with 24 laps left, comes out on fresh tires and a full tank, and claws back from nearly 30 seconds behind to win by almost eight seconds. The hosts break down where he gained time—especially strong braking—and how a caution reshaped fuel for the rest of the field. The conversation also celebrates Kasey Kahne’s return to Victory Lane and highlights Lundgaard’s decisive outside pass and IndyCar weekend storylines.
road course
"Is he the greatest road course racer that the Cup Series has ever seen? ... All those wins obviously coming on a road course."
A road course is a track with lots of corners, not just left turns like an oval. Cars have to slow down, turn, and get back up to speed repeatedly.
A road course is a type of race track with lots of turns and varying corner types, unlike an oval. In NASCAR’s Cup Series, road courses require braking, turning, and traction management in a way that’s closer to sports-car-style driving.
pits
"And then at the end, he pits with 24 laps left. He is almost 30 seconds behind, makes up all the ground and wins..."
When a driver “pits,” they pull into the pit lane during the race. That’s usually to change tires and/or refuel, and when you do it can make a big difference.
“Pits” refers to entering the pit lane during a race to change tires, refuel, or make adjustments. Timing a pit stop can be crucial because it affects track position and how long a driver can run on a tire and fuel strategy.
fresh tires
"And look, I know he came out on fresh tires. I know he came out on a full tank of gas..."
Fresh tires are new tires put on during a pit stop. They usually grip the road better, which helps the car go faster through corners.
Fresh tires are newly installed tires after a pit stop, typically giving better grip and faster lap times than worn tires. In road-course racing, tire grip strongly affects braking stability and corner exit traction.
full tank of gas
"I know he came out on a full tank of gas when everybody else is, you know, having to try and save and make it to the finish."
A full tank of gas means the car has more fuel than others. That can affect how the car feels and also whether you have to pit again before the race ends.
A “full tank of gas” means the car has more fuel onboard than competitors, which can change weight and strategy. Teams often balance fuel load versus tire wear and track position to reach the finish without falling behind.
save
"I know he came out on a full tank of gas when everybody else is, you know, having to try and save and make it to the finish."
“Save” here means driving in a way that uses less fuel and makes the tires last longer. The goal is to avoid having to stop again before the finish.
In race strategy, “save” usually means conserving fuel and/or managing tire wear to avoid an extra pit stop. It’s a tradeoff: slower pace or gentler driving can extend range, but it can also cost track position.
track position
"So they actually stayed on the racetrack and didn't pit and then got themselves, you know, the track positions, kept the track position and the majority of the field pitted."
Track position just means where you are in the race compared to other cars. Since passing isn’t always easy, staying near the front (or moving up) is a big deal.
Track position is where a car sits relative to others on the circuit at any moment. Because overtaking can be difficult, teams often prioritize maintaining or gaining track position through pit timing, tire management, and restart strategy.
breaking
"He had a couple portions in the race where it was like three quarters of a second to a second that he would pick up in lap time because he's the best at breaking."
“Breaking” here refers to braking technique—how effectively a driver slows the car into a corner. Better braking can improve corner entry speed and consistency, which then helps overall lap time and tire wear.
lap time
"He had a couple portions in the race where it was like three quarters of a second to a second that he would pick up in lap time because he's the best at breaking."
Lap time is the time it takes to go around the track once. If someone “picks up” lap time, they’re going faster per lap.
Lap time is how long it takes to complete one circuit of the track. When they say he could pick up “in lap time,” they mean he was able to run faster laps than others, which is often tied to tire condition, fuel load, and driving technique.
saving his tires
"And that's the thing about Shane is when it's time to go, you never know how much he has left. He had a couple portions in the race where it was like three quarters of a second to a second that he would pick up in lap time because he's the best at breaking. He's the best at saving his tires."
Saving his tires means he doesn’t wear the tires out too fast. That helps him stay fast later in the race instead of losing grip.
Saving tires means managing tire wear so the tires keep enough grip later in the run. Drivers do this by controlling how hard they push (especially braking, cornering, and throttle application) to avoid overheating or degrading the rubber too quickly.
mid-corner speed
"He's the best at saving his tires. He's the best at mid-corner speed. And everybody always asks, they're like, well, what do we need to do to keep up with Shane?"
Mid-corner speed is how fast the car is while it’s actually in the turn. If it’s high, the car is staying stable and gripping well through the corner.
Mid-corner speed is how fast the car is while it’s at the middle of a turn, not just at entry or exit. Holding higher mid-corner speed usually means the car is balanced and the driver is keeping good grip through the steering phase.
green
"But he's so efficient with his passes when he went to the back of the field and this was all under green. And the way that the caution fell, it put the rest of the field in a position to where they were short on fuel."
“Green” means the race is running normally and cars are going at full speed. Passing under green means the driver made the move during regular racing, not when the field was slowed down.
“Green” refers to green-flag racing, when the race is under normal speed conditions and overtaking is allowed without caution restrictions. Passing “under green” highlights that the moves were made at racing pace, not during slower restart or caution periods.
caution
"And the way that the caution fell, it put the rest of the field in a position to where they were short on fuel."
A caution is when something happened on the track and the race slows down. It can change strategy because cars use fuel differently and teams may decide when to pit.
A caution is when race officials slow the field due to an incident on track, typically using yellow flags/lights. Cautions change strategy because they affect fuel consumption, tire temperatures, and pit timing—sometimes forcing teams to adjust on the fly.
short on fuel
"And the way that the caution fell, it put the rest of the field in a position to where they were short on fuel."
“Short on fuel” means the car may run out of gas before the race is over. Race strategy has to account for cautions, and if timing changes, teams can end up with less fuel than they planned.
“Short on fuel” means the car doesn’t have enough fuel to finish the remaining race distance. Fuel strategy is tightly planned around expected caution timing; an unexpected caution can disrupt those calculations and leave teams needing to stretch fuel or make an emergency decision.
saving fuel
"But when they had to start saving fuel, it was two and a half seconds, two to two and a half seconds a lap that he was making up."
“Saving fuel” means driving in a way that uses less gas than usual. It usually makes you a little slower, so the team has to plan it carefully so you still have a chance to win.
In racing, “saving fuel” means adjusting driving and engine usage to use less fuel than the car would normally consume. That often costs lap time, so teams try to balance fuel economy with track position and timing of pit stops.
tyres
"He has the advantage on fuel. He has the advantage on tyres."
“Tyres” are the tires. In a race, tires wear out and lose grip, so you can’t just drive flat-out the whole time—you have to manage them to stay fast.
“Tyres” are the tires, and in road-course racing they’re a major performance limiter because grip changes as the tire heats up and wears. Teams manage tire strategy—when to pit and how hard to push—to keep lap times competitive.
strategic call
"And it was just to take that strategic call, to have the faith in your driver, that he's going to make that work despite being so far down."
A “strategic call” is a smart decision the team makes during the race. It can be about when to pit or how hard to push, and here they’re saying the team trusted the plan and the driver to make it work.
A “strategic call” is a team decision that affects race outcome—most commonly fuel and tire timing, pit strategy, and how aggressively the driver can push. In this segment, the hosts frame it as trusting the driver to execute the plan even from far back.
Cup Series
"Is he the greatest road course racer that the Cup Series has ever seen?"
The “Cup Series” is NASCAR’s main top-level racing series. When they say “Cup Series has ever seen,” they mean the best drivers in NASCAR’s top division.
The “Cup Series” refers to NASCAR’s top national stock-car racing series. It matters here because the hosts are comparing road-course performance across the highest level of NASCAR competition.
World of Outlaws
"He's won six championships, you know, being a car owner in the World of Outlaws series and doing the things that he did."
World of Outlaws is a well-known racing series, especially for sprint cars. It’s the kind of place where top drivers compete on dirt tracks.
World of Outlaws is a major American sprint-car racing organization/series. It’s known for high-level drivers and races on dirt tracks, where car setup and racecraft matter a lot.
Victory Lane
"And to see him go to Victory Lane at Williams Grove this weekend, and I know that had to feel good."
Victory Lane is where the winner of a race gets celebrated. If they “went to Victory Lane,” they won.
“Victory Lane” is the traditional area at a race track where the winner is celebrated and interviews happen. Saying someone went to Victory Lane means they won the race.
ton of horsepower
"I've never driven one, but you can watch them and listen into everybody that drives those sprint cars, ton of horsepower, a lot of strategy and a lot of guts..."
Horsepower is how much power the engine makes. More horsepower usually helps a race car accelerate harder and go faster.
“Horsepower” is the engine’s power output, and in racing it strongly affects acceleration and top speed. Sprint cars are described as having a lot of horsepower because they need rapid speed changes to stay competitive.
strategy
"I've never driven one, but you can watch them and listen into everybody that drives those sprint cars, ton of horsepower, a lot of strategy and a lot of guts to be able to make those things go fast."
In racing, “strategy” means the choices you make during the race to improve your chances. It’s about timing and track position, not just going fast.
In racing, “strategy” usually means decisions that affect track position and timing—like when to push, how to manage restarts, and how to choose lines. It’s not just driving skill; it’s planning how to race the whole event.
Penske
"hunted down David Maluchus of Penske and Maluchus was running for his first ever victory"
Penske is a racing team. Saying someone is “of Penske” means they’re driving for that team, which handles the car setup and race strategy.
Penske is a top-tier motorsport organization that fields cars in IndyCar and other racing categories. When a driver is described as “of Penske,” it indicates the team behind the car and its engineering/strategy support.
chicane
"and he put on the most sublime move around the outside through the chicane. Maluchus gave him just enough room."
A chicane is a part of the track that makes you weave through a quick set of turns. Drivers often try to pass there because it’s a tricky braking/handling zone.
A chicane is a sequence of alternating turns that forces cars to slow and change direction quickly. In racing, passing through or around a chicane is often where drivers can gain or lose positions depending on braking and traction.
McLaren
"His first win for McLaren, his second ever in IndyCar, sets McLaren and him up perfectly now"
McLaren is a well-known racing team/brand. When the host says it’s his first win for McLaren, they mean the team is getting a big result in that series.
McLaren is a major motorsport brand known for competing at the highest levels across multiple racing series. In IndyCar, a driver’s first win for McLaren is a big deal because it reflects the team’s competitiveness and development.
Indy 500
"sets McLaren and him up perfectly now for the month of May and for the two weeks ahead for the run to the Indy 500."
The Indy 500 is IndyCar’s biggest race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It matters a lot for points and bragging rights, so a strong result can set up the next stretch of the season.
The Indy 500 (Indianapolis 500) is the marquee IndyCar race held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s a major points-and-prestige event, so results often set up the rest of the season’s momentum.
pole position
"Alex Pillow, who had led the race from pole position, ultimately getting caught out by a full course caution"
Pole position is the best starting spot—right at the front of the grid. It’s earned by being fastest in qualifying, and it helps because you’re ahead of everyone at the start.
Pole position is the starting spot at the front of the grid, awarded to the fastest qualifier. Starting from pole usually gives a track-position advantage, especially on circuits where passing is difficult.
hybrid failure
"He had a hybrid failure on his car. It crawled to a halt just over the yard of bricks on the start-finish stretch where the cars were pulling 180 miles an hour."
A “hybrid failure” means the car’s hybrid parts weren’t working right. That can make the car slower or even stop it. In this case, Rossi’s hybrid issue was bad enough that the car couldn’t keep going normally.
A “hybrid failure” means the car’s hybrid power system (the extra energy storage and electric assist used alongside the main engine) stopped working correctly. In racing, that can reduce power and, depending on severity, force the driver to slow or stop. The key point here is that Rossi’s hybrid system problem led to a dramatic loss of pace.
local
"It wasn't. It was held under a local. Cars still flying past."
Here, “local” means only part of the track was slowed down for safety, not the whole circuit. That can leave cars going faster in other areas. The speaker thinks that wasn’t the right call for what was happening.
In this context, “local” refers to a localized caution rather than a full-course yellow—meaning only part of the track is under caution. That allows some cars to continue at higher speeds elsewhere, which can be risky if a stopped car or debris is still in a critical area. The speaker implies the local caution wasn’t enough given the situation.
full course yellow
"They should have called a full course yellow immediately. ... But you can't run race control on the basis of fairness when you're throwing a full course yellow when the priority has to be safety."
A full course yellow means the whole race is slowed down because something on track needs attention. Everyone has to drive more carefully, and it often changes when teams decide to pit.
A full course yellow is a race control decision that slows the entire field under caution conditions. Drivers must reduce speed and follow rules until the track is cleared, which can dramatically change strategy because it affects when pit stops are allowed and how safely cars can pass.
Laguna Seca
"And it reminded me of last year at, where were we? Laguna Seca. And Marcus Erickson spun on the way going up the hill"
Laguna Seca is a well-known road course in California, famous for elevation changes and signature corners like the corkscrew. The episode uses it as a reference point for how blind crests can delay incident recognition.
corkscrew
"just over the crest coming into the corkscrew. So drivers coming up the hill are blind to the fact there's a car literally sitting sideways at the top of the track."
The corkscrew is a famous high-speed corner sequence at Laguna Seca where the track changes direction while climbing and descending. Because it’s blind and fast, incidents near it can be hard for drivers to see until they’re already committed.
pit lane is closed
"because once the full course yellow comes out the pit lane is closed. But you can't run race control on the basis of fairness"
When race control issues a full course yellow, pit lane closure rules are often enforced to prevent unsafe traffic mixing—cars entering/exiting the pits could conflict with the slowed field. This forces teams to time stops carefully around caution periods.
Chevrolet Nova
"this is John Grant calling from Nova Scotia, Canada and I was just wondering"
The Chevrolet Nova is a car model made by Chevrolet that was sold for many years. People talk about it because it’s a well-known older car, and some owners modify them for better performance. In a podcast, it might be mentioned just because the name stands out.
The Chevrolet Nova is a classic American compact/midsize car that was produced in multiple generations, especially known for its role in everyday driving and its popularity in performance builds. It often comes up in racing and car-history conversations because many versions were used as a base for upgrades and motorsport-style setups. It may be mentioned in a podcast simply as a recognizable name tied to automotive history.
truck series
"I love them in the truck series [1965.2s] anybody who makes a truck [1966.5s] you don't have to have an engine program"
When someone says “truck series,” they mean a racing league where the cars are pickup-truck-shaped race vehicles. Teams race them under rules that often limit how much they can change the core parts, so the truck look and team setup matter a lot.
The “truck series” refers to a stock-car-style racing series where the vehicles are based on pickup trucks. In these series, manufacturers can enter by providing the truck “body”/branding while standardized components (like engines) keep costs and performance differences more controlled.
spec engine
"you don't have to have an engine program [1968.4s] it's all a spec engine [1969.7s] you put your body on there"
A spec engine means the race series gives everyone (or most teams) the same engine rules. That makes the competition less about inventing a new engine and more about how well the team sets up the truck and drives it.
A spec engine is a race engine that multiple teams/manufacturers must use under the series rules. Because the engine is standardized, teams focus more on setup, chassis/aero, and driver execution than on developing unique powertrains.
stadium trucks
"because I think back when you had [1981.4s] all these trucks that remember the stadium [1983.6s] truck series Will [1985.3s] Toyota had Ironman, Ivan Stewart"
“Stadium trucks” means race trucks that run on smaller, stadium-style tracks. It’s a way of racing that’s more about close action and brand visibility than long road-course racing.
“Stadium trucks” are a style of short-track, high-attention racing where the trucks run on compact circuits—often associated with earlier eras of truck racing. The term also ties to the idea that manufacturers and teams could showcase their brands in a more spectacle-focused format.
Ilmore engines
"because it's not like you need an engine program [2001.7s] they have the Ilmore engines that everybody has to run [2003.9s] it would be a great place"
“Ilmore engines” likely means the truck racing series uses an approved engine from a particular supplier. If the series is using a spec engine, teams can’t just choose any engine—they have to use the one the rules require.
“Ilmore engines” appears to refer to a specific engine supplier/engine program used in the truck series. In a spec-engine setup, the series may require teams to use that designated engine rather than building their own.
World Endurance Championship
"[2024.6s] sort of thinking [2027.0s] World Endurance Championship [2028.7s] Mazda used to be mega"
The World Endurance Championship is a type of race where cars compete for a long time. Because it lasts so long, teams have to manage tires, fuel, and driver changes—not just speed.
The World Endurance Championship (WEC) is a global sports-car racing series focused on long-duration events. Teams race for hours (often multiple stints per driver), emphasizing durability, strategy, and consistent pace rather than just short sprints.
Mazda
"[2028.7s] Mazda used to be mega [2031.7s] in World Endurance Championship [2033.4s] and then sort of thinking"
Mazda is a car company from Japan. Here they’re talking about Mazda’s past involvement and success in long-distance racing.
Mazda is a Japanese automaker that has historically competed in endurance racing, including the World Endurance Championship. The hosts mention it as being “mega” in WEC, pointing to Mazda’s past factory-level success and visibility in that series.
WRC
"[2033.4s] and then sort of thinking [2035.1s] WRC [2035.8s] I grew up at a time when Subaru"
WRC is the World Rally Championship. It’s racing on rough, changing road surfaces, and the driver uses notes to help navigate turns and hazards.
WRC stands for World Rally Championship, a top-level rally series run on closed public roads with changing surfaces. It’s known for cars being set up for traction and control over gravel, snow, and tarmac, with drivers relying heavily on pace notes.
Subaru
"[2035.8s] I grew up at a time when Subaru [2038.2s] and Mitsubishi were like the dominant [2041.1s] the dominant teams"
Subaru is a car brand. The hosts are saying Subaru was one of the top rally teams for a long time, especially in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Subaru is a Japanese automaker known in rallying for its long-running WRC presence, especially during the 1990s and early 2000s. The hosts describe Subaru as a dominant force in that era, alongside Mitsubishi, which reflects how prominent the brand was in rally competition.
Mitsubishi
"[2035.8s] I grew up at a time when Subaru [2038.2s] and Mitsubishi were like the dominant [2041.1s] the dominant teams"
Mitsubishi is a car brand. They’re talking about Mitsubishi being a top rally competitor back in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Mitsubishi is a Japanese automaker that was a major competitor in rally racing during the 1990s and early 2000s. In this segment, the hosts group it with Subaru as a dominant WRC-era manufacturer they’d like to see return to the top.
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