The Down & Dirty Radio Show

Before Todd Gordon walks out the door at Team Penske for the last time, he joins us to do some reflecting. Gordon starts by sharing if it’s sinking in that he’s done and what Sunday at Phoenix Raceway was like leading into the race; if Gordon plans to do any reflecting on the accomplishments he didn’t focus on while they were happening; the significant race wins along the way; the change he saw in Ryan Blaney through two years; building a race car for a college class; designing zero-turn lawnmowers and the influence Gordon’s wife Amy had on making the move to North Carolina; teams Gordon worked with before getting to Team Penske; remembering his first race as a crew chief and driver names that are a blast from the past; navigating AJ Allmendinger’s suspension in 2012; reaction to the hiring of Joey Logano; the Cup championship being the biggest accomplishment; how the sport ages you over time and looking at how it’s a seven day a week job; what Gordon’s kids reactions were over the years and now that he’s retiring; competition amongst crew chiefs; needing a break and having the time to figure out what’s next. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

The iRacing World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car World Championship is just days away, and we've got a new Downshift to preview the action with three-time defending champion Alex Bergeron and WoO Public Relations Manager Nick Graziano! Plus, find out more about our Black Friday deals, our Winter Derby, and much more.

In the wake of Kyle Larson's Cup title-clinching race at Phoenix, host Rick Houston re-introduces his revolutionary championship format. Trust us. It's something to behold. Our interview with former Bud Moore Engineering crew members Phil Thomas, Donnie Wingo and Harold Stott concludes this week, and they remember several different drivers who competed for the team and one in particular who butted heads with Bud. They also talk about the end of that incredible organization, and how difficult it was to leave. Rick and co-host Steve Waid then leaf through the May 20, 1993 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which featured coverage of Geoff Bodine’s win at Sears Point for Bud Moore, which turned out to be the team's final win. Ricky Rudd finished second, and it was shades of 1991 when Ricky gave Geoff a shot on the last lap. This time, Geoff was able to keep going and win the race. There was also a last-lap skirmish between Kyle Petty, Davey Allison and Dale Jarrett that left Davey and Dale pretty hot under the collar. Finally, Rick Wilson finished eighth for Petty Enterprises, his best finish for that team.

Josh Williams is an Xfinity Series driver and now he’s getting back to his roots by offering development opportunities for those who need some assistance. We start our conversation talking about his driver development program and his approach to such a program; Williams also explains how many different hats he wears during a week; getting started with a go-kart at two years old; what Williams remembers from his dad’s racing career; the support from mom and dad, and dad’s heavy investment in what happens; his welcome to North Carolina moment; when Williams thought it’d be possible to make a living in NASCAR; what should be expected of the DGM team; if it’s tough to be a driver who also works on cars and knows what it takes to get to the track; being content in the Xfinity Series and what it means to overachieve; understanding everyone is racing for something; respecting the race leaders; his relationship with Dale Jr.; what Williams wants people to know; getting confused for the other Josh Williams in NASCAR; doing hospital visits. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

In this week’s installment of the roundtable discussion with Phil Thomas, Donnie Wingo and Harold Stott from Bud Moore Engineering, we talk about everything from Dale Earnhardt’s tenure with Bud Moore to Geoff Bodine’s consecutive wins for the team at Martinsville and North Wilkesboro in the fall of 1992 ... and then Phil, Donnie and Harold tell a story or two on each other. Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid then pick through the October 24, 1991 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which featured coverage of Davey Allison’s win at Rockingham, Kyle Petty's run at ANOTHER win from the pole at that track, Bud Moore Engineering’s triumph in that weekend’s pit-crew race and an old timer's event attended by several past legends of the sport.

Ryan Vargas works his tail off for seat time and to be recognized in NASCAR and it’s paid off in some big ways over the last year. Vargas joins the show to discuss the growing amount of seat time he’s had this year and what it means to have a driver’s notebook; racing with emotion; insight into the home office and his daily task to get in a car; the business of cold calls; if Vargas has any formal training for selling himself and speaking well; the scariness of moving to NC as a teenager; why he thought he was washed up at 18; thoughts on young drivers getting recognized; some on-track highlights that stand out and a keepsake from leading laps at Talladega; what it is like to be a race car driver; why Vargas thinks fans relate to him and he’s developed a good following; embracing social media and its many different platforms; looking ahead to 2022. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

The latest iRacing Downshift is chock full of exciting updates, from an extended interview with 2021 eNASCAR champion Keegan Leahy to new content announcements like Mercedes-AMG F1 and Phoenix Raceway. Plus, find out where our staff has been racing, how our pro series have been going, and much more! Watch Kevin's pit stop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3hWeCz_jWg Watch the Ring Taxi ride: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxEKjN0fKDA

We sat down with former Bud Moore Engineering crew members Phil Thomas, Donnie Wingo and Harold Stott for an inside look at what it was like to work for one of NASCAR's most legendary operations. This week, they talk about how they wound up working for Bud and how they STAYED with the team through the years. For these three, at least, it seemed to be more than just a business arrangement. They were family. Also, the April 23, 1981 issue of Grand National Scene was Steve Waid's first as executive editor. Featured inside are a package of stories on Bud Moore’s crew and a photo spread on a charity basketball game involving several people in the racing community. Dale Earnhardt is shown wearing a pair of "jorts," while Steve is pictured in a nearly indescribable outfit.

Max Papis is a busy man. Papis is an IndyCar race steward, performance advisor, and businessman, just to name a few things, and somehow, he found time to join the show to share how it’s all been going. What does it mean to be a race steward? What drew Papis to taking the job years ago? He also explains his role with William Byron and why he doesn’t like the term coach; finding satisfaction in seeing someone else succeed; what Papis looks for when he’s at the racetrack with Byron; explaining how go-karting helps NASCAR racing; an update on how MPI (Max Papis Innovations) is going and being able to expand into other racing series; getting feedback and data on the products after being in a crash; developing other products through MPI, including for sim racing; hopes to get back behind the wheel in NASCAR. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Robert Callicutt was living the dream as a race fan. He was working for Richard Petty and travelling to all the races, but in early 1989 at Atlanta, he experienced the nightmare of being engulfed in flames while gassing Richard’s car. Robert was severely injured and spent the next 33 days in the Humana Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia. This is his incredible story. Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid also remember legendary independent driver Dick May, and also dig into the March 23, 1989 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured coverage of the Atlanta event in which Robert Callicutt was injured. The race was won by Darrell Waltrip, after he beat Dale Earnhardt off pit road during a late-race pit stop. Or DID Darrell reach the stripe before Dale? And Dick Trickle finished THIRD!

Sam Hunt Racing has gone from a very small K&N operation to competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and what a journey it’s been. Hunt shares his first conversation with Toyota and earning their support; his connection to the late J.D. Gibbs and how influential their meeting was in more ways than one; how surreal it’s been for the team to come so far in a short amount of time; time spent in the Netherlands and why he chose a career in racing; finding NASCAR racing when back in the States; the business of going from K&N to Xfinity; why Hunt is not driving his own car and if that’s helped in the transition of being an owner; relating to the drivers in his car; measuring where the performance should be when it’s multiple drivers in the seat; if expectations change throughout the year and if Hunt feels like they are defying the odds; if he’d like to see practice next year and any inventory coming from the Cup Series; the team outlook for 2022. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Tony Stewart is taking his team ownership to the NHRA beginning in 2022 and he made time to talk about it on the podcast. Stewart discusses the challenges he expects entering drag racing; experiencing drag racing up close and personal; how Stewart’s view of things changed the more time spent on the starting line; what the conversation is like between two racers in a relationship (Stewart and fiancée Leah Pruett); trying to describe the sensation of speed driving a Top Fuel dragster; why Stewart says it’d be suicidal for him to try to compete in NHRA; why Matt Hagan was a good fit for TSR; if there’s anything left Stewart hasn’t driven; where Stewart sees NHRA in the motorsports landscape. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

This week in the second and final installment of our interview with Bill “The Hat Man” Brodrick, he takes a little trip down memory lane about NASCAR's first trip to Australia for the first NASCAR exhibition race. He also talks about the legendary Unocal 76 Racestoppers program and his unceremonious release after nearly 29 years with the company. In our second segment, we leaf through the October 6, 1983 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured coverage of that fall’s North Wilkesboro event won by Darrell Waltrip with the help of new-fangled ... and not much liked ... power steering. There were also some hot rumors about Junior Johnson … Budweiser … Darrell Waltrip … Coor’s … Richard Childress … Piedmont Airlines … Terry Labonte … Billy Hagan … Dale Earnhardt … Rick Hendrick(s?!?) … Wrangler ... and Petty Enterprises.

Blake Harris is the car chief for Martin Truex Jr. at Joe Gibbs Racing, and if you want to know what that entails, he’s here to explain. Harris breaks down his role; how he got into NASCAR and the journey to Furniture Row (before JGR); being a former driver himself but also enjoying working on cars as well; being a brief test driver for Furniture Row; choosing racing over music; what it’s like going through NASCAR inspection and the relationship with the officials; why the car chief is the one ejected; where Harris goes when he’s ejected and what he can do for the team; if it would be beneficial for people to understand inspection failures versus cheating; being a girl dad; Chili Bowl connections; what it’s like to fight through the Cup Series playoffs. Music created by Tony Monge. Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Bill “The Hat Man” Brodrick is one of the most recognizable figures in the history of NASCAR from his years of overseeing victory lane celebrations. As a result, he’s also been one of our most requested guests here on the podcast … and after a little bit of back and forth on getting him up to speed on Zoom … we GOT him! In this segment of our interview, Bill talks about how he first got involved in racing, how he came to be in charge of victory lane and some of his more memorable victory lane celebrations. The October 13, 1977 issue of Grand National Scene featured coverage of that fall's Charlotte and North Wilkesboro events … AND Bill Brodrick on the outside cover!