NASCAR's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., is the special guest on this week's episode. USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Gluck talks with Earnhardt about the popularity of podcasts, his upcoming nuptials with Amy Reimann and the rigors of wedding

Chase finale: Johnson's crazy run to the title

Nov 21st, 2016 28m 48s

After Jimmie Johnson's shocking run to a seventh title unfolded in the closing laps at Homestead-Miami Speedway, USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Gluck and Brant James are left to wonder how many more championships are in the star's future. Plus, a close

Chase race 9: Logano's win, Kenseth's wreck and the final four is set

Nov 14th, 2016 26m 59s

Jeff Gluck welcomes Dustin Long of NBC Sports in this week's edition. We chat with race winner Joey Logano from victory lane at Phoenix, where he proclaims he will win his first Sprint Cup title. Plus, how he lost his wedding ring for a second

Chase race 8: Texas two-step sees Edwards win in rain

Nov 7th, 2016 13m 25s

Brant James welcomes special guest Holly Cain from NASCAR.com on this week's edition of Start Your Engines. They discuss Carl Edwards' timely strategy in the rain at Texas and how feisty drivers may get at Phoenix this weekend as just two slots

Chase race 7: Johnson dominates Martinsville

Oct 31st, 2016 31m 32s

NBC Sports' Nate Ryan joins USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Gluck in this week's episode that features an analysis of why Jimmie Johnson's win at Martinsville means much more than a run at title No. 7. Also, a look at the chances for Joe Gibbs Racing an

Chase race 6: Talladega winnows the field

Oct 24th, 2016 28m 15s

Talladega Superspeedway didn't offer 'The Big One' this time around, but there were surprises nonetheless. From engine woes that struck two of the heavy favorites for the championship to the drivers that advanced to the Round of 8 in the Chase

Chase race 5: Kevin Harvick closes out Kansas

Oct 17th, 2016 28m 15s

USA TODAY Sports' Brant James welcomes special guest Nick Bromberg of Yahoo Sports in this week's edition. Also, James chats with Kansas winner Kevin Harvick and crew chief Rodney Childers from victory lane and asks how much longer this team ca

Chase race 4: Unexpected drama at Charlotte

Oct 10th, 2016 18m 59s

USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Gluck and Brant James break down an exciting day at Charlotte, which saw Jimmie Johnson clinch a berth in the third round of the Chase after breaking a 24-race winless streak with a victory in the Bank of America 500. But

Chase race 3: Dover

Oct 3rd, 2016 29m 19s

USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Gluck and Brant James welcome Dover race winner Martin Truex Jr. from victory lane, dissect the first round of Chase for the Sprint Cup eliminations and look ahead to what the next round might bring.

Chase race 2: New Hampshire

Sep 26th, 2016 23m 32s

Is a second Sprint Cup title in the cards for Kevin Harvick? It seems it could be after his performance Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Gluck and guest Matt Weaver share insights on why Harvick seems to excel in t

Simon Pagenaud wraps up IndyCar championship

Sep 19th, 2016 23m 31s

The USA TODAY Sports team of Brant James, Heather Tucker and Chris Jenkins summarize the dominant victory by Simon Pagenaud at Sonoma Raceway to clinch the IndyCar championship for the Frenchman.Brant, Heather and Chris talk about Pagenaud wra

Penalties steal the headlines in Chase opener at Chicagoland

Sep 19th, 2016 26m 3s

Martin Truex Jr. won the opening race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup but shortly afterwards, the Furniture Row racer failed post-race inspection. And he wasn't the only one. Six-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson led a race-high 118 laps

IndyCar: It all comes down to Sonoma

Sep 14th, 2016 23m 5s

USA TODAY Sports’ Brant James is joined by Chris Jenkins and The Indianapolis Star‘s Curt Cavin for a breakdown of the IndyCar season finale at Sonoma Raceway. It will be a two-car race for the finish, with Team Penske teammates Simon Pagenaud

Chase for the Sprint Cup preview: feisty drivers, Toyota dominance

Sep 11th, 2016 21m 24s

The Sprint Cup season has reached the home stretch - a 10-race run to the title that in the past has proven exciting, volatile and unpredictable. If the regular-season finale was any indication, this season's playoff promises more of the same.

IndyCar: Breaking down all the action from Watkins Glen

Sep 5th, 2016 30m 54s

Brant James talks to reigning IndyCar champion Scott Dixon, who had a dominating run at Watkins Glen to score his second victory of the season. Then James, Curt Cavin and Chris Jenkins break down the championship implications after Will Power

Darlington and Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s concussion saga

Sep 5th, 2016 21m 51s

NBC Sports' Nate Ryan joins USA TODAY Sports' Mike Hembree in this week's NASCAR podcast. The focus is Dale Earnhardt Jr., the sport's most popular driver, and whether he will - or should - return to the race car after a sobering news conferen

IndyCar Destinations: Watkins Glen with Bryan Herta

Sep 3rd, 2016 10m 44s

Chris Jenkins is joined by IndyCar team owner Bryan Herta to discuss this weekend's race at Watkins Glen International: the IndyCar Grand Prix at The Glen.The two discuss the track and its surroundings, and the landscape this time of year. The

IndyCar: Graham Rahal prevails in wild race at Texas

Aug 29th, 2016 34m 27s

Graham Rahal makes his debut on the podcast after scoring his first victory of the season, edging James Hinchcliffe in the closest IndyCar finish in Texas Motor Speedway history.Brant James interviews Rahal and joins Curt Cavin and Chris Jenk

Will Kyle Larson have big Chase run?

Aug 29th, 2016 19m 19s

USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Gluck welcomes Mike Brudenell of the Detroit Free Press in this week's Start Your Engines podcast. The duo examines the emotional win by Kyle Larson at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday and Chase Elliott's phenome

IndyCar: Will Power motors to another victory

Aug 24th, 2016 42m 39s

In what is starting to become a weekly Q&A, Will Power joins the show after his fourth IndyCar victory in six races.Prior to his conversation with Power, USA TODAY Sports' Brant James is joined by Chris Jenkins to break down Power's patience,

Kevin Harvick gets back on track at Bristol

Aug 22nd, 2016 22m 30s

Jeff Gluck and Mike Hembree delve into the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race -- which took place mostly in the daytime Sunday after being postponed.Jeff and Mike analyze a win for Kevin Harvick after the Kyle Busch show came to a crashing end. Cou

IndyCar destinations: Pocono

Aug 19th, 2016 9m 40s

USA TODAY Sports' Chris Jenkins talks to Pennsylvania native Marco Andretti about Pocono Raceway, growing up and moving back to Nazareth, Pa., and racing at the "Tricky Triangle." Andretti also gives tips on where to eat and what to do if you'r

Ins and outs of Watkins Glen

Aug 8th, 2016 31m 4s

NASCAR stats man extraordinaire Mike Forde joins USA TODAY Sports' Brant James and nothing is off the table. From Denny Hamlin's first road course victory to Kyle Larson's disastrous points loss in the final 100 yards to who is on the Chase for

IndyCar Destinations: Rio

Aug 5th, 2016 11m 44s

Verizon IndyCar Series driver Tony Kanaan shares his insights on his native Brazil and Rio - host of the Summer Games, with USA TODAY Sports' Chris Jenkins. Kanaan still has family in Brazil and says the Olympics have put a spotlight on problem