Advertise on podcast: Racers Unchained with Paul Tracy

Kyle Petty joins Racers Unchained for a wide-ranging conversation about growing up in the Petty family, working in the race shop, and chasing his dream of becoming a race car driver. Kyle shares the unbelievable story of his first experience behind the wheel of a race car — going to Daytona at 18 years old despite having never driven a race car or even a go-kart. His first laps around Daytona came with his dad Richard Petty behind the wheel, Kyle sitting on the floor of the car and hanging onto the roll bars as they reached nearly 200 mph. Kyle also talks to Paul Tracy about the years he spent learning every part of the race car, from welding and fabrication to engines and bodywork, and why that hands-on experience shaped his approach to racing. He reflects on winning at Daytona, his eight NASCAR Cup Series victories, the differences between the drivers of his generation and today's young racers, and why he believes respect, patience and race craft have changed over the years. The conversation covers NASCAR safety and the evolution of the HANS device, SAFER barriers and cockpit design, including Kyle's perspective following the loss of his son Adam Petty. Kyle discusses how NASCAR became much more proactive about safety, his longtime motorcycle charity ride, the incredible work of Victory Junction, and raising millions of dollars to give children life-changing camp experiences. He opens up about his family, raising his young sons, motorcycles, and why he's reached a point in life where he's comfortable saying no and simply enjoying the things that matter most. #KylePetty #PaulTracy #RacersUnchained #NASCAR #RichardPetty #PettyFamily #Daytona #NASCARHistory #VictoryJunction #Motorsports #Racing

Ron Fellows joins Racers Unchained host Paul Tracy for a wide-ranging conversation about an incredible racing career that took him from struggling to make a living in open-wheel racing to becoming a three-time IMSA champion, two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, Daytona 24 winner, 12 Hours of Sebring winner and one of the most successful road-course racers in NASCAR. Fellows looks back at his early days in Canada, working construction while paying down racing debt, racing in the Players GM series and eventually getting his opportunity with Jack Roush in Trans Am. He also tells the story of the Belle Isle victory that put him on Chevrolet’s radar and ultimately changed the direction of his career. Fellows talks about the golden era of Trans Am, his transition from Ford to Chevrolet, the development of the Corvette C5-R program, and what made those early Corvette race cars so special. He shares stories from racing NASCAR road courses with some of the sport’s biggest names, including Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr., and explains why oval racing was such a different challenge for a road racer. The conversation also covers the origins and growth of the Corvette High Performance Driving School at Spring Mountain, his involvement in karting, and the next generation of Fellows racers. It’s a candid look at the career, relationships and opportunities that shaped one of North America’s most accomplished road racers. #RonFellows #Paul Tracy #RacersUnchained #CorvetteRacing #TransAm #LeMans #NASCAR #IMSA #RacingHistory #Motorsports #Chevrolet

Townsend Bell joins Racers Unchained for a wide-ranging conversation about a racing career that took an unconventional path. Bell didn't climb into a race car until he was 21, but once he discovered racing at Laguna Seca, he committed completely. He talks about hustling his way through Skip Barber, finding sponsorship at trade shows, winning the Indy Lights championship and making the jump into CART with very little experience compared with the drivers around him. Bell also opens up about the realities of his IndyCar rookie season, including the mistakes, crashes and lessons that came from trying to prove himself too quickly. He explains why he ultimately chose Europe over another IndyCar opportunity, his F3000 experience, F1 testing opportunities and the BAR test-driver deal that fell apart just before he moved to Europe. The conversation also covers the business side of racing and how Bell learned to build sponsorships around real business relationships rather than simply selling space on a race car. He shares his approach to networking, the importance of recognizing where money is moving in the business world and why young drivers need an almost obsessive level of desire to make it to the top. Bell and Paul Tracy also look back at their years working together on television, talk about Bell's transition into broadcasting, his son Jackson's racing career and the evolution of IndyCar. They discuss the new IndyCar, the old 900-horsepower machines, the challenges of racing in a different era and what they expect from the sport's future. It's a candid conversation with one of racing's most interesting career paths, told by a driver who had to create opportunities instead of waiting for them to appear. #TownsendBell #RacersUnchained #IndyCar #CART #IndyLights #LeMans #IMSA #Motorsports #Racing #PaulTracy

Three-time NHRA Funny Car champion Ron Capps joins Racers Unchained for a wide-ranging conversation about his remarkable racing career, from growing up around drag racing on California’s Central Coast to getting his big break with legendary driver Don “The Snake” Prudhomme. Capps shares the story of how he went from working as a crew member and racing wherever he could to suddenly getting the call from Prudhomme that changed his career. He also talks about his love for racing everything from Funny Cars and Top Fuelers to midgets, sprint cars and go-karts, and why driving different types of race cars has made him a better drag racer. Capps gets into what it’s really like to strap into a 13,000-horsepower Funny Car, including what happens when the tires break loose at nearly 300 mph, how drivers “pedal” a car back under control, and what it feels like when a nitromethane engine explodes just feet away. He also opens up about the serious crashes he’s experienced, including his massive Phoenix Funny Car accident and a hard midget crash at IRP, the evolution of Funny Car safety, and the difficult realities of running a championship-caliber team. Along the way, Capps tells stories about James Hetfield and Metallica, Tony Stewart, Don Prudhomme and the racing community that has been part of his life for decades. #RonCapps #PaulTracy #RacersUnchained #NHRA #FunnyCar #DragRacing #DonPrudhomme #Nitro #Motorsports #Racing

Andy Lally has built one of the most diverse careers in American motorsports. A three-time IMSA champion and five-time winner of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Lally has raced everything from prototypes and Porsches to NASCAR stock cars. In this episode of Racers Unchained, he sits down to talk about the path that took him from go-karts on Long Island to the top levels of sports car racing, and why simply being fast was never enough. Lally talks about the mentors who taught him to hustle, knock on doors and create his own opportunities rather than waiting for the phone to ring. He explains how he made the jump from open-wheel racing into prototypes, built his reputation in Porsche machinery and eventually made his way into NASCAR. He also breaks down what makes NASCAR so difficult for drivers coming from IndyCar and sports cars, including the massive difference in tire behavior and how much patience it takes to feel a stock car at the limit. The conversation also dives into Lally's role with Trans Am and why TA2 has become an important part of the development path for young stock car drivers. He explains what makes the nearly 900-horsepower TA cars so wild to drive, why the series is attracting young talent, and how its relatively accessible costs compare with modern GT3 racing. And then there's street luge. A lifelong skateboarder, Lally discovered competitive street luge around the turn of the century and eventually became a three-time world champion. Now retired from full-time car racing, he's chasing another World Cup title on four wheels and no engine. Lally explains the technology, setup, aerodynamics and race craft involved in going flat-out downhill on a board — and why so much of what he learned behind the wheel still applies to the hill. This is Andy Lally in his own words: racing, opportunity, NASCAR, Trans Am, street luge and the relentless hustle that kept his career moving forward. #AndyLally #RacersUnchained #Racing #IMSA #Rolex24 #Daytona24 #TransAm #TA2 #NASCAR #StreetLuge

Katherine Legge has raced just about everything — Champ Cars, IndyCars, prototypes, sports cars, Formula E, NASCAR, and even a Formula 1 car. On this episode of Racers Unchained, she sits down with Paul Tracy for a wide-ranging conversation about the highs, lows and hard lessons from a career that has taken her all over the world. Legge opens up about coming through karting and Formula Ford without the financial backing many young drivers had, her experiences racing alongside the likes of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, and why the old Lola Champ Car remains her favorite race car. She also talks candidly about the very different challenges she faced entering NASCAR, including the intense criticism and backlash that followed her into the series. Legge explains how her perspective on being a woman in racing has evolved, why she eventually embraced sponsors like Elf and the opportunity to inspire young female racers, and what it was like becoming the first woman to attempt the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 Double. She also takes viewers behind the scenes of that grueling day, from the early morning at Indianapolis to the flight to Charlotte, the heat and physical demands of the NASCAR race, and the challenges of surviving 600 miles in a car that was fighting her all night. Plus, Legge talks about her future, the Daytona 500, Le Mans, Bathurst, her NASCAR ambitions, the strange and unforgettable DeltaWing, her biggest crashes, working without a traditional management team, and the bucket-list races she still wants to tackle. #KatherineLegge #RacersUnchained #NASCAR #IndyCar #Indy500 #CocaCola600 #Motorsports #WomenInMotorsports #Racing

Ryan Hunter-Reay joins Paul Tracy for an honest conversation about one of the most accomplished careers in modern IndyCar racing. The 2012 IndyCar champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner looks back at his rise through karting, his championship season, the unforgettable final laps of the Indy 500, and why instinct—not planning—led to one of the boldest passes in Indianapolis history. Hunter-Reay also opens up about life with Arrow McLaren, why he no longer wants a full-time ride, balancing racing with family, mentoring the next generation, and the surprising story behind turning down Team Penske after winning the championship. Along the way, he shares behind-the-scenes memories from Andretti, Rahal Letterman, Champ Car, IMSA, and his near-miss at the 2024 Indianapolis 500, giving fans an inside look at the decisions and moments that shaped his career. #RacersUnchained #RyanHunterReay #Indy500 #IndyCar #ArrowMcLaren #PaulTracy #TeamPenske #AndrettiAutosport #Motorsports #RacingPodcast

Graham Rahal joins Paul Tracy for a candid conversation about where IndyCar stands today, what it will take to grow the series, and why he believes the next generation of race cars needs to be lighter, faster and more demanding to drive. Rahal shares his thoughts on the future of the championship, the impact of simulators, the push for new events like Arlington, and why bringing back multiple chassis manufacturers could reignite fan interest. The conversation also dives into Rahal's own career, from making the leap into IndyCar to winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona, racing in one of the deepest fields the series has ever seen, and handling the expectations that come with carrying one of the sport's most recognizable names. Paul and Graham compare today's drivers with previous generations, discuss the evolution of engineering and simulation, and swap stories from life in the paddock in an episode packed with honest opinions and behind-the-scenes insight. #RacersUnchained #PaulTracy #GrahamRahal #IndyCar #RahalLettermanLanigan #Motorsports #Indy500 #RacingPodcast #racing #motorsports

Sam Schmidt was a rising IndyCar star, 5th in points, a race winner, teammates with Arie Luyendyk, when a testing crash in January 2000 left him paralyzed from the neck down and unable to breathe on his own. Doctors said he'd never walk or talk again. 25 years later, he's built one of the most successful teams in Indy Lights history, co-owned an IndyCar team with Dan Wheldon and later Arrow McLaren, developed a car he steers with his head and mouth that's hit 213 mph, and in April 2021, walked his daughter down the aisle in a custom exoskeleton nine months in the making. On this episode of Racers Unchained, Paul Tracy sits down with Sam to talk about the crash, the recovery, the technology that gave him back a piece of control, why he believes anyone can do anything if they're willing to put in the work, and what it's really like to rebuild a life and a career from the ground up. #SamSchmidt #PaulTracy #IndyCar #Indy500 #racing #motorsports #RACERpodcast

Stefan Johansson joins Racers Unchained for a wide-ranging conversation about one of the most fascinating careers in motorsport. From racing in Formula 1 alongside legends like Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Niki Lauda and Gilles Villeneuve’s era, to winning at Le Mans and competing at the sharp end of IndyCar, Johansson reflects on the moments that shaped his journey through the sport’s most dangerous and innovative years. In this episode, Johansson shares what it was really like to race in the turbo era, when Formula 1 cars were producing staggering horsepower and qualifying laps felt almost out of control. He also tells the story of how he got the call to drive for Ferrari, what he learned from being Senna’s teammate at Toleman, and why that generation of racing still stands apart for its freedom, intensity, and raw speed. It’s a deep dive into F1 in the 1980s, Ferrari politics, legendary teammates, and a career that stretched across Formula 1, sports cars, and IndyCar. #StefanJohansson #Formula1 #F1 #Ferrari #AyrtonSenna #LeMans #IndyCar #Motorsport #PaulTracy #RacersUnchained

Romain Grosjean joins Racers Unchained for an open and candid conversation about one of the most extraordinary careers in modern motorsport. From dominating the junior ranks on his way to Formula 1 to rebuilding his career after setbacks, Grosjean reflects on the victories, disappointments, and defining moments that shaped him as a driver. The discussion revisits the horrific Bahrain crash that nearly took his life and the split-second decisions that helped him escape the flames. Grosjean shares what he remembers from those 28 seconds inside the fire, the role the Halo played in his survival, and how the experience changed his perspective on racing and life. #RomainGrosjean #Formula1 #F1 #PaulTracy #IndyCar #Motorsport #Racing #BahrainGP #Motorsports #RACERPodcast

Mark Blundell joins Racers Unchained for a fast-moving conversation covering the highs, risks, and realities of life at the top levels of motorsport. From battling through the Formula 1 paddock in the 1990s to winning at Le Mans and racing in IndyCar, Blundell shares stories from an era when drivers pushed the limits every weekend and personalities were just as big as the machinery. He reflects on racing against legends, adapting across multiple disciplines, and what it took to survive in one of motorsport’s toughest generations. The episode also dives into the business side of racing, the politics behind driver careers, and the moments that shaped Blundell both inside and outside the cockpit. With firsthand insight into F1 team dynamics, endurance racing strategy, and the evolution of modern motorsport, this conversation delivers a candid look at a career built on resilience, speed, and experience. Whether you're a longtime Formula 1 fan or love hearing untold stories from racing’s golden era, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. 
#MarkBlundell #PaulTracy #Formula1 #f1 #LeMans #IndyCar #motorsport #sportscars #RacersUnchained

Simon Pagenaud joins Racers Unchained for a raw conversation about the moments that shaped his career — from terrifying crashes and career-defining pressure to leaving France behind in pursuit of a future in racing. Simon reflects on the accident he barely remembers, the sacrifices it took to keep climbing the motorsports ladder, and how close he came to walking away from racing entirely. The Indy 500 winner and IndyCar champion also shares stories from his early years growing up in a small French town, idolizing Ayrton Senna, and trying to break into Formula 1 without money or connections. He talks openly about learning hard lessons in Europe, getting help from Sébastien Bourdais, and arriving in America with everything riding on a single Formula Atlantic season. This episode is packed with insight into the mindset, discipline, and resilience it takes to survive at the highest levels of motorsport. #SimonPagenaud 
#RacersUnchained 
#IndyCar
 #Indy500
 #Motorsports #RACERPodcast
 #FormulaAtlantic
 #Daytona24
 #PaulTracy
 #IMSA

He Was Beating Vettel's Lap Times. Then It All Fell Apart — Robert Doornbos | Racers Unchained He went from tennis prodigy to Formula One in four years. Then Sebastian Vettel took his seat. Robert Doornbos joins Paul Tracy on Racers Unchained for one of the most fascinating career stories in motorsport — from a chance lunch with Jacques Villeneuve at the Belgian Grand Prix that changed everything, to racing alongside Vettel at Red Bull, to the €10 million lawsuit that ultimately derailed one of IndyCar's most exciting careers. Oh, and somewhere in the middle of all of it, he won $36,000 at a roulette table in Las Vegas on his first night in the city — and spent every cent before the sun came up. Bobby D covers it all: the Red Bull junior program's ruthless culture, learning ovals from Ari Luyendyk at Indianapolis, his daughter's cancer battle, and why he now calls Dubai home. This one's got everything.  Check out racer.com/bundle for an exclusive RACER+ and magazine offer!  Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQ  Follow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts  Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/  Follow RACER Network on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer_network/  Follow host Paul Tracy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/paultracyofficial/

Derek Daly joins Racers Unchained and wastes no time getting into one of the most unbelievable stories in motorsport history—how he managed to finish both first and second in the same 12 Hours of Sebring. From brutal endurance stints in 1,000-horsepower machines with no power steering to pushing through exhaustion and heat, Daly walks through the kind of racing that simply doesn’t exist anymore. It’s raw, physical, and at times downright dangerous. But Daly’s journey is just as remarkable as his race results. Growing up in Ireland and starting from humble beginnings, he climbed from Formula Ford to Formula 1 in just 14 months—a rise that still feels almost impossible today. Along the way, he shares stories of risk, resilience, and the moments that defined his career, including terrifying crashes and the reality of racing at the limit. This episode is packed with insight, perspective, and the kind of firsthand experience that only comes from living it. #DerekDaly #RacersUnchained #Motorsports #Formula1 #IndyCar #Sebring12Hours #RacingLegends #IMSA #Racing