Hidden Horsepower by Total Seal

In this exhilarating episode of the Hidden Horsepower Podcast, hosts Keith Jones and Joe Castello sit down with newly crowned NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock World Champion John DeFlorian fresh off his thrilling victory at World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis. The high-octane conversation dives into John’s championship journey, his standout performance, and the grit behind his success. Joined by legendary engine builder Jon Kaase and Total Seal’s Matt Hartford, the episode takes an exciting turn as both guests surprise John with heartfelt congratulations, sharing insights on the engineering and teamwork that powered his win. Tune in for an unforgettable blend of technical expertise, racing passion, and championship celebration!

Ever wondered how a tiny VW engine can conquer the brutal sands of the Baja 1000? In this adrenaline-fueled episode 92 of Hidden Horsepower by Total Seal Piston Rings, engine-building legend Jorge Jimenez from Jimenez Racing spills the beans on crafting unbeatable VW powerplants that race—and WIN—in the world's toughest off-road battles! Join Total Seal's own Ben O'Conner and host Joe Castello as they dive deep into the art of ring seal mastery, Jorge's wild career secrets, and the insider tricks that turn stock VW bugs into desert beasts capable of surviving 1,000 miles of punishing terrain. From piston ring innovations that keep engines screaming under extreme heat to the high-stakes stories of Baja glory, this is your front-row seat to the horsepower hidden in every rev! Whether you're a gearhead obsessed with off-road racing, a VW enthusiast chasing that next build, or just love epic tales of engineering triumph, you WON'T want to miss this! Hit play now and get ready to rev up your knowledge. Timestamps:0:00 Intro: Welcome to the Desert Wars Subscribe for more Hidden Horsepower episodes packed with pro tips, tech breakdowns, and racing legends! Drop a like if you're team VW, comment your dream Baja build, and share with your pit crew. #Baja1000 #VWRacing #EngineBuilding #TotalSeal #OffRoadRacing #HiddenHorsepower

In this high-octane episode, Hidden Horsepower welcomes Dr. Bryan Fleck, head engineer at KB Titan Racing Engines, as the NHRA Pro Stock team gears up for the 2025 Cornwell Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals. Hosts Keith Jones and Joe Castello sit down with Bryan for an in-depth look at the technology fueling Pro Stock performance. Bryan shares his fascinating career journey—from fine-tuning GP motorcycles to engineering for NASCAR’s Hendrick Motorsports, and now pushing the limits in NHRA Pro Stock. He breaks down critical engine-building details, like the art of ring seal and the pursuit of perfect roundness, that make or break a race. Plus, Bryan offers inspiring advice for aspiring engineers looking to break into motorsports. Whether you’re a racer, a tech enthusiast, or a future innovator, this episode is packed with insights that rev up your passion for horsepower!

In this high-octane episode of Total Seal’s Hidden Horsepower podcast, hosts Keith Jones, Scott Diehl, and Joe Castello sit down with David Ward, the mastermind behind High Performance Lubricants, LLC, and a true guru in the world of high-performance lubricants for racing. As the key principal of High Performance Lubricants, David shares his fascinating origin story, detailing how his passion for precision and performance fueled the creation of a company renowned for its top-tier lubricants for industrial equipment, vehicles, and, most notably, the high-stakes world of motorsports. From the racetracks to the lab, David reveals the secrets behind formulating lubricants that power champions, including his own racing endeavors as a driver and promoter with the 2025 Midwest Pavement Midgets. Learn how High Performance Lubricants, based in Manteno, Illinois, crafts cutting-edge products for racing teams and industrial applications, including honing oil. With their deep-rooted sponsorships in racing events and partnerships with top-tier teams, including Total Seal's own NHRA Pro Stock team, David’s insights offer a masterclass in blending innovation with speed. Tune in for a dynamic conversation packed with technical expertise, racing anecdotes, and the story of a company that’s lubricating the path to victory, both on and off the track!

Hidden Horsepower: Remembering Ed Pink In this special tribute episode of Hidden Horsepower, hosts Keith Jones, Director of Technical Sales for Total Seal Piston Rings, and Joe Castello welcome Frank Honsowetz, former President and General Manager of Ed Pink Racing Engines, to reflect on the extraordinary life and legacy of legendary engine builder Ed Pink. Honsowetz, who collaborated closely with Pink on the Infinity IRL Indy Car program in the late 1990s, shares intimate stories and insights into Pink’s innovative genius, relentless pursuit of performance, and profound impact on motorsports. Titled Remembering Ed Pink, this episode celebrates the man whose engines powered champions and redefined racing, offering listeners a heartfelt look at his enduring influence through the eyes of those who knew him best.

"Join engine building legend and racer Mike Moran, alongside hosts Keith Jones, Director of Technical Sales at Total Seal, and Joe Castello, for Total Seal Hidden Horsepower—a must-watch YouTube series and podcast for performance enthusiasts. Dive deep into the world of high-performance engine building as Mike shares decades of hard-earned expertise. With Keith’s technical mastery and Joe’s engaging commentary, each episode uncovers the secrets to unlocking hidden horsepower, from piston ring technology to race-proven strategies. Whether you’re a gearhead, racer, or engine builder, this show delivers the knowledge and inspiration to take your builds to the next level."

Mark Pawuk, Ben Strader, and Darin Morgan stop by the Total Seal booth at PRI 2024. Mark Pawuk is a first time world champion in the NHRA Flex Jet Factory Stock Showdown. Mark discusses his engine builder David Barton and his long road to become champion. Ben Strader tuned for world champion Greg Stanfield in NHRA Factory X, and has great stories from the season, and Darin Morgan puts the Sox and Martin HEMI Challenge world on notice with his latest build at BES.

Pat Musi, Greg and Aaron Stanfield, and Gary Stinnett all swing by the Total Seal booth at PRI 2024. Each guest has something of great interest for hosts Lake and Joe.

Greg Anderson, PRI President Mike Good, and 16 year old phenom London Zapzalka are the first guests in the Total Seal booth at PRI 2024. Greg Anderson recaps his 6th championship season in NHRA Pro Stock, PRI President Mike Good discusses the health of the industry, and 16 year old London Zapzalka talks about 3D printing a running internal combustion engine. The Performance Racing Industry trade show is a yearly tradition!

Keith Jones, Director of Technical Sales, answers the most common questions for Total Seal customers. What ring is right for my application? What should the end gap be set at? What cylinder finish do I need? What kind of oil should I use? Can you run gas ports with gapless rings? and more..

Tom Martino discusses stepping into the NHRA Factory X engine wars. Hosts Keith Jones and Joe Castello pepper Tom with questions about his motivation and ideas for the very challenging NHRA class. We can't have Tom on the show without a story about WJ and Tom's days running Pro Stock.

Southwest Research Institute provides testing and problem solving for applications that literally reach from deep sea to deep space (and everything in between). Amongst all of that, the Tribology department at SwRI has been helping professional racing teams solve problems for years. During this in-depth episode, Dr. Peter Lee from SwRI shares his experiences and reveals some cutting edge new coating technology. #engine #pistonrings #ford #dyno #dynotested #nascar

From the infamous PA Posse to the brutal forces applied to a 410 sprint car engine, Adam Cofer from Don Ott Racing Engines shares his journey from the midwest to the heart of sprint car racing. #engine

Shaver Specialties Racing Engines is legendary for their success and innovation in the world of Sprint car engine building. Head dyno operator Don MacAskill joins Joe Castello and Lake Speed Jr to talk about how he got into engine building and the R&D work done at Shaver Specialties.

Multi-Time NHRA World Champion Jason Line joins the Hidden Horsepower podcast to talk about Bonneville, Danny Jesel's Equal 8 and the new JLine Engine Blocks and Cylinder Heads. Jason also reveals a possible return to driving duties at the US Nationals later this Summer. He was our first guest, and now he's our latest guest on this must watch episode of the podcast for engine builders! #engine #bonneville #nascar #dodge #nhra

Jay Zolko of Zolko Racing Engines joins Hidden Horsepower. Jay gives the details of how he became a successful performance engine shop owner at just 38 years old. Jay is the next generation personified. Hosts Keith Jones and Joe Castello pepper Jay with questions about his latest projects and his future plans.

Darin Morgan has a rich history in engine building, from designing engines that race in the NHRA HEMI Challenge to working at Reher-Morrison, this life-long Pro Stock engine builder shares his journey on Hidden Horsepower.

From INDY to NASCAR and the NHRA, Ed Morel shares stories from his career with Joe Castello and Lake Speed Jr. For more great engine tech, check out @EnginePerformanceExpo For more episodes of the Hidden Horsepower podcast, check out the full Hidden Horsepower playlist. • HIDDEN HORSEPOWER For more on Joe Castello, check out @WFORadio For more on Lake Speed Jr, check out @themotoroilgeek

Mr. Plug Wire, Mark Vieau joins Hidden Horsepower from the 2024 Engine Performance Expo for a wide ranging conversation about his career from his start in Funny Cars to NASCAR. He reveals his heros and those who helped him along the way.

Mike Valerio share his stories of the early days of Pro Stock with Lake Speed Jr. and host, Joe Castello at the 2024 Engine Performance Expo.