Door Bumper Clear - Why Tommy Baldwin Couldn't Leave Ward Burton & The 22 Team

Episode Date: July 6, 2026

We've been waiting to get these guests on for a while, but the wait is finally over! Jeb and Ward Burton join the show to talk all things Chicagoland, the outdoors, and more with Tommy Baldwin on Door Bumper Clear. Eric Brennan returns and leads Jeb into a conversation about how his NOAPS season is going and just how competitive the field really is. Then, after Tommy and Ward share some stories from the good old days, they get knee-deep into the action from Chicagoland's Independence Day race weekend. In Spot On, Spot Off, the topics we cover include: Did SVG get payback on Austin Hill like Richard Childress said he did? Does NASCAR need to step in and slow down Toyota? Brad Keselowski's comments on the lack of collaboration outside Toyota camps The restart Chase Elliott wishes he could have back The fans call in with hot takes and the usual incoherent babble for Reaction Theatre, including one caller who passionately screams about hot dogs (?). For Ask DBC, we ask Ward Burton about the memories he shares with Tommy—the good, the bad, and the unseen—while Jeb talks about growing up around wildlife alongside his dad, who is going python hunting! We wrap up the show with S*** Show Hall of Fame, DBC Picks, Weekend Winners, and a sign-off until next time on DBC. Don't forget to grab our merch at shop.dirtymomedia.com! Want more DBC? Check out and subscribe to the new DBC YouTube channel! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The following is a production of Dirty Bov. This is the first time you've read the fucking sheet all year. A bird's shit on my head. That is what reaction theater is for. Getting hammers and calling in. What did they speak? Go. I don't know.

Flax and crescent. It's going to be gripped up. Absolutely. These two idiots. Bubba did not do shit, unfortunately. Period. Period. Yo, welcome back, everybody.

This is Tommy Baldwin. And where are we? Door bumper clear. Pretty early this morning. Somebody, you know, we got some guests today that, they get up pretty early, man. They're kind of like country folks and stuff. But, yeah, I'm excited about this show.

Good morning, Eric. Good morning. Happy to be back. Yeah, man. We don't have any cars. We don't have any Freddy. You're the point person. So let's get this show going, man.

I'm going to try. I saw last week people were saying I didn't introduce myself. So I guess I'm Eric Brennan. Happy to say I'm back in the truck booth this weekend. for Lime Rock doing the Archer Race Friday as well, so looking forward to that. But I think the stars that we have today, a little bit of a family reunion, reunion for you too, Tommy, Tommy. So 2002 Daytona 500 winning crew chief Tommy Baldwin, 2002 Dayton 500 winner, Ward Burtain. Ward, how's it going?

We're doing fine. Thank you all for having us. And we're also brought in full-time driver for Jordan Anderson Racing and the number 27, the O'Reilly Series, our Riley winner. Jeb Burton. How's your season going so far? Man, it has been very up and down for us. I appreciate you having us on here. But we are been struggling a little bit this year.

So hopefully we can get it turned around this weekend, Atlanta, kind of an equalizer for us. And we had a shot there last time. So hopefully we can have a good room. You know, Freddie and I were talking before we got going. The depth of the O'Reilly field this year compared to the last few years seems exponential. Like, how tough is it to just run top 20 now in these O'Reilly races? Because the field is stacked.

It's really tough. You know, we've got our alliance. now with RCR and that's been helping some, but just trying to figure out how to use those tools correctly. Tommy, you know how difficult that is. You know, we do the simulator every single week. Appreciate that with what Chevrolet provides us, but this year has been really frustrating for me because I felt like we were building, you know, last year getting better and better and better. Almost made the playoffs. And then this year, you know, like the other night, we were 20th place car, I could fire off right off the truck and I was second in practice. I could make it

run for a lap. But then once the tires get heated in them, I just can't, I can't stay there and I can't make up for it. So as a driver, it's very frustrating if your car won't do what you want to do. Tommy knows all about that because as a kid, I would listen to dad very animated on the radio of what his car was doing. Tommy, this ain't the same car I had in Happy Hour yesterday. That's what I used to here most of the time. Yeah. Well, he's a little bit calmer now, I think. Really?

Yeah. Really? I doubt it. But yeah, man, it is tough, and we do a lot with our little team. We've had some runs that, you know, Tawadaga this year, I felt like if the 39 could have just hit me centered, I was probably going to have a chance to win that race getting into turn three, and it just put me in the fence. But it's a grind man, and, you know, I'm lucky to be able to do what I love to do.

still not where I want to be yet. I want to be somewhere I can be winning races and try to be somewhere on Sunday. That's the goal. What have you been up to? I mean, every time that I see any ounce of wildlife in my home, I think of you, especially if it's a snake, I want to give you a call because I'm not going near those things.

So what's been up with you lately? Man, I work all the time. That's what I was taught to do. Wait, wait. Do you get a paycheck? No. Oh, okay. All right.

No, I don't get paid much at all. Okay. Anyway, that's what I was brought up to do as a kid. I was trained to do it in a construction company with my granddad and dad. And I've been fortunate enough to build on some things, particularly my conservation efforts. And I'm kind of driven by it. So, well, I'm 100% driven by it.

And I know exactly what I'm going to do every morning. I'll wake up, and I wake up before the sun gets up, work out in the gym, and boom, I'm gone. And he doesn't know how to slow down. I will say that. No, I'm rock and roll, man. He does make a little bit of money, though. We do have a TV show.

And he gets a paycheck from Jeff Burton Enterprises. So he is making a little bit of money. Probably the same amount of money that he used to pay you, though. Yeah, not very much, right now. Jeff, let's talk about a little bit of what Eric touched on. I mean, you know, I was listening. and the Denny's podcast on the plane on the way to Chicago. And, you know, he was, you know, very proud of Viking Motorsports of what they've been

accomplished because of the amount of high quality teams and cars there. And by the time they got down counting the big teams, it was 14 of them, right? So, I mean, your expectations when you're going into this race 15th, right? 15th to 20th is a good day, right? And the pressures that I think teams and drivers, especially those type of placement teams, they put a lot of pressure themselves because of the sponsors, because the drivers, they want to show everybody,

you know, the talent, what they have. But at the end of the day, you guys keep running 15th to 20th, you're going to have a good year, right? And I know it's frustrating for you and it's always has been because you want to win races, right? I mean, your family's won races, you know, all of our careers, and it's frustrating.

But tell me the pressure difference of, like, what's, what, how does that feel, right? Knowing that, look, I know I can beat these guys, but this is what I have to do to start the process for my team. So the pressure comes from. from my partners, as you see on my shirt, they want me to run good so we can get TV time. And the TV time is what they do this for, right? They obviously, I have a relationship with these folks and they help me, and we do a lot of things off the track with business to business and things like that.

But the pressure, Tommy, is just I want to succeed. I want to run good. And the part that is so frustrating is, like, I know I can go fast, right? And, like, the other night, like, I can make it rip for a couple laps. I can pass, I pass, like, eight cars on one restart. Like, I can make it happen, and then my car won't stick. And I've got two choices at that point. Either listen to my ass or crash.

And I've crashed enough doing not listening. And I can't do that anymore. So the pressure man is just from wanting to compete. And I will say this with dad sitting here. There's nobody that I go to that I listen to as much as you and your feedback of I want his approval too, right? I want to run good for my family and my fans. And he knows I'm doing all I can. And he'll tell me when I screw up.

There's been a couple times this year I've just put myself in a bad spot. when my car wasn't riding, I got wrecked, you know, and he'll tell me that, like, hey, you at least need to finish the damn race. Yeah, and that's what I'm getting at. I mean, I feel that the teams, these type of teams, if you finish consistently, week in and week out, you have a playbook then, right? You have equipment. You have fresher equipment, you know, and I think that's what's going on with Viking.

I mean, they're not wrecking much, right? The 96 wrecked a little bit in the beginning of the year, right? So part of that, what I'll tell you, the success with that is, the crew chief that they have there for Parker is really good. He was Harrison's crew chief last year, and Harrison made the playoffs with a smaller team, and he is very embedded into RCR. And I think that helps him tremendously having Danny as a crew chief. I think he's one of the sharpest guys in the garage. And when they show up off the truck, they're good. And Parker, look, he was my teammate.

He can go fast. He's a great race car driver. He's just looking for his next opportunity. But Parker last year wasn't a piece of equipment that wouldn't let him shine, right? Look at the difference. What a year made. He didn't wake up and learn how to do it, right? Like, he's in the right situation now, and he's succeeding in doing a good job.

And I think it goes back to Danny and all the things they are doing, but they are doing a really good job. There's another Danny out there. Yeah. Right, Ward? There's another one of those guys. You just got to go find them, right? I mean, you have to work on finding these guys that are in the late models, the guys that are in the modified, these crew chiefs that, you know. And my crew chief look came from a super late model world.

Yeah, he knows. C is a really good worker and he's learning. But man, this is his first year as an Xfinity crew chief, right? Like last year he was a car chief at Tricon and he's learning. Like if I'm back there next year, we're going to be better because of the things that he knows now, right? It just takes time. It's amazing. I mean, for you and I, Tom, to look at it because when we were lucky enough to get together in the latter part of 98,

it was still, it wasn't dependent on engineering. No, not yet. It was just getting started. Yeah, but you could come in there and change some bodies, get aggressive with some arrow, get aggressive with whatever chassis. You know, me as a driver, I didn't give a damn. What you changed?

Make the car go fast. And you had the freedom to do it, and it paid off immediately. now it is so hard where this is a good example Tommy brought some people with him but he brought a passion and some knowledge

and a huge amount of enthusiasm and had an open book with the resources we had and it immediately paid off you take a driver like Jeb here and Danny's a good example Danny's got, I don't know the gentleman, but he's obviously smart, but he's tied in to RCR. And so he gets to bring that resource, and what Jeb doesn't have, he has a partial alliance for RCR, but he doesn't have like the bodies.

Just the body alone may be all you were missing at Chicago. Because he's sitting there second on the board. I'm thinking, hell, he's going to have better than normal vehicle. But then the next thing you know, when you get with 40 damn cars, it has changed. So it's just amazing to me to watch the involvement and the transformation from grassroots to almost Formula One type of engineering compared to when we were doing it. Oh, absolutely. It's all the small things. And, you know, when I was, you know, I'm trying to get at is you got to be aggressive, right?

You've got to find, you still, in today's world, you have to be aggressive. I mean, the manufacturers that are kicking everybody's butt right now, they're just flat out more aggressive than everybody else. They got a simulator at the race track. They don't, like, they don't care what they need to do in order to win races, right? And I sit in meetings and I hear people, it's like, you hear them, and it's like, okay, what are you going to do about it? You know, because I'm not like, you know, I'm not that point, that guy that's the point person anymore.

I just sit there and listen, right? I mean, I'm old, right? And just, you know, but I'm like, okay, you know, I hang up the phone or close my computer and go, what are you going to do about it? They don't do nothing. Nobody does anything. They don't, like, other people are like on it. The minute they get out of the car, they are working on the next. lap and that's what you got to do man you you are the quarterback right you can sit there and bitch

all you want but you got to make it happen right and that's that's a part of you getting to the next step right that's you got to put the pieces together your dad worked hard back in the day trying to put all those pieces together right he didn't know me from adam i mean he didn't know one thing about me when we got together, but when we got together, it was on. Well, I can remember at Darlington, excuse me, just happy hour was over, and Tommy came by the truck, and I'm standing there. The whole team was gone, and he introduced himself, and he said, are you going to be there next year?

I said, I don't know. I'm thinking. He said, well, I ain't coming if you ain't. And next thing I knew, we were together a couple weeks later. And that's, I want to build on that. Second race finished second. I mean, really, it's Charlotte. Second race.

Hadn't had a top five in a while. Relationships are so important in this sport. And we have a modified guy from New York, paired up with South Boston, Virginia short track racer, Ward Burton. And as you said, the success was almost instantaneous. How? How was it working with each other? And, I mean, I'm sure that you both look back on that time of your racing lives

as some of the best years. Well, I'll tell you one quick story, just about, that weekend. I think we were at Bristol the week before. I can't remember. But I kept complaining about the car not turning. And, you know, Tommy had to think about what he did. He split the damn truck arms that evening.

And then we adjusted on it. Back then, we could make changes, man. We changed everything but the stairwells. Sometimes might have changed that damn thing. A lot of mirrors. Yeah. Well, I was always insane to not have a lot. blind spots on my in when I was driving but anyhow uh mark beat us that day but not by much but

you know he just just aggressive I was aggressive he was aggressive and that's exactly what I needed somebody that would think out of the box don't matter what you got to change do something because I would say like now part of the part of the problem for us is like tomorrow I'm going to do the simulator and we're making changes we're doing good things. We get to the track and we're in a box where, okay, we can change some things, but if we've missed something, then we're done. You can't fix it.

I didn't think you could. I thought you had to adjust. You couldn't change. You can change rear springs, right? You can't change rear springs. Well, I thought they opened it up a little bit, right? No, you can change, like, spring rubbers. Okay.

You can change bump stops. It would have gone insane with that Because, you know, particularly us trying to catch up, we needed to be able to change big stuff. Yeah, I mean, you almost need, I mean, you do need a group That's working way ahead of time, you know, on all these things And you've got to have the proper simulation time And you have to have everything, everything ready.

It's just, it's an ongoing process right now. You got to just be very aggressive in that simulator of trying things. and doing what needs to be done. It's a, it's a difficult time for the teams that don't, that just have enough money to go race. And it really is because these bigger teams are getting stronger. They're getting better. I mean, even seen it yesterday.

I mean, I don't know what kind of paperwork we got here. I didn't read anything. But, you know, the big three was in the top 13 yesterday, right? And if the other guys didn't have issues, the big three would have been the top 16 yesterday. It's just, it's getting to the point that the money is overtaking our sport with all the tools that are being used. The domination of the manufacturers letting the bigger teams consistently use those tools more and more. And until you find all that money that you're always going to be looking for, that's where you're going to be.

So, stick to your 15th to 20th. Work on it. Keep work on it. Get aggressive with the crew chief. and finish races to start, bring cars home, and make those cars better, right? That's the only thing you guys can do is inside your facility is pick those cars apart, right? And get them better. It won't help by wrecking them.

No. Right? 100%. and I wasn't from me just losing the race car, but I was in a bad spot, and one of them, the eight car took it three wide into Pocono and hit the 99,

and then bam, I hit the damn wall. But last year, what I was getting to, Eric, is like last year, we were doing everything that you're saying more,

and we were running 15th to 10th more. This year we got the RCR Alliance, some of the alliance and looking at those tools and going away from what we knew, I think sometimes if you don't use the information correctly, it can almost be worse. And I think it's been a learning curve for us now to say, hey, like at Phoenix, we finished 7th. We hard ass all day. We took some of what they had and some of what we built on like you're talking about. Boom, I ran top 10 all day.

But this Friday, not Saturday night, one round in the left rear spring, one round took me from Toulouse to plowing. That's how sensitive it is. I mean, you got to make a quarter turn. You can't make a full turn. Like me and my critchie were talking about the other day, hey, this is as good as it was going to be. We probably should have just done air pressure. Yeah. And that's the things that you guys got to communicate, right?

Is y'all's cup card that you are the competition director, are they that sensitive to? Oh, shoot, yeah. Probably more. Way more. Oh, exactly. Very close to that. But, yeah, I mean, your dad just used to knock the right sides off during qualifying, right, and make us make the changes, right?

I mean, that year we won the Southern 500. He just decided he was going to, he thought he can go full throttle and qualifying. I think we had P1 in practice. walled at some bit, Shawmy. Right side, truck arms, rear end, we started dead last and beat the ass, didn't we? Our buddy, Jimmy said we passed one car lap.

Why was Darlington so good for you, too? Two wins there together, right? They gave me him and Joe Lacks come up with an awesome setup. I mean, we went there probably three years. We won two. Should have won two more. At least two more, yeah.

Two of them we lost it because of rain. Yeah, exactly right. I mean, crazy stuff. But they just gave me a hot rod, man. That's why. That's why. And I liked that racetrack. It was a challenge for me, and I was on the ball.

I loved that race track. You think he could still do it there? No, no. You don't think so? No. You see him run that late model last year? That car was. That's your.

Was in the yours? You gave him a piece of shit, that did you? That's a piece of shit. Why did he give you? But hold on. I got in the car and went two and a half tens faster. Come on,

man. I'm not doing balls to the wall, but that one race, you know. Is he doing it again this year? No, no, no. No.

But he will go, I, look, the first time he got in the car, he didn't do a weaving or nothing. He left, what? And he was two and a half tenths off then. Well,

you gave him a shit box. it was a shit box okay well let's let's come on let's call speed a better effort after i got in the car from mine i was like that was a shit bomb okay so he needed a better call well one the guy to south boston uh bruce andersson a good good late model guy he took it over there twice and tried to race in south boston they finally i think they cut the snout off it then they finally sold so hold on then also you were going to finish probably 12th and he knocked the first freaking wall down on lap 4. He knocked the rear end out of it.

I bent the truck. He was trying to do what worked for you guys back in the day. Hey, everybody. This is Dale Jr. And for the latest DBC gear, go to shop. Dot dirtymo Media.com. We've added some new shirts. There's one called Win or lose.

We're drinking booze. Everything seems to be about drinking here at Dirtymo Media. Go check it out now. All right. Let's roll back into Chicago land. First trip back at that racetrack since 29. sellout crowds. So what do we think?

Could we see that oval back on the schedule next year? Sounds like they could be torn between this and the street course, maybe both. But also Tommy sounds like some of the fan experience was also a little bit challenging. Well, I think it was challenging not by anybody's fault of the track. I mean, obviously it rained a lot. And they had some parking issues. They parked, I think, 80% of the people over at Route 66 at the dragstrip there. And they ended up getting everybody there.

It was a little slower than they wanted, but, you know, I did ask them. I said, do you guys, like, have plans for this type of stuff? They're like, oh, yeah, we had a plan. That's emergency evacuations and this type of situation. So we were kind of prepared. And, you know, there was some people getting there a little bit late, unfortunately. But what a crowd, man. Yeah, it looked awesome.

I mean, I'm glad that they showed that they like Chicago Land Speedway, and it's a great racetrack, man. I was a little surprised last night that the wall, I call it the wall groove, didn't come in as much as the O'Reilly's race did. It was really dirty up there for us. Anybody who did try to go up there, I think he's seen Denny go up there the last three, four laps, and he got in the wall. I mean, I seen a bunch of cars getting the wall at the end of the race trying to do the same thing. But overall, man, it was a great race.

You know, not many cautions at the end, get the field bunch back up. up but again racing throughout the pack and it was there was a lot of good stuff going on the you know 19 did a really good job all day just just adjusting on it i mean the the track changed a lot once the sun went down especially in one and two because that was that was where the sun was on on it the most and the latest and once that sun went down you've seen a progression or a regression of of different teams of what happened during the race. So yeah, it was good racing. Overall, I think there's a good chance that we'll probably come back once or twice to

Chicago market. Obviously, it's up to them, how they can move it around. And yeah, it's a, I did all the rain that came Saturday, I did, or Friday night or whenever it was, they did say that if we were at the road course and all that stuff happened there, which it did, all that rain, it would. have been a big problem for the crew to get the track prepared, all the signage up, all the stuff done, because there was lightning delays all the way to like two, three in the morning that night.

So they're watching it, right? They're not only were they paying attention to Chicago land. They were paying attention to what would have happened at the road course if we were there, right? That's how far out there looking, right? So I like going to there. I like going to Chicago. it's a great place great fans

they were pumped up they were yelling it's just a good place man good racing uh jeb you were at the track you were in the infield what was the experience like for you going back there anywhere I can go and there's a soybean field

beside the racetrack is my kind of place you guys are hill jacked but but anyway it's a it's a badass race track you can run the bottom you can run the middle you can run the top what makes it so good is it's worn out and it has character and bumps. But the other thing about that, I think,

while the top didn't come in for y'all, is so much throttle time at that place. Like, even when you're running the wall, you are in the throttle a lot. And maybe with the temperatures going down last night and it was a little dirty, it was just you can make so much time because it's shorter around the bottom than running up at the wall.

What fond memories of racing at Chicagoland? happy to see us go back there. Yeah. I like saying the old worn-out payment. I think they've taken a lot of character away. The paving jobs, the technology going there, are so much better than it used to be. So, I mean, you know, how a Darlington,

a new pay job stays grippy for so long, the wavy bumps at Charlotte, you know, I don't think they exist anymore. No, they're back now. They are. They're getting there. Yeah. I think it's good not to have fresh pavement or race.

I just think it makes a racing better. It gives the drivers more options to find some grip. Yeah, Michigan was paved in, what, 2012, and the track still hasn't widened out up to where it was beforehand. So that's a great point. The rookie year from hell for Conner Zillich continues. Caught up in a wreck on lap one. We saw Hosevar and Zane Smith get into it.

Looks like Zane had a vendetta against Carson there going into the corner. Unfortunately, he took himself out there. Well, I mean, look, I hate talking about the 77. I really do, but... What did he do to deserve that one? Because he's driving like a fucking lunatic in the beginning of the race, man, just bouncing off everybody, moving everybody on. They just, they've had enough.

I'm telling you, they've had enough, right? And even his post, right, he's like, well, we didn't qualify for him. I got to hope we run gun. Then he's just... I mean, by the time, lap 30, there's nothing left of his car to go fast. It's like, all right, the 38 got into him, and obviously it ruined the 38th night. He didn't run very good after that, and they've been good all a year, you know. So it's just like people are tired of it, man.

It's just... So that's Huskavar, that's who you're talking about. Yeah, Huskavar, yeah. Huskavar, yeah. How do you pronounce it? Hoosovar. Huskav. We'll call them Huskavar today.

Well, I mean, you know, to hell, we've all been there. You can't win on the first lap, and you've got to run all the lap. Yeah. I mean, look at the great finishes that he's had this year. And he drove clean races, right? We said it. Well, he didn't run in anybody. Oh, guess what?

He ran good, right? It's just like, these certain amount of people out there just, they don't get it, man. They just think they need to do all this. It just, it drives me quick. What is your opinion on it? Do you think at some point, look, my buddy Ross Chastain, y'all used to talk about him a little bit like that. And you don't really talk about him. Well, he would just because he doesn't do that shit anymore.

Well, he don't... So my question was, do you think he'll last? I don't, I think Ross is not being as aggressive as he used to be, one, because right now he doesn't have the car to do it. That's fair. Right? And number two, I think he's smart enough now. And you hearing other drivers talk about him, they miss him up there, right? They miss him up there and running up front and doing what he does.

But yes, he has become smarter because... one, like I said, he doesn't really have the car to do it. Number two, he's in a nice safe spot in his career finally. Right? And it makes a difference, right? So, yeah, that's different. I just, and, and what did you call him, Huscavana? He is, he's in a safe spot, right?

Yeah, he's got a big call. The kid has a chance to drive for that team forever or somebody even, well, I mean, they're pretty big right now, but I don't know. I just don't get it, man. it just, it baffles me to have, to see people like that have everything, right? And I know it frustrates a driver like you, Jeb, you're looking at him and he's like, this kid's got everything in front of him. And he just, sometimes just goes off the wall and just... Do you think, do you think if that keeps happening that he'll last? That's what my question.

Oh, yeah, because they, the people around them love it. Okay. Right? And the fans love it. Well, that's all the fans love. It's not, it's like, it's like, he can, he, yeah, it's all that matters, but he can be better. Yeah, you're just saying he could be better. He could be better. We used to call them weapons. Yeah. And I'm not going to say any names, but you know exactly who the hell I'm talking about.

Yeah. There were three or four of them back in there. I mean, you just, you either followed them, you didn't, and you passed them. They're still out there today. You didn't run side by side for, because it's just, it's almost like when they put that open-faced helmet on to get vaping. It gets oxygen. It cuts the oxygen. He made a full-face helmet.

Whatever. It would either kind of helmet. To prove how tough the track was, we saw Kyle Larson, hit that bump in three and go for a solo spin. I also had to get towed out of the grass because of how much rain there was. The battle for the regular season championship took quite the swing with Reddick having a hole in the radiator. They fixed the car, got him back out there, but he's now behind Danny Hamlin by 44 points

going into Atlanta. So Tyler now, for the first time in a while, seemingly a bit farther out. of that regular season points battle. But hats off to that team. What a bizarre circumstance for him. And how about Christopher Bell? I mean, he was chasing down Briscoe at the end, and I thought for sure that he had the best car,

but just the way Briscoe negotiated the traffic, he came up one spot short. No cash just a splint for him this weekend, so he continues to heal and continues to improve as he starts to get a little bit back to how he was running before that wreck in Michigan. On your note, what a shout out for NASCAR of having to be able to pull the front to have some hooks on it.

Oh, yeah. That's a great idea. Yeah. And the wrecker to be able to grab cars on the front or the rear and not tear the stuff all the place. Yeah, they had to redesign all that stuff when they built a new car, and then they also started applying it to all the other divisions. But I know you mentioned the 19 and stuff,

but it was really, you know, it was really neat to see last night the guys that took off and then come back to the field, the guys that were a little bit more patient. I know the 23 took off at one point, I think, in stage two, and probably about 15 laps left in. You see those guys started to reel them in. It's just everyone had a little bit different thought process of what was going on. Some of them, I don't think, you know, probably with the track war out, didn't really, they underestimated how much, like, they were going to lose time, but those guys, those Toyota's are good, man. I mean, they, again, at the end of the race, you have three of them battling for the win. It's like, it's been like that seven in the top ten.

Yeah. Yeah, I mean, it's just, it's, it's unbelievable what they're doing. I mean, they, they deserve all the credit for what they're doing because they're working hard, you know. Christopher Bell, I think, I think the aggravation and the determination of him, to be honest with you, is still from San Diego, getting out of that car. and having, you know, not be able to race that thing and having a bad finish. And a kid like that's like, that's it. I'm going to control my own destiny right now.

And I think he's applying that thought process to the determination of what he needs to do moving forward. And I think that's good. I mean, obviously, Adam Stevens is one of the best crew chiefs in the garage and he's going to make things happen towards the playoffs and during the playoffs. So Christopher Bell will be a championship contender. For sure.

That actually brings up a good question. I want to pose to both of you. So the mentality of not getting out of the race car, Ward, back in the day was, unless you physically couldn't get in or out, you never gave up your spot. And Jeb, now we have concussion protocols. We have additional doctors overseeing things. How were you able to balance back then, Ward, you know, monitoring your own personal health and safety, but also knowing that you never want to see somebody else in your race car.

And Christopher did have to see that, even though he started the race at San Diego. He did have to see that, you know, just because of the game plan. How did you navigate that back in your time? Just endured the pain. I cracked that sternum in Atlanta and a bush car. That was the wreck that Ernie Oven broke his collarbone. And I got back home and I got, I didn't know it was cracked. But I had as actually Jeff's father-in-law, he did an x-ray and it was fully cracked.

and we made a little piece of plastic. He made a little piece of plastic, and the belts went out. I never told her damn soul. Did you know about it? No, that was before that. I mean, it was really hard the way your dad interacts with people and know if he had a concussion or not, right? So, you know, we.

But I had a plenty. He had a lot of concussions. I mean. Yeah. I mean, and that damn, so we had a pretty good hot rod at Texas one time. and Tommy made a change. I think it was the left front. I lost it in three and four.

I mean, I hit a ton. Total de call. He pulled the backup call. No practice. We still qualified top ten. But, man, I was going to, back then, MRI had a physical therapy. My ankle, my shoulders. I was all busted up.

And hell no, man, that was my seat. I won't give it that damn car. And, Jeff, now, like, drivers could be saying, I'm telling you, I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine. But if the doctor says no go, it's no go. You've got to pass that test. Remember when they were having the left free of tire issues of California, we blew a tire, I think we were running forth or something.

You hit the wall. I think it was in practice or whatever. And you definitely had a concussion. Do you remember when only Heidi started could tell this fucking story? You were in the room, and they were asking you a bunch of questions. And they were asking Ward questions that he probably really didn't. No. Yeah.

And he was getting more aggravated because he's thinking that they think he doesn't know because he has a concussion, but he really doesn't know these fucking answers. Well, the thing is, they're asking me stuff like some TV shows. Like the time we won to 500, what was, they made me go to these places in New York. I didn't, like Regis and Kelly, I didn't know what the hell that was. I'd never seen it before. So same thing. They're asking me questions like that that I literally, to the Tommy point, I would have no knowledge of.

So she thinks that he has a concussion, but he just doesn't know. So I just ask about it, but do you know how a beaver does what he does? Beaver is an engineer. He's a keystone species because he makes habitats for all other wildlife. She didn't know what the hell I'm talking. She doesn't know the difference between a groundhog and a beaver. One lives in the water Another one lives on land

She don't know I was like There you go Yeah See I don't have Because he took his shit and left Thanks for your mind me of that One thing that I'd say

Looking at this point sheet Right here That I want to give a shout out To AJ Armandigger and his team Trent Owens is one of those crew chiefs That you're talking about He is a badass And they could make

The playoffs They got a chance man And both cars finish in the top 20 yesterday. They're doing a lot of things, but it's a little. But it does tell me, it does tell me that their tools are starting to come together, right? Everything that they got going in the background, right? Nobody knows about that some things are probably starting to work. And you're definitely going to see that truck team of theirs.

Once they get the new trucks and all the simulation going, they're going to be a handful in the next year. for sure. I think Chris said that starts at Richmond, I believe, is when they'll have the first new truck. The first new truck out there. Also, shout out to Riley Herbst. That's another top 10 for him. He's improved his average finishing position by six spots this year compared to last. I picked him in the beginning year.

Most improved cup driver. O'Reilly race, the bad luck for Zillich led into the O'Reilly race as well. He won stage one, fuel pickup issue, flat tire, then a spin. Just parlayed until lap one on the cup race so that he's going to have to try to rebound at Atlanta next week. That's really tough. The rain delay. the race started at 10 p.m., Jeb. I mean, that was a late go of it. I heard Chase Elliott say,

you know, it's 5 o'clock somewhere, 4th of July. So for me, I think I opened my second 24 pack of beer by that point, but I made the whole race. I was happy about that one. The only problem, though, it was not on the CW in all markets. So it sounds like a lot of people, including some of our friends up in New York, may have had a hard time seeing the races. So I'm sure that's something that's got to get figured out or ironed out a little bit, because it seems like if they do get off schedule, it's a little bit of Russian roulette as to what the local CW affiliates have on TV when the race starts. So that's a little bit challenging. But late race, but it seems like it was a fun one though. Yeah, no, it was really fun. Like I said earlier,

the restarts there are wild. And you can go all kind of different places, worn out racetrack. I feel like our race car, the O'Reilly car, is the best stock car out there. I think it's awesome. you can just drive the hell out of them and you're out of the throttle a ton and I think they are a lot of fun so it was a cool race track we saw some teammate drama for JGR William Sawalach, Brent Cruz getting together

they did have a bit of a debrief post-race I saw Brent walk up to William and kind of seemingly take responsibility for that at least he said so afterwards so that was nice of them especially because it probably wasn't his fault but it was nice of Brent to do that I mean so let's

you guys come back me up when you know that your teammates car is good, right? You're going to come off that corner wide open and try to work with them. The minute that car gets a little loose in front of you, it's already too late, right? You can't slow down. And it was just that split second that the 18 got a little bit loose off the corner. And Brent was coming, right? And he was either going to go decide whether he was going to, at that point, if he was going to get a good launch, go behind him and use the draft and you know, leave everybody behind or what, but he was coming. And once he just got a little bit loose, slowed down, it's too late, right?

So, yeah, I call out a racing accident. I mean, it's good that Brent, I mean, you know, took that it was his fault, but it wasn't his fault. I mean, and I'm not sticking up for him because it's Brent. I'm just like that was just the situation that it was in. No, I agree with you on that. A couple of news and notes before we go on spot on, spot off. the All-Star truck for Colleg.

Colin Brown, sports car ace is going to be behind the wheel at Lime Rock. Also, Parker Cleggerman was tagged to drive the spire number 77. Ward, you got your name of the mix for that Collegg All-Star truck? Could we see you somewhere? No, I don't think I do. It would be nice to yet.

Martinsville, maybe. That'd be a good spot for you. I got too much work to do. I don't have time to do dedicate all the time with that. I bet if they would put you at Darlington, you'd do it, but they don't go back. Next year. I've already talked to Chris Rice about it. He'll be

I think I can get around that down I can get around that damn place Also I saw Indycar driver Louis Foster is going to be in Spencer Boyd's Number 76 for that race That'll be cool

Speaking of Indycar Scott Dixon Leaving Gannasi after 25 years Not sure how much You all follow the Indycar realm But I mean that is a massive massive shakeup To the Indycar paddock

They've had a long-standing relationship together The rumor is he's going to McLaren Maybe there's a long-term runway for him there in terms of an ambassador role or a sports car role. But I mean, that's the equivalent of Tom Brady leaving the Patriots for the Indycard realm. That's huge, huge news there. They've had a rough year, right? Yeah. Well, Palo has been, his teammate Palo has been dominating the last few years. So I guess, you know, the term, if you can't beat him, join

him. He was already joined with him. I guess the only way that they could try to beat him is go somewhere else. But that's going to be fun to watch over the next few years. And Ryan Preece, our buddy, did tell Jordan Biaki of the athletic that he plans on returning to our FC. next year. So that's one of those silly season dominoes that we were waiting to kind of fall and the rest of the RFK layout still to be determined, but pre seems pretty certain he'll be back there next year. Yeah, I think you're going to see some, a lot of juggling around at that place there with only having two charters out of the three teams. So it's going to be really interesting to see what happens. They have a lot of work to do over there. As far as the racing goes on,

going on. They're pretty good, right? But the business model right now of planning of where they're at right now to what they should have did a couple years ago, they messed up a little bit. I've got to be honest with you. They had the opportunity to take advantage of a lot of good things for them two or three years ago, and they didn't do it. And now they're in a little bit of tough corner here. You know, they're going to, if they run that third team without a charter, they're giving up a lot of money, right? But what charters are available now? I mean, Rick's not going to sell the 47-30-signed Stenhouse.

They're not going anywhere. If a new manufacturer comes on, does a NASCAR give that manufacturer a charter and team another one? No, I'm not sure of how that's going to come into play yet. They've always said that there are charters available once that happens. But, yeah, I don't, I think the only way they would do that if, if a brand new organization would come in, bring in a Honda or somebody in there.

Like Ram, if Ram went, would they give an organization another charter? No, well. To start a third team. No, not, not. I don't think a new organization, no, or an organization that's, I don't think so. You mean a whole new team and everything. Yeah, I got you. But that's, that's up to the, the owners now.

just as much as NASCAR, you know, with the new charter agreement. So, yeah, they got himself a little, uh, little spot here. We'll see what happens. It's, uh, I know they mentioned three, four weeks ago that Chris was signed as well, but we'll see. A lot more to follow. So it's not sound is what you're saying. We'll see. Spot on.

Spot on. Did you want to go first on this one? I mean, I think he's a whiny. That's what I think. Send it. Why me? All right, spot on, spot off. Richard Childress says SVG got paid back for California on Austin Hill, and we should expect to see a harsh penalties.

Spot on, spot off, Tommy. If he paid back from California, why would SVG get a penalty? I'm asking. I mean, did he say it on the radio? So I went back and listened to a bunch of people. of this and I don't know if you guys had a chance to see all of it, but SVG was very, it seemed purposefully avoiding mentioning anything about Austin or the 33. Even after some in-car footage showed, Austin came off the pit lane and doored him under caution on the apron

and one and two. And even then SVG came back and said, uh, that guy just hit me. He was very intentional to not say either Austin or the 33, which I've heard Freddie say many of times that the worst thing you could do is admit guilt in any sense. So I think SVG was bleeding the fifth there. Jeff, do you have a chance to see it? Yeah, I saw it. He said that he didn't mean to do it, but that's a really good race squad driver, and he knows where the brake pedal is. So I think he meant to do it. That's my... Wasn't it interesting, though, how deep... I think Tommy does too.

The difference between cars that could and car couldn't could really drive in a corner a lot deeper than others. I mean, it was obvious that Toyota could just... And it's almost like sometimes watching the 11 car. It's like what Jeff said, I'm going to decide this lap whether I'm going to give it all I got or not. Oh, yeah. He decides how fast he wants to run a lot of. So hell on that particular one,

it was a lot of difference of entry speed. He might not have necessarily meant to do it, but he might not have necessarily tried to avoid it. SVG, will you have you on the panel when it's time then? Lord, in terms of NASCAR getting involved in things like that, do you prefer NASCAR try to step in and police some of the on-track things that take place? Or do you think that we're still in an error where the drivers could handle it themselves? I think it just depends on how far it goes.

I think the more that they can leave it alone, the better. Yeah, let it play out. I mean, Austin Hill's not the cleanest driver, right? You guys have had this. No, hell, no. Some of them call him a bully. Yeah, I mean, now he's in the cup level, right? He's caused SVG some havoc, right, at two places.

I think Pocono as well. So you're in the big leagues now, man. Don't mess around, right? And I think, again, on Husk of Honor, they're getting tired of him, too. You know, I mean. Jeb, when we see something like that, and again, intent aside, a driver's willingness to maybe settle a score or send a message or send a state, Does that resonate through the garage area?

Does everyone kind of take note? Like, all right, I better not mess with that guy now because he showed what he's willing to do. Yeah, I think so. I think, you know, me and Freddie have joked before. I think people know not to just knock me out of the way or I'm going to give it back. I feel like, and I think Austin Hill is one of those guys.

I've never had a problem with Austin before. But I know if I go in the corner and root him out of the way, he's going to do it right back. Yeah. There are other people out there. And that's fine if that's going to happen, but just don't keep doing it. Yeah.

The only thing I'll say about the SVG thing is he's in a playoff situation and he's got a lot more to lose than Austin right now. Yeah, well, maybe he set the tone that I'm not losing anymore. I just wonder if what if Austin just, you know, wrecks him back. Like now, now he's done costs. Maybe, I don't know, was it worth it at that point. Hopefully it's over now, right? Hopefully they can talk.

right and get it i just think that SVG will get it back yeah i think he's playing with fire he he is running better on the mile and a half he's running better everywhere and he's running pretty similar to his other two teammates too no yeah yeah he's doing yeah he's doing a lot more so that's pretty positive for him so i say spot off um jib before we go into our second topic um talking about racing others how you want to be raced early in the race on saturday i think you and the 54 had a bit of Coming together there? What happened? Yeah, I mean, it wasn't anything crazy.

The 54 just kind of packed air to me and got me sideways off of four, and I didn't appreciate it. So I just gave him a little hello down the straightaway with the little donut on his door. A little Adele? Hello? Yeah. How are you? Pretty much.

Any more problems after that? No. Me and Taylor have always raced each other fine. I just didn't appreciate that. That's part of it sometimes. As far as SVG and Austin Hill, I guess we'll see in a couple days if RC gets his wish there and if anything else comes out. Next topic, with seven out of the top ten finishers at Chicago land being Toyotas, it's time for NASCAR to step in and level the playing field. Spot on, spot off.

Jeb, what do you think? Say that one more time to level the playing field. So I think the questions were opposed towards Ward, like when you used, you know, when you guys used to work on the cup cars together and a rule change would come down for a manufacturer to take off some spoilers. or kick out the nose. It seems like now maybe because of Toyota's massive success, there's some thoughts that maybe something needs to change or something needs to be done. Look, Tommy talked about it earlier.

These guys have a simulator at the racetrack that manufacturer does. Those drivers get out of the car. They walk up the hill. Do they not, Tommy? Yeah, all they're working on is they're modeling. Just like you said, when they get out of the race car, they're working on it better. The other manufacturers are doing that too,

but I just feel like Toyota sometimes doesn't have a budget. And if you're getting to do those things, you cannot penalize those guys because they went to work and made their stuff really fast, right? They got to catch up, and Chevrolet and Ford will catch up. It goes in waves. They always have. Don't you agree?

They do, but bottom line, the people that are behind the scenes for Toyota are the most aggressive, have been the most aggressive people in the garage for the last 30 years. Where does that start from? you know, Todd Barry at Gibbs, you know, those guys have been aggressive their whole careers. Todd's a badass. Right?

I mean, it's just like you follow their patterns of all the teams that they went to and what happened, right, and where they went to. And all the other people behind the scenes that are, you know, the Wally Browns in the world, it's just the wheels over at 2311, right? And just the guys just, they're aggressive, right? They have a very aggressive group that just doesn't stop. They have, they're like this right now, Jim, right? And they're not going to let off, man. And there's no reason for them because they go through tech.

It's just like this place right here. And O'Reilly's Junior Motorsports, they've got this place full of racers. Yeah. And they have the funding. They have the technology. And they have badass people like you're talking about. and that creates speed. Yep.

Ward, I remember, you know, as a kid watching and would read like almost every other week that a manufacturer would have to change something on the body or do something different. Now in this day and age, do you think that's still a necessity for NASCAR to bear the responsibility of making sure the playing field is level? Man, the way I look at it because of technology

is one just outspins the other. And I think somehow there needs to be a cap put on what resources you can have. I think this show is not any better than it used to be, but it's completely out of touch when it comes to how much damn money people are spending and have spent just to go run Chicago. I mean, we're talking about, hell, the big, they probably been playing that race for months or a whole year.

They've got that much staff. It just, it doesn't take that much effort, resources to put on a good show. We did it back when your dad was racing. You know, you got three, four, five, maybe max full-time people. I just think it somehow another's got to go back somehow, and the sanctioned by the guy to do it. Am I sit here and have the answers for it?

Absolutely not. But it's ridiculous for the manufacturers and the teams to have that kind of advantage because it just boils down to how much they spend. And I don't, I don't, so in today's world, all the manufacturers go to the wind tunnel with NASCAR, and there's a certain tolerance that you have to hit, right? In the beginning of the year, Chevrolet was three counts off above of the tolerance, and they made us make last-minute changes to the nose to get us back into the nose. to get us back into the number.

There is a box that you have to be in. Each manufacturer has to be in with the body, right? The manufacturers control the body a little bit because of the lines, how they want to look compared to the street cars. So the bodies are a little bit differently, but there's a box, right? And there's a limit to where you need to be in the tunnel for that box to pass.

Now what happens after that pass, right? There's a different story, right? Maybe, a little bit, maybe. But once that pattern and the body part is there, then NASCAR takes it, and then the company five-star takes it, and they build it. So there's the body. It's in that box.

All the other parts are store-bort, right? Everybody buys the same parts, purchase the same parts. Now, after that, it's what you do to them, right? It's what you do to the tolerances that you're allowed to put them at that NASCAR gives you. Now, it's up to the people to add up all those tolerances and make it the best that possibly can be, and then some. And that's how you win races, right? When a sponsor or we entertain guests every week at the racetrack, and when they come, they're like, why'd you run 15th? Like they're looking at the race car.

They look the same. I'm like, it's like Tommy said, it's all the things underneath the car that you can't see that's creating downforce. to create downforce, you can stay in the gas longer because it's planted on the earth. That's like it goes back to the people. I've said it a long time. If you could buy junior motorsports tomorrow, if they walked them and said, Eric, you can buy this race team. Here it is.

But you couldn't have one of the people in here? I wouldn't know what to do with it. What I'm saying is if you didn't have the people, it wouldn't be worth the damn. Yep. The people are what make this place go. Yep. I do know a couple weeks ago we talked about some dino, testing that was done after Pocono and Michigan.

Have we heard anything of the outcomes of that? Yeah, a little bit. Everybody was pretty close. Let's just say that. I don't think anybody, horse power-wise, was, I think they were all within 1%, which is... What about a rally? Did you see those? I did not see that.

No. No. I think the engines are all within... I mean, look, you got the best of the best in all three. manufacturers, I mean, you're going to have good engines. It's all, again, you know, we have an engine, we have only a certain amount of engines that we run during the year, right? They get sealed and you have to rerun these engines, I think, three times now. So again, it's all about when you decide to put a fresh one in, right? You might be running up against somebody that has three races, you know,

it's its third race first, the first race, right? So you might see a little bit different that, but again, it's all about proper planning, right? Just Toyota the best? TOT is the best horsepower? No, I don't think so. I think at that point they were, no. But they were all within three horsepower. So, I mean, and it all depends on the time you dino them,

when you dinoed them. It's just, you know, the first engine might have, because the air, it's just, it's so close they were like, yeah, everybody's good. I've had an engine, I had two late model engines when we were racing a late model, and one would dino, I mean, 15 horsepower better than the other. But in the race car, the other one is always a tenth faster, the one that said less. So sometimes those dynos don't show you what the best one is for inside the car. That's good point.

Keeping the manufacturer trend going. Spot on, spot off. Brat Keselowski praises Toyota's collaboration saying they are winning races in the boardroom and pushes for Ford and Chevy to do the same. Spot on, spot off Tommy. Yeah, again, he's... What you've been talking about all morning? Yeah, I mean, it's just...

You got to pay to play, too, right? And I think Toyota does the best. Yes, Denny did mention, I think, the other day, that they do pay a fee to Gibbs, but along with that fee, they also are working together with them, right? They just don't pay a fee and say, hey, give us information, right? It's just, you know, Toyota, as a company, though,

they do a really good job of making sure that all the guidelines are in place for these teams to follow, right? We don't, Ford don't have that, right? Chevrolet doesn't, they, again, they're a separate, right? You got Hendrick, you got RCR, you got trackhouse. Yes, you have sometimes a collaboration of things, but it's not as solid as what Toyota has going on. I mean, it's just, look, they just have a core group of people right now, a strong core group of leaders that are making sure everybody's following a guy. And look, the Gibbs program, that's the number one program.

The Toyota lives off the Gibbs people and their determination of making products better for the other teams. So I don't, it bothers me that now everyone's like, well, we got to do something about Toyota. You got to get to work, right? We got to get to work. Like, stop. If you're going to worry about Toyota, you're going to only hurting yourself because you're wasting time and energy, not making your stuff better. So, yeah.

He's right. He's spot on. He's 100% right. And to your point, Tommy, you know, JGR was the Toyota team. And 2311 pays a fee to JGR for that support. When you've got your legacy Chevy teams like Hendrick and RCR and your. legacy forward teams, you know, like Rausch and like Penske, who's the one who's going to kind of take the lead in that? Is that, is that up to the OEM to decide who's the premier team,

you know, the premier team that's going to offer those services or take that action item on to try to level everyone else up or, you know, it's up to the OEM to put their program together first, to have the power to be able to get all these people together to work as one, right? You see the Toyota program is there are people that are from Joe Gibbs embedded into 2311 that learned everything from Joe Gibbs. Now it's starting to happen in legacy, right? They're sending people over there for the systems, the systems to be done correctly. You've seen a big jump on the last month, month and a half because they sent some people from Gibbs over the legacy. They have changed their philosophy and the way to look at things because now,

you have somebody that was ingrained in Gibbs that's learned all the, all the, not secrets, but all the systems. And now they're getting applied to legacy. And that's why you see an improvement with the 43 and 42 because now they're listening, right? When they're a little bit off, you know, only one, Jeb knows, only one thing has to be off for you to be off nowadays, right? So if you're missing one thing, you're going to finish 20th, right?

Now they're finishing 8th to 15th, right? And Eric's, you know, run better. And now little Nemechek, he's going to come on stronger at the end of this year because he's learning now how to race against the next group of cars he's supposed to be racing with, right? Eric was there before, right? He was at Gibbs. He had fast cars, right? He knows how to navigate through those guys.

So, again, these other manufacturers, they – and they have an interest for. right now, Eric, all right? They got Formula One interests, right? Ford's and Formula One, Chevaliers, with the Cadillac stuff. It's just, let's get the group, you know, like Brad said, the group's got to get together and form a committee and start making these things work. I mean, there's just, there's not enough energy. Toyota's kicking our asses because there's not enough energy in the other groups to compare, to, to go to combat. Plain and simple. And we've seen a lot of OEM unification for drafting tracks.

So Jeb, with Atlanta coming up next, outside of your Jordan Anderson racing teammates, are you also looking for other Chevrolet drivers to partner with in those moments for that reason? Yeah, I would say so. But for me, at those kind of places, I've got a relationship with some guys that I like to work with. like Austin Hill, he's, he's always been okay to me, but Sheldon Creed has always worked really well with me. Jesse Love, when Ross is in the car. So I try to find those guys, my cousin.

And if you, if you can, like when I was at college, we would dominate those races, Tommy, because it was me, A.J. Almondinger, and Justin Haley, we all understood that kind of racing, and we worked together, and we could kick their ass because our cars were good and we would work together. If I move, they would move.

So it's a lot of fun when you have that kind of teammate that you can't work with. I think the theme of this show is relationships and people. Pretty much. That seems to be the time not to all this. I would say, yes. Our final spot on, spot off topic. Chase Elliott was one push from Jesse Love away from winning the O'Reilly race on Saturday. Spot on, spot off.

Jeb, did you get to see how that restart played out? So I knew Chase was in trouble when he went into, obviously when I got out of the car, I watched the replay. but going into turn four turn three side by side if you run the middle the second groove up there's huge bumps there and the bottom is just better it's just better you either got to be way up and he couldn't do that because it was just a restart right so he needed to either just get right on his door but again chase wasn't going to race brandon like that because he's running for you know points and um i think chase did all he could with what he had in that situation. I agree. Yep. I mean, those races that come down on those late race restarts, it seems like, I don't recall

in the late 90s, early 2000s, granted there was no green-white checkers back then, but where you really had to, even on the intermediate tracks, really get up and shove the car in front of you to have a chance to move your line. I mean, is that, is watching that unfold now, either in O'Reilly or in

Cup, does it seem just kind of wild, how aggressive you have to be on these restarts to just have a chance now? The air seems to be more critical than it was then. One thing that I'll say, I remember, and I guess you were the crew chief, I wish it was double-file restart. This guy, I'm sitting in a pit box.

We're at Miami, a bush race, and he leaves like four car lengths. Four car lengths he left in the back straight away. Before the restart zone, and I'm like, damn. That was my car. That was a Pillsbury car. I was mine and Eddie the Hunt's car. We owned it. We kicked their ass that day.

And the last thing I said to him, I said, all right, don't jump the restart. The son of a bitch jumped in on the backstreet. I was already walking down pit road shaking my head, and he didn't even take the green yet. I knew we were done. You got pissed me off. Sorry. It wasn't that early, but it was early. I had led all day, and I, you know, I don't know.

You beat yourself that day, but it happens. It was a good car, man. I beat myself a whole bunch of day. I have to. You've probably made Cawes on Pitbox. You wish you could. Oh, yeah.

Changes. I was just anxious for me. I was ready to go. Shout out Brandon Jones. I mean, that was a great run by him. He was kind of up into the mix all day. And, you know, Brandon is someone who, man, just, same thing. Like Darlington, Chicago Land.

Just a lot of these rough, rugged tracks just seem to suit his style. It suits the car he's driving, too, because those Gibbs cars are really good on those style racetracks. And Brandon's a good, clean racer. I've always enjoyed racing with him, so I was glad to see him win. You mentioned Good Day from the Points and officially six in the standings

for Brandon Jones after that win at Chicago. It's time to read. All right, it's time now for reaction theater where fans can call in, voice their opinions from this weekend's race. Let's hear from you, the fans. Best reactions will make the final show. So let's sit back, relax, and enjoy to listen.

Hey, don't tell me what to do. Know that fucking bloomin onion motherfucker and the dick and Austin L's ass. Jesus Christ. Turn how to drive. What's the fuck are you doing here anyhow? I guess not an SVG fan. The Blumen Onion MFer is pretty funny.

SVG is not going to put up with anybody's shit, man. I don't know if you guys realize that. He's a big dude, too. It's not like you're just going to walk up to him. If you're going to hit him, you need to hit him hard, knock him on the ground. Yeah, I don't think that's going to happen. Look, there's certain people that...

Did you see all the highlights of your ass fighting on Pit Road this week? That wasn't fighting, man. Well, all I know is you come pop up, your chains hanging out. Because they started grabbing me. There was no fight. I had proof. Okay. They played that clip a lot this weekend.

Yeah. Oh, they did? Oh, yeah. It cost me $10,000, right? $10,000 for that. And finally I walked in about three weeks later into the trail, and I come storming through the Hilton. I'm like, all right. So you don't want me to do that type of stuff.

Oh, that stuff happened, right? And you charge me $10,000. but all you're doing is broadcasting. Can I get some rights? You know, can I get some money on my, you know, and they're like, get out of here, you know? I'm like, all right. Everybody didn't tired eluded every now, now. Chase Briscoe, it's time to shave the hair, brother.

I mean, Jesus Christ, we cannot have the camera zooming in on him when he's taken off his helmet right before he puts on his hat. That was hard. I mean, we're all getting old, man. We lose hair, gray hair. I mean, what's he going to put a wig on? I guess he wants him to shave it. Shave it all the way all. Briscoe, you just keep driving the way you are.

We don't care about your hair. I'll say when you're talking about badass crew chiefs, his crew chief, I like that guy. He's always, he's good. He don't play, man. No, he's on it. Hickory, dickery doc. Larson steps on his, come on, hung, money. Let's go, 11.

Another, I mean, rough, rough, rough, rough, rough circumstance for Kyle. I mean, that, that kind of stinks. Yeah, I mean, he's fast on the edge, right? Yeah, you're going to push us to them. Sometimes the edge gets you in trouble, right? And they're very aggressive, right? That's what makes them good. And shit happens.

Well, you nailed it, Tommy, and you couldn't tell the car was on the edge. Until it stepped over it. Yeah, and the commentator said he won the best. He'd won the best. And when you run the edge, you're going to pay the price sometime. Had a good car. It was going to be interesting to see when the sun went down, what direction that went to,

but the 24 stayed strong, and he lost a little bit when the sun covered one and two a little bit. But I hate it. We need Larson to win a race here soon. Cliff Daniels is another. Yeah, he's just, I mean, again, he's the guys that are running good, like the teams that are running good have all the people, you know, the things like to have.

I don't think he's one asking for changes for things for Toyota because he runs with him every week. Yeah. I think he's head down going to work. I don't think he's listening to it. I think he knows he has a job to do. And look, Hendrick has a lot of resources too. So, you know, they're not going to sit on the hands, right? They're going to keep working and try to beat these guys.

And look, I keep telling everybody it's not playoff time yet. That's when they're going to show up. There's certain teams, organizations that are there right now, right? You've seen a little bump yesterday in the Penske cars, right? A little bump, right? I'll think all three of them finished in the top 13 there. Besides the 21. Where did the 21 finish?

21, he got in the wall. He messed up. Yeah, but they've been struggling, man. I'm going to eat so many fucking hot dogs this weekend. I'm going to eat some fucking hot dogs. I'm going to watch some cars turn fucking left at Chicago. Let's be. Wait.

God damn. Hell, hell, who! What's that you, Eric? That might have been Joey Chestnut. Yeah,

Joey Chestnut. Oh, I love it. Fourth of July and NASCAR, just go hand in hand. It needs to be in Daytona, man. I know I love Chicago, but we got to have

Daytona, the Pepsi 400. Wow. We got to have it like 11 o'clock in the morning and so the fans can go watch a really good race and go to the beach,

Let's get NASCAR. Are you listening? Daytona on the 4th of July. Whenever the 4th of July is. Like even if it's on a Tuesday, Wednesday. I don't care. Let's go to Daytona. I agree with you.

That'd be great. My wife is not a big NASCAR fan. And when I told her they used to run the firecracker at like 10 a.m. And then that way everyone had the rest of their day open. She's like, you mean to tell me that I wouldn't have to sit around all day waiting for this race to start? Yeah, exactly. We used to go in the garage. I think at 4 a.m., the garage opened up for those races.

Man, you know. What year was that? All the years up until the years. When y'all get home, like what y'all did, what did you get home at 2.30 this morning, yeah. So Jeb got home at 6.30 Sunday morning. It's almost dangerous to get out of that plane, then go drive. As late as these races start. You know what I'm thinking?

It's just, I mean, could everybody's been out in the heat and all all day? But back at Dayton and Talladega, we ran the second Talladega. Was it July or August? All under, it was hot. Oh, yeah. I mean, it was the hottest place on Earth. But the cool thing, the drivers had open-faced helmet, so it wasn't nearly as bad.

All right, time of shit show, Hall of Fame. Do you guys see anything wild this weekend? A couple things we got. Denny, I guess just one bit of bad luck. hauler got stuck in the mud trying to get into the racetrack earlier. Saw this midweek. Oh, boy, I didn't know that. Some people were worried about the car, and he goes out and sits on the pole.

Yeah, I don't think the car was pretty safe at that point. Also, Berlin Raceway, I was just there a couple weeks ago with ARCA, and unique facet about Berlin, there's no outside retaining wall. And we did have an ARCA car get off into the weeds. Then we had one of these late models find one of the tractor tires. Oh, man. Oh, shit. Yeah, there's some been some, some,

bad ones there. Like Thunder Road had a pretty bad one a couple weeks ago, same type of situation. Geez. Guy hit hard. Those tractor tires are heavy. How about the SK wreck and Stafford on Friday? Oh my goodness. I would add that one. That was a shit show for sure.

That was some marker breaks. Last one we got is a cameraman going down, which I heard about this, but I did not see it. Oh, he's walking backwards probably. Oh, man. They said cut it real fast. Yeah, they cut off that quick. A couple weeks ago, a guy walking off the podium at a motocross race missed the ramp and went down about a story. All right, time to move on to Ask DBC with the questions you've all been waiting for, get answers.

So Ward, we'll start with from winning Daytona 500, loose lug nuts at Watkins Glen. What's your favorite memory with Tommy? Because we have a kick in their ass that race. Well, you're really kicking a really good call, but we all. made mistakes while y'all busting Tommy's ball. I mean, think, think about it. How many crew chiefs also went over the wall? And he wanted to do it.

They didn't have a choice. We didn't have the people. Yeah, exactly. He was damn good at it. Any other memory that maybe the cameras didn't catch between you two during your tenure? Man, we went through good times and not so good time, as Tommy alluded to, later when we we were together resources. We were closing the gap.

With Tommy's enthusiasm, Davis was letting him do for the most part what he wanted to do with the resource he had. The gap was being closed. I mean, there was a time we were in top six in the points with the Gibbs and the RCRs and the Hendricks and Rouse. And technology just started changing it. And we couldn't, we didn't have resource to keep up with it. And it was really, at the time, I don't think Tommy understood what was going, neither did I.

Well, I understood, but what was happening that I didn't know back then when Bill Davis racing was Toyota was coming into the scene. And as everybody knows, Bill Davis was the one that started the Toyota truck team. Well, as technology was growing and becoming more important in our sport, all the tools and all the people were getting shifted to building this new Toyota truck program. So I was kind of left on an island. They took our head engineer and they took my head body. Being Todd Holbert and they took my head body guy that back then, those are the two things that you relied on. And they went and went over to the, we called it area, they called it area 51.

It was three, four, five months before I even knew what was going on. And they took them and I was by myself for a little bit. So that kind of hurt. And obviously the Toyota program took off and was very successful with how they were doing it. Again, Toyota started their, everybody worked together right from the beginning. I mean, every Toyota truck was built in that facility for other teams. So Toyota had that mentality right from the beginning when they came into the sport. So once we switched to Toyota, we were behind on, even on in the cup, we were behind on

engineering. And Joe, we relied on, again, Joe Gibbs's kind of information that you, you know, they weren't going to give up anything back then. So, yeah, we lost away a little bit there. And, yeah, it was hard. It was hard. I think we finished in the top 10 in points for two years in a row and won some races and lost a lot of a lot of races as well but it was fun man we had a good time together Tommy you passed up on a pretty good opportunity hold on just a minute so you just told me a story and I didn't realize that so thanks for sharing and what I did happen when it when it got publicly known

Jackson and another guy with Dodd called me at Dover. And because they had just found out about it. And they cut off all support too to the team. The Dodge support won't because we were at Dodge. So it sent Davis into a different direction, but actually killed us. Yeah. It won't long after that. He got releasing in the next year I got released.

While you were still with the Bill Davis team, Tommy, you turned down a pretty lucrative opportunity to go to a championship winning organization to stay with the 22. Why? I mean, Ward, Ward had a big influence after it, and it was after the fact, right? I already, you know, I was going to take over from Ray Everham to do the crew chief Jeff Gordon. And I made all my calls, right? I walked into Bill Davis, told him, because it had to happen quick, because it was going to be almost past mid-year at that point. And then I called my dad, and I got silence from him. I'm like, I thought, I thought, I thought you. Did you really?

Yeah, I got silence from him. I'm like, what's wrong? He's like, you know, he's typical dad, right? He's like, dude, they have a dynasty already over there. You're in the middle of building one where you're at. Why don't you just build what you got there? And I'm like, I hung up the phone. I was like, oh, shit.

Right? I'm like, now, what am I going to do, right? And they're getting ready to raise on the plane on the way to Michigan, and they were going to announce it that afternoon, right? So I call Tommy the 3rd. I say, hey, I just want to let you know, I'm all excited. He starts crying.

Right? He started crying, Oh, Jeff, you know, because him and Jeb are friends. Why are you living? I'm like, oh, shit. And then I call Ward.

I just want to let you know. And Ward went to, Ward went to bat for me. He hung up the phone, and within a half hour, he called me up and he says, all right, here's what we're going to do with this,

this, that, that. I paid part of his salary. Yeah, he ended up paying part of my salary for me to stay. Because David wouldn't do it. Yeah. So. You know, it was,

yeah, because we had what we needed with his leadership. What year was this? 92,000. So before the 500. I went to Jeff Gordon and got on his, you know what, at Indy. Now, you're trying to steal my damn. He said, what?

It ain't me. I said, bullshit. And then one more thing on the manufacture front. So 2000, you got the first win at Darlington in the spring race and the Pontiac for Bill Davis. And then that was one of the teams that transitioned to Dodge in the first year. You go back to Darlington in the fall

and win the Southern 500. How did you gel so quickly going from the success with the Pontiac car to the Dodge car in that day and age? Yeah, I mean, the Dodge was a better body. So we actually helped us going to the next races. I mean, we used all the same tools,

same setup and stuff. I think there was a couple of different things you had to do. from the spring to fall, Darlington race, to make the cars just as good. And we knew what needed to be done. So, yeah, we had a lot of fun at Darlington, man. I mean, the Atlanta's, you know, when it was war out, we had a lot of really good, good races at all those facilities.

And again, man, it's just we were racers, right? When I, we brought a bunch of racers, you know, you heard Chris Rice last week on the show. It was just, we had a lot of people. We had a lot of fun, too, right? We worked hard, we played hard, and it was good, man, good times. I wish y'all would have at some point when y'all did have opportunities to go somewhere, looking back on it, y'all could have went somewhere that had more resources. Back to ask DBC, Jeb, both you and your dad are both outdoorsmen.

Is there a wildlife story that you could share that involves you, the both of you? Every day. I mean, look, I've been brought up around the racetrack, but the cool thing that my dad has taught me is there's other things in life besides just racing. And for me, it's outdoors. I own over 130 acres now of land, and I've put that in a conservation easement where it'll be protected forever. It won't be a neighborhood or data center on it or anything like that. and I love to hunt and fish, and those kind of things are what I enjoy doing now as being a part of that. And then I'm married now.

I got a step-sop son, Easton, and he loves to hunt and fish and love to spend time with him. But dad's always catching snakes, and he's actually going on a python hunt, the week of Daytona. You're going on your buddy's bear boat there? Is that? When did you used to do that? I did that down there. alligator chasing alligators

that was the I think that was the year we got smoked out yeah we had the fires and all down there but it's always something going on with him

you mentioned the show that you guys are doing is that outdoor and racing based is the kind of cover of what's going on your lives well jailbounded it

go ahead yeah I mean it's it's really a reality show what's going on with him they need cameras man

you guys need to go have some cameras from the minute he wakes up, the minute he goes to bed. Well, they don't like it. They don't like the behind the scenes. Why? Why? Sponsors that have made Jeb would say, my sponsors don't want to hear that.

So the python hunt from sunup to sundown will be video, and he's catching snakes with his bare hands. Oh, we got to find them first, but the guy I'm going with has got dogs that smell them. It's called All Good Adventures. So it's going to be pretty cool. Sammy, and I'm really looking forward to it. So to have the assistance of a dog going to be a ballgame change of calls, while we're looking for Python, it had their teeth shaped backwards

so that when they grab a hold of prey, it can't get loose. That's dangerous. But cotton mouths and things like that are probably damn dangerous, too. So when you're looking through thick brush for a snake, it's going to be fun. Why don't you go with it in time? I don't play that. No. We'll let Ward and you work.

about that stuff. Well, uh, some people go golfing, some people go python hunting. Yeah. Just different ways of life. Yeah. You do have a, you have made, you are responsible, Jeb, for that one rule in our sport. You know that, right? You and Tommy, right?

My son, right? What? So back in the day, we used to have golf carts, where we still do, right? And they weren't in short, we didn't have to insure them or anything, right? You just showed up with a golf cart. Well, this numb nuts and my numb nuts. They used to sneak out at the motorhomes in the middle of the night and steal Bill Davis's golf cart and go gallivant

and through the campgrounds and stuff. So one night they took off, they run into Hilton's motorhome coach with it. Of all the motorhomes. Yeah. So next thing you know, all golf cart's got to have tags on them. They're going to be insured.

So you're responsible for all that money you've cost all these race teams. You and Tommy, you know that. I'm not aware of that. I was never in Michigan, so it was a good thing practice was getting ready to end because I got called to the NASCAR hauler and him and... Or McReynolds, you're talking about. Brandon.

We're shooting water balloons from these big bands over into the fans, and this guy claiming that the water balloons broke his windshield on the motorhome. I mean, he's mad. So anyway, I have to go out there and all that. I'm still in the damn uniform. Oh, yeah. Anyway. Up on the roof throwing chicken bones of people.

So one time I've never told this story, it's probably a good time to stay. It was actually at Michigan. Carl Edwards was new on the scene, and he took my damn uncle's ride. So I was like, you know, I don't really like this guy. And he had always put his shoes outside his motor home. Well, me and McReynolds filled his shoes up with, cream. We filled

them up and left. I don't know if he ever knew that but we did. Your group had a I don't know how you guys snuck out of these

motorhomes, but you guys did. Well, y'all didn't want to be around this anymore. Yeah, we had enough for you guys. Mark Martin

came to me one day, live it, and he said my boy Matt is going to be a NASCAR champion one day,

and your boy, Jeb keeps hurting him in the playground. They can't play. together no more. I looked at Mark and it looks like to me Matt needs a tough and the hell up a little bit. We talked about that. We had Mark and Matt on the podcast a while back. I love it. That stuff's awesome. Let's move on to DBC picks. I kind of hosed Freddie by taking Huscavarner last week. He didn't do so well. Did Carson give us her pick? She won again? She did not give us her

pick. But yeah, she did win again. She's got nine wins. What do y'all get for winning? Whoever loses, which is now Freddie and I, have to buy dinner. At the end of the year. At the end of the year. So we're going to Atlanta. The ones that are grayed out, the ones you can't pick. Well, let's get, we'll get Ward to do Freddie. And Jeb, you do the guest pick, all right? I'll take Chastain Good pick All right Ward your turn Okay I'll take

Legano needs to have a good run Let's go with Lagano All right I am going to go with Cindrick Let's go with Bollman You almost won this race last year I passed late Good pick

Can't believe no one picks Stenhouse I wanted Cindrick All right so let's look at the matchups Going into Atlanta For the in-season challenge We got Bowman up against Todd Gillen So who do we got moving on from that one? Jebb?

I'll go with Bumman. Yeah, I'll agree with you on that. Then we got Briscoe, the winner from this past week, and Chase Elliott, the driver who won this race at Atlanta last year. I think Chase, I got to go with Chase on that one. I agree. That's going to be a tough one. All right, Blaney and Byron.

Blaney's a badass speedway racer. I can go on with Blaney. Yeah, Byron's pretty good, too, but I think those teammates, they work really good together, right? The 2 to 22 and the 12, and the 21. So I think they're going to be, I think, yeah, Blaney is going to win that one. I'll get Blaney a nod there as well. Then a couple of JGR teammates, Hamlin and Bell.

Man, Hamlet's, you know, he shows his age at these restricted plate type races, you know, he's speedway now. I think he might be getting a little. What do you mean about that? He's getting a little old and getting a little, you know, relaxed. And I don't know, I'll go with Bell. Well, I think he's really good. I think this is going to be tough, but I'm going to go with the old man. I'm going to take the hand.

So I'll go with Bell just for the points scenario, because he's 44 up on Reddick. I could see him taking it a little bit conservative through here to try to maintain that gap since Reddick won here earlier in the year. All right. Before we get into our weekend winners, the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation celebrating its 30th year in operation. I know he touched on your love for the outdoors ward, but that's got to be a special occasion for you and your group.

Man, I'm never satisfied, so I'm wanting more. I most like Tommy talking about leaders for a race team to always want more. How many acres you have now? What? How many acres? The foundation owned about 11,000, scattered over four or five different counties in south side of Virginia. Tell everybody what the foundation does. Well, the foundation was set up to make a difference for our natural resources, right?

and so we got a lot of partners. I think probably the biggest thing that I'm most proud of is we run a program called Army Compatible Use Buffer or nickname Repi, and it's a federal program that we bring in a lot of resources to pay landowners around military bases to keep their land in compatible use. So we're not only keeping country country

by financially rewarding a landowner, but we're also protecting a military mission. And, you know, we're all very patriotic. So to be able to work with base leaders around the country has been a blessing. We're getting ready to go to Wyoming. So we're going to start some conservation projects out west. But, man, we... I'm surprised you even knew how to say that word.

Well, I'm learning. Is there a place where people could go to learn more about the foundation? Yeah, you can go to the Wardburton Wildlife Foundation.org, and hey, we got a lot of cool outreach programs. One of them were veterans, and we got some veterans coming to our conservation model this weekend in Halifax. So we're trying to make a difference using a natural resource. Awesome. Love it. All right.

Now we're getting getting to get in the weekend winners, and we'll start off with our friends at Flo. Don't forget to visit the link, Flosports.Link slash door bumper clear to sign up and get 15% off. I promise it is the best money that you will spend if you're a race fan. The BC39 last week at Indy, Briggs-Danner took home that race. Matt Hirschman got the Wheel of Modified Tour event at Seacconc last Wednesday. Carson Lofton on 4th of July won the Revolutionary 99 in the Smart Race. Paulie Hartwig got the Old Boy Cup Race of Champions event at Lancaster last Friday. Ethan Eber won his first career Cars Tour West Race,

besting a field that had both Kevin and Keel and Harvick in it. Luke Fenhouse got the win at Slinger yesterday. They also had a thrilling finish in the pro race. If you haven't seen it, Flo-Clip that. Check that out. Anthony McRey, Chase Deats. They got the PA Sprint Week along with scoring four wins across eight days. Max Blair got the Lucas Oil Series race on Saturday night from 15th.

And USAC Sprints, Kyle Cummings, got the win at Lincoln Park. And Mitchell Moves took home the top honors at Terre Haute. Peyton Talbert and Dylan Swernick. Did I say that right, Tommy? We think. Yeah, let's go with it. All right, we'll go with it. They took that wins at Utica Roe's Speedway.

Let's have Ward. Let's have Ward say that. Ward. Ward. Word. Read that right there. Just go down the list if you can't. Yeah, yeah, read that. All right, let's see.

Payton Calvert. No, no, show him the Dale. No, I'll say it. Peyton Talbot and Dylan Swaznick. Oh, yeah. It's German, though, I can tell you that. It's definitely German. That is not German.

No, my God. Justice Sanders, one of it. Silver Dollar Stafford. Marcello Refrano, this was also a really good race wild night, minus the SK Light wreck. Micello. That wasn't the SK Lite Rack.

That was the S.K. I was. I saw the end of the S.K. Pallelate models was Paul Ver. I can't read. The hangover's coming in. Veraccio. I must think of being a bad influence.

Nick Angelase, the S.K. Lights. Limited late was Matt Clement. And Ryan Waterman got the street stock went at Stafford. Riverhead, the Mods 76 lap. went to Mark Stewart, who's been on a bit of a roll up there. And Aaron Salamito, one in trucks. A couple of other ones that we want to pass along. Tyler Courtney, got a win at Knoxville.

I almost said, Knackville. And DJ Shaw got the past Celebration of America, 300 at Oxford Plains. Now we're going to roll into our fan submissions. Tommy, you want to jump in on this? No, I don't. Just keep going. Knox Davidson Jr., Honda at Battle at the Brickyard.

Joey Berg got win number seven at Wisota, Modifieds. Kelly Miller with the 360 races at Rapid City and Gillette. Tyler Landis wins back-to-back races at Showtime Speedway. DJ Weltmire got the 100-lap Star-Spangled Bash at Grundy County. Ryan Messer won the Easy, Clean, Super Late Model Series at Speedway

660 in New Brunswick, Canada. Tanner Mullins got two of three wins this weekend with the Heartland Modified Tour. Chad Beardman, Bearden, won the 4th of July Demo Derby at Sayers Speedway. Dale Ogburn, Carolina Crate Mods at Carraway, who's in conjunction with the Smart Mod race there. Aaron Willison swept both nights of racing in the sprint car spectacular at Colorado National Speedway. Chase Adams won the Firecracker 100 for the Crown Vicks at Salem.

I'll be there in a couple months' time. Kyle Rickner got his first win ever at Ransomville Speedway in a 358 mod. A few more here with Austin Reeves winning the Crown Vic race at Montgomery. Gage Walker won at Charleston Speedway. Gleep Henry won the 410. race at Fremont, Chris Carpenter at Ohio Valley Speedway, and Jimmy Feltz got a win at Weed Sport. That's our weekend winners so far on a busy Independence Day celebrating 250 years of this great country.

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome with the short track world. Good job, everybody. I need a couple of them guys starting needing a bounty. Yeah. Guy won seven, seven races that Joey Berg, I think needs to be a bounty put on them. Yeah, make them start last every week if they're not already.

Yeah. Before we say farewell to everyone, Jen, I mean, Super Speedway prowess. You've proven to be so good at those types of tracks. Is this weekend one of the ones that you've circled a few times on the calendar? Yes and no. This race is always hotter than the one in March, and your car needs to handle. You need to have grip so you can stay in the throttle. So hopefully we can have the grip we need, and I can make the moves that I want to make, and we can have a shot to win. We're due for a good run. We've got A.J. Transport, a South Boston, Virginia company on the car, so that's pretty cool.

I love that. I'm going to try to go have a good run for him. Don't run into anybody, please. I don't want to. Boyd, how often do you get to go to the races with Jeb? It's been a couple, what, about a month since I was at a track. I'll go to all the plate races, so I'll be at Daytona, what, you know, about four more races. Is that before or after the Python trip?

That's the week of. That's the week of. So from Daytona to Jason Snakes. He's only going at Daytona's plate race because he's going to sneak home. Pretty much. Well, actually, I probably should have always gone to the plate races. I mean, back in our day, it was a lot more dangerous than it is now, although the cars are still dangerous at those places.

So I should have always been going and up. I will now. Tommy, you guys looking forward to Atlanta? Yeah. Yeah, we always have a good car for there. It's a, you know, kind of like Jeb said earlier, you know, it's getting to a point that Handling's coming into play there, but the track's getting war out. So it's a lot more off-throttle than wide open. So a lot more handling, especially with the heat, like he said, is going to come

into play. So that's going to be another good race. Atlanta's always a good race. All right. I'll have my eyes on the Arca and truck races at Lime Rock, big weekend, pretty much all four of the national series involved with both O'Reilly and Cup being at Atlanta. So any final thoughts? Ward, Jeb, thank you guys for spending the early morning with us. Really happy to see you guys. I know the fans are going to love the stories, and that was a blast. Yeah.

Thank you for having us. And whoever is making the decision at Fox to bring you back is that's good. But I'll go ahead and say, we need you doing the racing full-time, because you bring something to the booth that it's missing. You do a really good job there, and wish you well with that. Thank you. That means a lot. Yeah, nice meeting you.

Well said, Jeb and Tommy. Good seeing you, man. Yeah, you too, man. Nice to get you out of the woods. And I wish I stayed in the woods as much as everybody thought, but I'm always working for the woods. Yeah, I hear you. All right, so hoping to have Freddie back soon.

Hope to have Carson back next week for Ward Burton. Jeb Burton, Jeb, good luck this weekend. Tommy, good luck this weekend. I'm Eric Brennan. See you next time. Peace out. Check out Dirtymo Media on Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok.