Racing Virginia Podcast

From Smithfield, Va., to the biggest stage in American motorsports, Cliff Daniels just reached the pinnacle: he’s a NASCAR Cup Series champion. But the crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet driven by Kyle Larson hasn’t let that title-winning season and performance even sink in… yet. Daniels’ love for racing began as he watched his father turn laps at Racing Virginia's short tracks. Daniels (11:44) was a wheelman, himself, from bandoleros all the way to late model stocks. But when driving was no longer an option, he found another path. He took his passion and skills and turned them into a career in racing as an engineer, steadily climbing the ladder all the way to the top of a pit box at Hendrick Motorsports. Hear his story: about his journey from driving to engineering, about the gamut of emotions a title-winning season takes on someone, his relationship with Kyle Larson, and hear exactly how it feels to be crowned a NASCAR Cup Series champion. We dive deep into the nuts and bolts with the man calling the shots of NASCAR’s most dominant team. In a heartfelt Commonwealth Closer, hosts Dave Seay and Brandon Brown tell us what they’re thankful for this year. 

Chase Burrow doesn’t pigeonhole himself to a certain car or a certain track surface. A 17-year-old racer from King George, Va., Burrow (30:37) just finished third-place in the Shawn Balluzzo Memorial 100 at Larry King Law’s Langley Speedway in an asphalt modified. A week earlier he won his very first asphalt late model stock car race at Dominion Speedway. He’s also been running dirt mods at Virginia Motor Speedway and up in Winchester. Admittedly, he hates points racing and just wants trophies. Hear his Racing Virginia story: how he started, why he races a little bit of everything, and what his short- and long-term goals are. Hosts Dave Seay and Brandon Brown recap the drama at Martinsville including the Denny Hamlin-Alex Bowman run-in. In the Commonwealth Closer, we discuss real human emotion in racing, and when that emotion crosses the line.

Sam Hunt and Colin Garrett have forged a friendship through racing. Hunt, now the owner of Sam Hunt Racing which fields cars in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, has made a steady rise in the sport, and the progress of his team is evident of that. Hunt, a VCU graduate, gave up driving to focus on ownership. So far, so good. The friendship between Hunt and Garrett (16:25) has followed the two from when they met at Hunt-Sellers Racing. Now, as Garrett, who hails from South Boston, Va., rises in the ranks, he’s found success piloting Hunt’s Xfinity Series ride this year. The two team up once again for the Dead On Tools 250 at Martinsville Speedway, a homecoming of sorts for Garrett. What does the future hold? First and foremost, a great run for the No. 26 at The Paperclip would be nice. In our Commonwealth Closer, co-host Brandon Brown sits down with Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell (52:39) to talk about a huge weekend of NASCAR that’ll settle the Championship 4 in all three of NASCAR’s top series.

Connor Hall has been methodically climbing the late model stock car ladder for a few years now. The driver out of Hampton, Va., almost was racing boats, though. A decision by his mother put him on a four-wheel path as a kid and he hasn’t looked back. From go-karts to Legend cars to late models, Hall (10:18) has taken his career right where he’s envisioned it thus far. A few years ago, he started winning “big races” – most notably the 2019 Hampton Heat at Langley Speedway. We hear how he got started, where he’s at, and what his plans are for his career as he heads into the CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car finale at South Boston Speedway on October 16. Learn about the 24-year-old shoe, his run-in with Mark Wertz that blossomed into a partnership & friendship, and why those “big races” and not points championships are his main focus right now.

Brandon Brown tipped his Larry’s Hard Lemonade back and drank it all in. He and his family team had just won at Talladega. It was in an unconventional way, but that’s just fine with Brandon (5:45) and his unconventional family-run NASCAR Xfinity Series team Brandonbilt Motorsports based in Fredericksburg, Va. Brandon took the lead on the race’s final caution, and when the race was called because of darkness, even as the emotions overcame him in the cockpit, he was more worried about driving across the finish line first and not messing up. He won it, though, and took home the big prize and the big trophy. He takes through every single moment of the victory: the pass for the lead, the caution and officially taking the lead, to the race being called and the celebration. But what’s next for this family team and for his driving career? Let him tell you. We also dive into the momentous weekend at Talladega all around for Racing Virginia, with Bubba Wallace and 23XI’s first Cup Series victory. It gave Chesterfield Va.’s Denny Hamlin his first win as an owner and Halifax Va.’s Bootie Barker his first Cup win as a crew chief. Wallace followed in the footsteps of Danville Va.’s Wendell Scott as the second Black driver to win a NASCAR race, as well, which is something everyone should celebrate, explains (host) Brandon Brown.

What were you doing when you were 16? Landon Pembelton was busy winning the race of a lifetime. The young wheelman out of Amelia, VA, hasn’t even been driving a late model for even 12 months, and he just parked his in Victory Lane at Martinsville Speedway. The new ValleyStar Credit Union 300 champion used patience and skill beyond his years – and a phenomenal strategy that worked to perfection – to get his No. 0 ahead of the field when it counted, then held off the best to get it done. Hear how playing with matchbox cars on the backstretch at South Boston Speedway while his dad raced manifested into a love for racing. His name will be forever etched in the Racing Virginia record books and speaking of books, let him tell you how he juggles 11th grade and a job, all while climbing the racing ladder.

Jeff Burton is one of the greatest drivers to ever come out of The Commonwealth of Virginia. What if we told you there was a time he almost wasn’t a race car driver at all? The tough times early in his career molded Jeff (7:37) into the fiery competitor he is today. We dive into his career as he came up through late models at South Boston Speedway, starting a team with his father, his first races in the then Busch Series, the “worst year of my life,” and why one win at Martinsville changed the trajectory of his career. From his highlights on track to his broadcasting career, Burton has some great stories to share. We also preview Richmond Raceway’s NASCAR Playoffs Weekend and get Jeff’s thoughts on his time at one of his favorite tracks.

Jon Wood (6:49) comes from a legendary lineage, his last name synonymous with racing in the state of Virginia. His grandfather and father forged one of the most successful racing teams of all time, and he, himself, was on a path to become a legendary racer. His career took a different trajectory and he now continues his work in the family business as the Senior Vice President of Wood Brothers Racing. But there’s a whole lot more to him than that. Hear his story: how he came through the ranks as a driver to become a Truck Series winner and why he stopped racing. We discuss regrets, struggles, and triumphs in an open and honest interview with Jon that will open your eyes to a man some might only know as the voice behind the @woodbrothers21 Twitter account. In our Commonwealth Closer, we discuss Randy Hallman’s Racing Virginia SRX Series idea, and what tracks in The Commonwealth would be perfect for the series to pay a visit.

Greg Edwards has been running late model stock cars at Langley Speedway since 1991. Over that time, Greg (14:54) has amassed six track championships, tying his brother Danny for second on the track’s all-time list for late models. That friendly sibling rivalry has fueled some of the best battles that have even bubbled over to days at the shop. But let Greg tell you about all that. Meet the legendary driver out of Poquoson and hear how he got his start, what keeps him coming to the track and how he plans on grabbing his very first Hampton Heat checkered flag on Saturday. In our “Commonwealth Closer,” hosts Dave Seay and Brandon Brown discuss the towering topic of Race Control: how difficult the job of a race director is, and if the current criticism of the NASCAR tower is justified after the errors at New Hampshire.

Growing up in Iowa, Bret Hamilton couldn’t help falling in love with dirt racing. It was in his blood, after all. With his father being an IMCA pioneer, Hamilton (17:12) grew up learning to build race cars, but he didn’t start racing until he was 18 years old. Shortly after, a leap of faith and a change of scenery brought him to Virginia, where his racing career took off. He honed his craft on pavement at Southside Speedway, but his one true passion was always dirt. He made his way to Virginia Motor Speedway, where he became a champion. His adoration for it burns brightly to this day, even as, admittedly, his time behind the wheel is coming to a close. That doesn’t mean he’s done making his mark. His legacy will be left not only in the trophies he’s won but the drivers and teams he’s built and fabricated chassis and parts for along the way. Hosts Dave Seay and Brandon Brown express their opinions on the right way for drivers and fans to display their displeasures with tracks and sanctioning bodies in this week’s “Commonwealth Closer.”

Mike Looney is as humble as he is talented behind the wheel of a race car. The driver of the No. 87 Late Model Stock car, Looney (14:41) has made a name for himself on the short tracks of Virginia and has earned fans all across the Commonwealth. His career has been based on perseverance, which makes it no surprise he took a car with a failing clutch and drove from last to sixth on Saturday at South Boston. We dive in with Mike about that valiant effort, his driving career and his life outside of racing, which includes time at his farm and in the machine shop. He’s been on the brink of a national title before, but he doesn’t base his career on his time spent in the Winner’s Circle. What keeps him racing? The love of it, of course. In our Commonwealth Closing Topic, we discuss the proper way to eat a SoBo Bologna Burger, per the foremost authority on it, Elliott Sadler.

Peyton Sellers is one of the greatest late model stock car drivers to ever strap on a helmet. Sixteen years ago, he became the youngest driver ever to win the late model stock car weekly series national points championship, and he’s earned his way to the top of the standings again this year. It’s really no surprise, though. After a year away from South Boston Speedway due to its closure during the pandemic, Sellers took the track title at Dominion Raceway in 2020. He’s back home at SoBo, dominating as he’s so often done before. However, he hasn’t won the national title since 2005. The year after that triumph, he began a journey out west that taught him some valuable life lessons – ones that he brought back with him here to his home in the Commonwealth. We dive deep with Sellers as he aims for his third Thunder Road Harley Davidson 200 victory this weekend at South Boston against a huge field of the best late model stock car drivers around. Hosts Dave and Brandon also discuss the importance of track announcers and their importance in bringing a race to life.

As the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series gets ready for its stop at Richmond Raceway, we talk to some of the series' biggest stars to preview what will undoubtedly be an awesome ToyotaCare 250 on April 17. Drivers John Hunter Nemechek, Matt Crafton, Ben Rhodes, Austin Hill & Derek Kraus sit down for a round-table discussion about Richmond – and a few other topics – including Crafton and Nemechek's run-in at Bristol. This is a fun one, folks!

Derrick Lancaster could have easily lost his life last year. With his car on fire, he couldn’t move his arms as his crew scrambled to free him from a wreck at Kingsport Speedway. At that moment, he was more concerned about his car's condition than himself, simply because of his old-school take-care-of-my-own-equipment mentality. Months later, Lancaster (7:00) led the field at Daytona International Speedway in the 2021 ARCA Menards Series opening event. The Christiansburg, Va., native’s love of racing began when he followed Ronnie Thomas to races as a kid and lives on to this day through his late model and ARCA endeavors. You can’t help but feel his passion when he speaks, and that was evident in his post-race interview after a sixth-place finish at Daytona. He tells us those stories and more. Hosts Dave and Brandon dish on new seating capacity news and the return of racing in The Commonwealth with fans at a higher level as we enter the 2021 racing season.

The son of racing royalty, Roy Hendrick paved his own way on short tracks in The Commonwealth. The legendary second-generation racer, son of Ray Hendrick, tells how he got started, his fondest memories at Southside Speedway, keeping the legacy of the famous “Flying 11” alive, and honoring his father with an unforgettable victory. Roy (13:06) won track titles at Southside Speedway, South Boston Speedway, and Orange County, but was most dominant at Southside, so much so, he says, that “they tried every which way to make me lose.” He tells us about his very first time in a race car and shares his thoughts on today’s racing and much more in a can’t-miss interview.

Stacy Compton is a racer’s racer who made his way to the NASCAR Cup Series in quick order. Compton (11:08) a native, of Hurt, VA, cut his teeth at South Boston Speedway racing late models, and the love for short track racing still burns bright inside of him. He tells us some of his most memorable stories, including his first Truck Series victory in Portland, starting on the front row of the DAYTONA 500, a friendly rivalry with Ron Hornaday Jr., and how he recently battled and beat a severe case of COVID-19. He now might just get back to what he loves the most – besides being a dad, of course – racing late models.

We celebrate the 100th Episode of the Podcast with Racing Virginia royalty. Ward Burton joins us with stories about racing with his brother at South Boston, his Daytona 500 victory, conservation, and his son, Jeb’s racing journey. Ward (6:20) made his way from military school to NASCAR Cup Series winner, and his passion has driven him from the driver’s seat to his wildlife foundation – and you definitely know that if you follow him on social media! He tells us about living in the woods, his first win, and run-ins with Dale Earnhardt. Through it all, he’s lived by the lessons of hard work and respect instilled in him at a young age.

Jesse Vaughan became a spotter by pure chance. Ten years later, he was atop a tower in Turn 3 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, guiding James Hinchcliffe through the Indy 500. Vaughan (13:56) who hails from Chesterfield, VA, explains how he was randomly asked by his father to spot for Shayne Lockhart at Martinsville Speedway ten years ago, how he made the most of that chance and continues to spot to this day. We dive in-depth with him on what it takes to be a good spotter, what he's learned, and what really goes on atop the tower on race days. Co-host Dave Seay reflects on Cathy Rice’s career after the news she’ll step down as South Boston Speedway’s GM following this season.

He’s a legend among legends here in the state of Virginia. Phil Warren’s racing career is a storied one, but it might have never taken off without a bit of advice from Tommy Ellis. Warren (10:39) took that council and turned it into victories and titles. Now, he’s mentoring the next generation of young racers, including Brenden Queen and his grandson Ryley Music. Hear the racing Virginia story of one of Langley Speedway’s greatest, as he’s gone from a championship-winning driver to championship-winning crew chief.

He was the man behind the mic of Southside Speedway for the better part of the past two decades. Buck Reuss is a man of many talents, though. Reuss (2:32) is a racing historian, graphic designer, and a killer guitar player who has made his mark in many ways around Racing Virginia. Justin Carroll is a young racer with a bright future. The product of Williamsburg, Va., Carroll (35:26) just finished a season in the ARCA Menards East Series where he placed sixth in the standings. He might have gotten his start in racing later than most, but he’s making up for lost time.