Best Crunching Tackles Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 177: Trouble at ESPN 1:20:14

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9h ago1:20:14

1:20:14

ESPN has not just been reporting the news lately, they have been the news—and not in good ways. On today's show, Chad and John discuss: 3:00 - We briefly recap a wildly entertaining World Series and that instantly classic Game 7. 7:30 - The betting scandal we covered last episode has now come to MLB. We react to the news of two Cleveland Guardian p…

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195 - Season Finale - The All-American Rejects’ Tyson Ritter Gets Immersed With IndyCar 1:30:38

3d ago1:30:38

1:30:38

We are arriving at the end of the racing season, and Speed Street is here to put a bow on 2025. Conor Daly and co-host Chase Holden check in with the latest IndyCar silly season developments and Conor fills listeners in on his on-going search for a ride in 2026. The guys also discuss the recent IndyCar tests and the excitement around next year’s re…

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Episode 176: The Worst Gambling Scandal Yet 1:23:25

7d ago1:23:25

1:23:25

NBA Hall of Famer and current head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and LeBron James insider Damon Jones were all arrested by the FBI on serious gambling charges, involving improper betting, high-stakes poker, and the Italian mafia. Do they matter culturally? On today's show, Chad and John discuss: 7:30 - After Chad's solo pod…

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194 - From Pit Stops to Reports - Jack Harvey Tackles Racing and Broadcasting 1:17:51

17d ago1:17:51

1:17:51

Do you have the off-season blues already? Don’t worry, Speed Street has you covered. Conor Daly and co-host Chase Holden are back in the studio this week to chat about Conor’s recent sports car excursion at the Indianapolis 8-Hour. The guys also chat about last week's test at Indy and how it's showing favorable results for the new Firestone tire de…

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EMERGENCY PODCAST: Apple Goes All-in on Formula 1 14:19

29d ago14:19

14:19

In this special, emergency episode of Crunching Tackles, Chad reacts to the breaking news about Formula One's broadcast rights going to Apple TV. What does this shift mean for the sport, and the larger streaming sports landscape? We will be back with a regularly scheduled podcast later. John is enjoying a wonderful honeymoon in Ireland with his new…

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193 - The Next Rung - Dennis Hauger Anticipates His Rookie Season in IndyCar 1:10:39

1M ago1:10:39

1:10:39

IndyCars are testing, rumors are flying and seats are swapping. Our resident open wheeler Conor Daly is back on Speed Street this week to join co-host Chase Holden in catching up on all the off season madness. The news broke Tuesday morning that Rinus VeeKay will be signing on with Juncos Hollinger Racing for the 2026 season, making Conor’s path ba…

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192 - Future Investments - Jamie Little Reflects on IndyCar’s First Year with Fox Sports 1:03:07

1M ago1:03:07

1:03:07

The off-season crawls on, but Conor Daly and Chase Holden are back on Speed Street to get you up to date with all the latest IndyCar news. The big story of the last couple of weeks has been Team Penske’s signing of David Malukas to replace Will Power in the famed 12 car. The guys weigh in on how David will bring a breath of fresh air to the team, d…

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Episode 175: Does Anyone Really Care Who the MVP Is? 1:17:43

2M ago1:17:43

1:17:43

This week, Ousmane Dembélé won the Ballon D'or—the award for the best men's soccer player. This choice was surprising, and underwhelming, and led us to a conversation about the importance of individual awards. Are they measured correctly? Do they matter culturally? On today's show, Chad and John discuss: 25:00 - A quick update on the Pablo Torre in…

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191 - Power Rankings - Alex Palou Recounts His Historic 2025 Championship Season 1:27:29

2M ago1:27:29

1:27:29

The off-season continues, only now we know where the NTT IndyCar Series will be racing in 2026. Conor Daly and co-host Chase Holden reconvene on Speed Street to react to the Tuesday morning reveal of the 2026 schedule. They break down where they felt the schedule improved and what they hope to see more of in the future. Also, after digging into the…

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Episode 174: Steve Ballmer's Alleged Aspirations 1:19:13

2M ago1:19:13

1:19:13

A bombshell investigation by Pablo Torre alleges that Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled money through a shadow company to Kawhi Leonard to compensate him above the salary cap. If true, this is one of the most shocking frauds in NBA history. On today's show, Chad and John discuss: 10:00 - U.S. Open recap and the amazing rivalry of Ja…

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190 - Crunching the Numbers - Conor Daly and Chase Holden Analyze the 2025 IndyCar Field 1:38:26

2M ago1:38:26

1:38:26

The 2025 IndyCar season may be complete, but silly season is fully underway. Conor Daly and co-host Chase Holden are back on Speed Street to react to last week’s blockbuster news that Colton Herta will be departing from the IndyCar paddock to pursue Formula One, and his replacement will be none other than the legendary Will Powers, fresh off his lo…

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189 - High Note - Josef Newgarden Wins the Season Finale at Nashville 1:43:05

2M ago1:43:05

1:43:05

The IndyCar season is officially in the books, and our resident open wheeler Conor Daly brought home his best finish of the year in Nashville. He joins co-host Chase Holden to break down his captivating dash from the back of the pack to 5th place and what changes the Juncos Hollinger Team had to make after a disappointing qualifying effort earlier …

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Episode 173: The NFL and ESPN are Dancing With Their Hands Tied 1:22:15

3M ago1:22:15

1:22:15

The NFL and ESPN have announced a merger that gives ESPN control of NFL Media and gives the NFL an ownership stake in ESPN. This arrangement comes with huge conflicts of interest and moral implications. On today's show, Chad and John discuss: 5:45 - Chad recaps his recent trip, including some amazing sporting experiences that he brings back to the …

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188 - Late Charge - Christian Rasmussen Scores His First Career IndyCar Win in Milwaukee 1:12:56

3M ago1:12:56

1:12:56

With two races left on the 2025 IndyCar schedule, the series returned to the famed Milwaukee Mile, and our resident open wheeler Conor Daly had an up and down day. He joins co-host Chase Holden to discuss how difficult pit box selection made the afternoon challenging in a race where track position was key. Conor explains he felt the 78-team had top…

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187 - Two Ovals To Go - Graham Rahal Reflects on the 2025 Season and the Future 1:13:46

3M ago1:13:46

1:13:46

IndyCar may have had the weekend off, but our resident open wheeler Conor Daly is in full preparation mode for the Milwaukee Mile. He joins co-host Chase Holden to discuss what is in store for the series’ trip to the historic oval this weekend, what he needs to do to return to the podium and who he hopes will be joining him in the top three. Conor …

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186 - Pure Insanity - Conor Daly Has a Huge Crash and Will Power Wins Portland 1:21:11

3M ago1:21:11

1:21:11

It was a weekend to forget in Portland for Conor Daly, but not by his own doing. He joins co-host Chase Holden on Speed Street this week to unpack what could have been a promising weekend but ultimately ended up being disappointing in many regards. Conor explains that after racing with Juncos Hollinger at Portland last year, the team had plenty of …

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185 - Monumental Deal - Conor Daly and Chase Holden Discuss Fox’s IndyCar Investment 1:01:34

3M ago1:01:34

1:01:34

Conor Daly and Chase Holden return to Speed Street to unpack the major news that the Fox Corporation has purchased a one-third interest in Penske Entertainment. Conor and Chase discuss how this and the news that Fox has extended their ownership of IndyCar media rights for the next five years will impact the series going forward. The guys put togeth…

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Episode 172: Another Shocking Scandal at the NFL 1:20:24

4M ago1:20:24

1:20:24

Pablo Torre has unearthed a shocking scandal taking place with the NFL and the NFL Player's Association in recent weeks. This scandal has caused major embarrassment for the league, and has led to the resignation of several prominent player's union executives. On today's show, Chad and John discuss: 1:00 - We discuss how Nikola Jokic has finally fou…

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184 - Elbows Out - Christian Rasmussen Reflects on His Best IndyCar Season to Date 1:20:54

4M ago1:20:54

1:20:54

The elbows were out this past weekend as the IndyCar Series did battle at Laguna Seca, and our favorite open wheeler Conor Daly brought home his best road course result of the season. He joins co-host Chase Holden to unpack his team’s weekend, and how struggles with the primary tire and a lap one collision had them battling uphill all day. Despite …

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183 - The Art of Saving Fuel - Rinus Veekay Celebrates a Hard Fought Podium in Toronto 1:31:43

4M ago1:31:43

1:31:43

The IndyCar Series made its annual pilgrimage north of the border, and our resident open wheeler Conor Daly held on for a 15th place finish. He joins co-host Chase Holden this week on Speed Street to discuss the challenges that street courses like Detroit and Toronto bring to the Juncos Hollinger Racing team. Conor explains that the slick surfaces …

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Episode 171: F1 The Movie Races to Success 1:23:20

4M ago1:23:20

1:23:20

One of the biggest summer blockbusters is also a fascinating artifact of sports and culture. In other words, all our various passions and interests collide in this high octane episode! On today's show, Chad and John discuss: 3:40 - Wimbledon 2025 Recap 25:50 - Club World Cup Final and President Trump's viral moment 37:50 - F1 The Movie Review and C…

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182 - High Line Shaman - Pato O’Ward Brings Home Chevy’s First Win of the Year at Iowa 1:27:33

4M ago1:27:33

1:27:33

Race fans got double the IndyCar short oval action this past weekend in Iowa, and our resident open wheeler Conor Daly was putting on a high line clinic. He joins co-host Chase Holden to unpack the action from Iowa Speedway and how he delivered Juncos Hollinger Racing’s best qualifying effort on a short oval to date. Conor explains that he was comb…

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181 - The Iceman Rises - Scott Dixon Breaks Through to Win at Mid-Ohio 1:21:11

4M ago1:21:11

1:21:11

It was quite an eventful day at Mid-Ohio for Conor Daly, and he's back on Speed Street to give us the lowdown. He joins co-host Chase Holden to recap his on-track incident with Santino Ferrucci and the rest of his weekend with the Juncos Hollinger Race Team. Conor reports that he had his best road course qualifying effort of the year and felt incre…

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Episode 170: The Gentrification of Sports 1:25:58

5M ago1:25:58

1:25:58

A recent study examined the cost of being a sports fan to the American consumer, and the results are shocking! On today's show, Chad and John discuss: 4:20 - How the Club World Cup is going this summer. 13:20 - A strange confrontation between ICE and the Los Angeles Dodgers. 18:30 - The Senegal Women's Basketball team being denied entry to the US f…

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180 - Struggle Bus - Louis Foster Celebrates His First Career IndyCar Pole 1:14:07

5M ago1:14:07

1:14:07

The IndyCar Series took on legendary Road America this past weekend, and our resident open wheeler Conor Daly was once again in action. He joins co-host Chase Holden this week on Speed Street to discuss his struggles throughout the weekend and how a penalty sunk his efforts at a decent finish. Conor explains that the new hybrid continues to be diff…

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179 - Giant Fire - Conor Daly and Pato O’Ward Relive Their Thrilling St. Louis Battle 1:45:14

5M ago1:45:14

1:45:14

It was an exhilarating weekend in St. Louis for the IndyCar Series, and our resident open wheeler Conor Daly entertained the masses with a thrilling drive to the front. He joins co-host Chase Holden to discuss taking his number-76 Juncos Hollinger Chevy high, wide and handsome to battle from 15th place to the lead throughout the evening. Conor give…

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Episode 169: The World is Coming to America 1:29:16

5M ago1:29:16

1:29:16

A fog of uncertainty surrounds America as we host two major international tournaments this summer. The Club World Cup and the Gold Cup are intense dress rehearsals for the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. The question is: are we ready? On today's show, Chad and John discuss: 5:30 - The 2025 French Open. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner put on …

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178 - Go Fast and Turn Left - Kyffin Simpson Reflects on His First Career Top-Five Finish 1:07:04

5M ago1:07:04

1:07:04

IndyCar may have had the week off, but Speed Street is still reporting for duty covering all the latest news in the open wheel scene. Conor Daly and Chase Holden reflect on the television ratings for the Detroit race and the public response to Conor’s critiques of the course layout. They also react to the news that Formula One will be directly comp…

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177 - Wild in the Streets - Kyle Kirkwood Brings Home the Win in Detroit 1:20:11

5M ago1:20:11

1:20:11

IndyCar took over the streets of Detroit, and for the second time this season Kyle Kirkwood was able to stop the Alex Palou freight train. Our resident open wheeler Conor Daly battled grip issues and muscled his Juncos Hollinger Chevy to a 17th place finish on the day. He joins co-host Chase Holden to discuss the difficulties that the Detroit Grand…

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Episode 168: Who is the New Bill Belichick? 1:20:37

6M ago1:20:37

1:20:37

For decades, Bill Belichick built his brand on stoicism, silence, and excellence. In recent years, his relationship with Jordan Hudson has seemingly changed his entire persona. On today's show, Chad and John discuss: 2:00 - The New York Knicks and their super fan Timothee Chalamet 7:00 - John Haliburton being banned and subsequently reinstated by t…

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176 - The Biggest Stage in Racing - Alex Palou Wins the 109th Indianapolis 500 1:20:05

6M ago1:20:05

1:20:05

The Greatest Spectacle in Racing is officially in the books, and our resident open wheeler Conor Daly showed moments of brilliance before bringing home a hard fought 8th place finish. He joins co-host Chase Holden to recap his race and how a vibration caused by a loss of wheel weights caused him to fade late in the running. Conor explains that his …

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175 - Historic Lap - Rookie Robert Shwartzman Captures the Indy 500 Pole 1:15:54

6M ago1:15:54

1:15:54

It is finally time for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, and our resident open wheeler Conor Daly will be rolling off P11 this coming Sunday. He joins co-host Chase Holden to break down all of the action from practice week and qualifying, which saw many surprises and breath-taking crashes. No surprise of course was bigger than rookie Robert Shwartz…

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Episode 167: Pope Leo XIV and the Theology of Sports 1:22:08

6M ago1:22:08

1:22:08

The pope is American, he's a certified baseball fan, and the Catholic Church has a detailed and rich theology of sports that we want to talk about! On today's show, Chad and John discuss: 4:00 - NBA Draft Lottery and Playoff check-in. 11:15 - Barcelona and Inter Milan played one of the greatest soccer ties of all time. 16:05 - Major League Baseball…

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174 - The Year of the Fives - Helio Castroneves Sets Out to Make Indianapolis 500 History 1:16:08

6M ago1:16:08

1:16:08

The Month of May is well under way, and Conor Daly brought home a hard fought 15th place finish at the Indy Grand Prix to kick things off. He joins co-host Chase Holden to fill listeners in on how a lap one dust-up with Callum Ilott caused him to have to fight from behind and how tire strategy ultimately allowed him to make a late race recovery. Th…

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173 - Attrition Drought - Alex Palou and Rinus VeeKay Unpack the Weekend at Barber 1:21:45

6M ago1:21:45

1:21:45

The IndyCar season is picking up steam as the series moves from Barber into the Month of May. Conor Daly and the Juncos Hollinger team brought home a 19th place finish in yet another event that ran green in its entirety. He joins co-host Chase Holden on this edition of Speed Street to chat about the team’s struggles with the primary tires this year…

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166: Shedeur Sanders' Slide 1:25:05

7M ago1:25:05

1:25:05

In one of the most anticipated and widely covered NFL Drafts, Shedeur Sanders slid all the way to the fifth round. This prompted a flurry of broadcast and social media reactions. On today's show, Chad and John discuss: 8:15 - Liverpool win the Premier League and is Mohamed Salah the best player in the world right now? 24:00 - The NBA Playoffs are u…

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172 - Open the Floodgates - David Land Weighs in on Progressing IndyCar 1:54:37

7M ago1:54:37

1:54:37

Last week race fans had the opportunity to see IndyCars on track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time in 2025, and Conor Daly turned in impressive results during both days of the Open Test. He joins co-host Chase Holden to discuss what he and the Juncos Hollinger Team learned during their time in the IMS paddock and how the hybrid syst…

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171 - A Little Taste - Conor Daly and Chase Holden Preview the Indy 500 Open Test 56:20

7M ago56:20

56:20

It’s finally time for IndyCars to take the track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Conor Daly will be one of 34 drivers behind the wheel this week. He joins co-host Chase Holden to break down the schedule for this week’s Indy 500 Open Test and what teams and drivers are hoping to gain during their track time on Wednesday and Thursday. Conor expla…

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Episode 165: Rory Achieves Glory 1:09:13

7M ago1:09:13

1:09:13

In the most dramatic Masters in recent memory, Rory McIlroy exorcized his demons, and wrote his name in the history books. On today's show, Chad and John discuss: 0:30 - Arsenal's convincing win over Real Madrid in the Champions League Quarterfinals. Where does John's club sit now in the hierarchy of European soccer? 14:20 - The NCAA Basketball Nat…

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170 - Street Supremacy - Kyle Kirkwood Picks Up His Second Long Beach Grand Prix 1:17:43

7M ago1:17:43

1:17:43

Conor Daly had a rough showing at the Long Beach Grand Prix, and he is back on Speed Street to join co-host Chase Holden and break down what happened. After struggling in qualifying, Conor and the 76-Juncos Hollinger Team had an error in their fuel calculations during the early stages of the race, which Conor explains took him out of competition du…

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169 - Spin and Win - IndyCar Legend Danny Sullivan Recounts His Historic Career 1:14:01

7M ago1:14:01

1:14:01

It’s finally Long Beach Grand Prix week, and Conor Daly has a brand new livery just in time for the famed event. He joins co-host Chase Holden to chat about the Mannkind-sponsored Juncos Hollinger 76 entry he’ll be piloting this weekend, as well as what listeners should expect to see when IndyCar hits the track. The race has been lengthened to 90 l…

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168 - Flow State - Marcus Armstrong Discusses the Mental and Physical Sides of Being an IndyCar Driver 1:32:16

8M ago1:32:16

1:32:16

Conor Daly participated in an IndyCar hybrid test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course this past week. He joins co-host Chase Holden to discuss the results from the test and how the added weight of the new hybrid system seems to affect the balance of the car less at this track than others. The guys also weigh in on the social media discou…

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Episode 164: March, but no Madness 1:08:07

8M ago1:08:07

1:08:07

The first two rounds of the 2025 NCAA tournament featured some amazing basketball, but few upsets and even less drama. What is the state of the tournament given the recent changes to the transfer portal and NIL? On today's show, Chad and John discuss: 4:00 - We briefly fill out the list of Stephen A. Smith's potential cabinet secretaries. 13:30 - W…

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167 - Grade A Beef - Scott McLaughlin Comes to Terms with His Rough Day at Thermal 1:13:29

8M ago1:13:29

1:13:29

The IndyCar Series had a great battle at Thermal Club, and Conor Daly brought home a respectable 16th place finish. He joins co-host Chase Holden to discuss the event in Southern California and how things panned out for the number-76 Juncos Hollinger team. Conor explains the difficulties around tire choices and gambles that didn’t play out as expec…

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166 - Round Two - Conor Daly and Chase Holden Look Ahead to Thermal Club 47:44

8M ago47:44

47:44

It’s finally race week again and the Speed Street podcast is here to tell you everything you need to know for this upcoming IndyCar weekend at Thermal Club. Conor Daly and Chase Holden discuss the uncertainty of the tire package and how it will hold up to the increased weight of the hybrid system, which was not in use at last year’s $1 Million Chal…

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Episode 163: President Stephen A. Smith? 1:21:41

8M ago1:21:41

1:21:41

Television and sports personality Stephen A. Smith has been venturing into a new media space: politics. Now, he's one of the most talked about potential candidates for the Democratic nominee for president. On today's show, Chad and John discuss: 2:30 - We recap the 2025 Oscars, talking about the success of the show, the biggest winners and losers, …

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165 - Long Game - Christian Lundgaard Hits the Ground Running with Arrow McLaren 58:50

8M ago58:50

58:50

We are in the middle of the agonizing gap between the first two races of the 2025 IndyCar season, but never fear as Conor Daly and Chase Holden are back with more Speed Street. Big news hits the motorsports world as Formula One announces that Cadillac will join the paddock in 2026, establishing itself an American-based team. The development could h…

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164 - Engines Roaring - Alex Palou Captures the 2025 IndyCar Season Opener at St. Pete 1:07:19

8M ago1:07:19

1:07:19

Conor Daly brought home a hard fought 17th place finish in the 2025 IndyCar season opener in the streets of St. Petersburg. He joins co-host Chase Holden to unpack the weekend, including the practice sessions which were affected by the new tire allocation rules and qualifying which left a lot of competitive drivers buried in the pack. The guys comp…

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Episode 162: The Transgender Sports Ban 1:06:25

9M ago1:06:25

1:06:25

Early into his presidency, Donald Trump signed an executive order preventing transgender women from competing in women's sports in public schools and under the NCAA. Charlie Baker—president of the NCAA—responded with immediate compliance. On today's show, Chad and John discuss: 2:50 - The remarkable Four Nations NHL tournament, the USA v. Canada ho…

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163 - The New President - J. Douglas Boles Balances Leadership of Both IMS and IndyCar 1:23:09

9M ago1:23:09

1:23:09

It’s finally race week, and Conor Daly is ready to be back on the IndyCar grid at St. Petersburg this coming Sunday. He joins co-host Chase Holden to give listeners a preview of what to expect at the famed street course for the 2025 IndyCar season opener. The guys also chat about the recent announcement that the popular “100 Days to Indy” docu-seri…