Kyle Larson & Bob Pockrass
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00:22free of charge.BetMGEMGEM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with Eye Gaming Ontario.I felt like we are one of the better teams and driver out there.Well, we'll now only have to listen to Bob once here for the Daytona 500.Close your career going to be a tail if you don't ever win the Daytona 500.I swear, I'm not going to ask you when you're going to win the Daytona 500.Welcome to Kevin Harvick's Happy Air, presented by NASCAR on Fox.I'm Caitlin Vinci alongside the Momba Smith.
00:59And this is not Kevin, but Kevin is on a hunting trip.So we have Bob Pockris, who we're so excited to have with us,our regular NASCAR Insider joining us on the show.Good to see you.Great to be here.I know I'm supposed to be kind to you and I can rip on mama, right?Is that the direction Kevin gave you?Well, like if I was going to do picks, then I could rip on you.
01:18But because Kevin did his pick last week,kind to you, rip on mama.I don't like that.The instruction is simple.I don't like that.That's how the show just goes.Everyone knows that that's the order of operations.They know this is the format, yeah, that we do here on Happy Hour.
01:32It's fine.Well, we're excited to have Bob with us.Of course we are.Nice.A wealth of knowledge, Mr. Bob Pockerous with us.How was everybody's weekend?Oh, dude, you guys already know.I was in Talladega on Saturday, right?
01:44Then I fly back home to Charlotte.Fly to New York City.I had to go stop by Bob stomping grounds, told everyone that Bob says hi.And we were at the Momba's NASCAR Sunday's New York party.We had like 100.So you were in New York.I was in New York on Sunday.Gotcha. Yeah. We had a hundred and thirty-five people come through. Look at this.
02:02Look at you there in the middle. I, you know, I wore my Talladega stuff. Oh, that is a big crowd.And that is just somewhat like there's a whole other room that was full of people. And I, is this like in New York City, like the heart of New York? Yeah, this is pretty cool.The burgerology in Midtown. Because I feel like New York City, do they, I mean, typically. Believe it or not. I've seen cars with license plates with like NASCAR car numbers. Yeah.Really?On them.Yeah.That's good.Yeah.
02:30I mean, it's a big city.There's fans of everything.Yeah.Caitlin, we know you're not, you know, we know you don't leave.I'm not a city kind of Virginia much.But yeah, that's cool, though.There was a Lightning McQueen car there.There was.
02:43Yeah.Well, I'm glad your NASCAR Sundays is thriving.That's important to me.Bob.Speaking of thriving.How was your weekend and Talladega?I saw you went out on the boulevard at one point.Yes.
02:53You know, I saw some things that, yeah, I probably don't want to see.Oh.And saw some things that.You did want to see.There, I mean, there's a lot of music there.There's a lot of, yeah, a lot of people dressed up.Games being played.Games being played.
03:11And then there was, you know, maybe some games being played on the track, right?A little bit.And some great, some great racing and some interesting storyline.So it was a good, a good Talladega weekend.Bob, were you part of the, well, you were part of the,Ricky BobbyComptonist World record deal?I did get one of the fire suits.
03:35But I didn'tI didn't go out there.He thought about it.I said you got to ask the producer on that one.I told him to do it.But this is pretty cool.It is cool.Obviously it's the big anniversary of the film
03:46so the racetrack was really embracing it.Did you guys see Noah Gregson acting likethe king of the minions on the wall?That was hilarious.Yeah, well it was a good weekend in Talladegh.I was there obviously.the Croshman Truck Series race, which was entertaining, as I thought it would be.Good for Sammy Smith.
04:06What an amazing weekend.I mean, talking to him before the race, he was saying, you know, how much he leaned on Dale Jr., obviously, for insight about how to race that place.But, you know, from how good Dale was there.But I'm not sure he even expected he was going to win both those.Yeah.No, I mean, no one can expect to win two race that Talladega one weekend.And then honestly, when he, when I think it was Amanda was like, you know, what does this say to your, to your,competition as you look forward to going to the truck series full time next year. He goes
04:32that I'm a winner and I'm coming to win and I'm like hell yeah. That is that is the energy thatyou need to have like that. That is what I want to hear. I like that. First guy to do that sinceDale Jr. and 03 pretty cool feet. Yeah. And firstnon-cup driver to win both O'Reilly and truck race since 2001. The Biff, right? So yep,the Biff at Phoenix. And just think about a guy who haven't won all year and then within 28 hours.His whole year changes.His whole outlook on his season is like, hey, you know, at least I got to Victory Lane and I got there twice.And I'm going to be going to what I know is going to be a really good truck next year.
05:11Yeah, he will definitely be a huge asset, I think, at TriCon.We'll be excited to have Sammy Smith full time next year in the truck series.Plenty to discuss on the Cup series side of things.Kyle Larson, obviously, is the man of the hour.We will have him here on the show momentarily.as well.Where do you guys want to start?Do you want to start with the final app?
05:29Do you want to start with how Larson's team answered the call?Because we were all talking after the last race, like, oh, my, they had such an off weekend.Like, this was not characteristic of them.But then they come out and do things that are also not characteristic of them at Talladega,because it's been a place he struggled in the past.Yeah, I mean, a place that he struggle is, I feel like that's saying it nicely.I don't know if he, I don't know if they've really finished very many speedwear.It feels like they never finish.
05:57They run well.They're always in the mix, but they never really finish a race where they run.And for Kyle to really, I don't know, almost Pied Piper, the field for a while of that race,especially when it was getting down to crunch time.And when they spit them out, like the top came in all of a sudden.And there were three wide.And then the bottom just lost all their energy.And I'm like, oh, he's cooked.
06:18Yeah.Yeah.I was like, oh, he's buried back there.He's not going to make it, right?And then the wreck happens.And then he's, somehow he made his way back up front.before the wreck happens.And then I thought he was cooked again,
06:28going down the back straight down.I'm like,oh,Austin Hill just left him,hung him out to dry,and he's cooked again.And he just,like,
06:34never quit.And the resilience of that groupand that driver,and he's,everyone was kind of like bagging on.Is he really,you know,one of the best in the world?
06:43Oh, yeah.The best is showing up.He's definitely one of the best in the world.73 points up right now,Bob.Yeah.Gosh,you look at it.
06:51And at one point in that lap,he's probably only,43 points up.Yeah.Right?Because he goes from first to 11th.And we're like, okay, that's typical Kyle Larson, Taledega,gonna finish somewhere between 10th or 15th.
07:06And then he comes back from 11th to first.And you're just like, how in the world did he do that?It was pretty remarkable.Yeah.Let's watch the last lap.So you guys can break it down in more detailbecause there was a lot going on throughout that sequence of events.It was hard to really know how it was going to play out.
07:24But what were you seeing from your family?So, you know, so right here, so the bumps from Austin Hill, like, Austin Hill was getting busy.He was getting, he was getting aggressive.And I don't know if he was really trying to move the five.I'm not going to sit here and be like, oh, he was trying to move the five up the hill, but it just opened up for him like that.Even Kyle was like, I'm not mad at him for what he was doing.He helped me out a lot.So then down the back, they kind of get all tight there, getting to the 11.
07:47The 11 loses all his momentum.And it's like Kyle just never lifted, and the C's kind of parted.and they get going here off of four,and then the 33 just loses all power.And that changes the whole dynamic for the next little bit here.And you see Larson make this shot.So right here, Larson is starting to make his move, right?Because a lot of the conversation is,
08:09did he go below the line to advance the position or not?Right.This is my opinion, and I'm looking forward to hearing y'alls.So Larson starts to make the move.He's above the bottom hash, which is another car length,or car width, below that.The 34 is at the touching the second hash.Okay, so now let's roll it forward a little bit further.
08:29So here he comes through.So if you guys saw it, he was halfway.He was on the door of the 34 before even thinking about going to the line.We're rolling back a little bit.So he's already up beside him, Bob.The 34 is now already switched lanes.He's almost moving a lane and a half, two lanes down towards the five.they're going at 200 miles an hour.
08:53You've got to make split-second decisions.We're talking about black flagging Larsonover a few inches of tread widthwhen he's trying to avoidafter he's already side by side.I think the right call was the no-call.And look, where the 34 ends up?He ends up below the hash.
09:09So if he doesn't move, who's to say that they don't wreck?It's true.Bob, what did you see?Well, it's...The hard part is that you can't see the entire.tire, right? We can't see the tire in relation to the line. And NASCAR says that, you know,the rule reads is that if you go beneath the yellow line to improve your position, you'll beblack flagged. And NASCAR tells us that beneath is the entire tire below that yellow line.
09:41And I can't see all the tires. I can't see the yellow line. It looks kind of suspicious, right?It looks close. But I do kind of like, you know, giventhe driver, the benefit of the doubt, giving them a little leeway.I'd really like to say, get rid of this rule for the final lap.Yeah.And then that way, this isn't, this isn't a huge issue.Debate.You know, when you're trying to make a move for a win, let them try to make that move for the win below the yellow line.
10:11Maybe you do open up can of worms, but let's, let's try it.Let's see, you know, and see if that can work.but the other question is, as you mentioned, Mamba,did he improve his position by going below the yellow line?You know, and that's always going to be up for debate.Right.So one of the things Kyle Larson said after the race was,obviously, it was one of the best Super Speedway races he's ever had in large part
10:38due to the help of Chevrolet.Does that win happen without them?I mean, probably definitely not.I mean, honestly, it almost didn't happen with it.But they executed it really well.They did.stood the assignment.If you look at what Ricky Stenhouse said on socials,
10:54he said, we came to win.Like, we didn't come to run third.Like, Ricky was doing everything that he needed to do to put himself in a position to win.And it just worked out.And even the 33, like I said, the 33 bumped the five so hard that got him up the racetrack.He didn't have to.He could have laid off him a little bit.So, like, although, I think, for 99% of this race, 100, how many, we went two,
11:19extra laps. So it's at 189laps. Everyone was trying to helpKyle Larson. For that last lapthey were kind of on a free for alland it just worked out. But like withouttheir help, Larson's not in the situationthat he's in for sure. I think Larson could takeadvantage of maybe a philosophy like
11:35nobody's going to throw a crazy block on me.Yeah. Right? Like he's going to havethat type of confidence thatif I'mobviously everybody's full throttlebut if I'm going there and I have a lanethat my ChevroversRelay friends are not going to just take me out.
11:52Well, we've been talking about him.How about we hear from Kyle Larson and have him join Happy Hour?The big winner over the weekend at Talladega.That was so awesome to see.I know how hard you've been trying to win at that racetrack.But my favorite moment, I think, was watching your children in the five car with you.Where will that whole celebration rank for you in your career?Yeah.
12:14Obviously, just getting our first Speedway win.felt amazing, but then also having a family there for it was extra special.And anytime they're there, getting them to, you ride on the car and in the car,and just making memories.So they don't get to go to many of the races anymore.You know, they're busy holding their own trophies and checkered flags this year.So it was good to have everybody there and get to celebrate for once.And, yeah, it was just a bit wild, too, like how the finish was.
12:48So everything about it was just exciting.Kyle, I've seen you celebrate a lot of race wins, a lot of energy.I felt like this one when you came across the line, you were celebrating before you came across the line.You had one hand off the wheel.What is this win at a super speedway?Or is it more because it's leading into a championship run?What is it that makes this one so special?You have to think all of that.
13:12Just the fashion that the wind came in, you know, falling so far back on the backstretch.and really not feel like I had an opportunity to win again until entering middle of the trial goaland then to actually winning it was just, I mean, I was just pumped about that.And then, yeah, you think about the day and the points and all that.I mean, it just made everything about it just awesome.So I was pumped, no doubt.Just, I don't know.I feel like I've never won on the speedway, but I felt good.
13:46you know, I felt like we are one of the better teams and driver out there for Speedways.It just hasn't worked out.So I was just pumped that it finally worked out.And I, well, will now only have to listen to Bob once a year for the Daytona 500.I swear, I'm not going to ask you when you're going to win the Daytona 500.I am curious, though.You talk about that last week.What was your career going to be a failure if you don't have to win the Daytona 500?
14:16I mean, I would never consider anybody's career failure just because they don't win the Daytona 500.I am curious, though, on that last lap, we talked a lot about the arrow package and everything.If the seven-inch spoiler is there, do those moves happen either falling back from first to 11th or coming back from 11th to first?It's a good question, and I guess one that I don't know if we'll have the answer to.But in my opinion, the package doesn't feel way different at all.And I feel like the quality of the racing doesn't look way different.So, yeah, I mean, I definitely think with the other package, you would fade like this.And then I think it's just a little bit circumstantial of, like, how I got back forward.
15:10I do believe if, I do believe it probably could have looked the same with the other package.but again, I don't know and we'll never know.So it's just, yeah, everything got kind of separated here.The 33 makes a move.He dies and then there's just all sorts of separation and people, you know, going up the racetrack.So it just opened up a lane for me.So, yeah, I mean, I, again, I don't think it feels way different out there.Daytona and I felt a little bit different, but even then it wasn't, it wasn't massively, massively different.
15:43Kyle, we were talking just a bit ago on the show just about your team as a whole.How remarkable it's been watching them do what they've done in the chase.And I don't think the race fans realize how hard it is to execute like that for eight races straight.What is so special about your entire group from road crew, pick crew, the entire unit?Yeah, we do have a special team and we all get to work for a special organization.So it starts just from the culture that's been built here over decades.decades. And then, yeah, you have Cliff Daniels in his role as crew chief leading the team.He just does such a good job of not only being smart and building fast race cars and putting
16:25great setups out there, but I think the most important and beneficial piece to him is justhis leadership skills and just, you kind of molding us and shaping us throughout the regularseason to be prepared and ready to go execute 10, you know, grueling weeks.of pressure. So, yeah, I mean, never in a million years did I think that we would have the chasethat we've had to this point. But then I guess when you think about it, when you have that guyleading your team, it can also not be a surprise because he's just that good at it. So, yeah,we're just always focused, always working hard and, you know, just all about our process.So it's been fun at this point, and hopefully can just, you know, go.
17:13have two solid more weeks.You've won two Cup Series championships already.Those runs were with a different system.And honestly, the two runs were very different in their own right.How is this run felt?Is it similar to those at all?Or does it feel like a completely different way of how you've gone about this championship run?Well, yeah, this, I think, you know, they all, those two definitely felt different.
17:40You know, 21, we dominated 20, 25.we were, I felt like, on similar pace early in the year and then really fell off.And then, you know, just kind of grinded our way through the playoffs and didn't get a win, but scored a lot of points.And then it was able to capitalize at Phoenix.And there was just the element of shock and surprise there.So a little bit similar to this year.But this year is just, I would say the tail end of last year kind of carried through to this year.You know, we didn't, we weren't really that fast.
18:13I felt like the last half of last year.We worked fast at the beginning half of this year.But through those months of just difficultness, we worked really hard and have now gotten our cars a bit more competitive.And then we're just executing.So I think so far, I would say this, if we happen to win the championship, this one's going to feel rewarding just from I had no belief that we could win the championship.So I was trying to fake my way through sounding positive at playoff or Chase Needy Day and all that stuff.So, but I think that's what maybe potentially could make this championship stand above the rest of them is just the work and focus and the dedication that it took to get to the point that we're at and then being able to just execute on a super high level when it matters.Kyle with a 73 point lead
19:14there's got to be some people inside the walls of Hendrickwho are thinking well if we win the championship we should do thisthis is what the t-shirts should look likeyada yada yada do you get do you tell peoplethat do not talk to me about the what ifsor do they know betterbefore we do you know that talk to meI'm sure they know not to talk to Cliff or I about that sort of thing.
19:47But obviously, I would imagine in their role, you're probably always planning ahead.So I'm sure even other teams have probably planned ahead.I'm sure Denny Hamlet, with the regular season that he had, was already his team behind the scenes,although maybe they weren't talking to him, were probably planning ahead.you know, you got to wear hats, T-shirts, things like that.So it's out there, but I feel like that's bad juju.So hopefully our guys are staying very quiet about it and do not let that talk end up downstairs.I'm going to tell you what?
20:23Bob said he thought the trophy should be engraved already.Oh, okay, in and out.I'm going to tell you what?These media members are just trying to jinx it.That's the thing.Yeah, quiet, Bob.All you guys, you guys are trying to just have.You're bad juu out there so the points get tied again.
20:40I'm going to tell you what.If that talk gets down to Cliff Daniels, it might be the last words that you say is talkingabout the championship if it gets the cliff.You'll leave that man alone.That's right.You mentioned Denny.Is there any part of you that feels bad for him?He had such a great regular season and looks like potentially another one just goes away.
21:04I don't know.I mean, there was definitely an element last year in the race at Phoenix that I did feel bad for him.And that was such an awkward feeling.It was just an awkward position for me to be and even have to feel that way, you know?But this year, you know, I don't, I feel like he's performed really well.You know, he hasn't.It's not like he's had a, I mean, in his eyes, maybe there's been some bad luck and things.but, you know, Phoenix was definitely bad luck.
21:38So, and when it comes down to one race, I mean, it's easy to look at that.You know, this is us putting together 10 or eight, really, to this point, you know, great races.And so, no, I mean, I, no, I don't feel bad, and I don't want that to come across the wrong way either.But we're competing, and, you know, we knew the format and he did as well.So, yeah, it's just, your team's got a peak at the right.time. You see it in all forms of sport, football, baseball, hockey. I mean, you name it. There'steams that have to peek at the right time. And that was, you know, has been us so far this year.So the next racetrack on the circuit for you guys is Martinsville, notoriously very good for Hendrick
22:24Motorsports. You get to go in there with not a super high pressure type of situation on yourshoulders. What's the outlook for you and the team when we get to Virginia? Well,I mean, at this point on Monday, I still feel a lot of pressure, you know.It's just, it's so easy for the points to swing.You've seen it throughout the chase.A team and driver can go have a great day, score max points.I could have a day like I had at Phoenix and boom, they're right back in it.So I do still feel a lot of pressure.
23:02And, yeah, ultimately, I would love to go.there and gain the points I need to gain to lock it up. But if we can't do that, I stilljust want to have a solid day to kind of have ourselves going to homestead with as much of a gap aswe can have. So yeah, you've got to just stay focused like we have been. We've done a supergood job of that in this couple months of the chase to this point. So just don't let the thoughtsand anything else kind of creep in your mind and stay focused. So that's that's mygoal is to just stay locked in and stay on offense.Well, Kyle, I want to go on the record and say, we are not putting bad juju out there.
23:41We are sending you all the good energy and good vibes in these next two races.It's been really awesome to see what you and the team have done.Good luck to you and congratulations.I didn't hear Bob say them, but I appreciate it.I believe you, Mama.I will not believe Bob.You know, I got you, big dog.Thanks.
24:02All right.great to hear from Kyle Arson.Always nice to hear from him.He's in very good spirits, as to be expected.Yeah, it would be too.Kyle Arson is a headline.So too was stage one of this race,which I think caught everybody by surprise
24:14because RFK, they came to play.You had the funny tweet.Very funny tweet about it saying that whoever came up with that strategyneeds to be the competition director.Whoever came over that is a big pop podcast.Lights out.I mean, here you see it.If you're watching with us right now,
24:31way ahead of the second pack.I mean, this was unreal.What did you see here?And what did you think when you saw this?This started, they took off at lap 30.It probably started maybe at lap like 25.Whenever, whenever Brad kind of got to the front,I think that's when their strategy started to form.
24:50Like, I think they already knew what they wanted to do,but that's when they were like,all right, we're about to take advantage of this.They get out to the front.They just start doing what Penske doesand kind of leading the race and manipulating,not manipulating, but dominating the raceand kind of leading the past.
25:03pace, and then they're like, all right, boys, time to be engaged.They hit the button.They took off.It took Bob.It took them, I think it took them five or six laps to make a 17-second gap on the field.And you're just watching this and you're like, because it was right before they went to break.And then on the little side screen, you're like, the gap keeps getting bigger and bigger.And then they come back and they're like, y'all aren't going to believe this.
25:26And it's like, what the hell?Nobody went with them.Nobody went with them.And by the time they thought about it was too late.and I think I love the strategybecause it shows that you don't need to ride aroundin the first stage all stage long.I don't think anyone liked necessarily what they saw here.
25:44It was fascinating, right?It was interesting.But what was the reactions in the media center?There was a lot of opinions being thrown outabout this whole thing.I can tell you the fans loved it.They love those three RFK drivers going full speedbecause you can tell a difference between...
25:59Yes.I'm saying people love that part.200, right?I think the feeling in the media center is like, well, why doesn't everybody do this?Exactly.And why has everybody been doing fuel mileage if they can do this?And, you know, it's great to see it because hopefully it means that there won't be this fuel mileage and fuel saving.But who knows?
26:24I think Ryan Priest tells me that we'll never see this again.You'll never see like a three car break away like this again.like this again.And I think everybody was like, it was great to see some ingenuity,great to see a plan come to fruition and to see, you know,three other drivers, you know, say, peace out or give another finger to the rest of thefield and say, we're going to do our own thing.And I think the feeling was that this is great for the first stage,
27:00but then it's not going to really matter for the second or third stage, right?And so where does this come as far as the conversation for the future?And I think that's the thing, too, is once the second stage started,they were hauling ass.They were going 200 miles an hour from the drop of the green of the second stage.So obviously I talked to Kevin a little bit,and I don't know, I feel like there's something in adjusting maybe the first stageto make it to where, I don't know what that adjustment is,
27:30but there's something in there to make it to where we can do that the whole time.Because the racing definitely picked up and the intensityand the excitement definitely picked up after they stopped riding.I think Denny said it's like the Richard Petty driving experienceriding around out there.I do wonder whether if you required them to do a four-tire stopevery time they pit, maybe if it is in that long stage,then that would kind of potentially give them a different attitude
27:58because they know their pit stop is going to have to.to be a decent length one.Yeah.We'll have to see how that may changethe complexion of these races.Moving forward,certainly is interesting.Now, I want to talk about one of the chasers
28:08who had a day that went from badto seemingly worse was Christopher Bell.It felt like once things went off the rails,it just never came back to the station, right?Yeah.It was really, honestly, it's tough to watch thisbecause you could just see the team kind of implodingin that moment.
28:23Obviously, here he hits the inside wall,just had so much speed coming to pit laneand then a tires going down,ran over the air hose, obviously, on pit lane.Were you surprised to see this out of the 20?Yeah.Very super disappointing.I feel bad not only because Christopher Bell
28:43is my championship pick that I've been championingall season long,but they put themselves in such a good positioncoming into Talladega,and you just need to executeand not make a big mistake.And if the big one happens,and you're caught in it, so be it.
29:00But like, this is self-inflicted.And I'm sure Christopher will be thinking about this race for a very, very long time,depending on how this championship ends up, right?Because they're not out of it yet.We got two more races to go.But I think the other thing is, is Ryan Preeze pitted before that and made note to make sureto tell his guys to tell his teammates, hey, I'm going to lift early because I'm not goinghave as much grip at all as much down
29:28down force so andyou know he got on pit road fine and thenthe 20 kind of I don't knowif he came in hot it looks like he down shiftedand then I don't know if it wheel hopped orhe just slid the back the rears and then that wasthat was all she wrote after that so that could bethe biggest turning point for their hopes
29:44right there right yeah when Ifirst saw it I thought oh who hit himand then I was like oh my gosh he did thathimself andthat's the pressure of this chaseright that's the pressurewhen you're five points behind Kyle Larson and he's having a, you know, he could have a decent day,but you also know it could be an opportunity for you to be the points leader. And you just
30:10don't perform, right? You just, you make that bad mistake. And that's, that's what this chase isdesigned to, to do. Yeah. That's right. He's 74 points back now as we have two races remaining. So a tough day forChristopher Bell. Also, a scary day.for Joey Lugano, who by the way is on speed this week,if you want to hear more of his thoughtsabout the big incident he was involved with,saying after the race just had a bad push,he believes potentially from Carson Hosevar,
30:38the chain reaction event,scary for the 22 team, that car upside down.Big kudos and props to the NASCAR safety teamin their execution of getting it right side up,very efficient and quick, I thought with that.Joey was very complimentary of them as well.But what did you see in this incident, Mamba?Coming through the tri-oval, this is towards the end of the race.
31:01You don't push in the trival most of the time.You try not to, especially at Daytona, but Talladega, the same deal.The cars get light, the back of the cars get light, and they're not really square, and you've got some wheel input, and it's pretty easy to turn someone around, which is what happened there.Shout out to these cars and the safety of these cars.Joey made mention of that last time he flipped over, the roll bar almost came down on his head,He's like, you know, the integrity of the chassis did what it's supposed to do.And I also want to point out Riley Herbst's hit in that wreck.He just, it was one of the hard, I mean, he gets clip Bob just enough to be full throttle
31:41and hit the outside wall.And then it doesn't slow down.There's a black car right there.And it comes all the way back across.Watch this.This is.Vicious.That is.
31:50That is.Very, very scary.Very violent wreck.We know that he is.quote unquote okay, but we saw that he did have his arm kind of in a wrist.It's like a wrap.Yeah.Like wrapped up.
32:02What do you know about that situation?Yeah, just, uh, just that he, you know, he was out of the care center relativelyquickly, both him and Joey.Yeah.He was only 10, 15 minutes after their accident that, that they were out.Um, so, you know, he was walk around, taking a look at the car, talking to his team.Um, and so if he was in a lot of pain, he, he, he was in a lot of pain.He wasn't showing it.
32:27Yeah, I thought Joey, too, like, made a little funny comment in his interview.Like, it really was a Talladega Knight's moment in there where I'm going upside.Oh, this is a good.He still had a sense of humor about him.I was impressed by that.Yeah.I mean, what are you doing that?You know what I mean?
32:41After you look at it, you're like, okay, now we're good.Everything's fine.But that hit that Riley took, that reminds me the one that Kyle Bush took in the O'Reilly series that broke his legs.I know.I said the exact same thing when I saw that.Yeah, the angle, the speed.It didn't really scrub any speed before he hit.Riley took some big hits this year.
33:00So I'm glad that it seemed like he's all right.He was able to do an interview with Kim, you know, right after.So good for that.Really grateful to see both those drivers and everyone involved was okay.That wasn't the only big incident of the day.Another one happened with Ryan Blaney in Stage 2.It seemed like he was going to block Bubba Wallace.And it just ended up having a chain reaction.
33:19A lot of chasers were involved in this one from Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin,Ty Gibbs, Tyler Reddick.So Ryan just seemed pretty disappointed, I feel like, in himself a bit after the interview he had for this incident.What did you see on this?I think so it looked like, you know, they're kind of going along doing what they're doing, making the runs.And the 22 kind of loses a little speed, a little energy.And they kind of accordion a little bit, but when they did, they weren't like squared up.And so Ryan lifts to give Joey room,
33:57but by the time the second guy lifts,the fourth guy definitely can't lift.And the fourth guy is Chase Elliott.So I think Bubba was able to get off of Ryan,but Chase wasn't able to get off of Bubba.And then they kind of accordion back in.And this is just part of Talladega racing and what we see.I mean, I think it was a pretty standard Talladega wreck,
34:14just kind of a racing deal.It's bad luck for all those guys.Obviously Blaney kind of kills us, kind of kills us.Tyler ReddickTyler ReddickTyler ReddickI meanall those guys
34:25107 back for BlaneyI think that's whenDenny got damaged tooyeah and thatso it's kind of toughwhat did you seeon thesethis big one
34:32I sawyou knowagain driversknowing they needto make movesand driversknowing they needstage points
34:40rightandwhen thatwith thatand needing to do thatyou're going to putyourself inin these positions
34:49and Iyou know I don't thinkanybody's mad atRyan BlaneyNo.For what he did.And he's probably the person who's most mad at Ryan Blaney.He's probably Ryan Blaney.
34:57Correct.Right?Like nobody blames him, you know, for that move.And, you know, I think it was just, it's just one of those Tal'Daga incidents.And, you know, the goal of this new arrow package was to try to give the drivers a little bit of maneuverability.But you're still not going to be able to avoid while that.All of this to say.We only have two races remaining.
35:23And Kyle Larson has a 73 point advantage right now heading into Martinsville.So begs the obvious question.Can anybody beat him?A lot would need to go right for them and wrong for him.So because we got Bob here, I can ask these really important questions.Bob, correct me if I'm wrong.The maximum points you can get is 76 or 76, 76.If they tied, right?
35:45If anyone ties Larson, not anyone, if Denny ties Larson, let's go with Denny because he's the closest one.he's winning because of more wins.No.The tie break, what's the tiebreaker?The tiebreaker is most wins in the chase.Oh, so, so, so Kyle.There you go.Kyle has the tiebreaker on everybody unless Chase Briscoe were to win two.
36:04Oh, my.Both of the last two and then Chase Briscoe would have.This is why we have Bob here because I did not know.I did not know that.It's not going to end in a tie.Nobody's catching a mamba.Come on.Bob.
36:17Is that what you think?I mean, I'm, I'm, if,if I was the engraver of the championship trophy,I'd at least have a K and a Y already engraved.And an L.I don't know how to go that far.At least one of.There's two L,
36:30so at least one.I'd wait for the first stage at Martinsville at the L,the second stage at Martinsville to add the E.I mean, he needs, he needs, what,three points, three points to add a Martin'sville.He needs to gain three points on the competition out of Martin'sville,and it's done.What do you think this says about the point system, Bob?
36:49because we made the change.I liked this point system.Yeah.I was always a proponent of I don't want them to go into the last raceand it being all wrapped up.Yeah,that would not give a lot of intrigue.But this is a,
37:03we are on the precipice.Not in the other series.In the other series,I think there's still a case to be made,largely for those.I mean,take out Phoenix and Larson's had an epic performance.Right?
37:15And so you look at that performanceand you're like, I mean, how many timesis somebody going to replicate that?Yeah, and I was thinking about it too.Like, he has not been the victim of anyone else's mistakes either.Like, it has gone.It's very smooth.All things considered.
37:32Phoenix, I know it wasn't great.They just didn't have speed.But it's not like anything catastrophic has happened to themor someone else that collected them.Yeah.I mean, they've executed on the biggest stage.When the brides were the brightest.When the brights were the brightest.
37:48We have changed the D.M.The brides were the brightest.I like that better, actually.I mean, nobody else has.Yeah.As well, right?Like, nobody has been able to match him toe to toe.You know, compared to maybe like the Jimmy Jeff Gordon battles decades ago.
38:03Yeah.No one has been that strong and no one has been, you know, has had seven of eight races where you could say they were close or dominant.Yeah.Yeah.Well, there's.Still is two races to go, though.So there's still a chance.We don't know what's going to happen.
38:23The problem is, I mean, history shows that Hendrick is, I mean,Denny Hamlin is very strong at Martin's Roe.But Hendrick is very strong, typically at Martin's Rosewell.And so if you're, if I said if Larson only has to finish seventh, no matter what,it was over.Right now it's looking like he's going to have to finish like 25th and it's done.Like if that's what you're going into, that's,A lot.
38:49It's a lot to overcome.Okay.Well, there you have it.So we'll have to see how this five team performs in the next two weeks if they do,in fact, lock this up.All right, guys.So Martinsville is next.All three series, of course, will be there.
39:01This is going to be very exciting.It's an awesome venue for the fans, for the industry, everybody, a lot of history there.On the Cup series side, what do you think we might see?I mean, because there are a number of guys who are still in the quote-unquote hunt thatare very strong there, but it's a tall mountain to climb.The level of aggression from the competition that's trying to hunt down the five is going to be very high.I think that the 11 will have a really fast race car.I think the 20 will be, the 20 is usually decent, not great, but I think they'll bring a good car.
39:33And then I think Briscoe will be in the same deal.And, you know, we've seen that if the 11 and the 5 are around each other, that the 11 is not afraid to use a chrome horn.He's not afraid to put Kyle in a bad spot.and so I would expect that that's what's going to be done.And if I'm Larson in the five group,maybe I'm giving them a little bit of extra roomjust to not give them the benefit of the doubt of a half a slip-upand oh, now we're in the fence and a toe link gets knocked out.
40:00You know what I mean?Yeah, we just heard, you know, Kyle Arson talking abouthow fast the points can take a swing at any point in time.Yeah, maybe they should force them to eat four hot dogs before the start of the race.It's all right.I'll see if...I'm just startled because we talked Martinsvilleand Mamba didn't say anything about Ryan Blaney.
40:22Yeah, he did leave a little friend of it.I mean, like when you talk Martinsville,aren't you talking Ryan Blaney?Yeah.Especially in the fall.Yeah.I'm done picking Ryan Blaney, though,because I jinx him every time.
40:35So that's on the table for someone else, if need be.So, okay, you're watching Penske.Who else?And Hendrick.I look, Chase Elliott, when they're in the spring.And I think William Byron usually typically is good there.And I think Kyle Larson's going to be pretty good too.I do too.
40:52I do as well.And as I talked about,the other series are going to be on track.I'll be headed there for the Craftsman Truck Series.You're in truck races?Yep, which I'm excited because we have two great short track racers who are in this huntwith Caden Honeycutt and Lane Riggs.So I think that's going to be super intriguing.
41:08Obviously, Caden has the edge right now.He's done a phenomenal job.so far in the chase.But yeah.That could be a cool battle to watch that play out between those two.That one, again, when I was just talking about Larson,maybe giving the 11 a little bit of room.If I'm the 11, I'm probably given the 34 a little bit of room.
41:26Just like you've done a good job at building these points.And, you know, just the truck bodies,if you knock a fender in, you know what I mean?You got to start playing a little rough.It can really hurt your vehicle pretty easilyand you can't really fix it.And then you're down three laps before you know it.So just I think for the 11, it's just keep all the fenders on it.
41:44Give everyone a little extra room.Keep your points.And then go into homestead and try to be able to, if you can go in there and you only have to finish like 10th, that's probably what they're shooting for.The top of the show, we talked about Sammy Smith winning in the O'Reilly series.The battle over there on that side of things for the championship is starting to get very interesting.Jesse Love 19 up.What do you think we see out of those guys who are in the mix at Martin'sville?The O'Reilly series, Martinsville.
42:12Do we need to say more?We've seen a lot of fenders bent.We've seen a lot of tempers, flair.And I would expect nothing different.But I also think you talk about three driverswho I think race pretty professionally in Jesse Loveand Justin Allgaier and Corey Day recently.Right?
42:36And so I think for Corey Day,it's going to be a bigger challenge just because he hasn't raced there as much in a stock car.And I do think that, gosh, interesting, we talk about those guys maybe trying to protect their fenders.But there's 30-something others in both O'Reilly and the trucks.They don't care.They don't care.Yeah, other agendas for some of them.Yeah, I'm looking at, I think Jesse's going to be really good.
43:06but I'm looking at Quaple.If he can see what he can doout of everybody in the race,except Justin, all guy,because Justin's been in the series for so long.I think he has some of the most lapsbecause he runs the late model race therealmost every year.
43:19And I think he ran again this year.So if Quaple can have a good runand maybe get that points a little closer,if he can win, kind of flip it a little bit,be inside a 30.I think that makes Homestead really interesting for him.It's going to be super intriguing.We can't wait for the,
43:36series to get out to the paper clip,Martinsville, Virginia for some short track racing.Okay, so it's time nowto hand the mic over to the bartender,the resident drinker,sipper, whatever you want to call him.It's Mamba Social Sips.The only one that parties harder than me is Bob Pockris.
43:54We've seen it.It's not Guy Larson.No, no. Larson used to be up there.He's retired that mantle.Yeah, he says no thanks.Ladies and gentlemen,welcome to your favorite part of the show.Mamba's social sips
44:08featuring Bob Pockris.How about that?Look at that. You're in A?Yeah, well, the guy that sits there usually,usually is making fun of me the whole time,you've been really kind.You got a shot of Bob pockets here.Yeah, a little shot of Bobcress.
44:20A little floater.A little floater of Bobby Paghernesh.Yeah.Taledaga, obviously,we got a lot of Sips from Talladega.Carson Holsavar.I just saw this randomly.Was flying around in the helicopter.
44:36doing laps.Who was it?This is so,this is so sick.Like,I wonder who's helicopter he was in.Cletus or something?I don't,
44:46I don't know who it was,but I'm sure,I wouldn't be surprisedif Cleetus had something to do with it.Yeah.And they're just cutting laps and I'm like,that's what a cool way to watch the room.I've been in the blunt before,
44:56the good year blimp.That's awesome.That is awesome.But never when they're on track.So that's just different.That is pretty cool.I wonder if he got like air traffic clearance to do that.He would must.
45:05You would have.Yeah, yeah, yeah.Well, there's some difference betweenbecause like Cup Day, he most likely would not have been.Yeah.Well, I do it.Yeah.But.
45:16Very cool footage for the socials.Would you guys do that?I would definitely do that.Would you ride in a helicopter?I mean, it depends who's piloting it, but yes.What if Chase Elliott's piloting?What if Chase is piloting?Yeah.
45:28Yeah.I mean, I trust Clyde.Yeah, we trust him.We heard all about his pilots.Yeah, yeah, he's solid.he's not hereso I got to give himthis is what he thought we were going to bring up
45:42last week but it actually wasn't outyet so I couldn't bring it upcheck out this promo if you missed itof old unk in the TalladegaTaledaga promolast weekRyan Priest was bornto become the fastest man alive
46:08your Lord baby JesusI want to thank youfor my family, my two beautiful sons, Walker and Texas Ranger, and of course.My red hot smoking wife, Heather.Woo!Ooh!Ow!But then a challenge you arrived, and no man stays on top.
46:25Absolutely, ma'am, I'd love to sign your baby.Not going to want to wash that forehead.Forever.Yep, I'm flying through the air.This is not good.Ryan Preece.Ryan Preece is not a thinker.Ryan Preece is a driver.
46:41Yeah, it's the real deal down there.What a finish here in Daytona?What does that do?Does that blow your mind?That just happened.Talladega Knights, the ballad of Ryan Priest's, got to learn to drive with the fear.There ain't nothing more frightening than driving with a live cooombe.Ryan, control your heart rate.
47:05Can't control my heart rate.This fall, Talladega Knights comes home.Look, man.That is very cute.So many things in that.are funny for so many different ways.Yeah, totally.I love they really embraced it.
47:23I've always wanted our drivers to reenact those scenes.Yeah, yeah.It's pretty fun.Bob, did you like it?I liked it.I thought it was fun.I thought it was fun.NASCAR's been crushing it on that stuff this year.
47:34I got to give them credit.Wow.It's been like the best year we've had in a while.Yeah, I got to get, uh, Jesse Love and, um, Connor Zillich being in there.Connor Zillich kind of does look like that.They were a nice little ad.That was a good get.That was a good casting.
47:47That's a great cast.on their part.Very good.Jordan Taylor, too,which is so random.No, when I saw him,I was like, oh, wow, okay.Yeah, I like this.
47:55Yeah, so I love that.The outtakes that they showedwere pretty funny, too.Now, guys, Talladegais not all about the country redneck party.There's an art to it, too.Is there?Let's see.
48:09Like opera art?Kind of.Wow.Bob, did you, where were you at, Mom?Why were you in this?I wasn't invited.I didn't know that I could go do a belly flop.Maybe we can get that change for next year.
48:35That's impressive.Whatever that move is, the holding the ankles.Man.Yeah, I mean, some people are better at it than others, you know?Once again, a good edit.That was phenomenal.I died laughing.And when I sent it into the group, I didn't, I wasn't doing something else.
48:54I wasn't listening.I'm like, oh, this just looks really cool.That was the first time I heard the music behind it.Yeah.Fantastic.Great.What about Kevin?What's he been doing?
49:03No, hang on.Hang on.Before we get to Kevin.Oh.When we get to Kev, Bob.I want to go to Bob Kev first.We got a little Bob Pockris sipping here that we didn't even know about.How about this one?
49:14Hey.Hey.Oh, my.So, ask me about our Lord and Savior, Bob Pockris is on the hat.Yes.If you zoom in.If you see that.That's cute.
49:25Bob, this moment.This is making.you feel like you must know you made it when that's what you're getting.I texted my wife.I said I had a new hat for her.Yes.That's awesome.Yes.
49:37I bet you can sell that all over Harlem.You need to get those hats up there.That is great.Yeah.Hey, I mean, love the fans.Yeah.You know, we do the tweet ups and fans come out and they sometimes have made their own shirts ortheir own hats.
49:52Super cool.It's great to see.I mean, you guys are doing the tweet up for how long now?It's been a long.There's a woman who sat there.There was a woman at the tweet up and she said, I got a photo with you 16 years ago.That's amazing.Another photo now.
50:06Good for you all, man.I really like that.So it's always always good to talk to the fans because we get a really good sense of what they're interested in.And that's what they're not.What they're not liking.Yeah.Don't need to talk about that anymore.We're tired of it.
50:19Well, Bob, you are a national treasure.You are a national treasure.We wanted to check in with Kevin, see what he was doing.So this is actually a photo from where he's been.Right.Hunting. Look at this.Very nice.Yeah, very nice.
50:33Nice racks they got there.The boys are doing a good job, you know, having some fun.Wow, that's impressive for Keelan to be able to do that.I need evidence that.I need to see evidence that he's the one who actually got this job done.Because I just, I have a hard time believing it.This one's from Tyler Jordan with Realtree saying how cool it is.They've been doing that hunting trip for years.
50:54Yeah, they go fishing with the real tree.group like real tree has been really really cool partner for them to have so I know they appreciatea lot do you think they talked racing at all yeah probably not no no I guarantee it they definitelytalked um well we're glad Kevin if you can't be here that you're at least getting it done out therein the fields I'm glad you're not just not just you know doing nothing you're missed you're doingsomething easy on the missed part I don't know I was done a good job Bob's done a great job yeahvery good all right there you have it there's the tips time now for our last call at the barAnd this is where we will grade the burnout for Kyle Larson, which I know Kevin's not here, but I think he would agree.
51:32This one deserves some pretty high marks because of the celebration with the children.We heard Kyle talking about that earlier on the show of just how cool that moment was when his kids haven't really gotten to be with him at the racetrack that much this season.So what did you think of this one?Well, so here's the thing.We've talked about before.We're at Talladega.The gear ratio is kind of hard to get this whole thing done.And he did a good job, Bob.
51:54He had some good smoke.You know what I mean?As far as he's going to gas that thing upand burn the tires off it, which he did.So Kevin always loves when they burn the tires, slap off it,big smoke, and then a little bit of the showmanship.And I think the showmanship came from the kidsmore than it came from Kyle.
52:11So I think he would give this.Okay.Right?Yeah, probably.Maybe a minus.What do you think, Bob?I was thinking B-plus.Yeah.
52:19Okay.I mean, there was some smoke, but I don't know.At the beginning, not through this.You know, I mean, your ratio.We're trying to compare.Bob, what makes a good, well, since you're here,what makes a good burnout for you?What are you looking for?
52:36I like a lot of smoke and then I like when the driver appears.I want the driver to come out with the smoke around.Yeah.Or her.Those are cool visuals.It's a kind of dissipation.Austin Dylan always has those when he wins.It's always like, he always smokes out.
52:51Emerging out of the smoke.Comes out of nowhere.It says, are you not entertained?That's AD.There are a few of this.It's AD.Okay, well, good job Kyle Erson.All right, now to the point standings, which really haven't moved around much at all since this chase began.
53:04Because Kevin Harvick is still leading 74, but you were the only one who picked up points, which I'm proud of you, Mom.But you're at 33 because of Todd Gillen.I was about this far away.I'm telling you, at the party, we were going nuts because Todd's, Todd's aunt lives in New York.So she was there, and she's there a lot.Oh, that's cool.grill pickles there.So they were, they were, they gave away a bunch of die cast and T-shirts.
53:28We were yelling for some Todd Gillen when he got to the front.It was awesome.That is cool.Unless it wasn't enough.It wasn't enough.But you did get some points.Kevin and I did not because he picked Joey and I picked Ryan.So that's where we're out with that.
53:40So now we have a fresh opportunity to select.If you recall, Kevin picked, uh, Denny Hamlin for this weekend in Martinsville.What say you?We didn't pick.We haven't.Did we haven't?Did we haven't?Did we pick?
53:51No, we didn't.Did we?You go ahead.Kaelin, go ahead.Yeah, he's first.He's saying we did not.So John is instructing me to go ahead and make that pick.I'm going Kyle Arson.
53:59I think he just keeps this going and strengthens his lead.He says, see you guys later.No one's winning.He's sending everyone to Cancun after Martinsville.It's over?Because if he wins, it's over.Well, I'm going Kyle Arson.Okay.
54:12What do you think?So she thinks he's winning the championship too.I'm going to give it to Bob.I want Bob to pick one.Yeah, Bob, you do have to make a pick.I have to make a pick?Yeah.I thought I was this.
54:20No, you're not getting out of this.I'm not getting out of it.No, no.Well, I'm going to steal your pick, Ryan Blaney.Okay.That is.And, I mean, he's got to make something happen.So here's a thing.
54:31It's a glimmer of hope here.Yeah, here's a thing.Like, my champ pick is the 20.The only way I can win this championship is if he wins the championship,the only way I can win the one here with us.So I got to pick the 20 basically for the next two races because I got to be locked in.There you go.Okay.
54:48Well, he could do it.And then rebound from a two.tough Talladega for a Christopher Bow.Yeah.I like it.All right.Well, Bob, this has been fun.What was this experience like for you?
54:58Oh, it was great.Was it as good for you as it was for us?It was better.Oh, my God.There's good go.It is called Happy Hour for a reason.We appreciate you being here very much.We'll see Kevin next week.
55:12So for Bob, Mom, and Myself, that does it for us on this edition of Happy Hour.We'll see everybody after Martin'sville.My teammate says he plays pickup basketball, quote,for the cardio.Well, there's more to it than that, Sean.Like with Bet365, I get paid the second my team goes at big with early payoutand can cash out at any time before the game ends.Sean's getting his steps, but I'm getting paid.
55:47Bet365, the home of winning early.Must be 19 and older, Ontario only.Please play responsibly.If you were someone you know is concerns about gambling,visit Connectsontario.ca or call 1866-5-3-1-2,600.Terms and conditions apply.
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