The Racing Writer's Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Holly Jones is a former race car driver and now the wife of a NASCAR Cup Series driver, and also a fur mom to a dog and bunny. Soon, she and Erik Jones will be parents to a tiny human. We’re covering those topics plus what it’s like being a driver’s significant other; the benefit of being a former driver and relating to what is going on; still having a competitive side; taking in the race from the pit box and superstitions; balancing home and road life, and the importance of routine; the highlights from being at the track over the years; the racing background of Jones; why doing it for a living was never in the cards; the initial plans for getting a job in the real world; finding enjoyment being at the track and as a support system; information on the foundation and the work it does across various issues; the Read with Erik program; upcoming events for the Foundation to know about; the impact the Foundation has had over the years.  

Original music created by Tony Monge. 

Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Myatt Snider is still selling himself to drive race cars in NASCAR but things look a little different these days. Snider returns to the podcast to discuss what it’s like trying to land deals; how a presidential election plays into things; the lack of races on his schedule this season; being at the track and not driving; re-evaluating things during the time outside the race car; the job of being a pit spotter for NBC Sports; being comfortable enough to talk to teams for necessary pre-race information; what he’s learning being on the television side; if there is anything that can be useful as a driver; the information he is plugged into during the race; stories he’s been able to get onto television during the race; the opportunity to listen to other drivers on the radio because of this position; working with dad on pit road; the reaction from peers on being in this role; the benefit of still being at the racetrack; if there is anything on the schedule for the rest of this year.  

Original music created by Tony Monge. 

Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Doug Duchardt, the president of Spire Motorsports, has been busy since joining the organization at the end of 2023. Duchardt takes us inside the walls of the race shop and how things are going for everyone; the expectations versus reality moments for him with a new organization; going from established, successful companies to one trying to get to that level; having incentives in place for team members through the season; bringing experience from other companies to Spire; the importance of mindset for employees; the special feeling around the Truck Series program; the comfort of having younger talent in the pipeline; how big it was to sign Michael McDowell; focusing on the tangibles and intangibles McDowell brings; making the 71 a full-fledged Spire Motorsports effort; changing expectations for 2025; managing the number of cars in an organization; a look at the three drivers under the Spire Motorsports banner this season; grading the organization halfway through the regular season and forecasting the rest of the season.  

Original music created by Tony Monge.

Follow me here: https://linktr.ee/kellycrandall

Doug Yates will see the most Ford Mustangs take the green flag in this year’s Daytona 500 than ever before and he’s excited about doing so with a new car. Yates talks about all things engines this week such as how they are distributed to teams; going through the process of NASCAR deciding to increase horsepower this year; but why it’s not so easy as just saying make a change; the workload of having to build different engine packages; what Yates would want versus what’s good for the sport; what it means for teams to no longer be allowed to put tape on the front grille; why Yates still likes getting his hands dirty and it being an escape for him; the lasting influence of dad Robert; how Yates has worked to build his own brand; working with other engine builders and NASCAR; what he thinks the next engine package could look like; how engine builders work to get an advantage; why last year was the most frustrated he’s been; sharing old memories on Twitter; what Yates considers his biggest win; where he gets an adrenaline rush.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Chase Purdy’s newest opportunity in the Camping World Truck Series is with Hattori Racing, but we’re going to learn all about his journey to the team and more. Purdy reveals when he knew he wanted to be a race car driver; racing all over the southeast; what go-kart racing is really like; series Purdy’s run along the way to NASCAR; what makes late models so fun; going through a rough two-year gap without racing; landing a full ride with GMS Racing to moving to Hattori Racing; wanting to get a chance in the HRE trucks; being teammates to Tyler Ankrum; no more excuses; being a young driver getting to know a new team; how Purdy feels about the ‘respect’ topic in the Truck Series; learning from veterans, including recently with Kurt Busch; an update on getting his degree from Ole Miss.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Brian Murphy of Stewart-Haas Racing is here to help with any conversation around the Next Gen race car. Murphy explains the different offseason teams had this year; eventually getting over being uncomfortable with the car and supply chain issues; long days at the race shop; his history at Stewart-Haas Racing; going from fixing the cars to preparing them; thoughts on what this car will do for the sport; if there will be any creativity and innovation with Next Gen; needing to better understand inspection and having more transparency in the sport; his approach to social media; being forced to attend his first NASCAR race; not having any formal job training; what a misconception of working in racing is; being all in on all racing; the big change that is Next Gen; having a fresh start; being an avid photographer and climber.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Jerry Baxter and driver Tanner Gray were among those who got to see the new Atlanta Motor Speedway recently, and Baxter is here to share insight on that much more. First impressions of the facility; throwing out the notebook on the track; first impressions of working with Gray and getting more out of him; how Baxter feels about going back to the Truck Series after spending the last two years in Cup; what he expects to be different or have changed in the Truck Series since last there; some of Baxter’s early racing days; a quick turnaround moving to North Carolina; memories of the first drivers he worked with in Cup; what it was like working for Kyle Busch’s truck team; what he saw in Bubba Wallace in trucks and then Cup; working with multiple drivers versus just one; Baxter’s go-to stories; working with a lot of younger drivers; on his career longevity but also having to adapt; insight on David Gilliland Racing; goals and expectations for his team this year.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Tyler Ankrum says it’s been a “pretty easy” transition to Hattori Racing as he gets set to take the wheel of the No. 16 Toyota. Ankrum joins the show to talk about how well things are going with already building team chemistry; being with a smaller group in HRE; why and how the move from GMS Racing happened; first impressions of new crew chief Scott Zipadelli; if this is a year Ankrum feels he has to step up; how much he was affected by the lack of practice and qualifying; how Ankrum got into racing and the influence of David Gilliland; choosing ranch life over the lake in NC; things fans might be surprised to know about him; who Ankrum is close to in racing; thoughts on working with Chase Purdy this season; getting his chance in the 16 truck.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Andrea Brimmer is the chief marketing and public relations officer at Ally and joins the podcast to take us inside NASCAR sponsorship. Brimmer looks back on the ’21 season for the No. 48 team; branding around the driver and not having the driver adjust to the sponsor’s brand; a bit on Brimmer’s history in the automobile world; where Brimmer’s passion comes from and understanding athletes; how sports has helped her today; what it was like for Ally to first come into NASCAR; how Ally looks at return on investment; fan loyalty; what Ally looks for in a partner; what’s been learned in Ally’s first few years in the sport; their role in diversity and inclusion; Do It Right; being disruptive; being an active partner; utilizing more space on the Next Gen car for sponsor placement.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall

Jade Gurss is back with another must-read auto racing book, this time having worked with Al Unser Jr. Gurss, who had known Unser back during Unser’s driving career, takes us inside the work to tell Unser’s story in the best way; the reason for starting the book with Unser’s suicide attempt; the willingness of Unser to be vulnerable; the honesty and openness of Unser’s intense personal life and decisions; drug use and the Penske days; vivid memories on winning the Indianapolis 500 but feeling adrift afterward; how complex Unser is; not wanting to tell just a racing story; the fact-checking process; what Gurss was looking forward to hearing from Unser about; how it felt after such an intense project was done; what the takeaway for readers should be of Unser’s story.

Music created by Tony Monge.

Please support my work through Patreon: www.patreon.com/KellyCrandall