Herm & Schrader Podcast Summary

Episode: Former Trackhouse Teammates Tussle
Date: March 18, 2026
Hosts: Kenny Wallace (“Herm”) & Kenny Schrader
Special Guest/Third Chair: Dietz
Podcast by Dirty Mo Media

Episode Overview

The latest “Herm & Schrader” is a lively, honest and often hilarious romp through the week in racing, with a focus on NASCAR’s Vegas weekend, Denny Hamlin’s historic win and emotional Victory Lane moment, current Cup driver dynamics, and a much-discussed post-race confrontation between former Trackhouse teammates Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain. The show moves through rankings debates, spotter woes, and media antics, then delivers heartfelt commentary on a tragic dirt racing weekend before wrapping with laughs, local racing news, and the traditional dad-joke showdown. As always, the two Kennys never mince words and aren’t afraid to dig deep—or feel deeply about the racing world.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Weather & Racing Banter

• Missouri weather talk: From 70 degrees to 28 and snow the day after the Vegas race. Herm jokes, “Old Man Winter just seeking attention” (03:02).
• Brief motorcycle stories, Midwest camaraderie, and playful digs set a casual, fun tone.

2. Denny Hamlin’s 61st Cup Win & "Greatest" Debates

• Denny Hamlin passes Kevin Harvick as 10th all-time Cup winner.
  • “61 cup wins. Man, what a big win for Denny.” — Herm (03:12)
  • Schrader: “He’s not done…there’s no telling how many he can add to that.” (04:04)
• Cup Wins Rankings rundown:
  • Dietz delivers the Top 10 – with Richard Petty (200), David Pearson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt (76 wins, 8th), Denny Hamlin (61, 10th). (05:47)
  • Surprise among hosts that Earnhardt isn’t higher; Herm: “I put Earnhardt at the very top of everything.” (07:02)
• Context on number of starts – “Petty’s 200, he started…1100 or something.” Schrader (07:16)
• Herm calls it “rare air that Denny is in” and lauds the public storyline around Hamlin’s family, especially after personal tragedy. (09:31)

Notable Quote:

“You talk about a 180…they went from booing last year to cheering him this year for all the right reasons.”
— Herm, on the fan reaction to Denny Hamlin (11:03)

3. Vegas Race Recap & Pit Lane Problems

• Recap of Stenhouse and Zillich incident—attempted pit entrance, rear-ending due to miscommunication.
  • Schrader: “You just have to make sure that everybody knows you’re pitting. There was a little lack of communication there.” (12:49)
• Both hosts propose tongue-in-cheek solutions: Herm jokes about pit paddles, Schrader wants to get rid of the spotter stand entirely: “I don’t think spotters have saved a lot of accidents.” (15:54)

Memorable Story:

“Don’t listen to your spotter. Clear yourself.” — Dale Earnhardt, per Herm (15:30)

4. Ross Chastain vs. Daniel Suarez — Trackhouse Teammate Tussle

• After-race pit road shoving match between Suarez & Chastain; a woman (identified later as Lauren Emling) separates them.
• Schrader: “In my mind, she did a great job. She just kept standing there…she did good.” (21:16)
• Dietz connects the drama to ongoing Suarez-Trackhouse tensions, speculates about lingering hard feelings from Suarez being let go.
• Herm: “Who knows the real story, what went down. But they made room for Connor Zillich...” (22:52)

Notable Quote:

“It kind of reminded me of my wife with my children, to tell you the honest truth.”
— Dietz on Emling’s intervention (21:56)

5. How Tough Is Cup? Ty Gibbs & Connor Zillich Example

• Dietz: “If you ever underestimate how tough the Cup Series is, look at Ty Gibbs and Connor Zillich…dominated the O’Reilly Series, but in Cup, Gibbs hasn’t won, and Zillich has been almost non-existent — unless he was wrecking.” (23:12)
• Herm applauds Gibbs for three straight top-5s amidst public, legal, and familial noise: “Ty Gibbs, he’s very nice. I’m impressed.” (24:07)
• Schrader on Gibbs racing dirt: “He just goes into the toughest level…to make the show is amazing. To go out there and not look like a clown is amazing…He looked good.” (25:42)

6. Media, Driver Obligations & "Clickbait"

• Chastain brushes off media after the Suarez incident: “Not a chance boys.”
• Herm teases: “It leaves the media with bated breath…say something mean, so you can get in trouble with NASCAR!” (27:44)
• Dietz calls out media drama-stirring: “A lot of people in that media room…all they care about is clickbait. That’s really a made up controversy, if you want to know the truth. So I’m glad he didn’t take the bait.” (28:10)

7. O’Reilly Auto Parts (Xfinity) Race & Dirt Track Crossover

• Kyle Larson wins the Xfinity race; Corey Day impresses with solid top-5 and top-7 results through the weekend (31:16–32:29).
• Herm highlights Justin Allgaier’s strong start (“dominating”).
• Larson’s rush to make a dirt race next door leads to Earnhardt photo-shoot anecdotes and the value of clear boundaries with media. (33:41–34:46)

8. Open Wheel & International Racing Update

• IndyCar at Arlington, Texas — race wound through Arlington stadiums, gets high praise for spectacle and success.
• Schrader: “You gotta remember it’s a street course, basically… I heard good things about it.” (36:13)
• F1’s Kimi Antonelli, age 19, wins; Hamilton gets a Ferrari podium.
  • “They just keep producing these kids younger and younger.” — Herm (40:07)
  • Schrader: “There’s no telling how many years that he can be around…” (40:27)

9. Tough Weekend in Dirt Racing (Tragedy)

• Simultaneous red flags: at Kennedale (World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, medical emergency) and Smoky Mountain (Late Models, multi-car crash).
• Schrader details: Fatality and serious injuries after a collision between rescue workers’ vehicles responding in the infield.
  • “You see it as quick as they move…but they’re just doing what they’re trained to do… It’s part of our sport…It’s got a lot of dangerous things that can happen in it and boy, we sure hate to see what happened.” (42:28)
• Reflections on track safety and need for better vehicle marking—Herm: “I’m going to give you $1,000… you have got to get some flags or lights on your four-wheeler.” (45:05)
• Dietz: “It’s controlled chaos most of the time… when you put humans out there with that much machinery, a lot of things can happen.” (46:25)

10. Dirt & Local Racing Highlights

• “Mikey Marler whooped them good” in late models at Bulls Gap; wild races at Kennedale (“Unbelievable race Friday night” – lead changes galore), North Carolina Speedweek for Modifieds, High Limits at Vegas, and more. (47:46–49:23)
• Shout-out to Vegas dirt track crew for prepping a top-notch racing surface. (49:47)
• Discussion of MyRacePass app as the best for short track fans. (50:22)

11. Upcoming Racing Plans

• Schrader: Racing A and B mods at Pevely/Federated Auto Parts Raceway, enjoying a weather swing (51:01–51:27)
• Herm: Trip to Europe, including slow laps at the infamous Nürburgring (“rent the cheapest thing they got!”) (52:00–54:03)
• Dietz: Recap of youth football win, weekend at Lakeview, considering a trip to South Alabama Speedway for “The Rattler” or attending son’s basketball tournament. (54:31–55:34)

12. Fan Polls & Throwback Weekend

• Track poll: Vegas gets 61% positive from fans per Gluck poll (56:37)
• Darlington Throwback Weekend shifting —not everyone obliged to run retro schemes as sponsors want current branding. Hosts support flexibility. (57:28–58:22)

13. The Identity of the Peacemaking PR Woman

• Social media exchanges to identify Lauren Emling as the PR woman breaking up the Suarez/Chastain altercation.
  • “She’s one of us…if you know, you know…” — Lee Spencer, via text to Herm (62:04)
  • Hosts praise her work and laugh about their detective work on-air. (61:56–62:45)

14. Dad Jokes & Lighter Moments

• Dietz’s Animal Jokes:
  • Q: What do you call a deer with no eyes?
    A: “No eye-deer.”
  • Q: Why do bees have sticky hair?
    A: “Because they use a honeycomb.”
  • Q: Why can’t a leopard hide?
    A: “Because he’s always spotted.” (63:07–63:51)
• Classic “Banana Who” Knock-Knock routine by Schrader (65:47–66:11)

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “You talk about a 180…they went from booing last year to cheering him this year for all the right reasons.” — Herm (11:03)
• “If you look at David Pearson, he didn’t run but like 500 races. So percentage-wise, him and Richard Petty are the same.” — Dietz (07:34)
• “Don’t listen to your spotter. Clear yourself.” — Dale Earnhardt via Herm (15:30)
• “I don’t think spotters have saved a lot of accidents.” — Schrader (15:54)
• “If you ever underestimate how tough the Cup Series is, look at Ty Gibbs and Connor Zillich.” — Dietz (23:12)
• “He just goes into the toughest level…to make the show is amazing…He looked good.” — Schrader on Ty Gibbs dirt debut (25:42)
• “A lot of people in that media room…all they care about is clickbait.” — Dietz (28:10)
• “You got to train yourself [for IndyCar]. I respect them, but you’re just not going to have…3 and 4 wide for laps after lap like the Cup race.” — Herm (37:35)
• “It’s just part of our sport. It’s got a lot of dangerous things that can happen…Boy, we sure hate to see what happened.” — Schrader, on dirt racing tragedy (42:28)
• “You don’t need as many [media] people. You can get information everywhere now, used to have to be there.” — Schrader (29:26)
• “[Lauren Emling] did a hell of a job.” — Lee Spencer, via Herm (62:04)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Vegas Race/Wins Rankings: 03:12–08:53
• Hamlin Family & Fan Reaction: 09:31–11:03
• Pit Road Snafu, Spotter Debate: 12:49–16:17
• Trackhouse Tussle / PR Woman: 21:16–22:49, 61:56–62:45
• Media/Chastain Non-quote: 27:19–29:10
• Dirt/Late Models Tragedy: 41:29–47:16
• Upcoming Racing & Local Scene: 50:56–54:31
• Dad Jokes & Knock-Knock: 63:07–66:11

Summary Tone and Language

The show maintains its signature blend of back-and-forth ribbing, blunt honesty, and grassroots racing wisdom. Both Kennys are relatable and passionate, equally comfortable with technical debate, heartfelt reflection, or just cracking a joke. The tone swings from irreverent and hilarious to sincere and heartfelt, especially when addressing tragedy and honoring those in the sport.

Takeaways for Racing Fans

• Denny Hamlin’s career milestone is historic, but context matters (starts, eras, championships).
• Trackhouse teammate tension is the real deal—keep watching, there’s more to this story.
• Pit road miscommunication: still a headache, with “old guy” solutions and nostalgia.
• The Cup series remains ultra-competitive; young guns may dominate in lower series but face big learning curves in Cup.
• Tragedy is never far in motorsports; the community responds with care, reflection, and a call for better safety.
• Local and dirt track scenes are thriving and feed into the larger racing community—get the MyRacePass app to follow it all.
• Media’s evolving role in racing drama—sometimes they’re the real instigators.
• If you want a podcast that cares about the truth, refuses to sugarcoat, and makes you laugh—Herm & Schrader delivers.

For more: Listen to “Herm & Schrader” on Dirty Mo Media.