The Racing Episode: Dirt Tracks, NASCAR & Driver Memories

1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:07,440 How's it going out there? Bulk and Spur. Welcome in to another episode of Always Pneumatic, Never Static. 2 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:14,040 Very glad to have you here today. My name is Marcus. I am the host. Of course. That's old news. Uh, 3 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:18,240 something else. That's old news at this point in time is our website. But for those of you that 4 00:00:18,240 --> 00:00:22,999 haven't visited yet and for those of you that haven't bookmarked it yet, you got to go check it 5 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:29,520 out. podcast.bulktransit.com. It's real simple. It's a one stop shop for everything involved with this 6 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:33,880 podcast. The photo gallery is up there from the Father's Day episode, so make sure you check it 7 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:39,320 out. We're going to have another photo gallery for today's episode, so make sure you go check that 8 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:44,520 one out as well. We got some racing pictures, and if you like to look at cars, well, there's a bunch 9 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:49,360 of pictures of cars in this one, so definitely run over to the website right now. Last time I'm going 10 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:56,280 to say it podcast.bulktransit.com. That's your spot. Now if you want to get in touch with me 11 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:01,260 for anything, be it, maybe you have an episode idea that you'd like to hear. Maybe you want to get on 12 00:01:01,300 --> 00:01:07,220 the podcast. Maybe you just want to call and clue me into something. You know, drivers, uh, are so good 13 00:01:07,220 --> 00:01:14,060 at networking with one another. And what I found is, uh, as I've done. Oh, gosh, we're close to 400 14 00:01:14,060 --> 00:01:19,899 podcast episodes that I've made for this company. Um, I will tell you this right now. These guys like 15 00:01:19,900 --> 00:01:25,459 to let me into their network. You guys like to let me into your network, and I, uh, could not thank you 16 00:01:25,460 --> 00:01:31,339 more because it makes for great podcast material. So network with me if you think that there's a 17 00:01:31,339 --> 00:01:35,900 guy out there that maybe doesn't want to come on the podcast, or maybe he's just a little bit 18 00:01:35,900 --> 00:01:41,380 reticent, a little bit shy about it. Tell me their name, give me their phone number. Let me call him 19 00:01:41,380 --> 00:01:47,860 and talk to him. Uh, I have a special way of kind of relaxing people in conversation, and, uh, 20 00:01:47,980 --> 00:01:53,620 I get told no all the time. And I totally respect it. And the people that give me a hard know and 21 00:01:53,620 --> 00:01:58,169 say, I'm just not interested. I leave him alone. But if you're on the fence about it. A little 22 00:01:58,169 --> 00:02:03,249 conversation can help and I am happy to have that conversation with you. So over at the website, 23 00:02:03,249 --> 00:02:08,210 there's a button there that you can click if you want to be a guest on the podcast or you want to 24 00:02:08,210 --> 00:02:13,529 get in touch with me, that's where you need to go. Uh, I guess I'll say it one more time, since I got 25 00:02:13,529 --> 00:02:20,129 so far away from saying it was going to be the last time I say its podcast.bulktransit.com. All 26 00:02:20,169 --> 00:02:25,329 right, that's enough homework for today. Uh, why are we here today? What are we talking about? Well, 27 00:02:25,369 --> 00:02:30,009 normally on this show, we're talking about trucking. And today I'd say we're trucking 28 00:02:30,049 --> 00:02:35,609 adjacent because a lot of truck drivers and their families and a lot of people that work at 29 00:02:35,609 --> 00:02:42,249 trucking companies have this inherent, uh, I guess, love for all things engines. 30 00:02:42,249 --> 00:02:48,209 And what comes with that is racing. And that's what we're here to talk about today, and not just 31 00:02:48,210 --> 00:02:52,129 NASCAR. We're going to be talking about all classes of racing today, from the dirt track to 32 00:02:52,169 --> 00:02:57,789 late models, all of it. And we've got a couple of drivers coming in here to join us that have spent 33 00:02:57,830 --> 00:03:04,229 significant time either at the track or on the track, and that's what's really cool. We've been 34 00:03:04,229 --> 00:03:10,829 working on getting this one driver in for a long time. I got to sit down with him all the way back 35 00:03:10,830 --> 00:03:15,669 when I was in Plain City. Got to have a great conversation. Learned a lot about him. Uh, learned a 36 00:03:15,670 --> 00:03:21,509 lot about his past and how, uh, there's a little bit more to it than just some truck driving. Uh, 37 00:03:21,509 --> 00:03:26,030 and, and also, our other guests told me he was one of the first things he told me when I was sitting 38 00:03:26,030 --> 00:03:31,309 down with him. He said, man, I'm a big Kyle Busch fan. And, uh, most of the time when I'm out driving, 39 00:03:31,310 --> 00:03:37,109 I'm listening to some sort of NASCAR themed radio talk shows. You know, so many drivers have their 40 00:03:37,109 --> 00:03:42,789 own podcasts now, whether it be, uh, drivers that are currently still in the Cup Series or ones 41 00:03:42,789 --> 00:03:48,510 that have retired and, uh, gone their separate ways, it's all good content and they're always telling 42 00:03:48,510 --> 00:03:53,989 great stories. And that's what I find about racing in general. You start to talk to guys that have 43 00:03:53,990 --> 00:03:59,770 been around racing for a long time, and you get stories like you would never imagine. It's a 44 00:03:59,770 --> 00:04:06,369 really cool group of people. They tend to be very inclusive. And later on in our discussion here, 45 00:04:06,369 --> 00:04:10,648 you'll actually hear somebody was cautioned, hey, don't go talk to that guy. That's the track 46 00:04:10,649 --> 00:04:17,289 champion. And by the time the conversation was had, uh, our guest today had two pages worth of stuff 47 00:04:17,290 --> 00:04:22,169 that he needed to go do to his car so he could get faster. That's what they'll do for you. It's 48 00:04:22,170 --> 00:04:27,769 it's one of those things where everybody kind of works with the same toolkit. It's how you apply 49 00:04:27,769 --> 00:04:33,208 the toolkit that really matters and really can set you apart from the other drivers in the field. 50 00:04:33,209 --> 00:04:38,849 And I have to say, there's a little bit of a connection there with truck driving for sure, 51 00:04:38,849 --> 00:04:44,529 because you look at it, if you zoom out, everybody's got a big truck, right? Everybody's 52 00:04:44,529 --> 00:04:49,890 driving a tractor and everybody's got a pneumatic trailer. So the tools are the same, but the 53 00:04:49,890 --> 00:04:56,070 application of those tools can sometimes pay massive dividends for you guys out there knowing 54 00:04:56,070 --> 00:05:02,268 how to operate these trailers, intimately understanding the job and the work area. Having 55 00:05:02,269 --> 00:05:07,470 your truck outfitted with all sorts of things that keep you comfortable and sane on the road. 56 00:05:07,510 --> 00:05:14,309 These are all parts of applying the tools in different ways that work for you, and I really 57 00:05:14,309 --> 00:05:20,070 think that the connection to trucking that racing has is a cool one. Because, again, another thing 58 00:05:20,070 --> 00:05:25,469 about the two that I find very similar is going to be the groups of people. And that is, you know, 59 00:05:25,510 --> 00:05:31,510 since I started doing this job some four years ago, I've met so many drivers and I can tell you 60 00:05:31,510 --> 00:05:38,269 right now, I've got a phone book full of driver's numbers who are anywhere across the country right 61 00:05:38,269 --> 00:05:44,319 now. And if I called them today and I said, I really need you right now, something like 90 to 62 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:49,829 95% of them would say yes. And even the ones that couldn't say yes would say I would do it if I 63 00:05:49,829 --> 00:05:55,059 wasn't stuck at this shipper or receiver. If I wasn't getting a wash out or doing something like 64 00:05:55,059 --> 00:05:59,899 that. So it's a great group of people, truck drivers. You guys all know that. I'm preaching to 65 00:05:59,900 --> 00:06:05,939 the choir here. Um, especially those of you at Bulk and Spur. Uh, we've heard it on this podcast. You 66 00:06:05,939 --> 00:06:11,100 hear it all the time. Um, it's it's a really great company to work for. And that means great people. 67 00:06:11,100 --> 00:06:18,019 And we've proven that in spades here in only, like, 20 some short episodes. So, uh, it's pretty apparent 68 00:06:18,019 --> 00:06:22,819 to me that we're working with good groups of people and racing and trucking kind of marry up 69 00:06:22,980 --> 00:06:28,540 with that similarity, but that's enough for me. I'm just kind of sitting here pontificating at this 70 00:06:28,540 --> 00:06:34,299 point. And really, the meat of this episode is about to happen as we turn the corner. And yes, 71 00:06:34,299 --> 00:06:39,859 just in case you were wondering, we're only turning left today because this is our racing 72 00:06:39,859 --> 00:06:44,579 special here on Always pneumatic, never static. Let's get our drivers in here quickly. 73 00:06:47,579 --> 00:06:52,880 You are listening to always pneumatic, never static. The Totally Pressurized podcast, brought to 74 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:58,440 you by Bulk Transit where we keep the lines clear, the tanks empty, and the conversation anything but 75 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:03,279 dry. Whether you're running powder pellets or anything in between. Pull up a seat, crack the 76 00:07:03,280 --> 00:07:10,159 windows, and let's hit it. Welcome back to Always Pneumatic, 77 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:15,760 never static. Possibly the fastest episode that we've ever done. And I don't mean that because of 78 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:20,319 the amount of time that we're going to spend today. I mean that simply because we are here to 79 00:07:20,359 --> 00:07:27,279 talk about racing. And I've got a special relationship with racing myself, something that I 80 00:07:27,279 --> 00:07:34,239 became a fan of that I never expected to be a fan of. Um, and that's that NASCAR specifically for 81 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:40,558 me. But racing in general, love cars, love watching them go fast. Don't understand a thing about what 82 00:07:40,559 --> 00:07:47,399 it takes. Uh, but I did have a short driving school that I went to, uh, out in, I believe it was Post 83 00:07:47,420 --> 00:07:53,219 Falls, Idaho. I went out and took a short school and then raced on a quarter mile track with my 84 00:07:53,219 --> 00:07:57,458 dad and my brother in law. I was terrified the whole time. We'll get into that a little bit more 85 00:07:57,459 --> 00:08:02,379 here in a minute, but let's welcome in our drivers that are joining us today, a couple of guys that 86 00:08:02,379 --> 00:08:07,858 love racing and one that's even got some experience there. But first let's say hello to 87 00:08:07,900 --> 00:08:13,500 Mike Upchurch. Uh Mike's back. Joining us second week in a row. Man I can't thank you enough. I was 88 00:08:13,500 --> 00:08:18,579 hoping if I bugged you again that you'd say yes. And here you are. Mike, it's good to have you. Yes, 89 00:08:18,579 --> 00:08:25,579 sir. Michael said, uh, invited me back. Uh, man, you're welcome here any time. Mike. Now, uh, I know you 90 00:08:25,579 --> 00:08:29,819 and I had a conversation back when I was out in Plain City the very first time. We were kind of 91 00:08:29,859 --> 00:08:34,340 figuring out how we were going to do this podcast. And you mentioned to me that you're a a NASCAR 92 00:08:34,379 --> 00:08:40,218 fan, and, in fact, that you listened to a lot of NASCAR radio on your Sirius XM. Uh, but I gotta ask 93 00:08:40,219 --> 00:08:45,219 you, do you have any racing experience? Have you ever felt the need to go fast and put the pedal 94 00:08:45,260 --> 00:08:51,770 to the metal in a competitive way. No, my my my cousin, my mom, my dad. I grew up my dad and my 95 00:08:51,770 --> 00:08:58,130 uncle raised. I raised from my dad built it. My uncle raised it. So, uh. But I've been around him 96 00:08:58,169 --> 00:09:03,969 all my life, so to speak. And then, uh, my cousin still raised. Now watch him raised, but not in any. 97 00:09:04,129 --> 00:09:09,049 I tried motorcycle one time. That that just wasn't for me. So. No, not not even not any driving 98 00:09:09,050 --> 00:09:13,249 experience myself. So you got a lot of pit crew experience, it sounds like, because I'm sure you 99 00:09:13,249 --> 00:09:17,809 were in those garages when they were taking care of that car. Absolutely. I think I told you on the 100 00:09:17,810 --> 00:09:24,769 last, last podcast, uh, I was a I was the parts cleaner and the painter on them, so. Okay, 101 00:09:24,769 --> 00:09:29,089 I like it. So they didn't put you to work pushing a broom. You still had some, uh, some importance 102 00:09:29,090 --> 00:09:34,130 there, that whoever's painting that car has got a big job. Yeah, it was, it was not. It was dirt. It was 103 00:09:34,130 --> 00:09:40,690 out in the yard backyard with a with a cover. Most time. It was a ten, ten laying down covers. All it 104 00:09:40,690 --> 00:09:46,989 was and done. Done. The parts, Parts and motor parts are something like that. Painting the wheels and 105 00:09:46,989 --> 00:09:52,428 stuff like that was my duty. Very cool, very cool. Well, Mike, super glad to have you here for this 106 00:09:52,429 --> 00:09:58,629 conversation. Uh, let's welcome in our next, uh, driver here, joining us for his first time. And, uh, 107 00:09:58,629 --> 00:10:02,668 we've been trying to get him on the show for a while. Just hasn't worked out schedule wise. But we 108 00:10:02,710 --> 00:10:07,349 finally got him, and we're glad to have him. Please welcome Greg Sigler to the show. Greg, thank you so 109 00:10:07,349 --> 00:10:12,229 much for being here, my friend. Hey, thanks for having me, Marcus. And I like to, uh, get a little 110 00:10:12,270 --> 00:10:17,669 bit of background on everybody, uh, before, uh, well, on their first appearance here, uh, we've already 111 00:10:17,669 --> 00:10:22,988 done this with Mike, but how long have you been driving for bulk, Greg? Uh, a little over three 112 00:10:22,989 --> 00:10:28,109 years. Okay. And, uh, were you, uh, were you a truck driver before that, or was there a different 113 00:10:28,109 --> 00:10:34,510 career going on? I was a union ironworker for 33 years and got into truck 114 00:10:34,510 --> 00:10:41,108 driving. I went into a shop with the union ironworker. Wages. Still did some heavy 115 00:10:41,109 --> 00:10:47,409 equipment, uh, mechanic. And got to drive the little boy and haul equipment that way. So I had a couple 116 00:10:47,409 --> 00:10:54,288 of years experience, and then I tried it on my own with a flatbed company, and that was the worst 117 00:10:54,289 --> 00:11:00,849 money pit I could ever think of. So here I am. Do you hear that, man? Owner operators will tell you 118 00:11:00,849 --> 00:11:07,569 you don't necessarily drive a truck. You just spend money on it, right? Yeah. My. I think 119 00:11:08,409 --> 00:11:15,210 our first load. I blew a turbo ten miles out of the, uh, shipper. Oh, wow. My most profitable week. I 120 00:11:15,210 --> 00:11:21,529 think I made $58, and that was when fuel was $6 a gallon. So it was, uh. It was fun. 121 00:11:22,090 --> 00:11:28,289 It was. Fun. A learning experience, if nothing else. Right? I can laugh about it now. Yes. Yeah. Good, good. 122 00:11:29,969 --> 00:11:34,770 My dad had a couple bobtail trucks that he a tandem and a bob. Tell you all the asphalt where 123 00:11:34,770 --> 00:11:39,210 the. I lived across the street from the time I heard that beep. Backup alarm coming on. It was 124 00:11:39,210 --> 00:11:45,869 something to go work on. Yeah. Always. Yep. I'll tell you, man. I've done a lot of, uh, podcasts 125 00:11:45,869 --> 00:11:50,509 with, uh, with other companies and other fleets, and we've we've kind of touched on that owner 126 00:11:50,549 --> 00:11:56,748 operator thing. And, uh, it seems like every former owner operator that you talk to will tell you 127 00:11:56,830 --> 00:12:02,629 horror stories about just being worried about whether or not they're going to be able to make 128 00:12:02,629 --> 00:12:07,468 the next trip. Are they going to be able to get enough money to fix the truck? And, you know, tires, 129 00:12:07,469 --> 00:12:13,989 fuel, all of it goes into the insurance is crazy. Um, I think company driving is the way to go. Man, 130 00:12:13,989 --> 00:12:19,989 if you were to ask me, I wouldn't want that responsibility, that's for sure. Absolutely. The 131 00:12:19,989 --> 00:12:25,709 first time I filled this truck up for bulk transit, I wasn't crying. I was like, oh, right. It 132 00:12:25,710 --> 00:12:32,710 tells me a penny. Uh. That's great. That's great. Well, fellas, uh, we're here to talk racing 133 00:12:32,749 --> 00:12:39,579 today, and we got a lot to get into because Greg has a very, uh, extensive history involving, racing 134 00:12:39,580 --> 00:12:44,979 as well. Um, in fact, Greg, let's, uh, let's get into that real quick just so we can continue to kind 135 00:12:44,979 --> 00:12:49,859 of introduce you to the audience here. Um, talk to me a little bit about your racing career, because 136 00:12:49,859 --> 00:12:56,859 I know there's a pretty storied one there. Well, I was into muscle cars back in early 137 00:12:56,860 --> 00:13:03,099 2000. I had I had seen racing. We had watched it. I lived in Southern California. We got to watch a 138 00:13:03,099 --> 00:13:08,619 local race track. It was always asphalt. I've never seen dirt in person. I had a gentleman that I 139 00:13:08,619 --> 00:13:15,299 worked with. He had a asphalt car that wasn't quite finished, and I had a Buick Skylark 140 00:13:15,420 --> 00:13:22,059 Grand Sport that really wasn't quite finished, and we did some trading and I got into it in 2007, in 141 00:13:22,059 --> 00:13:27,619 the Street stock division. And man, I tell you what, that was the most fun I've ever had because it 142 00:13:27,619 --> 00:13:34,340 was the cheapest thing I'd ever done at that time. But we we started out the last race of the 2000 143 00:13:34,379 --> 00:13:41,319 season, 2007 season Finished dead last multiple laps down. And I knew right there that was 144 00:13:41,319 --> 00:13:46,640 the one thing I wanted to do. Even after a dead last finish, multiple laps down, you knew that 145 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:52,039 there was only the only place to go from there was up. Right? Oh, exactly. I mean, once you hit the 146 00:13:52,039 --> 00:13:58,079 bottom. And you know what? I had the best seat in the house. I got to see the race in person on the 147 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:03,879 track. That's awesome. Pretty cool. And. And where did you go from there? That's 2007. Were you right 148 00:14:03,879 --> 00:14:09,919 back into it the next season? Well, yes. After that race, I blew the engine that night. Just green, you 149 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:16,639 know, being green, not knowing what I'm doing. I built the car over the winter. We started the 2008 150 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:22,919 season. Uh, I think we were second or third in the points in the, uh, street stock. 151 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:29,519 And I got to know a lot of people to track. I go around and talk to people because, you know, get 152 00:14:29,519 --> 00:14:35,899 different ideas of what I was new, what, you know, what am I doing? And a guy I got to meet a 153 00:14:35,900 --> 00:14:40,379 gentleman by the name of Gary Arthur. He had a late model race car, so we kind of. He kind of took 154 00:14:40,380 --> 00:14:46,659 me under his wing and helped me all the setups and stuff. And after about three months we were 155 00:14:46,659 --> 00:14:50,658 practicing one day and he's like, everybody called me Ziggy. He's like, hey, uh, Ziggy, you want to take 156 00:14:50,659 --> 00:14:57,099 my car for a practice? I'm like, well, heck yeah, man, it's a late model. I got out there on a Thursday, 157 00:14:57,099 --> 00:15:04,059 practice his car. That Saturday I bought a I had one. And you want to talk about 158 00:15:04,060 --> 00:15:10,418 spending money? That's an easy way to do it, right? Yeah. No, that is a good hobby. You're trying to 159 00:15:10,419 --> 00:15:17,379 make money for IRS tax purposes. I got you. Yes. Yes, I really got it. I really got his road rage out 160 00:15:17,379 --> 00:15:23,139 there. That's why he's telling you he enjoys the road race. Really? Release the pressure. Yeah, that's 161 00:15:23,139 --> 00:15:28,179 an interesting thing. Is it? Did you find yourself as a more adaptable and calm driver when you were 162 00:15:28,180 --> 00:15:32,619 just everyday driving, and you really got the aggression out on the track? Greg, did it work out 163 00:15:32,619 --> 00:15:39,249 like that for you? I, I really or I own my own car there. I went straight to the late model that was 164 00:15:39,249 --> 00:15:45,249 the top division, very expensive. And a guy told me it was $1,500 a corner when you wrecked, and I 165 00:15:45,249 --> 00:15:52,129 think he was off a little bit. He was a little low on that. So I tried to, I raced, I wanted to always 166 00:15:52,130 --> 00:15:58,409 better my position, but if I'm racing for fourth place, I'm not going to take out 167 00:15:58,449 --> 00:16:05,249 $2,000 worth of car, you know, for one more or two more points, something like that. Sure. Just I kind 168 00:16:05,250 --> 00:16:11,849 of raced smart as well. I was really I took great pride in being smooth and a, 169 00:16:12,530 --> 00:16:18,969 you know, not an aggressive driver, but I took pride in not wrecking anybody. Okay. All right. I 170 00:16:18,970 --> 00:16:23,529 like that, man. I, you know, a lot of people only watch racing and they they get excited about the 171 00:16:23,529 --> 00:16:28,608 accidents. Uh, that's not for me. I like those I like those smooth body lines. I like the cars to 172 00:16:28,609 --> 00:16:33,469 look put together and not beat up. You know. I always tell everybody A win for me is loading 173 00:16:33,469 --> 00:16:38,349 that car on the trailer. The same way I got it. Absolutely. Yeah. Mike, you got some, uh, some 174 00:16:38,389 --> 00:16:43,070 thoughts there, I'm sure, because, uh, you probably saw a beat up race car coming to the garage a few 175 00:16:43,070 --> 00:16:50,029 times. Absolutely. Yeah. Most times we race there. Happy Sunday. We like 176 00:16:50,030 --> 00:16:56,669 working on it again already for next week. Yep, yep. It's a never ending project. Uh, and back in the 177 00:16:56,670 --> 00:17:01,149 day, the pay window wouldn't pay window wasn't doing it more for prize and the trophy than you 178 00:17:01,150 --> 00:17:07,068 were for the money. Yeah. And what class were they racing in, Mike? Your, uh, your your dad owning the 179 00:17:07,069 --> 00:17:12,789 car and your, uh. Was it your uncle you said was driving it? Uh, yeah, it was back in the late mid 180 00:17:12,829 --> 00:17:19,630 60s. Early 70s. We run 55. There's a modified division, and they actually cut the fenders. 181 00:17:19,670 --> 00:17:25,829 Fenders out. Uh, there were no fenders, but they had the body, and they actually had five gallon Army 182 00:17:25,829 --> 00:17:29,910 gas cans. That's what that's what they that was the fuel cell. And two of them back there in the 183 00:17:29,930 --> 00:17:36,810 back ten gallons of the five gallon fuel cells. Uh, gas tanks. Wow. That's crazy. Army 184 00:17:36,810 --> 00:17:43,649 gas is different nowadays. Yeah, yeah, well, it's definitely become a lot safer of a sport. Uh, 185 00:17:43,649 --> 00:17:49,568 all the way across the board. I feel like, um. And really, I think you could probably directly 186 00:17:49,569 --> 00:17:55,489 connect that change to the death of Dale Earnhardt. Uh, it seems to be that there's a lot 187 00:17:55,489 --> 00:18:01,489 more, uh, a focus on the, uh, you know, the safety, the Hans devices, everything like that. Uh, of course, 188 00:18:01,530 --> 00:18:06,289 you know, as a big race that, uh, Dale Earnhardt passed during. And there was a lot of eyes on it. 189 00:18:06,290 --> 00:18:11,129 And, uh, you want to see you want to see these drivers be safe out there. Uh, you know, the the 190 00:18:11,129 --> 00:18:16,369 Carl Edwards wreck up into the fence comes to mind. Uh, there's a lot of safety to think about 191 00:18:16,369 --> 00:18:22,169 when it comes to racing, and not just for the drivers, but for the fan base as well. Um, and it's 192 00:18:22,170 --> 00:18:26,489 good to have drivers out there, like Greg that want to keep that body smooth. Man, I'll tell you, 193 00:18:26,489 --> 00:18:31,909 because, uh, seen some horrific stuff happen, and it's just a part of the sport, isn't it? 194 00:18:32,510 --> 00:18:38,870 Unfortunately, yeah. You know, uh, on that note, and, and this is a little bit, I would say racing 195 00:18:38,870 --> 00:18:44,910 adjacent, but I've talked to both of you guys now about, uh, one particular driver, uh, that we 196 00:18:44,910 --> 00:18:50,630 unfortunately lost here just recently. And Mike, I happen to know Kyle Busch was, uh, was your guy. You 197 00:18:50,630 --> 00:18:56,108 told me that back when we were in Plain City talking before this podcast ever launched, and, uh, 198 00:18:56,109 --> 00:19:02,509 such a such a tragic thing that happened with him, uh, passing from from an illness, uh, seems like 199 00:19:02,509 --> 00:19:09,229 sepsis got him. And just not a way that you expect, uh, a top of the line racer like that to go 200 00:19:09,229 --> 00:19:14,629 out. Um, where were you when you heard that news, Mike? And how did it kind of shake you? Uh, I'm sure 201 00:19:14,630 --> 00:19:19,709 that was probably pretty hard to hear. Oh, absolutely. Yeah. I was in Oklahoma City actually 202 00:19:19,710 --> 00:19:26,068 getting fuel, and I checked my phone and it came up breaking news, and it said that it was going to 203 00:19:26,069 --> 00:19:31,539 have a replacement driver in in his car. Uh, the Wednesday. All right. Well, expected Thursday 204 00:19:31,540 --> 00:19:37,339 morning and about noon. I guess they released the deal. It went in, actually, uh, Wednesday night, 205 00:19:37,539 --> 00:19:42,259 because when he was in the simulator simulator over there, then, uh, they got rushed to the 206 00:19:42,260 --> 00:19:47,259 hospital that evening, and that morning, uh, didn't look good. I was going to get a replacement driver, 207 00:19:47,260 --> 00:19:52,579 and it was right around noon, 1:00, and, uh, I thought it was fake. You know, that fake news 208 00:19:52,579 --> 00:19:59,339 coming across, but it and it started blowing up on all the, all the reporters that do NASCAR. And they 209 00:19:59,339 --> 00:20:04,419 didn't hit me like a hit me like a ton. You know, I was like, oh, seriously. That's just yeah, I haven't 210 00:20:04,419 --> 00:20:09,539 haven't I couldn't think of those beforehand. Two bad years already, you know, just doing it and just 211 00:20:09,739 --> 00:20:15,938 wasn't sure how this year was going to go. And I gotta worry about that now. Yeah, man. It's so sad 212 00:20:15,939 --> 00:20:22,180 and and rowdy. One of those drivers that. Listen, uh, I'll be honest with you, uh, back when I was really 213 00:20:22,180 --> 00:20:27,920 into NASCAR, he was the guy that always stuck in my craw because it always seemed like he was 214 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:33,560 involved up there at the top of the leaderboard somewhere, and if he was in in range, you had to 215 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:38,800 worry about him because he was a very talented driver and not just in the Cup cars either. Man, 216 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:45,439 that guys won. What was it like almost 500 races across all classes. To, 217 00:20:45,479 --> 00:20:52,079 uh, to 24 area? 022424 area. I was giving him even more credit, but still. Oh, yeah. Yeah, 218 00:20:52,079 --> 00:20:58,839 he's he's. Oh, uh, Eddie's got the 200, you know, 200 plus, and Kyle's got him across all three, 219 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:04,880 all three divisions and late models and stuff like that. So it raised a legends and late models 220 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:09,438 and all. So he's he probably up in that range you're talking about with all the deals in the 221 00:21:09,479 --> 00:21:16,399 top three. He's at like 22221224 area. Wow. Uh, just an amazingly talented driver. 222 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:22,239 Um, like I said, always, always involved somewhere around and, uh, and, and one of the things I will 223 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:26,419 say about Kyle Busch, I don't know if there was a more entertaining guy when you got to listen to 224 00:21:26,460 --> 00:21:33,300 his in-car comms. Um. Oh, absolutely. He he didn't. He wore his heart right on his sleeve. And every 225 00:21:33,300 --> 00:21:38,299 time they came in there, I just would wonder, you know, as a guy who, uh, I've done terrestrial radio 226 00:21:38,300 --> 00:21:44,379 and there are what we call broadcast licenses. And the FCC will take your broadcast license away if 227 00:21:44,420 --> 00:21:49,139 you swear too much and it goes over the air. I always wondered how big of a risk they were 228 00:21:49,139 --> 00:21:55,739 running with rowdy when they turned his in-car comms on, because he was colorful. That's the 229 00:21:55,739 --> 00:21:59,219 reason I started following him. I was a mark Martin fan. I think I tell you, for as a mark 230 00:21:59,220 --> 00:22:06,139 Martin fan and, uh, he was retiring and I was at Texas Motor Speedway, and, uh, Kurt and Kyle come 231 00:22:06,140 --> 00:22:11,459 across there, and I got Kyle and and little to know he was switching from Hendrick to Gibbs, but, 232 00:22:11,459 --> 00:22:16,819 uh, everybody, everybody booed him and shooting in the finger and all the whole thing going on. I 233 00:22:16,859 --> 00:22:21,740 told my wife, that's my driver right there. Nobody likes him. And at the end, I got the two 234 00:22:21,740 --> 00:22:27,329 championships and all. Everybody started bandwagon and y'all see a lot more. A lot more of his, uh, 235 00:22:27,449 --> 00:22:34,368 memorabilia and, uh, stuff on there. So. Yeah. Yeah, well, may he rest in peace. Uh, like 236 00:22:34,369 --> 00:22:39,729 I said, so tragic. And and, Greg, you and I talked about it a little bit. Uh, you told me you you 237 00:22:39,770 --> 00:22:46,050 weren't really a fan, but, man, the respect just pours out of you for a guy that's that talented. I 238 00:22:46,050 --> 00:22:51,969 wasn't a fan until he went to, I think it was Richard Childers and then seemed like he was just 239 00:22:51,969 --> 00:22:57,728 in non, I don't know, sufficient equipment. It just wasn't up to par and he was making something out 240 00:22:57,729 --> 00:23:04,650 of nothing. Dude, he was a natural talent. Yep, yep. And you know. Uh, when he got hooked up 241 00:23:04,650 --> 00:23:09,809 with with Joe Gibbs, it it was really, uh, that was kind of a match made in heaven there for, for a 242 00:23:09,810 --> 00:23:15,889 while. Um, I remember that, you know, for me being as big of a football fan as I am, I was always 243 00:23:15,889 --> 00:23:21,029 interested in the Joe Gibbs Racing team. Just because I always wondered what kind of coaching 244 00:23:21,030 --> 00:23:26,389 mentality he would bring to that team. He seemed to be pretty involved and I always just thought 245 00:23:26,389 --> 00:23:33,069 that football to Racing Connection was really cool. Maybe that's just me, but, uh, um, just sad 246 00:23:33,069 --> 00:23:38,309 stuff. And, you know, we might as well mention this too. We lost Greg Biffle recently as well. Yeah. Uh, 247 00:23:38,349 --> 00:23:44,828 Greg Biffle was a fantastic talent to, uh, not not nearly as many wins as what Kyle Busch had, but 248 00:23:44,829 --> 00:23:51,829 again, just a tragic death, a plane crash. Not what you expect. You know, uh, we're a people that are 249 00:23:51,829 --> 00:23:57,789 fans of racing are used to hearing that race car drivers passed away in a race. Uh, but to hear, you 250 00:23:57,790 --> 00:24:03,708 know, mystery illness just grabs a 41 year old seemingly towards the end of his career, but also, 251 00:24:04,030 --> 00:24:10,629 uh, healthy enough to keep racing for years if he wanted to. And of course, Biffle retired. But you 252 00:24:10,630 --> 00:24:16,629 see, you know, losing some of his family as well in that just tragic stuff here lately. Uh, for NASCAR 253 00:24:16,629 --> 00:24:21,930 fans. And I feel like we we got to get that talk out of the way first, because I want to be 254 00:24:21,930 --> 00:24:26,689 respectful and actually share our thoughts on that and and not just leave it on the back burner 255 00:24:26,689 --> 00:24:32,968 for people listening to this, wondering when we're going to bring it up. Right? Right. Hey, was it only 256 00:24:33,009 --> 00:24:38,409 if he had a truck and a Kennedy, uh, championship? But he never did get the Cup, but he had been the 257 00:24:38,410 --> 00:24:44,249 first one to get the three three champ a championship and all three, uh, divisions. Yep. And 258 00:24:44,250 --> 00:24:51,249 that's the, uh, the truck Series, the Xfinity Series and the Cup Series, right? Yes, sir. Yep. Well, uh, 259 00:24:51,290 --> 00:24:57,449 R.I.P. to those to those great drivers. I know we all spent a lot of time watching them. Um, and and, 260 00:24:57,490 --> 00:25:04,050 you know, since we're on the subject of who our guy is here, um, the way that I fell in love with 261 00:25:04,050 --> 00:25:08,170 racing. And maybe this isn't the way you want to get in, and this is probably going to get under 262 00:25:08,170 --> 00:25:13,889 some people's skin, because my favorite driver, a lot like Kyle Busch. Um, he got a lot of fans, but 263 00:25:13,889 --> 00:25:18,749 he also had the tendency to really piss some people off from time to time. I believe the first 264 00:25:18,750 --> 00:25:25,309 race I ever saw him, he was in the Coors Light car. I think it was the 40, maybe the 41. But Kevin 265 00:25:25,310 --> 00:25:30,749 Harvick got upset at somebody and stepped right over the top of a car and, uh, went and grabbed him 266 00:25:30,749 --> 00:25:36,789 by the shirt lapel in the pits. And and the fight was on and I thought, man, I love me a good Coors 267 00:25:36,790 --> 00:25:42,469 Light in the summer. And that was a lot of fun to watch. I think that's my guy. Uh, so, you know, I, I 268 00:25:42,589 --> 00:25:48,709 started out being a fan of the guy who filled the gigantic shoes of, uh, Dale Earnhardt on that 269 00:25:48,709 --> 00:25:55,150 racing team and, uh, always been a Kevin Harvick fan. Sad to see him go. Uh, sad to see him, you know, 270 00:25:55,189 --> 00:26:02,189 retire. But, uh, we kind of lost a lot of very good drivers, right. In the same period. And, Greg, you 271 00:26:02,189 --> 00:26:07,989 and I were chatting a little bit about it over text. You kind of called it, um, the, the old school 272 00:26:07,989 --> 00:26:13,789 drivers, like he, uh, Kyle Busch, you said, was one of the last of the old school drivers. And I think 273 00:26:13,829 --> 00:26:18,860 you're probably talking about that generation with guys like Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, you 274 00:26:18,860 --> 00:26:24,019 know, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch. Obviously Kurt Busch falls into that. You've got Matt Kenseth. 275 00:26:24,060 --> 00:26:29,620 You've got Denny Hamlin still racing. But I think could probably be considered in that maybe even 276 00:26:29,620 --> 00:26:36,019 Joey Logano. Talk to me a little bit about that old school driver that you were referencing, Greg. 277 00:26:36,060 --> 00:26:41,019 Are those some of the names that come to mind? Yeah, yeah. Those. Are the ones that popped to mind. 278 00:26:41,060 --> 00:26:47,979 Other than Joey Logano and Denny. Denny Hamlin, he seemed to come about the same time that I'm 279 00:26:47,979 --> 00:26:54,179 like, you are Kevin Harvick. I was a big Kevin. I was a big Gordon fan when he retired. I went to 280 00:26:54,219 --> 00:26:59,979 Kevin Harvick just because he wasn't afraid to tell people what he thought. Yeah. Wasn't afraid to 281 00:26:59,979 --> 00:27:04,779 ruffle few feathers. And that's and he did listen to his podcast. Now he did it. No. That was the 282 00:27:04,779 --> 00:27:10,059 mentality to do it. Because if you get a guy worrying he's going to be looking in rear view 283 00:27:10,099 --> 00:27:15,879 way more than he's looking up the windshield. So he he was very smart at his craft. And then played 284 00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:22,319 in mind games. Yes, but Kyle Busch, he was right. There with it. And I honestly think this year he 285 00:27:22,319 --> 00:27:28,639 probably would have made the chase. Yeah, yeah, I think so. I think so. Mike, uh, do you do you sneer 286 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:35,159 at all when you hear that I'm a Kevin Harvick fan? No, we have plenty of rivals. And they both they 287 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:39,399 both on their truck teams and stuff. So it was really I had a whole lot of respect for him. 288 00:27:39,439 --> 00:27:46,079 Absolutely guys. And like I said, you feel, uh, feel the shoes. It's it's hard to believe. You know, 289 00:27:46,119 --> 00:27:52,959 believe me. Come in. And I know Kevin on my radio. I got chocolate Myers with his 290 00:27:52,960 --> 00:27:58,560 fuel. Fuel? Uh, you know, gas man on there. So listen to him tell some of the stories they tell. It's 291 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:03,560 pretty amazing. Pretty amazing for Earnhardt. And like I say, for them switching over to Harvick 292 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:09,759 after after after Earnhardt's death, it was pretty a lot of stories are pretty interesting. A 293 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:16,619 strong team. Yeah. I couldn't imagine being the guy that gets tapped to fill those shoes. I mean, Dale 294 00:28:16,620 --> 00:28:23,579 Earnhardt is one of, if not the greatest. And maybe I'll ask you guys that. Who do you you know, uh, 295 00:28:23,579 --> 00:28:29,060 Greg and Mike both. Who do you guys think is the greatest driver of all time? Now, there's a whole 296 00:28:29,060 --> 00:28:35,579 generation of people out there that are like the Michael Jordan, uh, generation. They say it's it's 297 00:28:35,580 --> 00:28:42,260 Richard Petty, full stop. There is no, uh, no going back to it. But I might argue that the 298 00:28:42,260 --> 00:28:48,099 competition was a little bit stiffer for Dale Earnhardt. Uh, you know, Richard Petty won a lot of 299 00:28:48,099 --> 00:28:54,059 really good races. One hell of a talented driver. No question there. Uh, Greg, I'll go to you first. 300 00:28:54,099 --> 00:28:59,260 Who do you think is the greatest driver of all time? I hope he's going to go to Mike first. That's 301 00:28:59,260 --> 00:29:06,059 okay. Of of all. I don't know that I could pick one greatest driver of all 302 00:29:06,060 --> 00:29:09,738 time because, I mean, Dale Earnhardt, without question. Because I don't want to get shot out 303 00:29:09,739 --> 00:29:15,569 here. he was. He was the best. I'm looking around, see if anybody sees me. I mean, he was really, 304 00:29:15,569 --> 00:29:21,089 really good. Really good. Then you had talent. You had Jeff Gordon, like you said. You had Matt 305 00:29:21,089 --> 00:29:27,849 Kenseth. You had. It was just different types of racing and different errors. Everybody thinks 306 00:29:27,849 --> 00:29:34,129 Richard Petty's a King. I think Richard Petty brought it to the forefront, the forefront. And 307 00:29:34,129 --> 00:29:39,449 then I think Earnhardt and I let's see, is that Bill Elliott? They had some good rivalries. Geoff 308 00:29:39,449 --> 00:29:46,009 Bodine I mean, that's what got people hooked. And that's I think a lot of that's missing in today's 309 00:29:46,010 --> 00:29:52,289 NASCAR. Yeah, I can definitely. I don't know if I could pick one. It would have. I mean, 310 00:29:52,890 --> 00:29:57,809 like you got to give Dale Earnhardt his props. I'm a Jeff Gordon fan. I like Carl Edwards. I mean, 311 00:29:58,010 --> 00:30:04,810 there's just so many. I usually you'd be excluding too many. Yeah that's true. And and I hear I 312 00:30:04,810 --> 00:30:09,908 gotta, I gotta throw my dad a bone here on this one. Uh, if, if we don't mention, at least mention 313 00:30:09,909 --> 00:30:15,309 Jimmie Johnson in this conversation. I'm going to get a phone call. Um, and, uh, you know. I've never 314 00:30:15,310 --> 00:30:21,909 heard of. It. It's funny man. As one, you know, uh, my dad has never been a front 315 00:30:21,949 --> 00:30:27,109 runner in his life. And, uh, he did not fall in love with Jimmie Johnson after all of the 316 00:30:27,109 --> 00:30:32,509 championships. He was a Jimmie Johnson fan, going all the way back to the beginning. Uh, that I 317 00:30:32,510 --> 00:30:37,589 remember. And, uh, but, man, I'll tell you, he caught some cross eyes when you start talking about 318 00:30:37,589 --> 00:30:43,669 racing and and he brings up the old, uh, lows 48. Uh, Mike, what's your take on it, man? Who do you think 319 00:30:43,670 --> 00:30:50,629 is the best driver of all time for your money. Man? Kyle Busch. Yeah. It's, uh. I got to 320 00:30:50,629 --> 00:30:57,069 admit, you know, I it's, uh, Greg is a multi, multi generation. Each one had their own set of rules 321 00:30:57,069 --> 00:31:04,068 and, and uh, uh, we call it, uh, the scoring and stuff like that on a championship. But uh, 322 00:31:04,069 --> 00:31:08,770 you'd have to mention like I say the three they got seven. They, they, They're right there with a 323 00:31:08,770 --> 00:31:15,689 Patty and Earnhardt and Johnson, for sure. Yeah. Yeah. So do I. I'm like, I like Greg the 324 00:31:15,689 --> 00:31:20,769 pinpointed down each one. I mean, even go down and out right now with Kyle Larson running Indy's. You 325 00:31:20,769 --> 00:31:24,889 know he's he's one of probably one of the very few to run the Indy cars. He's multi 326 00:31:24,930 --> 00:31:30,769 multi-talented. And like I say, he's a generational deal to me. Sure, sure. You could probably pick out 327 00:31:30,930 --> 00:31:36,729 the best driver in each generation as racing's kind of evolved over the years. Right, right. Yes, 328 00:31:36,730 --> 00:31:41,689 sir. Yeah I think that's a good way to put it that way. We won't upset too many people out there that 329 00:31:41,689 --> 00:31:48,169 are listening. So we kind of we gotta cover all the bases there, uh, you know. Sorry. Go ahead. 330 00:31:48,610 --> 00:31:53,170 No, no, I'm saying that race fans and race fans, uh, mate, whatever. Whatever top three we put up there, 331 00:31:53,170 --> 00:31:57,888 it'll be a totally different three for somebody different that you're asking. So. Yeah. Absolutely, 332 00:31:57,889 --> 00:32:03,930 absolutely. And, uh, what is it about this new generation of drivers? Guys, I don't know if you're 333 00:32:03,930 --> 00:32:10,509 like me, Um, but I have sort of gotten away from watching NASCAR as of late. Ever since Kevin 334 00:32:10,509 --> 00:32:16,188 retired. Um, Greg, that's why when you said to me via text the other day that it's kind of a new 335 00:32:16,189 --> 00:32:22,189 generation of drivers, I'm having trouble finding my guy now. I don't know who to root for because 336 00:32:22,189 --> 00:32:28,188 nobody has really stood out to me. I mean, they're look, they're great drivers out there. Um, but I 337 00:32:28,269 --> 00:32:34,429 can't sit here and say, oh, I love Chase Elliott, or I love Kyle Larson or, uh, any of these guys 338 00:32:34,429 --> 00:32:40,709 because nobody is really grabbed me like Kevin Harvick grabbed me. Um, Greg, why do you think that 339 00:32:40,709 --> 00:32:45,270 is? What's going on with the new generation of drivers? Are they just are they so focused on the 340 00:32:45,270 --> 00:32:49,389 driving and they're not playing the mind games? And that's why I'm not I'm not falling in love 341 00:32:49,389 --> 00:32:55,310 with them like Kevin. What do you think it is? I blame it at the time of the generation. I'm just 342 00:32:55,310 --> 00:33:02,109 kidding. Uh, to be at the level they're at, they're all super talented and they've got the funding. 343 00:33:02,309 --> 00:33:09,259 They've got sponsorship backing and they are dotting all the i's, crossing all the t's. Exactly 344 00:33:09,260 --> 00:33:15,140 perfect. But nobody it seems like we have no personality. There's no 345 00:33:15,939 --> 00:33:22,939 no, no intimidator. There's no I mean, we're afraid to ruffle feathers. Yeah, I can see that. 346 00:33:22,939 --> 00:33:28,179 And that's why that's why I think Kyle Busch was really, uh, he he had the chance. He was. He always 347 00:33:28,180 --> 00:33:34,099 had a punchers chance in this current generation, because he was one of very few guys willing to do 348 00:33:34,100 --> 00:33:41,059 that. I mean, maybe Denny Hamlin, maybe Joey Logano might have the, uh, the gumption to. But Kyle Busch 349 00:33:41,059 --> 00:33:47,459 was going to ruffle feathers. Uh, Mike, I wonder, um, do you see yourself gravitating to 350 00:33:47,459 --> 00:33:52,180 another, uh, to another car now that you're not going to be able to watch Kyle Busch anymore? Uh, 351 00:33:52,180 --> 00:33:57,979 or are you just watching For the love of the game at this point in time? No seatbelt. Uh, Christopher 352 00:33:57,979 --> 00:34:04,799 Bell is my friend. My second driver. He he's from, a hundred miles from trees from Norman, Oklahoma. 353 00:34:05,040 --> 00:34:09,319 So I'll probably get to him. But he's he's not he's not rowdy. He's he's more of a mark Martin. 354 00:34:09,360 --> 00:34:15,879 You know, he kind of laid back and left the racing come to him. But you're talking about one of those 355 00:34:15,879 --> 00:34:21,119 times right now that's catching everybody's eye right now. And a lot of the fan fan base uh, Carson 356 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:27,799 Hocevar. Yeah. Uh. He's he's a little wild. Little wild on the edge. Yeah. He is. 357 00:34:27,919 --> 00:34:32,359 Aggravating everybody. Right. He's catching everybody's eye. But maybe for the wrong reasons 358 00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:37,999 right now. Absolutely. Yes, sir. But that's radio follow. That's trying to follow Kyle Busch. Uh, wait, 359 00:34:37,999 --> 00:34:44,799 wait, is it our campground out there at the, uh. But after about, uh, while back when a neighbor had out 360 00:34:44,800 --> 00:34:49,919 there to a campground and we, we, we spent out there play ten years and, uh, he only knew what I 361 00:34:49,919 --> 00:34:54,399 called Busch fan. And he'd come back and he'd tell me where Kyle plays. I said, I know, but you were 362 00:34:54,399 --> 00:34:58,839 watching him everywhere. You knew where he was at, you know? So you got to watch him. You knew where 363 00:34:58,840 --> 00:35:05,619 he was at. Yeah. Yeah. Oh. That's it. Yeah. I got the young. Young. I'm sorry. Young guys right now. 364 00:35:05,660 --> 00:35:12,499 Man. They're just. They're, uh. They got guys, as Greg was saying, they got the money, they got the talent, 365 00:35:12,499 --> 00:35:17,979 and they did. Some of them jumped, jumped some trucks to cup. Some of them didn't, you know, doing 366 00:35:17,979 --> 00:35:23,540 it. So they they got the backing the racing and this matter getting the experience now. Yeah. Yeah 367 00:35:23,540 --> 00:35:28,899 it is. And and you know, who knows maybe in five years one of these guys will stick out to me and 368 00:35:28,940 --> 00:35:34,339 I, I will be back to, uh, you know, buying the merchandise that's got the car number on it. Um, I 369 00:35:34,339 --> 00:35:39,699 haven't I haven't bought myself a hat since my last Kevin Harvick hat, and, uh, I, I, I will say this. 370 00:35:39,700 --> 00:35:46,379 I've only been to, I think, three NASCAR races. They've all been in Las Vegas. Um, and, uh, got to, 371 00:35:46,419 --> 00:35:52,099 got into playing some fantasy NASCAR back then to of course love to put some bets down. Uh, I love 372 00:35:52,139 --> 00:35:56,419 they've got this thing in Vegas you can do where you pick four drivers and if any four of them 373 00:35:56,419 --> 00:36:02,439 wins, you win that bet. And man, that is such a fun way to watch a race you get for guys that you 374 00:36:02,439 --> 00:36:08,999 think got a chance. And one of those races. All four of my guys were in the top ten for almost 375 00:36:08,999 --> 00:36:15,360 the entire race. I mean, I was on my feet, you know, I've got my Nextel, I got my Nextel headset on. I 376 00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:20,959 got my little mini TV that I rented. I had so much fun and, and a lot of people that have never 377 00:36:20,960 --> 00:36:26,359 experienced it would tell you, why would you want to go to an auto race? Man, it is a sporting event 378 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:31,919 that you have to go see to really believe. And we actually went and saw the World of Outlaws races 379 00:36:31,919 --> 00:36:36,719 at one of those, uh, I, I was sitting in the red section. I got sprayed with dirt the whole nine 380 00:36:36,720 --> 00:36:42,279 yards, man, and I really had some fun. And then we ended up getting pit passes one year because they 381 00:36:42,279 --> 00:36:49,080 had gone to the same race in Vegas for a bunch of years in a row. My dad and his poker group, and, uh, 382 00:36:49,080 --> 00:36:54,480 they gave us passes and we got to go back to the pits, and we met a guy who was racing late models, 383 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:59,509 and he took us back into the late model pit. And we were actually talking to drivers back there, 384 00:36:59,509 --> 00:37:04,549 seeing those little cars that they race on the infield. Man uh, Greg, you know, you talked about 385 00:37:04,550 --> 00:37:10,709 going around and meeting people. Um, truck drivers are a lot like the guys that I met out on the 386 00:37:10,709 --> 00:37:16,429 racetrack in that every truck driver that I meet, uh, has a special place in my heart. Because it's 387 00:37:16,429 --> 00:37:20,668 such a good group of people I have. I have yet to meet one of you guys that wouldn't give someone 388 00:37:20,669 --> 00:37:25,870 the shirt off your back. You're always helping each other out. Uh, is that similar in the racing 389 00:37:25,870 --> 00:37:31,509 community? Because in my short experience back there in the pits and just having drivers and 390 00:37:31,509 --> 00:37:36,629 mechanics have random people walk up to them and engage them in conversation, they were all so 391 00:37:36,629 --> 00:37:43,229 gracious and so nice. Uh, is that your experience as well? Uh, with other 392 00:37:43,230 --> 00:37:50,029 racers? After I raced my first late model race and just got embarrassed because I had no 393 00:37:50,030 --> 00:37:54,669 idea what I was doing, uh, again, I bring up Gary, I went over to Gary's and I'm like, hey, I'm going to 394 00:37:54,689 --> 00:37:59,128 go talk to this guy over there, see why he's so fast, see if he can help me. And they're like, no, 395 00:37:59,129 --> 00:38:02,449 you can't talk to him because he's a track champion. I said, well, that's exactly who I want to 396 00:38:02,449 --> 00:38:08,049 talk to. So I know you don't know me real well, but I haven't really met a stranger, and I'm not 397 00:38:08,049 --> 00:38:14,489 afraid to go up and talk to people and that we open that up. He gave me two pages of stuff to do 398 00:38:14,530 --> 00:38:20,489 on my car in 30 days. Wow. But we we all started becoming friends. Uh, 399 00:38:21,409 --> 00:38:28,369 it was just it was just one big group. And then from them, for me, the biggest reward in racing 400 00:38:28,370 --> 00:38:33,649 was the fans. Like they would have nights where you could put your. They want to, they would want 401 00:38:33,689 --> 00:38:40,569 cars to go over the fan side. Right. But you know, obviously not during the race but after 402 00:38:40,610 --> 00:38:45,249 before the race, you'd be set up over there and you'd I would let kids in the car and just 403 00:38:45,250 --> 00:38:51,769 whatever they needed I did for it. And it just it was so rewarding that we would go to other tracks. 404 00:38:51,770 --> 00:38:56,989 And the other tracks were just if you had a problem. I went to Corbin, Kentucky, had a 405 00:38:56,990 --> 00:39:01,789 carburetor go out. I had two of the racers offer me the carburetors off of their cars that were in 406 00:39:01,790 --> 00:39:07,590 a division lower than me, but it just really it's just the community. Yeah, really sounds like. It 407 00:39:07,590 --> 00:39:13,309 really sounds like it, man. That's great. Mike, I wonder your experience. First of all, have you gone 408 00:39:13,310 --> 00:39:18,349 to many races live that you, you know, since obviously your dad, your uncle were racing, you 409 00:39:18,350 --> 00:39:23,429 were at those races for sure. Uh, what's what's your, uh, your track record look like? How many 410 00:39:23,429 --> 00:39:27,749 races do you make it out to? How often are you trying to get to the track and see something live? 411 00:39:28,350 --> 00:39:35,029 Uh, I had season tickets out of Texas, and I've been to Phoenix, Bristol. I just recently went to 412 00:39:35,029 --> 00:39:41,829 Martinsville, going to homestead this, uh, this year, the the championship. But, uh, dirt track 413 00:39:41,870 --> 00:39:47,429 dirt tracks have been, uh. Well, I said, uh, then I lived at the track and then my cousin still races. 414 00:39:47,429 --> 00:39:52,779 So I go out there and watch him either at Oklahoma or over over at, uh, uh, Cannondale over 415 00:39:52,779 --> 00:39:59,699 here in cactus and, uh, but yeah, uh, he was on the gravy talking about the, uh, that's what we love to 416 00:39:59,699 --> 00:40:05,259 do. Go to the pits after the races and them guys, man, it's so late. Like Greg saying, that's my 417 00:40:05,260 --> 00:40:11,859 grandkids, uh, going. But, uh, about the day I take my son and my my both my sons. But now my, my 418 00:40:11,860 --> 00:40:17,659 grandkids go and they guys I can say him either picture by the car or they'll have little 419 00:40:17,659 --> 00:40:22,979 stickers or something like that. Just the kids get the kids involved and that's, that's, that's that's 420 00:40:22,979 --> 00:40:28,139 where you get your fan base from, you know. So what. It's about. Absolutely. And you, Greg, you're making 421 00:40:28,139 --> 00:40:32,419 lifelong fans. When you do that, you've got the mike. They're telling you about the experience. 422 00:40:32,419 --> 00:40:35,819 Those kids are going to be fans for the rest of their life, all because they got to sit in your 423 00:40:35,820 --> 00:40:42,699 car. I love it. I mean, they. They're always real timid. They would come over and I'm like, 424 00:40:42,699 --> 00:40:46,499 hey guys, how you doing? You know, like Mike said, sign whatever they want to sign, take a picture 425 00:40:46,500 --> 00:40:51,440 with them. Then I'm like, hey, would you like to sit in the car? and their eyes would just light up and 426 00:40:51,440 --> 00:40:56,279 their parents were like, are you sure it's okay? I'm like, absolutely positive he can't. This six 427 00:40:56,320 --> 00:41:02,999 year old cannot tear it up worse than I can. Yeah, right. And if they were a little if they were a 428 00:41:02,999 --> 00:41:06,799 little. Older I would give them I said, hey you want to start it? I'd let some of the older ones 429 00:41:06,800 --> 00:41:12,799 start it every now and then and, you know, just and a couple of them I'm still friends with and, and 430 00:41:12,800 --> 00:41:18,040 now they're racing and that's really cool. That's awesome. Absolutely. So it starts out. Yeah. That's 431 00:41:18,040 --> 00:41:22,359 what it's all about man. You know I I've never gotten to sit in a race car. Of course, I was an 432 00:41:22,360 --> 00:41:28,639 adult by the time I started going to the races in Vegas with my dad and his crew, but, uh, I there is 433 00:41:28,639 --> 00:41:35,639 one, one very specific experience at an air show out here in Oregon. Um, we were standing next to an 434 00:41:35,639 --> 00:41:41,119 F-14 Tomcat, and the fighter pilot walked up and asked my parents if I wanted to sit in the 435 00:41:41,120 --> 00:41:47,798 cockpit of an F-14 when I was, I don't know, maybe six years old. I mean, I was I was little and 436 00:41:47,820 --> 00:41:52,860 I. There's still a picture of me sitting out there wearing the flight helmet, giving a big thumbs up. 437 00:41:52,860 --> 00:41:58,099 And you know what? I never went into the military. I was never talented and smart enough to be a 438 00:41:58,100 --> 00:42:04,579 fighter pilot. But I'll tell you, if Top Gun is on, I stop and I watch it and I don't move until it's 439 00:42:04,580 --> 00:42:10,659 over. I love everything about Jets, and you know, they didn't let me fire it up, though, Greg. I'll 440 00:42:10,659 --> 00:42:16,779 tell you that much right now. I did not get to fire up the F-14. Uh, one of my great regrets in 441 00:42:16,779 --> 00:42:23,539 life. But, yeah. It's easier to get forgiveness than permission. It really is. It really is, man. 442 00:42:23,580 --> 00:42:28,179 But, uh, you know, cool experience. And, like you guys are saying, that's what it's all about. Without 443 00:42:28,179 --> 00:42:33,899 guys like that out there, we don't have the next generation of fans because, you know, as a young 444 00:42:33,899 --> 00:42:39,739 kid, you look at all that stuff and it really is untouchable to you. It's the same reason that if 445 00:42:39,780 --> 00:42:44,939 your favorite basketball player or football player or baseball player gives you a high five 446 00:42:44,939 --> 00:42:49,158 on their way out of the tunnel, I remember being at a Portland Trail Blazers game and Kenny 447 00:42:49,159 --> 00:42:54,599 Anderson high fived me coming out of the tunnel, and I'd probably told my dad, look, just cut the 448 00:42:54,639 --> 00:42:59,999 hand off and frame it. I don't care if I have that hand anymore. Kenny Anderson touched that hand, you 449 00:42:59,999 --> 00:43:06,679 know? And, uh, and here I am, a lifelong trailblazer fan, um, you know, and and it's funny how it kind of 450 00:43:06,720 --> 00:43:11,959 works as an adult, too. You just don't get to you don't get to see it the same way. But I was 451 00:43:11,959 --> 00:43:17,239 fortunate enough. Uh, I have a I graduated with a friend who married a guy that is the a team 452 00:43:17,240 --> 00:43:22,159 doctor for the San Francisco 40 niners. And I've said it before on this podcast. That's my team. 453 00:43:22,159 --> 00:43:28,159 I've been a fan going all the way back to Jerry Rice and Joe Montana, and, uh, she got us field 454 00:43:28,159 --> 00:43:33,879 access a few years back to go down on the field before the, uh, during the pregame and watch the 455 00:43:33,879 --> 00:43:39,360 players, uh, warm up and everything. And a couple of the wide receivers saw this group of kids that we 456 00:43:39,360 --> 00:43:44,080 were standing next to, and they came over and they were high fiving and they were taking pictures 457 00:43:44,080 --> 00:43:49,310 and they were talking to the kids, and they're all decked out in their 40 niner gear. And my, my best 458 00:43:49,310 --> 00:43:53,629 friend in the world is standing next to me, and I'm inching closer and closer to this group of 459 00:43:53,629 --> 00:43:58,829 kids. And he finally grabs me and he goes, you're 35 years old. They're not going to take a picture 460 00:43:58,829 --> 00:44:04,309 with you. Like, I know that you you want it so bad. And it turned me into a kid again, man, because I 461 00:44:04,310 --> 00:44:10,509 remember that. And those experiences are what it's all about. Uh, um, do you guys remember your first 462 00:44:10,509 --> 00:44:15,069 one as a kid, Mike? Do you remember, I mean, being involved with it, having family members involved 463 00:44:15,070 --> 00:44:19,189 in it, it probably didn't seem quite as untouchable to you, but was there ever an 464 00:44:19,189 --> 00:44:24,549 experience that you had with a driver or a car or anything like that that really just took in? You 465 00:44:24,590 --> 00:44:30,789 knew that this was a lifelong passion of yours? Yeah, I guess it was a dirt track at, uh, 466 00:44:30,790 --> 00:44:37,109 Texas. Like I say, what time we go to the dirt track? Uh, a little dirt track over there. I saw a 467 00:44:37,389 --> 00:44:44,249 racetrack, but, uh, more more my kid, my kid. Uh, Nolan Ryan, I got. We got him a couple of 468 00:44:44,249 --> 00:44:50,729 times. Uh, the North Texas Ranger pitcher. Yeah. But, uh, driving wise, I, I've 469 00:44:50,729 --> 00:44:57,369 got, uh, memorabilia parts and stuff as I, as an adult then, but younger wise. No, I didn't get hit 470 00:44:57,370 --> 00:45:01,089 that because I was always behind the fence. Yeah. You were always part of the. You were part of the 471 00:45:01,089 --> 00:45:07,209 pit crew. Man, how about you? How about you, Greg? Did you have that kind of formative experience that 472 00:45:07,210 --> 00:45:12,769 really molded you into a race fan at a young age? We would go when my parents would have enough 473 00:45:12,769 --> 00:45:17,729 money, we would go to watch the figure eight races at Saugus Speedway, that little third mile asphalt. 474 00:45:18,689 --> 00:45:25,610 And I remember the sound and the smell, uh, in my, I guess maybe on dirt, but the 475 00:45:25,610 --> 00:45:32,449 smell of the rubber and the fuel, and I always like that. But I was always competitive. And once I 476 00:45:32,449 --> 00:45:38,089 got the chance, I would. I raced everything I could, actually. But, uh, once I got the chance to do it 477 00:45:38,090 --> 00:45:45,029 legally, that's what we did. We just had a dream. And I had, you know, been fortunate enough to get 478 00:45:45,030 --> 00:45:51,829 the opportunity. And I ran with it. And it was fun. It was fun. And we haven't even 479 00:45:51,830 --> 00:45:56,510 talked about the fact that you've got some hardware in the case, too. And, uh, we didn't get 480 00:45:56,510 --> 00:46:01,709 very far through your racing career, but let's get into it now. Let's we can brag about it just a 481 00:46:01,709 --> 00:46:08,469 little bit. I mean, you're here after all. Yeah. Bring it on. You know, my I've got. I tell 482 00:46:08,470 --> 00:46:15,029 everybody I got a five foot five tall trophy that probably costs as much as my house if you add it 483 00:46:15,029 --> 00:46:20,709 all up. But my favorite trophy of all time was they. They used to do a race up there called the 484 00:46:20,709 --> 00:46:26,189 Mountain Air 100, and it was in Auckland. Richard Petty and Neil Bonnett raced up in West Virginia 485 00:46:26,189 --> 00:46:32,509 and I was the track owner. They they called my name. I think I finished, I ran for another guy 486 00:46:32,549 --> 00:46:37,549 that night. I finished eighth out of 24 in an older car and oh, I take it back. That was a 487 00:46:37,549 --> 00:46:41,419 different story. But they called my name up and I'm like, I didn't I didn't win a race. And I'm 488 00:46:41,419 --> 00:46:46,658 like, what are they? What are they wanting? And they gave me. It was about a, I don't know, 16, 18 inch 489 00:46:46,659 --> 00:46:53,179 trophy. I was voted the fan favorite. Oh, and that was so humbling. I was almost there. I couldn't 490 00:46:53,220 --> 00:47:00,138 hardly speak. It was just like, oh my goodness. I mean, just, you know, it. That made everything I 491 00:47:00,139 --> 00:47:05,820 spent all the stress, everything that made it worth it right there. And it it is actually on 492 00:47:05,820 --> 00:47:11,099 display. The the big trophy is over in the corner. And, and the, the fan favorite is right sitting on 493 00:47:11,100 --> 00:47:16,499 the mantel right there. And that, that for me that was it. That's awesome man. That's such a cool 494 00:47:16,500 --> 00:47:22,099 story. Um, I think everybody wants to be the fan favorite. I mean, I look at what I do for a living, 495 00:47:22,100 --> 00:47:26,659 my whole living is trying to be the fan favorite and, uh, hasn't happened yet, but I'm working on it, 496 00:47:26,659 --> 00:47:33,459 man. So that's that's really cool. And just, uh, just for the for the stats sake, uh, 497 00:47:33,459 --> 00:47:40,119 what was the five foot five tall trophy for? What? Uh, would you win there? I won the 19 498 00:47:40,199 --> 00:47:45,599 2019 Late Model Championship for the track. Wow. Congratulations, man. I think that's worth the 499 00:47:45,600 --> 00:47:52,398 round of applause. I think it is. I think both of them are worth that. Yeah, absolutely. And I 500 00:47:52,399 --> 00:47:57,399 can. Tell. You're a very humble guy. You don't want, like, that's probably the last thing you wanted to 501 00:47:57,399 --> 00:48:02,840 talk about coming on this show today, isn't it? Yeah, yeah. That's why I sent you the other 502 00:48:02,840 --> 00:48:08,159 pictures. I'm like, man, I don't, you know, it's not what I'm looking for. Yeah. And by the way, if you 503 00:48:08,159 --> 00:48:13,359 want to see some pictures, uh, Greg sent us a bunch of pictures from his racing career. And, Mike, uh, if 504 00:48:13,360 --> 00:48:17,279 you've got any pictures from back in the day when you're in the pit working with your dad and your 505 00:48:17,280 --> 00:48:22,039 uncle, or any pictures from taking your kids or your grandkids to races, we're going to go ahead 506 00:48:22,039 --> 00:48:26,600 and put a gallery up with this, uh, with this episode, so you can feel free and send those to me. 507 00:48:26,600 --> 00:48:31,199 I would love to have them. Okay, sir. The rest of the drivers out there listening that didn't get 508 00:48:31,200 --> 00:48:35,998 to take part in today's episode. Send me your pictures as well. Uh, if you don't have my phone 509 00:48:36,060 --> 00:48:41,899 number. Uh, you can call, uh, anybody really at the plane city terminal? I would recommend. Sean 510 00:48:41,899 --> 00:48:46,779 Stevens will get you in touch with me. Rachel will get you in touch with me any of the day. Wolfs 511 00:48:46,780 --> 00:48:51,340 will get you in touch with me. I want to see this. Uh, you guys did such a great job with the 512 00:48:51,340 --> 00:48:56,339 Father's Day picture gallery that we're going to start another one for racing. And if you have 513 00:48:56,340 --> 00:49:00,699 those moments like we're talking about, where maybe it's your kid or your grandkid is sitting 514 00:49:00,699 --> 00:49:06,499 in the seat of a race car, or maybe it's you as a child sitting in that seat. Send those to us. We 515 00:49:06,499 --> 00:49:12,939 know those are what build racing, and that's what makes the fans, uh, turn into generational fans. Um, 516 00:49:12,939 --> 00:49:18,659 and so we'll put a photo gallery up there. Um, yeah. Greg, I didn't want to hammer it too hard, but I 517 00:49:18,659 --> 00:49:23,499 knew that you didn't necessarily want to spend all day singing, uh, singing your praises. So thanks 518 00:49:23,500 --> 00:49:28,499 for playing. I didn't want it at all. You're welcome. Yeah, man. Appreciate it. Well, uh, you know, 519 00:49:28,500 --> 00:49:34,879 bring in context to this whole thing. Is is a big part of it. And, um, uh, it's racing is a very 520 00:49:34,879 --> 00:49:40,319 special, uh, just thing. You know, it's like you said, Greg. Like I raced everything I could get my hands 521 00:49:40,320 --> 00:49:45,999 on, and then I finally got a chance to do it legally. Man, I've raced a quarter mile in a five 522 00:49:46,040 --> 00:49:51,999 speed Ford Focus. It's all about having the road where nobody's at. Uh, in fact, that Drag Race was 523 00:49:52,000 --> 00:49:58,959 against a 1999 Ford Ranger versus my 2001 Ford Focus. I won, but I didn't gap him. I only 524 00:49:58,959 --> 00:50:05,479 had four cylinders. So, uh, you know. Just. It's just a straight. In fact. If I'll tell the true 525 00:50:05,520 --> 00:50:11,359 story, uh, both of us were driving both manual rigs, and, uh, it was just three of us, my buddy Jake and 526 00:50:11,360 --> 00:50:16,158 his Ranger, because he was talking all sorts of mess, saying that gutless Ford Focus can't beat 527 00:50:16,159 --> 00:50:21,999 this Ranger off the line. And I said, let's go out to the quarter mile stripe and put it on the line. 528 00:50:22,040 --> 00:50:27,399 Well, we got my good buddy out there, Jared, to drop the hat and, uh, start the race. Well, he dropped the 529 00:50:27,399 --> 00:50:31,559 hat and we both killed it. We were both too excited. Dumped the clutch, killed him. Both right 530 00:50:31,559 --> 00:50:37,269 there on the line. Had to start the whole thing over again. But brings me to my next question guys, 531 00:50:37,270 --> 00:50:42,749 is race fans. I said it in the open here. This might be the fastest episode that we've ever had 532 00:50:42,789 --> 00:50:49,429 on always pneumatic, never static. Uh, Mike, what's the fastest you've ever gone? And I will say this 533 00:50:49,469 --> 00:50:54,549 independent of your truck so that we don't get anybody in any trouble here. Uh, what's the fastest. 534 00:50:54,590 --> 00:51:00,909 You've ever gone outside of work? Uh, 138 and a 51 535 00:51:00,909 --> 00:51:07,110 Corvette. Wow. I thought we were supposed to go. I thought we'd tend to go airborne, so, yeah, I was, I 536 00:51:07,110 --> 00:51:13,310 was, I was the one time to shut it down. He was he was ready to go for it. Uh, 327 with the two four 537 00:51:13,350 --> 00:51:20,109 setup on it. And he was he was he was flying. I just kept waiting on it to take off, 538 00:51:20,149 --> 00:51:27,069 I bet. So I don't like. It, man. I that's a little tiny car back there. 61 Corvette. Sir. Yes, sir. 539 00:51:27,589 --> 00:51:33,610 Well, uh, Greg, you know the same questions coming to you. Uh, racing experience or not, man? What's the 540 00:51:33,610 --> 00:51:40,009 fastest you've ever gone that you've looked down and seen? That speedometer? How many wheels? It 541 00:51:40,010 --> 00:51:47,008 doesn't matter if it's a motorcycle. I'll take it. Okay. 156156 on a motorcycle. Now, is that a 542 00:51:47,009 --> 00:51:53,730 crotch rocket, I assume? Yes. Yeah. And, um. Yeah. You know how low your life expectancy is on one of 543 00:51:53,730 --> 00:51:59,329 those things, right? Uh, it's over 61 years, so, you know. 544 00:52:02,169 --> 00:52:08,329 And and was that was that a. Side joke on. That one? Yeah, I sure did, I sure did. Now, was that a race or 545 00:52:08,330 --> 00:52:14,809 was that something that you, uh. No, I just I mean, you gotta you gotta know what the thing will do, 546 00:52:14,850 --> 00:52:20,809 you know? And it had more and I didn't. Yeah. Also, one of you will meet your, uh, will meet your cap, 547 00:52:20,969 --> 00:52:26,809 is what you're saying, right? Yeah. Yeah, because. I. Played one down at 50 and I. That was that was 548 00:52:26,809 --> 00:52:33,628 enough. Wow. That's crazy. I passed your partner of the day over. He passed me on these international 549 00:52:33,629 --> 00:52:40,629 tests. The kind of the detection. The detection for your front end and elbow pass, man. 136 550 00:52:40,629 --> 00:52:45,310 the other day on the motorcycle, my mom asked me, do you have a helmet on? I said, I have no idea he 551 00:52:45,310 --> 00:52:52,229 was going for not going fast. Yeah, man. Got a dress for the slide not to ride. Hey, that's that's for 552 00:52:52,229 --> 00:52:56,789 sure. I, you know, my sister had a friend that bought a crotch rocket at a young age, you know, 553 00:52:56,830 --> 00:53:03,669 early 20s and put it on its side, you know, blocks away from the dealership as he drove it away 554 00:53:03,669 --> 00:53:10,189 and he was headed directly for a telephone pole, and he shoved himself off the telephone pole as 555 00:53:10,189 --> 00:53:16,669 he approached it and shattered both of his arms from the elbow down. I mean, you can get it. You 556 00:53:16,669 --> 00:53:22,428 think about this. You guys both, you know, you you talk about motorcycles doing in that 100 triple 557 00:53:22,429 --> 00:53:29,060 digits area or even more, the speed wobble that it takes to to just end that whole party is nothing 558 00:53:29,060 --> 00:53:34,740 but a pebble on the ground, right? I mean, you can. It is incredibly dangerous. And I want to make 559 00:53:34,780 --> 00:53:39,739 sure that we say that because, you know, we talk about safety a lot on this podcast. And as truck 560 00:53:39,740 --> 00:53:45,779 drivers, I'm sure that you guys hate seeing motorcycles ripped by you at 130 miles an hour. 561 00:53:45,820 --> 00:53:52,819 It's it's got to be stressful. Almost every day. Man. And the, the the way that they 562 00:53:52,820 --> 00:53:57,099 split lanes and stuff like that, I mean, for truck drivers, that's just got to be that's got to be 563 00:53:57,100 --> 00:54:03,539 something. You always got your head on a swivel for fellas. Yeah, sir. You ain't here for you, Sam. 564 00:54:03,540 --> 00:54:08,179 For sure. Yeah, yeah, especially those Harley Davidson's. You always hear those before you see 565 00:54:08,180 --> 00:54:14,100 him. Um, and I think that's by design. Those guys kind of live loud as it is, you know? Uh. Well, 566 00:54:14,100 --> 00:54:19,859 fellas, this has been a fantastic episode here. Uh, I just wanted to have some fun and talk racing 567 00:54:19,860 --> 00:54:24,779 with some drivers today. And I know this won't be the last one that we get to do. Uh, you guys have 568 00:54:24,780 --> 00:54:29,759 been with me here for almost an hour. Can't thank you enough for your time. Uh, Greg, we do a thing on 569 00:54:29,760 --> 00:54:35,039 this episode or on every episode that we call final thoughts here. And our final thoughts are, uh, 570 00:54:35,039 --> 00:54:39,559 a chance for you to say whatever you want, whether you want to give a shout out. You want to wrap it 571 00:54:39,560 --> 00:54:44,519 up? If we left something on the table you'd like to talk about, it's. The floor is yours. And I'm 572 00:54:44,519 --> 00:54:50,439 gonna throw you a bone here. I'm gonna go to Mike first because Mike's done this a few times before. 573 00:54:51,320 --> 00:54:56,559 I'll let you get. I'll let you get your thoughts together. Uh, Mike Upchurch again. Man, I want to 574 00:54:56,560 --> 00:55:00,599 thank you. I bugged you two weeks in a row, and you were more than happy to come on this show. That's 575 00:55:00,600 --> 00:55:05,438 exactly what we're looking for. Any driver out there is welcome. Just get in touch with me. I'd 576 00:55:05,439 --> 00:55:10,719 love to have you. I'm always taking ideas from guys. In fact, Greg pitched me an idea before we 577 00:55:10,720 --> 00:55:15,679 ever came on the air here today that we're going to turn into an episode for sure. So, uh, Mike 578 00:55:15,679 --> 00:55:21,960 Upchurch, your time is is greatly appreciated, my friend. Two weeks in a row here. Uh, sorry. Final 579 00:55:21,960 --> 00:55:27,819 thoughts from you before we let you go today. Marcus, I appreciate you inviting me back again. 580 00:55:28,219 --> 00:55:35,219 Nice to meet you, Greg. And, uh, I'll try to be safe and enjoy it. Really enjoyed that. So. Hey, 581 00:55:35,259 --> 00:55:40,339 thank you man. We enjoyed it, too. And that's one thing that I like about Mike. You know, his his 582 00:55:40,340 --> 00:55:45,179 final thoughts. Short and sweet. Lot of gratitude, man. Uh, always great to have you here, Mike. You're 583 00:55:45,179 --> 00:55:50,780 welcome back anytime. Yes, sir, I appreciate that. Now, Greg, that didn't give you a lot of time to 584 00:55:50,820 --> 00:55:56,300 put your thoughts together there, but it did give you a little bit, so. Yeah. Uh, yeah. Greg Zeigler, 585 00:55:56,340 --> 00:56:00,619 first appearance on the show here. A lot of fun talking to you. Will definitely get you back in 586 00:56:00,620 --> 00:56:05,419 here. Uh, thank you so much for the time today. Final thoughts from you before we let you go here. 587 00:56:05,419 --> 00:56:09,659 And and, hey, you know, you got a wife for some kids listening to this episode. This is a great time 588 00:56:09,660 --> 00:56:15,860 for shout outs, too. I forgot to mention that. So the floor is yours. Greg. Thanks for being. Here. Hey, 589 00:56:15,860 --> 00:56:21,099 thanks for having me, Mike. It's nice meeting you. My kid's probably driving right now with bulk. He 590 00:56:21,100 --> 00:56:26,599 better be eyes on the road. Not, you know, not listening to this, Rachel. Wait till you. And don't 591 00:56:26,639 --> 00:56:32,718 tell anybody at the 156 called you say no. But, uh. Yeah, this man, I've had a blast. I was really 592 00:56:32,719 --> 00:56:37,399 nervous. Anybody looking to come to a company, I'm going to switch it a little bit. This is one of 593 00:56:37,399 --> 00:56:42,599 the best companies I've ever worked for is everybody's family. Uh, and don't be afraid to ask 594 00:56:42,600 --> 00:56:48,919 questions, because everybody here will give you plenty of answers. Great stuff there, man. I love 595 00:56:48,919 --> 00:56:54,159 the shout out for the company within the Final Thoughts segment. Um, it it the company that makes 596 00:56:54,159 --> 00:56:59,999 it possible for us to do this podcast. And what a cool thing that we get to do meet and drivers and 597 00:57:00,000 --> 00:57:05,079 just, uh, shooting the breeze with them. Uh, fantastic stuff from both of you guys today. We'll 598 00:57:05,080 --> 00:57:10,439 get you back on here soon. You guys be safe out there. We know you didn't do 150 in your book 599 00:57:10,480 --> 00:57:15,479 truck. Uh, your guys are. You guys are always where you should be there. Yeah. Mike, get there a little 600 00:57:15,480 --> 00:57:20,800 quicker, but I don't know if you'd have every every piece of that truck intact. You know. As long 601 00:57:20,800 --> 00:57:26,349 as Kim's not listening. Yeah. We're good, we're good. We got cameras in here. They can see. Yeah, yeah, 602 00:57:26,350 --> 00:57:32,470 they just see the whites of your eyes going that fast, wouldn't they? For sunglasses to put on a hat? 603 00:57:32,510 --> 00:57:38,029 Yeah. There you go. All right, fellas, be safe out there. We'll talk again soon. Thank you. All right. 604 00:57:38,029 --> 00:57:39,470 Thanks, Marcus. Thank you. 605 00:57:47,789 --> 00:57:53,909 Great stuff there from Mike and Greg. Can't thank those guys enough. Uh, and I do want to mention it 606 00:57:53,909 --> 00:58:00,029 again, because, you know what? We give flowers on this podcast whenever they are due, and I want to 607 00:58:00,030 --> 00:58:05,189 give both of those drivers some flowers. Greg, for making his first appearance on here. We've been 608 00:58:05,190 --> 00:58:09,389 trying to get him on the podcast for a while. We just haven't been able to marry up our schedules 609 00:58:09,389 --> 00:58:14,549 appropriately. But this episode had Greg's name written all over it, and he was gracious enough to 610 00:58:14,590 --> 00:58:18,989 give us an hour of his time. Big thanks there. And of course, you heard me mention it a couple 611 00:58:19,089 --> 00:58:25,409 different times. Mike Upchurch joining us for the second week in a row. And you know something about 612 00:58:25,410 --> 00:58:30,489 this podcast that many of you might not know is we do have to record these episodes a little bit 613 00:58:30,489 --> 00:58:36,369 in advance of when you hear them sometime around like two weeks in advance typically is, is, uh, how 614 00:58:36,370 --> 00:58:42,648 far forward we will record. And I just bugged Mike earlier in the week. He did the Father's Day 615 00:58:42,649 --> 00:58:48,249 episode with us, and he was nice enough to give us another hour of his time in the same week. Can't 616 00:58:48,250 --> 00:58:53,689 thank you guys enough. Love talking to you. Want to get as many of you guys on here as possible. And 617 00:58:53,690 --> 00:58:59,529 we check that box again today, uh, with the first time appearance from Greg. And if I know, uh, if I 618 00:58:59,530 --> 00:59:03,209 can just reference the conversations that he and I have had over text, you're going to hear from 619 00:59:03,209 --> 00:59:08,609 Greg again. He's got some great ideas for me. Uh, we're already working on a follow up episode to 620 00:59:08,610 --> 00:59:13,249 another episode that's already been recorded, uh, that Greg's going to join us for. And as I was 621 00:59:13,250 --> 00:59:18,669 talking to Mike there after we turned off the, uh, the recording, Mike told me, man, anytime you want 622 00:59:18,669 --> 00:59:24,669 me, you just give me a call and I'll jump in. So, uh, just warms my heart, guys. Thank you so much. Uh, not 623 00:59:24,669 --> 00:59:30,748 only for the time, but for the awesome conversation and, uh, really kind of touching 624 00:59:30,749 --> 00:59:35,789 conversation in a couple different ways. Um, especially when you hear Greg talk about, you know, 625 00:59:35,830 --> 00:59:40,149 the kids and getting in the car and, and seeing their eyes light up and letting a little bit of 626 00:59:40,149 --> 00:59:45,349 an older kids kind of turn on the car and maybe rev the engine a little bit. Lifelong racing fans 627 00:59:45,350 --> 00:59:50,309 right there, you just made them and you could hear it in Greg's as Greg told his stories, that that 628 00:59:50,309 --> 00:59:55,309 was what was really the most important to him and the story about the fan favorite. When he finished, 629 00:59:55,309 --> 01:00:01,309 I think he said sixth through eighth in the field, um, getting a fan favorite trophy. Just absolutely 630 01:00:01,310 --> 01:00:07,309 the biggest accomplishment for him. And he's got a championship trophy from the late Model series. Uh, 631 01:00:07,429 --> 01:00:13,589 and so that's saying something. And, you know, it's funny because Mike, uh, said, you know, I didn't 632 01:00:13,589 --> 01:00:18,939 really have that moment. Um, maybe my kids had it a little bit or my grandkids had it a little bit, 633 01:00:18,979 --> 01:00:24,379 but his moment was really just from the word go. Working with his dad and his uncle in the shop, 634 01:00:24,380 --> 01:00:29,299 man, they're racing Saturday and Sunday, were in there working on that thing that's racing. It's 635 01:00:29,300 --> 01:00:33,899 dedication. And you gotta have a team of people too. It's not like just one guy dedicated to the 636 01:00:33,899 --> 01:00:40,779 car and to the sport can make it happen. As you see, entire families, whole generations will 637 01:00:40,779 --> 01:00:46,139 donate their time and put their time in to try to make that car the fastest car on the track. And 638 01:00:46,140 --> 01:00:51,779 it's only one guy driving it, but it takes a village to get that car tuned up and make it go 639 01:00:51,780 --> 01:00:58,779 out there and win races. So, um, again, just a great conversation here today. It didn't go the 640 01:00:58,779 --> 01:01:04,820 exact way I thought it would, but I really enjoy talking about kind of that old school driver, uh, 641 01:01:04,820 --> 01:01:10,020 from from the NASCAR series. Um, and, you know, we've lost a couple of them. We mentioned Greg Biffle 642 01:01:10,020 --> 01:01:16,199 and Kyle Busch, um, two icons in the sport, really, and not the way you expect to see those guys go 643 01:01:16,200 --> 01:01:22,799 out. Um, both of them. I mean, Greg Biffle was not as young as Kyle Busch, but too young to go. And, uh, 644 01:01:22,800 --> 01:01:28,239 it's very sad stuff there. Uh, so, so an episode that was definitely touching in more ways than 645 01:01:28,239 --> 01:01:33,359 one. Uh, I'm glad we did get to talk about that because, you know, Mike, he's a big Kyle Busch fan 646 01:01:33,359 --> 01:01:38,959 and, uh, that that had to hit hard. You heard him. He knew exactly where he was when he got that news. 647 01:01:39,000 --> 01:01:44,718 That was one of those kind of gravitational shifts. And I think about it, you know, uh, it hasn't 648 01:01:44,719 --> 01:01:50,198 been very many years ago that, uh, a member of one of my wife's favorite bands passed away, and she 649 01:01:50,199 --> 01:01:54,959 was really broken up about it. And the conversation that we had was, you know, it's I 650 01:01:54,999 --> 01:02:00,279 totally understand being upset when somebody like that that's kind of an icon in your life, uh, 651 01:02:00,280 --> 01:02:06,479 passes away. Um, but you have to remember from the fan perspective, the reason that we like these 652 01:02:06,480 --> 01:02:12,080 people is for the things that they have already done and that legacy gets to live on. I told her 653 01:02:12,140 --> 01:02:17,500 that day that that the bass player for Slipknot passed away. Paul Gray, was his name. Some of you 654 01:02:17,500 --> 01:02:23,859 know exactly who I'm talking about. I told her, if you really want to honor that legacy that he left 655 01:02:23,900 --> 01:02:29,899 today, then just get in there and listen to those albums. That's what they would want. And I think 656 01:02:29,899 --> 01:02:35,100 for Kyle Busch, you want to honor his legacy. You go back and you check out all the history, all the 657 01:02:35,100 --> 01:02:41,740 wins across all the classes. Same thing for Greg Biffle. These guys had amazing careers. And even 658 01:02:41,740 --> 01:02:46,379 though Kyle's wasn't over when he passed, uh, there's there's no scoffing at the 659 01:02:46,379 --> 01:02:52,180 accomplishments that he achieved. So, uh. We say hear it always pneumatic, never static. Rest in 660 01:02:52,180 --> 01:02:56,819 peace to those guys. All those drivers that we talked about that are no longer with us. Dale 661 01:02:56,820 --> 01:03:03,579 Earnhardt included the Intimidator, uh, changed the sport, really, when you think about it. And, um, it's 662 01:03:03,580 --> 01:03:08,899 it's just a little bit of a snapshot of some of the great conversations that we can have. We're 663 01:03:08,899 --> 01:03:14,839 going to talk a lot of trucking on this podcast. That's all there is to it. It's a podcast made for 664 01:03:14,839 --> 01:03:19,878 truck drivers. So that's going to happen. But we have a little bit of latitude to work with here 665 01:03:19,879 --> 01:03:25,519 because the great people, the management out there in Plain City has said, listen, we know we got a 666 01:03:25,519 --> 01:03:30,479 great group of drivers and we want to showcase the culture at this company. And what a cool 667 01:03:30,480 --> 01:03:35,600 episode to showcase the culture on. You had two guys who never met each other before, and we all 668 01:03:35,600 --> 01:03:40,519 just sat down and chopped it up and talked a little bit of burn and rubber. Um, awesome stuff. I 669 01:03:40,519 --> 01:03:45,040 can't thank these guys enough. Uh, this has been a really fun episode, and we have even more fun 670 01:03:45,040 --> 01:03:50,599 stuff to look forward to in the very near future here on Always Pneumatic, Never Static. Now, I 671 01:03:50,600 --> 01:03:55,519 wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't tease it a little bit. Okay, we got a 4th of July special 672 01:03:55,520 --> 01:04:01,999 coming up. That's a cool one. We're also going to touch later on. On driver health and staying 673 01:04:02,000 --> 01:04:08,799 healthy out on the road. Very informative stuff and even a two parter that we can get to. So lots 674 01:04:08,799 --> 01:04:14,149 to come in the future of always pneumatic, never static. We are cooking with race fuel. A lot of 675 01:04:14,150 --> 01:04:19,949 times I say we're cooking with gas now, we're cooking with race fuel now, high octane stuff, and 676 01:04:19,990 --> 01:04:25,830 you guys are all part of it. So don't forget to head on over to podcast.bulktransit.com. 677 01:04:25,949 --> 01:04:30,869 Shoot me a line if you want to be involved in the next episode. When we talk about racing, I want to 678 01:04:30,869 --> 01:04:36,668 have you. All I need to know is that you're interested and we will make it happen. You driver, 679 01:04:36,669 --> 01:04:42,069 stay safe out there as always. Next week we'll be back with another hour of content for you right 680 01:04:42,070 --> 01:04:48,909 here on always pneumatic, never static. Take care everyone. And 681 01:04:48,909 --> 01:04:54,469 that's all she blows for today's episode of Always Pneumatic, never static. Your number one and 682 01:04:54,469 --> 01:05:00,388 probably only Pneumatic Trucking podcast, brought to you by Bulk Transit. Thanks for rolling with us 683 01:05:00,389 --> 01:05:05,188 today. Till next time, stay safe. Keep those lines clear and keep it pumping.