The MuscleCar Place

Finding racing sponsors can be one of the toughest parts of building a motorsports career. Drivers often rely on cold calls, emails, sponsorship decks, and personal connections—but what if there were a better way to connect racers with the brands looking to support them?

This week, Rob Kibbe talks with Heidi Bandish, founder of RacerShip, an online platform connecting racing athletes, mentors, and potential sponsors. Heidi explains how her experience with the Performance Racing Industry trade show helped her recognize the challenges facing grassroots racers and inspired her to create what Rob calls a “dating app” for ra...

This week on Ask Rick, we’re celebrating Labor Day with a collector-car challenge built around the old rule about putting away your white clothes. Rick has $35,000 to choose between three very different white performance cars: a 1975 Pontiac Trans Am, a five-speed 1994 Ford Taurus SHO, and a 1989 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z. He must drive his selection for one year and then sell it—so which car offers the best combination of enjoyment, collectibility, and return on investment?

We also answer a listener’s question about Rick’s one-off 2001 Chevrolet Silverado Fox concept truck, a supercharged dirt-bike hauler that General...

Bridney Jordan returns to The Muscle Car Place to take us behind the scenes of the tire industry and answer some questions most of us have probably wondered while shopping for tires.

Why can a factory tire rated for 60,000 miles be worn out at 30,000? Are expensive name-brand tires really better? Why can two seemingly similar tires have dramatically different prices? And does it still matter where a tire is manufactured?

Bridney manages the Lexani, Lionheart and Rolling Big Power tire brands for Turbo Tires, and she explains how OEM tires can be engineered around competing...

TMCP #656 hits the road with six interviews packed into one episode. Rob starts at US Car Tool with Ryan Renadette, where the big news is the creation of brand-new reproduction 1968–69 Dodge Charger bodies built from AMD sheet metal. From there, Scotty Stapp takes over from RoadKill Nights 2026 with Mike Finnegan, David Kruk and his yellow Super Bee, Dodge’s Sam Barbeau, Jeff Turk from Blackbird Performance Products, and Chuck Sundstrom from Radford Racing School.

Along the way, Finnegan talks Roadkill cars and current projects, Dodge discusses the 710-horsepower Durango Hellcat, Blackbird dives into Gen III HEMI performance, and...

This week on Ask Rick, we're looking at the future of today's specialty performance cars. Dealer-built legends like Yenko, Nickey, and Mr. Norm's Mopars became some of the most valuable muscle cars ever built—but will modern performance vehicles from Shelby, Roush, RTR, and Hennessey follow the same path? Rick shares his thoughts on how technology, electronics, and changing collector trends could shape tomorrow's blue-chip collectibles.

We also discuss whether the collector car market is really slowing down before diving into another auction challenge. Rick picks his favorite investment from four classic trucks under $35,000 before tackling four co...

This week's episode has a little bit of everything I love.

First, I share why I'm heading back to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, a place that's become much more than the world's largest aviation gathering for me. It's where I spent countless summers with my dad, and every time I go back I find myself reconnecting with those memories while getting excited about the future of aviation. This year I'm especially looking forward to seeing TurboTech's regenerative turbine engine, a technology that could completely change general aviation by delivering turbine reliability with piston-engine fuel economy. If you're an...

July means Independence Day, fireworks, and finding any excuse to put an old car on the road. This month on Ask Rick, Rick Schmidt from National Parts Depot and I kick things off by reminiscing about Fourth of July celebrations, childhood memories of America's Bicentennial, and the famous Freedom Train before turning our attention to a much bigger question: what does the future of the collector car hobby actually look like?

From there, we dive into California's proposed Leno's Law, the growing challenge of restoring electronically controlled vehicles, and why collector car insurance remains one of the...

This week on The Muscle Car Place Podcast, we're bringing you a Double Bonus Racing Show featuring two guests who are helping shape the future of grassroots motorsports from very different angles. First, Robert sits down with Brandon Setzer of Setzer Racing and Development to discuss the world of Late Model racing, driver development, and what it really takes to climb the ladder toward NASCAR. As the son of NASCAR Truck Series veteran Dennis Setzer, Brandon grew up in racing and now dedicates his career to helping young drivers accelerate their learning curve behind the wheel.

Brandon...

Vintage Air is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and in this special episode, Robert Kibbe welcomes Vintage Air President Rick Love for an in-depth conversation about the company's remarkable journey from a small hot rod air conditioning supplier to an industry leader. Rick shares how a chance meeting with founder Jack Chisenhall in the early 1980s led to a friendship, collaboration, and eventually a career helping shape one of the most respected brands in the automotive aftermarket. Along the way, he reflects on the family-oriented culture that has helped Vintage Air grow from fewer than 30 employees to nearly 160 today.

Father's Day is right around the corner, and on this month's Ask Rick, Rob Kibbe welcomes National Parts Depot CEO Rick Schmidt for a wide-ranging conversation covering everything from car show planning to collector car buying strategy. Drawing from more than twenty years of experience producing NPD's legendary Silver Springs Ford and GM shows, Rick shares what makes a great event, why most car shows overcomplicate things, and how creating an experience for the entire family is often more important than the cars themselves.

The discussion also dives into the evolving world of reproduction bodies and restoration...

This week on The Muscle Car Place, we're bringing you a special bonus episode recorded live from Jeep Jam in Panama City Beach, Florida. While a Jeep event may seem like an unusual stop for a muscle car podcast, the connection comes through FlexTread Floor Mats, a sister company to Legendary Auto Interiors. Legendary has long been known as one of the premier suppliers of restoration interiors for classic Mopar and GM muscle cars, while FlexTread has expanded that same commitment to quality into the Jeep and truck market.

Kirk Hansen sat down with Bree Lynn of...

Featured Interview: This is a big month! The Muscle Car Place welcomes a brand-new sponsor to the network this month, but this partnership is about far more than advertising banners and product mentions. We’re trying to be a part of something BIG. I sat down with Bridney Jordan, Property Brands and Product Manager for Lexani, […]

The post TMCP #648: Bridney Jordan and the Inside Baseball World of Tires for Daily’s, Trucks and Enthusiast Rubber! first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

In this episode of The MuscleCar Place Podcast, guest host Bernie McPartland sits down with Mecum Auctions Senior Communications Manager David Morton during Mecum Houston for a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at one of the fastest-growing forces in the collector car world. What starts as a conversation about auctions quickly evolves into a deeper discussion about why live automotive experiences still matter in today’s digital world. David shares how his background in sports marketing helped shape Mecum’s growth strategy, why the company continues doubling down on live events rather than online-only auctions, and how Mecum has effectively become a mo...

In this episode of The MuscleCar Place, Rob Kibbe and Rick Schmidt kick off May with a thoughtful look at Memorial Day—balancing its deeper meaning with the traditions that bring car enthusiasts together, from local parades to community gatherings. The conversation then shifts into the latest Dallas Kibbe Racing update, where steady progress on the track is matched by a big off-track milestone: a new presenting sponsor stepping in behind the program. From there, Rick delivers his signature straight talk on topics ranging from whether giving a car as a gift is a great idea or a logistical ga...

In this episode of The MuscleCar Place, Robert Kibbe sits down with John Kairys, Executive Director of the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF), to uncover one of the most impactful yet under-the-radar organizations in the industry. Since 1959, AACF has quietly provided financial assistance to individuals and families within the automotive aftermarket facing life’s toughest challenges—from illness and injury to natural disasters and unexpected hardship. With a fast and efficient process, they’re able to step in quickly and help people get back on their feet when it matters most.

What makes AACF truly special is its fo...

Dr. Jamie Meyer returns to preview year two of the High Performance Expo (HPX), coming June 2–4 to the Charlotte Convention Center—and this isn’t just another trade show. Built to unite the racing, aftermarket, OEM, dealer, off-road, and overlanding worlds, HPX is quickly becoming the East Coast hub the industry has been missing. After a surprisingly strong debut, year two expands with bigger leadership sessions from Hendrick Motorsports, a major focus on real-world AI applications (including insight from Amazon’s AI leadership), and new features like the invitation-only Shop Car Challenge and Car Show Collective. If you’re in the bus...

Rick Schmidt from National Parts Depot returns for the April edition of Ask Rick, fresh off an incredible run of back-to-back concours events—taking wins at both Moda Miami and Amelia Island. In this episode, Rick and Rob break down what really goes into competing at that level, from how cars are selected and judged to the behind-the-scenes dynamics most enthusiasts never see. Along the way, they talk Easter traditions, the evolution of car shows, and what a trophy actually means when it comes to value and credibility.

The conversation also dives into Rick’s unexpected take afte...

Mike Finnegan returns to The MuscleCar Place for a special edition episode, and as always, he brings the stories, honesty, and perspective that only he can deliver. From his early days on Roadkill to becoming a full-time YouTube creator with Finnegan’s Garage, Mike shares what life looks like after the 2024 shutdown of Motor Trend productions. What once felt uncertain turned into the perfect transition—giving him more time with family while opening the door to collaborate freely with friends and fellow creators in what he calls the “Wild Wild West” of YouTube.

We also dig into the fate...

Scott Bowers from Ron Francis Wiring returns to The MuscleCar Place to talk about the art—and reality—of wiring hot rods the right way. With decades of experience helping builders bring everything from garage projects to award-winning show cars to life, Scott shares why thoughtful wiring design makes all the difference. Instead of generic “universal” kits, Ron Francis Wiring focuses on engineered systems built around real-world setups, ensuring builders get harnesses that make sense and actually work the way they should.

Along the way, Scott shares behind-the-scenes stories from the SEMA Show, dives into the surprising rise of...

This month on Ask Rick, Rick Schmidt from National Parts Depot joins us for a St. Patrick’s Day edition covering everything from green cars and Guinness to real-world business questions. We discuss whether presidential addresses truly move the needle for business decisions, what the current tariff situation looks like on Taiwanese restoration sheetmetal, and how NPD is handling pricing in real time. We also dive into the growing conversation around Chinese electric vehicles entering the U.S. market — and whether joint ventures with American automakers make that inevitable.

Plus, Rick tackles a thoughtful listener question about sell...

Jason Noel, founder of Fat Fender Garage in Gilbert, Arizona, joins us this week with a story that’s less about horsepower at the beginning — and more about perseverance. Jason didn’t grow up chasing race cars. He was a finish carpenter by trade, building doors and crown molding before the 2008 housing collapse wiped out his business and forced a complete reset. What came next wasn’t a hobby gone wild — it was a deliberate rebuild. One old truck led to another, then to customer builds, then to something much bigger than he ever planned.

Today, Fat Fender Gar...

It’s the month of love and football, and Rick Schmidt is back with another edition of Ask Rick to break down what’s happening right now in the automotive world. Rick weighs in on recent comments from Ford CEO Jim Farley about the future of sedans, noting that American automakers have largely abandoned the affordable sedan market—leaving foreign manufacturers, especially Korean brands, to quietly dominate the segment. With early signs pointing toward low-cost electric sedans on the horizon, Rick believes Detroit may yet have an opportunity to re-enter a market it once owned.

Rick also review...

Velocity Restorations serves a unique space in the restoration world — for enthusiasts who want a classic vehicle that captures the memories of their past without spending years in a garage or navigating endless custom decisions. Rather than operating as a boutique, one-off shop, Velocity takes an a la carte, production-driven approach. Customers choose from a curated range of options that fit within a carefully planned build system, allowing Velocity to deliver consistently high-quality restorations at scale. Their process is engineered for repeatability, efficiency, and continuous improvement, resulting in vehicles that are designed to be driven, not just displayed.

...

Some movies don’t just entertain us — they become part of who we are. Tommy Boy is one of those rare films, blending heart, humor, brotherhood, and horsepower into a story that has resonated with car people for nearly three decades. On this week’s episode of The MuscleCar Place, Rob Kibbe has the rare privilege of interviewing Tommy Boy director Peter Segal and master restorer Marc Anghel to tell the unbelievable story of the movie’s most famous co-star: the 1967 Plymouth Belvedere GTX. Peter understood car culture from the start and intentionally made the GTX a true character in the f...

National Parts Depot is celebrating an incredible milestone — 50 years in business — and we’re sitting down with Rick Schmidt for a special Ask Rick episode to talk about the journey that built one of the most respected names in classic car restoration. From its humble beginnings in a family basement to becoming a global leader in restoration parts, Rick shares the story of how his father Jim Schmidt built NPD through hard work, vision, and a relentless commitment to serving enthusiasts. We also dive into Rick’s leadership philosophy, the evolution of the restoration market, and what the next fifty ye...

This week we’re doing something a little different, and honestly — something really special. For the first time ever, the original team behind my Chevelle build all sat down together to revisit the journey from 2011–2013. This wasn’t a “sponsored” build or a corporate project. It was a leap of faith between friends who believed we could pull off something big long before we knew how. We started in basements and small shops, fought rust, deadlines, wiring headaches, and fatigue — and somehow ended up rolling into SEMA together.

In this episode you’ll hear Jeff Allison, Danny Giustino, Zip Si...

’Tis the season, and it’s time once again for the Christmas episode of The Muscle Car Place—a tradition now 17 years strong. We’re thrilled to welcome our most exclusive guest of the year, known by many names around the world, but to us he’ll always be Santa Claus. 2025 was a whirlwind year filled with unforgettable moments alongside the Holley MoParty and the Kibbe & Friends gang, from epic parking lot steak dinners to incredible interviews with creators and automotive legends, capped off by the best SEMA experience I’ve had since debuting my Chevelle. We came home with a mount...

Just outside the chaos of SEMA, we sat down at Hodson Motors—Riley Hodson’s backyard-born, fast-growing sweepstakes operation that’s taking over the classic 4x4 world. What started as a humble father-and-son hobby turned into a full business when Riley realized people weren’t just following his truck builds…they trusted him. From diesel-swapped Suburbans to bone-stock Toyotas, Riley breaks down the real math, the real risks, and the real heart behind giving away fully built vintage trucks to everyday enthusiasts. No hype, no gimmicks—just honesty, hustle, and a shop full of lifted classics ready for their next home.<...

In this Christmas edition of Ask Rick, we sit down with Rick Schmidt to talk holiday traditions, family time, and how he celebrates the biggest day of the year. Rick shares what Christmas looks like in the Schmidt household—good food, classic movies, and quality time with the people who matter most. As we wrap up 2025, it’s the perfect moment to slow down, reflect, and appreciate another great year in the world of Muscle Cars.

Rick also gives his year-end perspective on the shifting automotive landscape, from the sharp rise in restoration part prices to the evol...

This episode delivers a packed finale to our SEMA 2025 coverage, featuring three can’t-miss conversations straight from the show floor. We kick things off with Trent McGee from Centerforce, breaking down real-world clutch selection for street, strip, and track — covering everything from classic muscle car setups to high-horsepower, twin-disc race applications. Then Mark Gearhart from Holley joins us to walk through their LT-swapped 4th-gen Camaro and the bigger picture of modern engine swaps, showing how builders can bring modern power and drivability into older platforms. We close out with Mike Pennington from Meguiar’s, who dives into their new pro-co...

SEMA 2025 continues to deliver, and this third installment of The Muscle Car Place show is packed with killer interviews and industry insight. From Heidts Suspension’s bolt-in Mopar independent suspension systems, to Blueprint Engines’ OEM-style “compatible” powerplants, to Diamondback Classic Radials’ one-of-a-kind custom sidewall tires, and finally to Terry McGean from Hemmings sharing how the iconic brand is evolving in the modern collector car world — this episode is all about blending classic muscle with modern technology and real-world drivability.

As we head into the holiday season, we’re leaning into tradition as well. Don’t miss the annual Planes, T...

In this second episode of our SEMA 2025 series, we dive headfirst into the builders and brands that continue to reshape the automotive world. From the groundbreaking work of Ringbrothers and their jaw-dropping carbon-fiber Aston Martin “Octavio” build, to the bold vision of Trick Rides and their all-carbon widebody ’69 Mustang “Scorched” series, this episode is packed with innovation, craftsmanship, and next-level thinking. We also step into the world of modern car care with Mothers, highlighting the latest in ceramic protection, paint correction, HydroClay technology, and easy-to-apply spray ceramic coatings that are changing how enthusiasts maintain their builds.

We also conne...

SEMA 2025 delivered big moments, bigger stories, and some truly unforgettable conversations—and in this episode, we’re bringing you the first wave of highlights straight from the show floor. Rob and the TMCP team hit Vegas wide open, reconnecting with industry friends and discovering new innovators pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the automotive world. From modern tech hidden inside classic radio faces to the future of suspension engineering, to a brand-new ’67 Shelby GT500 built entirely from fresh parts, the range of insights and creativity on display this year was off the charts.

You’ll hear direc...

It’s one of the biggest months of the year — SEMA, MCACN, and Thanksgiving! In this episode, Rick Schmidt joins Rob to tackle the real questions everyone’s asking: turkey, beef, or ham? Cranberries from the can? And of course, what makes MCACN (the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals) such a world-class event. Rick gives us an inside look at his 13-mile 1964 Ford Galaxie XL, shares why authenticity matters more than perfection, and explains why this show has earned its nickname: “The Pebble Beach of Muscle Cars.”
From Thanksgiving table debates to restoration realities, Rick dives into the surprising...

This week on The MuscleCar Place, Rob Kibbe welcomes Dan Kahn, president and CEO of Kahn Media, for an insider’s masterclass on how to get the absolute most out of SEMA 2025. Dan’s deep roots in the automotive world—spanning journalism, car building, agency leadership, and service within SEMA itself—give him a uniquely panoramic view of the industry. As the author of The New Rules of the Road, he’s built his career around helping brands and creators tell authentic stories that connect passion with professionalism.

In this episode, Dan shares proven strategies for creators, builders...

If you’ve ever dreamed of giving your classic A-body the precision handling of a modern performance car—this week’s MuscleCar Place episode is for you. Rob sits down with Blane Burnett of RideTech to dive into the all-new MOMENTUM Series Chassis, a complete foundation engineered for 1964–1972 GM A-bodies like the Chevelle, Tempest, Cutlass, and Skylark. Built on RideTech’s legacy of innovation—now strengthened through its partnership with Fox Factory Holding Corp—the MOMENTUM Series delivers modern geometry, rigidity, and customization in a true plug-and-play solution. Even better, a full chassis comes in at an incredibly competitive $20,000–$30,000, putting high-end...

Don Abenante of Retro Fabworks isn’t your average YouTube builder — his story blends Hollywood grit, family legacy, and pure horsepower. After early stints on Below Deck, Horsepower Wars, and Netflix’s Resurrected Rides, Don found his true calling behind the welder instead of the camera, documenting every cut and weld for his growing audience.

His current project is deeply personal: a 1970 Chevelle he first planned to build with his late father. That dream paused for years but never died — and now it’s roaring back to life. Don’s transforming the Chevelle into a Ford Coyote–powered showst...

Kick off October with a fresh Ask Rick as Rick Schmidt weighs in on the value of car-show trophies, parts sourcing, and where the market’s really headed. Are small-show awards worth chasing—or are they just eating into charity budgets? Rick also unpacks the hot question in restoration parts: will manufacturing return to the U.S., or will Taiwan’s increasingly high-quality tooling keep leading the charge for low-volume classics?

Then it’s “Rick’s Take – Car Deals: The Bob Lutz Edition.” Rick sizes up a supercharged ’99 Viper GTS ACR, a ’09 Solstice GXP, and a ’00 Prowler for long-term ROI in a...

While Rob stayed back to support Dallas’s racing season, the Kibbe and Friends crew stormed Holley Moparty 2025 to capture the best stories on the grounds. From drag racing icon Paul Rossi sharing his trailblazing Mopar legacy, to Dave Swearinger’s track-ready “ZomBEE” Super Bee build, to new tech insights from Holley’s Steve Sparkman and Sublime’s Blake Anderman — this episode is packed with passion, horsepower, and the future of Mopar performance.

The post TMCP #621: The Moparty 2025 Spectacular! Paul Rossi – Direct Connection Drag Racer Legend, Steve Sparkman – Holley Performance Products, Dave Swearinger – Rust Bucket Restorations, Blake Anderman – Sublime T...

David Kruk – 1970 Super Bee.
With the Holley MoParty kicking off in Bowling Green, Kentucky, we’re spotlighting longtime attendee David Kruk and his 1970 Dodge Super Bee. David and his wife Lizzie have become familiar faces at the event, showing off a car that’s logged over 80,000 miles and countless upgrades.

What started as a $400 parts-car rescue has turned into a full-blown autocross machine. The Super Bee has evolved from a tired 440 big block into a third-gen Hemi–powered, QA1-equipped racer that can hold its own against lighter cars on the track.

From the Columbus...