Recapping the NASCAR Cup Series at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course, where a midrace yellow for rain was the turning point and Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs scored breakthrough victories.

NASCAR on NBC podcast

Daytona Road Course: Did NASCAR make the right call on the rain yellow flag? And analyzing breakthrough victories for Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs

NASCAR on NBC analyst Steve Letarte breaks down the Daytona 500, breaking down the breathtaking final lap and what he saw between Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano (1:00); Are we learning you shouldn’t block while leading on the last lap of the Daytona 500? (3:30); How does Roger Penske handle the aftermath? (4:30); on Michael McDowell’s underdog story (7:00); how the race's turning point was all about pit strategy (11:00); why Daytona turned out to be a numbers game that Toyota and Denny Hamlin couldn’t win (13:00); was Hamlin right to be confused why the Chevrolets waited until the last lap to make a move? (14:15); the missed opportunity of breaking manufacturer ranks (16:00); why the Toyotas still shouldn’t kick themselves too much (18:00); on whether the six-hour rain delay (and big crash before the red flag) impacted the rhythm and flow of the race (20:00); the ability to control a race like Dale Jr. and Denny Hamlin can (22:00); Stevie’s Speedweek in Daytona and how it felt weird (23:30); how does McDowell’s victory shake up the playoff picture (26:00); the increasingly wild-card nature of the regular season (28:30).

Daytona 500: Steve Letarte analyzes Michael McDowell's stunning victory

The newly named Chevrolet sports car program manager who oversees Corvette Racing and also has managed the Cadillac program that has four consecutive overall victories in the Rolex 24 at Daytona on her new expanded role as a major manufacturer executive in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Series (1:00); how many people she oversees (3:00), the great start to the Rolex 24 that GM Racing enjoyed on the first weekend in Daytona (5:00); what it’s been like dealing with the attention on Chase Elliott and Jimmie Johnson (7:00); how the program and teams integrate the superstar drop-ins (9:00); the excitement of vying for a fourth consecutive Rolex 24 victory with Cadillac (11:00); how Laura got into racing while growing up in Baltimore (13:00); the first race car project she worked on in college (15:00) how she became a car person (17:15); on making the shift from the production to the racing side of General Motors (18:45); adding the oversight of the Corvette Racing to her managing the Cadillac program (21:30); on taking over the role formerly held by Corvette Racing icon Doug Fehan (23:30); does she see encouraging signs of more women in auto racing (25:30); the importance of female role models like herself and mentor Alba Colon (28:00) on if being a woman in racing has resulted in different treatment (30:30); some instances in which she’s had to get stern with teams (34:00); how she has fun away from the track (37:00); what her biggest concerns are trying to win the Rolex 24 at Daytona (40:00)

Ep. 216: Laura Wontrop Klauser, Chevrolet sports car program manager for Corvette Racing, Cadillac Racing

Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt Jr. share everything they love about Bristol Motor Speedway ... their first impressions on rolling into NASCAR's "Last Great Colosseum," the secrets to some of their success, why they tell every fan it's the first NASCAR racetrack where they should attend a race, the toll it takes on drivers and the special atmosphere and allure it holds.

The best of Bristol according to some of NASCAR's best

The brain trust of Toyota Racing Development's vaunted TD2 driver development pipeline on some of Toyota’s up and comers such as Chandler Smith (1:00); “you have to remember they’re still just kids” (2:30); more of the name in and out of the program (4:00); the importance of USAC dirt racing (5:30); how Toyota Racing Development deals with having teams provide the slots for its drivers (7:30); thinking about the “greater good” for auto racing (9:30); dealing with the luck, good and bad, of keeping drivers or having them get away (11:00); the NextGen timeline with driver development (12:30); exploring William Byron in depth (13:30); what it’s like dealing with “NASCAR dads and moms” (15:00); “Parents have seen their kids run perfect races, and they expect that every time.” (17:00); why drivers whose parents “let go” tend to have more success (19:00); holding younger drivers accountable for their actions (20:00); teaching the real-world consequences for off-track behavior (21:30); the rage-quitting incident and how that was used as a teachable moment (23:30); trying to find the line of what is offensive vs. generational (24:30); but also encouraging drivers to have personalities – and neck tattoos (25:45).

Ep. 214: Part II with Tyler Gibbs and Jack Irving of Toyota Racing Development's TD2 driver development program

The braintrust of Toyota Racing Development's vaunted driver development pipeline on their backgrounds with TRD (3:00); being based in California but being “comfortable” with that and the travel it demands (5:00); the origins of the driver development program (7:00); which includes physical training, social media and health and nutrition advice (9:00); figuring out to pay for the program and rising star Christopher Bell (10:30); “if we need tried to go back and do this 100 times, it probably doesn’t work” (11:30); the importance of being hands on, understanding every prospect won’t stay and getting the byproduct of teams working together more often (13:30); kicking off the program with a home run in Christopher Bell (15:00); reflecting on Erik Jones and Bubba Wallace being in the program before it was fully formed (16:00); William Byron’s time with TRD (17:00); the “family selection” process (18:00); how Toyota attaches sponsors to drivers the way teams would (19:30); how dealing with the sponsorship as a manufacturer differs from managing it as a team (21:30); preparing “kids” for meeting with sponsors and learning businesses (23:00); incorporating the elements of “Sports Science” and “Moneyball” analytics (25:00); learning about how to analyze drivers through the Texas Rangers and TCU (26:30); ensuring that drivers get a “report card” on their progress (28:00); teaching drivers basic information like how to handle running out of gasoline on track (29:00); how the metrics of “Moneyball” and “Sports Science” work together (30:30); the simple ways of teaching drivers about nutrition and simple things (32:00); the importance of removing team variables to enhance evaluations (34:30); what trying to develop drivers is like during the middle of a pandemic (35:30); keeping drivers exercising and in communication across long distances during lockdown (37:00); managing expectations about getting in the car after a long layoff (39:00); how TRD is advising its younger drivers on returning to track as racing restarts (40:30).

Ep. 213: Part I of Tyler Gibbs and Jack Irving of Toyota Racing Development's driver development program

The two-time Daytona 500-winning crew chief for the No. 11 Toyota of Denny Hamlin on how he finds benefit in iRacing by running practices races with Hamlin, and learning to improve communication (3:00); his passion for iRacing and how long he’s been involved (4:30); his racing background in Super Late Models (6:00); how many wins in real life vs. iRacing and his history with owning a simulator (8:30); how iRacing can help build the Gabehart-Hamlin relationship, particularly in a world without practice (10:00); the difference between how IndyCar and NASCAR are approaching iRacing (12:30); what he’s learned from watching Hamlin on Twitch (14:00); getting a rare window into a driver’s mindset with the helmet off (15:00); what makes Hamlin so good at iRacing (17:30); how iRacing is a level beyond IROC (19:30); what the absence of fear – and the pressure of big-time sponsorship -- mean (20:30); is he glad 7-year-old Taylor Hamlin won’t be ending a No. 11 race on a real track anytime soon? (22:00); what the preparations for the 2020 season have been like (23:00); what will be the biggest obstacle facing teams? And the impacts of social distancing on teams (25:00); what’s been happening at Joe Gibbs Racing (27:00); how is the No. 11 approaching the rest of 2020 after starting off so well at Daytona but then having a long layoff? (29:00).

Ep. 212: Chris Gabehart on iRacing with Denny Hamlin and resuming the 2020 season

The NASCAR on NBC analyst and accomplished iRacer on how his life has revolved around his sim (2:00); the story of girlfriend Shanny’s Emmy (3:00); can NASCAR bring Twitch into real-world racing? (5:00); what the infrastructure challenges are (7:30); the technology of making it happen (9:30); foreseeing the controversies with Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson and safeguarding against the next one (11:30); Parker’s mom is listening to his Twitch stream and also is a big Conor Daly fan (14:00); will the Pro Invitational Series still exist when real racing returns? (15:30); how eNASCAR's audience metrics are benefiting hugely from the Pro Invitational Series (17:30); recapping Richmond and the politics involved (19:30); Talladega up next (21:30); explaining the dreaded Netcode (23:30); Parker’s history with iRacing and the backstory of his shoutout from Steve Myers (25:30); a shoutout to the NASCAR on NBC and NASCAR America production crews for their groundwork on iRacing broadcasts (28:30).

Ep. 211: Parker Kligerman on NASCAR's iRacing boom and can Twitch translate to real-world racing

The NASCAR on NBC analyst, who co-owns a team with Jeff Burton in NASCAR's top iRacing series, on what’s happening for iRacing and Burton Kligerman Esports in its second season (1:15); “the viewership has been insane” (3:00); why he wants to get away from the term “eSports (4:45); number origins (5:30); the pitch to Valvoline for sponsorship (6:30); the professionalism of eSports (8:30); Bringing in owners such as Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson and William Byron (9:30); Venn diagram of real world and virtual team owners (10:30); the edge (or disadvantage) of bargaining against a team that has Michael Jordan (13:00); what the iRacing model and team sponsorship look like now (15:00); the massive jump in the iRacing purse (17:00); what the Valvoline sponsorship does for BurtonKligerman eSports (18:30); how the team handles promotion and social and media (20:30); the “controversy” over eSports drivers being treated like real-world drivers (22:00); the “adapt or die” philosophy to embracing eSports (24:30); how do real-world drivers coach virtual drivers? (26:30); relating to teenage gaming phenoms and their “impressive maturity level” (28:00); how much Parker works with Jeff Burton (29:00).

Ep. 210: Parker Kligerman on Year 2 as a team owner in the eNASCAR iRacing Coca-Cola Series

The NASCAR on NBC analyst on why Joey Logano is the best restarter in NASCAR (1:00); how he did it unconventionally at Phoenix (2:00); lessons learned for November when the championship is on the line (3:00); where are the Toyotas, the surprise of Joe Gibbs Racing’s start and can the team improve for Atlanta? (4:30); how will teams decide on focusing on the 2021 changeover vs. the 2020 season? (6:30); can a team change something that’s good by overthinking it? (8:30); is Hendrick better because of the Camaro or the team? (10:30); the 2020 demeanor of Kyle Busch (12:00); “sometimes we forget that drivers can be just like the people listening to this podcast" (14:00); social media and external pressure on Cup drivers (15:30); Jeff says the driver social gatherings of the motorhome lot are a misconception (17:30); short track and 1.5-mile racing trending upward, so should NASCAR change superspeedways? (19:00); on Harrison Burton’s big win and the importance of being patient with talent (21:30).

Ep. 209: Jeff Burton on what NASCAR learned during the West Coast Swing

NASCAR on NBC analyst Kyle Petty on the visceral emotions and dark personal memories that came from watching the response to Ryan Newman’s terrifying crash (1:00); how drivers move past those incidents (2:00); is there a necessary selective memory that needs to be embraced (4:00); the disconnect between today’s younger drivers and death at the track (5:30); “the sport is never going to be foolproof safe” (7:00); how the attitudes of younger drivers might be different in the iRacing age (8:30); should the practice of “slam drafting” be addressed and by whom (10:00); on Corey LaJoie’s comfort with the current superspeedway package (13:00); what’s next for Ryan Newman (16:00); did Newman’s outspokenness help save him? (18:30); the worst possible outcome always lurking (20:45); will NASCAR change rules for Talladega and will drivers race differently there? (22:00); on Denny Hamlin’s sublime third Daytona 500 victory (25:00).

Ep. 208: Kyle Petty on Ryan Newman's crash and state of NASCAR safety post-Daytona 500

Denny Hamlin, the defending Daytona 500 winner and driver of the No. 11 FedEx Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, on the pro-am golf tournament he just played that tested his surgically repaired shoulder (1:00) and put him up against some famous competition (2:00); recalling the end of his victory in last year’s Daytona 500 (3:30); the quasi-deal he had with teammate Kyle Busch for restarts in the final 10 laps (5:30); outrunning Busch for much of the 2019 season (6:30); reflecting on how the championship got away at Homestead-Miami Speedway (7:30); why Denny had “a little bit left” before the fateful decision to put tape on the grille (8:30); and why he already got past second-guessing the decision (9:30); his faith in crew chief Chris Gabehart and maturation as a driver (10:30); becoming an iRacing team owner (11:30); co-owner Michael Jordan’s involvement in the iRacing Jumpman paint scheme (12:30); the blowback to iRacing not being deserving of the attention (13:30); his reaction to the death of Kobe Bryant (15:30); what it means to be a #GirlDad (17:30); “Taylor TV” and Denny’s oldest daughter (18:30); being known as one of NASCAR’s best interviews (20:30); the input of drivers in creating the new short-track package for 2020 (22:15); addressing issues with Goodyear in a “Come to Jesus” meeting (23:30); how close Cup drivers came to unionizing five years ago (25:30); whether he laments that forming a union would help stabilize driver salaries in such a pivotal season for free agency (27:30); what Denny expects from some motivated drivers (29:15); Brad Keselowski’s recent comments about how veterans were affected by the low-horsepower, high-downforce package last year (30:30); his memories of Late Model crew chief Rodney Estes, who recently died (31:45) and getting closure before he was gone (33:15) and their incredible run in 2002-03 (34:15); everything seeming to be lining up for Denny in the 2020 Cup season (36:00)

Ep. 207: Denny Hamlin, defending Daytona 500 winner

In a preview of the 2020 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, Team Penske's Dane Cameron on how it feels to roll into Daytona as defending series champion (1:00); recapping the disappointments of the 2019 Rolex (2:00); trying a 12th time to win an iconic event that is so difficult to conquer (3:00); “it’s like running qualifying laps for 24 hours” (4:30); how talent and technology have increased the competition level (5:45); on how the Rolex 24 is unique on the schedule (7:00); another way to look at the degree of difficulty: Getting nine straight sprint races perfect (8:30); why DPI is essentially “an Indy car with fenders” (9:45); how much contact the DPI cars can make (11:00); how Dane went from living near a track known for its NASCAR (Sonoma) and wound up in sports cars (12:00); “All I really want to do was earn a living driving a race car. I wasn’t too fussy.” (14:00); any aspirations of following Jeff Gordon’s footsteps? (15:00); what’s it like sharing a car with another driver? (17:00); and why it works so well with Juan Pablo Montoya (19:00); why JPM’s brutal honesty works well for Dane (22:00); his best JPM stories (23:30); and first reaction to learning they’d be paired (25:30); on whether he feels overshadowed by his team’s Indianapolis 500 winners (27:00); whether he interacts with the NASCAR and IndyCar teams at the shop as a resident of North Carolina (29:00); would he like to moonlight in another series? (31:30); Dane’s family connections in the IMSA paddock (32:30); how that’s changed dinner conversations with his father working for a rival team (34:00).

Ep. 206: IMSA champion Dane Cameron on the Rolex 24, being teammates with Juan Pablo Montoya and his route to Team Penske

The former longtime NASCAR race director on the projects he is working on now consulting with series on helping reshape rulebooks (2:00); where racing series sometimes get in trouble with rulebook language (4:00); his expertise in race procedures and studying how the NASCAR rulebook evolved over the decades (6:00); how it can help teams and competitors in many ways to have a better grasp of the rules (8:00); the difference of officiating a race from other professional sports (10:00); what does he think about whether racing series have too many rules in the major leagues because the teams are too good? (12:00); some history lessons on the genesis of rules in the Cup Series (14:00); the trickiness of issuing penalties consistently (16:00); helping teams navigate the potential fluidity of the rulebook and why it’s advantageous (18:00); how extra knowledge can help even with “unavoidable penalties” (20:00); real-world examples of how knowing in-race rules can benefit driver and crew chief (22:00); which teams and series where David has been consulting (26:00); is there anything that major-league series do to streamline their rulebooks? (28:00); how often David looks at rulebooks from past decades to see how things progressed (30:00); the importance of tribal knowledge in the era of Computer Animated Drawings and engineering (32:30); keeping innovation as a series moves into a spec car era (35:00); how involved David was in writing rules side as a race director (38:00); NASCAR’s move to eliminate racing back to the caution and how it was implemented in 2003 (41:00); the sea change of double-file restarts being instituted in 2009 and how that impacted calling races (43:30); what it was like changing race procedures that had five or six decades of history in NASCAR (46:00); adding electronic monitoring of pit speeds (49:00); what the 2019 season was like for David watching races from outside the tower for the first time since 1988 (50:00)

Ep. 205: David Hoots

In our final 2019 Cup playoffs edition of the podcast, the NASCAR on NBC analysts discuss the greatness of Kyle Busch and how he overcame his dislike of this season's rules package (1:00); did being a self-proclaimed “underdog” help, or was it all just part of drivers downplaying the pressure? (4:00); is making the championship round now the same as winning a championship? (6:15); why Kyle Busch seemed subdued in celebration (8:30); his sensitivity to pondering being a multi-time champion and winning a “legitimate” title (10:30); does Kyle feel “behind” on winning championships? (13:00); the Denny Hamlin saga and storyline (15:30); how Martin Truex Jr.’s team made a colossal error (18:00); living with the pain and memory of such a mistake (20:00); the calculated mistake by Denny Hamlin’s team (23:00); differing opinions from Burton and Letarte on whether the gamble was well assessed by Chris Gabehart (25:00); how much second guessing will there be for the No. 11 on if Hamlin could have won? (27:30); the end of Homestead-Miami Speedway’s championship hosting run and what’s next for Phoenix (30:00).

Ep. 204: Post-Homestead with Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte on Kyle Busch's greatness; a subdued celebration; being "behind" on championships; the mistake by Martin Truex Jr.'s team and living with it; debating the calculated error by Denny Hamlin's crew chief; the end of Homestead's run and what's next for Phoenix and short tracks

Discussing the latest NASCAR news, including a weekly recap of races, events and a look ahead to what's next in the sport. Guests include NBC Sports talent such as Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Kyle Petty.

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NASCAR on NBC podcast

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