SpeedFreaks: A National Radio Show: Recent Episodes
SpeedFreaks
Irreverant? Yea. Honest? Ask Smoke. Legendous? Check! SpeedFreaks airs LIVE on Sunday nights 7-9p PST on The Freak Radio Network. PLUS, Sirius 94 - XM 208, live on the net & the Cable Radio Network... Motorsports to Music to some TMZ. And thanks to SoundCloud, if you miss a live show, just listen to them here at your convenience. We are Motorsports Radio, REDEFINED.
Kenny made it out to Table Rock Lake for the prestigious Redcrest Championship for Major League Fishing and caught up with superstar angler Mark Daniels Jr. The California native shares why he made the move from the west coast to Alabama, as well as what his family thought of the big transition. Learn just what goes into professional fishing, his thoughts on the “unsportsmanlike” Front Facing Sonar technology infiltrating the competition and if tartar sauce belong with fish!
Ryan Preece makes a pit stop to chat with The Freaks about everything from staying grounded as a race car driver and being a good person, as opposed to an “A-hole.” After starting 2026 with a win at The Clash, the fan favorite shares that he believes are the missing pieces needed in order for him to score his maiden points-paying victory in the NASCAR Cup Series, as well as the tribulations in winning now versus prior eras. More on blocking out baggage, staying on offense as opposed to defense, and of course, Talladega.
Reigning INDYCAR champ and honorary Freak, Alex Palou, makes his routine call into the Lucas Oil Studio, following his long awaited win at the Long Beach Grand Prix. The “Smiling Assassin” of the sport shares what took him “so long” to win the crown-jewel event, what went into scoring his third victory of 2026 and why her got down to some Taylor Swift in the media center.
and what badass women are making waves across motorsports. Ryan Preece makes a pit stop into the Lucas Oil Studio, as well as Major League Fishing angler Mark Daniels Jr. on this latest edition of SpeedFreaks
It’s time for a “super cool” edition of SpeedFreaks! The crew recaps a gripping maiden NASCAR Cup Series victory by Ty Gibbs and debates the impact of his presence in the sport. Is Bristol Motor Speedway deserving of two race weekends and is it embarrassing for Indianapolis 500’s “bump day” to be a bust? Kyle Larson joins the show, “Black Flag Confessions” continues with Leah Pruett and the results of “Beat the Freaks” await on two jam-packed hours recapping motorsports madness!
Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champ Kyle Larson check in with the Freaks from Texas Motor Speedway to discuss his season thus far and the upcoming slate on the 2026 schedule. “Young Money” shares if Rick Hendrick is still cool with him racing sprint cars and what it’s like balancing being a part-time dirt devil and competing full-time in Cup. Also find out his thoughts on the rotating All-Star Race turning to Dover Motor Speedway and his struggles on superspeedways.
NHRA Top Fuel badass Leah Pruett goes from nitro car to nap time in her latest venture and an author! Nearly one year after the birth of her son, Pruett got inspired to write a children's book and dishes all the family fun details with The Freaks. Learn all about the motivation behind her unique idea, what went into making it a reality and how she attempted to be innovative!
Spoiler Alert: Alex Palou wins again! Although it appeared like another classic Barber beat-down, the reigning champ shared with Kenny and Crash why it was anything but. The driver of the CGR No. 10 takes listeners through his rebound for his second win in 2026, shares how he used push-to-pass to his advantage, what his communication is like with the team throughout the race and if he’d like INDYCAR to add repeat stops to the circuit.
Connor Zilisch caught up with Crash Gladys and Cole Cusumano at Phoenix Raceway to talk about everything from nicknames to trips to Universal Studios! The 2026 Rookie of the Year talks about managing expectations in going from racing on Saturdays to Sundays, comparisons competing at Phoenix to World Wide Technology Raceway and the answer to the question everyone has been wondering … What’s his go-to meal at Wendy’s!
Freak yeah! It was another crazy weekend of motorsports that saw Chase Elliott break Hendrick Motorsports’ and Chevrolet’s winless streak in the 2026 NASCAR season, as well as Alex Palou pull off another beat-down at Barber in INDYCAR. The crew ponders what the “Chasesexuals” see in their driver and why there’s so much hate thrown towards crew chief Alan Gustafson. Why is INDYCAR seeing such exponential growth over from 2024 to now? How did Cole’s first F1 watch go? Palou drops by after his second win of the season, Connor Zilisch catches up with the Freaks and part two of an electric interview with Maddi Gordon await on this edition of SpeedFreaks!
Ron Capps' trip back to the Freak Nation was almost as fast as his drive to another Wally in thee NHRA Arizona Nationals! The three-time Funny Car champ shares how he used SpeedFreaks mojo to overcome a wild explosion at Firebird Motorsports Park, en route to his 78th victory. Find out how he stays so sharp (and successful) at 60 years old and what it's like in the cockpit when things go up in flames.
NHRA Top Fuel rookie Maddi Gordon joined Kenny and Crash at the Lucas Oil Studio to talk about how she got the opportunity of a lifetime to drive for and be teammates with Ron Capps. The 21-year-old reveals how she got the nickname “Yawni Gordon,” and why she’s taking up shock treatment going forward. Find out what it’s like to be teammate with the legendary three-time Funny Car champion, how she transitioned from wrenching on Funny Cars to driving Top Fuel and how she potentially forging a path for women in motorsports.
Kenny caught up with INDYCAR pilot Scott McLaughlin from the Team Penske 60th Anniversary luncheon at Phoenix Raceway to shoot the breeze about a wide range of things. Learn the difference between a NASCAR Cup Series stock car and the last two generations of Australia's Supercars, as well as how he was able to best SVG. The driver of the “Thirsty Three” talks moving on from his disastrous attempt in the 2025 Indianapolis 500 and his punchy friendship with Bubba Wallace that keeps him grounded.
SpeedFreaks is brining the HEAT, recapping another wild weekend of motorsports mayhem! Tyler Reddick made history, joining Dale Earnhardt and Bill Elliott as the only drivers to win four of the first six NASCAR Cup Series races. Does this feat put him in rarified air? What does his early spell disaster for the revival of The Chase points format? Was Darlington a good race, or did stage breaks destroy it? Ron Capps is back, after riding SpeedFreaks mojo to his 78th NHRA Funny Car victory at the Arizona Nationals! Top Fuel pilot Maddi Gordon drops by the Lucas Oil Studio and INDYCAR badass Scott McLaughlin joins in on the fun, too! Full NASCAR and NHRA Arizona Nationals recap with the Freaks!
The Freaks go full throttle wrapping up another BANGER weekend of motorsports! INDYCAR stole the show with its inaugural race in the streets of Arlington, Texas, but did that lead to a lackluster perception of NASCAR at Las Vegas? Denny Hamlin joins the show following his emotion and record-setting win, with Cole calling live from Sin City with a ton of insight and content from the weekend. What’s the latest on a “Days of Thunder” sequel? Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell and AJ Allmendinger weigh in. Hear from Hamlin, Kirkwood and NHRA legend Ron Capps ahead of their return to Phoenix. Beat the Freak, the return of Kimi Raikkonen to F1 and more on this week’s SpeedFreaks!
Kenny and Crash catch up with the inaugural winner of INDYCAR’s Arlington Grand Prix, Kyle Kirkwood, to discuss what went into getting it done on the streets of the Lone Star State. Kirkwood reveals how he overcame an epidemic of pit issues across the board for Andretti Global and how he was able to hold off Alex Palou. He also dishes the dirt on new teammate Will Power and his “potty” etiquette, on top of the surprising sentiment received from the former champ following his win.
NHRA legend Ron Capps drops by the Lucas Oil Studios to reminisce with Kenny and Crash about the good old days, spanning over 25 years. From racing and riding anything with two and four wheel, to living the “Swingers” life and getting down at rock-n-roll shows, the three-time Funny Car champion has seemingly done it all! Learn how he carved his path to becoming drag racing royalty, who helped him get there, and how he’s been able to remain for over 20 years. Hear all about his gnarly punctured spleen story and how he’s been rehabbing through it to this day. This and SO MUCH MORE in this 20 minutes with the man himself.
The Freaks are still riding high off adrenaline, following a phenomenal weekend at Phoenix Raceway! They share their experience being in attendance for INDYCAR’s return to Arizona as part of an immensely successful “Desert Double” with NASCAR, also breaking down the spectacles between all three series. Winner Josef Newgarden joins, Graham Rahal, Joey Logano and Chad Green, who came out guns blazing for NHRA!
Kenny and Crash are joined by back-to-back NHRA Gainesville winner Chad Green. The Funny Car pilot talk talking down some of drag racing’s best to ever do it and why he’s so good (and fond) of the Florida track.
Kenny catches up with Josef Newgarden, who went back-to-back at Phoenix Raceway in INDYCAR’s return, following a seven-year hiatus. The two-time champion compares competing at the 1-mile track now to when he won there last time on the old configuration. The Team Penske driver give insane insight into the technicalities of INDYCAR racing and why Phoenix - and the ‘Desert Double” - belongs on the schedule.
Prior to winning his pole for at Phoenix Raceway, Joey Logano got some SpeedFreaks mojo from this conversation with Kenny and Crash at the Team Penske 60th anniversary celebration. He gives him perspective on the prestige of competing and being around “The Captain” by leading by example.
Kenny and Crash get a quick but concise chat in with INDYCAR driver and co-owner of Rahal Ducati Moto team, Graham Rahal. He raves about his rider and rising star Kayla Yaakov, citing her importance to the future of MotoAmerica Supersport by virtue of her work ethic at such a young age.
like he never left, following an emphatic win in the 2026 IndyCar season opener at St Pete. The reigning champ takes Kenny and Crash through how he was able to run away with a statement-making, 12-second victory. He also gets honest about what could be a tricky weekend ahead at Phoenix Raceway and who he wants to be battling with for his fourth consecutive title.
What a FREAKin’ jam-packed Sunday of motorsports! The crew debates if we’re witnessing a Tyler Reddick Renaissance in NASCAR, following a historic third consecutive win to open the season, as well as if more road courses are needed on the schedule. In addition to recapping IndyCar’s season-opener at St. Pete, reigning champ Alex Palou calls in to discuss his emphatic victory! Chip Ganassi and David Malukas also stop by on this revved up edition of SpeedFreaks!
Long-time friend of The Freaks - motorsports legend Chip Ganassi - reunites to chop it up with Kenny and Crash at Phoenix Raceway. This conversation has everything from reminiscing about the good ol’ days to the dynasty run hi IndyCar team is on with Alex Palou and the No. 10 crew. It’s nearly 10 minutes of fun with the legend himself!
The Freaks caught up with the newest face of Team Penske’s IndyCar program, David Malukas, after he topped the speed charts during the Unser Open Test at Phoenix Raceway. The 24-year-old gets candid about living the dream and competing for one of most elite names in motorsports, on top of serving as the successor to one of the most iconic rides in open-wheel racing history. It’s about time to get reacquainted with one of the hottest and fastest up-and-comers in racing!
The Freaks caught up with reigning INDYCAR champion Alex Palou at Phoenix Raceway, where he was awarded the coveted “Baby Borg” trophy for his Indianapolis 500 victory. The four-time champ breaks down the relentless pursuit of perfection and never truly being content — even with all the accolades. The Spaniard sensation also touches on the upcoming INDYCAR-NASCAR doubleheader weekend coming to Phoenix on March 7.
What happens in Cabo stays in Cabo - or does it? The Freaks get the scoop on rising star in NASCAR Zane Smith’s offseason vacation, hot off his top-10 and stage win in the Daytona 500. The California kid also shares how being teammates with some of his best friends goes a long way in the Cup Series both on and off the track, and if he was broken up about the loss of the Charlotte ROVAL from The Chase.
Allow The Freaks to get you acquainted with the newest face at John Force Racing, Jordan Vandergriff. The nephew of Top Fuel veteran Bob Vandergriff Jr. shares for the first time publicly just how he got the Funny Car ride of a lifetime, driving for one of the most legendary names in motorsports. The freshly minted 31-year-old reveals what went down during his multi-year hiatus from full-time drag racing and how being a pit reporter for Fox Sports can parlay into on-track success in 2026.
The 31-year-old reflects on where he was when Dale Earnhardt lost his life in 2001 and acknowledges the comparisons to the seven-time champion on drafting tracks after becoming the winningest driver all-time on the treacherous discipline.
live up to its billing, or did fuel saving put a damper on NASCAR's Super Bowl? Daytona winners Austin Hill, Denny Hamlin and Reddick join the show, and SpeedFreaks gets the exclusive scoop on if it was Alex Bowman caught on camera busting his behind on a snowy fall this offseason.
SpeedFreaks and Kenny Sargent have the EXCLUSIVE scoop on one of the biggest, burning questions in the NASCAR offseason ... Was it Alex Bowman who busted his behind by slipping and falling on ice in the Ring camera footage shared from his Instagram account?
and authenticity. The Washington native divulges in his his love for all pro sports and weigh in on the official news of IndyCar taking to the streets of his hometown. Find out if the the new, part-time face of the iconic No. 88 in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series is fazed by inking a deal with JR Motorsports and what it's like to live out his dreams.
The Freaks throw it back to 2023, catching up with NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car Champion Kenny Bernstein. The legend breaks down the evolution of drag racing from back in the day to current times with an in-depth perspective of his own experiences.
himself. Enjoy this trip back to 2005, featuring the always real and charismatic Jack Roush.
Running off the adrenaline from winning the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, multi-time sports car champion Philip Ellis caught up with Kenny and Crash to discuss his exhilarating endurance race victory. The GTD Class winner takes the Freaks through his winding road to victory and weighs in on the infamous 6.5-hour caution for fog, among many other badass things!
potentially impact the racing world? Will there be an IndyCar race around Capitol Hill? Stick around for an epic flashback 20 years with Jack Roush, who was just awarded NASCAR's Bill France Award of Excellence.
Get to know Homestead-Miami Speedway Track President Guillermo Santa Cruuuuuz with help from Kenny and Crash! The South Florida native talks about revamping NASCAR Championship Weekend at the site of the sport's finale for 18 years. Find out how he plans on blending experience from his illustrious resume with everything Phoenix Raceway has done right as the site of the championship ahead of the 2026 season and so much more.
Kenny catches up with one of the realest dudes in motorsports and fan-favorite Justin Allgaier. The former NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion shares the importance of slowing down with family, thoughts on retirement in the latter stages of his career and the agony of defeat for both he and Denny Hamlin in their quest for their respective 2025 titles. This is nearly 10 minutes of authentic greatness with one of the sport's under appreciated GOATs!
and the gang shares what they're most pumped for in 2026. NASCAR Xfinity Series Championn Justin Allgaier also stops by, as well as Homestead-Miami Speedway Track President Guillermo Santa Cruz!
interviews from 2026 with IndyCar legend Will Power on his seat change this year and NHRA President Glen Cromwell on the infamous series finale cancellation. We're just getting revved up, folks!
Kenny and Crash have an EXCLUSIVE sit down with NHRA President Glen Cromwell moments after the decision to cancel the 2025 Finals from Pomona. Find out what went into the unprecedented call in California with this raw and transparent 20-minute conversation that can only be found with SpeedFreaks.
Once Brittany Force hangs it up at the end of the 2025 season, it will mark the first time in over three decades without a Force behind the wheel of a NHRA dragster. The two-time champion stopped by the Lucas Oil Studio to discuss her retirement from full-time racing, as she prepares for motherhood. What does she hope is her legacy is and just how important is family for her? It's all right here in this epic 1-on-1 with one of the greatest female dragsters in NHRA history.
Strap the FREAK in for one of the most high-octane shows of SpeedFreaks' 25th season! Weather may have put a damper on NHRA's finale, but the Lucas Oil Studio crew delivers! Kenny and Crash have an exclusive sit down with NHRA President Glen Cromwell, following the cancellation of the Pomona Finals. We also say farewell to the most iconic family in drag racing (for now) with a John Force tribute and 1-on-1 with soon-to-be mother Brittany Force.
IndyCar legend Scott Dixon is back with The Freaks with an exclusive 1-on-1 from Phoenix Raceway. The six-time champ provides all the technicalities that go into tire tests and shares how he thinks the on-track product will differ from when they last races at the one-mile track before the 2019 reconfiguration.
The 34-year-old also gets personal on fatherhood and a circumcision conversation 2.0 (IYKYK)!
Corey Heim graces the Freak Nation with his presence, following the conclusion of one of the most dominant campaigns in NASCAR Truck Series history. Fresh off being crowned the 2025 champion - capped by his 12th win to end the season - he shares what went into his historic run and what the future may hold for his racing career.
Kenny and Crash caught up with now two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson just one day removed from his shocking series finale triumph. The driver for Hendrick Motorsports shares his lingering state of disbelief in how he became a two-time champion and gives his perspective in what went into his shocking defeat of Denny Hamlin.
Connor Zilisch makes a quick pit stop into the Freak Nation to debrief with Kenny and Crash on his crushing 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship loss to best friend Jesse Love.
NASCAR may be done for, but The Freaks are still going strong! While most other motorsports outlets choose to go into offseason hibernation, SpeedFreaks keeps the fun rolling by recapping the fallout from championship weekend, sharing exclusive content from IndyCar's test at Phoenix Raceway and way-too-early 2026 title predictions. It's a star-studded show with appearances from 2025 champions Kyle Larson and Corey Heim, title contenders Chase Briscoe and Connor Zilisch, as well as 1-on-1's with Alexander Rossi and Scott Dixon! Let's Freakin' Go!
Joey Logano caught up with Kenny and Crash at Phoenix Raceway one last time as the reigning NASCAR Cup Series Champion. The driver of the No. 22 gets candid about missing and embracing the stress of competing for another title. With change imminent for 2026, he also talks about his preference for a new playoff formant and his ability to adapt to whatever challenges follow. Find out when he thinks of the upcoming IndyCar doubleheader at Phoenix next season and what Team Penske's rapport is like potentially working with racers from other series.
Prior to becoming the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion, Jesse Love got fix for SpeedFreaks mojo at media day with Kenny and Crash. The now Lucas Oil legend provides some perspective on his preparation and at-peace mentality to combating the pressures on chasing his first title. Keeping it clean, his dynamic with Connor Zilisch and 'Talladega Night' can also be expected in this fun 1-on-1.
Let's. FREAKin'. Go! The crew could not be more fired up, hot off what was arguably one of the best NASCAR Cup Series championship races in the sport's history! Kenny, Crash and Cole provide their raw reactions from Kyle Larson's triumph in becoming a two-time champion, as well as the agonizing defeat to go along with a dominant day by Denny Hamlin at Phoenix. Hear from the Championship 4 drivers post-race, Lucas Oil legend Jesse Love - who rode SpeedFreaks mojo into becoming a NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion - as well as last year's champ Joey Logano on the state of the playoff format and more. It's a can't miss, jam-packed, championship edition of The Freaks!
Lucas Oil lad and friend of the Freaks, Austin Hill, caught up with Kenny and Crash following his historic fourth win of the season at Talladega Superspeedway. The 31-year-old opened up on his relationship with team owner Richard Childress, as well as getting the opportunity to win the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Owner's Title for him. With the victories racking up, is there a Cup ride on the horizon for Hill? This and more in 16 minutes with the driver of the No. 21.
Three-time NHRA Funny Car Champion Ron Capps joins Kenny and Crash in the Lucas Oil Studio, hoping to steal some SpeedFreaks mojo for his title fight with Austin Prock. The 60-year-old veteran opens up on rebounding from his scary wreck in the Arizona National, to now being in contention for another championship in his 30th season racing in NHRA. He also previews the upcoming race weekend at Las Vegas and the series finale in Pomona.
William Byron executed a walk-off win at Martinsville to make the Championship 4 at Phoenix and was caught getting a little crazy post-race. Find out who the crew thinks will win it all, the latest on the 23XI-FRM lawsuit and F1 shenanigan from Mexico City. Austin Hill joins the show, as well as NHRA Funny Car pilot Ron Capps on this creepy edition of SpeedFreaks!
as well as inspiring the next generation of dare devils. Why were moms all over Evel and what is the strongest aphrodisiac for women? The legend reveals all.
to the site of his first Cup win as the finale, more horsepower in 2026 and so much more!
coming in 2026, as he joins Juncos Hollinger Racing. The Dutch IndyCar pilot dishes keeping secrets, offseason plans and his eyebrows. Also get an inside look at the dynamic and relationship between he and his badass professional boxing wife Carmen.
Nothing can brace listeners for the amount of Freakin' awesomeness jammed into this week's show! The Freaks recap NASCAR's crazy day at Talladega and even get some F1 chatter going, courtesy of an explosive rant from Kenny Sargent! Cole catches up with race winner Chase Briscoe, while Rinus Veekay also drops by the Lucas Oil Studio. Stick around for an epic Freak Flashback with Evel Knievel, as SpeedFreaks continues to celebrate 25 years.
Cole Cusumano caught up with Michael McDowell at Las Vegas Motor Speedway ahead of race No. 33 in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season for a candid conversation on the former Daytona 500 Champion's first season with Spire Motorsports. The Arizona-born racer discusses adapting to the nuances of a new team for the first time in eight years, being teammates with Carson Hocevar, in addition Phoenix Raceway's farewell as the finale and the incoming IndyCar doubleheader next season.
victory, which punched his ticket to the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway, in addition to a bone-head move that now has regular-season champion William Byron in danger of elimination. Stick around for a one-on-one featuring Michael McDowell, a behind-the-scenes look at drama that unfolded on pit road after the Xfinity race and so much more on this week's show!
Funny Car pilot Alexis DeJoria join the Lucas Oil Studio from World Wide Technology raceway to break down her first season with JCM Racing and evolution as a driver and team with four races left in the 2025 season. She also reminisces with Kenny and Crash about her various tequila-filled visits into the Freak Nation, as SpeedFreaks celebrates 25 years.
The inmates are running the asylum! With Kenny and Crash on vacay, it's a Richie, Cole and Codey takeover, as the "three stunads" recap a wild elimination race at the ROVAL. The guys champion NASCAR's playoff system, as opposed to a full-season format, while highlighting another SVG masterclass and breaking down the last-lap madness for the final Round of 8 spot between Joey Logano and Ross Chastain. Connor Zilisch vs. Corey Heim, Carson Hocevar saves a Chili's and Alexis DeJoria stops by on another badass edition of SpeedFreaks!
Ahead of his runner-up outing in the NHRA MidWest Nationals, "Fast Jack" Beckman caught up with Kenny and Crash for a fun time with the fans at World Wide Technology Raceway with a conversation that needs to be heard to believe. The 2012 Funny Car Champion shares his relationship with new team owner and motorsports legend John Force, plus gives the scoop on all the wild behind-the-scenes happening across the NHRA.
Eight-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Tony Schumacher drops by the Lucas Oil Studio to chat with Kenny and Crash ahead of his title defense in MidWest Nationals at WWT Raceway. The 55-year-old breaks down the pressures of securing sponsorships, staying competitive and chasing championships at his age, and recounts his illustrious Motorsports Hall of Fame career that's still going strong.
Doug Kalitta is back in the Freak Nation, following his Top Fuel win in the NHRA MidWest Nationals. The former USAC Sprint Car Champion chats with Kenny and Crash about staying focused and confident to secure his third Wally of 2025, as well as what his goals are in trying to win another Top Fuel title.
Matt Hagan collects yet another Wally and catches up with Kenny and Crash following his NHRA MidWest Nationals win. He talks about "grab-assin'" to beat Jack Beckman at Gateway and the importance of capitalizing on the points battle between him and "Superman" Austin Prock.
The Freaks go full throttle with a super-sized show highlighting a NASCAR "Race of the Year" contender and a wild weekend at WWT Raceway for the NHRA MidWest Nationals. Chase Elliott wins his way into the Round of 8, but not without another weekend of controversy surrounding Denny Hamlin. Kyle Larson and Greg Anderson are just two of the name to make an appearance on the show and benefit from "SpeedFreaks mojo," while Brittany Force, Doug Kalitta, Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan and Tony Schumacher also check in with Kenny and Crash from St. Louis.
For nearly five decades, the Force family has been the most prominent name on the drag strip in NHRA. But 2026, there will be a massive void. Two-time Top Fuel Champion Brittany Force recently announced she would be stepping away from the driver seat -- at least temporarily -- in anticipation of welcoming her first child into the world. The 39-year-old talks about the difficulty in breaking records this year, now having to step away to start a family. Here's nearly 10 minutes of honest and empowering conversation with one of motorsports' most badass women.
NHRA veteran Shawn Reed rejoins Kenny and Crash weeks removed from his vicious wreck at the NorthWest Nationals ... Hot off his first career Top Fuel victory in his first race back at the track! The former five-time Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Champion shares the most badass comeback story of the year -- across all motorsports -- which found him hoisting his maiden Top Fuel Wally in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Zane Smith drops by the Lucas Oil Studio to discuss his newfound success to close out his his sophomore NASCAR Cup Series campaign as a potential benefactor of the SpeedFreaks mojo! The Front Row Motorsports driver dives into what's been going right for his No. 38 team in the waning stages of the 2025 season and breaks down what was a chaotic race at Bristol Motor Speedway, which led to a podium finish for the 26-year-old.
The Freaks make it their mission to ensure today's show spurs more excitement than NASCAR's Round of 12 opener at New Hampshire. Pick a side, as the crew breaks down a teammate tussle between Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs. Is Team Penske officially back in postseason form, following a win by Ryan Blaney and an under-the-radar string of success by him and reigning champ Joey Logano? Also, who has the most punchable face in motorsports? Zane Smith drops by the Lucas Oil Studio, as well as NHRA badasses Brittany Force and Shawn Reed in this redline edition of SpeedFreaks!
Reigning NHRA Funny Car Champion Austin Prock joins Kenny and Cole in the Lucas Oil Studio fashionably late, after being included in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 team's pre-race meeting at WWT Raceway. He gives the scoop on his relationship with Kyle Larson and Mr. H, also sharing an inspiring story revolving around team owner John Force as it pertains to his recent string of success in 2025.
All the way from his New York media tour, Alex Palou is back in the Freak Nation, fresh off his third consecutive IndyCar title. The four-time champ gets candid about the relentless pursuit to be always be better and staying grounded in making history. French kissing and social media highlight fatherhood talks for the 28-year-old. He also give his take on IndyCar vs. NASCAR vs. F1 in this 1-on-1 exclusive.
Kenny and Crash catch up with their amigo Daniel Suarez out at Phoenix Raceway ahead of the Championship Ignition Luncheon. The Trackhouse driver opens up about his emotional experience in NASCAR's trip to Mexico City earlier this season and his future in the sport. Would he consider going back down to the Xfinity Series? Who would win in a head-to-head race between Suarez and Pato O'Ward? Would he compete in IndyCar? Escucha y descubre!
Gimmicks? Controversy? The Freaks debate all that and more as it pertains to what was a wild night at Bristol. Crash debriefs, following her trip to Thunder Valley for NASCAR's Round of 16 elimination race. What does the crew make of Mexico City not making the cut for IndyCar's 2026 schedule, as well as Tony Stewart's scary NHRA Top Fuel incident? All will be answered in a jam-packed two-hour show! Stick around for sit downs with IndyCar Champion Alex Palou, Daniel Suarez and Funny Car champ Austin Prock!
Connor Zilisch simply can't be stopped! The generational talent joins Kenny and Cole moments after his win at World Wide Technology Raceway, which happened to be the ninth of his NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie campaign and fourth-in-a-row. Find out just how much fun the 19-year-old is having, if he can comprehend his dominance and the names he's cementing himself among, as well as if he feels he is ready to go racing at the sport's top level in 2026.
Alex Bowman takes a break from his title pursuit to talk with Kenny and Crash, following a tough outing in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. The driver of the No. 48 fills the Freaks in on combating the pressures of the playoffs and what he needs to do in order to make the Round of 12 once again. Hailing from Tucson, the 32-year-old weighs in on his house divided between Arizona State and University of Arizona, as well as if he would partake in the "Curtain of Distraction."
Kenny and Crash welcome 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Regular-Season Champion William Byron to the Lucas Oil Studio to get the scoop on one of the most enigmatic personalities in the sport. The sim racer turned title favorite shares why he chooses prefers professionalism over personality, how and why he now rocks a perfect beard, among many other things no one would expect from the Hendrick Motorsports hot-shot.
Hold onto your butts ... It's nearly two hours of motorsports mayhem with The Freaks! Kenny and Cole call in from World Wide Technology Raceway, following a wild race that saw Denny Hamlin score his fifth with of the season, catapulting him into the Round of 12. Richie and Crash join from the Lucas Oil Studio, where the crew debate the merits of the divisive, champion-less driver. Connor Zilisch checks in from the track after dominating for his fourth consecutive win and ninth of his rookie campaign, as well as Hendrick Motorsports hot shots William Byron and Alex Bowman. Strap on in for a massive show with The Freaks!
It's a special mother-son sit-down between IndyCar's Sarah Fisher and her 11-year-old Danny O'Gara, as Kenny and Crash get the scoop on one of the next up-and-coming racers. The duo explain why Danny chose to go with his father's last name, as opposed to Fisher, who broke barriers as the youngest female to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. Learn about the working dynamic between Sarah and Danny both on and off the track, what Danny is racing and his path to rising through the ranks at such a young age.
Ross Chastain is back in the Freak Nation with Kenny and Crash from Phoenix Raceway's NASCAR Championship Ignition Luncheon. The "Melon Man" talks about being a "Yes Man" when it comes to promoting himself and the sport, sitting at the back of the plane and getting rowdy, balancing farming and racing, repping Jockey and the 2026 NASCAR schedule.
Have a day, Christian Rasmussen! The driver of the No. 21 for Ed Carpenter Racing drops by the Lucas Oil Studio to discuss his gutsy win over Alex Palou at the Milwaukee Mile. Find out how the 25-year-old was able to dethrone the 2025 champion, why he has so much prowess and enjoyment racing ovals, if there's still beef with Conor Daly and what's his go-to beer in Denmark.
It's with heavy hearts that SpeedFreaks dedicates this show to Forrest Lucas -- Founder of Lucas Oil and friend of the Freak Nation for nearly 25 years. The crew, led by Kenny and Crash, are still buzzing over NASCAR's wild regular-season finale at Daytona, in a weekend that spawned many headlines. Did Kyle Larson and Hendrick Motorsports manipulate the outcome to get Alex Bowman into the playoffs? It it too soon for Connor Zilisch to go Cup racing, and should he have chosen F1 over NASCAR? Christian Rasmussen drops by after his gritty victory over Alex Palou, as well as Ross Chastain and Sarah Fisher with her 11-year-old son Danny.
Freak yeah! Tap into the hottest talk show in motorsports right now, as Kenny and Crash lead the charge in recapping a wild Austin Dillon win at Richmond. The crew debate the merits of the Richard Childress Racing driver's playoff berth, preview the final race in the regular season at Daytona, in addition to predicting the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series schedule while addressing certain rumors. Stick around for an exclusive nearly 25-minute 1-on-1 with a candid Will Power, following his fiery win at Portland the weekend prior, where he comments on Roger Penske, his new film and much more that will need to be heard to believe.
Strap in, Freak Nation! Kenny and Crash catch up with Will Power for nearly 45 minutes for an exclusive 1-on-1 listeners can't miss. The two-time IndyCar Champion from Australia gets candid about his relationship with team owner Roger Penske, following his first win of 2025 at Portland, which spawned a fiery press conference. Get the inside scoop on the new film being shopped to film festivals based on the all-time great, the relentless pursuit in perfecting his craft , staying sharp at 44 years old and so much more.
Dustin Long of NBC Sports calls in with Kenny and Crash from Watkins Glen to discuss NASCAR's wild weekend in upstate New York. The longtime sports writer has the inside scoop on Connor Zilisch scary fall in Victory Lane and what the racer's approach is going forward. He also breaks down the ascension of rookie Shane van Gisbergen following his fourth win in 2025, as well as the influx of top prospects with varying age ranges.
Tristan McKee joins Kenny and Crash after becoming the second-youngest winner ever (by three days) in the ARCA Menards Series, following his victory at Watkins Glen, which was also his debut. Get to know one of the next potential superstars, how he's polishing his race craft by competing in different disciplines and the impact coaches like Josh Wise have on the 15-year-old up-and-comer.
It was a Freakin' historic day in motorsports, and the crew has you happy bastards covered with everything! From SVG's unsurprisingly dominant day at Watkins Glen, to a wild Will Power win at Portland, where Alex Palou secured his imminent three-peat, there's no shortage of greatness over these two hours. NBC Sport Reporter Dustin Long drops by to give listeners an inside scoop on Connor Zilisch's scary injury from Victory Lane, while Tristan McKee also joins the show, following his win as the second-youngest driver ever to do it in the ARCA Menards Series.
Get comfortable, because the Freaks have nearly 20 minutes of candid conversation with Conor Daly -- one of the most genuine personalities in IndyCar. The fan-favorites dive into keeping it real and featuring authenticity, in a time where most drivers in the sport fear it. Daly also speaks on the importance of Fox's newest investment into IndyCar and the potential the series' future. Hear from the badass himself about everything from peeing in his car, to Katherine Legge and the comparisons between Indycar and the other top forms of motorsport.
Ross Chastain calls into the Lucas Oil Studios from St Louis, where WWT Raceway will soon host its first playoff race. The Melon Man shares his mindset with the postseason approaching and weighs in on Austin Hill's suspension with his "fighting days behind him." He also speaks on NASCAR's decision to take Mexico City off the circuit in 2026 and the potential of and IndyCar double-up.
The Freaks return to the airwaves with nearly two full hours of commentary that's nearly two full hours better than NASCAR at Iowa -- or so some say. Strap in as the crew breaks down William "Boring" Byron's second win of the season and debate the merits of race compared to WWE's SummerSlam. On top of going over MLB's Speedway Classic disaster, Ross Chastain drops by, as well as Conor Daly to get candid and speak on Fox's new investment in IndyCar. This and more, Freak Nation!
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Rajah Caruth makes a pit stop back into the Freak Nation, as he prepares for his second postseason bid. The young drivers gets introspective about enjoying his racing journey and putting the work in.
Shawn Reed makes a stop to the Lucas Oil Studio in this must-listen interview, where five-time drag boat racing champion Shawn Reed takes Kenny and Crash through his vicious Top Fuel wreck in the NHRA NorthWest Nationals. All you need to know about the scary hit, loss and lingering effects, as well as a gift from Tony Stewart.
Alex Palou joins the Lucas Oil Studio moments after adding eighth win to what's been a historic season for the three-time IndyCar champ. The Spaniard talks through pre -- or "pee"-race -- superstitions (and the danger that lies comes with them), and his pursuit for greatness in joining the likes of A.J Foyt and Mario Andretti with three races remaining in 2025.
Buckle up, because it's a wild one with the Freaks! The crew dissects a divisive day at Indianapolis for NASCAR from a racing sense, backed by a badass Bubba Wallace win, in addition to an insane weekend all around at the Brickyard. Alex Palou drops by moments after his astounding eighth with of the IndyCar season, as well as Rajah Caruth and Shawn Reed following his vicious wreck at the NHRA NorthWest Nationals.
Lucas Oil alliance member Pato O'Ward makes a speedy stop to to the studio to chat with Kenny and Crash following his IndyCar win at Toronto. He talks about staying motivated, an upcoming homecoming to Texas and bird poop!
Long-time friend of Freak Nation, Matt Hagan, drops by the Lucas Oil Studio to chat with Kenny and Crash, following his overdue NHRA Top Fuel win at the Seattle Nationals. The three-time champ takes listeners through his victorious run, what it's like working alongside Tony Stewart and, of course, the reasoning behind his magnificent handlebar mustache.
It's the return of the Freaks! The crew breaks down an eventful Sunday of motorsports between NASCAR at Dover, IndyCar at Toronto and NHRA at Seattle. Cole calls in from the Monster Mile to give his take on Denny Hamlin's dub, Kenny and Crash catch up with the red-hot Pato O'Ward and Matt Hagan drops by to talk about his Seattle Nationals victory.
IndyCar G.O.A.T Scott Dixon drops by, hot off his win at Mid-Ohio. After becoming just the third different winner in 2025, the 44-year-old got candid about savoring the moment, in addition to still learning and growing in his 23rd season. Much like the SpeedFreaks celebrating 25 years, Dixon also speaks on being with his team for 24 years and the importance of that quarter-century milestone.
Take a trip back in time to 1997, as SpeedFreaks celebrates 25 years and pays tribute to Ozzy Osbourne following his final show. Kenny caught up with the rock legend in Beverly Hills, who talked about his departure from Black Sabbath, handling "retirement" and starting his own record label.
A chaotic day in the world of motorsports leads to an even wilder show with the Freaks. SVG dominated in NASCAR's return to the streets of Chicago, but questionable officiating took center stage. Scott Dixon drops by after becoming the third different winner in IndyCar at Mid-Ohio. Stick around for a rockin' tribute to Ozzy Osbourne following his final show, in addition to a Freakin' Flashback 28 years ago with Kenny Sargent and "The Prince of Darkness" himself.
Kenny and Crash share the legend of motorsports pioneer "Big Daddy" Don Garlits. Hear the astounding story about how he revolutionized drag racing, why he believes Richard Petty is the epitome of the American Dream, and even about aliens, in one of the greatest sit downs in SpeedFreaks 25-year history.
In this two-part Freak Flashback, see how far back Tony Stewart goes with SpeedFreaks. First, the NASCAR Hall of Famer debates the merits of the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500 back in the ESPN 2 days on stage with the whole crew. Then. Stewart and Gary Scelzi face off in a must-see back-and-forth for who is the better racer and manliest man!
More than a legend of motorsport, Mario Andretti had been a friend of Freak Nation since its inception 25 years ago. In this two-parter, Scatt Mann first talks with Andretti about being a grandfather to Marco as he transitions into racing, then Kenny and Crash share a wholesome yet hilarious moment with the G.O.A.T at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Before Jimmie Johnson was a seven-time champion, he was a young gun from California with an elite talent for racing. Scatt Mann caught up with the NASCAR Hall of Famer prior to his ascension to being one of the greatest drivers of all-time to find let people know just who the "real" Jimmie Johnson is and his fire to be perfect.
Buckle up, and get ready to buckle over, for 25 years worth of pure gold between Kenny Sargent, Crash Gladys and NHRA legend John Force. Even more impressive than his on-track resume, is Force's fun, care-free and candid attitude.
Turn up and join the party as SpeedFreaks celebrates 25 years of being the boldest motorsport-entertainment show on the airwaves and across television sets. Take a trip down memory lane, as Kenny Sargent and Crash Gladys break out a killer curation of classic interviews, while reminiscing about a quarter-century of breaking the media mold. No celebration would be complete without a visit from Statt Mann!
A tipsy Alex Palou checks in from Road America after a staggering sixth win through nine IndyCar races in 2025. Kenny and Crash get the scoop on what it's like for him to strategize with his crew during races, and the difference in being "grumpy" with his team and his wife. The three-time champ dishes if it's easy being as humble as he comes across, even through his success, as well as being a father and how to teach dealing with failure.
Kyle "Don't Call Me Kirk" Kirkwood is all smiles, following his wild win at World Wide Technology Raceway. Find out how one of IndyCar's most opportunistic drivers in 2025 scored his first P1 on an oval and how he feels about what should be a very favorable schedule ahead in his pursuit of points leader Alex Palou. More than a badass open-wheel driver, learn about how serious the Jupiter, Fla., 26-year-old is about big-game fishing and his thoughts on the IndyCar vs. F1 debate.
Reigning NHRA Funny Car champ Austin Prock drops by the Lucas Oil Studio, following his second consecutive win at the Virginia Nationals. Pilot of the "Prock Rocket" takes Kenny and Crash through his victorious run, sharing how he was able to overcome an afternoon scorcher, while looking ahead to a potential celebratory hangover.
It's about Freakin' time! The crew is back in the Lucas Oil Studio, aiming to crack what many considered to be a conspiracy-filled weekend in NASCAR at Pocono surrounding Dale Jr. and Joe Gibbs Racing. Take a victory lap, as both Kyle Kirkwood and Alex Palou drop by following their IndyCar wins at World Wide Technology Raceway and Road America, as well as the fastest man in Funny Car at the NHRA Virginia Nationals, Austin Prock. This and much more on a fun, loud and awesome edition of SpeedFreaks.
Katherine Legge catches up with Kenny, as she gets ready for her NASCAR Cup Series debut on a familiar discipline -- a road course. Having raced at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit previously, in addition to winning multiple races across various series on these style tracks, she reveals if there's more comfortability for her going into Mexico City. Also find out how she's adjusting to her "NASCAR era," and if she's been more welcomed by her peers.
Kyle Busch and Kenny reunite for a little Lucas Oil rendezvous ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series debut in Mexico City. KFB recounts his win at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez course back in 2008 and how that moment meant just as much back then as it does over 15 years later. The two-time champ takes listeners for a lap around the 2.42-mile track and provides perspective on the cultural impact of racing south of the border.
Vamos, Freak Nation! The crew comes at you live from Mexico City, World Wide Technology and the Lucas Oil Studios in what was a wild Sunday across motorsports. Kenny give his perspective on NASCAR competing south of the border, with Katherine Legge and Kyle Busch dropping by. Crash and Cole also check in from WWT Raceway, where they react to the IndyCar race playing out live. Don't miss this freakin' jam-packed show!
Kenny and Crash catch up with J.R. Todd following his emotional win from a back-up car in the NHRA New England Nationals. The Funny Car veteran talks about patience and persistence through changes, the schedule ahead, and whether there's pressure on him and sponsor DHL in drag racing with Alex Palou's immaculate run in IndyCar.
Newest member of the "300 Round Win Club" Brittany Force stops by following her Top Fuel win against Tony Stewart in the NHRA New England Nationals. The daughter of the legendary John Force talks about feeding off her teammates' success, her driving force behind winning and joining prestigious company among female drag racers.
IndyCar's Kyle Kirkwood stops by the Lucas Oil Studio following his win at the Detroit Grand Prix. The 26-year-old takes Kenny and Crash through his drive to his second win of the season, how drivers have had to adapt to the physicality of street course racing, as well as his thoughts on the summer schedule grind.
Buckle up Freak Nation! The crew brings the heat as they recap a wild day in motorsports from the Lucas Oil Studios. Hear raw reactions following divisively received NASCAR race in Nashville, in addition to what went right in IndyCar's return to Detroit with winner Kyle Kirkwood joining the show. NHRA gets a ton of love, as New England Nationals winners Brittany Force and J.R. Todd drop in to breakdown this success day at the drags.
Rico Abreu took time out of his busy schedule, beating down on the High Limit Racing Series competition, to drop by the Lucas Oil Studio and discuss his current stretch of dominance in dirt racing. Find out what's been the difference-maker for him and his team as of late, his thoughts on his buddy Kyle Larson and why he feels his peers may view him as the Team Penske "cheater" of the dirt racing scene.
Crash Gladys caught up with three-time IndyCar Champion Alex Palou following the biggest win of his career in the 2025 Indianapolis 500. Not only was his victory in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing the first oval win of his career -- it was his fifth victory in six starts this season! Find out how the Chip Ganassi Racing driver remains so humble through his dominance, why he didn't go all-out with his milk celebration and so much more in this cant-miss interview with the living embodiment of EXCELLENCE!
"The Greatest Day in Motorsports" demands only the best from The Freaks, as they recap a wild Memorial Day Weekend of racing. Crash and Richie call in from the iconic Brickyard, bringing with them Indianapolis 500 Champion Alex Palou. Kenny and Cole hold down the fort at the Lucas Oil Studio to go over the Coca-Cola 600, as the crew debates the merits of each crown jewel event and the excellence of the latest driver to be immortalized in motorsports' history. Don't miss a conversation with the hottest driver in High Limit Racing right now in Rico Abreu, as well as a collection of wild interviews with various IndyCar drivers ahead of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
Josef Newgarden calls into SpeedFreaks, pumped up to promote IndyCar's return to World Wide Technology Raceway -- a track in which he basically owns with five career victories. The two-time champ comments on the state of racing on ovals, in addition to embracing the competition level across the series and his go-to burger joint.
The Freaks get up close and personal with Harrison Burton for the first time, while he dives into his close up with Netflix's "NASCAR: Full Speed" docuseries. Get to know more about the 24-year-old Cup Series winner at Daytona International Speedway, including what it was like growing up with Jeff Burton as a father and mentor. Returning to the developmental ranks in 2025, the second-generation racer get candid about his career path and more.
Alex Palou catches up with Kenny and Crash to discuss the Indianapolis 500 in the midst of his historically successful and near-perfect start to the 2025 season. The three-time champ dives into the weight of the greatest spectacle in motorsports for drivers and teams, and if it ever wavers as their careers continue. Find out the similarities between taking care of his one-year-old daughter and his Indy 500 race car, as well as his morning routine while living at the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a full month.
The Freaks return with a brand-new show, recapping a wildly dominating weekend in motorsports between NASCAR and IndyCar. With Kyle Larson and Alex Palou showing out in their respective series, the crew debates who is the modern-day motorsports G.O.A.T. Indianapolis Grand Prix winner and three-time champ Palou checked in with Crash and Kenny ahead of his fourth win this season at the Indianapolis Grand Prix, as well as Team Penske's Josef Newgarden and "NASCAR: Full Speed" star Harrison Burton.
NHRA Top Fuel points leader Shawn Langdon radios into the Lucas Oil Studio to talk with Kenny and Crash after winning the 1000th Top Fuel race at Charlotte. Find out if one can feel the difference in speed when crossing the 340-mph barrier and how the 2013 champion has been able to stay ahead of his competition in 2025.
Four-time superspeedway winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr. calls into the Lucas Oil Studio to discuss the state of racing on drafting tracks with the Gen-7 car, following NASCAR's trip to Talladega. The driver for HYAK Motorsports also got into how he's preparing for the 28-week marathon to the 2025 finale and how fatherhood has impacted him as a person and racer.
Super-sub Kyle Larson caught up with Kenny at Texas Motor Speedway, following his fill-in win driving the No. 88 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The 2021 champion also got into his busy schedule at the Lone Star State, which included racing twice in his and Brad Sweet's High Limit Racing Series.
Paul Wolfe drops by to discuss the No. 22 team's gutsy win at Texas Motor Speedway. Kenny gets the scoop on the championship winning crewe chief's strategy and mindset for conquering the 1.5-mile track for the team's first win of the 2025 season.
Who's laughing now?! Kenny caught up with three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Joey Logano following his emphatic win at Texas Motor Speedway. Learn how "Sliced Bread" wheeled his No. 22 back to victory lane and why people love to hate a winner.
Kenny catches up with NASCAR legend Kevin Harvick ahead of his induction into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame. The 2014 champion talks about learning to embrace the moment more, any potential of him reuniting with Tony Stewart in an NHRA Top Fuel dragster and revisits the infamous Ron Hornaday vs. Kyle Busch incident at Texas Motor Speedway.
The Freaks return with a Texas-sized show, breaking down NASCAR's latest race in the Lone Star State. Kenny checks in from Fort Worth with race-winning driver Joey Logano, as well as crew chief Paul Wolfe following their epic performance at the 1.5-mile track, with super-sub Kyle Larson also dropping by after laying a beat-down on the Xfinity Series field. The fun continues with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., NHRA Top Fuel points leader Shawn Langdon and Kevin Harvick ahead of his induction into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Crash caught up with Lucas Oil ally Kyle Busch ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway. Find out what's on the two-time champ's racing bucket list at 39 years old and how his pre-race preparations may have changed over the course of a 21-year career.
Newly minted NHRA winner and multi-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart drops by the Lucas Oil Studio to talk about his Top Fuel victory, while also getting deep with Kenny and Crash on fatherhood. In this can't-miss conversation, listeners will see a whole different side of "Smoke," sure to leave them smiling. Catch the entire sit-down @OfficialSpeedFreaks on YouTube.
The Freaks are back and recharged, ready to break down Austin Cindric's win at Tame-adega. While one of NASCAR's ultimate wild cards ran fairly clean, do fans have a right to be angry, or are people just looking for something to complain about at this point? There's also lots of love to go around for internet sensation Cleetus McFarland after his third-place ARCA finish and trip down Talladega Boulevard. Tony Stewart joins the show following his first NHRA Top Fuel win at Las Vegas, as well as two-time NASCAR champ and Lucas Oil athlete Kyle Busch.
Austin Cindric pops in with Freak Nation to talk about his all-in approach to NASCAR. From racing in triple digits to shooting triple digits on the green, the Team Penske driver gets candid about detaching from his phone by hitting the golf course. In typical Austin fashion, he also gets a little philosophical on the state of the Gen-7 car and how to improve the quality of racing (or if it's even needed).
Tyler Reddick drops by the Lucas Oil Studio to recount his near-win at Darlington Raceway, and to pick a bone with Kenny and Crash about a potential SpeedFreaks jinx?! The driver for 23XI Racing divulges his dynamic on and off the track with team owner Denny Hamlin, and dishes if he'll ever return to the dirt racing scene.
Kyle Kirkwood checks in with Crash Gladys following his huge victory in the 50th Long Beach Grand Prix. The driver for Andretti Global shares how he held of reigning champion Alex Palou and won his second street course race in Southern California from the pole.
The Freaks are back and breaking down Kyle Larson's dominant performance from Bristol, while pondering what NASCAR should do with its severe lack of entertainment surrounding short track racing. Crash calls in from California and catches up with Long Beach Gran Prix winner Kyle Kirkwood, as Austin Cindric and Tyler Reddick also pop by the Lucas Oil Studio. Stick around for a tribute to NASCAR Public Relations legend Jon Edwards and find out who emerged victorious in Beat The Freaks!
Three-time Monster Jam champ and Digatron driver Tristan England caught up with Kenny in the midst of a heated points battle to discuss his "controlled chaos" driving style and how Dale Earnhardt Jr. influences his post-race decompression. Two-time champ Todd LeDuc crashes the interview and weighs being the bad guy vs. nice guy as the pilot of Megalodon, as well as pushing each other to be better with badass and fun-spirited competition.
The Freaks are out in full force, as they relive what was William Byron bore-fest at Darlington Raceway before Denny Hamlin found a way to go back-to-back. Find out who Kenny, Crash, Richie and Cole draft for their Motorsports Mount "Freak-more," while NHRA Funny Car points leader Jack Beckman joins the show, along with NASCAR Truck Series Champion Zane Smith, and Monster Jam badasses Tristian England and Todd LeDuc.
Zane Smith stops by to speak with the Freaks about his fast start with Front Row Motorsports, which he attributes to fun and friendships within the three-team organization. The former NASCAR Truck Series Champion relives being the kid who once won the closest finish in ARCA Menards Series history to now competing in the highest form of stock car racing in the Cup Series.
Former NHRA World Champion and current Funny Car points leader Jack Beckman joins the Freaks for a wildly insightful and entertaining conversation ahead of the Four-Wide Nationals at Las Vegas. How does the driver for John Force Racing balance full-time racing, while also repairing elevators in his free time? What's his mindset and approach to the unique four-wide drag strip in Sin City? This is sit down you don't want to miss!
The Freaks are back and chomping at the bit to get into the stellar snooze fest that was NASCAR at Martinsville. Crash joins the show from "the paperclip," as the crew dives into Denny's dominance and the wild Xfinity Series spectacle from Saturday. Hear from one of the most exciting young talents across motorsports in Connor Zilisch on his journey to this point, Rico Abreu following High Limit's first race at Arizona, as well as a very blunt Graham Rahal on the state of IndyCar.
USAC National Midget Series Champion Rico Abreu sat down with Kenny after High Limit Racing's debut at Central Arizona Raceway. The dirt devil dishes how he keeps a clear head behind the wheel, bonding with the team and the car-and-driver balance in racing sprint cars.
Graham Rahal gets blunt with Kenny and Crash on the state of IndyCar following shockingly low numbers from the second race of the season, and what he deems "inconsistent" and "negative" reporting from journalists across social media. The series veteran tackles marketing, the schedule and goes to bat for The Thermal Club following passionate fan reactions to the most recent race. Consider this a State of the Sport address from Rahal in a rather positive light.
Kenny and Crash catch up with motorsports next rising superstar Connor Zilisch to talk about his journey from racing Trans Ams to jumping into NASCAR. The 18-year-old breaks down working for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Justin Marks, while also comparing the stresses of racing in Europe vs. the United States. Find out who the youngster tries to emulate on track and why two-time champion Kyle Busch sought him for some advice.
Kenny and Crash return to the Lucas Oil Studios to hash out what was a wildly eventful weekend across motorsports. The Freaks debate Phoenix vs. Homestead, following rumors and a not-so-great NASCAR Cup Series race. Kyle Larson also joins the show after almost completing just the third three-series weekend sweep ever. Crash gets heated about IndyCar, and Richie gets enraged about F1 and Ferrari. Stick around for interviews with Alexis De Joria and John Hunter Nemechek as well.
Kenny and Crash caught up with NHRA Funny Car badass Alexis DeJoria, as she returned to FireBird Motorsports Park -- the site of her first victory. Find out how the 47-year-old is continuing to chase championships, why she's a "fighter to a fault," and how she's adjusting to new crew chief in 2025.
John Hunter Nemechek spent some time with the Freaks to discuss his hot start to the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season and the reason for Legacy Motor Club's recent uptick in performance. Take a trip down memory lane, as the second-generation driver gets his hands on some SpeedFreaks artifacts and recount growing up at the race track with his father, "Front Row Joe."
Kyle Larson joined Kenny and Crash ahead of his attempt at history before Homestead. Can "too much racing" become too much for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion? Why does the best driver in motorsports opt to fly economy? Yung Money also dives into the evolution of High Limit and raising a future racer with his son Owen.
Katherine Legge spoke with SpeedFreaks ahead of her NASCAR Cup Series debut at Phoenix Raceway, snapping a seven-year drought since the last female competed at the sport's top rank. the four-time SportsCar winner shares how her deal with Live Fast Motorsports came about, as well as what she makes of the state (and future) of women in motorsports.
The Freaks catch up with Christopher Bell following his third consecutive win of the 2025 season at Phoenix Raceway! Find out how he held off teammate Denny Hamlin in the desert and his opinion on the option tires NASCAR and Goodyear brought to the one-mile oval.
Multi-time World of Outlaws Champion Brad Sweet joins the Freaks to discuss all things High Limit before the season opener at Las Vegas! The co-owner and reigning champ shares what's new with High Limit in 2025, as well as WHO is new and making superstar cameos in the dirt racing scene. Don't miss who he (successfully) picked for Beat the Freaks at Phoenix, too!
Phoenix Raceway delivered and so so The Freaks! Kenny, Crash, Richie and Cole relive what was one of the most entertaining races NASCAR races ever at Arizona, courtesy of the two different tire compounds. Christopher Bell joins the show following his wildly impressive third consecutive win, as well as Katherine Legge prior to her Cup debut. Should Goodyear keep the option tire in play? Why should stage breaks be a thing of the past? Dirt devil and multi-time champion Brad Sweet joins the show ahead of the High Limit Racing Series season opener in Las Vegas, and serves as a celebrity guest on Beat the Freaks! Don’t miss an epic interview with acting legend Clancy Brown and his sidekick Luke Cook from ‘Good Cop/Bad Cop’ on the CW, and look out for a special William “Boring” cameo!
Buckle up, Freak Nation! The crew, led by Kenny and Crash, break down what they unanimously felt was the best road course race in the Next-Gen era at COTA. With C-Bell going back-to-back (courtesy of the infamous SpeedFreaks mojo), topics such as parity and the legitimacy of NASCAR's current playoff format come to head. Following a wild IndyCar season opener at St. Pete, hear from the race winner and reigning champ Alex Palou, as the Freaks debate whether FOX's marketing was a success out the gates. Motorsports G.O.A.T. Mario Andretti also stops by ahead of his 85th birthday to talk about his journey to racing immortality in America. Find out who won the motorsports movie draft from 'Horsepower Humpday' (live on Youtube at 5 p.m. ET Wednesdays), as well as who came out on top for Beat the Freaks this week!
Reigning IndyCar Champion Alex Palou catches up with Kenny and Crash following his season-opener win to begin his title defense. Find out how the Spaniard felt about FOX's all-in approach to the series, the reason for Chip Ganassi Racing's performance uptick in St. Pete and if he apologized to runner-up Scott Dixon for kicking his ass!
The undisputed G.O.A.T. of motorsports, Mario Andretti, chats with Kenny and Crash ahead of his 85th birthday. Hear the Italian's journey from growing up in a refugee camp, to migrating to America and working his way to racing immortality as one of the most legendary drivers to ever do it. It also wouldn't be a proper Andretti conversation without talking about wine and its benefits -- even at 85 years old!
Christopher Bell caught up with Kenny at Daytona to discuss getting more dirty (with extra seat time), driving for the legendary Joe Gibbs and the future playoff race at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Kenny and Crash catch up with New Zealand hot-shot Marcus Armstrong ahead of the IndyCar season opener at St. Pete. The "hair-throb" shares what he would do to win an Indianapolis 500, hair treatment, the physicality behind racing in IndyCar, and mushrooms?
The Freaks are fired up, following a wild race NASCAR at Atlanta! The crew debates the antics of runner-up finisher Carson Hocevar, another controversial last-lap decision and Austin Hill's dominance in the Peach State. Hear Kenny's interview with winner Christopher Bell from the prior weekend at Daytona and IndyCar's New Zealand "hair-throb" Marcus Armstrong. Friend of Freak Nation and multi-time NHRA World Champion Antron Brown joins the show, as SpeedFreaks celebrates Black History Month. Stay for the "Boring" Byron and Sabrina Carpenter banter.
Longtime friend of FreakNation and multi-time NHRA World Champion Antron Brown joins SpeedFreaks, as they continue to celebrate Black History Month in motorsports. The reigning Top Fuel dragster champ shares his 1,200-horsepower secret to staying and looking young, the rise of drag racing in America and inspiring the next generation of potential racers.
Joe Gibbs joins Kenny and Crash bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for an interview like you've never seen before. Hear about the parallels and differences between coaching the Redskins and a NASCAR team and his relationship with the longest-standings sponsor in the sport right now. You can't miss the Hall of Famer as he cracks on Kenny's Cowboys, and find out what prompts him to say, "The drivers get the money and the girls!"
SpeedFreaks celebration of Black History Month rolls on with Rajah Caruth, who gets candid with Kenny on his rise through the ranks of NASCAR. The 2024 Truck Series Rookie of the Year shares why Michael McDowell sought him for tips before their big race at Daytona, as well as his rapport with his other Spire Motorsports teammates. What are the motivated youngster's goals for his sophomore season? Malcolm Stewart, the Commanders and Joe Gibbs are also some fun topics of discussion.
The Freaks are amped up, following the 67th running of the Daytona 500! The crew gives their raw reactions at the conclusion of the Great American Race, with Kenny kicking things off by going on a fiery rant about "Bland" Byron going back-to-back. Cole calls in live from the track, while Crash, Richie and a special guest give their takes on the divisive crown-jewel event. You won't want to miss interviews for Coach Joe Gibbs like you've never seen him before and Rajah Caruth, as SpeedFreak's celebration of Black History Month in racing rolls on.
Latasha Causey joins in on SpeedFreaks' celebration of Black History Month to discuss breaking barriers as the first female African America track president in NASCAR. Phoenix Raceway's fearless leader talks with Kenny and Crash about adversities she's had to overcome in the racing world, inspiring the next generation of female leaders and what to expect to the weekend of the Shriners Children's 500, coming up on March 9.
Forget the "Big Game" -- The Freaks are fired up (on all cylinders) about all things racing! Kenny, Crash and Richie welcome back Cole from his brief absence to give their preseason predictions for the 2025 NASCAR, NHRA, Formula 1 and IndyCar predictions ahead of the Daytona 500. Seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson joins to show to talk about the latest in being a team owner at Legacy Motor Club, as well as what other potential racing ventures are on the horizon. Phoenix Raceway track president Latasha Causey also stops by as SpeedFreaks continues to celebrate Black History Month.
Longtime friend and NHRA World Champion Ron Capps reunites with Kenny and Crash ahead of the second-annual PRO Superstar Shootout. The Funny Car legend recounts his first time partaking in the driver-sanctioned event, discusses his respect for other racing disciplines and what he and he team must do to take down reigning champion Austin Prock in 2025.
Kenny and Crash caught up with Malcolm Stewart -- son of the iconic James Stewart -- at State Farm Stadium in Glendale ahead of the fourth event of the 2025 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season to kick off Black History Month at SpeedFreaks. The 450 speedster gives some insight to his happy-go-lucky attitude and how that had allowed him to click off numerous top 10s early in the season. He also talks about the ever-changing makeup of the course in Glendale, the impact the fans have on him and the sport, as well as catfish and ketchup?
The Freaks are back in action -- Well, Kenny, Crash and Richie, to discuss and debate the NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray, while Cole is M.I.A. Longtime friend of Freak Nation and NHRA Funny Car Champion Ron Capps catches up with a crew, as well as Malcolm Stewart on site from the SuperCross in Glendale.
Guests: The FREAKIES for 2024, NHRA Drag Racing Champions Ron Capps and Gary Scelzi Share Memories with The Statt Mann
For 24 years now The Freaks have looked back on the motorsports year and picked out drivers, races, stories and, even, Freakish things that have happened in racing. This year, 2024, is no different. Kenny Sargent, Crash Gladys, Statt Mann and Richie Flores look back on the racing year and pick out the Freak things that should be remembered. Take a moment and compare their memories with your own. Listen...
NHRA Drag Racing Champions Ron Capps and Gary Scelzi Share Memories with The Statt Mann and The Freaks. Ron Capps won the NHRA Funny Car championship in 2016, 2021 and 2022, the last coming in his first year as a team owner. Scelzi went on to win three Top Fuel championships. Scelzi unseated the John Force Racing dynasty, defeating John Force and Robert Hight to win the 2005 NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car Championship, making it the first time since 1992 (Miner Bros Racing) with Cruz Pedregon driving, a team other than John Force Racing had won the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car championship. That championship also made him only the second person in NHRA history to win championships in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. Both drivers are Friends of The Freaks and wanted to be in The Freak Nation when Statt Mann announced his retirement. Listen...
Guests: 2024 NHRA Pro Stock Champion Greg Anderson, NASCAR President Steve Phelps & Chief Operating Officer Steve O'Donnell, 2024 NHRA Top Fuel Champion Antron Brown
2024 NHRA Top Fuel Champion Antron Brown won his fourth championship Sunday night. Then he talked with The Freak Nation a couple days later after he'd had time to think about the historic title. Brown is now ahead of NHRA legends Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, Larry Dixon, Gary Scelzi and, even, his teammate Angelle Sampey who won her titles in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class. In addition to his four titles Antron has 80 event wins, 851 round wins and last Sunday's Finals victory, settling his first championship as a team owner. Now, though, he must deal with the loss of former driver and last season's Crew Chief Mark Oswald who's leaving for retirement. Antron said Oswald is more than a crew chief to him and his team. Listen...
2024 NHRA Top Fuel Champion Antron Brown won his fourth championship Sunday night. This title moves the Lucas Oil Racing driver ahead of legendary Top Fuel Champions Don Garlits and Shirley Muldowney who won three each. One of the key people who was there for each of Antron's titles in 2012, 2015, 2016 and, now, 2024 has been former driver and now Crew Chief Mark Oswald. But Oswald is retiring after this season. Antron said he'll miss Mark for more than his expertise on the dragstrip. Listen...
2024 NHRA Pro Stock Champion Greg Anderson returned to The Freak Nation minutes after his sixth championship tying him with his former boss Warren Johnson and current driver Erica Enders. Anderson won three straight titles from 2003 to 2005 then returned with championships in 2010 and 2021. Now 2024 is on his resume. Anderson stepped outside his celebrations at the dragstrip in Pomona, California to talk with The Freaks. Listen...
NASCAR President Steve Phelps & Chief Operating Officer Steve O'Donnell annually talk with the media before the last race of the season. This year the State of NASCAR news conference was in Phoenix. Three particular issues of importance were television ratings, officiating during races and expanding the number of automakers who may be negotiating to sponsor teams in NASCAR. Right now there are only three: Ford, Chevrolet and Toyota. Listen...
Guests: 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Joey Logano, NASCAR Team Owner & Racing Legend Roger Penske, 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Champion Owner Dale Earnhardt, Jr., NASCAR Driver Tribute to 2017 Cup Series Champion Martin Truex, 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Martin Truex, Jr.
2024 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Joey Logano talked with media for a long time after winning the title at Phoenix Raceway Sunday evening. Logano was candid in his conversation including his comments about the playoffs. Many on social media was dismissive of Logano after statistics showed his average finishes on the season were 17.1. Logano won the title anyway. Listen...
NASCAR Team Owner & Racing Legend Roger Penske talked with the media after his driver Joey Logano won the Cup championship. Second on the 2024 season was another Penske Racing driver Ryan Blaney, the 2023 Cup champion. The title this year is Penske's third straight championship, a level of success he didn't enjoy when he first entered NASCAR nearly 30 years ago. He didn't get his first Cup title until 2012 with Brad Keselowski. Listen...
2024 NASCAR Xfinity Champion Owner Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was overjoyed Saturday night after winning the 2024 Xfinity title as a team owner. His driver Justin Allgaier drove an aggressive race to get the title, Earnhardt's fourth after winning Chase Elliott in 2014, William Byron in 2017 and Tyler Reddick in 2019. Oddly enough Byron and Reddick were two of the Final Four Cup drivers on Sunday. Listen...
2017 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Martin Truex, Jr. says this will be his last full-time season racing in the Cup Series. Truex won the pole for Sunday race at Phoenix Raceway. He talked with media about that success and what his thought were as he prepared for his last full-time race. He did leave the door open to run one-off events in the future. Listen...
Kenny Sargent collected this impressive NASCAR Driver Tribute to 2017 Cup Series Champion Martin Truex. Truex says this is his last full-time season as a NASCAR Cup Series driver. But the drivers who celebrate Truex career included champions and future champions including Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, Michael McDowell, Chase Elliott, Chase Briscoe, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, and Alex Bowman. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Director of Competition Elton Sawyer, NASCAR Drivers Christopher Bell & William Byron, NASCAR Martinsville Winner Ryan Blaney
NASCAR Director of Competition Elton Sawyer stepped into the spotlight at Martinsville where controversy changed the race results and the lineup for the Final Four in Phoenix. Sawyer explained why Christopher Bell's last turn move to get enough points for the final race in Phoenix was illegal for safety reasons. He said a similar move by Ross Chastain October 30, 2022, also at Martinsville, led NASCAR officials to outlaw what's called Wall Riding. Listen...
NASCAR Drivers Christopher Bell & William Byron saw their race results changed by NASCAR officials after nearly a half hour discussion at the end of the Martinsville race. A last lap move by Bell was thrown out by officials. That gave the fourth and final Playoff spot to Byron. The decision was split almost down the middle by NASCAR fans who responded to a SpeedFreaks poll on X, formerly Twitter. Bell and Byron, however, were fairly at peace with the decision. At least that's what it appeared after the race. Listen...
NASCAR Martinsville Winner Ryan Blaney will get a chance to defend his 2023 NASCAR Cup Series title. Very late moves by Blaney sent him to Victory Circle where he celebrated last year, also earning a spot in the Playoff Final Four. Curiously, though, Blaney said he had no idea one of the largest controversies of the NASCAR Cup season was underway on the racetrack while he celebrated in Victory Circle. And he added that he hopes this will give him momentum for Phoenix like last year's win propelled him to the championship. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Homestead Xfinity Winner Austin Hill, Eight-Time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Tony Schumacher, Endurocross Idaho Falls Winner Jonny Walker
NASCAR Homestead Xfinity Winner Austin Hill won in dramatic fashion Saturday then talked with Kenny and Crash afterwards. Hill's win qualified him for the Xfinity Series Championship Final Four in Phoenix November 9th. Hill was still emotional after his victory. He told The Freaks he's worked hard to get qualified for a chance at the Xfinity championship. Now he said he can go to Martinsville without the pressure of winning or missing out altogether. Listen...
Endurocross Idaho Falls Winner Jonny Walker talked with The Freaks Sunday night as he waited to board an airplane that would take him back home in the UK. Walker explained he was only here to run two Endurocross events then added two more, including the won he won in Idaho Saturday night and seen on MAVTV. Walker said his Triumph needed considerable development and that included a bone stock engine that was about 100cc smaller than his competitor bikes. Walker's first visit to The Freak Nation was a fun one. Listen...
Eight-Time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Tony Schumacher. Schumacher won his first NHRA Top Fuel world championship in 1999 and his eighth in 2014. He won the title six years in a row from 2004 to 2009. Now, though, he's 12th in points and not qualified for the 2024 title. Schumacher has a different conversation after the death of his father and former team owner Don Schumacher earlier this year. Tony spent a lot of time talking about his friendships and experiences in NHRA drag racing. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Winners Choose The 500 or A Title, European Top Fuel Champion Ida Zetterstrom, NHRA Funny Car Points Leader Austin Prock
NHRA Funny Car Points Leader Austin Prock stopped a round of golf to talk with The Freaks. The cell service at the golf course wasn't strong enough so he drove home quickly and reconnected for a great conversation. Prock equaled a record set by his John Force Racing boss, John Force. He's won 13 top qualifier awards in 16 events this year. He has two more stops in Las Vegas and Pomona to break that record and win his first championship. Listen...
European Top Fuel Champion Ida Zetterstrom talked with Kenny and Crash in St. Louis. She's getting her feet wet in America's NHRA series before she makes a run at a title next year. Zetterström won her European and FIA Top Fuel title in 2023. Her notable achievement: a new European record with a 3.77 second pass at 321 mph. For now, though, Ida is learning new tracks and new competitors as she makes the rounds in the NHRA this year. Listen...
Some of the best drivers in IndyCar were given the choice: win an Indy 500 or an IndyCar title. You'd be surprised at the response from each. They include in order: Marcus Ericsson, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, Alex Palou, and Pato O'Ward. A couple have won both and still aren't sure which one is more important. And those who have neither event on their resume, they are on the spot. Listen...
Guests: The Freaks on Alex Bowman DQ and Playoffs Exit, Three-time NHRA FC Champion Ron Capps, Endurocross Colorado Springs Winner Trystan Hart
The Freaks on Alex Bowman DQ and Playoffs Exit. It was a running commentary throughout much of the broadcast Sunday night. NASCAR disqualified Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman from the Charlotte Roval race. That left him in 36th place for the final results and that dropped Bowman from the Final Eight in the next round of the NASCAR Cup Playoffs. A NASCAR official said the issue with Bowman's car was weight. It was too light in the post race inspection and opportunities to correct the situation ended up at the same place. The car was illegal. Listen...
Endurocross Colorado Springs Winner Trystan Hart came into The Freak Nation hours after winning the first event of the Endurocross 2024 season that will be broadcast on MAVTV. Hart has won world championships in the challenging sport of euduro racing and endurocross. The events include seven minute sprints inside an arena and seven hour battles with the forests and rocks of Romania. The Canadian rides with the target of a champion. But he told The Freaks he'd rather chase someone else for the challenge that creates. Listen...
Three-time NHRA FC Champion Ron Capps came into The Freak Nation Sunday night. Capps won his championships in 2016, 2021 and 2022. That last title came when Capps was in his first year as a team owner, a very rare accomplishment. But Capps isn't having that championship kind of season in 2024. His crew chiefs are making changes and the performance on the track is having difficulties. Capps is fourth in points, 194 points out of first, with two events left in the playoffs. Capps spoke with candor with Kenny and Crash. Listen...
Antitrust Attorney Jeffrey Kessler & 23XI Racing Partner Denny Hamlin are in the midst of a lawsuit filed against NASCAR. It's a legal action that could radically change the way NASCAR does it's business. Kessler talked with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. on his Dirty Mo Media Podcast. He talked about the case against NASCAR and the charges he's bringing of NASCAR's monopolistic business practices. He's representing Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin from 23XI Racing and Bob Jenkins of Front Row Motorsports. Listen...
The Freaks talked with NASCAR Drivers Daniel Suarez, Denny Hamlin & Michael McDowell on the Charlotte Roval Changes coming next weekend. The changes include elevation changes that may impact driver sighting around the track. There have also been changes in braking zones and chicane setups. Some drivers feel NASCAR wants chaos to shakeup the final race in the NASCAR Championship Playoffs Round of 12. The Roval in the Charlotte Motor Speedway infield was already tough. This may make it more difficult. Listen...
NASCAR Xfinity Playoff Driver Jesse Love is becoming a Friend of the Freaks. Love is 19 and won't be 20 until January 14th. He is sixth in the NASCAR Xfinity Playoff Standings and could get into the next round of eight by staying there after the next race at the Charlotte Roval next Saturday. He talked with The Freaks about learning to blend his considerable oval track skills with road course racing. Listen...
NASCAR Talladega Pole Sitter Michael McDowell is a special Friend of The Freaks and has been for more than a decade. McDowell drives for Front Row Motorsports through this season and he's fighting to remain in the NASCAR Playoffs with one race to go before the Round of Eight. McDowell explained his race strategies and how he learns from other drivers in the midst of 200 MPH packs like those driven at Talladega Sunday. Listen...
Guests: NHRA Worldwide Technology Raceway Winners, Six-Time NHRA Pro Stock Champion Erica Enders, NASCAR Xfinity Playoff Driver AJ Allmendinger, NHRA Top Fuel Driver Leah Pruett, NHRA Drivers on Radio Profanity
NHRA Worldwide Technology Raceway Winners cane into The Freak Nation Sunday night moments after the Victory Lane ceremony. Dallas Glenn won Pro Stock. Tony Schumacher won Top Fuel, his first win since the death of his father Don Schumacher. And Fast Jack Beckman won his first race in the car formerly driven by NHRA legend John Force who's recovering from a terrible accident earlier in the season. The win moves Force's car into second place in the playoff standings. Listen...
NASCAR Xfinity Playoff Driver AJ Allmendinger is a Freaks Favorite. But he's fighting to stay in the Xfinity playoffs. AJ is tenth in the standings 13 points behind the cutoff to be included in the next round of eight. Allmendinger has 18 wins in Xfinity racing but his last win came last season in Nashville. He hasn't been in Victory Circle in 2024. Last month Kaulig Racing announced it would return AJ to the Cup Series in 2025. Listen...
NHRA Top Fuel Driver Leah Pruett told the Freaks eleven months ago she was fighting to change NHRA rules concerning female drivers starting a family. Pruett and a coalition of women NHRA racers fought for an amendment to NHRA rules. Pruett was a career-best third in 2023 but opted to start a family with husband Tony Stewart. They're expecting their first child in November. Her fight to change the rules means drivers who step out of the car mid-season can keep points another wins in that car. It's a ground-breaking change for the NHRA. Listen...
Six-Time NHRA Pro Stock Champion Erica Enders spent time this week with Kenny and Crash. Erica is third in the standings 90 points behind leader Dallas Glenn. Enders is the most successful female Pro Stock driver in NHRA history with titles in 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023. She'll have to battle though to repeat this season. Still, the oddsmakers in Las Vegas put Enders as the favorite to keep the title she won last season. Listen...
Drivers in all racing series are watching what Formula One is doing about drivers who use profanity over their in-car radios. F1 drivers could be penalized heavily. And NHRA drivers were concerned about the same thing happening as they're being interviewed before their races by network anchors calling the competition. The Freaks talked with Erica Enders, Ida Zetterström, and Ron Capps about the possibility of fines and, even, what their "favorite" four-letter words might be! Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Truck Series Bristol Winner Layne Riggs, High Limit Eldora Winner Rico Abreu, NHRA Charlotte Top Fuel Winner Antron Brown, The Trouble With Howard Author Lee Anne Patterson
NHRA Charlotte Top Fuel Winner Antron Brown followed up his win in Reading, Pennsylvania last weekend. The win gives him a 53-point advantage over Justin Ashley in second with four events remaining in the 2024 season. This is his first time in first place this late in the season since 2017. He won his championships in 2012, 2015 and 2016. Brown qualified 10th in Charlotte making his climb to the victory a tough one Sunday. He talked to The Freaks before going to Charlotte. Listen...
High Limit Eldora Winner Rico Abreu is a Friend of the Freaks. He's a regular in The Nation. But his fourth win in the Eldora 4 Crown event is four reasons why Rico is drawn to the western Ohio track. The 4 Crown event features winged Sprint Cars, non-wing Sprints, USAC Midgets and USAC Silver Crown cars. These open wheel racers are some of the fastest in short track racing all over America. And Abreu is a winner in most of them. Listen...
NASCAR Truck Series Bristol Winner Layne Riggs made his debut in The Freak Nation Sunday night. His Bristol win was his second in a row in the series after a win at the Milwaukee Mile. Riggs isn't in the NASCAR Truck Series Playoffs but he's making a great run at the spoiler title! The Riggs name actually isn't new to The Freaks. Layne's dad Scott Riggs was a regular when he ran in the Truck Series. Layne's success of late might make his a regular as well. Listen...
"The Trouble With Howard" Author Lee Anne Patterson made her debut in The Freak Nation Sunday night. Her book aimed at young people is a unique story about a skunk found on the side of the road and raised by racers who take it around a racing series with crazy events following everyone. Trouble, the skunk, is the pet raised by Howard and Anita Millican. It's a real-life story told by Patterson who also has enormous history on women who were denied access to racetracks yet changed racing anyway. Listen...
Guests: 2024 IndyCar Champion Alex Palou, 2023 NASCAR Cup Champion Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Truck Series Playoff Driver Rajah Caruth
2024 IndyCar Champion Alex Palou won his third title Sunday afternoon in Nashville. He's the second youngest driver to ever win three IndyCar championships after Sam Hornish. Palou beat Will Power for the championship solidifying the title when Power had troubles with his seatbelts and had to pit losing laps to Palou who coasted to the title in eleventh. He's the 13th driver to ever win three championships, the first coming in 2021 and the second last season. Listen...
2023 NASCAR Cup Champion Ryan Blaney talked with Kenny Sargent and Crash Gladys in Phoenix this week. Blaney is in the NASCAR playoffs this season trying to defend last year's championship. His work will be tough staying in the playoffs. He crashed out at The Glen Sunday before he finished the first lap. He's eighth in points going to Bristol Motor Speedway next weekend. He'll need to be among the top 12 to advance to the next round after that. Listen...
NASCAR Truck Series Playoff Driver Rajah Caruth came into The Freak Nation Sunday night. Caruth is tenth in the NASCAR Truck Playoff standings. But that's four points away from eighth. The next two races are at Bristol Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway. Only the top eight drivers in the standings will advance to Talladega and beyond after those two events. Oddly, Caruth admitted he wasn't racing enough this season and will work on more events next season. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR 23Xi Team Co-Owner Denny Hamlin, Big Machine Record Label Owner Scott Borchetta
NASCAR 23Xi Team Co-Owner Denny Hamlin talked with Crash Gladys this week. In addition to the NASCAR playoffs that started Sunday in Atlanta, Hamlin gave a lot of background on the charter talks that continue to be a source of controversy in that industry. Hamlin drives for Gibbs Racing but he's co-owner of 23Xi Racing, one of two teams that hasn't signed what NASCAR says is it's last offer in the stalled charter talks with its teams. No one's clear on what happens next. Listen...
Big Machine Record Label Owner Scott Borchetta came into The Freak Nation Sunday night. We had a lengthy conversation with Borchetta who also owns the Nashville Grand Prix, IndyCar's last race of the season next weekend. Borchetta has had lengthy conversations with IndyCar officials. He says he has some ideas that could help turn the series around financially. He shared some details on those unofficial conversations. Where they'll go is anyone's guess. Listen...
Guests: Six-Time Drag Boat Racing Champion Shelby Ebert, NHRA Top Fuel Driver Leah Pruett, The Freaks Take on The IndyCar Championship with Alex Palou and Will Power
The Freaks Take on the IndyCar Championship with Alex Palou and Will Power. The battle came down to a dramatic race last Sunday in Milwaukee. We got exclusive comments from Palou and Power as they head to Nashville separated by 33 points. Palou is looking to repeat his 2023 title. The 2024 crown would be his third overall in the sport. But Power has knocked 26 points off Palou's lead since going to Portland last month. So the fight is anything but over. Listen...
NHRA Top Fuel Driver Leah Pruett stepped out of her dragster this season to start a family. Now she finds herself cheering for her husband Tony Stewart, a three-time NASCAR champion in his first full-time season in Top Fuel. Stewart's made the NHRA playoffs driving Pruett's car. Now Pruett must teach Tony enough to get him as close to the championship as possible. Listen...
Shelby Ebert is the Fastest Woman on Water. But she flowed down a bit to talk with Kenny Sargent this weekend in the Kentucky Drag Boat Nationals. Speed boat racing is in the Ebert family. “My dad has been racing boats for more than 30 years,” Ebert said. “When I was a kid, I told my parents that I wanted to race, too. I started racing jet skis when I was 14 and then made my way through the classes, getting faster and faster as I’ve gotten older.” Now she's a six-time champion! And most in the sport are chasing her. Listen...
Trans-Am Watkins Glen Winner Christopher Dyson stopped roadside in upstate New York to talk with The Freak Nation Sunday night. The three-time Trans Am champion Dyson dominated at The Glen winning the Pole in record time and leading from flag to flag in Saturday's race on MAVTV. This was Dyson’s second win of the 2024 season and third-career victory at Watkins Glen. He is fourth on the all-time Trans Am list with 25 wins overall. Listen...
NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals Brainerd Pro Stock Winner Dallas Glenn is getting ready for the Super Bowl of drag racing at the U.S. Nationals next weekend. Glenn leads the NHRA Pro Stock points over his teammate Greg Anderson. Glenn is careful though. He was in a similar position last year entering the NHRA playoffs when his season collapsed and he finished sixth on the year. Obviously Glenn doesn't want that to unfold again. Listen...
Three-Time Crandon Champion Keegan Kincaid returned to The Freak Nation before next week's Labor Day race at the Wisconsin track. Crandon International Off-Road Raceway has become the most important event in short course off-road racing. And Kincaid is among the favored drivers to win the event even though he no longer races full-time in off-road. He explains... Listen...
Guests: 2023 FIA Top Fuel Champion Ida Zetterstrom, ARCA Springfield Mile Winner William Sawalich, Executive Vice President General Manager World Wide Technology Raceway Chris Blair
ARCA Springfield Mile Winner William Sawalich talked with The Freaks before his win Saturday. Sawalich is the 2023 ARCA East champion driving a Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. He has nine wins and 13 poles in 17 races since last season. At 17, Sawalich is a first-generation racecar driver from Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Perfect execution from Sawalich on a one-lap shootout at the Springfield Mile enabled him to secure his sixth ARCA Menards Series national win of the year. Listen...
2023 FIA Top Fuel Champion Ida Zetterstrom came into The Freak Nation Sunday night after an incredible debut at the Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd, Minnesota. Zetterstrom beat four-time NHRA Top Fuel World Champion Steve Torrence. Zetterstrom went on to lose in a red light foul in the semi finals. Zetterstrom was a four-time winner last season and holds both ends of the FIA Top Fuel record. She's a great conversation. Listen...
Executive Vice President General Manager World Wide Technology Raceway Chris Blair was in The Freak Nation late Sunday night. In addition to giving The Freaks some background on Saturday night's IndyCar race at WWTR. Blair also had some background on legendary dirt track racer Scott Bloomquist who Friday in a plane crash on his family's farm in Mooresburg, Tennessee. He was 60. Bloomquist is considered the greatest dirt track racer of all time. The plane that Bloomquist was flying crashed into a barn, and the remains of its sole occupant are believed to be that of Bloomquist, the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Federal agents are investigating. Listen...
Guests: 2024 Knoxville Nationals Winner Kyle Larson, NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Winner Justin Ashley
2024 Knoxville Nationals Winner Kyle Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, was in The Freak Nation Sunday night. We had a long chat before his win Saturday night at the Knoxville Nationals, one of the biggest Sprint Car events in the nation every year. There's a growing conversation in the motor racing community that Kyle Larson is the greatest driver ever. You decide? Listen...
NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Winner Justin Ashley was in The Freak Nation Sunday night before next weekend's Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd, Minnesota. Ashley was leading the points earlier in the season but he's fourth now. He says it's because the depth of the NHRA Top Fuel field that's contributed to what's turning into a battle for the rest of the season. Ashley has won demonstration events put on by Mission Foods, the NHRA title sponsor. But the season field is growing in strength. Listen...
Guests: 2015, 2016 Chili Bowl Winner Rico Abreu, 2017–2019 Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series Pro Lite Champion Ryan Beat
2015, 2016 Chili Bowl Winner Rico Abreu tuned up for next weekend's Knoxville Nationals by winning Lernerville's 33rd Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup. The California native had to survive a wild feature and had a little bit of luck last Tuesday. He pocketed $29,000 plus an additional $4000 from a fan promotion at the racetrack. Now Abreu is getting his money ready to compete for a win at Knoxville, sprint car racing's biggest night of the year. Listen...
2017–2019 Lucas Oil OffRoad Racing Series Pro Lite Champion Ryan Beat took a busman's holiday to do some motocross riding recently. But a crash left him with broken bones everywhere especially in his pelvis and collarbone. But he kept racing and won the next weekend. Now, Beat is healing and preparing for next weekend's Championship Off-Road Series in Bark River, Michigan. And the biggest event of the year at Crandon at the end of August. Ryan Beat is overcoming his injuries fighting for a fifth closed course title. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Brickyard Winner Kyle Larson, IndyCar Toronto Winner Colton Herta, 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Champion Cole Custer, The Freaks Richie Rants on F1, The Statt Mann on STEM
NASCAR Brickyard Winner Kyle Larson talked with the media hours after his important win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion is once again leading the regular season points as the playoffs draw closer. This in by Larson, though, is getting some scrutiny. Larson drove through the field to get to a point where he could compete for the win. But a late race restart and shift of the field as drivers scrambled to save their fuel, found Larson at the front of the line even though he was running third when the yellow flag fell. Listen...
IndyCar Toronto Winner Colton Herta dominated on his way to the win leading 81 of 85 laps. Herta won the chaotic Honda Indy Toronto on Sunday for his first victory in more than two years, starting from the pole and maintaining control throughout. There were several crashes in the race but the worst came at the end causing a red flag. The 24-year-old American completed the first weekend sweep in IndyCar history, posting the fastest times in both practices, qualifying and the warmup Sunday before winning the race for his eighth career victory. Listen...
2023 NASCAR Xfinity Champion Cole Custer announced this weekend his move to the NASCAR Cup Series next season. Custer was introduced on Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the driver of the new Cup organization fielded next season by Haas Factory Team and owned by Gene Haas. Custer will drive the No. 41 Ford with sponsorship from Haas Automation and HaasTooling.com. The organization will have a technical alliance with RFK Racing and receive additional support from Ford Performance. Listen...
The Freaks Richie Rants on F1 after a controversial race Sunday in Hungary. The race was won by Oscar Piastri driving a McLaren. But his teammate Lando Norris was ordered by his McLaren team to pull over and give the win to Piastri with only three laps left. That and more triggered these rants from Freaks co-host and strong F1 fan Richie Flores. He let his passion for the sport and Sunday's race drive his arguments Sunday night. Listen...
The Statt Mann has spent 24 years with the Freaks but earlier this month Statt Mann, in the form of Bill Wood, stepped into a small spotlight when he published his latest book "STEM Stories... When Racing Goes to School and Grows Up." The book is a series of 20 short stories about science, technology, engineering and math in a traveling classroom environment at racetracks all over America. IMSA President John Doonan wrote the foreward to the book. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Sunday Iowa Winner Will Power, NASCAR Chicago Winner Alex Bowman, MotoAmerica Superbike Laguna Seca Sunday Winner Josh Herrin, IndyCar Saturday Iowa Winner Scott McLaughlin, IndyCar Driver Conor Daly
NASCAR Chicago Winner Alex Bowman came into The Freak Nation Sunday night. He was still smiling about his major win on the streets of Chicago, a race run in driving rain at times. Bowman talked about his previous injuries that slowed his career. He also talked about his racing attitude now that he's qualified for the upcoming playoffs. Listen...
IndyCar Sunday Iowa Winner Will Power returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night a couple hours after his victory on the racetrack. Power is a Friend of The Freaks in addition to being a two-time IndyCar champion in 2014 and 2022 and the 2018 Indy 500 winner. Power held off points leader Alex Palou in the final laps after the last pit stops to get the victory. Power was drained and dehydrated after the win. Listen...
MotoAmerica Superbike Laguna Seca Sunday Winner Josh Herrin came into The Freak Nation Sunday night minutes after his win seen live on MAVTV. Herrin has been racing motorcycles since he was 12. In 2010, Herrin won the historic Daytona 200. At 19 he became the second youngest rider to win the prestigious race. Brad Andres was 18 when he won the race in 1955. Herrin raced with the Monster Energy Graves Motorsports Yamaha team from 2012 to 2013, winning the AMA Superbike Championship in 2013. Listen...
IndyCar Saturday Iowa Winner Scott McLaughlin has said he will think of himself as an IndyCar driver when he wins an oval race. Well, that's behind him now. His win in Iowa was dominant and important for the Penske Racing Team. Until this weekend, the most dominant Penske driver on ovals was Josef Newgarden who's won the last two Indy 500s. Listen...
IndyCar Driver Conor Daly in for an injured Jack Harvey, who tried to race Saturday night before retiring with neck and back pain. Daly was in the Honda powered No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing car for Sunday's IndyCar Series race at Iowa Speedway. He was given time before the race to run on the track and familiarize himself with the hybrid system in the car. But once the race started Daly was the first out of the event finishing 27th after leaving on lap 140 of 250 laps. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Mid-Ohio Winner Pato O'Ward, IndyCar Drivers Christian Lundgaard and Nolan Siegel, NASCAR Chicago Winner Alex Bowman
NASCAR Chicago Winner Alex Bowman was very candid about what his plans were after his victory Sunday evening. He plans on celebrating with a vintage bottle of bourbon he received as a gift two years ago. Bowman also had some choice words for critics who said he didn't deserve the Cup ride at Hendrick Motorsport after going 80 races without a win in the Cup series. Bowman talked with the media after the rain delayed race Sunday night. Listen...
IndyCar Mid-Ohio Winner Pato O'Ward took over the lead late in the race while race leader Alex Palou was in the pits. O'Ward then held off Palou through the final laps to get his first "real" win of the season. His other victory came at St. Pete where he was awarded the win when the driver who crossed the finish line first, Josef Newgarden, was disqualified after the event. O'Ward's win was his first since 2022 at Iowa. Listen...
IndyCar Drivers Christian Lundgaard and Nolan Siegel were less than enthusiastic about the IndyCar series introducing new hybrid powerplants halfway through the 2024 season. Both drivers were concerned their teams, Rahal Letterman Lanigan and Arrow McLaren didn't get a lot of time testing the new systems beforehand. Some of their development was still going on as the teams prepared for this weekend's race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Laguna Seca Winner Alex Palou, 2005 Flashback with NASCAR Legend Tony Stewart, 2006 Flashback with Kenny & Brandon Bernstein, 2018 Flashback with Fernando Alonso, 2005 Flashback with Bobby & Graham Rahal
IndyCar Laguna Seca Winner Alex Palou came into The Freak Nation Sunday night a couple hours after his win at Weathertech Raceway. Palou won the 2021 and 2023 IndyCar championships as well as the $1 Million Challenge at the Thermal Raceway outside Palm Springs. Palou is now a two-time winner on the permanent road course in Monterey. He's finished on the podium in all four of his career starts at the California track. Listen...
This November, 2005 Flashback with NASCAR Legend Tony Stewart was a lot of fun with a driver who's become a longtime Friend of the Freaks. This was before Stewart put his name on a NASCAR team. IN fact, The Freaks talked with Tony as he was just getting started in the ownership world as he started a Sprint Car program. Stewart now, though, is driving a Top Fuel car for his own Tony Stewart Racing team. Listen...
This 2006 Flashback with Kenny & Brandon Bernstein. The six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein has two in Top Fuel and four consecutive in Funny Car. Bernstein holds the unique distinction of being the first and only race team owner to have collected wins in each of America's three major motorsports series: NHRA, NASCAR and CART. His son Brandon climbed into his Top Fuel car with some success challenging for a title in the NHRA. Brandon is now retired and building racing programs for Lucas Oil Racing. Listen...
This 2018 Flashback with Fernando Alonso was right before the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The Spanish racing driver currently competes for Aston Martin in Formula One. He won the series' World Drivers' Championship in 2005 and 2006 with Renault, and has also driven for McLaren, Ferrari, Minardi and Alpine. At Daytona, though, he was talking about another love, sports car racing. Listen...
This 2005 Flashback with Bobby & Graham Rahal was right before the Sebring 12 Hour. Graham was just a teenager trying to decide what his racing future would be. Now he's driving for his father's IndyCar team and has a motorcycle racing program of his own. It was fun to remember a teen driver who was just setting out on his racing road back in April of 2005. Listen...
Guests: MotoAmerica Brainerd Double Winner Bobby Fong, World of Outlaws Knoxville Winner Corey Day, Toyota Development Driver Jade Avedisian, Meyer Shank Racing IndyCar Driver David Malukas
MotoAmerica Brainerd Double Winner Bobby Fong came into The Freak Nation after a great weekend on the track. Fong won both Super Bike races at Brainerd this weekend. the races leave him on top of the season points standings ahead of some major headlines in the Super Bike series. Fong is a great conversation from racing momentum to music. Listen...
World of Outlaws Knoxville Winner Corey Day is in a sweet spot early in his career. Not only is he celebrating his second World of Outlaws victory Sunday night but he's at the center of rumors he'll be driving stock cars for JR Motorsports next season. He's already driven a late model for the team and that set the social media world afire. But he's keeping it all quiet right now. Listen...
Toyota Development Driver Jade Avedisian is making headlines of her own at only 17 years of age. Avedisian was at a racetrack last week when Kenny and Crash talked with her. She was at a gokart track practicing for some road racing upcoming on her schedule. Jade was featured on the MAVTV feature program "On the Rise..." last Thursday. She's making a lot of heads turn in the motorsports world. Listen...
Meyer Shank Racing IndyCar Driver David Malukas is preparing for his return to the series. Malukas was ready to take over a ride with Arrow McLaren last winter when a mountain bike accident left him with an injured wrist. That kept him out of the car while he recovered but Arrow McLaren gave his ride away leaving Malukas with nothing. Until now. Malukas will race for Meyer Shank Racing the remainder of the season starting June 23 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Detroit Winner Scott Dixon, NASCAR WWTR Enjoy Illinois 300 Pole Winner Michael McDowell, NASCAR Coke 600 Winner Christopher Bell
IndyCar Detroit Winner Scott Dixon made a brief stop over in The Freak Nation before racing to get a flight home. Dixon led a Honda parade to the finish outside the GM/Chevrolet headquarters in Detroit. The first three finishers were in Honda powered cars. Dixon spent much of the race in midfield before taking over the point after a series of pit stops. Dixon's expertise, stretching his fuel at the end of a race, led him into Victory Lane. Listen...
NASCAR WWTR Enjoy Illinois 300 Pole Winner Michael McDowell talked with Kenny and Crash in St. Louis. McDowell has announced he's leaving Front Row Motorsports for Spire Motorsports next season. That announcement led to some changes in his relationship at Front Row. Team owner Bob Jenkins has talked with McDowell about the changes and how the team might handle proprietary data the rest of the season. Listen...
NASCAR Coke 600 Winner Christopher Bell talked with Kenny Sargent before the Enjoy Illinois 300 at Worldwide Technology Raceway. Bell, in fact, dominated by winning the first two stages before he fell back to the field with engine troubles. It was a frustrating end to a good race for Bell who walked away from the garage saying "That one Sucks...!" Listen...
Guests: Indianapolis 500 Winner Josef Newgarden, 2016 Indy 500 Winner Alexander Rossi, 2018 Indy 500 Winner Will Power, 2022 Daytona 500 Winner Austin Cindric, IndyCar Driver Graham Rahal
Indianapolis 500 Winner Josef Newgarden talked with Crash Gladys a couple hours after winning Sunday's rain delayed race. Newgarden fought the last 30 laps for the win passing Pato O'Ward on the las lap to get the final victory. O'Ward had passed Newgaren seconds before Newgarden returned the favor before the finish line. Newgarden is the first winner in 22 years to win back-to-back Indy 500s. He was exhausted. Listen...
2016 Indy 500 Winner Alexander Rossi and 2018 Indy 500 Winner Will Power talked with Crash Gladys before Sunday's race. The two drivers both have wins on their resume. But their conversations were about putting the Indy 500 into perspective. Rossi talked about his new marriage and Power talked about how a second win would change his life. Listen...
2022 Daytona 500 Winner Austin Cindric battled through a rain and lightning delay in the Coke 600 to finish 20th late Sunday night. He was the first Cup Series rookie to take the checkered flag in the "Great American Race." That helped him win the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year. In fact, he's won races in all of NASCAR's top tier national series including Cup, Xfinity, trucks, and ARCA. Listen...
IndyCar Driver Graham Rahal has been in the series 17 years. He started in 2007 at the age of 18 but Rahal is 35 now with a family and business interests on top of racing. He's aware that he's busy and he's concerned about making more time for his wife and daughters. He told Crash Gladys he'd also like to make more time for his wife Courtney Force Rahal so she has a break from her little girls. Listen...
Indianapolis 500 Pole Sitter Scott McLaughlin won the pole with the fastest qualifying time in Indy 500 history. McLaughlin posted a four-lap qualifying average at 234.220 mph and will share the front with with Penske Racing teammates Will Power and Josef Newgarden making up the fastest front row in history. The front row lockout was the first at the Indy 500 in 36 years for Team Penske, which has a record 19 victories at the Brickyard. Listen...
NHRA Chicago Top Fuel Winner Antron Brown is a special Friend of the Freaks. So, it was great to share Sunday's win with him as he was driving back to Indianapolis from Chicago. Brown said he left his crew partying in Chicago but he had to get home to travel to Bristol to do some promotional events where the NHRA will be racing later in the season. Brown also talked about keeping his speeds down after driving all weekend at more than 300 MPH. Listen...
2021 NASCAR Xfinity Champion Daniel Hemric will be featured in the MAVTV documentary "The Life..." Thursday night at 1030 pm Eastern. The feature will look at a champion's life as well as the life of the 2019 Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Cup Season. Hemric's family has been a critical part of his rise to become a NASCAR champion. And that includes putting his career above it's own best interests at times. Listen...
Formula Drift Atlanta Winner Fredric Aasbo talked with The Freaks after his first win of the season last weekend. Aasbo has three championships in Formula Drift - 2015, 2021 and 2022 - and he's gearing up for a season long battle for an unprecedented fourth title with James Deane and Chris Forsberg. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Indianapolis Road Course GP Winner Alex Palou, Heartland of America Showdown Winner Brad Sweet, 2024 Supercross 250 West Champion RJ Hampshire
IndyCar Indianapolis Road Course Sonsio GP Winner Alex Palou returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. The 2021 and 2023 IndyCar champion now turns his full attention to winning the Indy 500 in two weeks. Some of his usual celebrating after a win, including fried chicken for the crew and team, was put on hold to turn everyone's attention to the Indy 500. And that's even tough on Mother's Day Weekend. Listen...
Heartland of America Showdown Winner Brad Sweet came into The Freak Nation after his big win over business partner and brother-in-law Kyle Larson. Sweet and Larson are co-owners of High Limit Racing, a sprint car series just launched by the pair. Sweet, in fact, just won the Heartland of America Showdown at Lakeside Speedway outside Kansas City. The $50,000 win was important for Sweet, a driver for Kasey Kahne Racing. Listen...
2024 Supercross 250 West Champion RJ Hampshire came into The Freak Nation after his win in Salt Lake City Saturday night. Hampshire was emotional after what he called a "truly special" night in Salt Lake City. It was his first 250 West championship after years of battling in Supercross. He was able to win in front of his wife and two little girls. But the celebration won't come until later when everyone gets home to Florida. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Kansas Cup Winner Kyle Larson, Supercross 250 West Points Leader Levi Kitchen, IndyCar & IMSA Insider Marshall Pruett
NASCAR Kansas Cup Winner Kyle Larson fought his way to a .001-second victory Sunday night in the rain-delayed race at Kansas Speedway. Larson edged out Chris Buescher at the finish line. It would have been Ford's first win of the year if Buescher got there first. Larson talked with reporters after the race and explained how he kept Buescher from getting a clean run at the finish. Listen...
Supercross 250 West Points Leader Levi Kitchen ate his chicken dinner while talking with Kenny and Crash last week. Kitchen is recovering from having another rider roll over his neck and head causing internal bleeding and trouble with his breathing after the accident two weeks ago. It depleted his point lead and left him tied with R.J. Hampshire coming to the end of the 250 Supercross season. Listen...
IndyCar & IMSA Insider Marshall Pruett returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. Very little happens in American Open Wheel or sports car racing without Pruett knowing what's behind the headline. He talked with The Freaks about IndyCar controversies and how they might be avoided going forward. He also talked about rewriting the rules to fight cheating in the sport. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Barber Winner Scott McLaughlin, IndyCar Fans on IndyCar Penalties, NHRA Charlotte 4-Wide Nationals Funny Car Winner Matt Hagan, Monster Jam Zombie Monster Truck Driver Bari Musawwir
IndyCar Barber Winner Scott McLaughlin came into The Freak Nation Sunday night a couple hours after the race. He was somewhat candid about the biggest controversy of the week: IndyCar penalties that were handed out to the Penske Racing Team McLaughlin drives for. McLaughlin, in fact, had his podium finish taken away and was put to last in the finishing order. Listen...
The Freaks talked with IndyCar Fans at Barber Motorsports Park about the penalties affecting the St. Petersburg race finishing order. The headline was top of mind about the fans at the race this weekend. Were they too stiff? Was the Penske team that absorbed the penalties cheating or just making a mistake? Who should be blamed? Listen...
NHRA Charlotte 4-Wide Nationals Funny Car Winner Matt Hagan returned to The Freak Nation after his first win of the season. It was an important win for Hagan, his 50th in a very successful career. Hagan is known for his brutal workout and his incredible conditioning. But his new team at Tony Stewart Racing and his business interests away from the track has seen those workout diminish. Listen...
Monster Jam Zombie Monster Truck Driver Bari Musawwir has become a star in the Monster Jam world. Kenny and Crash talked with Musawwir this week when the circuit stopped in Glendale, Arizona. Musawwir travels with the Monster Jam program internationally as well as here in the United States. All that travel has made him a million mile traveler on Delta Airlines. He has some advantages headed his way. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Long Beach Winner Scott Dixon, NASCAR Talladega Cup Pole Sitter Michael McDowell, NASCAR Talladega Xfinity Winner Jesse Love, IMSA Long Beach Winner Ringer van der Zande
IndyCar Long Beach Winner Scott Dixon, a longtime Friend of the Freaks, came into The Freak Nation Sunday just a couple hours after his win. Dixon is now a two-time Long Beach winner and he's jumped to second in the 2024 points standings just eight points out of first behind Josef Newgarden after two events. Dixon's win was dramatic after he nursed his disappearing fuel supply into victory lane ahead of Colton Herta who finished second. Listen...
NASCAR Talladega Xfinity Winner Jesse Love got his first win at RCR Racing. Love's win allowed him to move up one place to fourth in the points standings. He's been competitive all season with four stage wins but he's just moving into victory lane. He talked with Kenny Sargent at Talladega and Sargent was able to share video with Jesse showing his crew celebrating the moment he crossed the finish line for the win. Listen...
IMSA Long Beach Winner Ringer van der Zande talked with Crash Gladys Sunday. His win Saturday came with Sebastian Bourdais who was unavailable to talk on Sunday because of some coaching duties in Long Beach. Sunday's win with Scott Dixon, in fact, allowed Ganassi Racing to double up on the victories in Long Beach. Renger is growing on The Freaks. He has a wonderfully candid conversational style and we like that a lot. Listen...
NASCAR Talladega Cup Pole Sitter Michael McDowell probably should have won the Cup Race Sunday but his weaving back and forth to block the closing field of cars saw him lose control and crash within sight of the finish line. McDowell led the most laps and arguably had the fastest car in the race but that's not enough to win many times. And Sunday was one of those times. Listen...
NASCAR Texas Cup Winner Chase Elliott came into The Freak Nation a couple hours after his win Sunday. Elliott won the Cup Series championship in 2020. He's also won the Most Popular Driver title six times. But this is Elliott's first Cup Series win in 42 races. Needless to say he was relieved to get the win in Texas. Still, getting home was turning out to be a problem. Listen...
NHRA Pro Stock Las Vegas 4-Wide Winner Jeg Coughlin was rushing to the airport to catch a plane when he stopped to talk with The Freaks Sunday night. Coughlin has won in NHRA Pro Stock titles in 2000, 2002, 2007-08 and 2013 with 65 Pro Stock victories. But the win Sunday was his first since 2020 when he retired after the season. But Coughlin ran a couple events last year, enjoyed it, and decided to return to the professional wars at least in 2024. Listen...
Tony Stewart Racing Team Owner Tony Stewart is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. Stewart is a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, winning two as a driver (2002, 2005), one as owner/driver (2011), and one as an owner (2014). Last year he won an NHRA title as the owner of Matt Hagan's Funny Car. Now Stewart has stepped into the Top Fuel dragster nearly driven to a World Championship last year by his wife Leah Pruett. It's a huge step for Stewart. The Top Fuel car is nearly twice the speed of his NASCAR Cup car. He talked with Kenny Sargent about the steep learning curve he's going through this season. Listen...
Chase Elliott Crew Chief Alan Gustafson followed Elliott into The Freak Nation Sunday night. Gustafson has a unique perspective on drivers. He hears them at their worst, their best and when their concentration can drift in the middle of a race. His perspective on drivers was unique for The Freak Nation, especially his insight into NASCAR's most popular driver. Listen...
NASCAR Martinsville Cup Winner William Byron talked with Crash Gladys at Martinsville this week. In fact, the conversation is another example of The Freaks Mojo! Byron doesn't have a reputation for a big personality but he's confident in his own personality especially when he's away from the racetrack. He considers the track his work place where there's very little time for relaxation and games. Listen...
Co-Owner Hendrick Motorsports Jeff Gordon talked to reporters Sunday night after Hendrick cars finished 1-2-3 at Martinsville Motor Speedway, celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Rick Hendrick's first team win. Geoff Bodine got that win, nearly promising the victory to Rick Hendrick who didn't want to go to the race. Gordon drove for Rick Hendrick and won four NASCAR Cup Championships in 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2001. Listen...
NHRA Phoenix Pro Stock Winner Greg Anderson is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. He returned Sunday night with some satisfaction at winning on the day his fellow Hendrick Motorsports drivers won in NASCAR. Anderson is a drag racing but he has a close relationship with the NASCAR side of things at Hendrick Motorsports. He talked about that and a trip he's making to the Southern California desert for some down time with friends. Listen...
IndyCar Drivers Rinus Veekay & Christian Lundgaard talked with The Freaks about testing the new IndyCar Hybrid System. They were among teams testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last month, weeks and weeks after other teams already had access to the new technology. IndyCar would like to introduce the system to the series at mid-season after the Indy 500 in May. There are many drivers in the series who don't think that's a good idea since many teams haven't test with the system yet. Listen...
2023 ARCA Menards Series Champion Jesse Love is driving in the Xfinity Series now for Richard Childress Racing. Love was the first rookie driver to win the Top Qualifier position in his first two NASCAR races. But Love is working hard building his tool box for racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. And that includes helpful suggestions from teammates at RCR including Xfinity driver Austin Hill. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR COTA Xfinity Winner Kyle Larson, NHRA Top Fuel Pomona Final Round Contender Justin Ashley, NASCAR Las Vegas Truck Winner Rajah Caruth, The Freaks on Chase Elliott
NASCAR COTA Xfinity Winner Kyle Larson returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. He led the only important lap in the NASCAR Xfinity race at Cota: the last one! Larson is becoming a Favorite Friend of The Freaks. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion races whenever he can and that's given him a special lifestyle for Kyle and his family. But it's also given him some concern about being away from his family so much. Listen...
NHRA Top Fuel Pomona Final Round Contender Justin Ashley returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. His final round matchup with eight-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Tony Schumacher will have to wait two weeks until the series stops in Phoenix. Rain and hale washed out the Final Round action at the Lucas Oil Winternationals in Pomona Sunday. Ashley sat in his car in the Pomona parking lot to talk with The Freaks. He's hoping to double up in Phoenix. Listen...
The Freaks on Chase Elliott Sunday night included a sound bite from former NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace. Wallace talked about how some older NASCAR fans are leaving the sport after their favorite driver including Dale Earnhardt and Tony Stewart left the sport. Wallace, however, pointed out that the current Most Popular Driver in NASCAR, Chase Elliott, is a link to that generation of driver through his father Bill Elliott. Chase, though, is making noises about not participating in a television series meant to drum up new fans for NASCAR. Listen...
NASCAR Las Vegas Truck Winner Rajah Caruth finally got a chance to share his win with The Freaks. Caruth is big on family and talked about a long planned visit to Disneyland after his Las Vegas win. He also talked about his growing confidence and the confidence legendary team owner Rick Hendrick is showing to Caruth this season. Caruth also talked about the movie that got him committed to racing: Cars. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Phoenix Winner Christopher Bell, IndyCar St. Petersburg Winner Josef Newgarden, NHRA Gainesville Funny Car Winner J.R. Todd, NASCAR Atlanta Winner Daniel Suarez
NASCAR Phoenix Winner Christopher Bell returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. And, whenever The Freaks talk with Bell, it's always a candid, fun conversation. And this was no different. In fact, Christopher went from how poorly the Toyota teams performed to how great they did including his win. And they did it together. Listen...
IndyCar St. Petersburg Winner Josef Newgarden dominated the IndyCar season opener in Florida. He won the Pole and led the most laps. It was such a dominating win he admitted that team boss Roger Penske warned him to stay focused and not throw the car into a wall. Newgarden laughed at the suggestion but he went on to talk about changes in the St. Pete airport track and other street races the IndyCar series may want to consider for future events. Listen...
NHRA Gainesville Funny Car Winner J.R. Todd's win in the NHRA season opener had special significance. Connie Kalitta's son Scott Kalitta died in June of 2008 and that's when Todd took over the car, winning an NHRA Funny Car championship in 2018. This weekend Scott's family was in Gainesville to be honored with Scott's induction into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. It was an emotional win for the team, obviously. And a great start to the season for Todd. Listen...
NASCAR Atlanta Winner Daniel Suarez continues to see his career grow with the dramatic win at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Daniel's second NASCAR Cup Series victory. Suarez talked with Kenny and Crash when the Cup Series was in Phoenix this week. It was a candid chat that talked extensively about Daniel's growing fan base in America and in Mexico, his native country. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Truck Series Las Vegas Winner Rajah Caruth, NASCAR Xfinity Winner at Daytona & Atlanta Austin Hill, 2016. 2021 & 2022 NHRA Funny Car Champion Ron Capps, Daytona Arenacross Winner Crockett Myers
NASCAR Truck Series Las Vegas Winner Rajah Caruth's win Friday night made some headlines in the sport. Caruth was only the third African American to win in a NASCAR national series in more than 60 years. He won from the Pole in a close victory helped by his pitcrew. In fact, the Freaks look at a number of new winners from NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program. It's changing the sport for the good. Listen...
- 2021 & 2022 NHRA Funny Car Champion Ron Capps always has a candid conversation with The Freaks. Kenny and Crash caught up with him in Phoenix and talked about a number of things but the deepest they went looked at what Capps is learning since he took over his own team in 2021. He also gave some details on the preseason testing promotion at the new Bradenton track in Florida. Listen...
Daytona Arenacross Winner Crockett Myers came into The Freak Nation before his big win in Daytona. It was as if he capitalized on some SpeedFreaks Mojo in Daytona this weekend. Myers is a great conversation what went everywhere even looking at his prize possessions on his traveling RV. What would he save if the RV caught fire? Listen...
NASCAR Xfinity Winner at Daytona & Atlanta Austin Hill finished fourth in Las Vegas behind winner John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer and Chandler Smith. The Freaks talked with Hill before the Las Vegas round to learn a little more about the driver's quick start to the season. Hill was a fun conversation. Listen...
NASCAR Atlanta Cup Series Winner Daniel Suarez earned a popular victory a Atlanta Motor Speedway Sunday. It was his second NASCAR win, the first coming in Sonoma in 2022. Suarez has been successful racing stock cars in Mexico but this win will get him an automatic bid to the NASCAR playoffs later this year. He took time to explain his moves to win the third closest NASCAR finish - 0.003 secs - in NASCAR history. Listen...
TransAm TA2 Sebring Winner Connor Zilisch won Saturday in Sebring racing for Silver Hare Racing. Despite his success at 17-years of age, Zilisch is fighting to maintain a level of humility when taking with the media. But he's also preparing to race for Trackouse Racing in NASCAR, maybe later this season. Zilisch is satisfied to be racing in the TA2 category in TransAm and he explained why to The Freaks. Listen...
2017 & 2022 NHRA Top Fuel Champion Brittany Force was in Phoenix this week to help promote the NHRA's return to Firebird Raceway outside the city. Force is a two-time champion and a woman who is ready to bang that drum advancing Women in Motorsports especially in drag racing. Brittany talked about the young girls who follow her team. Listen...
NASCAR Driver Noah Gragson is returning to the NASCAR Cup Series after a suspension last year for comments on Social Media. Gragson is a quiet personality who spent his time away from the racetrack talking with several mentors to help with his maturity and expansion of his social experiences. Gragson races for Stewart-Haas Racing, co-owned by Tony Stewart who's had his own troubles with the media. It might be the perfect place for Gragson to return to the rigors of the NASCAR series. Listen...
2020 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Chase Elliott led the way for Hendrick Motorsports in Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He finished 15th in a race that saw him overcome multiple incidents and setbacks in an accident scarred race. The Freaks, however, took the opportunity to compare Elliott's conversations with the media compared to the media contacts with Daniel Suarez who won Sunday in Atlanta. Listen...
Guests: Bluegreen Vacations Duel #2 Winner Christopher Bell, NASCAR Driver Darrell Wallace, 2021 NASCAR Daytona 500 Winner Michael McDowell, 2015 & 2019 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Busch, ARCA Daytona Race Winner Gus Dean
Bluegreen Vacations Duel #2 Winner Christopher Bell led the Toyota charge during the NASCAR Duels last week winning the second race. Tyler Reddick won the first race in another Toyota. Bell talked with Kenny Sargent at Daytona about a number of things from his workouts, to his heart rate to his conversations with himself under his helmet. Listen...
ARCA Daytona Race Winner Gus Dean was still excited after midnight Saturday when he talked with Kenny Sargent after his win at Daytona. The race was delayed weather, didn't start until after 10 pm Friday night, and was delayed by accidents before ending Saturday morning. Dean was eager to talk about his dreams of winning in ARCA. He also talked about one of his biggest fans, his grandfather, who died last month. Charles Edward Dean and died after a short illness. Listen...
2015 & 2019 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Busch talked with Kenny Sargent about a wide racing list of things. It actually started about what Lucas Oil product would help Busch loosen up his him moves. He also talked about getting his kids, especially his son, ready for starting his own racing career. Listen...
2021 NASCAR Daytona 500 Winner Michael McDowell is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. He even called the show once on his wedding day. McDowell is showing some new strength in his racing now after qualifying second in the Daytona 500. He'll start the race on the front row Monday. Listen...
NASCAR Driver Darrell Wallace talked with the media about his mental state after a great season that ended in NASCAR's playoffs. Wallace talked with a crowd of reporters showing relaxation that was different for Wallace. Kenny Sargent asked about the things that relaxed him during his intense NASCAR season. Listen...
Guests: PRO Superstar Shootout Funny Car Winner Austin Prock, Winningest Motocross Racer of All Time Ricky Carmichael, Supercross Rider Jo Shimoda, Supercross Rider Justin Barcia
PRO Superstar Shootout Funny Car Winner Austin Prock made his first run in Robert Hight's race car a special one, winning the highly successful PRO Superstar Shootout Saturday night. The event was put on by the Professional Racer Organization or PRO, that was founded in 1991 to represent teams and drivers to the National Hot Rod Association. Prock won in Funny Car, Doug Kalitta in Top Fuel and Erica Enders in Pro Stock. More than a million dollars was at stake in the pre-season, non-points event. Prock was also the top qualifier at the drag race. Listen...
Winningest Motocross Racer of All Time Ricky Carmichael returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. The 15-Time AMA Champion is having success in his post competition career. He's back in the Supercross broadcast booth on NBC plus he's had success developing racing bikes for Triumph Motorcycles. Carmichael will be broadcasting with Leigh Diffey and his longtime friend and competitor James Stewart. But Ricky's history with The Freak Nation goes back to our fourth show nearly 24 years ago when Carmichael was just building his GOAT career. Listen...
Supercross riders Joe Shimoda and Justin Barcia talked with Kenny and Crash at the Phoenix Supercross round Saturday night. Shimoda finished third in the 250SX race. Barcia didn't have a great round as he fights his way back from injuries. He's tenth in the 450SX season standings. Kenny got background from both. Listen...
Guests: 2022 NASCAR Darlington Winner Erik Jones, AMA Supercross Rider Aaron Plessinger
AMA Supercross Rider Aaron Plessinger went to round five of the Supercross series in Detroit over the weekend looking to close a victory denied him last year. Instead he finished sixth behind a dominating win by Jett Lawrence. The result saw Plessinger tumble to third in the standings just a point behind Lawrence who's a point behind Plessinger's KTM teammate Chase Sexton. Listen...
2022 NASCAR Darlington Winner Erik Jones is the first driver ever to win Rookie of the Year in all three NASCAR national series. This year he will drive the #43 Toyota for the Legacy Motor Club team in the NASCAR Cup Series. But Erik finds fulfillment in reading stories to children in elementary school. It's part of his non-profit foundation in Michigan. Listen...
2024 Rolex 24-Hour Winner Dane Cameron stepped away from celebrating to talk with The Freaks Sunday night. Cameron drove with Felipe Nasr, Josef Newgarden, and Matt Campbell to get the dramatic win after a fate changing pit stop by the Team Penske Pit Crew Team. Nasr was driving at the end. He came in to the stop in second and went out first to drive to the victory over Action Express driver Tom Blomquist who was trying for his third straight win. For team owner Roger Penske, it was his first Rolex 24 win since 1969. Listen...
Three-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Antron Brown will share his life with the world this week. He's the featured driver in the new documentary series "In the Life" on MAV TV Thursday February 1st at 8pm Eastern. Antron won Top Fuel dragster championships in 2012, 2015 and 2016. He's one of the top drag racers in the series right now. The documentary looks at his life on and off the track giving his fans access to a part of Antron they've never seen. The special on Antron is the first in a series of drivers in all forms of racing. Listen...
Sara Price, the Only American Woman to Win a Dakar Rally Stage, made a memorable visit with The Freak Nation Sunday night. Price's run at The Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia was the satisfaction of her lifetime. She'd always dreamed of running in The Dakar Rally and this year she pooled her money with sponsors and gave it a go. In addition to winning the tenth of 12 stages, she finished fourth in her class at the event, an incredible debut for a novice driver. Price is a wonderful conversation. Listen...
Four-Time Arenacross Champion Kyle Peters made his debut in The Freak Nation Sunday night. His title streak covers the last four seasons in Arenacross. He's only one away from five-time champion Buddy Antunez who announced his retirement in February of 2004. Ironically, Antunez how has a part in Peters' career as Kyle's coach. Leave it to The Freaks to suggest a runoff to decide the best ever if Peters wins his fifth title this year to equal the brilliant career of Antunez, still known as The Budman. Listen...
Guests: 2024 Rolex 24 Top Qualifier Pipo Derani, San Francisco Supercross 250cc Winner Jordon Smith, IMSA President John Doonan
2024 Rolex 24 Top Qualifier Pipo Derani led a parade of nine GTP teams that beat the Daytona 24 Hour track record during Sunday's qualifying. Derani drives a Cadillac prototype for Action Express Racing in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and is an overall winner of the 2016 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona and the 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2023 12 Hours of Sebring. But he said this is his first Pole in the Rolex. Listen...
San Francisco Supercross 250cc Winner Jordon Smith visited with The Freaks Sunday night after a popular victory in San Francisco last week. Smith didn't think of himself as a mud racer but he obviously learned quickly how to navigate the quagmire and rode away to the win. Listen...
IMSA President John Doonan is a longtime Friend of the Freaks, even when he was at Mazda before he took over IMSA. Doonan added to his portfolio last summer when he oversaw the Garage 56 program that saw a modified NASCAR Cup Series Chevy Camaro run in the LeMans 24 Hour race in France. The car didn't win but it outran many of the world's fastest sports cars and grabbed thousands of new fans for NASCAR with the speed and noise from the boisterous Camaro. Listen...
Guests: 2015 Supercross 250cc Rookie of the Year Aaron Plessinger, AMA Arenacross Rider Aaron Siminoe, 1996 & 1997 NASCAR Busch Series Champion Randy LaJoie
1996 & 1997 NASCAR Busch Series Champion Randy LaJoie made NASCAR's top 75 Driver's of All-Time list. But he might be better known for his safety products, especially his safety seats - The Joie of Seating - AND being the father of racers Casey and Corey LaJoie. LaJoie is happy with either label but he might be most proud of his championships, his inclusion in the All-Time list and his safety seats that are saving lives on racetracks all over the world. Listen...
2015 Supercross 250cc Rookie of the Year Aaron Plessinger might be known for his singing but he's becoming a force in the Supercross races where he finished fifth Saturday in San Francisco. The track was a mud bowl but Plessinger forced his Red Bull KTM through the elements to finish behind teammate Chase Sexton who won the final. But, for the Freaks, Plessinger is a first class show. Listen...
AMA Arenacross Rider Aaron Siminoe made his debut in The Freak Nation Sunday night on the recommendation he's be as wild as The Freaks for the appearance. Well, he fit right in! Siminoe had fun talking about how he becomes a different rider in Arenacross once he switches to race mode. That comes when he puts on his helmet, sometimes when the helmet goes on away from the track. Listen...
Guests: 2016 Supercross 250CC Champion Malcolm Stewart, 2023 NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster Champion Julie Nataas, 2020 & 2022 AMA Supercross Champion Eli Tomac, TransAm TA2 Driver Adrian Wloskowski
2016 Supercross 250CC Champion Malcolm Stewart is returning to the sport after recovering from a knee injury last season. Stewart is the brother of one of the greatest Supercross riders ever, James Stewart. But Malcolm is fighting to build his own legacy and he's having some success at that. His popularity with Supercross fans grows annually. Malcolm respects that. Listen...
2023 MHRA Top Alcohol Dragster Champion Julie Nataas visited with The Freaks at the PRI Show in Indianapolis. Julie is still getting used to the idea of being a drag racing champion. Apparently so are the sponsors. She's disappointed she's not getting some call backs from sponsors she wants to bring into the sport. But Nataas is building a career and agrees some changes might be needed in her sport. Listen...
2020 & 2022 AMA Supercross Champion Eli Tomac has been a dominate rider in Supercross and Motocross since her first AMA title in 2013. Rejoining the sport after rehabbing his injury is his number one goal at the moment, though. That, and chasing the hottest rider in his sport: Jett Lawrence. He'll be a tough comeback but if anyone can pull it off, Eli Tomac tops the list. Listen...
TransAm TA2 Driver Adrian Wloskowski had great stories to share while visiting with The Freaks at the PRI Show in Indianapolis. Wloskowski owns one of the only racing shops in Manhattan but that has some draw backs. Where do you go testing customer cars in one of the busiest urban areas in the world? Wloskowski is building a racing career while he's building his business. He's having success at both. Listen...
Guests: 2023 NHRA Funny Car Champion Matt Hagen, Top Fuel Teammate Leah Pruett, Tony Stewart Racing Team Owner Tony Stewart, Five-Time Formula Drift Championship Team Owner Steph Papadakis, Three-Time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Antron Brown, 2015 & 2016 Chili Bowl Winner Rico Abreu, Six-time 2023 NHRA Top Fuel Winner Justin Ashley, 2022 NHRA Rookie of the Year Camrie Caruso
2023 NHRA Funny Car Champion Matt Hagen led the Tony Stewart Racing crew into The Freak Nation at PRI. But Tony Stewart and his wife and Top Fuel Driver Leah Pruett had several headline making responses in the fun conversation. Included is word that Stewart will drive Pruett's dragster in the fastest category in drag racing while Pruett plans to start a family next season. In fact, even that brought an emotional response from Leah: an appeal to the NHRA. Listen...
Five-Time Formula Drift Championship Team Owner Steph Papadakis is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. Team titles came in 2007 and 2008 with Tanner Foust and 2015, 2021 and 2022 with Fredric Aasbo. He visited with the crew at the PRI Show in Indianapolis where it was "difficult" to get Steph to do some "bragging" about his deep racing resume. But he surrendered finally! Listen...
Three-Time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Antron Brown won his titles in 2012, 2015 and 2016. He won the biggest weekend in NHRA drag racing, the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, for the second straight year in 2023. As of the end of the season, Brown had 74 NHRA wins to go along with a second year of team ownership. It's that effort to build his team and business that kept Antron working hard at the Performance Racing Industry show in Indianapolis. He barely had time to talk with his friends, The Freaks. Listen...
2015 & 2016 Chili Bowl Winner Rico Abreu told The Freaks ha had to make a difficult decision this year. He'll miss the 38th running of the Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa while he goes racing in Australia, something he's wanted to do for several years. Abreu visited with The Freaks at the PRI Show in Indianapolis. He explained missing one of the biggest events of the early motorsports season. And how he'll be racing Sprint Cars in the High Limit Series next season, creating a busy schedule for the championship driver. Listen...
Six-time 2023 NHRA Top Fuel Winner Justin Ashley returned to The Freak Nation while working the aisles at the PRI Show in Indianapolis. Ashley's six wins had him the points leader heading into the final six-race Countdown to the Championship. But the momentum stopped and Ashley finished fourth in the final points standings. It was a tough end to the promise of the regular season. And it leaves Ashley to reconstruct where the season stumbled when it mattered most. Listen...
2022 NHRA Rookie of the Year Camrie Caruso had another strong regular season in 2023. She won a race in Phoenix and won the NHRA Pro Stock Call-Out races, a prestige win without points toward the championship. But the strong showing for her team brought on a full season sponsorship from Tequila Comisario that came on for eleven races in 2023. That sponsorship expands to the full season and brings enough resources to develop a new chassis and race car for Caruso. Could mean even better results in 2024. Listen...
Guests: The 2023 FREAKIES!, 2023 NHRA Top Fuel Champion Doug Kalitta, NASCAR Xfinity Las Vegas Winner Riley Herbst, Open Wheel Showdown Promoter Davey Hamilton, Jr.
For nearly every one of our 23 years The Freaks have honored the best in motorsports for the past year. This year we remember our Race of the Year, our Driver/Rider of the Year and our Freak of the Year. We've honored the largest names in motorsport in the past from Travis Pastrana, to Ken Block, to The Daytona 500 and the Supercross Finals. This year we look back into our memories, the racing headlines and the spotlights that have brightened Victory Circles around the globe to come up with The Freaks' brightest headlines of the year. At least those in our mind! Ladies and Gentlemen! The 2023 FREAKIES! Listen...
2023 NHRA Top Fuel Champion Doug Kalitta won his title in Pomona after six years of finishing runner-up in the category. But, now, Kalitta is the King of the Hill in the fastest class in all motorsport. Doug is a long time Friend of the Freaks so it was especially great to congratulate a friend on gaining a championship. Doug told us about halfway through the season he looked at his team and got the comfort that it was a championship effort. He told us how he came to that conclusion. Listen...
NASCAR Xfinity Las Vegas Winner Riley Herbst doubled down on that victory with a win in SCORE Baja 1000 (winning his class, and 8th overall), which spanned from La Paz to Ensenada, totaling 1,310 miles. Herbst and his father Troy Herbst fought their way to victory. Herbst drove the middle section while his champion father Troy started the race for the first time in six years while devoting his time to his son’s NASCAR career. Another third-generation Las Vegas desert racer Jordan Dean, 25, finished the race. Listen...
Open Wheel Showdown Promoter Davey Hamilton, Jr. came into The Freak Nation this week while he was painting walls and solving hundreds of issues getting ready for the richest pavement sprint car show, the Riskon360! Open Wheel Showdown for Winged Sprint Cars at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Aaron Willison of Langley, British Columbia, Canada led wire-to-wire for the $50,000 US payday, the largest in pavement open wheel history. Willison dominated the final 30 laps for a 4.882 second advantage at the checkered flag. Santos finished second followed by tenth-starting Hamilton in third. Listen...
Guests: 2023 AMA Endurocross Champion Trystan Hart, Arrow McLaren IndyCar Driver David Malukas, 2023 TransAm Champion Christopher Dyson
2023 AMA Endurocross Champion Trystan Hart was on his way to Southern California in a friend's van when he took time to talk with The Freaks Sunday night. Saturday night Hart fought off challenges from three other riders to take the time. In the third moto of the night on MAVTV it was anyone's championship and Hart emerged at the end with the points and championship. Hart's appearance in The Freak Nation was a first but it won't be the last. It was a fun conversation. Listen...
Arrow McLaren IndyCar Driver David Malukas announced his move from Dale Coyne to Arrow McLaren in September. Now he's making a lifestyle change. He's raced all over the world but the 22-year-old has never lived outside Chicago. Now he's moving to Indianapolis to be at the center of IndyCar in America. This Malukas funny conversation is a reprise of David's visit to the Freak Nation last month. Listen...
2023 TransAm Champion Christopher Dyson has won three straight championships. He's recovering from a lengthy season and tough battle for the title. Dyson’s titles go with championship success he’s had in the American LeMans Series. But Dyson admitted to us that he was ready to leave road racing several years ago before he found a renewed passion racing 900 horsepower American sedans in Trans Am. He told us last month that he loves the brutish machines. Listen…
Guests: 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion Cole Custer, Five-Time Endurocross Series Champion Colton Haaker
2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion Cole Custer came into The Freak Nation Sunday night with some confidence after his championship moves in Phoenix last weekend. Custer is from Southern California and admits learning a lot at Irwindale Speedway near his home. Custer drives for former NASCAR champion Tony Stewart and remembers watching Stewart race when Cole was growing up. He also had a funny story about chasing down a team truck on the freeway just to get some clothes to celebrate his championship win. Listen...
Five-Time Endurocross Series Champion Colton Haaker is close to a sixth championship as the series heads for the final round in Reno next weekend. Haaker is one of the best endurocross riders in the world. He went to the series when he career in Supercross and Motocross hit a wall. Obviously he found it to his liking! Endurocross sounds like racing through the wilderness even though it's in a close stadium or arena. Haaker is a great spokesperson for the series. He has that kind of experience. Listen...
Guests: 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Ryan Blaney, Stewart Haas NASCAR Team Owner Tony Stewart, NASCAR Cup Series Driver Erik Jones, 2023 NASCAR Truck Series Champion Ben Rhodes
2023 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Ryan Blaney talked with reporters after his historic championship Sunday evening in Phoenix. He talked about a number of issues, really any question he was asked he answered candidly. Also appearing with Blaney was his team owner Roger Penske who talked about the emotional Blaney who was aggressive on the radio talking with his crew chief while chasing the championship. Penske talked about calming down his driver. Listen...
Stewart Haas NASCAR Team Owner Tony Stewart was stunned talking with reporters about his Xfinity Championship driver Cole Custer. In fact, television cameras Saturday night showed images of Stewart looking dumbfounded watching video of the Custer moves on the racetrack. Tony explained what he was looking at and how being a team owner has some of the same emotions experienced by drivers in competition. Listen...
2023 NASCAR Truck Series Champion Ben Rhodes won his second championship Friday night in Phoenix. But some fans called the race a terrible example of NASCAR racing because of all the crashes and aggressive driving by drivers who took their aggression out on other competitors in the event. Rhodes held on for the title against a fast closing championship contender Grant Enfinger who finished split seconds behind Rhodes in the end. But winning the title was all Ben needed for celebrating. Listen
NASCAR Cup Series Driver Erik Jones has driven for seven time champion Richard Petty for three years. Now he's about to drive for another seven-time champion, Jimmie Johnson, who's coming into the owner's box as a partner with Petty. The Freaks have found Jones to be one of the most well rounded drivers in all of motorsports. That included his new interest in sky diving and his growing passion for his non-profit foundations that help thousands. Listen...
Guests: NHRA Las Vegas Funny Car Winner Robert Hight, 2023 TransAm Champion Christopher Dyson, NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Rider Angie Smith
NHRA Las Vegas Funny Car Winner Robert Hight returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night just after beating Bob Tasca in the final at the Nevada Nationals. Only 17 points separate Matt Hagan, Tasca and Hight, the top three in the points standing going into the final event in Pomona in two weeks. The win gives Hight some momentum as he goes for his fourth title since 2009. His titles have all come in odd numbered years so a championship in 2023 seems possible. Listen...
NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Rider Angie Smith is recovering from a wicked accident at Worldwide Technology Raceway outside St. Louis four weekends ago. Among other things the Lucas Oil sponsored racer broke eight of her toes and required skin grafts, all of which she's recovering from now. The description of the accident is terrifying to hear. And the recovery will take considerable effort on her part. She said her road to recovery was helped along by Tony Stewart and his wife Leah. This is the determination of a professional accident. Listen...
2023 TransAm Champion Christopher Dyson returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night after his third straight title. Dyson goes to the final event of the season at Circuit of the Americas in Texas next weekend, his championship already in hand. Dyson's titles goes with championship success he's had in the American LeMans Series. But Dyson admitted to us that he was ready to leave road racing several years ago before he found a renewed passion racing 900 horsepower American sedans in Trans Am. He said he loves the brutish machines. Listen...
2023 IMSA TCR Champion Robert Wickens returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. Wickens suffered spinal injuries in an IndyCar crash five years ago, injuries that left him paralyzed from the waist down. The 33-year-old suffered spinal cord injuries when his car was launched into a barrier at the start of the IndyCar race at Pocono Raceway on August 19th, 2018. Wickens' earned his first series championship this year in a rare level of consistency. He won the title without winning any races. Listen...
NHRA Texas Pro Stock Winner Erica Enders, a five-time Pro Stock drag racing champion, returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. Her win in Texas gave her 50 wins in the NHRA, most for a woman ever, and made her the most successful female driver in motorsports. Enders, in fact, is 85 points op top of the 2023 Pro Stock driver's points with two events left in the season. She's one of the favorites for a sixth title in a couple weeks. Listen...
IndyCar Driver David Malukas can't stop smiling as you'll see in this visit to The Freak Nation. Malukas is moving to Arrow McLaren, one of the strongest teams in IndyCar. That takes effect next season and from what Malukas is saying, the meetings have started already. Malukas has visited with Kenny Sargent and Crash Gladys several times at race tracks around the nation. This visit was no different. Malukas is a high energy driver. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Roval Cup Winner AJ Allmendinger, NHRA Texas Funny Car Winner Matt Hagan & Top Fuel Winner Leah Pruett, NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car Champion Doug Gordon
NHRA Texas Funny Car Winner Matt Hagan & Top Fuel Winner Leah Pruett closed out Sunday night with some history for Tony Stewart Racing. It was the first double winning weekend for the team that is only in its second year. Hagan is third in the Funny Car standings with only two events left in the NHRA season. Pruett is second. Both are within two round wins of first place with events in Las Vegas and Pomona still on the calendar. One of the key points in the conversation was the teamwork between the two nitro competitors. And there's also the support of Stewart, Pruett's husband and himself a championship driver and, now, a competitor in Top Alcohol drag racing. Listen...
NASCAR Roval Cup Winner AJ Allmendinger returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night after last week's victory. Allmendinger was emotional after his win, the first after his son was born last month. AJ talked about several things in connection with his Kaulig Racing NASCAR team. He's won Xfinity races with Kaulig now the Cup win was important as both AJ and the Kaulig organization make plans for continuing their relationship next year. Listen...
NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car Champion Doug Gordon won his third title in the Top Alcohol category. He'd planned on 2023 being his last season as he will turn the seat over to his daughter Maddie in 2024. The Lucas Oil Racing driver is the first NHRA champion crowned in 2023 with two race weekends left on the NHRA calendar. It took officials a bit to determine the championship after Gordon won at the Texas Fall Nationals outside Dallas. But when it was determined no one could catch his point total for the season there was a quick title celebration at the top end of the track. Listen...
Guests: TransAm TA and TA2 VIR Winner Connor Zilisch, NHRA Worldwide Technology Raceway Top Fuel Winner Clay Millican, Lucas Oil Stabilizer Monster Truck Driver Cynthia Gauthier
TransAm TA and TA2 VIR Winner Connor Zilisch returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. He'd spent the weekend making Trans Am history winning both the TA and TA2 category races at Virginia International Raceway. Zilisch is just 17-years-old and the first Trans Am driver to ever win two races in different classes in a single weekend. Zilisch is changing the future of motor racing even as we spoke to him Sunday night. He says he want to go into NASCAR and has already received calls from team owners. Listen...
Lucas Oil Stabilizer Monster Truck Driver Cynthia Gauthier is always fun when she comes into The Freak Nation. And there was a bit of news in this visit. Saturday Cynthia announced she was stepping out of her Monster Truck to take time off to have a baby. She told us she's 4 1/2 months pregnant and already has a driver lined up to replace her behind the wheel. She also talked about scheduling the time off to make room for her life. Listen...
NHRA Worldwide Technology Raceway Top Fuel Winner Clay Millican is another longtime Friend of the Freaks. It was great to visit with him after his victory last weekend. Millican drives for Rick Ware Racing, a team with entries in NASCAR, NHRA and other forms of motorsports. Millican says there are similarities to all the racing and Ware is proving it. Listen...
Guests: NHRA Worldwide Technology Raceway Funny Car Winner Matt Hagan, NHRA WWTR Pro Stock Winner Greg Anderson
NHRA St. Louis Pro Stock Winner Greg Anderson has been a Friend of the Freaks for a very long time. So we like it when he has success. Anderson is fourth in points 61 back from Matt Hartford in first. But if you listen to Greg talk, you'd think his only competition is five time champion Erica Enders. In fact, Anderson and Enders each have five championships are are battling to become the first to six. Hartford remains in the fight looking for his first title. Listen...
NHRA Worldwide Technology Raceway Funny Car Winner Matt Hagan returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night after his big win. The stop in S. Louis was halfway through the NHRA's Championship Playoffs. Three down and three to go with Dallas, Las Vegas and Pomona still on the calendar. Hagan is fourth in the standings, 69 points back of leader Robert Hight. Hagan is a farmer in Virginia but he works out like he wants to be Mr. Virginia. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR President Steve Phelps, NHRA Reading Top Fuel Winner Doug Kalitta, 2023 Indy NXT Champion Christian Rasmussen
NASCAR President Steve Phelps took some time recently to visit with Kenny and Crash while he was in Phoenix. And it was a refreshing conversation with a motorsports chieftain who answered all The Freaks questions and looked them in the eye while he did it. Not many in the sports industry, including those of the field of play and in the front offices, will be so candid. That made Phelps a refreshing conversation who talked about Daytona racing to race car safety and more. Listen...
2023 Indy NXT Champion Christian Rasmussen made his debut appearance in The Freak Nation Sunday. He's ready to make his move up to the major league of IndyCar with testing already underway for a ride next year. His NXT championship puts more than $800,000 in his pocket to help him make the move in his career. The Danish driver ha won at every run of the Road to Indy ladder. He's confident about what comes next. Listen...
NHRA Top Fuel driver Doug Kalitta stayed undefeated in the NHRA playoffs, picking up his second straight win on Sunday in Charlotte. He's now in the points lead for the first time in three years. NHRA Reading Top Fuel Winner Doug Kalitta checked several special boxes off his career list when he won at Reading a week ago ending nearly three years without a win. Kalitta finished second in the Top Fuel points race in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2016 and 2019. Winning in Pennsylvania, his 50th in a brilliant career, put him fifth on the all-time top fuel wins list. He's anxious about his team's performance at this point in the season. Listen...
1999 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Dale Jarrett visited with Kenny and Crash during a Phoenix visit to raise money for childhood cancer research. Jarrett no longer drive, instead he talks about drivers and driving as an analyst for NBC Sports. In addition to his Cup title in 1999, Jarrett also won the Daytona 500 three times in 1993, 1996 and 2000. That's why questions about racing at Daytona were right up his alley. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Kansas Winner Tyler Reddick, 2023 IndyCar Champion Alex Palou, 2021 NASCAR Cup Champion Kyle Larson
NASCAR Kansas Winner Tyler Reddick returned to The Freak Nation Sunday Night hours after his win in Kansas. The victory allows Reddick to move to the second round of the NASCAR Chase for the Championship Playoffs. The next race? It's Bristol Baby! On Dirt. Listen...
2023 IndyCar Champion Alex Palou was back in The Freak Nation Sunday night after finishing third in the season finale at Weathertech Raceway at Laguna Seca. Palou was starting his championship season celebrations that'll be tempered somewhat by an expectant baby due in November. Listen...
2021 NASCAR Cup Champion Kyle Larson visited with Kenny and Crash when he was in Phoenix working to generate support for children with cancer. Larson also talked about the NASCAR Playoffs where he won the opening race at Darlington automatically advancing him to the playoffs' second round. Larson has two kids so the idea of supporting childhood cancer is something very special to him. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar WorldWide Technology Raceway Winner Scott Dixon, Three-Time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion Angelle Sampey, 2023 MotoAmerica Super Bike Champion Jake Gagne
IndyCar WorldWide Technology Raceway Winner Scott Dixon came into The Freak Nation Sunday night a coule hours after his win. Dixon dominated the event leading 123 laps and winning by nearly 22 seconds over Pato O'Ward in second. He pulled to within 74 points of series points leader Alex Palou with two events left in the season. Listen...
2023 MotoAmerica Super Bike Champion Jake Gagne earned his third straight Super Bike championship last weekend. We talked with Jake on his 30th birthday and he was feeling good about the world. It's been a powerful season for Gagne who started his domination on pavement with dreams of racing motorcross and supercross. Listen...
Three-Time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion Angelle Sampey has been a longtime friend of The Freaks. She won her titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. She came into The Freak Nation Sunday night after announcing this week that she plans on making a racing comeback. Only, instead of racing a motorcycle, she plans on racing in a dragster with Antron Brown Motorsports. Listen...
NHRA Brainerd Lucas Oil Nationals Top Fuel Winner Antron Brown returned to The Freak Nation. The win in Brainerd topped a double weekend winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday and the Finals on Sunday. Brown is third in points as the NHRA playoffs approach. He said his team is solving season long challenges. Listen...
NASCAR Cup Indianapolis Road Course Winner Michael McDowell came into The Freak Nation Sunday Night for an in-depth conversation on his Indy win. It was an important win for McDowell in that it put him into the NASCAR playoffs, a great moment for his young independent team Front Row Motorsports. McDowell is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. Listen...
2014 & 2022 IndyCar Champion Will Power is a funny guy when he comes into The Freak Nation. And Sunday night was no different. He didn't pull any punches with anyone who came into the conversation. Most of all the 2018 Indy 500 winner talked about his comfort at Worldwide Technology Raceway, the next stop in the IndyCar calendar next weekend. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Team Owner Rick Hendrick & 2021 NASCAR Cup Champion Kyle Larson, 2004 IndyCar Champion Tony Kanaan, 2023 NASCAR Chicago Street Race Winner Shane Van Gisbergen, General Manager Worldwide Technology Raceway Chris Blair, IndyCar Indianapolis Winner Scott Dixon
IndyCar Indianapolis Winner Scott Dixon, a six-time champion in the series, visited with Kenny Sargent in the Indy Media center after his popular vistory. The win marked the 29th straight year that Dixon has at least one win in the series. All those seasons have been with Chip Ganassi Racing and Dixon is satisfied with that relationship. Listen...
NASCAR Team Owner Rick Hendrick & 2021 NASCAR Cup Champion Kyle Larson Sunday morning announced the paint schemes for their attack on the 2024 Indy 500 and NASCAR Coke 600, the famed Motor Racing Double that will be known next year as the Hendrick 1100. Larson will be making his debut in IndyCar when he takes the green flag in the 500 next season. He'll be driving for the Arrow McLaren team. Both cars will be sponsored by HendrickCars.com. Listen...
Tony Kanaan on Tour de Force, Teammates & Kyle Larson 2004 IndyCar Champion Tony Kanaan visited with Kenny Sargent and Crash Gladys at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend. The 2013 Indy 500 winner has become a driver coach for the Arrow McLaren team in IndyCar and he'll be tasked with getting Kyle Larson ready to make his debut in the Indy 500 next season. Kanaan talked about that and a lot more with Kenny and Crash. Listen...
General Manager Worldwide Technology Raceway Chris Blair visited The Freak Nation live Sunday night. His IndyCar date at WWTR is next on the IndyCar calendar. He starts promotion the event with a tour around St. Louis media Monday. Blair is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. He always has a candid conversation. Listen...
2023 NASCAR Chicago Street Race Winner Shane Van Gisbergen made his NASCAR oval racing debut this weekend when he ran in the NASCAR Truck race at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. Van Gisbergen runs all road courses in the V8 Supercars Series where he's won three championships. He finished tenth Sunday in the IMS road course race. He's making a reputation for excellence in NASCAR. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Nashville Winner Kyle Kirkwood, 14-year-old Trans Am Driver Ben Maier, Sprint Car 360 Nationals Knoxville Winner Brian Brown
IndyCar Nashville Winner Kyle Kirkwood won his second race of the season in Nashville. He had a strong car all day Sunday dominating the race early and, after a late yellow flag, pit stop and restart, Kirkwood worked himself back to the front for the win. This was his first visit to The Freak Nation but it was a good conversation anyway. Especially when we talked about the heat and humidity in Nashville on Sunday. Listen...
Sprint Car 360 Nationals Knoxville Winner Brian Brown is a legend in the Sprint Car world. He's won several times in Knoxville, holy ground for Sprint Cars. Brown races at least 75 events a year in 20 states. He's always on the road. And he likes it that way. Listen...
14-year-old Trans Am Driver Ben Maier made his debut in The Freak Nation Sunday night. Maier is getting great attention and help from legends such as Travis Pastrana. Maier will be featured in a new MAVTV show On The Rise airing Thursday night at 8PM Eastern. He finished ninth in Nashville in the TA2 race, that's after starting at the back of the field. Maier also raced two Stadium Super Truck races in the Nashville heat. He was nearly spent when we talked with him. Listen...
Guests: Action Sports Legend Travis Pastrana, 2014 USAC National Midget Series Champion Rico Abreu, 2012, 2015 & 2016 NHRA Top Fuel Champion Antron Brown
Action Sports Legend Travis Pastrana is defining Action Sports for millions around the world. But for The Freaks he's a friend and, frankly, just Travis. We've known him since he was a 16-year-old teenager trying to find a place for himself in the motorsports landscape. He found that place and grew it to his backyard in some cases. In addition to his six American rally titles, he's now founded Nitro Circus and taking it around the world. And that's just a piece of Travis. Listen...
2012, 2015 & 2016 NHRA Top Fuel Champion Antron Brown is a special Friend of the Freaks. We always love his energy and candor. But we also found his engaging as a host for NHRA Hall of Fame member Kenny Bernstein. Kenny and Crash talked with Antron in Denver just after The King of Speed triggered memories sitting in Antron's dragster. Listen...
2014 USAC National Midget Series Champion Rico Abreu has been in The Freak Nation many times but it's been a while this time. Rico has been in NASCAR in addition to his continued return to America's dirt tracks where he won a title in 2014. Now he's beating some of the best at their game, Sprint Cars. Listen...
Guests: NHRA Seattle Funny Car Winner Tim Wilkerson, Formula Drift St. Louis Winner Odi Bakchis, NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Championship Couple Matt & Angie Smith (Second hour only)
NHRA Seattle Funny Car Winner Tim Wilkerson returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night for the second time this season. His win in the Pacific Northwest kept points leader Matt Hagan from sweeping the Western Swing after Hagan's win last week in Denver. Wilkerson took Hagan out in the first round. Wilkerson has some ideas on his great season. Listen...
NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Championship Couple Matt & Angie Smith returned to The Freak Nation. Kenny and Crash talked with the couple in Denver. Matt is a six time champion who's won four of the last five titles. Angle wins events making them experts on competing against each other while traveling and raising a family. Tough work! Listen...
Formula Drift St. Louis Winner Odi Bakchis wears many hats when he's in the drifting world. His suspension business goes around the world. His new drift team has drivers and crew that travel across America. But Bakchis explains how drift judging changes in different parts of the sport. Listen...
Guests: NHRA Denver Funny Car Winner Matt Hagan, Six-Time NHRA Champion Kenny Bernstein, NHRA Norwalk Top Fuel Winner Leah Pruett
NHRA Denver Funny Car Winner Matt Hagan returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night hours after his victory. The three-time NHRA Funny Car Champion won in 2011, 2014 and 2020. He's also the points leader this season by a narrow margin over Ron Capps. Hagan has a strong season unfolding running for NASCAR legend Tony Stewart. He had some special memories in winning the last Funny Car competition at Bandimere Speedway outside Denver. Listen...
Six-Time NHRA Champion Kenny Bernstein won his championships in both Funny Car (4) and Top Fuel (2). He's the first to go 300 MPH in drag racing. And he's the first to win races as a tam owner in the NHRA, NASCAR and IndyCar. By any measure, Kenny Bernstein is a motorsports legend who shared some of those memories with The Freaks. Listen...
NHRA Norwalk Top Fuel Winner Leah Pruett shared some very candid comments with Kenny and Crash. Leah learned how to drag race at Bandimere, the track where she ran on the final weekend of racing this week. Pruett's confidence this season blossomed after her win in Norwalk, Ohio. She also had great memories about teaching her husband Tony Stewart about drag racing. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Mid-Ohio Winner Alex Palou, Freakin' Flashback to The First American Street Race in Los Angeles, Lucas Oil Trans-Am Driver Tomy Drissi, Legendary Drivers Richard Petty & Don Garlits
IndyCar Mid-Ohio Winner Alex Palou came into The Freak Nation minutes after his win Sunday. Palou has won three of the last four IndyCar races and leads the series by 110 points after nine of 17 races. Palou's future is brighter than ever. Some have him going to F1 next year. He won't talk about that. Listen...
Lucas Oil Trans-Am Driver Tomy Drissi came into The Freak Nation Sunday night to celebrate the Fourth of July Holiday and the rainy weekend in Chicago whee NASCAR raced on a street course. Drissi races a Ford Mustang for Lucas Oil in the TransAm series. He's third in the season standings, 105 points out of first after six of 11 races. Listen...
Legendary Drivers Richard Petty & Don Garlits talked with the Freaks many years ago. Petty talked about NASCAR's future and the possibility of racing in Big Cities. We pulled that from our Freakin' Flashback Files and remembered Legendary Drag Racer Don Garlits telling us about how he considered Petty's place on the Mt. Rushmore of American sports. It brought tears to his eyes. Listen...
There were many stories written this week making Chicago the first NASCAR street ever. But Kenny Sargent covered one way back in September of 1999 in Los Angeles around the Los Angeles Coliseum parking lot. Some major names were in the NASCAR Southwest Tour race including Cup stars Kenny Irwin and Ken Schrader. Listen...
Guests: Legendary Daredevil Evel Knievel, 20-Time World of Outlaws Champion Steve Kinser, NASCAR Personality Kenny Wllace
On The Freaks 23rd Anniversary broadcast we look into the vault of incredible interviews including this one from 2002 with Legendary Stunt Man Evel Knievel. Knievel was one of The Freaks favorite guests through the years. His stories are as big as his legendary status. We cut 17 minutes into a little more than six so you could hear some of them. Listen...
20-Time World of Outlaws Champion Steve Kinser came into The Freak Nation in 2005. It was a blistering hot summer afternoon in Sedalia, Missouri but we were able to get Kinser out of his motorhome where he was trying to fix a broken air conditioner. One we got him down in front of the camera he started to relax and take on some critics in the world of motorsports. Listen...
NASCAR Personality Kenny Wallace has been in The Freak Nation several times. This was from 2006 when Wallace relaxed enough to take on a fellow driver on the track: NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kurt Busch. He also had some opinions on Don The Snake Prudhomme and the women who roam the pits "for no apparent reason." Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Driver AJ Allmendinger, Three-Time NASCAR Cup Champion Tony Stewart, Formula Drift Driver Matt Field, Five-time NHRA Pro Stock Champion Erica Enders
NASCAR Driver AJ Allmendinger is a long time Friend of the Freaks. And, on Father's Day, he's about to become a Dad in real life. AJ and his wife Tara are expecting a child in August. He talked about that along with some other fun things with The Freaks. Our conversations always end up with at least a chuckle. Listen...
Five-time NHRA Pro Stock Champion Erica Enders is off to a tough start in 2023. Enders won titles in 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020, and 2022. But She's currently ninth in the NHRA Pro Stock points looking up at a strong field fighting for the season ending playoffs. But Enders always has time to chat with The Freaks even when the conversation turns to tough social issues. Listen...
Formula Drift Driver Matt Field has finished second in the points standings the last two season. He won the opening round in Long Beach this year. It's an effort to move up one more notch in the standings this year. Field talked with The Freaks about his efforts this year and about how the season started with news that a long time sponsor was shutting down it's drift program. Listen...
Three-Time NASCAR Cup Champion Tony Stewart has been coming into The Freak Nation almost as long as there's been a Freak Nation. Smoke won NASCAR Cup titles in 2002, 2005 and 2011. This conversation at a Danny Lasoskie "lost" weekend in Sedalia, Missouri on a blistering hot afternoon. The chat went all the way from thongs to barbeque sauce, a sauce Smoke said he navigated from start to finish. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Sonoma Winner Martin Truex & Team Owner Joe Gibbs, NHRA Bristol Pro Stock Motorcycle Winner Steve Johnson, 2006 Freakin' Flashback with Tony Kanaan, TransAm TA2 Detroit Winner Connor Zilisch
NASCAR Sonoma Winner Martin Truex & Team Owner Joe Gibbs commented after the race in Sonoma about racing Kyle Busch, a former teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing. Truex also talked about the difficulty of racing on the Sonoma road course where it can be hard to pass another car. Listen...
NHRA Bristol Pro Stock Motorcycle Winner Steve Johnson is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. He was bask in The Freak Nation Sunday night with the same hilarious conversation that only comes from talking with Johnson. But there was also some serious talk about a program Johnson is promoting on his website: www.SteveJohnsonRacing.com. It will open a technical career for some lucky student. Listen...
TransAm TA2 Detroit Winner Connor Zilisch is an up and coming 16-year-old racing star who has already won a major motorsports road race while other teens his age are trying to get a date for their prom. Zilisch earned his way into the TransAm win with a string of Karting championships on his resume. It looks like a glowing future in racing. Listen...
This was a November, 2006 Freakin' Flashback with Tony Kanaan, the 2004 IndyCar champion. He talked about a number of issues when The Freaks wee seen on ESPN2. This was long before the Brazilian won the Indy 500 in 2013. The talk included Formula One, IndyCar and Kanaan's appearance on The Apprentice television program. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Cup Winner at World Wide Technology Raceway Kyle Busch, NHRA Top Fuel Driver Justin Ashley, 2016 IndyCar Indy 500 Winner Alexander Rossi
NASCAR Cup Winner at World Wide Technology Raceway Kyle Busch came into The Freak Nation minutes after his lightning delayed win in St. Louis. Busch appears happy to be with Richard Childress Racing after Cup Series Championships at Joe Gibbs Racing in 2015 and 2019. Busch appeared happy to get a hard fought win in St. Louis. Listen...
NHRA Top Fuel Driver Justin Ashley stopped his treadmill workout to talk with The Freaks. His extra time came when the NHRA race at Epping, New Hampshire was delayed because of rain. Ashley talked about weather delays and so much more with The Freaks. Listen...
2016 IndyCar Indy 500 Winner Alexander Rossi finished fifth in the IndyCar race on the Streets of Detroit Sunday. He talked with Kenny and Crash at the Indy 500 last week. The conversation had little to do with racing but it was an eye opener into the personality of Rossi. Listen...
Guests: 107th Indianapolis 500 Winner Josef Newgarden, 2022 IndyCar Champion Will Power, Sgt. James Smith & Joe Gibbs & An Appeal to Support Veterans on Memorial Day
107th Indianapolis 500 Winner Josef Newgarden talked with Crash Gladys after his victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Newgarden's win was his first at The 500. It came on a last lap pass in a controversial ending after a third Red Flag in the last 20 laps of the race. Listen...
2022 IndyCar Champion Will Power, himself an Indy 500 winner in 2018, talked with Kenny and Crash about a number of things including this year's race winner Josef Newgarden, a Power teammate. Will is an Australian who's been in The Freak Nation many times. And every time it's a comfortable conversation that might cover anything. This time was no exception. Listen...
Army Sgt. James Smith & Joe Gibbs and An Appeal to Support Veterans on Memorial Day. Smith and Gibbs represent www.thefund.org/Interstate. and America’s Fund works one-on-one with America’s wounded and critically ill heroes from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces to provide ongoing support for as long as needs require. Interstate Batteries is partnering with The Fund to provide these vital resources. Interstate Batteries is also placing the charity logo on the hood of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry TRD with driver Christopher Bell for the Coca Cola 600 NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte during Memorial Day Weekend. Listen...
Guests: 107th Indianapolis 500 Pole Sitter Alex Palou, NHRA Chicago Funny Car Winner Tim Wilkerson, Driver of Zombie Monster Truck Bari Musawwir
107th Indianapolis 500 Pole Sitter Alex Palou found time for The Freak Nation just after the dramatic moments when he learned he won the Pole for next Sunday's race. Palou will lead the 33 car field in his American Legion Chip Ganassi race car. It'll be Ganassi's third straight year to sit on the pole. Palou will be turning his attention to next Sunday when practice resumes Monday. Listen...
NHRA Chicago Funny Car Winner Tim Wilkerson returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night while he was in Victory Lane after beating Ron Capps for the win, Wilkerson's first since 2021. Wilkerson is a tough out in drag racing even though he constantly trailers cars from million dollar teams in the NHRA. He was happy for the win especially as it happened in front of family and friends. Listen...
Driver of the Zombie Monster Truck Bari Musawwir had a great visit with The Freaks when the Monster Jam was in Phoenix. Musawwir is from Cleveland, Ohio but he's lived in Florida for many years. Still, he remembers his hometown and, especially, the Cleveland Browns, a team he continues to cheer for. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Xfinity Driver Riley Herbst, Supercross East Rutherford Winner Max Antsie, ARCA Kansas Winner Jesse Love
ARCA Kansas Winner Jesse Love returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. His season has been strong winning the last two events at Talladega and Kansas to lead the points standings by two over Frankie Muniz after four of 20 events. Love is only 18 but his experience behind the wheel is extensive as he works his was through the stock car ladder system. Listen...
NASCAR Xfinity Driver Riley Herbst paid tribute this weekend in Darlington. It was a full-circle moment for Riley who was an enormous fan of Block who was killed in a snowmobile accident in January. Herbst told The Freaks it was hard to imagine he'd get a chance to honor Block in this way when he first met him and became a Monster Energy driver with Block. Herbst was caught in a crash early in the race and didn't finish due to car damage. Listen...
Supercross East Rutherford Winner Max Antsie came into The Freak Nation Sunday night to talk about his win in East Rutherford. Antsie is the reigning Australian Supercross champion in the SX2 (250) class. And last year was runner-up in the SX2 class of the FIM Supercross World Championship. Antsie was a fun conversation especially when he opened up about team chemistry in Supercross. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Barber Winner Scott McLaughlin, NHRA Charlotte 4-Wide Top Fuel Winner Austin Prock, NASCAR Xfinity Driver Sheldon Creed, 16-time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force
16-time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force visited with Kenny and Crash recently. And, like every appearance by Force in The Freak Nation, this was far beyond an interview. Every chat with Force is a conversation that could cover any topic. And that makes those chats memorable. John Force is a remarkable man. Listen...
IndyCar Barber Winner Scott McLaughlin came into The Freak Nation Sunday night just hours after his win outside Bimingham. McLaughlin drove a disciplined race overcoming early domination by former F1 driver Romain Grosjean. McLaughlin's win moved him to fourth in the points standings just 11 points from first held by Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson. Listen...
NHRA Charlotte 4-Wide Top Fuel Winner Austin Prock was in The Freak Nation right after his win in Charlotte. Prock finished third in points last season and that's where he sits in 2023. He was the NHRA Rookie of the Year in 2019 but the COVID pandemic forced the John Force team to cut back and Prock worked as a crew member instead of a driver. He's back now and committed to becoming a champion drag racer. Listen...
NASCAR Xfinity Driver Sheldon Creed has found a home with Richard Childress Racing. IN fact, he's one of the most popular drivers in the program on the basis of fan mail. He gets the most at RCR. Creed is seventh in points in the Xfinity series. And he's committed to climbing in the standings. But he also has an interest in dirt track racing. He may seek that kind of racing when he has time. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Xfinity Talladega Winners Jordan Anderson & Jeb Burton, NASCAR Cup Martinsville Winner Kyle Larson, MotoAmerica Superbike Road Atlanta Winner Jake Gagne
NASCAR Xfinity Talladega Winners Jordan Anderson & Jeb Burton came into The Freak Nation Snday night pleased with their big win at Talladega. Anderson is the team owner who got his first Xfinity win Saturday. It was Jeb Burton's second Xfinity win. Both are encouraged with the progress of the new team and are happy to be qualified for the Xfinity playoffs already. Listen...
MotoAmerica Superbike Road Atlanta Winner Jake Gagne was on his way to the airport when he talked with The Freaks after his win Sunday. Gagne is the two-time defending Superbike champion in MotoAmerica. But his win Sunday on MAV-TV came in a close finish that saw three bikes covered by less than a second at the finish. Listen...
NASCAR Cup Martinsville Winner Kyle Larson came into The Freak Nation last week. His win at Martinsville continued a great season and challenged for the win in Talladega Sunday. But a terrifying accident ended that effort. Larson brings a good conversation to The Freaks. Especially when he talks about his love of short track racing. Listen...
Guests: NHRA Las Vegas 4-Wide Top Fuel Winner Antron Brown, NASCAR Bristol Dirt Winner Christopher Bell, Lucas Oil Stabilizer Driver Cynthia Gauthier
NHRA Las Vegas 4-Wide Top Fuel Winner Antron Brown came into The Freak Nation while celebrating in the win in Victory Circle. Brown won Top Fuel titles in 2012, 2015 and 2016 but he's putting his championship team and effort back together after becoming the owner of his own team. Antron is a long-time Friend of The Freaks and we love having him in for a conversation even when his voice is bad and he's worried about his wife who was home sick. Listen...
NASCAR Bristol Dirt Winner Christopher Bell came into The Freak Nation after his big win last weekend. Bell is becoming a Friend of The Freaks. He's also becoming a friend of NASCAR fans who are loving his start to the 2023 season. We talked with Bell early in the morning and we found out what he likes about his morning coffee. Listen...
Lucas Oil Stabilizer Monster Jam Driver Cynthia Gauthier returned to The Freak Nation Sunday Night after a second place finish in Phoenix on Saturday. The Canadian driver is becoming well adjusted to competing in the most American of all motor sports, Monster Truck racing. She also loves working with her female team leader. Listen...
Guests: 2019 & 2021 Supercross Champion Cooper Webb, 2011, 2014 & 2020 NHRA Funny Car Champion Matt Hagan, Actor Sean Patrick Flanery
2019 & 2021 Supercross Champion Cooper Webb returned to The Freak Nation Sunday Night. He started the weekend leading the Supercross points but after a fourth place finish in Phoenix, he came out seen points back in second. Leading the points now is Phoenix winner Eli Tomac who grown into second place in total Supercross wins. Webb is becoming a Friend of The Freaks. Listen...
2011, 2014 & 2020 NHRA Funny Car Champion Matt Hagan first came into The Freak Nation as a working farmer. Now he's working hard on the farm AND in the gym. Hagan is building the body of a body builder and folds it into a Funny Car for wins and titles. He's happy to be a part of Tony Stewart Racing at the moment. Listen...
Actor Sean Patrick Flanery grew up dreaming about motor racing wins. now he's worried about winning at the box office, especially next Friday when his latest film "Nefarious" opens nationwide. Flanery is fun even when he talks about being a control Freak. Listen...
Guests: 2016 Indy 500 Winner Alexander Rossi, NHRA Pomona Pro Stock Winner Dallas Glenn, NASCAR Truck Series Texas Winner Carson Hocevar
NASCAR Truck Series Texas Winner Carson Hocevar could become a joy to talk with after a truck series win. Hocevar got his first NASCAR win Saturday in Texas after 15 national quarter midget championships while he was growing up. Hocevar's joy at winning was refreshing. He said the trappings of winning were going to stay with him as long as possible. Listen...
NHRA Pomona Pro Stock Winner Dallas Glenn came into The Freak Nation minutes after his big win with KBTitan Racing, a new team that's won the last two NHRA Pro Stock classes in Phoenix and Sunday in Pomona. The team is headed by five-time Pro Stock king Greg Anderson. Glenn enjoys Pomona for racing and Golf. Listen...
2016 Indy 500 Winner Alexander Rossi came into The Freak Nation before Sunday's IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway. The ex-Formula 1 driver is now with Arrow McLaren in IndyCar and sponsored by Lucas Oil Racing. He qualified fifth for Sunday's race bu Rossi's real value in The Freak Nation is a great conversation. Listen...
Guests: NHRA Phoenix Top Fuel Winner Justin Ashley, TransAm Road Atlanta Winner Chris Dyson, Supercross 250SX Rider Pierce Brown
Justin Ashley on Track Conditions, New Winners & Social MediaNHRA Phoenix Top Fuel Winner Justin Ashley came into The Freak Nation Sunday while he was still in Victory Lane celebrations. The Lucas Oil Sponsored driver may be the last winner at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park because the track is threatened with shutdown for development. Ashley is happy to be remembered as the last to get it done! Listen...
TransAm Road Atlanta Winner Chris Dyson took over the points lead with his victory Saturday. Dyson is the two-time defending champion in the series. His domination at Road Atlanta looks like he's ready to make it three in a row. Dyson has ALMS titles on his resume but he's ready to admit the TransAm cars are brutally tough to drive. Listen...
Supercross 250SX Rider Pierce Brown visited with The Freak from his rental car while he was waiting to set up his paddock compound in Seattle where he finished seventh Saturday night in the 250SX class. We had a fun conversation with Brown, especially when we convinced the Fellas "hiding" in the car with Brown should come out of hiding and join us. Listen...
Guests: 2015 & 2019 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Busch, Defending NHRA Funny Car Champion Ron Capps, Defending IndyCar Champion Will Power, 2022 AMA Supercross 250sx East Champion Jett Lawrence
2015 & 2019 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Busch is with a new team in 2023. He's also with a new attitude after sponsor troubles left him wondering if he'd get support for the season. He honored support from Lucas OIl Racing with a win at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. The victory also was Busch's first in his new relationship with Richard Childress Racing. He talked with Crash Gladys at Fontana. Listen...
Defending NHRA Funny Car Champion Ron Capps earned his third Funny Car title in his first season as an owner. Capps is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. He was a guest almost BEFORE the Freaks went on the air nearly 23 years ago. It's fun to talk with him as you'll hear in this conversation. Listen...
Defending IndyCar Champion Will Power is a two-time (2014 & 2022) IndyCar title winner and the series' 2018 Indianapolis 500 victor. And to show his consistency, he's won at least one IndyCar race in each of the past 16 seasons (2007-2022). But for the Freaks, the best part about a conversation with Power is his laid back style. He's just as likely to talk about the family pet as he is about winning another race. Listen...
Supercross Oakland 250sx Winner Jett Lawrence si becoming a favorite of the Freaks. His success on the 250sx bikes is shared with his brother Hunter Lawrence. Both win races in the 250sx East and West championships. In fact, Lawrence is the 2021 & 2022 AMA Lucas Oil motocross National Championship outdoor series. He's also the 2022 AMA Supercross 250sx East Champion. Listen...
Guests: Actor/ARCA Driver Frankie Muniz, NHRA Gatornationals Top Alcohol Winner Julie Nataas, 2011 250 Motocross Champion Dean Wilson
Actor/ARCA Driver Frankie Muniz returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. He talked with Kenny and Crash in Phoenix before the ARCA Menards race in which he finished sixth after a small crash in the first three laps. Muniz is moving from open wheel to stock cars after missing 12 years of racing in between. He's fighting hard for credibility and he's getting it quickly. Listen...
NHRA Gatornationals Top Alcohol Winner Julie Nataas of Norway is becoming a Friend of the Freaks. She's won two of the first three events in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. She's making a name in Top Alcohol dragsters but she now has a license to drive Funny Cars. This Norwegian is in love with speed and winning with it. Listen...
2011 250 Motocross Champion Dean Wilson is fighting his way into the 450 Supercross class. He's ninth in points after finishing 12th at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium over the weekend. Wilson is a popular rider in Social Media but he's happy whenever he gets a chance to race in Indy. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Cup Series Fontana Winner Kyle Busch, Supercross 450cc Texas Winner Cooper Webb
NASCAR Cup Series Fontana Winner Kyle Busch came into The Freak Nation right after his win in his second race with Richard Childress Racing. The win was also in a car wrapped with Lucas Oil livery, a rarity in NASCAR. Busch is the 2015 and 2019 Cup Series champion. His 61 Cup wins are most among active drivers. He now ranks ninth on the all-time wins list. Obviously, he's one of the best ever. Listen...
Supercross 450cc Texas Winner Cooper Webb talked with The Freaks this week before his win in Texas. Webb has two Supercross titles in 2019 and 2-21. His win Saturday, though, had some Freakish strings attached. He promised Kenny Sargent he'd give up his leather pants if he won the race. The deal is up to him now! Listen...
2023 Rolex 24 Winner Colin Braun came into The Freak Nation Sunday night after his fourth win in the iconic race. This time he won overall with three other drivers including Tom Bloomquist, Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud, all part of the Meyer Shank Racing Team. They won in an incredibly fast Acura GTP Prototype. The car, the category and the team are all new making the victory that much sweeter. Braun talked about the win and other successes he's experienced in his growing career. Listen...
Styx Lead Singer Lawrence Gowan is another SpeedFreaks guest from the legendary band. Only this time Gowan talked about a number of things including the Styx residency at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas and the Heavy Metal shows he's enjoyed with his son. Gowan and The Freaks even put in perspective the band's touring of America before and after 9/11 and the Covid Pandemic. Listen...
Guests: 2023 Rolex 24 Pole Sitter Tom Blomquist, Driven to Crime Author Crispian Besley
2023 Rolex 24 Pole Sitter Tom Blomquist came into The Freak Nation Sunday minutes after his fastest qualifying lap at Daytona International Speedway. Blomquist, did the lap in a Michael Shank Racing Acura GTP race car. It's one of the newest GTP racers, the highly sophisticated race machines in IMSA, a rolling computer that will see its first laps in competition next weekend at the Rolex 24. Blomquist said he'd like another year to work out the teething issues. Listen...
Author Crispian Besley did a deep dive into research that became Driven to Crime, True Stories of Wrong Doing in Motor Racing. These stories look at kidnapping, ponzi schemes and money laundering among other things. Besley introduces us to the criminals as well as their victims in some of the chapters. It was an incredible dive. Listen...
Guests: Actor/ARCA Driver Frankie Muniz, 2023 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Champion Logan Seavey
2023 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Champion Logan Seavey talked with Kenny Sargent minutes after his major win in the wee hours Sunday morning. Seavey drove for one of the legends in USAC Midget Racing, team owner Kevin Swindell. But Seavey is most proud of winning the coveted Golden Driller trophy given to Chili Bowl winners. Listen...
Actor/ARCA Driver Frankie Muniz announced this week a ful-ltime ARCA ride for 2023. Muniz raced open-wheel but had a bad accident and took 12 years off to recover and travel with an indie band playing drums all over the world. But after his son was born Muniz decided to get back into racing and he's where he always wanted to be, racing a stock car. He'll start at the Daytona 500 week at Daytona International Speedway next month. It's a place he has an emotional attachment. Listen...
Guests: The Freaks Remember Ken Block, NASCAR Cup Driver Ryan Preece, NASCAR Journalist Kelly Crandall, NASCAR Xfinity Team Owner & Truck Series Driver Jordan Anderson
It was a difficult week in The Freak Nation. A Friend of the Freaks, Ken Block, died in a snow mobile accident in Utah near his Park City home. He was 55. Ken changed the way motorsports, indeed, all sports, are marketed. The co-founder of DC Shoes saw his videos viewed maybe a half billion times on You Tube alone. His Gymkhana video series was turned into a television series by itself. The Freaks remember Ken, a 2007 visit to The Freak Nation and have observations on how he changed the way sports is marketed globally. Listen...
Guests: The 2022 Freakies, 2Xtreme Racing Monster Truck Drivers Jim & Dawn Creten, 2022 Formula Drift Runner-Up Matt Field
At the end of every year The Freaks get together and pick their Freak Memories of the past 12 months: The Freakies. This year we look at: The Race of the Year, The Driver of the Year, The Story of the Year and The Freak of the Year. And you wouldn't believe how far apart we are when it comes to what's Freak to each of us. We go from a race in South Central Los Angeles to a video Freak Show drawing millions in Social Media. And all points in between. You have to Listen...
2022 Formula Drift Runner-Up Matt Field came into The Freak Nation Sunday night to get on the couch about finishing second in points for the second straight season. The Lucas Oil Racing driver is one of the top competitors in Formula D. He was so close this season that he went into the last event at Irwindale Speedway leading the points. But Fields learned how tough it is to close the deal. Listen...
2Xtreme Racing Monster Truck Drivers Jim & Dawn Creten came into The Freak Nation Sunday night and we heard what it takes to tame monsters on the track and at home. Jim and Dawn drive Bounty Hunter, Scarlet Bandit and Iron Outlaw, some of the baddest trucks in the sport. The couple is so popular the 2extreme team is growing into its own show drawing thousands a night. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Xfinity Playoff Driver AJ Allmendinger, 2014 & 2015 World Rallycross Champion Petter Solberg & Son Oliver, 16-Time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force, 2022 Indianapolis 500 Pole Sitter Scott Dixon
16-Time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force is one of our Favorite Freaks. He takes time for us several times a year and they're always hilarious visits. John Force is one of the top two drag racers of all time. So when we can have a "chat," it's always wonderful especially when he takes the time for an Elton John lyric. Listen...
NASCAR Xfinity Playoff Driver AJ Allmendinger is a longtime Friend of The Freaks. He finished fifth in the Xfinity standing this season after not making it to the Final Four in Phoenix. But earlier this year The Freaks talked with Allmendinger about Talladega Superspeedway and, just as we expected, he gave us a mouthful of what he doesn't like about the iconic track. Listen...
2022 Indianapolis 500 Pole Sitter Scott Dixon took time last May to drop into The Freak Nation. It's one of our favorite guests of the year. Dixon had just won the Pole for The 500 and, as we learned, he was challenging for the won at Indy before troubles in the last quarter of the race. Still, things looked rosy when we chatted and rosy for Scott Dixon is a great time whenever. Listen...
2014 & 2015 World Rallycross Champion Petter Solberg & Son Oliver took time from a busy WRC season to talk with The Freaks last February. Petter won the WRC title in 2003 and Oliver is stepping to the plate now finishing 12th in the 2022 points without running a third of the events. The two of them are Freaks in their own right. Listen...
Guests: Six Time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion Matt Smith & Pomona PSM Winner Angie Smith, 2021 & 2022 Trans Am Champion Chris Dyson, Three Time GT Arenacross Champion Michael Hicks
Six Time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion Matt Smith & Pomona PSM Winner Angie Smith ended their season on top of the world last week. The Smiths were in The Freak Nation Sunday night with a great conversation about championship motorcycle engines and who builds those title winners. You might be surprised to learn that Angie has a great hand in that horsepower. Listen...
Three Time GT Arenacross Champion Michael Hicks is the points leader again this year and working on a fourth title. Hicks obviously knows the fastest way around the arenas in the series. But he also knows his way about the pit crews outside the arenas and which ones are the best for fighting off the sub-freezing temperatures outside some of those arenas. Listen
2021 & 2022 Trans Am Champion Chris Dyson returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night with a great conversation about winning in Trans Am and how the competition differs from the titles he won in the American Le Mans Series. Or does it? Chris also has some conversation on the music he great up listening to and the music his Dad Rob wouldn't let in the shop. Listen...
Guests: 2022 NHRA Funny Car Champion Ron Capps, New Stewart/Haas NASCAR Cup Series Driver Ryan Preece, NASCAR Journalist Kelly Crandall, NASCAR Driver and Team Owner Jordan Anderson
2022 NHRA Funny Car Champion Ron Capps got his third championship last week, keeping a title he won last season. The Freaks Fav is the first back-to-back Funny Car champion in the NHRA in 20 years. At least one report called the championship miraculous. He was a long shot when The World Finals in Pomona started. But Capps kept going rounds until they were all gone. He's as surprised as anyone. Listen...
New Stewart/Haas NASCAR Cup Series Driver Ryan Preece won over team owner Tony Stewart to move into next season's Stewart-Haas driver lineup. Preece was a reserve driver last season doing simulator work for SHR to help the organization adapt to NASCAR's new Next Gen car. Preece is replacing Cole Custer in the No. 41 SHR Ford. Preece is ready for the step up in class. Listen
NASCAR Driver and Team Owner Jordan Anderson competes part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado for his team Jordan Anderson Racing. But he made headlines this season when he spun in a ball of flames during a race Oct. 1 at Talladega Superspeedway. Flames burned Jordan's face, neck, right hand, arm and both knees. The heat cracked the front windshield. Jordan picks up the rest. Listen...
NASCAR Journalist Kelly Crandall is a great read on Racer.com and a great follow in Social Media. Crandall has been on the NASCAR beat full-time since 2013, and joined RACER as chief NASCAR writer in 2017. When she write, people in the stock car racing world read. So when we wanted to know the latest, we went to the NASCAR source. Listen...
Guests: 2022 NHRA Top Fuel Champion Brittany Force, NASCAR Playoff Driver Tyler Reddick, 2022 Indy 500 Winner Marcus Ericsson
2022 NHRA Top Fuel Champion Brittany Force joined The Freaks just a couple hours after winning her second title. Force won her first in 2017. This year in October she set a record for the fastest drag race in history at 338.48 MPH. It was a great season for Force, daughter of drag racing legend John Force. Brittany has grown a lot coming into The Freak Nation. Listen...
2022 Indy 500 Winner Marcus Ericsson was in The Freak Nation Sunday night while touring his Swedish hometown with the Borg Warner Trophy from winning in Indianapolis. Ericsson's profile is on the trophy and it appears to be a wonderful likeness. Ericsson talked about a number of things regarding the trophy and his Swedish tour. And that includes what he thinks about a swig of milk after drinking the traditional milk in Victory Lane after the Indy 500 in May. Listen...
NASCAR Playoff Driver Tyler Reddick had a long visit with The Freaks this week. Reddick qualified for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs getting his first win of three this year in dramatic fashion at Road America in July. Reddick talked with another new dad about raising kids. Listen...
Guests: The Freaks on Coy Gibbs, 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson, WWE Superstar Big E
There was a big shadow on the NASCAR Championship Weekend in Phoenix Sunday. Hours after his son won the NASCAR Xfinity Championship Saturday night, Coy Gibbs, Ty's father Coy Gibbs died. The Gibbs' Family said Coy didn't wake up Sunday morning. He died in his sleep. In the middle of all the celebration over the Joey Logano championship and race win, many of the Cup drivers paused to remember a critically important figure in their industry. Coy Gibbs was a part owner at Joe Gibbs Racing and the son of team owner and NFL Super Bowl legendary coach Joe Gibbs. The Freaks remembered Coy's last news conference. Listen...
WWE Superstar Big E (Ettore Ewen) made a second appearance in The Freak Nation this week. He played a major role in the NASCAR Championship Weekend when he dramatically introduced the Championship Final Four immediately before the race in Phoenix. Big E has been on hiatus from the WWE as he recovers from an injury received when he was accidentally dropped on his head last March fracturing two vertebrae. He was still fun with Kenny and Crash. Listen...
2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson talked with The Freaks last week before the championship race Sunday afternoon in Phoenix. Larson has many opinions on Ty Gibbs who eventually won the Xfinity championship. And he had much to tay on the Ross Chastain miracle finish at Martinsville last weekend, a move that earned Chastain a place in the NASCAR Cup Series Final Four. Listen...
Guests: The Freaks on Ross Chastain Move, NASCAR Cup Championship Series Final Four Driver Ross Chastain, Flying Lizard Lamborghini Super Trefeo Championship Contender Slade Stewart
NASCAR Cup Championship Series Final Four Driver Ross Chastain talked with The Freaks this week. It was a great chat with one of only four drivers to race for the NASCAR Cup Series championship this season. That will happen next weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. The early betting line from Las Vegas has Chastain the favorite to win it all. Listen...
The Freaks on Ross Chastain's daring charge into the Championship Series Final Four brought some great reaction Sunday night. Chastain had to pass to drivers on the final half lap to have a chance to run for the Cup title and wait 'til you see how he did it! Something that's never been done before except, maybe, on a video game. In fact, several have tried it on a video game and found it impossible. But we saw it Sunday evening. Listen...
Flying Lizard Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship Contender Slade Stewart came into the Freak Nation Sunday night before he left for Portugal where he'll be competing for a title next week. Stewart, though, had a lot more than championships Sunday night. He was also talking about how he could give away a replica of his car to his young fans. Listen...
Guests: NHRA Dallas Pro Stock Winner Erica Enders, 2022 ARCA Series Champion Nick Sanchez, NXT Champion & WWE Superstar Raquel Rodriguez
NHRA Dallas Pro Stock Winner Erica Enders is going for her fifth Pro Stock championship. Her 165 point lead seems strong with only two events left in the season. But points in the last event in Pomona count for 150 percent so the title isn't hers yet. Enders has been racing for 31 of her 39 years and she knows success and failure. She went five years before she got her first Pro Stock victory. She knows it's not over until it's over. Listen...
2022 ARCA Series Champion Nick Sanchez is ready to do the heavy lifting for more stock car titles. Sanchez is cool in his ARCA career on General Tires. But he's ready for what's next in his career. He won't talk about the future with any detail but he smiles when asked about what's ahead. He's young and ready to climb the ladder to success. Listen...
NXT Champion & WWE Superstar Raquel Rodriguez is exploding into the wrestling spotlight. She spent five years in NXT, the relative minor leagues of the sport. She learned from everyone around her especially her Dad, Rick Gonzalez, a WWE veteran on the big wrestling stage. Rodriguez is a breath of fresh air who smiles and is happy to talk about her Grandma's cooking and her Dad's tears, all in the same conversation. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Cup Playoff Driver & Charlotte Roval Winner Christopher Bell, NHRA Dallas Top Fuel Winner Justin Ashley
NHRA Dallas Top Fuel Winner Justin Ashley came into The Freak Nation Sunday night while waiting for his Victory Lane celebration outside Dallas. Ashley is the NHRA Top Fuel points leader with two races left on the season. He had a lot of work to do but he might have some comfort in knowing everyone else is looking up at him with the championship on the line. Listen...
NASCAR Cup Playoff Driver & Charlotte Roval Winner Christopher Bell was in The Freak Nation Sunday night. Bell is the leading points driver in the Toyota camp. He was taken out of the Las Vegas race in an incident involving Darrell Wallace and Kyle Larson. But this week he put his race for the Cup championship into some perspective with just a couple races left on the season. Listen...
NASCAR Xfinity Talladega Winner AJ Allmendinger is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. His visit in The Freak Nation Sunday night was minutes after a family dinner of sushi. We're not sure if the dog loved the lights and camera or the sushi but it wasn't leaving AJ's side. But we got into a serious conversation with AJ about the Next Gen car in the NASCAR Cup series that's confounding drivers and team's alike. Listen...
NHRA Worldwide Technology Raceway Funny Car Winner Robert Hight is another Friend of the Freaks. He's in a deep competitive fight for the 2022 NHRA Funny Car title. The win in St. Louis will help but his eight wins this season guarantees him nothing right now. That doesn't sit well. Listen...
ARCA West Roseville Winner Cole Moore made his debut appearance in The Freak Nation Sunday night. His win in Roseville was historic on two fronts. It was his first win in ARCA and the 100th win for his team owner Bill McAnally. Cole also had something that could make family history for him. He raced against and beat his father Saturday night. That's not going over so well. Listen...
Guests: 2021 IMSA DPi Champion Pipo Derani, NASCAR Legend Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Hickory Motor Speedway Women's Champion Katie Hettinger
Guests: 2021 IMSA DPi Champion Pipo Derani, NASCAR Legend Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Hickory Motor Speedway Women's Champion Katie Hettinger
2021 IMSA DPi Champion Pipo Derani returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. He can't defend his 2021 championship this season but he's about to run in the IMSA season finale next weekend, the Petit LeMans. Derani was just named a factory driver for Cadillac an he's spent much of 2022 testing and preparing for the GTP Cadillac that will run starting next season. He and his wife are also expecting a little girl. Listen...
2021 IMSA DPi Champion Pipo Derani returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. He can't defend his 2021 championship this season but he's about to run in the IMSA season finale next weekend, the Petit LeMans. Derani was just named a factory driver for Cadillac an he's spent much of 2022 testing and preparing for the GTP Cadillac that will run starting next season. He and his wife are also expecting a little girl. Listen...
Hickory Motor Speedway Women's Champion Katie Hettinger came into The Freak Nation Sunday night at the veteran age of 15! Hettinger is already making a name for herself becoming the winningest female racer at Hickory Motor Speedway, a home for stock car racers in the Southeast. Hettinger has her elbows out making her own way in the industry. Listen...
Hickory Motor Speedway Women's Champion Katie Hettinger came into The Freak Nation Sunday night at the veteran age of 15! Hettinger is already making a name for herself becoming the winningest female racer at Hickory Motor Speedway, a home for stock car racers in the Southeast. Hettinger has her elbows out making her own way in the industry. Listen...
NASCAR Legend Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has built his own presence in the streaming communications landscape. His Dirty Mo Podcast and the Dale Jr. Download have become important listens in the NASCAR world. So when Dale Jr. talks about what to do with NASCAR's Next Gen racer, everyone has an opinion including The Freaks. Listen...
NASCAR Legend Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has built his own presence in the streaming communications landscape. His Dirty Mo Podcast and the Dale Jr. Download have become important listens in the NASCAR world. So when Dale Jr. talks about what to do with NASCAR's Next Gen racer, everyone has an opinion including The Freaks. Listen...
NASCAR Legend Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has built his own presence in the streaming communications landscape. His Dirty Mo Podcast and the Dale Jr. Download have become important listens in the NASCAR world. So when Dale Jr. talks about what to do with NASCAR's Next Gen racer, everyone has an opinion including The Freaks. Listen...
NASCAR Legend Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has built his own presence in the streaming communications landscape. His Dirty Mo Podcast and the Dale Jr. Download have become important listens in the NASCAR world. So when Dale Jr. talks about what to do with NASCAR's Next Gen racer, everyone has an opinion including The Freaks. Listen...
Guests: NHRA U.S. Nationals Funny Car Winner Ron Capps, 2022 Indy Lights Champion Linus Lundqvist, 2022 ARCA East/Sioux Chief Showdown Champion Sammy Smith
Guests: NHRA U.S. Nationals Funny Car Winner Ron Capps, 2022 Indy Lights Champion Linus Lundqvist, 2022 ARCA East/Sioux Chief Showdown Champion Sammy Smith
NHRA U.S. Nationals Funny Car Winner Ron Capps is always welcome in The Freak Nation. When he visits the conversations are candid and welcome. He was a double up winner in Indianapolis winning the Nationals and a special Shoutout competition for Funny Car drivers. Capps is finishing his first season as a team owner. And he's in the fight for his third World Championship after winning his second last season. Listen...
NHRA U.S. Nationals Funny Car Winner Ron Capps is always welcome in The Freak Nation. When he visits the conversations are candid and welcome. He was a double up winner in Indianapolis winning the Nationals and a special Shoutout competition for Funny Car drivers. Capps is finishing his first season as a team owner. And he's in the fight for his third World Championship after winning his second last season. Listen...
2022 Indy Lights Champion Linus Lundqvist was relaxing with his family in California when he checked in with The Freak Nation Sunday night. Lundqvist is part of several team conversations for a ride in the big league IndyCar Championship next season. His title in Indy Lights gave him a big scholarship check to take with him to his next team. Listen...
2022 Indy Lights Champion Linus Lundqvist was relaxing with his family in California when he checked in with The Freak Nation Sunday night. Lundqvist is part of several team conversations for a ride in the big league IndyCar Championship next season. His title in Indy Lights gave him a big scholarship check to take with him to his next team. Listen...
2022 ARCA East/Sioux Chief Showdown Champion Sammy Smith came into The Freak Nation just after winning in Bristol that gave him his 2022 titles. Smith is young (18) and figuring out his way through the stock car racing industry. He was dropped into the spotlight with great racing at The Glen where he finished third in an Xfinity Race. Listen...
2022 ARCA East/Sioux Chief Showdown Champion Sammy Smith came into The Freak Nation just after winning in Bristol that gave him his 2022 titles. Smith is young (18) and figuring out his way through the stock car racing industry. He was dropped into the spotlight with great racing at The Glen where he finished third in an Xfinity Race. Listen...
Guests: 2022 IndyCar Series Champion Will Power, U.S. Nationals Top Fuel Winner Antron Brown, Lucas Oil Sportsman Series Indianapolis Top Alcohol Winner Julie Nataas, Motorhead Lead Singer Lemmy Kilmister, Avoid Lead Singer Benny School
Guests: 2022 IndyCar Series Champion Will Power, U.S. Nationals Top Fuel Winner Antron Brown, Lucas Oil Sportsman Series Indianapolis Top Alcohol Winner Julie Nataas, Motorhead Lead Singer Lemmy Kilmister, Avoid Lead Singer Benny School
2022 IndyCar Series Champion Will Power came into The Freak Nation Sunday night just hours after winning the title in a close battle at Weathertech Raceway at Laguna Seca. Power is a longtime Friend of the Freak so it was great for us to talk with him after getting his second IndyCar title. And it came in a year when Power only won one race, he was that consistent. Then there was the exhaustion. Listen...
2022 IndyCar Series Champion Will Power came into The Freak Nation Sunday night just hours after winning the title in a close battle at Weathertech Raceway at Laguna Seca. Power is a longtime Friend of the Freak so it was great for us to talk with him after getting his second IndyCar title. And it came in a year when Power only won one race, he was that consistent. Then there was the exhaustion. Listen...
U.S. Nationals Top Fuel Winner Antron Brown is one of The Freaks closest friends. We talked with him Sunday night after his win in the U.S. Nationals Labor Day Weekend and after he gave testimony before a U.S. Senate Committee studying whether or not to ban performance modifications to cars used on public roads. It's the RPM act and it's before Congress now. Listen...
U.S. Nationals Top Fuel Winner Antron Brown is one of The Freaks closest friends. We talked with him Sunday night after his win in the U.S. Nationals Labor Day Weekend and after he gave testimony before a U.S. Senate Committee studying whether or not to ban performance modifications to cars used on public roads. It's the RPM act and it's before Congress now. Listen...
Lucas Oil Sportsman Series Indianapolis Top Alcohol Winner Julie Nataas was in The Freak Nation Sunday night talking about her journey from her native Norway to Santa Barbara, California to Brownsburg, Indiana. It's an arduous journey but one that's elevated her drag racing career to near the top rung of Top Fuel. But wait'll you hear about her body exploding! Listen...
Lucas Oil Sportsman Series Indianapolis Top Alcohol Winner Julie Nataas was in The Freak Nation Sunday night talking about her journey from her native Norway to Santa Barbara, California to Brownsburg, Indiana. It's an arduous journey but one that's elevated her drag racing career to near the top rung of Top Fuel. But wait'll you hear about her body exploding! Listen...
Motorhead Lead Singer Lemmy Kilmister died December 28, 2015 but not before he visited with The Freak Nation and left comments that are, maybe, the most significant in the Freaks 22+ years. Lemmy was with us oin September 2005 and was asked about the terror attack in New York City. Kilmister traveled all over the world and had been on American tours before and after 9/11. His observations as a Brit were jaw dropping. Listen...
Motorhead Lead Singer Lemmy Kilmister died December 28, 2015 but not before he visited with The Freak Nation and left comments that are, maybe, the most significant in the Freaks 22+ years. Lemmy was with us oin September 2005 and was asked about the terror attack in New York City. Kilmister traveled all over the world and had been on American tours before and after 9/11. His observations as a Brit were jaw dropping. Listen...
Avoid Lead Singer Benny School made his debut appearance in The Freak Nation. The energetic musician came by his love of racing honestly. The passion was learned from his father while Benny was growing up in Seattle. The Freaks found the band Avoid, in fact, as it prepared for an appearance at a racetrack in Colorado. Listen...
Avoid Lead Singer Benny School made his debut appearance in The Freak Nation. The energetic musician came by his love of racing honestly. The passion was learned from his father while Benny was growing up in Seattle. The Freaks found the band Avoid, in fact, as it prepared for an appearance at a racetrack in Colorado. Listen...
Collective Soul Bassist/Percussionist Will Turpin unwound a bit in The Freak Nation Sunday night. The band is in the midst of a national tour backing up the release of it's latest album Vibrating. The first release from that collection is Cut the Cord, released August 12th. Kenny and Crash went to the Collective Soul stop in Flagstaff, Arizona Saturday night and were blown away with the group's live show. Listen...
IndyCar Driver Conor Daly was in The Freak Nation Sunday night with an incredible conversation. It was just a couple days after he admitted cutting off his personally branded mullet. Daly has driven nASCAR Trucks part-time while competing full-time in the NTT IndyCar Series, driving for Ed Carpenter Racing. Daly is a great conversation about a wide variety of topics including his podcast that's growing thanks to the help of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Worldwide Technology Raceway Winner Josef Newgarden, NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals Funny Car Winner Bob Tasca III, IndyCar WWTR Runner-Up David Malukas, ARCA Springfield Mile Winner Jesse Love
IndyCar Worldwide Technology Raceway Winner Josef Newgarden returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. And he brought a new outlook with him. Newgarden has developed a new friendship with teammate Scott McLaughlin and the new personality found in the Bus Bros has Newgarden smiling larger. Sunday night's win also has him smiling larger as he's only three points out of the points lead with two events left in the IndyCar season. Listen...
NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals Funny Car Winner Bob Tasca III is in the midst of a special season that finds him challenging for a Funny Car season championship. It would be his first and Tasca is taking nothing for granted. He talked with The Freaks as his crew is preparing the car for early morning testing in Brainerd, Minnesota. Listen...
IndyCar WWTR Runner-Up David Malukas captured the hearts of everyone in the grandstands Saturday night. His charge to second in the race surprised most in the crowd but not Malukas. The 20-year-old from Chicago was ready for a great run after a two-hour weather delay. He said his car was ready and he didn't want to stop if the race was called because of the rain. Listen...
ARCA Springfield Mile Winner Jesse Love was on an airplane preparing to return to North Carolina when he took some time to talk with The Freaks Sunday night. Love just dominated the race on dirt at the Springfield Mile. There was rain before the race but the dust during the race was heavy even when Love was leading the field. He had some strange help from fans in the crowd. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Richmond Winner Kevin Harvick, NHRA Topeka Top Fuel Winner Antron Brown, 2023 Petty GMS Cup Driver Noah Gragson, ARCA Michigan Winner Nick Sanchez
NASCAR Richmond Winner Kevin Harvick came into The Freak Nation Sunday night within hours of his win. The victory followed last week's win at Michigan putting Harvick in the middle of another championship run. Harvick already has the 2014 NASCAR Cup championship on his resume. This was a great conversation about a wide range of things including a mention of his son going to Europe to advance his go-kart racing career. Listen...
NHRA Topeka Top Fuel Winner Antron Brown broke through Sunday for his first victory of 2022. The three-time champion has been struggling to get his first season as a team owner up to the championship level. But Antron shared with The Freaks that his team is coming together and it's ready for a strong run in the upcoming NHRA Countdown to the Championship. Listen...
2023 Petty GMS Cup Driver Noah Gragson made NASCAR headlines this week when it was announced he would be moving to the Petty next season. The 24-year-old driver from Las Vegas was voted the Most Popular Driver in the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Gragson was cautious in his celebrating last week's announcement. But he's sure of one thing... Listen...
ARCA Michigan Winner Nick Sanchez put up with a lot from his visit with The Freaks Sunday night. Statt Mann put a little pressure on the successful ARCA driver challenging him on his confidence in the racing cockpit. The 21-year-old driver runs in both the ARCA and NASCAR Xfinity Series. He's having success as he works his way up the ladder to the Cup series. Nick says he's a quiet type of driver. Listen...
Feld Motorsports Vice President Dave Prater came into The Freak Nation Sunday night to give The Freaks the details on a major announcement involving Supercross and the Lucas Oil Motocross Championship. The two disciplines haven't been the best of friends in the past but that'll change starting next year. That's when riders will be in a three event series to share in an unprecedented purse of millions. Listen...
NHRA Seattle Top Fuel Winner Tony Schumacher, an eight-time Top Fuel Champion, got his first 2022 victory last weekend to move him into eleventh in the championship points. Schumacher is back this season with a new team that's only partly owned by his father Don Schumacher. The team is filled with young crew members some of whom have never even held an NHRA winner's Wally before last weekend. Schumacher, however, believes there's a championship within his team. Listen...
IndyCar Team Owner & Driver Beth Paretta and Simona di Silvestro keep their all-female team in the spotlight at the Indy 500. But this conversation with The Freaks reveals so much more about Paretta's executive leadership at Chrysler and Mopar. She made decisions that kept some stars racing or set them down. Listen...
Guests: 2004 Freaks on Speed Freakin' Flashback, NASCAR Indianapolis Winner Tyler Reddick, IndyCar Iowa 2 Winner Pato O'Ward, General Manager Worldwide Technology Raceway Chris Blair, 2004 Freakin' Flashback with Sugar Ray
NASCAR Indianapolis Road Course Winner Tyler Reddick spent some time with Crash Gladys after his dominate win. Reddick had the field covered but he needed some last minute heroics to fight off an illegal challenge from Ross Chastain. If you missed it on television, you missed a dramatic overtime win for Tyler, an upcoming Friend of the Freaks. Listen...
IndyCar Iowa 2 Winner Pato O'Ward came into The Freak Nation this week to talk about his surprise win in Iowa. It came after a wild race that included a dangerous crash by race leader Josef Newgarden. O'Ward is young and he's ready to step into the global motor racing spotlight. But O'ward needs to solidify his run in IndyCar first. And he's ready for the task. Listen...
General Manager Worldwide Technology Raceway Chris Blair came into The Freak Nation for a comfortable conversation. Blair has been a Friend of The Freaks since he helped program the show at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Blair had a successful show at WWTR with NASCAR Now he's getting ready for IndyCar August 19-20. Listen...
2004 Freaks on Speed Freakin' Flashback to one of our first shows on video 18 years ago. That's when we recorded the Sunday night radio show and put it on Speed Channel television two nights later. It was a BUSY couple days of editing and shipping. Still, those were great days that helped build out The Freak Nation. Listen...
The Freaks have a 2004 Freakin' Flashback with the band Sugar Ray. This is one of our early shows with Speed Channel. Sugar Ray was a hot band from Southern California in 2004. The band started with funk metal music but had a huge hit with Fly, a pop music hit. Every Morning and Someday followed. The band loved motor racing. Listen...
Guests: 2013 Freakin' Flashback with Justin Wilson, NASCAR New England Winner Christopher Bell, IndyCar Toronto Winner Scott Dixon, NHRA Denver Pro Stock Motorcycle Winner Matt Smith, 2007 Freakin' Flashback with 7-time Supercross Champion Jeremy McGrath
NASCAR New England Winner Christopher Bell returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. The win was his first of 2022 and the second of Bell's NASCAR Cup Series career. Bell's win doesn't guarantee him a spot in the NASCAR post-season playoffs but his finishes leave him sixth in the points standings to make it pretty difficult for another driver to overtake Christopher before the playoffs start September 4th. Listen...
IndyCar Toronto Winner Scott Dixon is a Freaks Favorite. His win in Toronto tied him with Mario Andretti with 52 career wins for second on the all-time list behind A.J. Foyt's 67 victories. His six championships in 2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020 are the most ever. Dixon, though, is far more entertaining than numbers. Who would have thought that Dixon thinks of himself as potentially an IT guy if he wasn't racing. Does that make him a MAC or Windows man? Listen...
NHRA Denver Pro Stock Motorcycle Winner Matt Smith was happy about the victory when he got to The Freak Nation this week. But the win wasn't enough to overcome NHRA rules changes that left Smith ready to slam the wood on some golf balls in Reno. The Lucas Oil rider was throwing names around with charges to label those names. Listen...
Sunday night The Freaks look back to a 2007 Freakin' Flashback with seven-time Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath. The television interview for ESPN2 was at Pomona but McGrath's mind was on a motor racing contract he'd just signed with Dale Earhnardt, Jr. And you'd be surprised at who was behind the curtain pulling strings to make the contract happen. Listen...
A 2013 Freakin' Flashback with Justin Wilson was a highlight on Sunday night's SpeedFreaks radio show. Kenny and Crash talked with Wilson on the Indy 500 Media Day in Indianapolis. Wilson was a Friend of The Freaks so it was painful when he was killed during an IndyCar race at Pocono Raceway in 2015. Debris from another driver's crash hit Wilson fatally. This was a friendlier time with a great man. Listen...
Lucas OIl Motocross Rider Aaron Plessinger scored a podium in Southwick to move into the top ten in the season standings. Plessinger is another rider getting up to speed after injuries in the Supercross season. But Aaron has a great attitude about training for the increasing speed in motocross. But we found the guy to be great with his personal branding and his voice. Listen...
ARCA Mid-Ohio Winner Taylor Gray was in The Freak Nation Sunday night with incredible stories about his recovery from injuries in a non-racing car accident. The teenager is building a career in stock car racing while the family business is drag racing. His grandfather, father and brother have all had success in drag racing but Taylor wants something else. He's fighting his way to make that happen. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Cup Road America Winner Tyler Reddick, Lucas Oil Motocross Red Budd 250cc Winner Jo Shimoda, NHRA Bristol Top Fuel Winner Justin Ashley
NASCAR Cup Road America Winner Tyler Reddick's win at Road America was a popular one. Reddick has been grabbing at that win since last year. He came close in the Bristol dirt earlier this season but was knocked off course between the last turn and the Checkered Flag. You have to like Reddick, though. His personality is perfect the the Freak Nation. Listen...
NHRA Bristol Top Fuel Winner Justin Ashley is one of the new names that are putting the past headliners on the trailer. Three of the top five in NHRA Top Fuel points would be considered young guns and that includes Ashley in fourth. The second generation driver - his father Mike Ashley raced in Funny Car - is more than able to go into the NHRA Countdown playoffs with a favorite tag around his neck. He's a fun conversation who'd make the playoffs something to watch. Listen...
Lucas Oil Motocross Red Budd 250cc Winner Jo Shimoda is a rare wider in motocross and Supercross. He's third in points in the 250cc racing this season. His win shows he has the chops for greatness. His speed shows he has the commitment to get to the top. Shimoda's debut in The Freak Nation Sunday night is one we want to reprise. Soon! Listen...
Guests: IMSA Touring Car Watkins Glen Winner Robert Wickens, Three-Time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Antron Brown, 1978 Formula One World Champion Mario Andretti
IMSA Touring Car Watkins Glen Winner Robert Wickens returned to The Freak Nation in triumph Sunday night. Saturday he won his first race since a 2018 IndyCar accident at Pocono damaged his spine leaving Wickens without full use of his legs. Obviously it was a popular victory. One that left Wickens to talk openly about how he's learning to drive and update his racecraft. Listen...
1978 Formula One World Champion Mario Andretti is just one of the titles earned by this racing legend. We thought it would be great to have him back in The Freak Nation, this visit a flashback two years to our 20th Anniversary weekend. Mario is a Friend of The Freaks as you'll hear in this conversation. You'll also see why we like the guy! Listen...
Three-Time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Antron Brown is a popular and Favorite Friend of The Freaks. This is his first year as a team owner in Top Fuel in the Lucas Oil Racing stable. It's been a steep climb back to the titles he won in 2012, 201 and 2016. Antron is slowly getting all the T's crossed and I's dotted and, in true Antron form, he's able to laugh about the learning curve. Listen...
Guests: Three-time NASCAR Cup Champion Tony Stewart, Lucas Oil Motocross Rider Levi Kitchen, Seven-time Supercross Champion Jeremy McGrath, The Only Brothers to Win The NASCAR Cup Championships Terry and Bobby Labonte, Two-time Formula One Champion Fernando Alonso
Three-time NASCAR Cup Champion Tony Stewart has become a Friend of the Freaks through the years. This appearance was 17 years ago after a hard night of partying in Sedalia, Missouri. Stewart went on a five race win streak after his appearance with The Freaks and eventually won his second title in 2005. Tony is all business when he needs to be but when he's with The Freaks? It becomes fun and games. Listen...
Lucas Oil Motocross Rider Levi Kitchen was sitting on the couch maybe four years ago planning to help his Dad in the electrician business. But the 20-year-old Kitchen, who's from Washougal, Washington, responded to a passion and got into motorcycles and launched a career. That career took a turn for the best when he won his first moto in Nashport, Ohio a weekend ago. It was a dominating win that started with a holeshot and the lead in all 15 laps. Listen...
Seven-time Supercross Champion Jeremy McGrath visited with The Freaks wen he was making his move from motorcycles to stock cars. One of the best Supercross riders in history made that jump with one of the most popular in NASCAR history, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. And you'd be surprised with the role The Freaks played in that move. Listen...
The Only Brothers to Win The NASCAR Cup Championships Terry and Bobby Labonte first came into The Freak Nation via television at Mac Tools shows in Nashville, Tennessee. Texas Terry appears first. After all he won his Cup titles in 1984 and 1996. Bobby's title came in 2000 when the Freaks were "born." Terry and Bobby talked with The Freaks about the Young Guns who were climbing the ranks when we talked with them. Listen...
Two-time Formula One Champion Fernando Alonso won his Formula One titles in 2005 and 2006. That's when his fan base exploded all over the world and especially in Japan. Alonso came into The Freak Nation in 2019 at the Daytona 24 Hour where he won with Wayne Taylor Racing. The Freaks had fun with Fernando who talked about his Japanese fans, his then F1 boss at McLaren, and his growing interest in sports car racing. Listen...
Guests: Championship Off Road Antigo Pro Race Winner Gray Leadbetter, Lucas Oil Motocross Rider Joey Savagty, ARCA Iowa Speedway Winner Brandon Jones
ARCA Iowa Speedway Winner Brandon Jones came into The Freak Nation before he jumped the field at Iowas Speedway this weekend. Jones had to wait out a three-hour weather delay and battle the field Saturday night at Iowa Speedway. The victory was similar to his ARCA win at Charlotte Motor Speedway two weeks ago. Listen...
Championship Off Road Antigo Pro Race Winner Gray Leadbetter returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night after setting a record for women racing in off-road. Her win in the Pro Race class was a first for women. Leadbetter has been breaking barriers since her first appearance in The Freak Nation in 2019 when she was just 14 and racing in rallycross. Listen...
Lucas Oil Motocross Rider Joey Savagty claimed his second consecutive top-10 result with 8-9 moto scores for ninth overall in Loveland, Colorado. Savagty had to overcome a watered down track and more than six thousand feet of altitude to get the finish as he fights back from an ACL tear earlier this year. Savagty had a great conversation about the injuries occurring in motocross this season. Listen...
Seven-Time NASCAR Champion Richard Petty is the King of Stock Car Racing. And whenever he comes into The Freak Nation it's like talking with racing royalty. He even wears a "Cowboy Crown" to prove it! The World Wide Technology Raceway honored Petty this weekend allowing him to drive on the track alone before the Cup cars made their debut on the facility. The Freaks talked with him right after the ceremonies. Listen...
NASCAR WWTR/St. Louis Truck Series Pole Sitter and Race Winner Corey Heim returned to The Freak Nation Sunday Night. He's part of a long line of relatively new drivers emerging into the stock car racing spotlight with something to say and the ability to say it well. Heim is coming through the Toyota driver development program and he's making the most of it. Listen...
NASCAR WWTR/St. Louis Cup Pole Sitter Chase Briscoe is becoming a regular and welcome visitor to The Freak Nation. Kenny and Crash talked with him shortly after he won the pole for Sunday's Cup debut at World Wide Technology Raceway. He was excited to see the series move into the St. Louis region of the country where racing and race fans are abundant. Listen...
Guests: Aerodynamics Consultant Andrew Brilliant, 2000 Indy 500 Winner Juan Pablo Montoya, Four-Time Indy 500 Winner Helio Castroneves, 2019 Indy 500 Winner Simon Pagenaud, IndyCar Driver Connor Daly, 2022 Supercross 250SX Showdown Winner Nate Thrasher
Four-Time Indy 500 Winner Helio Castroneves will try for a fifth in a couple weeks. A fifth win would put him above some of the greatest drivers to race at Indy including A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears and Al Unser. Helio is a favorite of the Freaks for his Indy wins and another title he's held: He won Dancing with the Stars in 2007. Helio is versatile. Listen...
2000 Indy 500 Winner Juan Pablo Montoya is the only driver to win the CART championship (1999), Indianapolis 500 (2000) and Rolex 24 At Daytona (2007), all in his first attempt. Returned to Indy car racing in 2014 after six seasons competing in Formula One and seven in NASCAR. But Montoya has even more to add to his resume but it took some teeth pulling. Listen...
2022 Supercross 250SX Showdown Winner Nate Thrasher visited with Kenny and Crash in Salt Lake City before he won his big title at the Supercross 250SX Showdown between the East and West riders. As the Supercross season winds up, the move now is to the outdoor season when MAV-TV and Lucas Oil are major players. You'll be able to stream the season and see the races on-demand on MAV-TV+. Nate Thrasher and the people who run with him in the outdoor motocross season will have a lot to enjoy when they start competition. Listen...
2019 Indy 500 Winner Simon Pagenaud, the Meyer Shank Racing driver, finished second at the 2022 GMR Grand Prix, the road race before the Indy 500. Pagenaud walked with Crash Gladys about a number of things. and, in pure Freak Fashion, the conversation stretched from fashion, to heat, to qualifying to the Indy 500. When you talk with Pagenaud, you have to be prepared to run the distance. Listen...
IndyCar Driver Connor Daly is another fun Freak frankness. We always have fun talking with Connor. He's a Freak Spirit who doesn't mind being candid in his conversations. At least he's that way when he talks with us. Daly has been around the motorsports map. He knows how other parts of the racing community work and what will transfer to IndyCar which might be his first love. Listen...
Aerodynamics Consultant Andrew Brilliant visited The Freak Nation Sunday night to detail a problem that's stumped many engineers in the Formula One garage. It's called porpoising when the areo flowing over a race car causes the car to bounce up and down like a porpoise breaking through the surface of the water. Andrew explains how the problem can be solved. Listen...
Guests: The Freaks on The Miami Grand Prix, Supercross Trainer & Former Rider Davi Millsaps, NHRA Drag Racing Legend John Force
16-time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force is a wonderfully great conversation in The Freak Nation. A day after his 73rd birthday, Force sat with the Freaks to talk about a host of things including his dinosaur tendencies and his musical tastes that run from Hank Williams, Jr. to Elton John and Eminem. Wait'll you hear what he'd like to have as his Walk Up music in drag racing. Listen...
Supercross Trainer & Former Rider Davi Millsaps spent wonderful minutes with The Freaks this weekend in Salt Lake City where the Supercross Finale unfolded Saturday night. Millsaps was a strong rider at one time but now he's an even stronger trainer for Team Tedder/Monster Energy/Lucas Oil/KTM Racing’s Benny Bloss. Millsaps has a great story of perseverance through head injury, depression, thoughts of suicide and overcoming the performance of his friend and former Supercross champion James Stewart. Listen...
Formula One came to Miami, Florida this weekend and the action was wild on and off the track. The Freaks have impressions on the weekend as fans, observers and several lifetimes of following Formula ONne. What was the racetrack like? Did the track properly showcase the greatest drivers in the world? And why did the drivers who finished on the podium have to take cabs to the podium ceremonies? Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Birmingham Winner Pato O'Ward, Legendary NASCAR Team Owner Jack Roush, NASCAR Xfinity Team Owner Jordan Anderson & Driver Myatt Snider
IndyCar Birmingham Winner Pato O'Ward returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night within hours of his win at Barber Motorsports Park. It was O'Ward's first win of the season. He talked with Kenny Sargent about a number of issues including his decision to more up from his mid-pack racing early in the season. He also talked about the voice he hears during the race. Listen...
NASCAR Xfinity Team Owner Jordan Anderson & Driver Myatt Snider made their debut in The Freak Nation Sunday night. Their conversation was all over the map. Snider, the son of broadcaster Marty Snider, and Anderson are friends in addition to their employee/employer relationship. Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport is growing in performance and results. Listen...
Legendary NASCAR Team Owner Jack Roush turned 80 on April 19th. Roush is one of the great names in several kinds of racing from drag racing to NASCAR. He's competed for championships in each. But Jack can be a championship story teller when he comes into The Freak Nation. His stories in this Freakin' Flashback includes a deep dive into the mindset of Carl Edwards. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Xfinity Driver Jeffrey Earnhardt, NASCAR Cup Driver Erik Jones, NASCAR Xfinity Driver AJ Allmendinger, ARCA Talladega Race Winner Nick Sanchez
NASCAR Xfinity Driver Jeffrey Earnhardt finished second Saturday at Talladega. But the presence of Dale Earnhardt's grandson racing with Dale Earnhardt's Crew Chief lit a fire under Social Media over the weekend. You'd have thought Earnhardt won the race instead of Noah Gragson. Still, the conversation with Jeffrey was wonderful especially listening to his radio voice. Listen...
NASCAR Xfinity Driver AJ Allmendinger ran third in the Xfinity race Saturday. Shortly after the Checkered Flag fell, AJ was talking with Kenny Sargent about a host of things including scary hatreds, running out of gas and Kaulig Racing's success this season. IN other words, it was a normal conversation with one of The Freaks Favorite Friends. Listen...
ARCA Talladega Race Winner Nick Sanchez, a 20-year-old from Miami, won the second ARCA race of his career this weekend. And, like most ARCA drivers, he came into The Freak Nation with a completely wonderful conversation including a line we'll never forget about racing at Talladega: "You don't know how fast you're going until you wreck." Listen...
NASCAR Cup Driver Erik Jones came within a few yards of winning the Cup race Sunday at Talladega. It must have been disappointing in the extreme but The Freaks talked with Jones before the race. And his personality set the conversation on fire. Especially the part about reading books to elementary school kids in his spare time. Listen...
Guests: Lucas Oil Stabilizer Monster Truck Driver Cynthia Gauthier, Supercross Rider Benny Bloss, ARCA Driver Rajah Caruth
Lucas Oil Stabilizer Monster Truck Driver Cynthia Gauthier returned to The Freak Nation as she packed to catch an airline flight. Gauthier was in Indianapolis for a Monster Truck show in Lucas Oil Stadium. She had a great smile on her face as she remembered some giveaways to small children at the pre-event autograph session. She also remembered some new freestyle tricks later. Listen...
Supercross Rider Benny Bloss made his debut into the 2022 Supercross series Saturday night. He'd been out recovering from a pre-season crash that damaged his collarbone. Bloss said there seems to be more accidents this year as the speeds pick up on the track. He said the slower more technical tracks produce fewer crashes and injured riders. Listen...
ARCA Driver Rajah Caruth made his debut in The Freak Nation Sunday night. He's an up and coming name in stock car racing. And Caruth talked about some of the things he's learning as he works his way to the front of the ARCA line. Caruth also had some things to say to young people coming out of high school in the middle of the COVID pandemic. Listen...
Guests: NHRA Las Vegas Top Fuel Winner Brittany Force, 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne, 2018 & 2019 Australian Supercross Champion Justin Brayton, 2012, 2015 & 2016 NHRA Top Fuel Champion Antron Brown
NHRA Las Vegas Top Fuel Winner Brittany Force is a Freaks Favorite so when she comes in after a big win it's especially important. Brittany had a great day in Las Vegas and we got to talk with her while her team was still breaking down the car after winning. Brittany was especially excited to get some celebrating in before a major test session tomorrow in Las Vegas. Listen...
The Freaks tried something very different with 2012, 2015 & 2016 NHRA Top Fuel Champion Antron Brown. He's a longtime Friend of The Freaks but this time he came into The Freak Nation after being interviewed by TransAm2 driver Michele Abbate. Both are part of the Lucas Oil Racing family. Michele is another Freaks Fav but listening to two competitive drivers share some experiences with each other was a break through even for The Freaks. Listen...
2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne made his debut appearance in The Freak Nation Sunday night. And we enjoyed the visit. Gagne is coming off one of the great season in all of motorsports competition. He won 16 straight times last year and 17 overall. No one has ever turned in a record like that. And Jake is ready to try it again. Listen...
2018 & 2019 Australian Supercross Champion Justin Brayton is getting comfortable with his title as the elder statesman of Sujpercross. Brayton says this is his last year in the young man's game. But the two-time Australian Supercross champion is embracing the opportunities at his disposal. He's managed his career well and he's looking forward to unwinding at speed but spending some slower paced days with his family. Listen...
Guests: 2018 Daytona 500 Winner Austin Dillon, Supercross 250cc Points Leader Christian Craig, 2019 & 2020 Monster Truck Stadium Champion Todd LeDuc
2018 Daytona 500 Winner Austin Dillon experienced some Freak wildness in his hauler in Phoenix recently. Kenny and Crash dressed in costumes and visited with the NASCAR driver holding a conversation that went all over the map in Freak style. But a lot of the time was spent on Austin's son Ace who could become a Freak guest in the future. He's that adventurous. Listen...
2019 & 2020 Monster Truck Stadium Champion Todd LeDuc is a welcome guest in The Freak Nation. He started in off-road racing but now is driving a Monster Truck full-time winning championships along the way. Todd mentioned he likes competing on dirt from off-road to Monster Trucks to Sprint Cars. But his family is his first love, even when he drops the word "clutzy" into the conversation with us and triggers a response from off-camera. Listen...
Supercross 250cc Points Leader Christian Craig visited the Freak Nation this week right before he went out to practice for the Seattle round of the series. Craig finished second Saturday night to maintain his points lead in the 250 Supercross West championship. Christian and his family are popular figures on Social Media and you can understand why in this conversation. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Texas Winner Josef Newgarden, NBC NASCAR Analyst Kyle Petty, IndyCar Driver Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR Xfinity Driver Riley Herbst
IndyCar Texas Winner Josef Newgarden returned to the Freak Nation shortly after speaking with reporters after his dramatic last turn pass for the win at Texas Motor Speedway. The highlight of the conversation might be the "straight cash homie" he received from team boss Roger Penske. The win was the 600th for the remarkable Penske Racing machine. And Roger appreciated the effort. Listen...
NBC NASCAR Analyst Kyle Petty has been in The Freak Nation many times and every time he brings candor that leaves our eyes open wider. First, there's the issue of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America that starts April 30th in Phoenix. Then there's the upcoming Kyle Petty book Swerve Or Die: Life at My Speed in the First Family of NASCAR Racing. It's due out in August but we understand it's worth getting in line now. It's that hot with insider opinions. Listen...
Seven-time NASCAR champion and, now, IndyCar Driver Jimmie Johnson returned to The Freak Nation during a significant weekend in his IndyCar career. Johnson is in his second season in open wheel but this weekend he broke into the Top Ten of results finishing sixth in Texas. Johnson was strong all day Sunday holding off defending champion Alex Palou going to the checkered flag. Johnson says he's loving learning IndyCar racing. Listen...
NASCAR Xfinity Driver Riley Herbst showed his team's speed and strength Saturday coming from two laps down to finish fourth at Atlanta Motor Speedway. And that includes a green flag pit stop to heck what was causing his Stewart Haas Racing Ford Mustang to overheat. Herbst comes from a family based in Las Vegas that earned it's stripes winning off-road races. But the 23-year-old is making his own spotlight racing in NASCAR charging to the top in the Cup Series. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Driver Tyler Reddick, NHRA Gainesville Funny Car Winner Matt Hagan, ARCA Phoenix Winner Taylor Gray
NHRA Gainesville Funny Car Winner Matt Hagan is always fun when he visits The Freak Nation. He knows that when he talks with The Freaks it's been a good weekend when he's won an event. We've followed Hagan's career from his days as a farmer to now when he owns the farm and he has help with the work. Hagan has won three championships - in 2011, 2014 and 2020 -- but this season has special meaning and not just because it's the first for Tony Stewart Racing. Listen...
ARCA Phoenix Winner Taylor Gray is only 16-years-old but he's breaking into the big leagues of race winning. His victory on General Tires this week launched him into some rare air. But the win was tempered by tragedy that hit his David Gilliland Team this week. It was tough to talk about. Listen...
NASCAR Driver Tyler Reddick made a rare visit to The Freak Nation Sunday night. The conversation was an excellent look into a winless driver who's about to explode into Victory Lane and rearrange the place. Reddick's conversation covered enormous ground from what he dreams about to what makes him giddy when he looks at other forms of racing when he's not behind the wheel of his Richard Childress race car. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar St. Petersburg Winner Scott McLaughlin, NASCAR Xfinity Driver Ryan Vargas, NHRA Pro Stock Driver Camrie Caruso
IndyCar St. Petersburg Winner Scott McLaughlin was a three-time Australian Supercars Champion (2018, 2019, 2020) when he came to IndyCar last year. He learned his open-wheel lessons pretty well, though, proving it by dominating his first IndyCar race this year in St. Petersburg for his first win in the series. You'll be surprised, though, what the people at Penske Racing told him when he was making the transition. And the blister he "earned" in the St. Pete win! Listen...
NASCAR Xfinity Driver Ryan Vargas has been growing behind the wheel in stature and skill ever since he started racing at Irwindale Speedway in Southern California on Saturday nights. But no matter how much he won, the security at Irwindale found it hard to believe he was old enough to be a winner down on the track. Now Vargas is a step away from the top of all American stock car racing. Listen...
NHRA Pro Stock Driver Camrie Caruso is only the third woman in history to ever win a round in NHRA Pro Stock racing. She's taking it in stride though. She has genetic skill from her grandfather and father who raced in Pro Mod and won bunches. Camrie is going forward hoping the rest of the Pro Stock field takes her for granted. She has some surprises for those who do! Listen...
Guests: NHRA Phoenix Funny Car Winner Robert Hight, Superstar Wrestler Ettore "Big E" Ewen, ARCA Daytona Lucas Oil 200 Winner Corey Heim
NHRA Phoenix Funny Car Winner Robert Hight is on the hottest streak to start the 2022 season. He's been in eight final rounds and won all eight. His two event winning streak is a great start toward championships he won in 2009, 2017 and 2019. Hight admitted the battle to do all that winning has left him exhausted. Listen...
ARCA Daytona Lucas Oil 200 Winner Corey Heim visited with Kenny Sargent right after last week's win at Daytona Speedway. Heim is part of the powerful Venturini Motorsports program that dominates in ARCA. Heim is a great guest for the Freaks. He's a fun conversation especially after his first win of the season. The way he explains it, he's not out there "ridin' around." Listen...
Superstar WWE Wrestler Ettore "Big E" Ewen was in The Freak Nation Sunday night. Big E is becoming intertwined with NASCAR, a big leap from a guy who drove a Geo Metro when he was in college. The way he described it the car was the definition of a "hooptie." But there's very little that's hooptified in Big E's life now. Listen.
Guests: NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver AJ Allmendinger, 2021 Lucas Oil 250 Motocross Champion Jett Lawrence, NASCAR Truck Series Driver Hailie Deegan, 2022 Race of Champions Champions Petter and Oliver Solberg
NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver AJ Allmendinger is driving full-time in the series this year. He's a longtime Friend of The Freaks and it was another fun conversation in Daytona where AJ finished second in the Xfinity race. Allmendinger led three times on the night, including 13 of the last 15. But a late charge by eventual winner Austin Hill found Hill inches ahead of Allmendinger as the final caution flag came out. It left AJ behind at the wrong time. Listen...
2021 Lucas Oil 250 Motocross Champion Jett Lawrence got a great start on the 250 East Supercross title Saturday night. Lawrence won the East opener in Minneapolis chasing down Austin Forkner who grabbed a holeshot lead at the start of the race. Lawrence's season, in fact, will be a comeback. He was injured days before the season started sending him to the sidelines with broken ribs when he was preparing for the 250 West series. Now the Honda rider is starting over. Listen.
NASCAR Truck Series Driver Hailie Deegan finished 17th Friday night in the truck series season opener at Daytona. Deegan is fighting for a great seasoon that could launch her into an Xfinity ride next year. Deegan had to battle last year to learn the truck and the tracks without the "luxury" of practice as NASCAR joined the world battling COVID and costs. Listen...
Petter & Oliver Solberg Team for Race of Champions Title 2022 Race of Champions Champions Petter and Oliver Solberg were in The Freak Nation right after their title winning winter run in the Race of Champions. The Solbergs represented Norway in the ROC Nations Cup competition in Sweden. The Father-Son team surprised many with the win. Some called it stunning. Petter's won World driving titles in Rallying and Rallycross. Oliver is just getting his global career underway. They talked with The Freaks from a hotel in Sweden where they were preparing for test sessions. Listen...
Guests: Three-Time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart, NASCAR Cup Driver Chase Briscoe, Formula Drift driver Justin Pawlak, The 2021 Freakies
Guests: Supercross Rider Josh HIll, 2016-2017 NASCAR/ARCA Menard West Series Champion Todd Gilliland, NASCAR/ARCA Menard West Series Team Owner Bill McAnally
Supercross Rider Josh HIll was in retirement testing an all-new electric motorcycle when he got a call from a friend the day before Christmas. There was good news and bad on the call. First a fellow rider was hurt in a bad testing crash just a couple days before. The good? Team Tedder/Monster Energy/Lucas Oil/KTM Racing wanted Hill, a native of Yoncalla, Oregon, to be a fill-in rider for Benny Bloss. HIll says it'll take a couple events to get up to speed again. Listen...
2016-2017 NASCAR/ARCA Menard West Series Champion Todd Gilliland is moving up in class this year when he jumps into the NASCAR Cup Series. Gilliland is a second generation driver. His father David raced in the Cup Series more than a decade ago. In 2021, Todd earned his second career Truck series win in his fourth full season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He's testing fast so far this off-season. Listen.
Several things define NASCAR/ARCA Menard West Series Team Owner Bill McAnally. First there's ten championships for his team 10 championships in the NASCAR/ARCA Menard West Series. Then some of the biggest names in racing have come through the Bill McAnally Racing garage. And the BMR relationship with NAPA Auto Parts is as well known as the team's headquarters in California wine country. But maybe the biggest headline this season is BMR's chamge from Toyota to Chevrolet. Listen...
2022 Rolex 24 Winner Simon Pagenaud was part of a driving team at Meyer Shank Racing that included Helio Castroneves, Tom Blomquist & Oliver Jarvis. The team battled throughout the race especially in the last hour when Helio Casroneves got in the car and had to fight off Ricky Taylor for the win. It was the second win for Meyer Shank Racing. The team also won ten years ago in the 50th Rolex 24. Listen...
2022 Rolex 24 LMP3 Winner Gar Robinson dominates the LMP3 category that made its debut last season. He won the first race at Daytona, the 2021 LMP3 championship and all but one of the races in between those two headlines. Robinson, in fact, defended his 2021 class win at the Rolex. Obviously he's happy with his success against the field. Listen...
San Diego Supercross Winner Chase Sexton is building a strong season. After his win in San Diego he finished on the podium in the second race at Anaheim. We caught up with Sexton as he waited in his car to get into Anaheim Stadium. He needed to get his COVID test results before going into the stadium. Sexton is an older Supercross rider which makes him an "older" conversation. Listen.
2020 NASCAR Cup Champion Chase Elliott talked with the media during the NASCAR testing in Phoenix last week. These few minutes revealed how Elliott and other drivers in the Cup Paddock feel about the new car that will be racing this season. He also talked about the process of learning hot to get the most out of the new machine. Listen...
Supercross 250sx West Challenger Hunter Lawrence has two consecutive podium finishes in Oakland and San Diego to sit second in the 250 standings. He was runner-up last year in the West Championship but he's battling to move up to the top step this year. Hunter planned on running in the East Championship this year but a last minute crash by his brother Jett saw him step into his brother's plans and run in the West. So far, he's making the most of it! Listen...
Music Legend Meat Loaf, Michael Lee Aday, died last Thursday at 74. His Bat Out of Hell album released in October, 1977 is one of the best selling rock albums of all time. The album was the first of a trilogy that's sold more than 65 million albums all time. At the release of Bat Out of Hell II in Japan Kenny Sargent talked with Meat Loaf at a Harley Davidson store in Tokyo. The conversation was as outrageous at that. Listen...
Guests: Supercross 250sx West Challenger Hunter Lawrence, Supercross 450cc Rider Adam Cianciarulo, Music Legend Meat Loaf Remembered
Supercross 450cc Rider Adam Cianciarulo has been 11th, 12th and 11th again in the first three events of the young Supercross season. He's recovering from another shoulder injury suffered the first week of January. His shoulders have been an ongoing problem for the winningest mini bike rider in amateur motocross history. Cianciarulo is ready to get the injuries behind him and go on to the championship career that was projected to him since his rookie season in 2014. Listen.
Guests: 2022 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Presented by General Tires Winner Tanner Thorson, West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame Nominee Brendan Gaughan, Supercross 450cc Rider Justin Bogle
2022 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Presented by General Tires Winner Tanner Thorson came into The Freak Nation minutes after his big win Saturday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He beat a strong field of NASCAR and open wheel drivers including Christopher Bell who won three straight Chili Bowls from 2017-2019. Bell was on the pole Saturday night night and led early on but Thorson stormed around him and controlled the race to the end. Listen...
West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame Nominee Brendan Gaughan is one of those drivers who's been around long enough, and a Freak Friend long enough to be welcome for as long as he'd like in The Freak Nation. That's why we threw away the clock when Brendan visited this time. The Hall of Fame thing was just a jumping off place. Our conversation went all over the map including a visit to Georgetown basketball and head coach Big John Thompson. We think you'll like the fun among friends. Listen...
Supercross 450cc Rider Justin Bogle has moved into another level in his Supercross career. His new sponsorship from Twisted Tea adds some strength to his game. But his friendship with his trainer, mentor and friend moves him along several higher levels in life. Bogle talked with the Freaks about the painful last week where he lost a friend and roommate who supported him in good times and bad. Listen...
Guests: Three-Time and Defending World of Outlaws Champion Brad Sweet, Lucas Stabilizer Monster Truck Driver Cynthia Gauthier, Bass Fishing Winner James Worldwide Watson
Guests: Three-Time Defending World of Outlaws Champion Brad Sweet, Lucas Oil Monster Jam World Finals High Jump Champion Cynthia Gauthier, General Tire Bass Fishing Winner James "Worldwide" Watson
Guests: NASCAR, World of Outlaws & NHRA Team Owner Tony Stewart, 2021 NASCAR Rookie of the Year Chase Briscoe, Lucas Oil Racing & Formula Drift Driver Justin Pawlak, The 2021 Freakies
The Freaks always enjoy a good round with NASCAR, World of Outlaws & NHRA Team Owner Tony Stewart and our conversation Sunday night was no different. We talked about a lot of things including how Kenny always set up Smoke for a quick zinger! But we got our shots in too. And we learned about his new tractor sponsor and what he just learned how to do on the Internet. Listen...
2021 NASCAR Rookie of the Year Chase Briscoe joined The Freaks Sunday night after the announcement that Mahindra Tractors was joining Stewart Haas Racing to sponsor Briscoe for the upcoming NASCAR Cup season. Chase was a great few minutes. His music tastes dovetailed right with our own Metalhead Kenny Sargent. And Chase understands how important he is to the #14 race team in NASCAR. Listen...
Lucas Oil Racing & Formula Drift Driver Justin Pawlak put down an incredible run with Kenny Sargent at the Performance Racing Industries Show in Indianapolis. Justin, or JTP for short, is the best example of a Formula D driver. He explained why the sport is growing and expanding it's fan base at a time when motorsports is beating the bushes looking for new fans. Listen...
One of the best times of the year is recalling our personal Freakies, the best races, driver performances and the best outright Freaks of the year. There were some chalk suggestions and one from Crash that shocked everyone in its simplicity and importance. We like The Freakies. Listen...
Guests: Three-Time Defending World of Outlaws Champion Brad Sweet, Lucas Oil Monster Jam World Finals High Jump Champion Cynthia Gauthier, General Tire Bass Fishing Winner James "Worldwide" Watson
Three-Time Defending World of Outlaws Champion Brad Sweet is the brother-in-law of NASCAR Cup Champion Kyle Larson. That was a minor problem before Brad's sister married Kyle. Larson and Sweet had a sour confrontation on the racetrack, one that divided the families for a few years. We've heard what Larson thinks about the disagreement. What does Brad say? Listen...
Lucas Oil Monster Jam World Finals High Jump Champion Cynthia Gauthier is moving from the Monster Mutt truck to the Lucas OIl Stabilizer Monster Jam entry. Gauthier has had a popular run as the driver of Monster Mutt. She's won events and special competitions. And Saturday she took a flier in the Mint 400 and finished eighth out of 17 finishers in the UTV Pro Normally Aspirated class. That was a great effort for her first time in off-road and only seeing the car three days before they dropped the green flag. Listen...
General Tire Bass Fishing Winner James "Worldwide" Watson may have missed a calling in stand-up comedy. It's impossible to listen to this man from Missouri without laughing. Hard! Watson's storytelling is how he ended up with the Worldwide nickname. His stories are funny anywhere, worldwide. He just sees the world from a different pair of eyes. Listen...
Guests: 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson, 2021 NHRA Funny Car Champion Ron Capps, 2021 IMSA Champions Felipe Nasr and Pipo Derani, 2021 IMSA GTD Champion Laurens Vanthoor
Guests: 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson, 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Regular Season Champion AJ Allmendinger, Legendary Musician & Judas Priest Frontman Rob Halford
2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. His appearance in The Freak Nation last Sunday night was a refreshing visit with a driver who had dream seasons the past two years. When he was suspended from NASCAR he won dozens and dozens of dirt races all over America. He followed with one of the most successful seasons ever in NASCAR. He had ten wins and a dramatic victory in the championship race that closed the deal and the title. Listen...
2021 NASCAR Xfinity Regular Season Champion AJ Allmendinger could be the Fourth Freak he's that welcomed and comfortable in The Freak Nation. AJ visited with The Freaks on video recently and we're bringing that back in this Best of... programming blast. We talked with AJ about a number of issues including his plans for next year, his new teammate and the Final Four battle in Phoenix. Listen...
Legendary Musician & Judas Priest Frontman Rob Halford is back in The Freak Nation in this Best of... appearance. Halford and the Priest Team is releasing a 43 CD collection titled Reflections. It's 50 years with Judas Priest. That includes 13 CDs of unreleased music! This is a history of Heavy Metal Rock from one of the biggest names and voices in the genre. Listen...
Guests: 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson, 2021 NHRA Funny Car Champion Ron Capps, 2021 IMSA Champions Felipe Nasr and Pipo Derani, 2021 IMSA GTD Champion Laurens Vanthoor
2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. His appearance in The Freak Nation Sunday night was a refreshing visit with a driver who had dream seasons the past two years. When he was suspended from NASCAR he won dozens and dozens of dirt races all over America. He followed with one of the most successful seasons ever in NASCAR. He had ten wins and a dramatic victory in the championship race that closed the deal and the title. Listen...
2021 NHRA Funny Car Champion Ron Capps might well be considered the fourth Freak. His first appearance in The Freak Nation came before the radio show was launched. The title, however, came at the last minute this weekend. Capps lost early in the Sunday eliminations and had to pace nervously until teammate Matt Hagen lost delivering the championship to Ron. Listen...
Felipe Nasr & Pipo Derani on What Clicked, Adorable People & Succession 2021 IMSA Champions Felipe Nasr and Pipo Derani fought to the last corner of the season before they got the championship. They explained some of the on-track drama at Petit LeMans Saturday. They also explained what turned around their season and who'd be their alter egos from television. Lucas Oil sponsored Nasr and Derani are becoming important people in The Freak Nation. Listen...
2021 IMSA GTD Champion Laurens Vanthoor has won championships with the powerful Porsche factory racing team but Saturday the championship came with the independent Pfaff Racing Team from Canada. Laurens explained the difference between racing for a factory and independent team. You'll be surprised at which he might prefer. Listen...
Guests: The Freaks on NASCAR Champion Kyle Larson, NASCAR Xfinity Championship Finalist AJ Allmendinger, Judas Priest Lead Singer Rob Halford
Kyle Larson's 2021 NASCAR Cup Championship was a major headline. He came back from oblivion in the final 50 laps of the race thanks for a storm of a pitstop, the second fastest stop of the team's season. The work was so fast it moved Larson from fourth in the race to first, and the championship. There's some controversy in the title. Larson was suspended in 2020 because of a racial slur voiced during a streamed race on video. Listen...
NASCAR Xfinity Championship Finalist AJ Allmendinger returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night after a disappointing performance in Phoenix saw the Xfinity championship drift out of his hands. Allmendinger is a longtime Friend of The Freaks. And this appearance was another candid few minutes with one of the top drivers in America. Listen...
Judas Priest Lead Singer Rob Halford is always candid when he visits The Freaks. This conversation is no different. Halford is celebrating his 50th year with legendary Heavy Metal band Judas Priest. The anniversary is supported with a box set of more than 40 CD including 13 full CDs of unreleased music from The Priest catalogue and live performances. Rob and Priest are forever young. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR XFinity Driver Natalie Decker & Manson Brothers Zombie Creators, Singer/Actor Ben Barnes, MLS and Houston Dynamo Soccer Star Griffin Dorsey
NASCAR Xfinity Driver Natalie Decker drove Saturday night in Martinsville with a Halloween themed film on the hood of her race car. The Manson Brothers Midnight Zombie Massacre film was written by Mike Carey and Chris Marget. Two crazier guys have never been in The Freak Nation. The film is about a wrestling team that learns it must fight it's way out of the ring and arena against Zombies. Among the stars UFC star Randy Couture. This is a Freak memory on Halloween you'll never forget. Listen...
Singer/Actor Ben Barnes is expanding his acting success into the recording studio where he's releasing an extended play CD "Songs for You." Barnes is an English actor best known for his roles as Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia film series and Logan Delos in Westworld. But after 20 years in front of a camera, Barnes is giving room to his true passion for singing and writing his own music. His EP is just coming out and the apparent his is 11:11 but The Freaks fell in love with "A Song for You," which sadly isn't on the EP but can be heard on You Tube. Listen...
22-year-old MLS star Griffin Dorsey of the Houston Dynamo is another one of those up and coming soccer players who was raised in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. That was after he played at Indiana University where he was All-Big Ten and second team All American. He was part of the NCAA runner-up team that lost in the Finals to Stanford. Now, though, Dorsey is in Houston where he signed this summer and has already scored goals and is contributing after moving down from Canada where he played in Toronto. Listen...
Guests: SRO World Challenge GT America Driver Memo Gidley, 2021 W Series Champion Jamie Chadwick, NHRA Top Fuel Gainesville & Charlotte Winner Josh Hart
SRO World Challenge GT America Driver Memo Gidley is getting up to speed after a terrible accident that could have been so much worse at the 2014 Rolex 24 in Daytona. Gidley's recovery and rehab forced him to learn how to sit up and eat and put on his socks. Now he's racing again and finished second in a GT America race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last week. Memo is back to being Memo. Listen...
NHRA Rookie of the Year Candidate Josh Hart was in The Freak Nation Sunday night. He's maybe the leading candidate with wins in Gainesville and Charlotte, two of the eight events he ran on a limited schedule this season. But The Freaks found out the Top Fuel driver is so much more than driving his ground pounding dragster. Listen...
2021 W Series Champion Jamie Chadwick earned her championship this weekend with a double win at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Jamie came into The Freak Nation right after the second win at COTA before she even had a chance to celebrate. Chadwick's victories at COTA over the weekend allowed her to keep the W Series championship she earned in 2019. No championship was held last year. Listen...
Greg Anderson on Dropping the Ball, New Talent & Rental Customers Four-time NHRA Pro Stock Champion Greg Anderson is a long-time Friend of the Freaks. His championships in 2003, '04, '05 & 2010 AND all of his 98 wins came during the reign of The Freaks. Anderson was the 2004 Speed Driver of the Year, the only NHRA drag racer to win the honor. It all means when Greg Anderson speaks, we should listen. Even when it triggers a laugh. Listen...
NHRA President Glen Cromwell returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. Cromwell climbed through the ranks to run the largest drag racing sanctioning body anywhere. Cromwell talked about the nice spot drag racing finds itself with three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart announcing plans for a powerful drag racing team next season. He also hinted at others from the sports and entertainment world that want to get involved with NHRA drag racing. Listen...
Guests: The Freaks on Roval Headlines, IMSA GTLM VIR Winner Tommy Milner, 1990 & 1994 IndyCar Champion & N.Y. Times Bestselling Author Jade Gurss on Unser's "Checkered Past" book
The Freaks spend several minutes on headlines that developed in the Charlotte Roval NASCAR Cup race Sunday. That includes the developing rivalry between Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick. It apparently started at Bristol and it's boiled over to Charlotte and who knows if or where it will continue. Listen...
1990 & 1994 IndyCar Champion & N.Y. Times Bestselling Author Jade Gurss on Unser's "Checkered Past" memoir. Gurss has worked with several motor racing drivers including Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to tell emotional stories in and out of the racing cockpit. The book he did with Al Unser, Jr. is just being released and includes stories about the ugliness that's invaded his racing disciplined life. That ugliness includes substance abuse and thoughts of suicide. Listen...
IMSA GTLM VIR Winner Tommy Milner came into The Freak Nation Sunday night to talk about a number of issues including the intra-team battles between the number three and four Corvettes in IMSA. Milner also remembered one of his favorites things, sunsets. He also talked about getting ready for the SIM racing season that's starting up now. Listen...
Guests: 2021 IndyCar Champion Alex Palau, 2021 NASCAR Cup Regular Season Champion Kyle Larson, NHRA Peo Stock Charlotte Winner Kyle Koretsky, NASCAR Xfinity Talladega Winner Jeb Burton
2021 IndyCar Champion Alex Palou won his championship at the Long Beach Grand Prix Sunday then came into The Freak Nation before disappearing into a celebratory party after the final race of the season. Palou finished fourth at Long Beach but that was all he needed to take home the title. He earned the championship in only his second year in IndyCar. He's the first driver from Spain to win the championship. He's also a Freak Favorite. Listen...
2021 NASCAR Cup Regular Season Champion Kyle Larson remains the hottest driver in the Cup Series and leads the points in the second round of the NASCAR Cup Playoffs. In addition to his success in the Cup Series, Larson is maybe the most successful dirt racer in America. The Freaks talked with him about some of those issues from any rivalries in dirt racing and racing Cup cars on dirt at Bristol. Listen...
NHRA Peo Stock Charlotte Winner Kyle "Kid Chaos" Koretsky is a second generation Pro Stock drag racer. The Lucas Oil driver's win in Charlotte this year is the first event anyone in the Koretsky Family ever won. Kyle's father Kenny is a veteran Pro Stock racer but Kyle is in a tough fight for a championship in the NHRA playoffs. Kyle's personality is perfect for The Freak Nation. Listen...
NASCAR Xfinity Talladega Winner Jeb Burton didn't have a great day in this weekend's Xfinity playoff race in Las Vegas. But before the race, Jeb spent time with The Freaks earning an A+ on his appearance. Jeb is just the kind of guest we like to have with us. He's just the driver to take some teasing and hand out as much as we throw his way. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR truck Series Bristol Winner Chandler Smith, NHRA Funny Car Reading Winner Tommie Johnson, Jr., MLS Los Angeles FC Striker Danny Musovski
NASCAR truck Series Bristol Winner Chandler Smith made his debut in The Freak Nation Sunday night and brought a friend with him. Simba, however, snored through part of his appearance. He didn't appreciate being awakened for his cameo. Smith is a great guest from Talking Rock, Georgia, population 109. Many of them were on the stock car racing team that was so good Toyota came calling. Smith has a great conversation. Listen...
NHRA Funny Car Reading Winner Tommy Johnson, Jr. returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night after winning as a substitute driver for three time champion Matt Hagan. Johnson topped 16-time champion John Force in the finals at Reading, the first of seven Countdown to the Championship races in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Johnson's visit with The Freaks included a brief sales pitch for the candles he makes with his wife. Listen...
MLS Los Angeles FC Striker Danny Musovski broke into The Freak Nation Sunday night. He found a friend i Kenny Sargent, a D1 soccer player in college. Musovski was a two-time all-American in college at UNLV where he was the WAC Conference Player of the Year. He brings that resume into the MLS where he sharing some of the spotlight with the Los Angeles FC. A great chat with Kenny. Listen...
Guests: The Freaks on 9/11 20 Years Later, 2004 Indy 500 Champion Buddy Rice, Styx Lead Singer Tommy Shaw
2004 Indy 500 Champion Buddy Rice is a longtime Friend of the Freaks but it's been a couple years since he's visited The Freak Nation. Buddy's win in the 88th Indianapolis 500 was part of a dominating event. He won the pole position, the pit stop contest, led the most laps, and won the rain shortened race for team owners Bobby Rahal and David Letterman. But Buddy talks about different things with The Freaks. Listen...
Styx Lead Singer Tommy Shaw was in The Freak Nation Sunday night. And, along with long memories about the band's latest album "Crash of the Crown," recorded in the virtual world of 2020, Shaw brought back some great stories about his deep musical interests. They included memories of Frank Sinatra music, visiting with Jerry Lee Lewis, and how Elvis changed his music forever. One of he great voices in rock music hears so much more. Listen...
The Freaks were just getting off the ground with a precedent shattering radio show on June 25, 2000. Then on Tuesday morning September 11, 2001 American lives were shattered during a terrorist attack on the World Trace Center in New York City. On the fifth anniversary of 9/11 in 2006, The Freaks talked with Lemme Kilmister of Motorhead who floored us with his comments on how 9/11 changed American life forever. Listen...
Guests: ARCA Milwaukee Winner Ty Gibbs, IndyCar USF2000 New Jersey Winner Myles Rowe, Lucas Oil President & Bluey Fan Morgan Lucas, You Tube New Car Reviewers The Straight Pipes
Lucas Oil President & Bluey Fan Morgan Lucas returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night where he visited as an NHRA Top Fuel driver and team owner. Now he's expanded his portfolio to run Lucas Oil while he's expanding the business to new income streams. Still, Morgan has time for Bluey. Listen...
ARCA Milwaukee Winner Ty Gibbs returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night to talk about his dominating win at the legendary Milwaukee Mile. Gibbs is on the verge of winning an ARCA championship at 18 years of age on General Tires. Ty is the grandson of NFL Hall of Fame coach and NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs and son of Coy Gibbs. Still, he's aware of the history he's making on the race track. Listen...
IndyCar USF2000 New Jersey Winner Myles Rowe made some history of his own Sunday before he made his debut in The Freak Nation. Rowe is 21 and the first African American to win a USF2000 event. His team Force Indy is owned by an African American owner Rod Reid. And the two are getting some encouragement from Indy 500 owner Roger Penske. Hard work is paying off for the team. Listen...
You Tube New Car Reviewers The Straight Pipes, Yuri and Jakub, made their debut in The Freak Nation Sunday night. The two introduces nearly 1.5 million subscribers to new cars and new car systems twice a week on You Tube thanks to Continental Tire. You can see why. These guys are fun! Listen...
Guests: NHRA Lucas Oil Brainerd Nationals Funny Car Winner Matt Hagan, The Freaks on Junior's Story, NASCAR Truck Series Title Contender John Hunter Nemechek, IndyCar Indy Road Course Winner Will Power
We love having NHRA Lucas Oil Brainerd Nationals Funny Car Winner Matt Hagan in The Freak Nation. He's always candid with us and Sunday night was no different. He talked about his focus before a race and how he had to get in the face of 16-time Funny Car Champion John Force at the end of a race. This is special. Listen...
IndyCar Indy Road Course Winner Will Power is another Freak Favorite guest who can and does go anywhere when he gets comfortable with The Freaks. Power won the 2014 IndyCar Championship and the 2018 Indy 500. But when he gets on his "bare skin" rug with The Freaks he becomes an open door capable of talking about anything in any depth. Listen...
The Freaks Sunday night took a few minutes to dive into Dale Earnhardt's story about the day his wife Amy was stung by a jellyfish at the beach. Dale took measures that not every husband would do while at a public beach. And his explanation opened the door to what the Freaks DID in a similar situation on their own beach vacation. Listen...
NASCAR Truck Series Title Contender John Hunter Nemechek made one of the rare decision in stock car racing. He purposely moved back from the NASCAR Cup Series to go back to truck racing because he wanted to win instead of running 25th each week. This second generation driver explained why and why this will help his career. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Cup Indianapolis Winner AJ Allmendinger, NHRA Top Fuel Topeka Winner Brittany Force, NHRA Top Fuel Pomona Winner Leah Pruett, IndyCar Nashville Winner Marcus Ericsson
NASCAR Cup Indianapolis Winner AJ Allmendinger was in The Freak Nation Sunday night. AJ is a longtime Friend of The Freaks but the win at Indy Sunday brought tears to our eyes. There was some luck in the win but AJ made great moves when it was Winning Time. That's all you need to do to come away with all the money on the table. Obviously he was happy! Listen...
NHRA Top Fuel Topeka Winner Brittany Force put her celebrations Sunday night on hold to come into The Freak Nation. Brittany's win was a bit of drag racing history. It was the first time a father and daughter won on the same weekend. Her Dad John Force won his 154th victory in Funny Car Sunday to join Brittany on the Victory stand. Listen...
NHRA Top Fuel Pomona Winner Leah Pruett came into The Freak Nation this week to talk about her win, her boss and her fiance, Tony Stewart. The conversation was all over the map including some things Leah snacks on to keep her happy when she goes to the refrigerator. Then there's Smoke! Listen...
IndyCar Nashville Winner Marcus Ericsson made his debut into The Freak Nation Sunday night. And the appearance was all over the map including s chat that surprised us all: pea soup and pancakes. That was on top of Ericsson's conversation about driving through the field in Nashville last weekend. But pea soup and pancakes? Where'd that come from? Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Team Owner & NBA Star Brad Daugherty, NHRA Winternationals Funny Car Winner Ron Capps, ARCA Watkins Glen Winner Corey Heim, San Jose Quakes MidFielder Jack Skahan
NASCAR Team Owner & NBA Star Brad Daugherty made his debut into The Freak Nation Sunday night and we sincerely hope it's not his last visit. Brad is a partner in JTG Daugherty Racing and he had some remarkable stories including memories of working with Rusty Wallace & SRX founder Ray Evernham at ESPN. A couple of those started out like something from a standup comedian. Listen...
The last time Corey Heim ran an ARCA race on a road course he finished seventh at Mid-OHio in June. Saturday he won at Watkins Glen beating some NASCAR Cup drivers in the process. Heim's fifth win of the season left him only two points back of Ty Gibbs in the ARCA driver's points with seven races left in the 2021 season. Listen...
NHRA Winternationals Funny Car Winner Ron Capps is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. So when he visited Sunday night it was an enjoyable conversation that brought up some peculiar methods Capps uses to get ready to compete in the NHRA. He also had some well thought out opinions on F1 and a possible invitation to the SRX. Listen...
San Jose Quakes Midfielder Jack Skahan is 22 and working on his first full season in the MLS. He started last year before the league shut down because of the pandemic. But he's finding playing time this year after a collegiate career at the University of North Carolina. Wait 'til you hear about Jack's grand search for BBQ, a must for a native of Memphis. Listen...
Guests: 2021 SRX Founder & Inaugural Champion Tony Stewart, IndyCar Driver Graham Rahal
2021 SRX Founder & Champion Tony Stewart was also a NASCAR Cup Champion in 2002, 2005 and 2011. His nickname is Smoke and Tony lit a fire under the first hour of SpeedFreaks Sunday night. He talked about his engagement to with Top Fuel drag racer Leah Pruett. He also spent some crazy time with The Freaks talking about any children he and Pruett might have, as well as the new hard iced tea blend he's bringing to market. Truly you've never heard Smoke like this before and that's why we've turned over half The Freak Nation to him tonight. Listen...
IndyCar Driver Graham Rahal tried to get some time off as he prepares for the inaugural Music City Grand Prix in Nshville August 6-8. But Graham and The Freaks go way back to Graham's shy teen years. But Rahal's a husband and Dad now and he still has time for The Freaks, even on his day off. As you can imagine, we had fun. Listen...
Guests: SRX Slinger Speedway Winner Marco Andretti, Seven-Time TransAm Champion Ernie Francis, Jr., ARCA Berlin Raceway Winner Daniel Dye
SRX Slinger Speedway Winner Marco Andretti has been coming into The Freak Nation for nearly 20 years. And that's a long time for someone only 34 years old. Marco has fun with The Freaks and that's demonstrated in this conversation. But there are comments nearly worth headlines in this conversation; Including talk about Marco's future and his recent past in the Superstar Racing Series. Listen...
ARCA Berlin Raceway Winner Daniel Dye stamped his name in the ARCA headlines with a popular win Saturday night on General Tires. It came at the expense of Corey Heim and Ty Gibbs who've had a lock on the ARCA winner's circle this season. Dye's first national series win could be a door opener. So will his anti-suicide campaign that's opening eyes in Flagler County Florida. Listen...
Seven-Time TransAm Champion Ernie Francis, Jr. is finally breaking into the motorsports consciousness after finishing second in the inaugural SRX Racing Series. Francis is one of the most successful racers in America but few people knew who he was until SRX and television put him on the map. At 23, Francis is ready to step into the spotlight. Listen...
Guests: The Freaks on Kyle Busch, 2019 & 2020 NHRA Pro Stock Champion Erica Enders, World of Outlaws Winner David Gravel, 2021 Slinger Nationals Winner Luke Fenhaus
Kyle Bush this weekend unloaded on the media at Atlanta Motor Speedway. After winning the NASCAR Xfinity race on Saturday, Busch said that was going to be his last Xfinity race of the season. He also took off on NASCAR for limiting how many races drivers could enter. And the leadership at Atlanta Motor Speedway didn't escape. Busch was super critical of plans to redesign the track. Kyle let everyone know how he felt. Listen...
2019 & 2020 NHRA Pro Stock Champion Erica Enders made a last minute stop in The Freak Nation Sunday night. Erica is second in points and was nominated for an Espy Award but didn't win Saturday night. Erica is a longtime Friend of The Freaks so it was good to listen to Erica on her life as she fights for her fifth Pro Stock title. Listen...
World of Outlaws Winner David Gravel made his first appearance in The Freak Nation Sunday night. Gravel has had a great Outlaw season to climb to second in points. This week he'll be at Eldora Speedway where the teams will compete four times including the 38th annual Kings Royal next Saturday night. Gravel's culinary tastes are even more royal in nature. Listen...
2021 Slinger Nationals Winner Luke Fenhaus was leading when a very late race pass by IndyCar veteran Marco Andretti snatched an SRX Series win from the 17-year-old future star. Fenhaus won the important Slinger Nationals at Slinger Speedway near Milwaukee last week. That opened the door for the SRX invitation and what could be new doors opening in Fenhaus' career. Listen...
Grammy award winning singer Macy Gray is known for her distinctive raspy voice and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday. But after an op-ed piece published in MarketWatch, the singer may be known for some political beliefs as well. Gray said it's time for the U.S. flag to be updated, that it "no longer represents ALL of us." She said the current flag had been hijacked by people like the insurrectionists who carried the Stars and Stripes when storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6th. Gray talked about the issue with The Freaks. Listen...
Guests: 2021 Supercross Champion & ESPY Nominee Cooper Webb, IMSA President John Doonan, IMSA Six Hours at The Glen LMP3 Winner Garr Robinson
2021 Supercross Champion & ESPY Nominee Cooper Webb came into The Freak Nation Sunday night to stir up some fun with The Freaks as well as stir up some support for a potential ESPY Award. Webb is one of the good interviews we've had in the past 21 years of doing SpeedFreaks. So we'd love to see him with such a prestigious award in the Action Sports category. Listen...
IMSA Six Hour at The Glen LMP3 Winner Garr Robinson taught The Freaks a lot about LMP3 Sunday night. The category is new in IMSA and running the cars 24 or even six hours is new ground for the machines. Robinson and his team are leading the points in the class. Listen...
IMSA President John Doonan had an in-depth conversation with The Statt Mann Sunday night. IMSA has become a destination series for sports car racers all over the world. That's an incredible admission when American sports car racing was on life support just ten years ago. Some of the growth has been in Social Media where IMSA partners want to see things growing. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Road America Winner Alex Palou, Don Schumacher's NHRA Team Remembers Fathers, Superstar Racing Experience Stafford Speedway Winner Doug Coby, Lucas Oil Founder Forrest Lucas
IndyCar Road America Winner Alex Palou was in The Freak Nation Sunday night as he drove home from a major win earlier Sunday. Palou's capitalized on problems for Josef Newgarden who was dominating the race. The Palou win moved him into the points lead in IndyCar. Palou found time for a nice decompression chat with The Freaks. Listen...
Lucas Oil Founder Forrest Lucas came into The Freak Nation Sunday night. The visit was a different side of the global businessman. Forest Lucas started Lucas Oil in the back of an 18 wheeler at American truckstops where he sold drivers his personal blends of oil and additives. The business has grown into a diverse product line now from automotive cleaning products to automotive racing programming on MAVTV. Lucas Oil is a far reaching and still growing empire. Listen...
Superstar Racing Experience Stafford Speedway Winner Doug Coby spent several minutes with The Freaks this week. Coby is a six time track champion at Stafford Speedway but his win in the debut SRX series came as a surprise against some of the biggest names in American racing including four time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves. Coby drives in the NASCAR Whelan modified Series but the SRX cars are custom racers designed to put all the drivers in equal equipment. Listen...
The powerful Don Schumacher Racing NHRA team took time on the weekend to remember their favorite memories of their Dads on Father's Day. Top Fuel drivers Leah Pruitt and Antron Brown joined with Funny Car drivers Ron Capps and Matt Hagen for some fond fun stories. The quarter represented seven NHRA season titles in Top Fuel and Funny Car. These are some of the best drag racers in the world. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Cup Series Sonoma Winner Kyle Larson, You Tube Stars Emily & Aaron Reeves, USF2000 Points Leader Yuven Sundaramoorthy, FC Dallas Midfielder Tanner Tessman
NASCAR Cup Series Sonoma Winner Kyle Larson is second in points behind Denny Hamlin. But Larson's win at Sonoma last week leaves him the hottest name in the Cup Series. He leads the Hendrick Motorsports team that's been at least one two in each of the last four races and that included a 1-4 sweep at Dover last May 16th. This is a huge step for Larson who missed most of last season because of a suspension from NASCAR. Listen...
Emily and Aaron Reeves started dating when they were teenagers. Now they're among the hottest names in Social Media with a major weekly automotive show on You Tube called Flying Sparks Garage with Continental Tires. They visited The Freak Nation Sunday night to talk about their relationship, their car building on You Tube, and how the production drives Aaron crazy at times. They've worked together for decades but Social Media? That's another story. Listen...
USF2000 Points Leader Yuven Sundaramoorthy came into The Freak Nation Sunday night carrying the power of a points leader in the Road to Indy entry level series USF2000. He taught the Freaks lots including how to pronounce his name and ow to cheer for the Deer. Yuven is from Wisconsin and it quick to admit he's only been to India, his ancestral home, only three times. Listen...
FC Dallas Midfielder Tanner Tessman came into The Freak Nation Sunday night to being some context to the soccer wildness that hit America after the men's team won the CONCACAF championship over Mexico a week ago. The US Men's National Team made a giant impression on the global soccer community. The win in Denver was important but so was some of the rowdy behavior from fans in the stands. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR xFinity Mid-Ohio Winner AJ Allmendinger, Phoenix Raceway President Julie Geise, Venturini Motorsports Team Owner Billy Venturini
NASCAR xFinity Mid-Ohio Winner AJ Allmendinger is one of the longest Friend of the Freaks. He was on the show Sunday night after his major win at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Saturday. The win for Kaulig Racing opened the door for AJ to possibly return to the Cup Series with Kaulig in 2022. But, as you can imagine, any visit with AJ is a visit based on craziness which might not include much talk about motor racing. This touches most everything. Listen...
Phoenix Raceway President Julie Geise is having some wins of her own. The Finals Weekend in the NASCAR touring series will return to Phoenix in 2022. Plus Geise is opening the door for so man other things to play out at the Raceway and that includes off-road races and music festivals. Listen...
Venturini Motorsports Team Owner Billy Venturini could become a regular Friend of the Freaks. He had a very candid conversation with Statt Mann including his unique relationship as a driver development team with Toyota Motorsports. The conversation covered everything from Chicago deep dish pizza to the future of electrification in modern stock car racing. Listen...
Guests: 2021 Indy 500 Winner Helio Castroneves, Seven-time NASCAR Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson, IndyCar Team Owner Bryan Herta, 2021 Indy 500 Fourth Place Finisher Pato O'Ward, IndyCar & Racing Legend Bobby Unser
2021 Indy 500 Winner Helio Castroneves is a long time Friend of The Freaks. That's why it was a special few minutes to spend with Helio after the win Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Helio's ride with Michael Shank Racing was a very limited assignment this season but it might become a full-time affair after the big win at the Speedway. But getting a few minutes with a Freak Favorite Driver on maybe his biggest racing day ever is huge! Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Driver & Dog Rescuer Alex Bowman, ARCA Toledo Winner Ty Gibbs, Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Driver Kyle Bronson
NASCAR Driver & Dog Rescuer Alex Bowman was in The Freak Nation Sunday night talking about a whole host of topics beyond his growing presence within Hendrick Motorsports. He started off talking about rescuing dogs then moved to cats knocking things off his shelf, the keyboard warriors who declared a Social Media battle against him and the pit bikes who also attacked him with Travis Pastrana. That about covers most of it. Listen...
ARCA Toledo Winner Ty Gibbs dominated in Toledo on his way to a fourth win on the young season. But halfway to Victory Lane Gibbs found himself in third place and he h ad to fight back to get the win. Gibbs is the grandson of former Super Bowl coach and NASCAR Cup series team owner Joe Gibbs. His ARCA career is growing rapidly for an 18-year-old. Listen...
Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Driver Kyle Bronson interrupted his cookout Sunday night to talk with The Freaks. Bronson was preparing for the upcoming Cowboy Classic and Show Me 100 on Memorial Day weekend. But that's just a part of the story for a delightful conversation with Kyle. Bronson is doing what he's wanted to do since grade school. Listen...
Guests: Seven-Time NASCAR Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson, Bryan Herta Autosport Team Owner Bryan Herta, ARCA Driver Toni Breidinger, IndyCar Legend Bobby Unser Freakin' Flashback
Seven-Time NASCAR Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson is struggling in the transition to IndyCar racing. He finished 24th out of 25 cars at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Saturday. But he's keeping a great attitude in his learning season. He was in The Freak Nation this week joining The Freaks from practice at IMS. Johnson is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. It was good to talk with him about a host of things including his gray hair. Listen...
IndyCar Team Owner Bryan Herta, Bryan Herta Autosport, is having success in his team ownership. He's won the Indy 500 twice and two sports car championships in IMSA. In fact, BHA has won races in every discipline it's entered, including Indy Lights, Indy Car, Global Rally Cross, World Challenge and IMSA. That includes Saturday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course where the BHA Hyundai Elantra N TCR scored its first IMSA victory with Parker Chase and Ryan Norman driving. But Bryan is expanding more. Listen...
ARCA and NASCAR Truck Series Driver Toni Breidinger is hard pressed to be narrowed down to one racing series. Most of her attention is with ARCA on General Tires and NASCAR trucks. But she finds time to race her father's open wheel USAC Midgets in her "spare" time. The Freaks talked with her in a rare down minute when she was visiting with her twin sister Annie, a student at Purdue University. A painful revelation for Crash Gladys, an alumni at Indiana University. Listen...
The Freaks Sunday night remembered IndyCar Legend Bobby Unser with a length Freakin' Flashback. Unser has several appearances in the Freak Nation in the past ten years. Unser died May 2nd. He was part of America's First Family of racing. The Unser family has won the Indy 500 a record nine times, Bobby won in 1968, 1975 and 1981. Bobby and his brother Al Sr. being the only set of brothers to win in the race's history. We pulled this from his Freak Nation visits, A Freakin' Flashback. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Texas 2 Winner Patricio O'Ward, 2021 Supercross 450cc Champion Cooper Webb, Former NASCAR Cup Team Owner Tinsley Hughes, IndyCar Legend Bobby Unser Freakin' Flashback, NHRA Atlanta Top Fuel Winner Antron Brown
IndyCar Texas 2 Winner Patricio O'Ward came into The Freak Nation Sunday night still celebrating his first series win. The Freaks talked with O'Ward just after his 22nd birthday on Thursday. He could earn a record in IndyCar. If he wins the Indy 500 at the end of the month he could become the youngest 500 winner in history. Right now, though, the win sets him 22 points behind Scott Dixon in the driver standings. O'Ward is moving into the IndyCar spotlight ver early in his career.
2021 Supercross 450cc Champion Cooper Webb just earned his second 450 cc title in three years. The question now is whether or not he can become a transformational rider like Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael or James Stewart. Webb won his first title in 2019. He was second in 2020 and got the second ring in 2021. It capped a strange season that started with parity among the top riders but Webb emerged at the end with wins and strong performances. Listen...
NHRA Atlanta Top Fuel Winner Antron Brown is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. You'll hear that in his chat with a three time NHRA Top Fuel Champion. Antron even dropped a little headline in the conversation saying he'd like to get back on a Pro Stock Motorcycle at some point in the season going back to some unfinished business. He never won a title in the category finishing second more than he'd like to admit. Listen...
Legendary IndyCar driver Bobby Unser won titles in 1968 and 1975. He won the Indy 500 in 1968, 1975 and 1981. But Bobby Unser won the Freak Nation over with his first appearance. He died right after The Freaks signed off last Sunday. We wanted to remember him on a busy night. We'll have more on his legendary Freak Nation visits next weekend. Listen...
Former NASCAR Cup team owner Tinsley Hughes is one of the very few African American team owners in the industry's history. Drivers such as Mike Skinner, Carl Long, Ron Hornaday Jr. and even three-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Darrell Waltrip all drove for him. He told The Statt Mann he's been committed to motor sports since he was a child living next door to Virginia International Raceway. But with grandchildren, he said he could return to the NASCAR box. HE has the aggressive patience to pull it off. Listen...
Guests: Action Sports Legend Travis Pastrana, NHRA Atlanta Pro Stock Winner Greg Anderson, NASCAR Cup Driver Chris Buescher, General Tire Freak of the Weekend Josh Walter
NHRA Atlanta Pro Stock Winner Greg Anderson celebrated with The Freaks Sunday night. He'll forever be the last Pro Stock winner at Atlanta Dragway because the NHRA is closing the track after this weekend's last event. Anderson is a four-time NHRA Pro Stock World Champion (2003–05, 2010). He also was crew chief when Warren Johnson won three world titles. All of that was part of Sunday night's conversation along with a cameo appearance from Anderson's wife Kimberly. Listen...
The General Tire Freak of the Weekend is a new feature with The Freaks. It's to honor a crew member who exemplifies Freak behavior with a stock car team especially the ARCA series sponsored by General Tire. The first winner is Josh Walter, a crew member on the Corey Heim team that won at Talladega and Daytona this season. Walter, however, has a little Freak in him as he buries himself in the heavy metal music of Avatar. Listen...
NASCAR Cup Driver Chris Buescher won the ARCA championship in 2012 and the Xfinity title in 2015. Now he's racing in the NASCAR Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing. Buescher is a regular visitor to The Freak Nation so another appearance might cover any and all topics including great stories from Jack Roush and the problem of wearing a New York Yankees jersey into the Roush Fenway shop. Listen...
Action Sports legend Travis Pastrana Sunday night returned to The Freak Nation and revealed the news that he broke his tibia while racing several women in an exhibition race in Indiana earlier in the day. Travis was traveling after finishing ninth in a special TT race in Atlanta Saturday. He drove all night to Indianapolis and, Sunday night, was on his way to another event in Mississippi. Travis moves to his own orchestra even when he's in The Freak Nation. Listen...
Guests: ARCA Talladega Winner Corey Heim, NHRA Las Vegas Four-Wide Funny Car Winner Bob Tasca III, Supercross 450cc Rider Dean Wilson
ARCA Talladega Winner Corey Heim Saturday doubled down on his Daytona win at the beginning of the year. He returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night to recall his Talladega win on General Tires. Heim especially talked about his spotter who's been with him for several years. He especially likes the information he gets on super speedways. Apparently so with the success he'd had this season. Listen...
NHRA Las Vegas Four-Wide Funny Car Winner Bob Tasca III is part of his family's Ford dealerships so he's got a different slant on supporting the electrification of professional racing in the NHRA. Tasca also had great comments to make on whether or not nitro drag racing should return to the classic quarter mile race distance even on longer tracks where the drivers might have enough room to slow down afterwards. Listen...
Supercross 450cc Rider Dean Wilson came into The Freak Nation Sunday night with a great conversation about the many headlines emerging from a wild Supercross season. Wilson also talked about tense racing with a competitor who might live in the neighborhood when the racing is over. In fact, is Florida now the nerve center for Supercross? And does the heat and humidity help or hurt rider conditioning in Supercross? Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Barber Winner Alex Palou, ARCA Driver Gracie Trotter, Drag Racing Legend Don Prudhomme
IndyCar Barber Winner Alex Palou had to convince team owner Chip Ganassi he was worthy of a ride in the series. He did that by winning the season opener Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park. The 24-year-old Spaniard, who started third tying a career-best qualifying effort. Palou capitalized on a two-stop pit strategy while the front row of Pato O’Ward and Alexander Rossi opted for three stops. Now he gets a chance to be a teammate to legendary IndyCar driver Scott Dixon. Listen...
Drag Racing Legend Don Prudhomme is ready for his fourth attempt in the Mexican 10000, an offroad race in Baja that's not as intense as the 1000 and 500 mile races run by SCORE. The Mexican 1000 is all that happens between the parties that unfold at each step along the way. An offroad race effort supported by Mav-TV is far from the quarter-mile races Prudhomme ran in a brilliant drag racing career that saw him earn four NHRA Funny Car championships as a driver. Listen...
ARCA Driver Gracie Trotter returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. She's preparing to step up in class taking her ARCA stock car to the high speed oval in Talladega, Alabama. Last year Trotter made waves finishing third in the championship, taking one win. That win brought some congratulations from seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. "Everything kind of just blew up overnight. Not something I’m used to, for sure.” She's ready to turn around a tough start to 2021. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Insider Robin Miller, Supercross 450 Rider Chase Sexton, COTA Trans Am TA2 Winner Michele Abbate, 2004 Kyle Busch Freakin' Flashback
NBC Sports and Racer IndyCar Insider Robin Miller returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. He knows more of what's going on inside the IndyCar garages than nearly anyone. For example he brought some background on another network that might be interested in bidding for IndyCar races, how IndyCar might be impacted by the Penske Media empire and how much money are IndyCar drivers being paid especially when compared to drivers in the past. Listen...
Supercross 450 Rider Chase Sexton, second in Atlanta last Saturday, was in The Freak Nation Sunday night. He brought us an update on incredible injuries he suffered in Daytona. You won't believe the descriptions! And Chase also gave us some background on the new travel conditions for Supercross riders. And the new normal in the sport? Listen...
COTA Trans Am TA2 Winner Michele Abbate came into The Freak Nation with a new sponsor relationship: Lucas Oil. The Trans Am TA2 West Coast team owner (Grr Racing) and driver is getting faster behind the wheel and that's creating a road for Michele in Trans Am and MAYBE into NASCAR. She's working on that as we speak. Listen...
Way back in June of 2004 The Freaks talked with then Busch driver Kyle Busch after Kyle won in Kentucky. The 17 years since then has found Kyle to be a Superstar driver in NASCAR Cup. But this was before Kyle broke into the Cup spotlight. It's a fun conversation with one of the biggest start in motor racing, before he broke into the headlines. Listen to this flashback.
NBC Sports NASCAR Insider Nate Ryan shined a lot of light into some dark corners of the NASCAR Dirt Weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Ryan also talked about some new changes being discussed inside NASCAR offices including a possible street race in a major urban center like Chicago. NASCAR is in the business of making major changes and the sport should be celebrated for that. But this weekend in Bristol on Dirt may be a deep dive that will leave some scars. Listen...
IndyCar Driver Conor Daly returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night to talk about some off-season activity in IndyCar. In fact the off-season seems to be the longest part of the IndyCar schedule. But Daly said once the season starts it'll be rolling with nine straight weeks of racing at one point in the schedule. Daly also talk about some changes in his life including a new friendship with Action Sports legend Travis Pastrana. Listen...
2019 Bassmaster Classic Champion & Major League Fishing Champion Ott Defoe returned to The Freak Nation. The MLF and Defoe are supported by General Tires. Defoe talked about some success he's had in Texas where few have been able to match his winning. Oddly enough Ott said cell service connectivity is crucial to catching fish. Listen...
Music Legend George Thorogood has been in The Freak Nation a few times and that includes an evening at an L.A. Dodgers game with Kenny Sargent. They both had a great laugh at the expense of the personality who sang the National Anthem before the game. But the real conversation with George was about his family and personal life away from his Hall of Fame rock career. Listen...
Guests: IMSA Sebring 12 Hour Winner Sebastien Bourdais, NHRA Gainesville Pro Stock Bike Winner Matt Smith, NBC Sports Supercross Analyst Daniel Blair
IMSA Sebring 12 Hour Winner Sebastian Bourdais is a longtime Friend of the Freaks dating back to when he was winning four straight CART championships from 2004-2007. His win at Sebring Saturday came with fellow French drivers Tristan Vautier and Loic Duval. The win was Bourdais' second after he won in 2015. Sebastien described all that the team had to overcome for the victory. Listen...
NHRA Gainesville Pro Stock Bike Winner Matt Smith set aside his work in his shop to talk with The Freak Nation Sunday night. The Lucas Oil sponsored rider won the Gatornationals in Gainesville for the second straight season. Smith talked about a number of things including his his breathing affects his 200 MPH runs down the drag strip and the new parameters he must overcome to keep his bike at the head of his class. Listen...
NBC Sports Supercross Analyst Daniel Blair made his debut in The Freak Nation Sunday night. He opened out eyes about a number of Supercross issues from on track rivalries to who's the best in the past 20 years. He had to think about that one because he was concerned about who might be listening to his analysis Sunday. Listen...
NHRA Gainesville Top Fuel Winner Josh Hart is the first driver since 2001 to win Top Fuel in his professional debut. “Never in a million years would I have thought this was going to happen,” said Hart. “I’ve wanted to do this for a very long time." In fact, Hart was supposed to make his pro debut last year but the pandemic killed that idea. Instead, Josh and his wife started their own team and Sunday night that looked like a great idea. One of the four round wins included a victory over last year's chapion Steve Torrence. Listen...
Guests: NHRA Gainesville Top Fuel Winner Josh Hart, NASCAR Driver Denny Hamlin, Supercross Rider Aaron Plessinger, NASCAR Driver Aric Almirola, NASCAR Xfinity Driver Riley Herbst
It might be a perfect match for a racing team and a sponsor. NASCAR driver Aric Almirola already had support from pork producer Smithfield Foods. This past week his Stewart Haas Ford team added Pit Boss Grills to the side of the car. It's the definition of synergy. Almirola is a family man who usually travels with his wife and kids in their motor coach and grill in the driver's lot at a NASCAR race. Listen...
NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin had a very fast race car Sunday in PHoenix. He led 33 laps but the last restart saw him fall off to eventual winner Martin Truex, Jr. Hamlin finished third at the Checkered Flag. But strong finishes earlier have Denny leading the Cup Series points despite not have a win so far. "We will go home and figure out to be better, and tweak on it. This is just unbelievable. Hopefully we can put together a good season and win some races." Listen...
NASCAR driver Riley Herbst comes from a Las Vegas family that helped make off-road racing one of the premier destinations in motorsports. But Riley saw his future in stock car racing and he's starting to step into his own spotlights. Herbst is 12th in Xfinity points but his fourth place finish in Phoenix this weekend shows some things may be clicking into place for the Las Vegas driver. He said he was happy to see some familiar ground on a Western track. Listen...
Supercross rider Aaron Plessinger has fought for two years to get to the front of the line in the 450cc class. But it started to click last weekend in Daytona where he got on the podium. Saturday night in Arlington, Texas Plessinger doubled down on that success with a top five finish. He's in the top ten in points midway through the season and, after two tough years in the featured class, Aaron is happy for some breakthroughs. And to Statt Mann's great satisfaction, Plessinger is proud to add Buckeye fan to his resume. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Cup Series Homestead Winner William Byron, Racing Legend Mario Andretti, Supercross Rider Adam Enticknap
Supercross Rider Adam Enticknap returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. He'll be missing several weeks as he recovers from a collarbone injury from Supercross. But Enticknap is very candid in this conversation about his injuries and the music that keeps him grounded in his recovery. And BMX. How'd he decide to make the decision to transfer from bikes to motorcycles? Listen...
NASCAR Cup Series Homestead Winner William Byron returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. Byron is the teammate of Kyle Larson who won Sunday in Las Vegas. Byron is part of the Hendrick Motorsports compound and success. His win in Homestead was his second in the Cup Series. And you'll enjoy Byron with a few days to unwind after his surprise win in Florida. Listen.
Racing Legend Mario Andretti is one of only three drivers with wins in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship, and NASCAR. He is the 1978 World Driving Champion and a won four IndyCar championships in a brilliant career. But March 6th, last Saturday, was the 50th anniversary of Mario's first Formula One win that came in South Africa. Sunday night we talked about that and more during his unmatched driving success. Listen...
Guests: Stewart Haas NASCAR Cup Driver Aric Almirola, 2013 & 2020 Indy 500 Winner Takuma Sato, NHRA Funny Car Driver Alexis DeJoria
2013 & 2020 Indy 500 Winner Takuma Sato has just seen the second edition of his shrunken face on the Indy 500 Borg Warner Trophy. The face of every winning driver is embedded in the trophy. Sato said his most recent face looks more like him. He likes it much better. The ex-Formula One driver was seen joking with Romain Grosjean, another ex-F1 driver sho is moving into the IndyCar series. Listen...
Stewart Haas NASCAR Cup Driver Aric Almirola is a long time Friend of the Freaks. His appearance Sunday night came in a one win season, that win coming in the first qualifying race February 11th before the Daytona 500. Almirola is a veteran NASCAR Cup driver but today he has much in common with parents in every home in America. Listen.
NHRA Funny Car Driver Alexis DeJoria is coming off her strongest season to date. Alexis started in the 11,000 horsepower Nitro Funny Cars in 2011 and has five wins now. But she was out of the car for a year putting together her own team for a return in 2019. The COVID restrictions in 2020 slowed her return but in 2021 she'll have a strong crew chief tandem of Del Worsham and Nicky Boninfante. Her preparations for this season were delayed because of the historic Texas Freeze. She explains. Listen...
Guests: 2021 Daytona 500 Winner Michael McDowell, Supercross Rider Max Anstie, NHRA Pro Stock Driver Kyle Koretsky, Supercross 250 East Points Leader Colt Nichols
It didn't take long for 2021 Daytona 500 Winner Michael McDowell to be rewarded for his success. Last Friday sponsor CarParts.com stepped up and increased its support on the season. McDowell talked about that Sunday night in The Freak Nation. The online parts company was already on board with Front Row Motorsports but was so encouraged with the 500 win that it signed a larger check. Listen...
Second-generation Pro Stock driver Kyle Koretsky was a standout in the run for the 2020 , who was one of several standout candidates for the 2020 NHRA rookie of the year award. That's where Lucas Oil Products stepped into the program for 2021. The son of former Pro Stock and Top Fuel driver, Kenny Koretsky, just missed the 2020 playoffs finishing eleventh in points. Kyle is known as Kid Chaos and he wants to cause a disturbance in the Pro Stock field this season. Listen...
Supercross 250 East Points Leader Colt Nichols has taken control of the podiums following his races. He was in The Freak Nation Sunday night talking about three-straight wins, podiums in every race, and a growing points lead. Nichols reached the major leagues of Supercross after racing in Arenacross and racing in Costa Rica to support himself. His past includes injures, but not anymore. Listen...
Max Anstie Taking Lung Collapse to Supercross Supercross Rider Mac Anstie was in The Freak Nation Sunday night as he recovered from a freak injury last November, a collapsed lung suffered without damage from a track accident. Doctors say the injury could have been the result of a prior injury. Anstie said he "was out riding and felt great. Didn’t crash, didn’t do anything. Got off the bike, no over jumping, no nothing, got off the bike, was talking to my team about the bike, about random stuff, and all the sudden I felt like I was getting stabbed in the chest and in my back." Listen...
Guests: 2012 NASCAR Cup Champion Brad Keselowski, 2012 Supercross 250 East Champion Justin Barcia, ARCA Daytona Winner Corey Heim, 2020 NASCAR Cup Roookie of the Year Cole Custer
2012 NASCAR Cup Champion Brad Keselowski was in The Freak Nation Sunday night after an interview earlier. Keselowski was running making a move to win the Daytona 500 when an accident snatched the opportunity away from him and, instead, he found himself hung on the turn three wall. He was scored 13th. Before the race he talked about being the winningest driver in Penske Racing history. Listen...
ARCA Daytona Winner Corey Heim got his first win of the ARCA season Saturday at Daytona riding on General Tires. Heim is part of the dominating ARCA team at Venturini Motorsports. But wait 'til you hear what's bumping around in his head as he turns for home and the big win this weekend. Heim is a welcome conversation in The Freak Nation. Listen...
2020 NASCAR Cup Rookie of the Year Cole Custer came into The Freak Nation before Sunday's rain delayed Daytona 500. Custer is part of the stable at Stewart Haas Racing. he won the Rookie of the Year honors last year in the NASCAR Cup Series. And he was running in the top five at Daytona Sunday before a big accident stirred the finishers on the last lap. He was scored 11th. Listen...
2012 Supercross 250 East Champion Justin Barcia is in the 450s now and he finished fourth Saturday night. He has one win this year and sits fifth in points after Saturday night. Barcia has two 250 East titles but his consistency in the 450s has kept him close but no championships yet. Barcia is encouraged, though, to see fans returning to the usually rocking Suprcross stands. Listen...
Guests: 2021 Rolex 24 at Daytona Winner Felipe Albuquerque, Author Winning in Reverse & Former NASCAR Driver Bill Lester, Supercross Indianapolis Winner Ken Roczen, Supercross Rider Justin Brayton
2021 Rolex 24 at Daytona Winner Felipe Albuquerque was in The Freak Nation shortly after his historic win. Albuquerque drove with Alexander Rossi, Helio Castroneves and Ricky Taylor on their way to Wayne Taylor Racing's third straight win in the Rolex 24. The win came dramatically when a former Wayne Taylor Racing driver was closing in for a final overtake when his tire blew ending Renger van der Zande's charge. Listen...
Supercross Indianapolis Winner Ken Roczen rode brilliantly to get his first win of the season Saturday night. He was in The Freak Nation Sunday night talking about his growing family, changes in his conditioning regimen, the seeming parity in Supercross this season and a four point penalty that's in dispute after a race in Houston. Listen...
Winning in Reverse Author and Former NASCAR Driver Bill Lester returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night to talk about his motivational memoir. Lester said the book, which will be released Tuesday, February 2nd, isn't an autobiography. It's a book designed to motivate people who want to make career changes or try new things in their lives. Lester is a computer engineer who launched a successful racing career in an unwelcoming industry when he was 40 years old. Listen...
Veteran Supercross Rider Justin Brayton was in The Freak Nation Sunday night talking about the changes ahead in the 2021 Supercross season. Brayton said he really appreciated new scheduling in Supercross, changes that mean less agonizing travel in the sport. Brayton also talked about what appears to be growing parity in the competition that might be blamed on better racing equipment, better rider conditioning and better analysis of rider skills. Listen...
Guests: 2021 Rolex 24 at Daytona Pole Sitter Felipe Nasr, IMSA/NASCAR/NBC Motorsports Analyst AJ Allmendinger, Paretta Autosport Owner Beth Paretta
2021 Rolex 24 at Daytona Pole Sitter Felipe Nasr dropped into The Freak Nation Sunday night as he drove back home to Miami from Daytona Speedway. Nasr and teammate Pipo Derani won the inaugural Roar qualifying race which determined the starting order for next weekend’s 59th Rolex 24 At Daytona. Nasr is becoming a Friend of the Freaks. He was pretty comfortable talking and driving but, isn't that what he does at great rates of speed on the racetrack? Listen...
IMSA/NASCAR/NBC Motorsports Analyst AJ Allmendinger in a LONG time Friend of the Freaks. That's why it was fun Sunday listening to him describe what might be the busiest schedule anywhere this racing season. AJ will be driving sports cars, Xfinity and Cup stock cars while he works in some motorsports analyst duties for NBC Sports. In his spare time he'll be reading an 18 page manual to learn how to operate his new Acura prototype at Michael Shank Racing. Listen...
Paretta Autosport Owner Beth Paretta renewed a relationship with The Freaks Sunday night. Paretta was set up to take an all-female team to the 2016 Indy 500 with Katherine Legg driving for Grace Autosport. But that deal fell apart within sight of the green flag when some people reneged on deals made on paper. Now Beth is back with 2010 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year Simona de Silvestro driving for Paretta Autosport. This time Beth has the backing of Roger Penske who wants her team in his race. Listen...
Guests: 2021 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Winner Kyle Larson, 20-time Rolex 24 Winner Andy Lally, NASCAR Xfinity & Cup Driver Noah Gragson
Kyle Larson on Winning, The Cushion & Bowl Boogers 2021 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Winner Kyle Larson returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. His win in Tulsa was his second in a row but he had to fight off challenges from two drivers including fellow NASCAR driver Christopher Bell who made a mistake late and fell out of the battle. Larson is making a comeback to NASCAR after a suspension last year. He'll be with Hendrick Motorsport for the Cup races but he'll also return to dirt racing where he had enormous success last season. Listen...
NASCAR Xfinity & Cup Driver Noah Gragson was in The Freak Nation Sunday night talking about the great opportunity he has next month to run in The Daytona 500. Gragson won at Daytona last year in an Xfinity car. But the Cup car is faster and the competition in the Cup field is far deeper. Can he do well? He thinks so. Listen...
20-time Rolex 24 Winner Andy Lally is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. His wins in the Rolex 24 started when The Freaks started, more than 20 years ago. Lally is the winningest active IMSA driver in the Rolex 24. IN fact, he talked about the eight Rolex watches he's won in the race and who he's shared them with. Listen...
Guests: 2020 Lucas Oil Motocross 450cc Champion Zach Osborne, NASCAR Team Owner David Gilliland, USAC Midget & Chili Bowl Driver Landon Simon, 16-Time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force
2020 Lucas Oil Motocross 450cc Champion Zach Osborne takes his outdoor motocross championship into the Supercross season that starts in Houston, Texas January 16th, next Saturday. The 2020 Supercross season started on a down note for Osborne who broke some ribs, his wrist, fractured five vertebrae, and bruised his lungs while practicing before Atlanta. But the break for the pandemic last year let him be on the mend in more ways than one. Certainly it got him ready for a championship run outdoors. Listen...
NASCAR Team Owner David Gilliland returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. It was announced this week that Gilliland has formed a new partnership with businessman and former NHRA drag racer Johnny Gray to form David Gilliland Racing. The team will remain based in Mooresville, N.C., competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series and the CARS Late Model Stock Tour with factory support from Ford Performance. The new hats will be many for Gilliland. Listen...
USAC Midget & Chili Bowl Driver Landon Simon was in The Freak Nation Sunday night before he hunkers down in Tulsa for the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals. It's the craziest week in racing where more than 300 drivers gather in a Tulsa shed to race USAC Midget race cars around a dirt track sometimes six times a night to qualify for the finals next Saturday on MavTV. If it sounds wild, it is! Listen...
Late last year The Freaks spent more than an hour with maybe the greatest drag racer ever, 16-time Funny Car champion John Force. Force has been a Friend of the Freaks for every one of our 20 years. So this visit was like Old Home Week for all of us. A conversation with John is fun and this is no different. Force had the time because he was off the racing calendar last year for several reasons. Listen...
Guests: NBC Sports Motorsports Analyst Rutledge Wood, 2016 IndyCar Champion Simon Pagenaud, 2020 IMSA Endurance Champion Team Owner Wayne Taylor, NASCAR Driver Riley Herbst
2016 IndyCar Champion Simon Pagenaud, winner of the 2019 Indy 500, is a long time Friend of the Freaks. So Simon's visit was well accepted and enjoyed. While Pagenaud talked fun in the racing off-season he had some sadness at not being able to spend Christmas at home in Paris for the first time in his life. He said the pandemic would keep him in North Carolina this year. Listen...
NBC Sports Motorsports Analyst Rutledge Wood returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night to talk about Cruisin' The Continental U.S. a national road trip with Continental Tire. Wood made the trip with sportscar driver Ryan Eversley in a supercar. And the two just cruised talking with and seeing anyone and anything interesting. Wood said much of what they saw were things that were missed when they cruised by while on assignment to a motor race. Listen...
2020 IMSA Endurance Champion Team Owner Wayne Taylor returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night in a chilled mood. Taylor was relaxing while talking with The Freaks about his championship season for Wayne Taylor Racing and for his sons Jordan and Ricky who won titles with other programs. Taylor's team is going through some changes that include the car and his sons. Listen...
NASCAR Driver Riley Herbst announced this week that he'd spend the 2021 season and beyond with Stewart Haas Racing, one of the most successful programs in stock car racing. Herbst is from a very successful off-road racing family but his move to pavement racing caught some in the family business by surprise. But Riley's success as he starts his NASCAR career has created a level of comfort with his decision. Now he just needs to find normal again. Listen...
Guests: Four-Time NHRA World Champion Don "The Snake" Prudhomme, NASCAR Broadcaster Jamie Little, 2020 NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car Champion Doug Gordon
2020 NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car Champion Doug Gordon visited The Freak Nation Sunday night to talk about his championship captured in the midst of a pandemic that shut down 2020 motor racing for months. The Lucas Oil driver Gordon lives in one of America's garden spots in the California Central Coast Wine Region. Still he found time to travel to far away places where people wanted and welcomed drag racing. And that was a good thing for Doug and his team. Listen...
NASCAR Broadcaster Jamie Little has spent the last 20 years breaking through glass ceilings opening doors for women to follow her into motor racing. But Jamie is a long-time Friend of the Freaks so her visit was welcome and a long time coming. She's breaking through another barrier in 2021 when she takes over the play-by-play when the ARCA series in on FOX. Listen...
Four-Time NHRA World Champion Don "The Snake" Prudhomme returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night to give The Freaks a peak into his new book "Don Prudhomme, My Life Beyond The 1320." Prudhomme said telling the stories forced him to reveal parts of his life no one has ever seen. One of the greatest drag racers ever grew up in poverty and wound up with his own air force. We love The Snake. Listen...
Guests: IMSA Sebring 12 Hour Winner Jonathan Bomarito, 2020 NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster Champion Megan Meyer, British ARCA Driver Alex Sedgewick, Judas Priest Lead Singer Rob Halford
IMSA Sebring 12 Hour Winner Jonathan Bomarito dropped by The Freak Nation on his way home Sunday night. Bomarito drove a Mazda prototype with Harry Tincknell and Ryan Hunter-Reay. It was a weird race beyond being moved from the normal date in March to the Covid inspired appearance in November. Listen...
British ARCA Driver Alex Sedgwick is breaking so many stereotypes just by seeking a career here in America. Few expect a European born driver to want a career in stock car racing but that's exactly what Alex is seeking. He launched that path last weekend during NASCAR's championship weekend in Phoenix. Sedgwick explains where this passion for turning left was born. Listen...
2020 NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster Champion Megan Meyer is making a couple strange steps in this strange year. She got married in the middle of a championship fight during a pandemic. And she doesn't plan on chasing another championship when the season gets underway next year. Her plan is to make money. Help others make money. And teach others how to get and spend other people's money. Listen...
Judas Priest Lead Singer Rob Halford returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night to continue talking about his new book "Confess" that was released in late September. The lead singer for legendary rockers Judas Priest opened up his life to his fans and he says there's no regrets even if the stories create enemies for him. Halford is used to being exposed on stage. So he said there was comfort in talking about his experiences building his music career. Listen...
2020 NHRA Funny Car Champion Matt Hagan is a longtime Friend of the Freaks that's why it was fun to talk with him after his third championship. Hagan is a Virginia farmer who's grown his business relationships through his racing success. We catch him while he's getting his truck repaired after some problem with mules. Listen...
2018-2020 Australian V8 Supercars Champion Scott McLaughlin is coming to America to race in IndyCar with Penske Racing. McLaughlin, though, has been observing much more racing in America including this weekend's NASCAR racing in Phoenix. McLaughlin is from New Zealand where racing is baked into the sports culture of the nation. He's looking forward to getting his IndyCar career launched. Listen...
2009 Trans Am Champion Tomy Drissi finished third in Sunday's TransAm race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Drissi is a longtime TransAm regular who's won races and that championship. In fact, he's in the running for another championship this year with two events left on the calendar. Listen...
Judas Priest Lead Singer Rob Halford returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night to talk about his new book "Confess" that was released in late September. Halford is one of the legendary names in rock music which makes his book something to anticipate. He talked about the book, making the audio book in a studio like recording his music and the memories that the book brought back to him. Listen...
2017 NASCAR Cup Champion Martin Truex, Jr. was on his way to another Playoff Finals when problems sent him backwards in the Martinsville finish Sunday. Truex was the Cup Series runner-up the past two seasons but not this year. He'll be out of the running when the four playoff finalists get to the NASCAR Championship Weekend at Phoenix next week. But Martin has a lot to add to his weekend. Listen...
2020 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion Matt Smith won his title with a far smaller budget than the big pro stock bike teams. The Lucas Oil sponsored rider, in fact, has such a small team he had to drive his bikes back to North Carolina with his wife Angie Smith, a fellow competitor. That'll be their celebration instead of a few days of partying in Las Vegas where he won the championship. Listen...
NASCAR Xfinity Playoff Finalist Chase Briscoe came into The Freak Nation this week to talk about his dominant season, the non-existent crowds that couldn't watch because of the pandemic, and the new realities in a NASCAR weekend that were put in place this season. The 2016 ARCA champion will be in Phoenix next weekend planning on taking a championship home with him. Listen...
NASCAR Truck Series Playoff Finalist Sheldon Creed grew out of off-road racing and Robbie Gordon's Stadium Super Truck Series to compete at the highest levels of American stock car racing. He'll compete for the NASCAR truck series title next weekend in Phoenix. He said his experiences racing on dirt have helped with is championship chase this season. Listen...
Guests: 2020 IndyCar Champion Scott Dixon, NASCAR Playoff Driver Alex Bowman, ARCA West Sacramento Winner Gio Scelzi, NHRA Texas Motorplex Pro Stock Winner Matt Hartford
2020 IndyCar Champion Scott Dixon is a longtime Friend of the Freaks but he came into The Freak Nation just hours after his third place finish in St. Petersburg, a finish that earned him his sixth IndyCar title. Dixon started the season with four win and built a points lead of 117 points. But he had to hold of a fast charging Josef Newgarden who won Sunday in St. Pete but fell short of catching Dixon. Listen...
NASCAR Playoff Driver Alex Bowman is fighting to get into the Championship Final Four who will race for the 2020 title in Phoenix. Bowman races for Hendrick Motorsports where championships have been common place in the last two decades. But Bowman brings more than a thirst for championships to his Freak Nation visit. He also brings a maturity and calmness that's seldom seen in major league racing. Listen...
Gio Scelzi on Pavement, Dirt & Dad ARCA West Sacramento Winner Gio Scelzi is the son of one of our favorite Drivers, Four-time NHRA champion Gary Scelzi. Giovanni, however, is fighting to make his presence felt in circuit racing. He started on dirt and is learning how to get it done on pavement. He's learning but he still respect what Dad Gary did in drag racing. But he won't give it a try anytime soon. Listen...
NHRA Texas Motorplex Pro Stock Winner Matt Hartford returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. His big win came last weekend and included some controversial starting line tactics with two-time champion Erica Enders. Hartford was a Sport Compact champion but is just getting up to speed in the NHRA Camping World Series. He talked about his race with Enders. Listen...
Guests: NHRA Texas Motorplex Funny Car Winner Jack Beckman, IMSA Petit LeMans Winner Ryan Briscoe, First Female TransAm TA2 Podium Finisher Michele Abbate, 16-Time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force
16-Time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force is one of the original Friend of the Freaks. He's supported us from nearly the beginning 20 years ago. This 13 or so minutes is from an hour long conversation with John that's posted on our You Tube channel. The Force program is taking the 2020 season off but is making firm plans to return to racing in 2021. That's just one of the things John talked about with us. Listen...
NHRA Texas Motorplex Funny Car Winner Jack Beckman came into The Freak Nation again. He's a longtime Friend of the Freaks who is fighting to get his ride for next year sponsored. These are strange times in the NHRA. Even the series switched overall sponsors in mid-season. This Covid year has changed things that maybe won't go back to normal. Listen...
First Female TransAm TA2 Podium Finisher Michele Abbate came into The Freak Nation Sunday night after a rare success for a woman driver in the TransAm West Coast series. Abbate is sponsored by Lucas Oil and she's finding success with her own team, run with her husband, in less than a dozen races all together. Abbate is determined to reach the national TransAm racing series, one of the longest running programs in America. Listen...
IMSA Petit LeMans Winner Ryan Briscoe has been coming into The Freak Nation for many years. His visit Sunday night was candid as usual. And we learned a lot about how his Wayne Taylor Racing Team was gifted the victory when two other cars battled so hard they took each other out of the win with only ten minutes left in the race. Briscoe's team was right there to take advantage. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Xfinity Charlotte Roval Winner AJ Allmendinger, IMSA Charlotte Roval Winner Antonio Garcia, IndyCar Indy2 Race Winner Will Power
NASCAR Xfinity Charlotte Roval Winner AJ Allmendinger is a longtime Friend of the Freaks and, when he came into The Freak Nation Sunday night it was to have a great time after a great race Saturday night. In the rain and darkness at the Charlotte Roval, Allmendinger scored a major win. It was something that NASCAR driver don't normally do: run on a road course in a night time rain storm. As with any AJ visit, it was legendous! Listen...
Antonio Garcia on Conditions, His New Car & Futbol IMSA Charlotte Roval Winner Antonio Garcia made a rare Freak Nation appearance. He drove to the Saturday night win in horrible conditions with co-driver Jordan Taylor. Garcia has been with the Corvette Racing Team for many years but he's excited about the new Corvette C8.R and the success the team is having with the mid-engine sports car. The Charlotte win was the team's fifth in six races this season putting them in the driver's seat for the 2020 title. Listen...
IndyCar Indy2 Race Winner Will Power is another Friend of the Freaks. His visit Sunday night was a week after his win in the second of two IndyCar races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last weekend. The 2014 IndyCar champion is always pretty relaxed when he comes into The Freak Nation and this was no different. His relaxation makes for a very candid conversation. Listen...
Guests: NHRA Funny Car Gainesville Winner Ron Capps, ARCA K&N West Las Vegas Winner Gracie Trotter, NBC Analyst/Driver Townsend Bell, NASCAR Truck Series Bristol Winner Sam Mayer
NHRA Funny Car Gainesville Winner Ron Capps is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. He was in The Freak Nation Sunday night shortly after the win in the Gatornationals. Capps was excited, obviously, about the victory but he was careful to talk about a mild celebration before his flight home at 5:30 in the morning! Ron also talked about his dirt track spin to save his Funny Car on the drag strip. Listen...
ARCA K&N West Las Vegas Winner Gracie Trotter this weekend became the first woman to win an ARCA race. The win came at the Bull Ring track in Las Vegas where she's getting valuable experience as a Toyota Development driver. Trotter has been in eight races with an average finishing position better than fifth. Trotter has enormous developmental potential and, at 19, could be around stock car racing for many years. Listen...
NASCAR Truck Series Bristol Winner Sam Mayer pulled off a unique doubleheader last weekend. He won both the truck race and an ARCA race also at Bristol. Obviously he calls Bristol Motor Speedway his favorite track and would hate to see any changes made that would make the track easier to race. Mayer is 17 and racing against drivers who might be older than his parents. Listen...
NBC Analyst/Driver Townsend Bell spent the weekend racing in the IMSA doubleheader at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He returned to The Freak Nation shortly after Sunday afternoon's race. He spent time as an analyst talking about racing in IndyCar and IMSA. Curiously enough, some of that analysis dovetailed with his own driving experiences. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Driver Conor Daly, High Wire Artist Nic Wallenda, Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Chandler Pro2 Winner Jerret Brooks
IndyCar Driver Conor Daly returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night after announcing that he'll enter a NASCAR truck series race to compete against Action Sports legend Travis Pastrana. The pair became friends recently and the rivalry grew last summer as the duo competed in iRacing events on the Internet. Daly called the sim racing a "Land of Dreams" but he's not dreaming about his race against Pastrana. He desperately wants to win! Listen...
Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Chandler Pro2 Winner Jerret Brooks returned to The Freak Nation to talk about the multi race weekends in the LOORRS series this season. Delays in the season caused by the pandemic has led to as many as three races in a weekend. Brooks is on a roll winning at least one race in each of the last three weekends. Listen...
High Wire Artist Nic Wallenda represents one of the greatest family names in entertainment. The Wallenda Family has been walking across wires for nearly two centuries and Nic talked about the adventure in a book Facing Fears. He talked passionately about the book that came about after a family accident that nearly killed his sister. Wallenda said he wanted to quit but didn't after his wife reminded him that his personal mantra is "Never Give up." Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Mid-Ohio2 Winner Colton Herta, Megadeth Lead Singer Dave Mustaine, NASCAR Driver Brendan Gaughan, NASCAR/ARCA Driver Carson Hocevar
IndyCar Mid-Ohio2 Winner Colton Herta found time for The Freak Nation while driving back to Indianapolis after his win Sunday in Central Ohio. Herta dominated the win and it seems the only times he gets on the IndyCar podium is when he wins. Sunday was his third in IndyCar and it came after the fourth Pole of his young career. Herta was the youngest race winner in IndyCar history when he won at Circuit of The Americas at 18 years, 359 days old. He has a brilliant career ahead but Formula One? Listen...
NASCAR Driver Brendan Gaughan is an original Friend of the Freaks. His return to The Freak Nation Sunday night was to talk about his relationship with former Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson. Gaughan played footall and basketball for the Hoyas and it was a real fight with Thompson to get him to "let" Brendan start his racing career in the Nevada desert. These are stories you won't hear anywhere else. Listen...
Megadeth Lead Singer Dave Mustaine returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night to talk about his new book "Rust in Peace." It's a memoir about his days with the band and his battles with addictions, legal fights with fellow band members and cancer. Mustaine's fights also include several black belts. Listen...
NASCAR/ARCA Driver Carson Hocevar was only 15 when he won the Pole at an ARCA race leading men older than his father to the green flag. Hocevar has since spread his talents around the stock car world winning a Super Late Model Race this weekend at Berlin Raceway. He's also had success driving NASCAR trucks. He's sampling everything and liking it. Listen...
Guests: ARCA St. Louis Winner Ty Gibbs, NHRA Top Fuel Indy2 Finalist T.J. Zizzo, Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series Wheatland Pro 2 Winner Jerett Brooks, Comedians The Plastic Cup Boyz
ARCA St. Louis Winner Ty Gibbs brought his 17-year-old self into The Freak Nation Sunday night and had more composure and fun than some of the Freak visitors twice his age. Gibbs is Coach Joe Gibbs grandson and Coy Gibb's son. So Ty has been around success all his life and he expect it from his racing. Listen...
Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series Wheatland Pro 2 Winner Jerett Brooks enjoyed his visit to The Freak Nation Sunday night. Brooks has championships and event wins on his resume. But he's preparing for the Daytona 500 of short course off road racing in Crandon next weekend. He says it's the biggest event of that sport. Brooks has a new truck ready for the big event. Listen...
NHRA Top Fuel Indy2 Finalist T.J. Zizzo has been waiting for about two months to run his final round against newcomer Justin Ashley, both of whom reigned over the heavy-hitting, full-time teams in the greasy heat last July to advance to their first career professional final rounds. The rainshowers, however, forced the two unlikely finalists to put the champagne on ice for the next six weeks. They'll try again to run it off next weekend at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. Listen…
Comedians The Plastic Cup Boyz presented by Kevin Hart includes comedians Na'im Lynn and Will “Spank” Horton. A third member, Joey Wells, didn't come into The Freak Nation. These guys write some of Hart's material but they're hilarious in their own right. They even filmed their own stand-up special (presented by Hart, of course) in 2014. They even had some fun with The Freaks at the expense of an NFL legend. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Indy 500 Winner Takuma Sato, 2013 Indy 500 Winner Tony Kanaan, IndyCar Rookies Oliver Askew & Pato O'Ward, ARCA Dover General Tire 125 Winner Sam Mayer
IndyCar Indy 500 Winner Takuma Sato came into The Freak Nation Sunday night after a brilliant victory. Sato told The Freaks "I must be one of the luckiest men on Earth" after his second Indy 500 win. Sato was still in a daze about his party plans to celebrate. But he sounded like he was ready for a big party tomorrow at the Indy 500 banquet. Listen...
2013 Indy 500 Winner Tony Kanaan is one of The Freaks favorite guests. He's been a regular in The Freak Nation. So when we talked with him before The 500 he was relaxed and having fun. Kanaan even laughed at a prank that was pulled on him that cost him a $10,000 racing bicycle. But mayo on a hotdog? Listen…
ARCA Dover General Tire 125 Winner Sam Mayer wsa in The Freak Nation Sunday night. And Mayer's so young he wasn't born when The Freak Nation was created. Mayer is only 17 but he runs like a seasoned veteran in the ARCA series. We were especially interested in what he had to say about the return of exiled NASCAR driver Kyle Larson. Listen...
IndyCar Rookies Oliver Askew & Pato O'Ward visited with The Freaks before The 500. And these two rookies could be perfect candidates to be Freak regulars. They're fast and they're fun. That's an unbeatable combination for us. They also have some different ideas about dinner. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Indy 500 Pole Sitter Marco Andretti, NHRA Indy2 Top Fuel Finalist T.J. Zizzo, ARCA Daytona Winner Michael Self, Comedian/Actor Steve-O
IndyCar Indy 500 Pole Sitter Marco Andretti found time in the craziness of Indy to visit with The Freak Nation Sunday night. Marco was the first Andretti in 33 years to sit on the Indy 500 pole. The success is new for Marco who's struggled the last couple years. But he talked with The Freaks about what's helped turn around his career. Listen...
ARCA Daytona Winner Michael Self returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. Self is a road racing coach who won the ARCA race Friday and leads the ARCA points on the season. He brought some clarity to what goes through a driver's mind when there's a weather delay. He also talked at length about the art of racing in the rain. Michael Self is becoming a Friend of the Freaks. Listen...
NHRA Indy2 Top Fuel Finalist T.J. Zizzo faces pure craziness in 2020 drag racing. He qualified for the Top Fuel Finals in the Indy 2 event. That was last month when rain postponed the final race. Now it's scheduled for sometime in September. That's more than 20 weeks between the semis and the finals. Plus, friends of Zizzo's were involved in a terrible highway accident last Sunday night. They're fighting to live right now. Listen…
Comedian/Actor/Producer Steve-O was in The Freak Nation Sunday night. Stephen Gilchrist Glover made a name for himself in the Jackass films. But he's graduated to stand-up comedy, film production and his own You Tube channel that's booming in its first few videos. Steve-O spent some time on several issues from sobriety to sophomoric humor. It was all hilarious. Listen...
Guests: Racer/IndyCar Insider Robin Miller, NHRA Indy3 Pro Stock Motorcycle Winner Angelle Sampey, Xtreem Flat Track Sturgis Winner Jesse Janisch, Actor/Comedian Desiree Burch
NHRA Indy3 Pro Stock Motorcycle Winner Angelle Sampey took time from a victory party to talk with The Freaks Sunday night. Angelle broke through with her first win on a Harley on her birthday weekend. The winningest woman in racing got her first win in four years and she was pretty happy about it. She explained how and why she needed to learn all over again being on a Harley. She called Sunday her day. Listen…
Racer/IndyCar Insider Robin Miller visits The Freak Nation frequently. It was great to hear from him Sunday night. He brought The Freaks up to speed on changes at the Speedway in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. He had some headlines on Speedway owner Roger Penske and some speculation on rumors involving the Indiana University Medical Center and some talk on what might be in Chevrolet's IndyCar future. Listen...
Xtreem Flat Track Sturgis Winner Jesse Janisch called in from a camp ground and camp fire Sunday night. He was enjoying his week at the Sturgis motorcycle rally winning flat track races along the way. Janisch said he loves motorcycles and riding them. He races in several disciplines including off-road racing professionally in Texas. Listen...
Actor/Comedian Desiree Burch is an actor, producer and comedian who lives in America and the UK while making her living on the global platform Netflix. Oh, and she knows the inside stuff of Formula One racing and the drivers who compete in the series. Burch is fun and her conversation is wild. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Iowa2 Winner Josef Newgarden, ARCA Series Kentucky Winner Brett Holmes, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Diamond National Winner Chris Ferguson, Comedian Bobby Lee
IndyCar Iowa2 Winner Josef Newgarden was in The Freak Nation Sunday night with a fun conversation that was on and off the track and, even, back home with the family. Newgarden is the 2017 and 2019 IndyCar champion so he's been a regular with The Freaks. Sunday night, though, he had a good time. Listen...
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Diamond National Winner Chris Ferguson made a step up in class last weekend when he won the Diamond Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway in Missouri. Ferguson comes from a racing family where his aunts, uncles and Dad all have trips into victory circle on their resume. But Ferguson is most proud of winning with his Grandmother watching on television. Listen...
ARCA Series Kentucky Winner Brett Holmes made a debut in The Freak Nation Sunday night. And he did it with some fun. Holmes explained how he was so frustrated he took a year off with his team to figure out what was wrong. That was last season. Now he's second in the points with the win in Kentucky. Holmes says the changes the team made were important to the success they're having now. Listen…
Comedian Bobby Lee's appearance in The Freak Nation brought some fun that had nothing to do with motor racing. In fact, Lee knows little about motor racing and he's almost proud of that! He even asked why he was on the broadcast. The craziness was obvious. But Bobby Lee made some assumptions that weren't quite true anyway. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Texas Cup Winner Austin Dillon, IMSA Sebring Winners Pipo Derani & Felipe Nasr, NHRA Insider/Journalist Susan Wade
NASCAR Texas Cup Winner Austin Dillon came into The Freak Nation Sunday night after ending his 88 race losing streak Sunday afternoon. Dillon had to survive not only the race and its competitors but he also fought 140 degree temperatures inside the racecar. Austin needed first aid when the race was over but he was anxious to get back home to his newborn son to enjoy the spoils of victory. Listen...
IMSA Sebring Winners Pipo Derani & Felipe Nasr called into The Freak Nation Sunday night while they were on their way to a celebratory dinner. Their Saturday win was a special IMSA make good race. Instead of the Sebring 12 Hour this was less than three hours or Sebring Lite. Still, it amounted to Derani's fourth win at the legendary track and, for Nasr, it amounted to a win after Nasrsurvived the Covid-19 disease. Listen…
NHRA Insider/Journalist Susan Wade is a veteran in the NHRA paddock. Her experience allowed her to create an excellent article in the Dragzine online magazine. It looked at problems facing the NHRA and some of its team in this time of pandemic. What's especially important are the teams who have contracts that might be dependent on fans who aren't allowed to attend NHRA events. These are tough times in the drag racing industry. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Kentucky Cup Winner Cole Custer, IndyCar Road America 2 Winner Felix Rosenquist, NHRA Funny Car Winner Matt Hagan, Music Legend George Clinton Freakin' Flashback
NASCAR Kentucky Cup Winner Cole Custer came into The Freak Nation Sunday night still amazed at his surprise win after a last corner pass at Kentucky Speedway. Custer's win in his rookie season is a rarity at Kentucky. And a lot of people who were gambling on his victory lost faith halfway through the race and lost out because of Cole's heroics in the last 400 yards of the race. Listen...
IndyCar Road America 2 Winner Felix Rosenquist of Sweden has been pushing hard for the win in his first season in IndyCar. That first win came Sunday afternoon following a late race pass against Pato O'Ward. Rosenquist has been challenging the fastest in the series but he had trouble in race one Saturday. His success in race two on Sunday was complete. Listen…
NHRA Funny Car Winner Matt Hagan is a regular in The Freak Nation. His visit Sunday night was welcome as the NHRA returned to racing after the four month break because of the pandemic. Hagan is a busy man with several personal and family business interests. He said he got a lot done in his time off. But he also said his win Sunday felt different because 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force and his team wasn't in Indianapolis for drag racing's season reboot. Listen...
Kenny Sargent visited with music legend George Clinton back in 2006 when The Freaks were on Speedchannel weekly. Clinton was in the middle of a tour promoting his latest musical release. But you'd have thought he was promoting the cheeseburger he was eating! Clinton took a few moments away from his Mother Ship to talk about everything from 4-21 to not getting paid. Listen...
Driver of the Century Mario Andretti is a very special Friend of the Freaks. We talked with him on video for an hour on our actual 20th anniversary, June 25th. Mario has always been available to The Freaks and his visits have always been candid, eye opening and fun. This was no different. His stories are as legendary as he is. Listen...
New York Times best-selling author Jade Gurss is always a welcome visitor in The Freak Nation. But his visits aren't always frequent because of his schedule. He's a popular media specialist especially within the motorsports community. He's written books with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. who he helped make NASCAR's most popular driver for more than a decade. His latest offering is Racer, a study in the life of the late John Andretti who died January 30th. The proceeds will be used to help a children’s foundation in Indianapolis. Listen…
Guests: ARCA Talladega Winner Drew Dollar, Competition Plus Editor/Creator Bobby Bennett, The Freaks on Breaking News in NASCAR
Bobby Bennett on the Virus, Surviving Covid-19 & the NHRA Lockdown Competition Plus Editor/Creator Bobby Bennett is one of the most inside of all media people in drag racing. He created CompetitionPlus.com to bring the sport into the transparency of the World Wide Web. But Bennett's visit to The Freak Nation Sunday night was riveting as he described his battle against Covid-19. Bennett said he came within hours of giving up as he fought for his next breath. Listen...
ARCA Talledega Winner Drew Dollar got his first major stock car racing win at 19. The win on General Tires got him his first visit to The Freak Nation Sunday night. Dollar got the dramatic victory and told The Freaks he had trouble getting to sleep afterwards as he enjoyed the moments on You Tube. It's hard to believe the driver is younger than the SpeedFreaks radio show. Listen...
The NASCAR Cup race at Talladega was postponed until Monday afternoon but that wasn't the headline as the day unfolded. Someone put a noose in the garage of Darrell Wallace, the only black driver in the sport. The story became the most talked about thing on Twitter Sunday night. The Freaks talked about the ugliness as the story broke during the broadcast. Listen…
Guests: ESPN Senior Writer Ryan McGee, Yahoo Sports Golf & NASCAR Writer Jay Busbee, Bennett's War Actor Michael Roark
ESPN Senior Writer Ryan McGee is a longtime Friend of the Freaks and we always learn a lot when he shows up in The Freak Nation. That happened again Sunday night when he gave us very deep background on NASCAR's plans to remove the Confederate Flag from racetracks going forward. McGee gave some examples of how that might happen. Listen...
Bennett's War Actor Michael Roark was in The Freak Nation Sunday night to talk about a new film release from Forrest Films, part of the Lucas Oil Studios. Roark plays a war veteran who fight his way into the Supercross world when he returned from the battlefield. Roark has experience from the film Magic Mike and he talks about how the pandemic is changing auditions and screen tests through Zoom. Listen…
Yahoo Sports Golf & NASCAR Writer Jay Busbee returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. Busbee had insight on NASCAR's changing landscape. And he also had background from his popular book on the life of Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Busbee took The Freaks behind the decisions being made that will change NASCAR's future. Listen...
Best-selling author Jade Gurss is a long-time Friend of the Freaks but his appearance Sunday was the first in a LONG while. Gurss once did the media relations for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and was successful in making him the most popular driver in NASCAR for more than a decade. Now he's done another book, Racer, with Jon Andretti. The proceeds will be used to help a children's foundation in Indianapolis. Gurss' books with Dale Jr. were NY Times best sellers. He's hoping for the same with this one. Listen...
Actor Josh Swickard is a heart throb on the soap opera General Hospital. Now he's a star in the Forrest Films release Roped now available to stream on Netflix. We're told General Hospital fans are in for a treat seeing Swickard’s cowboy romance film. It follows a star cowboy in a traveling rodeo that gets thrown off course when he falls in love with the daughter of a tough-minded town councilman. And another surprise; this is the film where Josh met his future wife! Listen...
Guests: Team GT/Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Driver Christopher Polvoorde, Actor/Comedian Patrick Warburton, Wrestling Legend Diamond Dallas Page
Actor/Comedian Patrick Warburton returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night and he brought new stories from his growing career. And that includes the people who remember him from his rental car commercials when he's been acting for decades. Warburton is as much a Freak as The Freaks. Listen...
Team GT/Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Driver Christopher Polvoorde was born a month after The Freak Nation's birthdate. But he's as much a champion in off-road racing as The Freaks are in broadcasting. Polvoorde was in The Freak Nation Sunday night with a number of laughs including the van he built with Ford that would allow him to do his remote schooling on a mountain top away from everything. Listen...
Wrestling Legend Diamond Dallas Page is an encyclopedia of wrestling fun but he might be the best as detailing stories from the fans he has in the NBA. That includes his appearances with maybe the all-time NBA Freak Dennis Rodman. He remembers a night when two Utah Jazz Stars actually picked DDP from the crowd to say Hi! And explaining DDPY is something else altogether. Listen…
Guests: NASCAR Darlington Winning Crew Chief Rodney Childers, Legendary Styx Drummer Todd Sucherman, WRC & WRX Champion Petter Solberg, Four-Time NBA Champion Will Perdue
NASCAR Darlington Winning Crew Chief Rodney Childers had a candid conversation with The Freaks Sunday night. Childeers directed the Kevin Harvick dominating win, Harvick's fiftieth of his career. Childers talked about the car, if it will be used again Wednesday when the Cup Series runs again at Darlington. He also talked about how the fanless weekend at Darlington fit into NASCAR's history. Listen...
Four-Time NBA Champion Will Perdue returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night to again expand on the brilliant ESPN docu-series The Last Dance. Perdue has spent the last month bringing in deeper insight into the most popular television series in America. The ESPN documentary series is taking apart the last championship run of the Chicago Bulls in the 1998 season. He's bringing insight from inside the Bulls locker room. Listen...
WRC & WRX Champion Petter Solberg revisited The Freak Nation Sunday night after running in the Legends sim race Saturday. Solberg won the 2003 WRC title and the 2014 and 2015 World Ralycross titles. So he's one of the great driver in history. But he had to work on his skills in sim racing and he still might not be as adept at his son Oliver. Who'd win? Listen…
Legendary Styx Drummer Todd Sucherman is considered one of the most technical drummers in rock music. And he's expanding his career to produce a solo album, one that he did in somewhat a secret from his award winning band mates. Todd said "Last Flight Home" is "sort of a grand experiment to see if I could do something that I wasn’t sure that I could do.” Sucherman said he's proud of the work. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar iRacing Indianapolis Runner-up Conor Daly, Sports Law Insider Daniel Lust, Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Phoenix Winner Lucas Knupp, Gambling Insider Vegas Runner, Four-Time NBA Champion Will Perdue
Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Phoenix Winner Lucas Knupp brought all of his 13 years into The Freak Nation Sunday night. Knupp usually drives karts in the LOORS series but he jumped into a virtual truck to beat all comers Friday night. It was a crazy win over drivers two and three times his age. It was fun hearing what's in the mind of a winner who's barely a teenager. Listen...
Four-Time NBA Champion Will Perdue won three of those titles with Michael Jordan, the center of the most popular television program in America right now, The Last Dance. The ESPN documentary series is taking apart the last championship run of the Chicago Bulls in the 1998 season. He's bringing insight from inside the Bulls locker room. Listen...
IndyCar iRacing Indianapolis Runner-up Conor Daly was a great guest in The Freak Nation Sunday night. He drove through a wild finish in the IndyCar iRacing finish at the virtual Indianapolis Motor Speedway to reach the checkered flag in second place behind Scott McLaughlin. Daly and McLaughlin went through the last turn of the race down the field but crashes at the front left them standing at the end. Listen...
Sports Law Insider Daniel Lust was back in The Freak Nation Sunday night. Dan has worked for the New York Giants and the SFX Baseball Agency. He regularly publishes on Goldberg Segalla’s award-winning Sports and Entertainment Law Insider where thousands have read his articles and has been interviewed on sports radio programs across the country. He knows what sorts will look like when that business reopens. Listen...
Gambling Insider Vegas Runner knows more about the inside gambling in the sports world. Vegas Runner is a professional sports handicapper and bettor who's made millions knowing the winners and losers in sports. And that includes the motorsports world which he brings into The Freak Nation whenever we ask. Listen…
Guests: Basketball Legend Michael Jordan, Four-Time NBA Champion Will Perdue, NASCAR iRacing St. Louis Winner Christian Eckes, Comedian/Actor Darrell Rawlings
Basketball Legend Michael Jordan made a reprise in The Freak Nation as "The Last Dance" documentary continued to dominate network television Sunday night on ESPN. Jordan owned an AMA Superbike team back in 2005 when he talked with the Statt Mann at California Speedway. Jordan was trying to build a team and his Jordan Brand and it was difficult. But even then Michael Jordan worked hard for success. Listen...
Four-Time NBA Champion Will Perdue is an expert on winning basketball. He played on three title teams with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. He won another title in San Antonio with the Spurs. But at this time in history, Perdue was ready to talk about The Last Dance with the Chicago Bulls and you'll learn more about the team from Will than you will from the ESPN documentary. Listen...
Comedian and actor Donnell Rawlings was in The Freak Nation Sunday night bringing hilarity to the conversation. Rawlings exploded into the spotlight nearly 20 years ago with The Dave Chappelle Show on Comedy Central. Rawlings explained how he was struggling with his career and would go into the studio on his days off and would end up in scenes where he wasn't scheduled. He was that good. Listen…
NASCAR iRacing St. Louis Winner Christian Eckes returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. He won at the Worldwide Technology Raceway outside St. Louis Friday night. Eckes is becoming a regular at the front of the line in virtual racing leagues through the week. He explained how the experience helps. Listen...
IndyCar iRacing Motegi Winner Simon Pagenaud, last year's Indy 500 winner, was back in The Freak Nation Sunday night after his second straight win in the IndyCar sim racing circuit. Pagenaud is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. We've been with him through sports cars, IndyCars and the acquisition of Norman and his wife Hailey. Acquisition might be a bad choice of words on both counts, though. Norman and Hailey might have acquired Simon! Listen...
NASCAR Driver Garrett Smithley has danced around the NASCAR world from Cup to Xfinity to the truck series to ARCA racing. He stays busy but his experience in the sim world is what's bringing him recognition while the track racing is shutdown. Does sim success get the attention of team owners? Do sim racing experiences translate to the track? Is Smithley cool with The Freaks? Listen…
NASCAR iRacing Richmond Winner William Byron was in The Freak Nation Sunday night. The win at Richmond was his second win in a row in the invitational racing. That means he's The Dude in the virtual stock car world. He loves sim racing and works at it when he's not involved in his iconic #24 Hendrick Motorsports actual racecar. Does any of this sim racing jump the screen to the real world? Listen...
Guests: IndyCar iRacing Motegi Winner Simon Pagenaud, WWE Star Mandy Rose, NASCAR iRacing Richmond Winner William Byron, NASCAR Driver Garrett Smithley
WWE Star Mandy Rose, or Amanda Rose Saccomanno, was in The Freak Nation Sunday night after WrestleMania36. The match amounted to a battle for Rose's affection. Otis took on Dolph Ziggler, a storyline pitched by Rose. In fact, she involved herself in the match when she walked down to ringside and slapped longtime partner Sonya Deville before entering the ring and delivering a low blow to Ziggler. Listen...
NASCAR Driver Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. also wears the title World of Outlaws team owner and he wears it with pride. That's why Stenhouse could talk easily about a new documentary called For The Love of Dirt about the World of Outlaws Series, one of the most exciting forms of racing in the world of motorsports. Stenhouse knows both divergent roads well. He explained they both Sunday night. Listen...
NASCAR R&D Engineer Eric Jacuzzi is the Senior Director of Aerodynamics at the NASCAR facility. But our main topic of conversation Sunday night centered on what brilliant engineering minds in motor racing could do to help with the COVID-19 global pandemic ripping apart America. What Jacuzzi and The Freaks considered, however, was how fabricators who concentrated on aero could help with personal protective equipment for medical responders. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar iRacing Barber Winner Scott McLaughlin, NASCAR R&D Engineer Eric Jacuzzi, World of Outlaws Team Owner Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Freakin' Flashback with Comedian Frank Caliendo
Comedian Frank Caliendo is an iconic star in entertainment. When you get Caliendo on your show you've actually booked a dozen or more personalities. In short, Caliendo is brilliant! He moves from one impersonation to another with so much ease you don't even perceive what's going on. The Freaks talked with Caliendo a year ago at the Indy 500. It was a comfortable place for a man who started in America's Midwest. Listen…
IndyCar iRacing Barber Winner Scott McLaughlin visited The Freak Nation from Australia his home country. McLaughlin was scheduled to driver with Roger Penske in 2020 before the global agenda changed radically. McLaughlin Saturday got a squeaky win over Will Power in a virtual race at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham. McLaughlin is a great conversation. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR iRacing Texas Winner Timmy Hill, IndyCar iRacing Watkins Glen Winner Sage Karam, The Athletic Motorsports Analyst Jeff Gluck, 1999 IndyCar Series Champion Tony Kanaan
NASCAR iRacing Texas Winner Timmy Hill stepped into the spotlight with his win Sunday. That made his appearance in The Freak Nation Sunday night even more bright. Hill has considerable racing experience in NASCAR but his win in a virtual race was pretty important for Hill's career. Listen...
IndyCar iRacing Watkins Glen Winner Sage Karam has been in and out of IndyCar racing for several years but his virtual win at The Glen Saturday may be a door opener to return to the series regularly. Karam dominated in the iRacing world Saturday and in these different times, that may be enough. Listen...
1999 IndyCar Series Champion Tony Kanaan, the 2004 Indy 500 winner, is a longtime Friend of the Freaks as well. Kanaan was in another sim race this weekend in addition to the IndyCar iRacing event Saturday. The Legends event included names like Emerson Fittipaldi and Juan Montoya. Kanaan, though, has fun anywhere he competes. Listen…
The Athletic Motorsports Analyst Jeff Gluck is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. His appearance Sunday night shed some light on the growing presence of sim racing in motorsports. Gluck said he wasn't a regular in the sim world but he knows how important it is in a content starved industry today. Listen...
Guests: Racer Magazine Motorsports Insider Marshall Pruett, Actor Comedian Shawn Wayans, Gambling Analyst Vegas Runner, Supercross Rider Adam Enticknap
Racer Magazine Motorsports Insider Marshall Pruett is one of the most read journalists in motor racing. He can be the go to authority for all things racing. It's been a while since we've had him in The Freak Nation but Sunday night he brought some gems to the party. He had some deep background on where racing might be going during this downtown on global racetracks. Listen...
Actor Comedian Shawn Wayans knows all parts of the entertainment industry. He's had success as an actor, stand up comic, film producer and director and TV show star. He's the perfect guest for The Freaks because he knows enough about racing to laugh and have fun with the lifestyle. In fact, he's kind of like The Freaks like that! Listen...
Gambling Analyst Vegas Runner normally drops into The Freak Nation on a Friday to get everyone ready for the weekend "fun." But this week he brought it all on Friday and we continued him until Sunday night where he could spread some of his racing knowledge with The Freak Nation. Vegas Runner isn't one to mince words when he puts his money where his mouth is. Listen...
Supercross Rider & Rapper Adam Enticknap brings a lot with him whenever he visits The Freak Nation. He not only runs at the front of the Supercross line but he's building a career in the rap game as well. Strange combo but Adam is the first man to give it a try. His 7-deuce-deuce brand is getting known in several marketplaces including the marketplace for names! Enticknap laughs at the ways people have ruined his name through the years. Listen…
Guests: Trauma Medicine Specialist Dr. Stephen Olvey, NBC IndyCar Analyst & Driver James Hinchcliffe, NASCAR Driver Daniel Suarez
Dr. Stephen Olvey is on the short list of true experts in trauma medicine especially as it relates to motor racing. He was the Assistant Medical Director at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and developed the first U.S. traveling motorsports medical team for USAC and the CART series. His primary interests are traumatic brain injury and concussion. He has also authored two books, including Rapid Response, an autobiography of his career in motor sport medicine and, yes, the Amazon Prime documentary Rapid Response comes from Dr. Olvey's story. The Freaks talked with Olvey about a number of issues from Coronavirus to protecting drivers from themselves. Listen...
Guests: NBC IndyCar Analyst & Driver James Hinchcliffe, NASCAR Driver Daniel Suarez, ARCA Phoenix Winner Chandler Smith
NBC IndyCar Analyst & Driver James Hinchcliffe is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. So his visit Sunday night was fun as well as informational. The Mayor of Hinchtown talked about his assignment with NBC this year, his racing plans for 2020 as well as how his 2015 Indy injuries affect him now. Hinchcliffe will bring so much to the NBC broadcasts this year. Listen...
ARCA Phoenix Winner Chandler Smith came into The Freak Nation Sunday night with great explanations of his win in Phoenix, how last minutes decisions made the win possible, and how pressures don't get into the car with him when he races. Smith has great background on ARCA racing and how the series could get him ready to move up to the NASCAR Cup series. Listen...
NASCAR Cup Driver Daniel Suarez, the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion, came into The Freak Nation Sunday night with great background on his growing interests outside of racing. Those interests include soccer stars and basketball legend Kobe Bryant. Suarez explained that his interests in Kobe are largely outside of basketball. The Mexican driver also explained how that interest in Kobe led to him changing some of his goals in America. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Fontana Cup Winner Alex Bowman, 2014 NASCAR Cup Champion Kevin Harvick, 2004 & 2008 Supercross Champion Chad Reed, NASCAR Driver Austin Dillon
NASCAR Fontana Cup Winner Alex Bowman was back in The Freak Nation Sunday night hours after his dominating win at Auto Club Speedway. Bowman's win was his second in the Cup Series and it may cost him a tattoo. He had a bet with a friend who plays drums in a rock band and, apparently, the win means he may have do get some ink with his buddy. Will Bowman's boss Rick Hendrick mind? "Not if you rat me out!" Bowman exclaimed. Listen...
2004 & 2008 Supercross Champion Chad Reed is calling his 18th year in the Supercross his #onelastride. He's retiring to spend some time behind the wheel of a sports car. The Australian has moved his base of operations to North Carolina where he can immerse himself in the car racing world. Chad likes the idea of a roll cage after all this time! Listen...
2014 NASCAR Cup Champion Kevin Harvick had some fun with The Freaks Sunday night. The conversation had some in-depth background on Harvick's shopping for a cat. But Kevin got serious for several minutes talking about the truck series and why he participates as an owner and, once, as a driver. Listen...
NASCAR Driver Austin Dillon was in The Freak Nation talking about his diverse interests in sports. And that includes appearing in Phoenix throwing the first pitch to a baseball game wearing San Diego Padre gear. We guess it doesn't matter when you drive at 200 mph. Few can catch you! Dillon already is getting involved as a team owner but these interests are in iRacing. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Las Vegas Cup Winner Joey Logano, Supercross Tampa 250 cc Winner Shane McElreth, NASCAR Cup Driver Christopher Bell, 2013 Freaking Flashback with A.J. Allmendinger
NASCAR Las Vegas Cup Winner Joey Logano was back in The Freak Nation Sunday Night. We talked with him as he was on his way to the airport to go back to North Carolina. The win was his first with his new crew chief Todd Gordon. Logano won under caution, beating Matt DiBenedetto after a wreck unfolded right as the field took the white flag. Listen...
Shane McElreth on Changes, Comfort Zones & Focus Supercross Tampa 250 cc Winner Shane McElreth found some comfort in The Freak Nation Sunday night. He's building a reputation on the smaller 250 cc bikes in Supercross both in the West where he raced last year and in the East where he's racing now. McElreth, though, thinks he's about ready for the bigger 450 cc bikes. Listen...
In The Freaks 20th year we are looking back on archival interviews that were fun then and even more fun now. A.J. Allmenginer is always fun especially after a road course win driving NASCAR Nationwide cars in 2013. Allmendinger is a longtime Friend of the Freaks and when he gets in The Freak Nation he might talk about anything including Kenny's air color. Listen...
NASCAR Cup Driver Christopher Bell has worked his way through NASCAR's Ladder System to the major leagues of Cup racing this year. Bell candidly talked about shuffling cars, earning respect as a rookie in the series and learning how to get the faster Cup cars around the track. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Driver Brendan Gaughan, NASCAR Driver Clint Bowyer, NASCAR Driver Alex Bowman, Supercross Rider Adam Cianciarulo
NASCAR Driver Brendan Gaughan is an Original Friend of the Freaks. He's been around for nearly everyone of the 20 years. This visit to the Freak Nation, though, recalls some of the old days and where he is now including his newest brand, City Light Shine. Brendan grew up in gaming, played games in college, and, now, he's shining games on business. Listen...
NASCAR Driver Alex Bowman is becoming a regular visitor to The Freak Nation. He's part of the surging Hendrick Motorsports team at the end of Daytona Speed Weeks. Bowman qualified on the front row for the 2020 Daytona 500. But he'll restart 16th when the rain delayed race resumes Monday at 4pm Eastern Time. Bowman has a quick wit to be a joy in The Freak Nation. Listen...
Supercross Rider Adam Cianciarulo is fifth in the 450 Supercross points. That's not bad for a young rider who's even in a battle to get the rest of the grid to learn his name. To them he's AC. But Adam wouldn't mind if they worry more about his name and less about the points he's earning every Saturday night in the Supercross final. He's going as hard as he can. It's all he knows how to do. Listen...
It's something to look forward to: NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer in The Freak Nation. If we talk racing it's only by accident. This time we went down the track of competitive fathering, rides at Disney World and the care and use of spatulas. You shouldn't miss this right before the Super Bowl of Racing, the Daytona 500. Only a Chiefs fan! Listen...
Michael Self on Winning, Business & Domination ARCA Daytona Lucas Oil 200 Winner Michael Self came into The Freak Nation right after his win Saturday. Self has been a Friend of the Freaks lately. His performance on the track has been the best. And we're learning that his performance off the track is just as dominating. He's building business interests in between visiting Victory Lane. Listen...
It's great to have Hailie Deegan in The Freak Nation. When we started the show Hailie wasn't born and her Dad Brian was a young man ripping up the Freestyle Motocross Series giving the establishment a shot in the arm with the Metal Mulisha. But a lot has happened in those 20 years. Hailie finished second in the Lucas Oil 200 ARCA race at Daytona Saturday so she's starting to make her own headlines in motor racing. Listen...
Cole Custer drives the No. 41 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. He'll be contending for the Rookie of the Year honors. He previously competed for SHR in the Xfinity Series earning nine wins in two years making the Championship Four twice. Listen...
ARCA Daytona Lucas Oil 200 Winner Michael Self came into The Freak Nation right after his win Saturday. Self has been a Friend of the Freaks lately. His performance on the track has been the best. And we're learning that his performance off the track is just as dominating. He's building business interests in between visiting Victory Lane. Listen...
Supercross Rider & Rapper Adam Enticknap was in The Freak Nation Sunday night. He's the perfect guest for The Freaks. Not only is he a front runner under the Supercross lights. He's building a career in the music business as a rapper. But his 7-deuce-deuce brand is getting known in several marketplaces including the marketplace for names! Enticknap laughs at the ways people have ruined his name ever since high school. Listen...
Guests: 2020 Rolex 24 Winner Ryan Briscoe, 2019 ARCA Runner-Up Michael Self, 2019 Supercross Champion Cooper Webb
2020 Rolex 24 Winner Ryan Briscoe came into The Freak Nation Sunday night wondering how he was going to distribute his third Rolex watch into his family of four people. Briscoe is a regular in The Freak Nation with his wins in IndyCar and his success in sports car racing including his win Sunday with Wayne Taylor Racing. In fact, the WTR win was the team's third in the last four years. They're on a roll! Listen...
2019 Supercross Champion Cooper Webb won the Supercross race in Glendale, Arizona Saturday night. When he came into The Freak Nation he said he was ready to defend his championship even though he's trailing in points early in the season. Webb said the 2019 title was a surprise but he's through with surprises like that in 2020. Listen...
2019 ARCA Runner-Up Michael Self had a good pre-season practice in ARCA. So he's getting ready for the first race of the 2020 season at Daytona, the Lucas Oil 200, in two weeks. Self didn't learn until the last minute that he'd have a ride this season with the powerful Venturini Motorsports team. But he's ready for the full-time commitment. Listen...
16-time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force is always welcome in The Freak Nation so Sunday night was a pleasure for The Freaks. Only this time Force was talking about $600,000 raised for STEM education at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale. Wait'll you hear John talk about who won his special edition Chevrolet CoPo Camaro sold at Barrett-Jackson Saturday. We're talking about billionaires, with a B! John is always fun! Listen...
2020 Chili Bowl Winner Kyle Larson on winning the world's biggest Midget race and getting no sleep when it was done. Larson has wanted this win for 13 years but Saturday night was the culmination of that long chase. Kyle has had enormous success in NASCAR Cup racing but wait'll you hear how he feels about the importance of winning the legendary Chili Bowl. Listen...
Supercross rider Justin Hill is back in the Freak Nation talking about his music and a recording session in the Seattle area. Hill is one of the top Supercross riders in the world but he spends a few minutes talking with The Freaks about London Bridge Studios and Pearl Jam's Pearl Jam 10. Talk about a fly on the wall! Then there's Soundgarden. It'll take a few minutes to get back to Supercross. Listen...
Guests: NBC Motorsports Analyst Robin Miller, 2019 USAC Midget Champion Tyler Courtney, Television Host Chris Jacobs, ARCA Driver Drew Dollar
NBC Motorsports Analyst Robin Miller hasn't been in The Freak Nation in a while. He's been missed during that time. Miller brought insight and headlines with him Sunday night including a p;opular driver who might end up in the broadcast booth instead of a racing cockpit this season. He also dropped a couple names who might be writing checks in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway makeover along with Roger Penske. Listen... NBC Motorsports Analyst Robin Miller hasn't been in The Freak Nation in a while. He's been missed during that time. Miller brought insight and headlines with him Sunday night including a popular driver who might end up in the broadcast booth instead of a racing cockpit this season. He also dropped a couple names who might be writing checks in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway makeover along with Roger Penske. Listen...
2019 USAC Midget Champion Tyler Courtney came into the Freak Nation Sunday with his own brand of headlines and good racing news. Courtney will be in Tulsa this week for the 2020 edition of the legendary Chili Bowl Nationals. It'll be the warmup to his season defending his Midget Racing title, an effort that might include 90+ races this season. Listen...
Television Host Chris Jacobs of Overhaulin' and Motor Trend TV fame returned to the Freak Nation Sunday night. He once sat in with The Freaks so, you might say once a Freak always a Freak. Jacobs will be hosting part of the Barrett Jackson Auction shows in Scottsdale this week. He'll be reporting on dream cars, maybe even his own. Listen...
ARCA Driver Drew Dollar came into The Freak Nation Sunday night as he revs up for his first season with the powerful Venturini Motorsports team in the ARCA series. He'll be on General Tires this season as he learns to run on dirt, short tracks, restrictor plate super speedways and high banked ovals all over America. Dollar knows he'll be in the best equipment every race. Listen...
It's always fun to remember the racing season as we dip into the Holiday Season. The Freaks often surprise themselves as well as their listeners when the announce things like Driver/Rider of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Race of the Year and more. Looking back onk the 2019 season there were many new headlines and performances. The Freaks remind us of them all in the 2019 Freakies. Listen...
Guests: 2011 & 2017 Indy 500 Winning Team Owner Bryan Herta, 2019 Three-Time IndyCar Winner Colton Herta, Three-Time Indy 500 Winner Bobby Unser, 1969 Indy 500 Winner Mario Andretti, Seven-Time NASCAR Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson, The 2019 Freakies
2011 & 2017 Indy 500 Winning Team Owner Bryan Herta is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. His visit Sunday night was special when he talked about his son Colton being HIS rookie of the year and Bryan's thoughts about the future of eRacing and Bryan Herta Autosports. Yes, Bryan isn't against racing on the couch! Listen...
Colton Herta won three times in his 2019 rookie season. Those wins came at COTA and twice at Laguna Seca. He's part of the future in IndyCar as a driver and a personality. We got a peak into both this year after Colton came into The Freak Nation after one of those wins. Colton has always been determined. Listen...
Jimmie Johnson this year announced that 2020 will be his last after which he plans on racing into retirement with seven NASCAR Cup titles in his quiver. Five of those titles came consecutively from 2006-2010. He is tied with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for titles and no one has won more. Johnson is a legend in racing and in The Freak Nation. He always learn something when he comes to visit. Listen...
1969 Indy 500 Winner Mario Andretti is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, the World Sportscar Championship, and NASCAR. Dan Gurney was the other. Mario, however, did more than win in all those categories. He won the World Driver's Championship in 1978. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2001. More than one list named him the driver of the 20th century. All of this is why we love having him in The Freak Nation. Listen...
The Freaks always have a good time when Bobby Unser visits The Freak Nation. Unser won the Indy 500 three times in 1965, '75 and '81. Those are just three of the 35 wins he had in IndyCars. Bobby is a legend and The Freaks are always happy to have him and his stories. This year was no different. Listen...
Guests: 2018 NASCAR Cup Champion Joey Logano, Actor/Comedian Adam Carolla, Judas Priest Frontman Rob Halford
2018 NASCAR Cup Champion Joey Logano was in Thge Freak Nation Sunday for far more than talking about t he just completed NASCAR season. He was promoting a Hot Wheels feat that established a new world record for the longest Hot Wheels track on Thursday at his Huntersville, North Carolina, race shop. It was more than a quarter-mile long and the fun was more than a drag. Listen...
Actor/Comedian Adam Carolla was in The Freak Nation Sunday night but this visit was about another talent, film direction. On the heels of the well received Ford vs. Ferrari feature film, Carolla introduces us to "Shelby American: The Carroll Shelby Story." Carolla said his new movie grew out of the work with Shelby on another film about Shelby racing at Le Mans. Some of the same stories in the Ford vs. Ferrari feature are in that film, and this new project. Listen...
Judas Priest Frontman Rob Halford made another trip to The Freak Nation Sunday night. This visit was to introduce The Freaks to Celestial, a collection of Heavy Metal Christmas carols. We know that sounds oxymoronic but the collection is actually pretty nice to listen to. Halford is excited about the finished work as well as his visit with The Freaks. Listen...
Guests: 2019 NHRA Funny Car Champion Robert Hight, Foreigner Front Man Lou Gramm, 16-Time Funny Car Champion John Force Freakin' Flashback
2019 NHRA Funny Car Champion Robert Hight came into The Freak Nation after winning his third Funny Car title. Hight is a longtime Friend of the Freaks but his final round Sunday afternoon in Pomona was something few have seen before in a title winning round. Hight explained how it all unfolded. Listen...
Legendary Foreigner Front Man Lou Gramm returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night. The wildly popular band is about to hit the road again after releasing a new CD and DVD Friday. "Foreigner - Double Vision: Then and Now" takes us behind the scenes as original Foreigner band members, including Gramm, joined Mick Jones and Foreigner’s current lineup for a once in a lifetime reunion concert for the very first time in the band’s 40-year history. Listen...
Sunday night we took a six year Freakin' Flashback with 16-Time Funny Car Champion John Force. Of course, any visit with Force is legendous and this was no different. Force is one of drag racing's largest names and he shows how he got that designation in this conversation from 2013 right after he won his 16th championship. Listen...
Guests: NHRA Funny Car Title Challenger Jack Beckman, ISM Raceway President Julie Giese, Freakin' Flashback with WWE Superstar Shawn Michaels
NHRA Funny Car Title Challenger Jack Beckman is just 46 points out of first place going into the season's final event, The World Finals in Pomona. Beckman is in line for his second championship after winning in 2012. Beckman is always a fun conversation and Sunday night was no different. Listen...
ISM Raceway President Julie Giese came into The Freak Nation Sunday night after a big weekend of semi final NASCAR racing. The finalists for the 2019 NASCAR Cup Finals in Homestead were decided at ISM Raceway in Phoenix. Giese talked about the event at the remodeled racetrack and getting ready for the NASCAR Finals due at ISM next year. Listen...
This week's Freakin' Flashback with WWE Superstar Shawn Michaels was recorded in 2013. Michaels is a legendary wrestler and called an Ambassador for the WWE. Michaels was really comfortable when he was in The Freak Nation talking about birthdays, anniversaries and a name for his beard. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Team Owner Sam Schmidt, NHRA Las Vegas Top Fuel Winner Brittany Force, NASCAR Xfinity Driver Christopher Bell, NBC NASCAR Analyst Dale Earnhardt Freakin' Flashback
Arrow McLaren SP IndyCar Team Owner Sam Schmidt took a deep breath Sunday night and came into The Freak Nation to answer questions about the dismissal of popular driver James Hinchcliffe. Schmidt answered all The Freaks questions taking all the heat for Hinchcliffe's departure from the team. He said the decision was all his and his partner Rick Peterson. He said the team's performance with its new drivers in 2020 will dictate whether or not the decision was a good one. Listen...
NHRA Las Vegas Top Fuel Winner Brittany Force came into The Freak Nation before celebrating her victory in Las Vegas. Force will make a charge for her second Top Fuel title (2017) at the season's final event in Pomona in two weeks. Force is beginning to sync with her new crew chief David Grubnic and the pair has NHRA records to prove their success. Listen...
NASCAR Xfinity Driver Christopher Bell was in The Freak Nation Sunday night as he closes on a possible Xfinity title this season. Bell is looking forward to a Phoenix appearance at ISM Raceway. He said he loves the track and the food in Phoenix. He also said he faces some politically correct opinions driving for Joe Gibbs in NASCAR. Listen...
The Freaks took a Freakin' Flashback with NBC NASCAR Analyst Dale Earnhardt Sunday night. We went back to 2006 and a conversation we had with the popular former NASCAR driver. Of all things, Earnhardt talked about his artistic talents and how they might have given him another career outside of racing. The issue was some law enforcement tickets that needed his attention. Listen...
Guests: Joe Gibbs NASCAR Driver Erik Jones, WWE Wrestling Legend CM Punk, 2019 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Pro Lite Champion Ryan Beat, 2007 Freakin' Flashback with Racing Owner Chip Ganassi
Joe Gibbs NASCAR Driver Erik Jones was in The Freak Nation Sunday night. He's finishing his third season in NASCAR Cup racing and, for a change this year, he's not in the post season playoffs. But Jones finds something positive in that negative. And that includes how his team looks at next year. Then there's Oscar. Listen...
CM Punk is a legendary WWE wrestling star who's moved on to the UFC and, his latest passion, horror films. His latest, The Girl on the Third Floor, is just being released. He was promoting is on his 41st birthday Friday. He has others about to be released. The WWE superstar says there are no plans to return to wrestling but he may not have time anyway. The horror films are filling his calendar. Listen...
2019 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Pro Lite Champion Ryan Beat had to overcome a spectacular crash Friday before going on to his 2019 title on Saturday. He was in The Freak Nation Sunday night talking about his third Pro Lite title in LOORRS and he broke some news with Kenny Sargent about his plans for 2020. They include a step up in class. Listen...
The Freaks Sunday night took us on a 12 year Freakin' Flashback with legendary motorsports owner Chip Ganassi. It was April, 2007 when Ganassi joined The Freaks to help us welcome a new affiliate in Pittsburgh, Ganassi's hometown. The conversation quickly withered to a racing incident in Mexico. Then followed up with exercise equipment on Ganassi's traveling coach. Only the Freaks! Listen...
Guests: NHRA Dallas Pro Stock Winner Greg Anderson, Four-Time Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Pro 2 Champion Rob MacCachran, 2019 ARCA Champion Christian Eckes, NASCAR Driver Ross Chastain
2019 ARCA Champion Christian Eckes came into The Freak Nation Sunday night after his championship run Friday night in Kansas. Eckes won to assure himself of the title. But he was very laid back about the win in his new apartment and cooking pancakes for dinner. Listen...
NHRA Dallas Pro Stock Winner Greg Anderson has two races to make up a little more than 100 points to grab his fifth championship. Anderson won titles in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010. He came into The Freak Nation Sunday night to celebrate his 94th career win. Anderson is a Friend of the Freaks so we always have fun when we chat. Listen...
Four-Time Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Pro 2 Champion Rob MacCachran was in The Freak Nation Sunday night. MacCachran has raced for more than 30 years winning four Baja 1000s and four Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Pro2 championships in 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2016. He's raced and won championships in several other categories but we had the most fun talking about his experiences in racing NASCAR trucks when that series was getting underway. Listen...
Ross Chastain is considered the busiest driver in the NASCAR/stock car racing industry. But his claim to fame last week was smashing watermelons at ISM Raceway outside Phoenix. The story of that promotion included some wonderful memories and even greater images at the track. Listen...
Guests: IMSA Petit Le Mans Winner Eric Curran, K&N Roseville Pro West Winner Jagger Jones, ARCA Points Leader Christian Eckes, Freakin' Flashback with Carl Edwards, Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Pro Lite Points Leader Ryan Beat
This week we take a Freakin' Flashback with Carl Edwards, back to April 2013 after he won a Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. Edwards walked away from the NASCAR Cup Series in 2017 after finishing the 2011 season in a flat tie with Tony Stewart. Stewart was given the title after a lengthy tiebreaker. Carl will always be a Friend of the Freaks. Listen...
ARCA Points Leader Christian Eckes came into The Freak Nation Sunday night to talk about his upcoming battle for the title with Michael Self who's second in ARCA points. The two will face off for the title in Kansas next weekend at Kansas Speedway. It's been a difficult season for Eckes who had to overcome a bout of food poisoning that immobilized him mid-season. Listen...
Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Pro Lite Points Leader Ryan Beat Sunday night talked about his upcoming championship chase at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona. Beat won the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Pro Lite title in 2017 and '18. He leads the points in 2019 with one event to go. Beat admits his success might be tied to the birth of his daughter three years ago. Listen...
K&N Roseville Pro West Winner Jagger Jones is happy with his first professional win at Roseville, California this weekend. The grandson of legendary racer Parnelli Jones is proud to carry on in the family business. He's especially happy to be building a career in stock car racing, a career he expects to carry on and, even, expand next season. Listen...
IMSA Petit Le Mans Winner Eric Curran stepped away from celebrating after the IMSA dinner to have a conversation in The Freak Nation Sunday night. Curran says he's in the midst of slowing down his racing after his wins and his 2016 IMSA championship. Curran is now in the midst of building an exotic car business on the West Coast. And he enjoys talking ab out it. Listen...
Guests: NHRA St. Louis Pro Stock Winner Erica Enders, Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Glen Helen Pro Lite Winner Brock Heger, 2004 Indy 500 Winner Buddy Rice, Americas Rallycross 2 Driver Gray Leadbetter, 2004 Freakin' Flashback with Boris Said
NHRA St. Louis Pro Stock Winner Erica Enders returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night after a big win. She's fighting for another championship to go along with those won in 2015 and 2015. Enders is growing up with another birthday Tuesday. So she was hesitant to talk about the drivers she likes to beat more than others. Those were the drivers who made it difficult for her on the way to her two championships. Listen...
Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Glen Helen Pro Lite Winner Brock Heger visited The Freak Nation Sunday night while he was pulling his rig home from a race weekend. Heger has had considerable success in the Lucas Oil Series with wins in Pro Lite and Production 1000. But keeping uup with motorcycles whizzing by his truck is another thing. Listen...
2004 Freakin' Flashback with Boris Said. Sunday night The Freaks took us back to 2004 to listen to a wonder conversation with 2002 TransAm champion Boris Said. He's another longtime Friend of the Freaks. That night he came into The Freak Nation with his infant son and fiancee and now wife. Boris never pulled any punches in his conversations with The Freaks, that's why we like him. Listen...
2004 Indy 500 Winner Buddy Rice is a longtime Friend of the Freaks. But it's been a while since he was visiting with The Freaks. He took time from his rallycross coaching to talk with us from the paddock at Mid-Ohio. It was the last race of the year in the Americas Rallycross Championship. But Rice has students in the championship including weekend race winner Sage Karam, an IndyCar driver. Listen...
Americas Rallycross 2 Driver Gray Leadbetter is only 14 but she's learning a lot ab out motor racing and driving from her mentor and coach Buddy Rice. In fact, Gray called Rice a second father, she spends so much time with him learning how to compete on a track. It's helping, though. Leadbetter is learning how to fight off the guys who want to overwhelm a teenaged girl in rallycross. Listen...
Guests: NASCAR Charlotte Roval Winner Chase Elliott, NASCAR Driver Michael McDowell, Americas Rallycross Texas Winner Tanner Foust, 2003 Freakin' Flashback George Thorogood
NASCAR Charlotte Roval Winner Chase Elliott came into The Freak Nation Sunday night after his important win. Elliott lost control of his car midway through the race, slammed into a barrier and had to drive his way through the field and back to the front to get the win. Elliott is part of the next generation of race winners in the NASCAR Cup Series so The Freaks enjoy it when we get a chance to talk with a potential champion. Listen...
Americas Rallycross Texas Winner Tanner Foust interrupted dinner Sunday night to talk with The Freaks. It'd been a while since Foust was in The Freak Nation and we had a lot to catch up on including his potential Americas Rallycross Championship decider next weekend at Mid-Ohio. He's the points leader and favorite to win the title but Tanner and titles are just a part of his resume. His titles can make the big screen. Listen...
Music legend George Thorogood was in The Freak Nation way back in 2003 so we decided to bring his appearance back to life in this Freakin' Flashback. Thorogood's memories are rich especially when he talks about his wife and daughter and his iconic rock music. George even took a couple calls from The Freak Nation. He he gave us a mini-concert from the album Ride 'Til I Die. Listen...
NASCAR Driver Michael McDowell was in the Freak Nation this week after passing out surprise tickets to the ISM Raceway race at the end of the current season. McDowell is a longtime Friend of the Freaks and, even, talked with The Freaks on his wedding night! Yes, he answered the phone. Go figure! Listen...
Guests: 2019 IndyCar Champion Josef Newgarden, 2018 IMSA Champion Felipe Nasr, 2004 Freakin' Flashback with Don Prudhomme
2019 IndyCar Champion Josef Newgarden was in The Freak Nation right after he earned the title in the season's final race at WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca where he finished eighth overall. Colton Herta won the race but Newgarden won his second title in the last three years. He's always a favorite in The Freak Nation after a win and Sunday night was no different. A highlight in the conversation was when he talked about the questions he was asked on his media tour after the race. Listen...
2018 IMSA Champion Felipe Nasr has a chance to win his second straight title next weekend in the IMSA finale at Road Atlanta. The ten-hour Petit LeMans race is a tough way to decide a championship but that's the appeal of sports car racing where the events could be 100 minutes or 24 hours. The former Formula One driver has tested an IndyCar and admits to liking the series even though he's committed to staying at Action Express in the IMSA series. Listen...
Our Freakin Flashback this week goes back 15 years to 2004 and a conversation with drag racing legend Don The Snake Prudhomme. Snake visited The Freak Nation on a Sunday night when we were using the radio show as the core of our weekly television broadcast on the Speed Channel network. Snake was pretty comfortable with The Freaks. Listen...
Guests: NHRA Maple Grove Funny Car Winner Jack Beckman, NASCAR Analyst Michael Waltrip, IMSA Laguna Seca Winner Dane Cameron, Pro Bass Fisherman James Watson
IMSA Laguna Seca Winner Dane Cameron is always welcome on Sunday nights. His win along with co-driver Juan Pablo Montoya moved the pair at the doorstep of the 2019 IMSA championship with one race to go in Atlanta. Cameron already has two titles but he's battling for a third in his Penske Acura DPI. Cameron has experience in chasing the spotlight. Listen...
NHRA Maple Grove Funny Car Winner Jack Beckman returned to The Freak Nation Sunday Night shortly after his win in Pennsylvania. Beckman has never been short of opinions or expressing them in The Freak Nation and Sunday night was no different. Wait'll you hear what he has to say about the merits of the NHRA Playoff Countdown. Listen...
NASCAR Analyst Michael Waltrip hasn't been in The Freak Nation too often. But when he has a new documentary film coming out we wanted to hear about it. "Blink of an Eye" is about hos Waltrip's life changed after the 2001 Daytona 500 and the last lap accident that took the life of Waltrip's friend and boss, Dale Earnhardt, Sr. You'll want to hear this! Listen...
Pro Bass Fisherman James Watson took his maiden voyage into The Freak Nation Sunday night. And we can't wait to have him back for another visit. Watson is known as Worldwide because of his Gift of Gab, considered a worldwide best. The Pro Bass Fisherman is supported by General Tire but he's not pulling rubber fish into his boat. Listen...
Guests: Crandon 50th Anniversary Pro2 Winner Jerett Brooks, 2003 Freakin' Flashback with Eric & Ben Bostrom
Crandon 50th Anniversary Pro2 Winner Jerett Brooks returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night after his historic victory. Crandon is one of the most important racing venues in the off-road world. Brooks' win earned him the Pro2 World Championship for 2019. He was quick to explain the importance of the win and the racing venue in Wisconsin. Listen...
This 2003 Freakin' Flashback with Eric & Ben Bostrom goes back to a time when The Freaks were on Speed Channel. The is the audio from that video appearance. Eric and Ben were champion motorcycle racers. Ben, in fact, won the 2003 Red Bull Super Moto a GoGo in Las Vegas wearing a gold racing suit. It was shocking for the thousands who were there! Eric & Ben were Friends of the Freaks. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar St. Louis Winner Takuma Sato, Actor Comedian Patrick Warburton, Comp Eliminator Drag Racer Ed Federkeil, Cinderella & The Tom Keifer Band Tom Keifer
IndyCar St. Louis Winner Takuma Sato came into The Freak Nation and found a NEW fan. The interlude with the fan left him speechless. But the core of the conversation was Sato's recovery from last weekend's fiasco when Social Media fans beat him up pretty hard for his involvement in a first lap accident at Pocono Raceway. What a difference a week makes in IndyCar Racing! Then there's that new fan. Listen...
Actor Comedian Patrick Warburton visited The Freak Nation Sunday night and had fun talking about his experiences in voice overs, commercials and Seinfeld. He also had some great stories about crashing in celebrity races. Warburton is a great conversation from a face that leads everyone to say: "I know him!" Listen...
Comp Eliminator Drag Racer Ed Federkeil is getting ready for the U.S. Nationals next weekend in Indianapolis. The Big Go, as it's called, is the largest drag racing weekend in the world. And Federkeil has great plans for his comp eliminator drag racer, plans that could help fire fighters around the world, It's called Hoods for Heroes. Listen...
Cinderella & The Tom Keifer Band Lead Singer Tom Keifer came into The Freak Nation this week. The former Cinderella lead singer has been on the road six years with his new band The Tom Keifer Band. Keifer's new CD "Rise" is due out September 13th. His experience brings so much more than music to the table. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Pocono Winner Will Power, ARCA Springfield Dirt Mile Winner Michael Self, Freakin Flashback with Supercross Legend Ricky Carmichael, Comedian and Actor Tommy Davidson
IndyCar Pocono Winner Will Power was rolling down the highway with his family in a minivan when he called The Freak Nation Sunday night. It was only hours after his first win of the season, a 500 mile race cut short by lightning in the Pocono area. The 2014 IndyCar champion had some fun explaining the race, his family and more. Listen...
ARCA Springfield Dirt Mile Winner Michael Self won his fourth ace of the year Sunday. His first dirt win in his first dirt start expanded his points lead over teammate Christian Eckes. Self is one of a series of ARCA driver we've had who is as comfortable talking with the media as he is winning races behind the wheel. Self explained everything you wanted to know about the rare stock car race on dirt. Listen...
Sunday night The Freaks had a Freakin Flashback with Supercross Legend Ricky Carmichael. He called the show in June of 2007 right after his twins were born and the night of The Freaks Seventh Anniversary. The Hall of Fame rider easily dropped some pearls from his racing resume but he also spent considerable time congratulating The Freaks on our highlights, some of which he was the feature event. Listen...
Comedian and Actor Tommy Davidson visited The Freak Nation Sunday night with a complete comfort talking sports as well as his award winning comedy. Davidson talked about being a Minnesota Vikings fan and why. He also shared with us what it was like growing up and being chased home and called names in several communities where he lived. Davidson had as much comfort in the sports world as he has in the acting and comedy worlds. Listen...
Guests: NHRA Seattle Top Fuel Winner Austin Prock, Former NASCAR Driver/Analyst Kenny Wallace, IMSA Road America Winner Harry Tincknell, Comedians Na’im Lynn and Will “Spank” Horton, The Plastic Cup Boyz
IMSA Road America Winner Harry Tincknell is leading the Mazda Team Joest Prototypes on a massive comeback in sports car racing. The Mazdas have won three races in a row and Tincknell and his co-driver Jonathan Bomarito have two of those three. Tincknell led today's victory with a triple-stint time in the car that he described as a fourth or fifth place machine. Listen...
NHRA Seattle Top Fuel Winner Austin Prock made a splashing debut into The Freak Nation Sunday night. But when he made Don The Snake Produhomme the Coolest drag racer of them all, that wrecked the place. Prock races for John Force, considered maybe the best drag racer of all time. Prock got his first win the same say Force got his 150th. So there's a little difference between the two but Prock is in his own category. Listen...
Freakin' Flashback with Kenny Wallace on Banquets, Names & Nuggets Former NASCAR Driver/Analyst Kenny Wallace is one of The Freaks Favorites. And this Freakin' Flashback from December 2006 is as zany as they come. Wallace can jump from Deliverance banjos to Nelly free style in a sentence or two. This conversation covers the gamut in lifestyle and motor racing. You just can't believe where this goes. Listen...
Comedians Na’im Lynn and Will “Spank” Horton, The Plastic Cup Boyz made an hilarious appearance in The Freak Nation Sunday night. They're part of the Kevin Hart comic crew that tours with the comedian and actor. But they also tour on their own as they made clear Sunday night. They also made some wild suggestions for Kenny's 3 AM stress. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Mid-Ohio Winner Scott Dixon, Actor/Comedian Shawn Wayans, NHRA Sonoma Funny Car Winner Robert Hight, ARCA Pocono Winner Christian Eckes
IndyCar Mid-Ohio Winner Scott Dixon returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night after his thrilling win at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course. With points Leader Josef Newgarden going out in the last lap Dixon's win tightened the points even more with four events left in the season and double points available on the last event at Laguna Seca. Dixon is always fun when he visits The Freak Nation especially after a wheel-to-wheel win. Listen...
NHRA Sonoma Funny Car Winner Robert Hight won his 50th event Sunday and came into The Freak Nation for some fun. Hight recalled his first call to The Freaks after is first win years ago. He explains why he wins so often at Sonoma. Maybe it's because his crew-chief Jimmy Prock lets him have input in his set-up. Oddly enough, not every driver has that voice in major league drag racing. Listen...
ARCA Pocono Winner Christian Eckes is another in the long line of ARCA drivers who come into The Freak Nation and have brilliant conversations. Eckes raced both in ARCA and the NASCAR Truck Series this weekend. And he explained how both are radically different. He talked about the peculiarities racing at Pocono. And he hinted at the nutritional information he gets from Toyota to keep him going to Victory Circle. Listen...
Actor/Comedian Shawn Wayans had a hilarious visit to The Freak Nation Sunday night. But what would you expect from the first family of comedic entertainment? Wayans told some great stories about growing up with nine other siblings, nearly all of whom were interested in a great laugh. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Iowa Winner Josef Newgarden, L.A. Times Writer & Podcast Host Daniel Miller, NHRA Denver Pro Stock Winner Greg Anderson, Adam Ruins Everything Host Adam Conover
IndyCar Iowa Winner Josef Newgarden, the points leader in the season championship, was in The Freak Nation Sunday night to talk about his rain delayed victory in Iowa. The delay found the race not ending until early Sunday morning but Newgarden was happy anyway as he expanded his points lead for the championship. But Newgarden has lots on his plate including how he gets home from the race and how he'll gt married later this year. Listen...
NHRA Denver Pro Stock Winner Greg Anderson broke his year-long winless streak Sunday at the Mile High Nationals. The idea of Anderson going winless is pretty rare considering he's won four championships (2003-05, 2010) and was the 2004 Speed Channel Driver of the Year, one of only three drag racers to earn the honor. Anderson is one of the best but his 80+ wins are coming tougher lately as the competition catches up with him. Listen...
L.A. Times Writer & Podcast Host Daniel Miller has investigated a Larger Than Life personality from the Los Angeles streets in the late 1960s. But Big Willie Robinson found a way to calm tensions and bring together diverse community using street racing and political power. It was an odd mix but Miller tells us that Big Willie was an odd man. He introduces him in his podcast, Larger Than Life. Listen...
Adam Ruins Everything Host Adam Conover visited The Freak Nation Sunday night explaining his popular show on Tru-TV. Adam Ruins Everything busts myths and "old wives tales" for us. Some are in the mainstream, others are in sports. He described several that are strongly checked out by the show staff and investigators. Conover is a fun conversation mixing in his comedic experience with his hosting skills. Listen...
Guests: Actor Corbin Bernsen, ARCA Elko Speedway Winner Chandler Smith, 311 Band Bassist P-Nut
ARCA Elko Speedway Winner Chandler Smith returned to The Freak Nation Sunday night after his third win of the ARCA season on General Tires. Smith has had enormous success with Venturini Motorsports in ARCA and with Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR truck series. But he's still auditioning weekly to get a ride in the Xfinity or Cup series. But in between those paths, Smith vividly remembers some parts of racing in the American Midwest. Listen...
The Freaks spend a few minutes with actor Corbin Bernsen on the 30th Anniversary of the iconic film Major League. Bernsen was one of the stars including Wesley Snipes, Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Bob Uecker, Rene Russo and Dennis Haysbert. It was an ensemble of stars and some were early in their brilliant careers. Bernsen, in fact, was coming off a popular TV show L.A. Law. He talked about a possible Major League 4. Listen...
P-Nut is the longtime bassist in the iconic band 311. The group has been recording and traveling for some 30 years and their fans are all over the world. He considers himself a musical alchemist who's worked in several genres of music and had success in all of them, even changing the way the bass is played in several. Listen...
On our 19th Anniversary Show The Freaks go back more than 20 years to bring out highlights from our original pilot demo, Motorsports Talk America. It was done in 1999 and submitted to networks and radio stations to see if anyone would have us on the air. Now, 19+ years later, SpeedFreaks is a national icon, one of the largest motorsports shows in America. We wanted you to hear where we came from. Listen...
We've been lucky to have some of the biggest racing legends in the sport's history. Certainly Richard Petty is one of those names and he's visited with us several times on radio and television. This was one of the first, though. And you can hear why Richard is one called The King. He treated nobodies like The Freaks with respect. It's why he's lasted for generations. Listen...
Guests: The Freaks Original Pilot Demo, Racing Legend Richard Petty, NBC NASCAR Analyst Dale Earnhardt, Jr., 2015 NASCAR Cup Champion Kyle Busch, Racing Legend Don Garlits
Sunday night we looked back on a conversation with 2015 NASCAR Cup Champion Kyle Busch. This talk, however, was 11 years before that in 2004 after Kyle, 19 at the time, won a Busch Series race in Kentucky. The Cup series was sponsored by Nextel at the time and Kyle was longing to be a part of THAT! Here's Kyle. Listen...
On our 19th Anniversary we had to dig out our first conversation with a huge name in NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., It was three months before his father was killed in a crash at Daytona. Junior was pretty tired after a race in Phoenix, a late night flight and some relaxation in a Los Angeles hotel. He was in town to appear on a Fox Sports show the next day. Dale had such fun he put us in his first book. Listen...
There's no larger name in all of drag racing history that Big Daddy Don Garlits. Some people know that name if they don't know any other from the sport. His friends sometimes call him just Big. We couldn't, even though we had several conversations with Garlits. This onke was in 2008 at the Mopar Mile High Nationals outside Denver. The stories Big Daddy has in his hear would fill a drag racing library. Here are just a few. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Road America Winner Alexander Rossi, Big 3 Basketball Officials Ice Cube & Nancy Lieberman, NHRA Norwalk Pro Stick Motorcycle Winner Andrew Hines, Major League Fishing Winner Edwin Evers
IndyCar Road America Winner Alexander Rossi was in The Freak Nation Sunday night. His win Sunday afternoon was dominating leading 54 of 55 laps, an IndyCar record. Rossi passed pole sitter Colton Herta on the first turn and never looked back. He was more than ready for the win after a series of second place finishes. Listen...
NHRA Norwalk Pro Stick Motorcycle Winner Andrew Hines has turned around a disappointing season in 2018 to a near perfect season in 2019. He told The Freak Nation that the mental changes he needed for wins in 2019 were substantial. In fact, the changes were coupled with renewed commitments to physical training at the gym. The combination worked wonders. Listen...
Big 3 Basketball Officials Ice Cube & Nancy Lieberman were in The Freak Nation this week just as the 3-on-3 league starts its third season. Ice Cube owns the league and Lieberman coaches winning a championship last year. The two of them are excited for the start of the new season and what Nancy means to women in sports. Listen...
Major League Fishing Winner Edwin Evers made his second trip to The Freak Nation Sunday night. Evers, in fact, is known for more than fishing. He distributes pecans around the world and has as much success at that as he does in catching fish in competition. Evers, with the help of General Tire, is an excellent ambassador for fishing when he's not actually catching fish! Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Team Owner & Race Winner Robbie Buhl, Continental Tire Hot Rod Power Tour Entrant Ryan Eversley, Racing Legend Bobby Unser
Continental Tire Hot Rod Power Tour Entrant Ryan Eversley joined The Freaks Sunday night during a break in the Continental Tires Hot Rod Power Tour. If you like beautiful cars and cruising for five days, you'll love the Power Tour. Eversley takes us on a tour of the Tour including the burnouts that attracted cops who loved The King. Listen...
IndyCar Team Owner & Race Winner Robbie Buhl is a Detroit businessman now who is expanding his race interests to the emerging sport of rallycross. He visited with The Freaks at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course during an Americas Rallycross weekend. His driver Alex Keyes won the Lites category adding to Buhl's resume as the 2000 IRL winner at Disney World Speedway, a team owner in the Indy 500 and more. Buhl's interests include electrification. Listen...
Racing Legend Bobby Unser is one of only two drivers to win the Indy 500 in three different decades: 1968, 1975 and 1981. (Rick Mears is the other.) But among his greatest accomplishments is being a Friend of the Freaks. We love his visits because he has stories that can only come from a racing legend who's won Indy three times. This visit was no different. Listen...
Guests: IndyCar Detroit 2 Winner Scott Dixon, NHRA Top Fuel Chicago Winner Steve Torrence, The Freaks Review Rapid Response, ARCA Pocono Winner Ty Majeski, Trans Am Lime Rock Winner Chris Dyson
IndyCar Detroit 2 Winner Scott Dixon came into The Freak Nation Sunday night for his victory celebration. That came after finishing last in the Detroit Grand Prix race one win on Saturday. Dixon is a LONG time Friend of the Freaks so when he comes to visit it's a great few minutes. This was no different especially after word this week that he was given an honor from the Royal Family in the UK. Listen...
NHRA Top Fuel Chicago Winner Steve Torrence, the defending Top Fuel champion, won his fourth straight race on the NHRA season. Torrence is dominating the series in 2019. He must be in the heads of the other drivers because his Capco team is running so consistently strong. But Torrence is getting used to his Freak Nation visits. That why we like having him. Listen...
ARCA Pocono Winner Ty Majeski is making a name for himself in the series very quickly. His 2019 ride is part-time. But of the first three races, he won two in a row. And, luckily for him, those wins came when the lader series was running with the major Cup team owners watching. Majeski recognizes his good fortune but is quick to point to his team and his own confidence for his success. Listen...
The Freaks spent several minutes Sunday night reviewing a new documentary, Rapid Response. It made it's world debut before the 103rd Indianapolis 500 and it was a shocking film in what it revealed. It was espeically touching to Crash Gladys who grew up at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where her father was part of the medical team before his death. The important revelation from Rapid Response, however, could be what it said about developments in general sports medicine. Listen...
Trans Am Lime Rock Winner Chris Dyson is another Friend of the Freaks. His win last Monday at Lime Rock came after he was hospitalized for injuries received in a dirt track race the Thursday night before that. Dyson's career resume includes the 2011 ALMS championship in very high end sports cars. But he's transitioning his career to dirt tracks with USAC and muscle cars with the Trans Am. Listen...
Guests: 2019 Indy 500 Winner Simon Pagenaud, 1969 Indy 500 Winner Mario Andretti, NBC Race Broadcaster Leigh Diffey, 2019 Indy 500 Broadcast Host Mike Tirico, NBC Racing Analyst Dale Earnhardt
2019 Indy 500 Winner Simon Pagenaud scored a dramatic victory over Alexander Rossi Sunday. His visit with The Freaks was quick but memorable. It was Pagenaud's third straight week with The Freaks after winning the Indianapolis Grand Prix followed by the Indy 500 Pole and, finally, the race to own the month of May at the Speedway. Pagenaud's conversation went everywhere from Freaks' Mojo to his favorite topic, his dog Norman. Listen...