TUBAS, X-GAMES & TROPHIES – GRANDFATHER CLOCKS & FRIED BALONEY – BORG WARNER IMMORTALITY & ROLEX WATCHES

This week’s Wind Tunnel Episode brings together a driver who’s career was rejuvenated at the age of 45, A driver who upset the best at the age of 16 and a driver who went from playing Tuba at age 9 to Daytona 500 Champion at 23.

What do you do when as a 9 year old your music teacher says you will never have a career in motorsports? Austin Cindric shares his answer when he and Jack visit. They unpack his Bronze Medal performance in the 2014 ESPN X-Games as well as his early racing career that seemed to point him towards IndyCars.

From the Tuba to the Daytona 500, Cindric has not had it easy despite a family racing heritage. Jack and Austin unpack that as well as what winning the Daytona 500 as a rookie does to the rest of a rookie’s first Cup season.

When then 16 year old Landon Pembleton scored the win last fall in Martinsville’s ValleyDale 300 he earned more than a Martinsville Grandfather Clock. That victory in one of Late Model racing’s most prestigious events accelerated the youngster’s career up the NASCAR ladder.

He and Jack talk about his ARCA opportunity with Venturini Motorsports in 4 races this season.

They also unpack his relationship with NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series National Champion Peyton Sellers and despite running regularly at South Boston Speedway his refusal to eat one of So Bo’s famous fried baloney sandwiches.

It’s been a storybook 12 months for Helio Castroneves. After being away from a regular IndyCar drive for several years, the “Dancing With The Stars” champion looks back on his amazing Indianapolis 500 win last season that put him into the rarified air of 4 time 500 Champions.

He and Jack talk about that moment and then his Rolex 24 win this past January and his new full time “hustle” with Meyer Shank Racing on the 2022 NTT IndyCar circuit.

Helio also makes his case for a drive in next year’s Daytona 500.