Elyshia and I rewind the Daytona 400 race which was the cut off race for the playoffs. We discuss the two drivers who failed to make the playoffs by not being able to point their way in because of getting hurt in activities non-related to driving the race car in the Cup Series. They were not able to win a race either since their return to full time racing.

My perspective comes from my own experience in the Cup Series as well as being hurt, not able to get back in the car as well as driving hurt. The professional race car driver has an obligation to car owners, sponsors, teammates, and manufactures who spend a great deal of money and time promoting this extension of the brand.

This episode goes in depth about the current state of NASCAR stock car racing. The sport has been through many changes over time, but none more significant that the implementation of the NEXGEN car. This car is a complete departure from our stock car racing roots, with now an emphasis on the road racing sector. We breakdown the influx of Australian race car drivers coming on the scene in NASCAR for the Indy-road course race. Shane Van Gisbergen a driver from the Supercar Series comes in and wins the race at the Chicago Street Course NASCAR race and sets everyone back on their heels. This one shot fired across the world has set things in motion for how and who may get new opportunities in NASCAR. The dynamic has now shifted to road racing instead of oval racing as a discipline that provides more chances to win in the Cup Series to make it to the playoffs.

We go back in time to 1970 and 1980. This is a time when racing on the west coast provide great platforms to race and to see some outstanding race car drivers perform at high levels. This would also set the tone for a migration of young talent to go to the east coast to pursue stardom. I reflect on race car drivers that made an impact on me and would set standards for drivers to aspire to. There were three drivers from on the west coast and they would win 11 West Coast Grand National championships between them. I expand on other drivers that would use these examples to make their own decisions to fulfill dreams of becoming professional race car drivers.

Elyshia and I get on our soapbox in this episode. We dive straight into the actions of drivers in NASCAR and other racing series that put themselves in a bad light and find the means to justify their actions. This is and has been prevalent in NASCAR for some time. The driver's attitudes and personalities have become so self-serving and continues to put the sport in a bad light. We touch on a multitude of driver's currently as well as some from the past that seem to have continued to drive a narrative that is detrimental to motorsports.

This episode explores the different elements of the art of road racing. The differences and approaches to teaching methods as well as definitive techniques depending on the type of race car and gearbox application. The optics are something that I spend a great time discussing as well as the process used in breaking down video on a frame-by-frame basis. I also use the data that the AIM Data Analysis provides as a tool to overlay multiple driver's data over one another to provide another visual aid in understanding deficiencies.

Understanding the race car driver and their abilities are key, but also how far they can be pushed. There are certain techniques and visual progressions that need to take place to reach the un-tapped potential in the driver. That will provide what is necessary to manipulate a race car instead of just driving it well. Raw God-Given talent is hard to beat, but a great work ethic and desire can go a long way to becoming the race car driver you desire to be.

I provide some additional insight on what Elyshia and I have about ready to showcase at track soon, and that is the HOT LAPZ Radical Race Car experience. We will be testing the car this week to finalize the ride along program as well as this new exciting coaching-teaching tool.

This episode is all about young race car drivers and their varied paths moving forward to become professional race car drivers. Road racing is the focus and we discuss the difficulties that most all race car drivers go through on their quest to be successful in a highly competitive form of sport. We both touch on the areas of work ethic, and the preparation necessary each week to be the best you can be each race weekend.

The TransAm TA2 series is the focal point and the upcoming races at Road America and Nashville, a street course and the nuances of each. Additionally, we speak about the genetic disorder EB that Darin has and the limitations of this, and how he copes with it as well as using racing as a mechanism to bring light to this and to raise awareness about this.

Elyshia and I share our recent road trip to Mid-Ohio. We discuss our observations with regard to all the manicured lawns throughout the countryside on our way to the Mid-Ohio Road racing event in Lexington, Ohio. I have now re-named this state Mow-Hio!

We made a stop for the night in Mt. Vernon, Ohio at the Grand Hotel and had dinner in a fine restaurant called the Alcove. What a wonderful little city and so quaint in every way.

We further dive into what we came to Ohio for, and that was the Trans Am TA2 race. I dive into the drivers on tap for Nitro Motorsports and how their practices and qualifying efforts go leading up to the actual race. There are obstacles and concerns that have to be dealt with when it comes to decisions on what the weather could hold for everyone. Additionally, we touch on the disparity of all of the Nitro drivers and their mindsets and perspectives for the upcoming race.

NASCAR is also mentioned when we showcase the street course race in the city streets of Chicago. A first for the NASCAR Cup Series.

We end this episode with updates on the Racetheory Hot Lapz ride along program that we will be offering soon. We just picked up our Radical RXC Spyder 2-Seater race car, and we expand on the offerings and packages for a VIP Racing experience or a corporate outing.

This episode we have a guest, Kevin Lepage. He provides and in-depth look into his career from the very start in Shelburne, VA and his journey south to the heart of Stock Car racing. We touch on how our careers parallel each other, as well as similar obstacles and the need to start and own our own teams out of necessity.

Kevin highlights his pole qualifying efforts and the wins in the Busch Series and his years at Roush Racing and their multi car teams. There are very candid views and opinions of race team car owner's decisions that require Kevin to make countless changes in direction and continue to strive to make impressions that will provide him another shot at the NASCAR Cup Level.

We discuss the controversial "Start and Park" time frame of the sport of NASCAR and the harsh comments from the press and perception within the industry. This leads us to offer insight into his way of coping with the latter stages of an athlete's career, as well as the current state of NASCAR and the sport of motor racing as a whole.

This week we delve into the link between NASCAR, IMSA, and World Endurance Racing. We seg way from this past weekend's road races in Xfinity and the NASCAR Cup Series race to the Garage 56 effort that has been in the process for preparing for the Centenary Edition of the 24 hours of Le Mans. This effort was more of a building of bridges and to strengthen relationships between IMSA and WEC IN Europe. The NASCAR NEXGEN car with the addition of Lights, Carbon Brakes, Dive-planes, and minor engine changes makes it's debut at Le Mans and steals the show!

This year's race marks 100 years of the running of the 24 hour of Le Mans, and 50 years since Ferrari has made an appearance and entered the event. We discuss the changes to BOP, (the balance of performance) made prior to the race that were not well received by the OEM's. This year's Hyper car entry proved to be a force to be reckoned with. Toyota has won the last 5 years at Le Mans, but it would be Ferrari's day!

I have many opinions of the current state of racing in general. I dive into something that I have a real distaste for and that is protests. I explore the reasoning and the detrimental aspects of what protesting the finishes of race does to the sport. The sanctioning bodies of all these racing series need to find a way to deter the young youthful racers from being so self-absorbed and understand their role as race car drivers being watched by the racing fans of the world. They have a responsibility to conduct themselves as extensions of companies, as brand ambassadors, and the faces of motorsports in general for many years to come.The parents, car owners and sponsors need to have a say and step up and say NO, we will not condone this type of behavior, it is unacceptable, wrecking other race cars, potentially hurting other drivers, just to win the race is not how it is done.Check out our website at RaceTheory.Club

Elyshia and I discuss the Indianapolis 500. We breakdown this very special event in May. I provide my own insight into the diversity of drivers in the series currently as well as how it related to the events of their race cars on this very day.The race has a great deal of excitement and aggressive driving right from the start and throughout the entire event. The story lines are especially compelling this year with the departure of Tony Kanaan and this being his last Indy 500, along with many young drivers having outstanding efforts and the return of A.J. Foyt's race team back at the front with Santino Furrucci at the wheel who ultimately finishes third with a shot at winning.We enter into the factors that lead the sanctioning body to set a new precedent with a red flag and only two laps to go in the race, and decide to go back green with only one lap to go in the race that has never been done by IndyCar!Right or wrong that is your opinion, but as usual Elyshia and I give you our thoughts and perspective on the decision.Additionally, we provide some insight into HOP LAPZ, a ride along program presented by Racetheory in our new acquisition, a Radical RXC Spyder open cockpit race car that we will be doing corporate outings and ride along opportunities for race fans.Check out our website at RaceTheory.Club

I set the stage for the beginning of summer in racing with two Major racing events and the significance of Memorial Day. The month of May has always been an exciting time for motorsports in general. The Indy 500 and the Coca Cola 600 are two outstanding races on the schedule with a great deal of hype and spectacular pre-race pageantry. I discuss the unique efforts by four drivers to date that have ran the double in the same day, the Indy 500 and the Coca Cola 600 and their own results and obstacles that each drive had to overcome.Additionally, I speak about the qualifying procedures and the nuances of the two race-tracks and how that relates to the driver's ability to fully commit to the mind over matter mental aspects needed to perform at the highest levels. I further elaborate on the starting positions for the Indy 500 and the upcoming qualifying for the Coca Cola 600.Check out our website at RaceTheory.Club

This episode starts out at this past race weekend in Darlington. This was the throwback weekend with all the old past race paint schemes. We discuss how all the teams and drivers participate in a major way and have a great deal of fun with it. We also delve deeply into the Ross Chastain and Kyle Larson wreck at the end of the race which took both teams and drivers out of the opportunity to win the race. Controversy continues but now with Rick Hendrick asking what Chevrolet is going to do about it? This continues to happen and now seems to be coming to a boil, just in time for the All-Star race at North Wilkesboro. Elyshia and I discuss our likes and dislikes when it comes to tracks and I bring back two of my biggest altercations with drivers that happened to be at...where else North Wilkesboro.Check out our website at RaceTheory.Club

This is a sport fueled by emotions and passion, but with that controversy its inevitable. Our episode goes in depth into NASCAR as a benevolent dictator and its stance of it is our sandbox and if you want to play, you play by our rules. With this attitude and ever-growing desire to monetize every aspect of their business driver and team owners begin to lose a grip of their own brands and merchandising programs.We also highlight the so-called manipulation of races through debris or entertainment cautions as well as the changes to come from the Charter System and the implementation of sports betting and how that relates to major change.We also touch on the current driver extra activities outside of driving the race car that has resulted in injuries that have sideline them for extensive periods of time.Check out our website at RaceTheory.Club

This episode we return to women in racing and introduce additional names that I do not want to leave out. These women have made contributions to motorsports and have been instrumental in its continuation for respect in the sport of motor racing.

Elyshia and I discuss NHRA Drag Racing and how it relates to the inclusion of female race car drivers their highly notable accomplishments.We provide our thoughts as to decisions that women have to make when it comes to relationships and distractions that could compromise the end goal. There have been and will continue to be major hurdles that women will have to overcome, but we both feel at some point in the near future we will see a dynamic ultra competitive women enter the pinnacles of motorsports.Check out our website at RaceTheory.Club

In this episode we start with female race car drivers in history, such as Janet Gutherie who paved the way for females to have a place in motorsports. We delve into the challenges facing females that are unique only to them, including opportunity, physical limitations and their tolerance in the paddock. We also discuss many names through the years that have proven themselves worthy of more success on the track, but the common pitfalls that befell them all. We name current female drivers that have yet to make their mark, and how they can learn from their women predecessors.Check out our website at RaceTheory.Club

We continue the discussions with Hall of Famer Waddell Wilson starting off with Fireball Roberts at Daytona. Waddell highlights the most memorable events during his 7 Daytona 500 victories. We dive into breaking the 200 MPH barrier and the safety rules that ensued afterwards, of particular note of the wreck of Bobby Allison at Talladega. We also delve into the cheating that began to take place and the repercussions on the sport. We round out the discussion with our personal thoughts of what made this sport great and why we still love it today.Check out our website at RaceTheory.Club

We discuss the early days of NASCAR, Holman and Moody and the life and times of Waddel Wilson's journey. He discusses the ins and outs of the sport through 1960, 1970, 1980 and up to his Induction in the NASCAR Hall Of Fame in 2020. A true gift to listen to the pf the most gifted engine builders of our time. The success he has had and the many drivers that went to victory lane because of his expertise.Check out our website at RaceTheory.Club

In this episode we discuss what drives you to succeed. Passion, heart, desire, and a willingness to push yourself outside a comfort zone. We explore the elements that present themselves to you that can provide clarity on a direction as well as profound avenues to overcome the obstacles that are necessary to enhance and elevate your abilities in your career path. This episode also provides reasoning for self-checking and not allowing arrogance to get in the way of opportunities for progression.

Check out our website at RaceTheory.Club

Elyshia and I dive into looking at the balancing of ambition with realistic expectations both from a personal standpoint and as a parent of a child athlete. We discuss how data analysis has changed over the years and how it can provide valuable insight into performance that is irrefutable. We share personal stories about balancing ambition with expectation and the dangers of setting unrealistic ones. We highlight the importance of listening to experienced drivers who have been through the same struggles.Check out our website at RaceTheory.Club

This week we will be discussing the controversies that have been making headlines in the sport. We start with the infamous louver scam, which took place last week with Hendrick Motorsports. This incident has sparked a huge discussion in NASCAR regarding penalties for manipulating pieces on the cars that can greatly influence the outcome of the race.Additionally, we examine the impact of betting in NASCAR and how stiffer consequences for cheating are now being enforced to maintain the integrity of the sport.Moving on, we talk about the huge differences between the series in NASCAR now.The truck and Xfinity series being so inexperienced they lead to an excess of cautions and crashes. The cup series, now being the only experienced series, which is not how it was in years past.We also delve into the issue of respect in the garage, which is in rapid decline.Overall, this week has been full of controversy and intrigue.Check out our website at RaceTheory.Club

Elyshia and I discuss the constant pursuit by NASCAR and other sanctioning bodies of other motorsport series to create parity and fair opportunity of competition between all the different makes of race cars. This is called BOP (Balance of Performance). The rules are changed mid-steam of a year in racing provided one type of vehicle has a distinct advantage over the others. This keeps all the manufacture's (OEM) engaged and feel like their marketing platforms can remain viable and continue to create the perception on the car in the marketplace.Additionally, we look at the early days of when there were less rules and what initiated the influx of rule changes and more restrictions that ultimately would change the course of racing forever.Check out our website at RaceTheory.Club

Welcome to the wide world of racing! From NASCAR to Formula 1 to Drag Racing to Indy, the racing world is in full swing everywhere.We will be discussing the different kinds of racing, why NASCAR teams are mainly located in North Carolina, and the impact of the west coast's first Daytona 500 winner.Why are most of the NASCAR teams located in North Carolina? Well, there is a long history of the motorsports industry in this state. There are plenty of opportunities for you to get involved, even if you can't be a driver. We also wanted to take this time to thank our service men and women who have given so much for our country. We share a heart-warming story about a serviceman's memory of the 1990 Daytona 500.

Welcome to the rookie driver guide to success podcast! This week we will be talking about how new drivers need to be versatile and improve their speaking and sharpen their communication. We also discuss how important it is to go the extra mile for the sponsor. Be willing to do anything to advance their career. Lastly, we will be discussing the importance for showing respect to everyone along their journey. We share our own insights as to how young drivers can be successful.

Welcome to this episode of our podcast where we will discuss the exciting race that was the 2023 Daytona 500! Congratulations to Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and the JTG Daugherty for their impressive victory as an underdog single car team. We discuss the strategies that made the race so exciting. We cover the techniques that drivers used to gain an advantage and the mistakes that impacted their finish.In recent years NASCAR has implemented several changes to make racing more exciting. However, these changes have been met with controversy, particularly when they affect the outcome of the race. We discuss the impact of the stages rule, the choose rule, and the overtime rule. We also talk about some of the other controversial changes and whether NASCAR has been successful in achieving their goals. In conclusion, the 2023 Daytona 500 was an exciting and eventful race, with a surprise victory by an underdog team.

Coming soon!

A discussion and thoughts about people, people you employ, the management of them and how you are only as good as the people you have working for you. We discuss our past experiences and views of how this relates to the operation of our race teams and the managing of race teams. My views on work ethic post COVID and the younger generation of workers and understanding how they view a hybrid work model.

We talk about the Busch Clash in Los Angeles. How the race went and the start of Speedweeks for NASCAR and the lead up to the Daytona 500.

Additionally, we announce the new website for RACETHEORY. It can be reached by two addresses: derrikecope.club, and racetheory.club.

This is a new platform for the RACETHEORY PODCAST as well as the first chapter of my E-Book for sale, "Changing Gears". This will also have areas for access to merchandise, coaching, speaking engagements and other interactive things like ZOOM calls for personalized time together and question and answer sessions.

Elyshia and I elaborate and explore sponsorship tips and expand on how to do your prospecting for companies and relationships. Elyshia gives great insight into pitfalls, obstacles, and timing for companies and what their needs are and how to find innovative ways to add value for potential sponsors and not waste time. I touch on the start of Speedweeks at Daytona with the Rolex 24 and the excitement that is growing around IMSA, WEC and road racing in general. The new GTP LMDh division debuts at Daytona with an outstanding race and great finish!

Elyshia and I discuss Sponsorship. Fishing, Reeling and Landing one. Understanding the obstacles that companies have, how they do business and with whom? We go into the art of making cold calls. Understanding bartering, B TO B opportunities, close dated products. We look at how we can create a relationship that could be mutually beneficial. Elyshia references a book written by Tamara Bunte, "Proverbs for Selling" Marketing Sales. Elyshia touches on her background at an early age her missionary-type upbringing that would provide a foundation for an ability to sell effectively. This would be a skill that would later in life prove to be a major part of our lives together. She would be in constant pursuit of sponsorship to put me in a car or fund our own race team.

We discuss the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) involvement in the early days of NASCAR and its current position in the road racing circles...primarily in IMSA and the WEC in Europe. We discuss the aspect of Jim France Jr's love of road racing and his imprint of that on the NASCAR NEXGEN current Cup Series car. The similarities between the two as well. We discuss the new LMH/LMDh platform that will debut later in January 2023 at Daytona in the Roar before the 24 and the Rolex 24-hour race. I provide the differences and similarities between the two and the platform for BOP (Balance of Performance) so the two can compete on a global scale. This means the two cars can compete in North America as well as in Europe and the famed 24 Hours of LeMans and be competitive with each other.

In episode 21 we talk about the latest news surrounding the top three divisions in NASCAR as well as some TransAm TA2 news and developments for the upcoming year. There are usually seats to be filled and changes that are dependent on funding in January, so hence the juke and jive tendencies for the month. Elyshia and I also elaborate on some drivers that we have had a relationship with and discuss their desire and their path.iption goes here

Discussing my Drag Racing roots from my father and his brothers and the migration to the Pacific Northwest from San Diego, CA.

Childhood development, work ethic, and searching for career paths.

Discussing my early years in racing. Beginning to serve my apprenticeship building race cars, working on engines.Early races with my brother and a turning point that would set a clear path for my life.

Early success and struggles with a new team owner and an ill handling car. The ups and downs of racing, and then light at the end of the tunnel.

A turning point with a new race car that produces wins and credibility.Major Sponsorship with 7-Eleven and Ford Motor Company. Becoming a professional race car driver.

Racing difficulties occur and choices are made to change teams. Moves across the country. New beginnings with modest success. With new beginnings come premature endings.

Life struggles and the constant search for a way to the big time...Winston Cup.Car owners and people come into my life, friendships that are formed and are influential in the progression of my career.Decision out of my control force unwanted changes, but ultimately in time pay huge dividends.

We discuss my meeting with a major company wanting to go racing. I am in the corporate boardroom and facilitate a sponsorship deal that leads me down a career path for the rest of my life. I

embark on my first full season in the NASCAR Wiston Cup Series. I procure major sponsorship from Purolator Products from Tulsa Oklahoma. The beginning of truly becoming a stable fixture in the highest level of motorsports and an ambassador of a major automotive brand.

After the Martinsville, VA Cup series race I get the call from my brother...my mother has passed away.A couple of tough years, and the changes of presidents at Purolator I am fighting the good fight. A car owner change, and Purolator goes with me...enter Bob Whitcomb Racing and a life change moment is on the horizon

We discuss the lead up to the 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. The first race is the 1990 Daytona 500. All the excitement surrounding the race is the filming of Days of Thunder movie with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

We give a complete in depth look into the preparation for the Daytona 500 the actual race with raw emotion of final few laps of the race and the eventual win against Dale Earnhardt Sr. that would catapult Derrike Cope into the limelight.

Life changing moment, my notoriety is elevated extensively and I am a household name. A guest appearance on the David Letterman Show in New York City and I am on my way.

What happens next is unexpected after winning the biggest thing that can happen to a race car driver in his career.

I am excited for this episode.

I discuss the best years of my career at Bobby Allison Motorsports next to winning the Daytona 500

.I go in depth about the internal workings and what made this team so productive.My relationship with the Alabama Gang and my first win in a Busch Series car in only my third start at Loudon NH for Zook Racing with Red Farmer a future Hall of Famer. We discuss the great sponsors we had and the relationships with them. We go into the struggles with sponsorship and getting paid that ultimately leads me to having to make a choice. Should I stay, or leave for another team and sponsor that from all indications looks like a great move.

This episode covers the end of Bahari Racing and the discussions with the new owner Jack Birmingham who renames the team Eel River Racing.

The next opportunity comes with Fenley-Moore Motorsports where I team up with Joey Knuckles and Bud Moore in Spartanburg, SC.

We have instant success and it looks like we are on our way to building something special. We go to the Daytona 500, run very well and the engine blows up...along with the team. They are out of money and we are dead in the water.

I go through yet another court fight trying to get paid as well as start looking for a new ride.

I am left without a ride and resort looking at opportunities in Television with FOX Sports Network.

My first live television spot is the day that Dale Earnhardt Sr is killed at Daytona. Dramatic event and the behind the scenes look at how things turn on a dime.

This episode covers the end of Bahari Racing and the discussions with the new owner Jack Birmingham who renames the team Eel River Racing.

The next opportunity comes with Fenley-Moore Motorsports where I team up with Joey Knuckles and Bud Moore in Spartanburg, SC.

We have instant success and it looks like we are on our way to building something special. We go to the Daytona 500, run very well and the engine blows up...along with the team. They are out of money and we are dead in the water.

I go through yet another court fight trying to get paid as well as start looking for a new ride.

I am left without a ride and resort looking at opportunities in Television with FOX Sports Network.

My first live television spot is the day that Dale Earnhardt Sr is killed at Daytona. Dramatic event and the behind the scenes look at how things turn on a dime.

We discuss the decision to try and start my own teams and the quest for sponsorship and partners to make this happen.

We find sponsorship with Friendly's Ice Cream and run a year in the Cup series only to have it come to an end with them not returning.

On to another team BAM Racing, where my provisionals from the year prior prove to be pivotal in securing this drive. It has its successes with some great runs but I am released in the middle of the year.

This time period embarks on the start n park era which is a difficult time period with only getting paid if you qualify for the races that you are entered.

We also discuss the Mexican GP Formula 1 race, and the NASCAR Cup series race at Martinsville which sets the stage for episode 11 and the championship weekend in Phoenix AZ.

We discuss 2011 and my full time Nationwide Series drive. On comes a new sponsor for some races called Maxelence as nutrition base drink. Little do I know that the founder and his wife would later become my mother and father-in-law.

Elyshia discusses her background in nutrition and her role as a VP of Marketing for this company, and our initial meeting.

Because of the sponsoring of a NASCAR team the company acquires a distribution outlet with a major retailer GNC.

Elyshia makes a move to North Carolina and we form a relationship. We eventually get engaged and start a life together.

In this episode we talk about 2017 with Premium Motorsports in the Cup series as a shock specialist with the lure of driving in some races, if we could bring funding.

Elyshia goes on a quest to find sponsorship so I could drive some races. She alludes to struggles with Premium undermining her and turning away a major sponsor and further erodes our relationship with this organization and their owners.

Enters the Jersey Boys who come with sponsorship for some races with Premium Motorsports, but with interest in starting their own team after being treated so poorly by the owner of Premium.

I put the financials together and the Jersey Boys elect to go Cup racing with Elyshia and I and we depart from Premium.

We start from scratch, we need a building, people, equipment and race cars. We actually pull things together very quickly and are able to run two races in 2017 as we prepare to run a full schedule in 2018.

Elyshia and I discuss the 2018 NASCAR Cup series season. The sponsor VRX Simulators, and the driver Jeffrey Earnhardt. Our struggles and wrecks lead to difficulties between driver and crew chief. Sponsor runs out of money and the owners of the race team make changes. We start to turn the season around but a crew chief change is needed because of health reasons as well as the need to try and to elevate the communication between the driver and crew chief.

New crew chief, car chief, and some new chassis are implemented with some success leading into the next year.

Elyshia and I discuss the consulting capabilities that we can provide from team building, driver coaching, marketing, PR, sponsorship acquisition, as well as overcoming obstacles of potential partners or investors.

We begin speaking about the 2019 race season. We overcome a major obstacle as we acquire a Charter which is the thing that everyone said we could not do! The future is bright as we now own a NASCAR Franchise! A rough start to the year with a crash at the Daytona 500. Personnel issues are facing us again which seems to be affecting the team moral and its ability to be productive. Enters a new crew chief who in the beginning looks to be a good fit. The team starts to encounter mechanical failures which goes on for weeks.

We work hard to right the ship and overcome the obstacles we are faced with to salvage the rest of the race season. The driver, crew chief, and team are at odds.

We discuss how difficult it is managing people, egos, and underhanded agendas.

The end of the year comes and the driver is released, the crew chief is released and other personnel changes occur. We find a new beginning for the team, with new hires and the culture has changed at Starcom Racing.

Elyshia and I discuss the 2020 NASCAR race season shutting down for six weeks and the difficulties of laying off our employees for that time. How NASCAR would work diligently with states and counties across the United States to become the first in sports to go back and conduct activities under strict CDC guidelines.

Our obstacles as teams and the changing dynamic on how we would do business throughout the entire year. The struggles for our driver who was a raw rookie with little experience and who had not even seen some of the racetrack that he would have to navigate without any practice or qualifying.

As a result of all the changes and alterations as a whole the sport of NASCAR would forever be changed. The potential introduction of a new race car which would be a complete departure from the current race car...the NEXGEN car development is pushed back, so more choices are made and plans are redirected.

This is a very emotional episode. My last Daytona 500 of my career. Elyshia's mother passes away the day of the Daytona 500 and she leaves for Idaho. The 00 car crashes out of the event as well.

We have struggles throughout the year with performance. NEXGEN is looming for the 2022 NASCAR season. I am busy preparing for a complete departure from the style of race car we have been running and trying to get ahead of the curve and beginning to order two of the new cars.

In the meantime, we have fallen to one of the bottom three in the points. This leaves us with the owners wanting a meeting with NASCAR for clarification about the provision in the Charter Agreement about the possibility of our charter being revoked. This meeting would be a turning point in the decision of the owners accepting an offer to sell the Charter and team and leave NASCAR Cup racing.

Hope our listeners had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! The discussion starts with new year's resolutions, and then seg ways into the testing schedules and new series in road racing with IMSA and the Rolex 24-hour race in January.

We spoke about the topic of are race car drivers athletes? We discuss Toyota's new facility for the GR86 race car assembly plant and driver development program. This is a resource for all the young drivers for the Toyota brand and how the expectation of them has escalated. Elyshia discusses her health coaching as well. We also allude to our new website and platform for more access and info about Race Theory.

This episode we discuss the unsung heroes of the early days of NASCAR, Grand National, and Winston Cup racing. Their contributions to the sport, the admiration I have had for them and respect for the commitment and passion they had.

We also go in-depth with personal relationships with some of these men and some of the experiences and stories that involves them.

I speak about the pioneers of the sport and my opportunity to create relationships with these individuals.

Discussion on the season ending races for the championships. We talk about the TransAm Series, Both TA and TA2.

We talk about NASCAR and the season ending races and the winners of the championships. This includes the Truck Series, the Xfinity Series, and the Cup Series.

We then move on from episode 10 in more story telling about my move from starting and parking to racing more again in the Nationwide Series.

We speak about age limits and how that whole dynamic has changed over the years and what I believe some reasons may be.

There are also areas where Elyshia and I speak about my own battles and my thoughts on putting things in perspective at those moments in time and trying to satisfy my own desires of continuing driving a race car.

Race Theory launches November 2, where Elyshia and Derrike are going to discuss a lot of diverse topics,

Derrike's early roots in racing, their involvement in NASCAR, driver, owner and managerial role perspectives, as well as driver development. You name it, they're going to talk about it!Learning what it takes to live, work and play together.

Derrike will explain the nuts and bolts of racing and Elyshia will be focusing more on marketing and relationships. But they're also going to touch on some controversial subjects where they definitely have some differing opinions. Tune in! it's going to be a lot of fun. Mark your calendars. Race Theory launches November 2.