HOT ROD Pod: Where It All Began

Tom Nelson on the Genesis of NRE, Crashing in Iceland, the F-Bomb, and the Artistry of Engine Building

NHRA's Brian Lohnes and HOT ROD Magazine's John McGann chat with Nelson Racing Engines Founder, Tom Nelson! Tom takes us through the highs and lows of his career, telling never-before-heard stories like putting Twin Turbos in an airboats, and plummeting off 50-foot cliffs in Iceland! The guys talk to Tom about the genesis of Nelson Racing Engines, StreetFire.net, how the show "Driven" got started, the formula off-roading crash in Iceland, reevaluation after the crash, the artistry of engine building, the F-Bomb '73 Camaro, Tuatara, 2019 Ridler Award, and why we're in the wild west era of HOT RODDING!
2:03 - 40,000 hp HOT ROD shoot!
3:14 - Where It All Began.
6:48 - The Go Kart that started it all.
10:16 - Street Racing.
12:52 - The start of Nelson Racing Engines.
18:34 - First NRE projects and learning the business.
21:57 - First PRI Show.
22:59 - From StreetFire.net to YouTube.
28:35 - How "Driven" got started.
33:25 - Formula Off-Roading in Iceland.
35:02 - "We're going off a 50-foot cliff!?"
39:25 - Immediate aftermath of the crash & recovery process.
47:09 - Reevaluating the business.
55:40 - The artistry of engine building.
58:16 - The F-Bomb '73 Camaro.
01:03:34 - The Wild West of Hot Rodding.
01:06:15 - Metal printing with AI.
01:07:35 - NRE x Tuatara.
01:11:46 - The 2019 Ridler Award.
01:16:32 - What's next?
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Racing Legend Tony Stewart on joining the NHRA, taking over for wife Leah in 2024, and mastering yet another challenge

The legendary Tony Stewart joins hosts Brian Lohnes & David Freiburger on the HOT ROD Pod - LIVE from the 2023 PRI Show in Indianapolis! Tony discusses starting a family with wife Leah Pruett, the decision to take over driving duties for Leah in 2024, making the move to the NHRA, racing in the Indy 500 AND Coca-Cola 600 on the same day (TWICE), why he never returned to the Indy 500, getting a taste of F1, Sprint Car racing, building and leading a successful race team, thoughts on Ben Rhodes' drunken championship presser, how Don Prudhomme set up he & Leah, and the prospect of becoming Rookie of the Year at 53 years old!
0:22 - Today's guest - Tony Stewart!
1:17 - On the decision to start a family and to drive for wife Leah in 2024.
5:33 - Making the jump to Drag Racing.
7:39 - On his shoulder injury.
10:12 - Driving Indy & Busch Series simultaneously.
11:27 - Competing in the Indy 500 & Coca-Cola 600 on the same day... TWICE!
16:36 - Why he never returned to the Indy 500.
17:40 - Seat swap with Lewis Hamilton.
18:29 - Sprint Car racing world.
20:34 - Racer/Track Operator/Team Owner.
21:59 - Relationship with Crew Chief, pit crew, and the car itself.
27:48 - Building a turnkey Top Fuel team.
30:02 - Changing the culture in drag racing.
34:25 - Etiquette vs Gamesmanship.
36:50 - Truck Series finale & the younger generation of drivers.
39:54 - How Don Prudhomme set up he and his wife Leah.
43:14 - Rookie of the Year at 53!?
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Bill Ganahl on the Goodguys Trendsetter Award, Barf Bags, & South City

Brian Lohnes, David Freiburger, & John McGann chat with South City Rod & Custom owner, Bill Ganahl! Bill talks about the influence of his father Pat, what winning the Goodguys Trendsetter Award means to him, Saint Christopher, barf bags, tradition vs trend, owning a shop vs being an artist, the road to owning his own shop, how the vision has changed for South City, the Low-Buck Special, Gray Baskerville, his father's legacy, and keeping traditional Hot Rodding alive!
0:25 - Today's guest - Bill Ganahl!
3:33 - On his father, Pat Ganahl.
9:38 - On winning the Goodguys Trendsetter Award.
12:36 - The 1934 Ford Coupe, "Saint Christopher".
13:59 - Stripes and barf bags!
22:04 - Tradition vs trend.
24:15 - On the 1940 Ford Pickup.
30:21 - Riding the line of tradition.
37:04 - Owning your own shop.
40:43 - Where It All Began.
46:22 - Brizio's.
49:02 - 10 year vision for South City.
53:00 - Never satisfied.
57:00 - Under promise, over deliver.
59:50 - The Low-Buck Special.
01:05:00 - Tribute to HOT ROD's Gray Baskerville.
01:08:22 - Keeping traditional Hot Rodding alive.
01:10:35 - His father Pat Ganahl's legacy.
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Erica Enders on becoming the Winningest Woman in Motorsports, Rivalries, & Racing at Pomona

Brain Lohnes, David Freiburger & John McGann sit down with 6x NHRA Pro Stock World Champion, Erica Enders! Erica talks about becoming the Winningest Woman in Motorsports with her 47th national event win at Texas Motorplex, her racing history, how driving has evolved over the years, relationship with Bob Glidden, handling the heat, Dodge, the feeling of a hole shot win, how she prepares for every race, more women in racing, Tanner Gray, racing at Pomona, her personal car collection, and her love for HOT ROD Magazine!
0:27 - Erica Enders!
3:22 - The Winningest Woman in Motorsports!
4:34 - NHRA Pro Stock.
8:45 - Where It All Began.
11:24 - How driving has changed over the years.
13:16 - Bob Glidden.
16:13 - The Greatest Pro Stock Driver of All Time!
19:13 - "Don't eff this up."
26:00 - Dodge.
28:41 - Preparation & Testing.
31:33 - Social Media.
36:53 - Women in racing.
39:45 - The sweetest win and the most painful loss.
46:29 - Tanner Gray & other great rivalries.
50:39 - Racing at Pomona.
53:17 - Her personal car collection.
57:36 - Her love for HOT ROD Magazine!
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Jeff Lutz on No-Prep Kings, Thunder Road, & the Roadkill Monza

Brain Lohnes, David Freiburger & John McGann sit down with 2x Drag Week Champion and Owner of Lutz Race Cars, Jeff Lutz! One of the most well-known faces in the sport of drag racing, Jeff Lutz, brings us back to where it all began! The guys talk to Jeff about where the inspiration for racing began, the early days of Drag Week, his rivalry with Larry Larson, how Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings was born, Farmturck and AZN, life in the NMCA as a pro mod racer, his builds - "The 57". "The Evil Twin" & "Mad Max", preparing and racing in the No-Prep Kings series, Thunder Road, the Roadkill Monza, and what's next!
0:23 - 2x Drag Week Champ Jeff Lutz!
2:43 - Where It All Began.
5:41 - The Larry Larson rivalry.
7:42 - Getting a look at "The 57", "The Evil Twin", & "Mad Max".
8:54 - How Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings was born.
13:15 - No-Prep Drag Racing.
18:58 - Relationship with Farmtruck and AZN.
21:49 - The Vegas Golden Knights Zamborghini!
23:14 - On his son, Jeffrey Lutz.
24:51 - The '89 Civic.
25:55 - His career in the NMCA as a traditional pro mod racer.
33:09 - Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings.
36:57 - What inspired the first car?
39:19 - On his wife, Christine Lutz.
43:00 - Thunder Road.
45:22 - The Roadkill Monza.
53:14 - What's next?
59:48 - How he focuses before races.
01:01:19 - Boise, Idaho.
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Ringbrothers talk Design, SEMA, & Their Origin Story

Brian Lohnes, David Freiberger & John McGann chat with the co-founders of Ringbrothers - Jim & Mike Ring! Ringbrothers tell stories from their early days, discuss the keys to their successful partnership, their process of working with clients, special projects of the past, the Winnebago, how their careers have evolved, cars at this year's SEMA show, the corporatization of Hot Rodding, and what's next!
0:28 - What is the HOT ROD POD!?
2:29 - Thoughts on SEMA 2023.
3:31 - Ringbrothers - Where It All Began.
6:34 - From Lawnmowers to Helicopters!
10:40 - Life before Ringbrothers.
12:15 - The 1969 Camaro Indy Pace car project that started it all.
13:58 - Speedy P's!
16:13 - Design & Branding.
17:34 - Why they work well together, and how they settle differences.
22:25 - How the process works.
24:52 - So you want to start a HOT ROD shop...
30:55 - How the product has elevated over the years.
34:34 - Brothers will be brothers.
35:53 - The Winnebago!
39:19 - This year's cars at SEMA.
44:31 - The 1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II.
48:07 - The corporatization of Hot Rodding.
52:13 - What's next for the Ringbrothers and the world of Hot Rodding.
56:40 - Sisyphus & the Rock.
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HOT ROD POD: Where It All Began

LAUNCHING DECEMBER 15. Welcome to the HOT ROD POD: Where It All Began! Join Brian Lohnes as he talks to the biggest engine builders, drag racers, competitors, and hot rod builders in the business - the movers and shakers of the high performance aftermarket, legends past, present and future. Each week Brian will be joined by an amazing rotating cast of co-hosts like John McGann, the Editor of HOT ROD Magazine, David Freiberger of Roadkill, or a bunch of stars that you know and love from the automotive media.
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