Best Stewart Williams Jr Podcasts (2024)

1
NASCAR’s highly anticipated return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval and how the Next Gen could impact the Brickyard 400 40:33

21d ago40:33

40:33

What Steve Letarte remembers about his first exposure to the Brickyard 400 and why it’s such a magical moment and place for NASCAR (2:30); what it’ll be like for the 10 full-time Cup drivers who will be racing on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval for the first time in NASCAR’s premier series (5:00); why the Brickyard requires such a phenomenal s…

1
How the life of Shane van Gisbergen changed after winning the Chicago Street Race in his NASCAR Cup debut a year ago 39:37

10d ago39:37

39:37

Recalling the scene and Cup champion’s reactions to SVG’s big win (1:00); the backstory of how Shane van Gisbergen made his NASCAR debut (6:00); how he likes life in the States (11:00); his adaptation to rough-and-tumble racing for victories (12:30); his progression on ovals (17:00); why Cup stars still think he’s the driver to beat in Chicago (23:…

1
Iowa Speedway’s smash debut, Martin Truex Jr. stepping back, Kyle Busch’s surprising Gibbs, Hendrick RCR comments 58:01

1M ago58:01

58:01

NACAR on NBC analyst Jeff Burton on the Cup debut of Iowa Speedway (2:00); the concerns about the repave and why it was done (4:30); the surprising recent track record of successful repaves (7:30); the essence of the Midwestern race fan (10:30); a brief jog through Burton’s trophy collection (16:00); Martin Truex Jr.’s decision to step away from fu…

1
Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden sits down to discuss his second consecutive victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway 26:20

2M ago26:20

26:20

Two-time defending Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden on a special moment Monday morning with his 2-year-old son Kota on the yard of bricks (5:30); why Newgarden texted runner-up Pato O’Ward after the race (7:30); on the latest chapter of 1-2 finishes with O’Ward and whether Newgarden feels empathy for having the upper hand (11:30); being among “the t…

1
Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart recall their Double attempts; a sitdown with 2024 Indy 500 pole-sitter Scott McLaughlin 59:41

2M ago59:41

59:41

Tony Stewart on how he came to do The Double and what was the appeal (3:00); how Stewart got in shape for his second attempt and the tense moments when he decided he wouldn’t leave Indy when the rain came while leading the race in 2001 (7:00); why the logistics of the trip went so smoothly and the warm reception he got from fans (14:30); how Kurt B…

1
Working with Bob Dylan – On Stage and In Studio 1:06:14

2M ago1:06:14

1:06:14

To celebrate Bob Dylan’s birthday, we’ve compiled a special Gear Club episode that offers a behind the scenes look into Dylan’s Life and music. Bob has been described as a shape-shifter, a song and dance man, and the Shakespeare of our time. Over his 60 plus year career, he’s written more than 500 songs that have been covered by over 2,000 artists.…

1
The Kyle Larson Double at the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600: The 2021 NASCAR Cup champion takes aim at history 42:21

2M ago42:21

42:21

What’s at stake for KyleLarsonin attempting a herculean feat of auto racing and why he loves running the big events (2:30); why Mario Andretti has been so impressed by Larson (6:00); the Hendrick Motorsports star’s quest for greatness (8:30); the three dreams that Larson will be fulfilling simultaneously by running the Indy 500 (13:30); the route t…

1
Ketchup with William Wittman 23:54

3M ago23:54

23:54

Producer and Engineer William Wittman was one of our early guests in 2017 with a two parter, Episodes #15 and #16, where he discussed making seminal records with Cindy Lauper, Joan Osborne, and The Outfield, his time coming up through NYC recording studios, and his work/prank relationship with our very own John Agnello. In this episode, I catch up …

1
Short track season: Denny Hamlin heats up as Martin Truex Jr. gets heated; Chase Briscoe on the future; Hendrick Motorsports’ emotional Martinsville ties 44:44

4M ago44:44

44:44

Denny Hamlin gets hot in short track season behind the best pit crew in the Cup Series (1:30); the increased importance of pit stops in the Next Gen era (5:00);why Martin Truex Jr. was unhappy with Denny Hamlin (9:30);Kyle Larson’swild finish (12:00); Chase Briscoe interview (15:30); the outlook for Stewart-Haas Racing and taking a leadership role …

1
#94: The Gear and The Garage with Mitch Easter 55:03

4M ago55:03

55:03

In this episode, John and Stewart sit down with producer, engineer, musician, song writer, studio owner, and the Godfather of Jangle Pop, the one and only, Mitch Easter. Mitch has always been and continues to be a staple of the Indie Rock scene in North Carolina and beyond. First operating out of Drive in Studio located in his parents' garage, and …

1
News, notes, quotes from Phoenix, Vegas, St. Pete: Catching up on Toyota’s surge, Rajah Caruth’s win, IndyCar charters and driver salaries 34:05

5M ago34:05

34:05

Toyota’s strong showing at Phoenix (2:30);the No. 20 scores a “cathartic” victory that shows the team remains championship caliber (6:30); the impact of a new short track rules package (9:00); the latest on adding horsepower (10:30); the struggles in the pits for Kyle Busch and his team (13:30); checking back on Kyle Larson’s Vegas win (16:00); Raj…

1
Ketchup with Russell Wedelich 29:30

4M ago29:30

29:30

In 2018 the H9000 Harmonizer®, Eventide’s flagship multi effects processor, won a TEC award for best signal processing hardware. We had the team behind the H9000’s design and development on the podcast in Episodes #66.1, #66.2 and #66.3 to talk about the process of designing, building, and testing the latest in Eventide’s revered Harmonizer line. N…

1
Daytona 500: William Byron continues breakthrough with biggest win of his career; catching up with Blaney, Johnson, Keselowski, Truex 36:32

6M ago36:32

36:32

The anxious moments of waiting to be declared a Daytona 500 winner (1:30); Byron explains how he went from winning races online to winning in real life nearly overnight (3:30); the “impostor syndrome” of racing against Jimmie Johnson, his former neighbor (5:00); why Byron entered the 2024 season with a chip on his shoulder (6:30); how Byron overcam…

1
Remembering the historic 2004 Daytona 500 and Dale Earnhardt Jr. winning on a momentous day for NASCAR 1:03:07

6M ago1:03:07

1:03:07

Why the 2004 season was a crossroads of so many eras beginning and ending for NASCAR (1:30); former NASCAR on NBC announcer Allen Bestwick and sports journalist Brant James recall the impact of a visit by President George W. Bushto the Daytona 500 (5:30); the scene as President Bush arrived at the track (9:30); the president’s prerace interview (11…

1
2024 season preview: Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin look ahead this season while reflecting on 2023 33:34

6M ago33:34

33:34

Ryan Blaney on an emotional night in Nashville (3:00), thanking those who helped him earn the championship (7:00), his first meeting with Roger Penske (9:30), the responsibilities of being the reigning champion and what’s to come (11:00); Kyle Busch on his newfound popularity in 2023 (12:30), the sale of Kyle Busch Motorsports and why the timing is…

1
Unable to defend Rolex 24 at Daytona title after losing Acura deal, Mike Shank plots his return to IMSA: ‘I work on it every day’ 28:58

7M ago28:58

28:58

With his IMSA team sidelined from the Rolex 24 at Daytona for the first time in 20 years, Mike Shank discusses the disappointment of being unable to defend its title after winning the race in 2022-23 (2:30); where Shank will be instead of heading to Daytona (4:00); tracing the long, successful history of Meyer Shank Racing from the Rolex 24 to winn…

1
Wayne Taylor Racing Andretti expands for Rolex 24: Wayne Taylor is adding cars and stars at Daytona while trying to bring Acura another victory 50:40

7M ago50:40

50:40

Background on why the 2024 season comes at a critical juncture for Wayne Taylor Racing Andretti (1:00);what a hectic offseason has felt like (6:00); how much the team has grown and what that impact has been like on a close-knit team that prides itself on family (10:00); why it’s so important to maintain the team’s efficient culture of maximizing it…

1
Rolex 24 at Daytona preview: A world-class field gathers at the World Center of Racing for a race of champions to begin the 2024 major calendar 37:01

7M ago37:01

37:01

Another all-star field gathers for the world’s first “Race of Champions” of the year (2:00); Jenson Button and Felipe Massa head the list of Formula One winners on the entry list (4:00); why driving the GTP hybrid prototype is so difficult (7:00); another heavy IndyCar component and why the hybrid will enhance those ties this year (11:30); Indy 500…

1
#93: The Singer and the Song with Thom Panunzio 1:13:35

7M ago1:13:35

1:13:35

In this episode, we’re delighted to talk with industry legend, Thom Panunzio. Getting his start as an assistant at NYC’s Record Plant, Thom went on to work in every facet of the music business. He’s produced, mixed, and engineered albums for Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Joan Jett, Ozzy Osbourne, Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, Alice Cooper, and Aerosmith …

1
Ketchup with Greg Calbi 38:17

9M ago38:17

38:17

Mastering engineer extraordinaire Greg Calbi is a dear friend and was our guest on Gear Club Episode #2 way back in January of 2017. Over the last 50 years Greg has mastered a seemingly endless list of albums across every genera of music, and it’s almost a certainty he’s had a hand in the making of one of your favorite records. In this episode Greg…

1
Martinsville: Ryan Blaney’s elite maturation into championship challenger; William Byron’s gritty effort; another near-miss for Denny Hamlin; Phoenix title race preview 44:32

10M ago44:32

44:32

Ryan Blaney’s no-doubt, clutch victory at Martinsville confirms his championship-level talent (1:00); how Blaney deftly managed his final charge to the lead (4:15); the offseason mental preparation and improvement put in by Blaney and how it paid off (7:00); the newfound speed of the Penske Fords lately (11:00); William Byron’s gutty performance to…

1
Homestead-Miami: Tense radio chatter for Martin Truex Jr., Christopher Bell; how Kyle Larson’s pit wall collision happened; the perils of being a crew chief in the Cup Series 41:08

10M ago41:08

41:08

The Kyle Larson-Ryan Blaney incident that was the turning point (1:00); how the essence of Larson factored into the incident (4:30); why Stage 1’s strategy revealed a lot about the Chris Gabehart-Denny Hamlin dynamic (8:30); what happened to Denny Hamlin’s car in his crash and Gabehart’s message to Hamlin (10:30); another Martin Truex Jr. radio mom…

1
#92: Capturing the Passion with Bob Gruen 40:46

9M ago40:46

40:46

In this episode, we sit down for a conversation with renowned rock photographer Bob Gruen. Bob has been documenting the artists, concerts, and clubs that have come to define rock music, and is responsible for some of the most iconic images of the idiom. Listen in as Bob talks with hosts John and Stewart about his artistic philosophy, his move from …

1
Las Vegas: Kyle Larson’s amazing save, Christopher Bell’s charge and pit stop woes; Martin Truex Jr.’s damaging strategy call 38:33

10M ago38:33

38:33

Does Las Vegas winner Kyle Larson have a massive championship edge with two weeks to prepare for Phoenix? (1:00); does he ignore Homestead and Martinsville in preparing the next two weeks? (5:00); Larson’s moment of nearly wrecking off Turn 2 (7:00); how he was able to save the car by going against instincts (9:30); Christopher Bell’s charge to nea…

1
Roval: A.J. Allmendinger’s emotional victory; Kyle Larson’s rebound; Parker Kligerman’s all-in return to NASCAR in 2023 52:24

10M ago52:24

52:24

Parker explains his busy schedule on a Monday/Tuesday coming out of a race weekend (1:30); delving into DIL and a love-hate relationship with simulation (5:00); an idea for the NASCAR Simulator Olympics (7:30); A.J. Allmendinger’s emotional Roval winner’s interview and story (10:00); the first time Parker raced against Allmendinger online nearly 20…

1
Talladega: Ryan Blaney seizes the moment; Kevin Harvick’s near-miss; Bubba Wallace’s Michael Jordan pep talk; Roval preview 49:05

10M ago49:05

49:05

Ryan Blaney’s move to pass Kevin Harvick (1:30); how Harvick might be out of practice with some superspeedway tactics (4:00); the sentimentality of Happy’s near-victory in his last season (7:15); the happiness of being done with Talladega for life (9:00); the dichotomy of Blaney’s great decisions but careless mistakes (12:00); can Blaney eliminate …

1
#91: The David Mansfield Multiverse 1:13:00

10M ago1:13:00

1:13:00

This month, we’re thrilled to have David Mansfield on the show, a composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and arranger with a long and storied career. We have each worked with David for a long time, and know firsthand the talent and depth he brings to all the music he touches. Growing up in New Jersey and beginning his career in local bands, he …

1
Texas: The restarts that went wrong for Kyle Larson and Bubba Wallace; William Byron the championship favorite; Martin Truex Jr.’s ‘disaster’ to start the playoffs 49:39

11M ago49:39

49:39

What happened with Kyle Larson’s spin while leading on a restart (1:30); another race where things go awry despite Larson having the fastest car (4:30); analyzing why the Next Gen seems harder for drivers to catch when out of control (9:00); how the last restart got away from Bubba Wallace (12:30); William Byron becoming the championship favorite w…

1
Bristol: Denny Hamlin gleefully enjoys playing the ‘villain’ role; playoff eliminations for Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano; the Round of 12 outlook 48:34

11M ago48:34

48:34

Kevin Harvick’s stunningly slow car in a first-round exit (1:00); what happened to Harvick’s team this season? (5:00); why it’s tougher for teams to dig out of a hole right now in the early development of the Next Gen (7:30); Denny Hamlin’s belief that the driver matters more (10:00); “the driver today is much more like an NFL quarterback than ever…

1
Kansas: Martin Truex Jr.’s disastrous playoff start; pivotal restarts and strategy calls; how it got away from Kyle Larson; some fire from Chase Elliott 44:41

11M ago44:41

44:41

Why Kansas has been such a treacherous playoff track (1:30); managing pressure, avoiding complacency (4:30); what’s happened to Martin Truex Jr.’s team (7:30); how does the team rebound approach Bristol for rebounding (13:00); what happened with where NASCAR towed Truex’s car after his flat tire (16:30); analyzing the moves and strategy calls in th…

1
Daytona: Brad Keselowski’s destiny realized; reviewing the pressure on Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace; the wicked wrecks of Ryan Blaney and Ryan Preece 53:28

12M ago53:28

53:28

How Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher worked so well together and yet with no one else (1:30); how is RFK’s success being perceived by other Ford teams with more money and people (4:30); how the Next Gen might be having a surprising impact on the balance of power (7:30); why KP thinks that Brad Keselowski was meant to be a team owner (13:00); the …

1
Watkins Glen: William Byron adds road course to winning resume; Chase Elliott’s faulty fuel strategy under playoff pressure; short races and fewer cautions 45:39

12M ago45:39

45:39

Significance of William Byron’s first road course victory (1:30); how Byron never has stopped incorporating iRacing into his development, making him the new-age NASCAR star (4:30); how Byron being a late bloomer makes him a bit of a throwback and also might give him an edge on avoiding burnout (8:30); how DJ closed the experience gap when getting s…

1
Indianapolis: The perseverance of Michael McDowell and Front Row Motorsports; Shane van Gisbergen’s second outing and future; back to the Brickyard oval in 2024? 44:25

12M ago44:25

44:25

Why did this race end with such a long green-flag run? (2:30); two critical moments that tipped the race in favor of Michael McDowell over Daniel Suarez (6:00); how Next Gen has been a game-changer that has lifted Front Row (9:30); Denny Hamlin’s inadvertent shot at McDowell’s road course prowess (12:00); being a driver involved in team direction a…

1
Michigan: The winning strategy of Chris Buescher over Martin Truex Jr.; Brad Keselowski’s immense impact as a team owner; 23XI Racing’s systemic pit crew problems; Indy goes international 46:26

1y ago46:26

46:26

Why was the racing so good at Michigan, which featured a record 16 leaders (1:00); impact of the car and stage racing (3:30); breaking down the strategy elements of Chris Buescher’s victory over Martin Truex Jr. and the crucial decisions on when to make the final pit stops (7:00); how Buescher and Tyler Reddick helped each other to stay ahead of Tr…

1
Richmond: Chris Buescher and Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing on the rise; strategy rules Richmond; reviewing how the Kyle Larson interview at Pocono unfolded 46:12

1y ago46:12

46:12

What we know about Richmond winner Chris Buescher (2:30) and why his persona might be both underrated and appreciate (5:30); where does Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing rank in Cup (8:30); how teams approached the race on strategy expecting long green-flag runs (11:00); how did the style of racing at Richmond change (14:00); Martin Truex Jr.’s confus…

1
New Hampshire: Martin Truex Jr.’s breakthrough “home” win and will he keep racing next season; should teams use pit stop code words?; the playoff bubble tightens 39:52

1y ago39:52

39:52

The surprise of this being Truex’s first Cup win at New Hampshire (1:30); what it’s like for a driver to win at the track where he grew up at (4:30); how has Martin Truex Jr. recaptured his championship form of 2017-21? (9:30); what are the odds of Truex returning in 2024 (15:30); Truex and crew chief James Small being on the same page for a critic…

1
Atlanta: A wild night in the rain; William Byron’s amazing run and good fit with Rudy Fugle; how long will the great racing last on the new surface? 51:24

1y ago51:24

51:24

What’s it like for a crew chief to anticipate strategy calls in a rain-shortened race (1:30); “there’ll be as many road course races as rain races this season” (5:00); having a “war room” staffer who’s the meteorologist (6:30); and could the war room be at the track in the future (7:30); NASCAR’s decision to keep the pits closed while running under…

1
Chicago: Shane van Gisbergen stuns racing world by winning his NASCAR debut with a lost art; the street course era begins; can Chase Elliott make the playoffs on points? 44:42

1y ago44:42

44:42

Putting Shane van Gisbergen’s historic victory in NASCAR context (1:30); appreciate SVG’s racecraft as much as his pure speed (4:00); giving Justin Marks a lot of credit for “the perfect pick” (7:00); a big year for NASCAR’s international footprint (8:45); why the Next gen is a friendlier platform of car for international drivers to adapt (10:30); …

1
Nashville: Ross Chastain ends winless streak with a calculated drive through traffic; Ryan Blaney’s controversial crash without a SAFER barrier; Chicago preview 42:22

1y ago42:22

42:22

Sizing up Nashville and why Ross Chastain’s car came to life at night. (1:30); how the No. 1 team optimized handling for Chastain (4:30); Chastain and his more patient approach to navigating traffic and less friendly drivers (7:30); an interesting conversation that DJ had with Ross (10:00); the conversation that Ross had with Justin Marks (12:30); …

1
NASCAR’s hot-button issues at the midseason of 2023: A panel discussion and debate with Mike Forde, Jeff Gluck, Steve Letarte, Pete Pistone 1:25:25

1y ago1:25:25

1:25:25

What’s going on with Ross Chastain since Darlington? (2:00); or is it what’s happened to Trackhouse Racing? (4:00); why the timing of Chastain suddenly being managed more directly by the team (7:00); NASCAR’s view of Chastain (11:00); was the team too public? (13:00); the Rick Hendrick factor (15:00); Denny Hamlin in the era of the driver podcast (…

1
Sonoma: Martin Truex Jr.’s resurgence; Kyle Busch the title contender; a choppy season for Chase Elliott; Tyler Reddick gets penalized for a good deed; state of Trackhouse 39:04

1y ago39:04

39:04

On a reinvigorated Martin Truex Jr. a year after he openly contemplated retirement (1:00); a driver who can win emphatically when his car is right, especially at Sonoma (5:00); do Truex’s victories this year increase the likelihood that he sticks around beyond 2023? (7:30); is Kyle Busch a title contender now (10:00); how Busch and RCR have answere…

1
Gateway: Kyle Busch continues RCR honeymoon; lights out for NASCAR teams’ Big Data; will Austin Cindric be suspended for the Austin Dillon crash?; Ross Chastain’s fade 41:32

1y ago41:32

41:32

Kyle Busch’s impressive start with Richard Childress Racing (1:00); did Kyle Busch and RCR send a short-track message? (3:00); has the discussion and hype around Tyler Reddick been a motivator for Busch and RCR (5:00); on how the lack of Internet connectivity hurt teams during the Cup race (7:30); did RCR’s old-school approach in that respect (10:0…

1
North Wilkesboro: All-Star big event feel; what’s next for North Wilkesboro; short-track tweaks for NASCAR; Kyle Larson’s brilliance; Coca-Cola 600/Indy 500 previews 38:25

1y ago38:25

38:25

On thescene for North Wilkesboro Speedway’s biggest weekend in 27 years (1:00); DJ’s reaction to returning to Wilkesboro, a track where he had limited success (3:30); should a repave be in the track’s future? (7:30); what was the vibe like at track’s most recent Cup points race in 1996? (10:00); how NASCAR got from leaving Wilkesboro for Fontana, T…

1
Darlington: Ross Chastain mixes it up again with Kyle Larson; William Byron continues emerging as a NASCAR star; the return of North Wilkesboro Speedway 50:34

1y ago50:34

50:34

On broadcasting part of the Darlington Cup race with his father, Richard “The King” Petty (1:30);how and why Darlington remains the same now as then (4:00); on the Petty family’s relative lack of success at Darlington (5:45); on the 75 greatest drivers scene on throwback weekend (8:00); analyzing what happened in Kyle Larson vs. Ross Chastain (10:3…

1
Dover: Martin Truex Jr. ends 54-race winless streak; Ross Chastain in another crash controversy with Kyle Larson; impressions of attending Supercross in Nashville 49:29

1+ y ago49:29

49:29

General impressions of Doveras concerns about tire troubles largely were avoided (1:00); two tires or four to win the race on the final restart (2:30); Martin Truex Jr. holding off Ross Chastain on the final restart (4:30); the bickering between Truex and crew chief James Small (8:00); how it might just be a sign of a good working relationship beca…

1
Talladega: Kyle Busch and Richard Childress Racing are superspeedway sweethearts; the wicked Ryan Preece-Kyle Larson wreck; Bubba Wallace triple blocks 44:45

1+ y ago44:45

44:45

Kyle Busch’s emergence as superspeedway ace at RCR (1:30); RCR’s recent success at superspeedways (4:30); the “breath of fresh air” and morale boost that RCR gave Kyle Busch (8:30); the resurgence of RCR after some previous peaks and valleys (11:30) and how a decades-old organization can adapt to being so deferential to Kyle Busch in his first seas…

1
Martinsville: Kyle Larson conquers the paper clip; Chase Elliott makes an impressive return; tough break for Ryan Preece; did low downforce produce a “good” race? 48:08

1+ y ago48:08

48:08

Kyle Larson finally figures out Martinsville (1:30); how Kyle Larson “changed his golf swing” to improve (5:00); applying a fade, cut and draw to race car driving (8:00); another track where DJ had to adjust “his swing” (9:30); why Martinsville has the light-bulb moments (11:00); is Kyle Larson back in 2021 championship form? (14:00); the Ryan Pree…

1
Bristol: Kyle Larson vs. Ryan Preece; where is the line on retaliation and NASCAR officiating drivers; the future of dirt racing in Cup; making penalties transparent 36:59

1+ y ago36:59

36:59

Why did the Bristol Dirt Race finally produce a winner with a dirt background? (1:00); why the surface was conducive for better racing, particularly in the final stage (3:00); did Ryan Preece intentionally take out Kyle Larson? (6:00); did Preece’s team inflame the situation by encouraging retaliation? (8:30); is Larson more of an aggressive driver…

1
COTA Austin: Tyler Reddick is now NASCAR’s best road course racer; an emotional win for Kurt Busch; Trackhouse teammates Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain feud 43:13

1+ y ago43:13

43:13

Is Tyler Reddick currently the best road course racer in NASCAR? (1:00); will there be a knock-on effect for other Toyota drivers in the future? (3:30); the three-stop strategy that paid off for Reddick and the No. 45 team (6:00); the sequence of final restarts and the adjustment Reddick made (9:00); why this victory was important in validating 23X…