Daily Driver

In this episode of The Daily Driver, I’m talking about a familiar concern in racing, the rising cost of competition and what it means for the future of the sport. It’s something I’ve wrestled with lately, until I realized my own dad was saying the same thing more than 30 years ago. And since then, the sport hasn’t just survived, it’s thrived in ways none of us could have predicted.

Today we’re talking about what happens when you shift your focus to something new on the track. Maybe you’re rock-solid on the tree, but decide to prioritize the finish line next round. You execute perfectly there but suddenly you’re late on the tree. Sometimes the mental energy required to level up a new skill takes away from the things you normally do well. So what's the answer? 

In this episode of the Daily Driver, I’m unpacking something I recently said during a webinar: I’d rather be wrong than indecisive. In everyday life, I’m intentional, I take my time before reaching conclusions because I value learning and adaptability. But when it comes to racing, I will stand behind what I said in that webinar. 

As we do here from time to time on The Daily Driver, I like to share the audio version of my column The Science of Winning featured in NHRA’s National Dragster magazine. This week I am sharing The Trophy Case. 

This week's Daily Driver episode is dedicated to honoring the 2025 NHRA Lucas Oil Sportsman Champions. 

Wednesday afternoon, NHRA made an announcement that changes the game! Due to an awful forecast, the sportsman classes will run to completion Thursday... without a time trial! How does this wrinkle alter the championship chase? And what questions are still unanswered?

There is no driver coming into Pomona with more potential variance in outcome than Darian Boesch. And he's not even racing in Pomona. He's coming into the season finale leading both Top Dragster and Top Sportsman. Will he end the weekend as the 4th driver in NHRA history to win 2 world championship in the same season? Or will he leave empty handed? 

We're here, the final race on the NHRA Lucas Oil series schedule. What will happen in the Super Classes? Will Whitfield and Brock hold on? 

Continuing our deep dive into last weekend’s captivating race in Vegas, I mentioned in yesterday’s episode that today would be dedicated to Jeff Taylor. He’s a three-time NHRA World Champion and this past weekend he reminded everyone exactly why. 

This is what I love about November every year. This past weekend was absolutely captivating. Today’s episode of the Daily Driver is dedicated to Justin Lamb, who came into the event knowing he had to do one thing: win the race. Nothing less would do. And boy did he show out! 

On today’s episode of the Daily Driver, we’re talking about lane discrepancies and how you can use them to your advantage. 

Jimmy Hidalgo, Jr. is the favorite in Super Stock... but it's not over! Kris Whitfield is the favorite in SC... but it's not over! JJ Brock is the favorite in SG... but it's FAR from over! Luke does his best to break down all the scenarios (and even gives some odds) in today's Daily Driver!

As we come into the final two weeks of the season, only the Stock Eliminator and TAFC titles have been determined. Today, Luke breaks down the favorites and contenders in the "fast" classes: Top Dragster, Top Sportsman, and Competition Eliminator!

Only two events remain in the 2025 NHRA Lucas Oil season! In this episode of Daily Driver, I’m recapping all the action from Las Vegas, a weekend that favored the points leaders. No lead changes this time, which is something you don’t see often this late in the year. 

In this episode of Daily Driver, we’re diving into the “nothing to lose” mindset. I’ve learned over the years that when I race with that mindset, I perform at my best. The real challenge? Figuring out how to tap into that mindset consistently. 

In this episode of The Nerd Out, fair warning, it’s going to run longer than 10 minutes, we’re diving into the incredible drama of Super Gas. Over the past three seasons, the chase has come down to Pomona, and it feels like destiny is leading us right back there again. As we head into this weekend, 11 drivers remain mathematically in the hunt for the world championship and all 11 are entered in the West Coast races. 

Today, we’re resetting the stage in the 8.90 Super Comp category as we head into the final three weeks of the season. It’s fair to say the 2025 season has been all about one man, Kris Whitfield. But there’s a twist... he waived two events that he actually went on to win. Because of that, the championship isn’t quite locked up just yet.

Short of Super Gas, the Super Stock title race may be the most compelling. Reigning champ Jimmy Hidalgo, Jr. is the leader in the clubhouse with what "should" be a fairly comfortable lead... But his two closest contenders have combined for NINE NHRA World Championships!

Over the next week I'm going to try my best to set the stage for the remaining 3 weeks of the season. Today I'm focusing on the Stock and Comp classes. 

Continuing on with the Nerd Out series and this week I'm turning the spotlight back on Top Dragster. 

The Nerd Out series is back, and it’s getting way too juicy to cram multiple classes into a single weekly episode. So, we’re switching gears. From now on, each episode will focus on just one class at a time, with multiple episodes dropping every week.

This episode? It’s all about Stock Eliminator. Let’s nerd out!

It's that time of year again... time to Nerd Out! Today I wanted to take a bird's eye view on a few classes that I don't think will be too impacted by the trio of upcoming divisional races this coming weekend.   

From time to time on The Daily Driver, I like to share pieces from my column The Science of Winning featured in NHRA’s National Dragster magazine. This week I am sharing The Jr Dragster Experience. 

On this episode of The Daily Driver, we’re joined by none other than Mikie Sturgill, former NHRA World Champion, multi-time track champion, and multi-time divisional champion. A highly respected figure in the sportsman drag racing world and a guest instructor with ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE, Mikie brings a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience to the mic. So I had to ask him the burning question, why the switch from a dragster to a door car? 

 From time to time here on The Daily Driver, I like to share a piece from my column in The Science of Winning, featured in NHRA’s National Dragster. Today, I’m bringing you one titled ‘Where I Come From'.

On this week's episode of the Daily Driver, I am joined by one of our regular guest instructors in ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE Matt Dadas to talk about his ability to adapt, evolve, and drive multiple classes. 

This week's episode is taken from our segment over on the ThisIsBracketRacing Facebook page called Question of the Week. Each Friday we answer a question submitted from racers from all over. Submit your questions over at thisisbracketracing.com/ask. This is a common question that comes up a lot about what helmet shield do you recommend? One of our regular guest instructors over in ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE, Mikie Sturgill joins me in answering this. 

This week's episode centers on character — the kind that shows when it seems to matter least. When no one’s watching, how will you choose to act? 

This week brings the final audio edition of the ThisIsBracketRacing email series on the idea of what if bracket racing was easy and it is focused on the mental game of racing. How to make performing under pressure, easy! 

This week's Daily Driver episode is taken from the Question of the Week segment that we do over on the ThisIsBracketRacing Facebook page. Typically myself or Justin Lamb answers the questions but this week we had suspension guru Mike Mans of FastShocks on to answer the question 'What are the impacts of adjusting ride height?'. 

This week's audio edition of the ThisIsBracketRacing email series on the idea of what if bracket racing was easy is dedicated to tech. My car is a pile of....hot garbage! How can I make it better?

In this week's Daily Driver episode I am joined by regular ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE guest instructor and accomplished bracket racer Mikie Sturgill. Our topic is a fun one: assuming money isn't an issue, what is the ultimate bracket car?

We are back with another audio episode of the ThisIsBracketRacing email series on the idea of what if bracket racing was easy. This week is dedicated to making the finish line easy. 

In this week's episode I am joined by 5 time World Champion and ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE and Junior co-instructor Justin Lamb. Our topic is the finish line and even more specifically his discipline at the big end. 

This week's episode is the audio version of the email series we launched in ThisIsBracketRacing on the idea of what if bracket racing was easy. What if we had one of those giant red EASY buttons. That would be nice, right? First up, making the starting line easy. We will be sprinkling this in over the course of the next month or so. 

Today's world is full of information. This podcast is one of dozens of resources you choose to listen to each day. "Listening" is great, but in today's episode, Luke shares why the best racers are the ones that prioritize "doing" over "listening". Learn more about ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE at thisisbracketracing.com/elite (Enrollment closes Friday).

In this episode of the Daily Driver, regular ELITE guest instructor and highly accomplished racer, Matt Dadas joins me and we talk about what makes old Super Stockers great bracket cars. 

In this special release of the Daily Driver Podcast, we share a "pre-screening" audio of my upcoming live webinar "Bracket Racing Made Easy". I like to ask myself "What would this look like if it were easy?" in all facets of life. But especially on the race track, this can be an illuminating way to becoming a more effective racer. 

In this episode, I share how to lean into your strengths and guard against your weaknesses, plus some practical tips that will help you find more win lights today. 

Enjoy!

This episode isn't catalyzed by a specific incident but actually from a discussion with my 6 year old while he was playing with his hot wheels. 

In this week's Daily Driver I want to talk about the Victim Mindset and how we can flip the script to empower ourselves. 

For this week's Daily Driver I wanted to read from my column that I pen for NHRA National Dragster called The Science of Winning. My latest contribution is titled It's About Time and that is what I wanted to share today with you. 

ELITE Members know, the “off” season is a busy season! A big part of that within ELITE is our offseason practice league. In this episode I wanted to talk about my personal journey with the practice league and how it translated in 2024 and now into 2025 on the track. 

In this episode of the Daily Driver, I am joined by regular ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE guest instructor, former World NHRA Champion, multi-time division and track Champion, Mikie Sturgill. I wanted to talk with Mikie about strategic flexibility and in particular how he got to the level he's at in that flexibility. 

Learning from each and every run is important. Of course in our TIBR Jr logbook we track all of the typical data but then we ask 5 specific questions each and every run. And they aren't just for Jr drivers or parents. These are core principles to making us ALL better. 

I know, it's way to early for this but in today's episode I wanted to look at the 2025 Lucas Oil Chase. Let's nerd out! 

This week I am joined by my co-instructor in ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE and accomplished racer Justin Lamb. Justin has proven capable of winning in just about anything. So I asked him, why Stock & Super Stock?

On last week’s show, I detailed what I believe to be our responsibility as racers: to our sport, and more directly to a successful day at the track.

This week, I want look at where do our responsibilities as a racer end and the responsibilities of the race track, race director, track operator, or race promotor begin.

I’ve been a racer for more than 30 years. In a perfect union, racer and race track work together in a sort of harmonious partnership. As a racer, what is our responsibility at the track?

This week's Daily Driver episode is taken from our Question of the Week segment over on the ThisIsBracketRacing Facebook page. The question is "How to balance the rear of my car?".

For this episode of the Daily Driver, I am joined by one of our regular guest instructors in ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE and accomplished driver, Kris Whitfield. The question I asked him was how his experience and background with racing in his area of the country, one of the toughest to dial and run a consistent car in, has helped to shape his approach and progression as a driver.

Ready to Let Go Like a Pro? Check out our new starting line course to level up your game on the tree: thisisbracketracing.com/let-go

On today's Daily Driver I'm pumped to talk about our new FREE program, Day 1. If you're a racer, you almost certainly remember your first trip down the track. That holds true whether that maiden voyage occurred at age 6 or age 46! Day 1 is a brief (and fun) course will make their first day on the track safer and more enjoyable!

Click for drivers and parents
Click for tracks

This week's Daily Driver is featuring a Question of the Week from over on the ThisIsBracketRacing Facebook page. How do I calm down my wheelies with regular guest instructor in ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE Mike Mans.

This week on the Daily Driver, I wanted to talk about the origins of Big Buck Footbrake Racing and my own memories of it starting. 

This week on the Daily Driver, I am joined again by regular ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE guest instructor, Kris Whitfield. Kris talks about his battles with anxiety and the ways he has worked with it in his racing. 

A common question I’m frequently asked is, what’s the best way to prepare for racing after the offseason break? I can tell you one relatively simple thing that I still do, 30 years into my racing career. 

On this week's Daily Driver, I'm joined by regular ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE guest instructor and highly accomplished big dollar bracket racer Matt Dadas and we jump right to the burning question...staging. 

Ready to Let Go Like a Pro? Check out our new starting line course to level up your game on the tree: thisisbracketracing.com/let-go

I've been asked repeatedly: Vega or Corvette? What's better? I could make an argument for either but the question should be which has made me better? That answer is easy. 

This week's Daily Driver is featured from ThisIsBracketRacing's question of the week: How do I get more comfortable driving the finish line as the slower car (w/ Kris Whitfield)?

In this week's Daily Driver, I wanted to share my latest piece from the Science of Winning column in National Dragster in which I talked about my experience in detail from last season's championship chase. 

On this week's Daily Driver I am joined by one of our regular guest instructors in ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE, a very successful racer and all things mechanical guru: Mike Mans. Our topic today is how to balance tuning with driving. 

As part of our 3-week binge here on the Daily Driver (one episode released EVERY day), we'd like to "Play the hits." Each Friday, we'll recast a prior episode. Today's discussion, "Making the finish line simple" is one of our most downloaded shows in Daily Driver history.

Today is the final day of ELITE open enrollment. If you have enjoyed this 3 week binge, ELITE may just be for you! Find out more over at thisisbracketracing.com/elite.

Learn to drive the stripe like a pro with our course, "Finish Line Driving Made Easy" at...

Today's world is full of information. This podcast is one of dozens of resources you choose to listen to each day. "Listening" is great, but in today's episode, Luke shares why the best racers are the ones that prioritize "doing" over "listening". Learn more about ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE at thisisbracketracing.com/elite (Enrollment closes Friday).

Regular ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE guest instructor Kris Whitfield can do just about anything in a race car, and has proven as much. He's been to SIX Spring Fling final rounds. He's won TWENTY-TWO track championships. And yet, he spends the bulk of his time and energy pursuing the NHRA Lucas Oil Series. Why? What is it about the NHRA tour, and specifically the 8.90 and 9.90 categories that Kris finds so appealing?

Each Friday, we post a featured Question of the Week on the ThisIsBracketRacing Facebook page. This week, we're giving YOU, the Daily Driver listener an early look, releasing the Question of the Week here two days in advance! For this week's question, we reached out to ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE instructor (and our resident tech expert), Justin Lamb. The question: "How do I select the best torque converter for my application?"

Regular ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE guest instructor Mikie Sturgill has found himself in the position that every bracket racer dreams of, competing in the 3-round runoff for the NHRA Summit National Championship at season's end. In fact, Mikie has been in that position not once, but twice (ultimately winning the national championship in 2019)! We asked Mikie the obvious question: what's one thing about that experience that you could not possibly fully prepare for?

We all take in advice from a variety of sources. When someone like Peter Biondo speaks, I tend to listen! In today's "Daily Driver" I pass along my favorite piece of advice from "The Terminator."

Open enrollment for ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE ends this week, visit thisisbracketracing.com/elite for more information.

As part of our 3-week binge here on the Daily Driver (one episode released EVERY day), we'd like to "Play the hits." Each Friday, we'll recast a prior episode. Today the focus in on weather... What weather conditions make our cars perform differently, and how can we best track them and predict their impact?

What's the biggest factor to making a bracket door car "nasty" in the first 60 feet? In today's Daily Driver, we reach out to regular ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE guest instructor Mike Mans to address that very question.

Each Friday, we post a featured Question of the Week on the ThisIsBracketRacing Facebook page. This week, we're giving YOU, the Daily Driver listener an early look, releasing the Question of the Week here two days in advance! For this week's question, we reached out to regular ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE guest instructor, Matt Dadas! The question: "Who (or what) is your most feared opponent?"

You'd be hard pressed to find any driver in sportsman drag racing who has staged for more high-stakes rounds in pressure situations than Kris Whitfield. He's been in the final round of multiple big dollar bracket races - including the Spring Fling Million. He's won multiple division titles, and has competed down the stretch for national championships. He's won twenty-two (that's not a typo)... Twenty-two track championships! In today's Daily Driver, Kris talks about how he tries to approach those pressure packed rounds.

Ready to Let Go Like a Pro? Check out our new starting line...

I get asked a lot about the complexity of my typical strategy. From a strategic standpoint, it can at times be fairly advanced. But in terms of execution, I keep it simpler than you might think. In today's episode, I detail how and why...

thisisbracketracing.com/elite

Learn to drive the stripe like a pro with our course, "Finish Line Driving Made Easy" at thisisbracketracing.com/easy

As part of our 3-week binge here on the Daily Driver (one episode released EVERY day), we'd like to "Play the hits." Each Friday, we'll recast a prior episode. This one, "Driving well is not the key to having fun," has proven to be one of your favorites!

For today's episode, we're joined by 5-time NHRA World Champion and ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE instructor Justin Lamb to discuss the value of mentorship in racing.

We're in one of two open enrollment periods here in ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE. Find out more over at thisisbracketracing.com/elite.

Each Friday, we post a featured Question of the Week on the ThisIsBracketRacing Facebook page. This week, we're giving YOU, the Daily Driver listener an early look, releasing the Question of the Week here two days in advance! This week's question: When do you know to adjust jetting?

Matt Dadas joins this week's episode! Not only is Matt one of the most successful (and versatile) big dollar bracket racers in the country, he's also a regular guest instructor on ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE. Today, we leaned on Matt to answer the question: Are door cars at a disadvantage in today's world of big buck bracket racing?

If you enjoy this type of content, it just scratches the surface in what we do in ELITE. Find out more at thisisbracketracing.com/elite

In today's Daily Driver, we focus on the one round of competition we all agree we can't screw up: Bye runs! Even though we can't lose, there are ways to maximize the value of our solo runs and some things to consider before, during, and after each bye we receive! This episode kicks off three full weeks in which we'll drop a new episode EVERY WEEKDAY. Enjoy!

In this Daily Driver, we continue on with our limited series to commemorate the launch of Let Go Like A Pro. To this point we’ve discussed routine, we’ve discussed staging, confidence, and physical mechanics. Today, we talk about Practice.

Ready to Let Go Like a Pro? Check out our new starting line course to level up your game on the tree: thisisbracketracing.com/let-go

As we continue on with this limited series within the Daily Driver on Let Go Like A Pro, we look at physical mechanics. In my opinion, the physical mechanics of releasing the transbrake button is extremely overrated. My argument? Take a listen to find out. 

Ready to Let Go Like a Pro? Check out our new starting line course to level up your game on the tree: thisisbracketracing.com/let-go

In this limited series commemorating the launch of ThisIsBracketRacing's new course Let Go Like A Pro, we have discussed routine and staging. Today we talk confidence, or I think more accurately, belief. 

Ready to Let Go Like a Pro? Check out our new starting line course to level up your game on the tree: thisisbracketracing.com/let-go

Last week, I mentioned that we were going to dedicate the next few episodes of the Daily Driver to starting line performance to commemorate the launch of the new course on ThisIsBracketRacing.com called “Let Go like a Pro”. In the last episode we talked about routine, this week I want to talk about staging. 

Ready to Let Go Like a Pro? Check out our new starting line course to level up your game on the tree: thisisbracketracing.com/let-go

We recently released a new course on ThisIsBracketRacing.com called “Let Go like a Pro”. To commemorate the launch of that course, we’re also going to dedicate the next few episodes of the DD to starting line performance. Today's episode is focused on routine. 

Ready to Let Go Like a Pro? Check out our new starting line course to level up your game on the tree: thisisbracketracing.com/let-go

I’m less than a week removed from Pomona and I wanted to take this episode to recap and talk about my experience in this years Championship chase. 

Continuing on in this episode, I'm recapping the NHRA Championship chase that we had in Competition Eliminator, Top Sportsman, and Super Stock when we landed in Pomona. 

The NHRA Championships are in the books and I wanted to start by recapping what happened at the end of the Championship chase. This week, I'm starting with Super Gas and not because I was involved but because I think it's the most compelling story line.

I don't think I have ever felt more pressure than I have over the past few weeks out here on west coast. This week in the Daily Driver I wanted to share how I have been dealing with this pressure. 

Over the past few days we have discussed the 3 categories that have clinched and the 2 categories that are in a 2 driver race in the 2024 NHRA Championship race. Today, we discuss the categories that are 4 wide! 

Yesterday we talked about the 3 drivers that have clinched the 2024 NHRA World Championships, today we focus on the two categories that are down to 2 contenders. 

As NHRA gears up to make the final stop in Pomona, we have three categories that have clinched Championships!

There are infinite ways to learn as long as we're open to it. By simply being HERE, you're signaling the sense of open-mindedness that is crucial to leaning, to improving. 

Learn to drive the stripe like a pro with our course, "Finish Line Driving Made Easy" at thisisbracketracing.com/easy

Updated Nerd Out in Competition Eliminator, Top Dragster, Top Sportsman after Las Vegas.

Updated Nerd Out for Stock & Super Stock after Las Vegas. 

Updated Nerd Out after Las Vegas. What changed in Super Gas and Super Comp?  

Continuing on with The Nerd Out series, this episode is dedicated to the NHRA Lucas Oil title chase in Top Sportsman. If you were an avid listener of the Sportsman Drag Racing Podcast, you know that Jed and I (OK, more me than Jed!) loved to "Nerd Out" this time of year and break down the NHRA Lucas Oil title chases. I still love the exercise (and a surprising number of you seem to concur), so I'm running it back over the next series of Daily Driver episodes. 

In this episode of The Nerd Out series, let's look at what has changed for Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, and Super Gas from the Division 1 finale in Reading. 

Continuing on with The Nerd Out series, this episode is dedicated to the NHRA Lucas Oil title chase in Competition Eliminator. If you were an avid listener of the Sportsman Drag Racing Podcast, you know that Jed and I (OK, more me than Jed!) loved to "Nerd Out" this time of year and break down the NHRA Lucas Oil title chases. I still love the exercise (and a surprising number of you seem to concur), so I'm running it back over the next series of Daily Driver episodes. 

This Nerd Out episode is dedicated to the NHRA Lucas Oil title chase in Super Stock. If you were an avid listener of the Sportsman Drag Racing Podcast, you know that Jed and I (OK, more me than Jed!) loved to "Nerd Out" this time of year and break down the NHRA Lucas Oil title chases. I still love the exercise (and a surprising number of you seem to concur), so I'm running it back over the next series of Daily Driver episodes. 

It’s natural to want to know where you stand in a points chase. Obviously, your main focus is on the things that you can control. 

But that doesn’t mean that we’re not aware of the things that are beyond our control. 

This Nerd Out episode is dedicated to the NHRA Lucas Oil title chase in Super Gas. If you were an avid listener of the Sportsman Drag Racing Podcast, you know that Jed and I (OK, more me than Jed!) loved to "Nerd Out" this time of year and break down the NHRA Lucas Oil title chases. I still love the exercise (and a surprising number of you seem to concur), so I'm running it back over the next series of Daily Driver episodes. 

This Nerd Out episode is dedicated to the NHRA Lucas Oil title chase in Super Comp. If you were an avid listener of the Sportsman Drag Racing Podcast, you know that Jed and I (OK, more me than Jed!) loved to "Nerd Out" this time of year and break down the NHRA Lucas Oil title chases. I still love the exercise (and a surprising number of you seem to concur), so I'm running it back over the next series of Daily Driver episodes. 

This Nerd Out episode is dedicated to the NHRA Lucas Oil title chase in Top Dragster. If you were an avid listener of the Sportsman Drag Racing Podcast, you know that Jed and I (OK, more me than Jed!) loved to "Nerd Out" this time of year and break down the NHRA Lucas Oil title chases. I still love the exercise (and a surprising number of you seem to concur), so I'm running it back over the next series of Daily Driver episodes.