The Racing Writer's Podcast

10 Episodes
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By: JB15 Network

Racer Magazine's Kelly Crandall brings stories and interviews from drivers and personalities from NASCAR, NHRA, and more.

Ep. 294 | Kerry Tharp
#294
03/18/2024

Kerry Tharp served as a member of the NASCAR communications team and is now the former president of Darlington Raceway. But that’s not his entire backstory. Tharp joins the show to discuss going through the transition of the sport moving on without him; not being completely retired; Darlington being a special area and racetrack; the opportunity to serve as track president and what makes a good track president; the evolution of the sport and NASCAR media center during his career; becoming comfortable with the drivers; navigating the tough situations; a Talladega Nights cameo; mentorship from the late Jim Hunter; ta...


Ep. 293 | Charlie Krall
#293
03/11/2024

There are a lot of positives for the ARCA Menards Series as a new year heats up and Charlie Krall is here to dish on it all. Krall offers his thoughts on the state of the series as it begins another season; having an Andretti compete in the season; what it means to be the manager of communications for the series and the responsibility of promotion; having a deep background in racing to be perfect for such a role; handling negative criticism often attached to the series; the evolution of the ARCA Menards Series; calling races for Flo remotely; the...


Ep. 292 | Landen Lewis
#292
03/04/2024

Landen Lewis is an 18-year-old rising star, and now he’s under the Kevin Harvick Inc. banner. Lewis shares about working in the race shop and why it’ll be beneficial; the journey of a fourth-generation racer; wanting to help even younger drivers as a mentor/coach; having a diverse background of experience and coming from dirt; transition from dirt to oval and road course racing; being a fan of Legend Cars racing and why they are a good experience for drivers; recent success in Legend Cars competition; being under the Ron Hornaday learning tree and living with the Hornaday fami...


Ep. 291 | Adam Alexander, Pam Miller, Kevin Harvick
#290
02/26/2024

Fox Sports is in its final season of NASCAR Xfinity Series coverage, and in a way, it also comes full circle this year as Kevin Harvick graduated to the Cup Series booth. Harvick was one of the first drivers to go into the broadcast booth for Fox Sports. In reflecting on the past nine years of using driver analysts, we have three voices on the podcast.

Adam Alexander shares what the emotion is of the final year of Xfinity Series coverage on Fox Sports; what makes a good guest analyst; building chemistry on the fly every weekend; embracing...


Ep. 290 | Bill McAnally
#290
02/19/2024

Bill McAnally is one of the most successful owners in NASCAR and it’s quite a history. But before we dig into that, McAnally opens up about the 49er treasure trove in his office and the connection he has to the team. Then, why there is a NAPA motorcycle hanging on the wall of the race shop? We pivot into having race shops on both coasts; his history in racing and starting as a driver; focusing solely on team ownership; the strength of racing and talent on the West Coast; the background on the organization becoming a driver development program; th...


Ep. 289 | Chris Hall
#289
02/12/2024

Legacy Motor Club has brought their pit crews in-house this season, and there was no better man for the job than Chris Hall. As the director of pit crew operations, Hall explains being tasked with building the crews from scratch; his job title defined; starting on 2024 in Sept. 2023; dealing with deadlines and free agency windows; the difference in putting together full-time pit crews and a part-time third; being teammates with the 23XI Racing crews; a breakdown of some of the new crew members; what goes into finding the right people; organizations who do pit crews in house and others who...


Ep. 288 | Erica Enders
#288
02/05/2024

Erica Enders is a six-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion and now the winningest woman in motorsports. In this episode with the GOAT we’re discussing how drag racers really care about the number on the side of the car; the little details incorporated in her firesuit, shoes, gloves, and race car; positive mental attitude work; being counted out by the competition early in the season; the addition of bonus points from the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge; why it works having a chip on her shoulder; becoming mean when the helmet goes on; being misunderstood or apologizing for who she is; pu...


Ep. 287 | Bryce Kenny
#287
11/20/2023

Bryce Kenny is a Monster Jam driver, public speaker, and new author. Kenny joins the show to share how the book has been doing out in the universe; not seeing out to write a book but why there is a need for another self-help or inspiration guide; dealing with imposter syndrome; choosing to start the book with a very pointed John Wayne quote; success coming from inconvenience; the power of positive thinking and knowing what you want; having adults try to control his intensity growing up; people over projects; what you need to know about Monster Jam; Monster Jam University...


Ep. 286 | Kip Childress
#286
11/13/2023

A lot has changed since Kip Childress last joined us on the podcast, so he’s getting you caught up on what it’s like being the executive director of the CARS Tour after leaving NASCAR. Childress finally looks back on the emotions of his final weekend from July in Chicago; if there has been any adjustment to leaving the NASCAR world behind and doing something new; being a more public figure with his CARS Tour role; being involved in penalties and other big moments in the series; having momentum and ideas to get the CARS Tour to grow; the feel...


Ep. 285 | David Green
#285
11/06/2023

David Green is a former NASCAR driver turned safety official, and we’re digging into that this week. Green takes us inside what his job title means and responsibilities are; what equipment NASCAR puts in the cars each weekend; the process of looking over a car in the garage after an on-track incident; how the decision is made to take a car back to the R&D Center after an incident; his responsibilities after the initial inspections are done and keeping an eye on the garage; the benefit of having a former driver in a safety position; the differences in th...