The Down & Dirty Radio Show

Sheldon Creed is back on the podcast, but now he does so as the reigning Camping World Truck Series champion. Creed shares what his offseason has been like and getting into dirt racing; if his championship accomplishment has set in and why he doesn’t want to pay attention to the press clippings; keeping the team together; growing into the NASCAR environment, and maturing on and off the track along the way; fitting into the garage; what changed in his race craft from 2019 to ’20 to change the results; knowing how to watch race film properly; trying to understand why he was so aggressive in his rookie season; if Creed knows where the line is and how to keep from getting into a bad spot; the variables of dirty air and restarts; having a better understanding of the trucks after two full seasons; the type of feedback he’s comfortable giving; trying to learn from other drivers; preparation for 2021; what the team did well in ’20 but need to do better in ’21; becoming more comfortable and confident in his personality; how quickly success happened; thoughts and expectations for a new season. Music created by Tony Monge. Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

The first major motorsports weekend of the year is upon us, as the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the first race of Supercross' three-round stay in Indianapolis are joined by an expanded Desert Challenge at this year's King of the Hammers. We've got all the details on which classes are racing!

In the second installment of our interview with Jeff Hammond, Jeff remembers his impression of Darrell Waltrip before DW came to Junior Johnson & Associates as the team's driver ... and Johnson's reaction to Cale Yarborough's decision to leave the team at the end of the 1980 season. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid pick through the June 8, 1980 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured coverage of Cale Yarborough leading all 420 laps at Nashville, a commentary by photojournalist David Chobat and a highway accident involving Ed and Faye Negre.

Supercross from Houston and a shootout for the pole of this year's IMSA 24 Hours of Daytona highlight a busy past week in real-world racing. We've also got tons of sim racing updates from the World of Outlaws, CDRA, FTF, and last week's eShort Course World Cup.

Cliff Daniels and his group haven’t changed anything regarding a seat in their race cars in over 15 years, but with Jimmie Johnson retired and Kyle Larson entering it has made for an even busier offseason. Daniels, the crew chief of the No. 5 team, chats about how things are going getting prepared for Daytona; how he’s been adjusting to the role with so much change the last few seasons; memories of coming from a racing family and being a former driver; having to channel his competitive fire in a different way as a crew chief and leading a team; if he had to get comfortable with the idea of working with Larson; if Daniels has been able to do any team-building exercises given the pandemic; if he will treat Larson different than Johnson; if Larson has told Daniels what he can to lead him; what he will require or want to see from Larson this season. Music created by Tony Monge. Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Jim Beaver has Indy 500 Champ Alexander Rossi and Supercross legend Ryan Dungey on the show this week along with Tiffany Stone with an off-road update. Be sure and follow @JimBeaver15 on social media and subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Use JIMBEAVER at Manscaped.com for 20% off and Free Shipping

In the first of what will eventually be a SIX-part interview -- in two separate three-episode arcs -- Jeff Hammond gives listeners insight into his very earliest days as a NASCAR fan. So taken with the sport was Hammond, he was determined to find a spot working for a team. After stints with several different teams, Hammond finally landed with Walter Ballard ... and then ... the legendary Junior Johnson & Associates. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid go through the August 21, 1980 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured coverage of Cale Yarborough's victory at Michigan. Although Richard Petty was coming off a horrific accident at Pocono the month before, he still managed to finish fifth. Darrell Waltrip was unable to get his DiGard Racing entry into the field, so he took over car owner Joel Halpern's car ... and proceeded to finish fifth. The DiGard Racing-DW relationship was on its last legs, and we dig back into the archives to get the viewpoints of both Waltrip and team owner Bill Gardner. Finally, this issue announces the retirement of Tighe Scott.

The Motorsports Drop returns with a look back at the Supercross season opener, Chili Bowl, Parker 425, and news on major sim racing leagues.

New NASCAR driver Santino Ferrucci is excited and ready for the challenge for stock cars. This week, Ferrucci explains how a deal to run Xfinity Series races with Sam Hunt Racing came to be; people he talked to about making a transition to NASCAR; anticipating habits Ferrucci will have to break in stock cars; the first impression from a late model test; if stock cars with fenders and bumpers will suit his style; what the feedback and reaction have been to the move; who Ferrucci sees himself leaning on for help; how he can prepare for his first race with no testing allowed; tracks he’s looking forward to competing on; if he’s a patient person and will keep his expectations in check throughout the year; how and why he went the open-wheel route when his career started; already working through differences in racing lingo; if Ferrucci is content with leaving IndyCar and what he did there; if NASCAR is the long-term goal now and if running in the Cup Series is on the radar; what he wants to say to fans and those curious about watching his transition. Music created by Tony Monge. Wear the moment with BreakingT and connect to the players and teams you love by commemorating the best moments with real-time apparel. To check out their racing collection, visit www.breakingt.com/Kelly.

Jim Beaver has a best of interview with Dakar legend Toby Price and dives into the latest from Dakar and the world of motorsports with Tiffany Stone. Be sure and follow @JimBeaver15 on social media and subscribe on Apple Podcasts.

The 2021 Dakar Rally is in the books, with one Dakar legend extending an overall record as multiple others win the grueling event for the first time. We've got all of this year's winners in our final recap of the rally. Stay tuned for more Motorsports Drops throughout the 2021 race season!

The penultimate stage of the 2021 Dakar Rally is in the books, and no fewer than four racers who sit second in class won today's stages. It all builds up to tomorrow's trek back from Yanbu to Jeddah, with just 200 kilometers of timed stages remaining.

The hits keep coming for the motorcycle class at this year's Dakar Rally, as Nacho Cornejo is the latest overall leader to drop out after an incident. While the overall leaders are relatively stable in front in all other classes, Wednesday's Stage 10 did see an interesting mix of racers on top of the daily time charts.

In the second and final installment of our interview with Phil Parsons, he recalls winning his first Winston Cup event at Talladega in 1988. Less than two years later, however, Phil was unceremoniously dumped by Morgan-McClure Motorsports just three races into the 1990 season. Phil also discusses rumors that he had substantial problems with his eyesight, and the impact that gossip had on his career. After more than five years of career turmoil, he then experienced a resurgence with a win in the 1994 spring Busch Series race at Charlotte.

Toby Price is out of the 2021 Dakar Rally after suffering left arm and shoulder injuries in a crash in the Neom loop stage, and is receiving treatment in a hospital in Tabuk. The latest Dakar Daily covers Price's accident, as well as all of today's top performers.