Herm & Schrader Podcast Summary

Episode: Hendrick vs. Gibbs For It All!
Date: October 29, 2025
Hosts: Kenny Wallace (“Herm”), Ken Schrader (“Schrader”), with Craig Moore
Platform: SiriusXM, Dirty Mo Media

Main Theme & Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the setup for NASCAR’s 2025 Championship finale at Phoenix, with spirited and candid commentary from Kenny Wallace and Ken Schrader. The hosts celebrate the competitive four-driver lineup, offer behind-the-scenes stories from their own racing weekends, and revisit emotional highlights from the Martinsville race. The show radiates their signature blend of humor, expertise, and irreverent Midwestern charm, with frequent asides about grassroots racing, old-school NASCAR culture, and—naturally—Martinsville’s legendary hot dogs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Championship Four: “Best of the Best”

[02:57 – 05:29]

• Hosts agree that this year’s NASCAR playoffs produced the most deserving four drivers for the championship: Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Kyle Larson, and William Byron.
  • “We've got the best drivers going to Phoenix.” — Wallace [03:44]
  • “We've got the ones that had the most successful years...” — Schrader [04:01]

2. Martinsville Race Recap & Observations

[11:39 – 20:19]

• Craig accurately predicts Ryan Blaney as a contender: “Ryan Blaney is going to win Martinsville.” [11:39]
• Praise for Martinsville’s racing quality—multi-groove action, dramatic pit stops, and Byron’s flawless execution.
  • “It was just good, you know...one of the best places to pay someone back.” — Schrader [04:50]
  • “That restart for all the marbles...that was the corner of the year.” — Wallace [16:49]
• Discussion on whether Chevrolet teammates played strategic roles in holding up Blaney; hosts agree no major shenanigans were detected.
  • “I don't think there was any. But yeah, I hear you. Your point is valid.” — Wallace [15:44]

3. Breakdown: Modified Racing and Their Own Weekends

[05:57 – 10:27]

• Schrader POQ’d (pissed off and quit) from Poplar Bluff after a rough start but won at Grant City in a blended field of A and B mods.
• In-depth, tongue-in-cheek comparison of A mods vs. B mods: horsepower, cost, and culture. “The B mod is where all the cool kids are hanging out right now.” — Wallace [08:23]
• Wallace joins Schrader at Granite and watches a thrilling battle, giving Schrader high praise for driving “like a 20-year-old.” [09:40]
• POQ origin story attributed to Terry Labonte.

4. Martinsville’s Sentimentality and Tradition

[31:19 – 41:28]

• Strong nostalgia for old-school Martinsville: “There’s just something about that fall race that’s just very special.” — Moore [40:53]
• Extended hot dog lore and guerilla poll: “Hell with that trophy...let’s get the right hot dogs back in here.” — Schrader [38:45]
• The emotional resonance of the grandfather clock trophy and what Martinsville represents as a link to NASCAR’s roots.

5. Playoff System Vindicated

[25:28 – 26:36]

• Wallace makes a pointed defense of the current playoff format, countering year-long complaints about points manipulation.
  • “This point system showed up perfectly...you all moaned and moaned and moaned.” — Wallace [26:28]

6. Mechanical Reliability and Gibbs Engine Drama

[22:52 – 24:25]

• Discussion on rare engine failures for some championship contenders.
• Debate about whether locked-in drivers might have received riskier engine setups; Schrader disagrees that teams would intentionally jeopardize momentum.
  • “You don’t roll the dice and take away from their momentum...” — Schrader [24:25]

7. Anticipating Phoenix & State of the Sport

[27:32 – 30:12]

• The hosts speculate on the upcoming NASCAR “State of the Union” and possible playoff tweaks.
  • “I would hope...maybe come down to an accumulation of points over the last three races...” — Schrader [27:32]
• Bob Pockrass trivia: correcting claims about Penske’s “4-Peat”—clarified as three in a row so far.

8. Polls & Fan Engagement

[34:30 – 35:11]

• Jeff Gluck’s fan poll: 78% called Martinsville “a great race.”
  • “Who are the other 22%?” — Wallace [34:55]
• Crowd and TV observations confirm Martinsville’s enduring appeal.

9. Stats, Segments & Season Recaps

[43:29 – 54:33]

• Craig Moore’s “Notes” deliver rapid stats:
  • William Byron’s accomplishments: swept poles, stages, race at Martinsville; 14th Next Gen win; 3rd straight Championship Four.
  • Championship Four bios: the only prior Cup champion in the group is Kyle Larson.
• Recaps for Xfinity (Taylor Gray’s first win, Allgaier/Quaple in title run) and Truck Series (Corey Heim’s stats).
• Schrader reminds: financial stakes for championship positions are substantial—“the difference between second and fourth could be $2 million.” [56:08]

10. Jokes, Closing Banter & Grassroots Shout-Outs

[59:48 – End]

• Craig Moore delivers classic dad jokes to uproarious response (“Why do bees have sticky hair? Because they use honeycombs.”)
• Oysters and Instagram tangents round out the camaraderie.
• USMTS, High Limits, and regional dirt racing receive respectful nods.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You drove like a 20-year-old, that you are.” — Wallace, to Schrader, on Saturday’s win [09:40]
• “That pit stop...was the pit stop of the year. Those crew members, their hearts had to be pounding.” — Wallace [17:15]
• “Hell with that trophy...let’s get the right hot dogs back in here.” — Schrader, on Martinsville tradition [38:45]
• “If you hit one [championship contender], make sure you hit the other because you’re not gonna mess up our [championship].” — Schrader, recalling playful drivers’ meeting warnings [19:14]
• “This point system showed up perfectly, but you all moaned and moaned and moaned.” — Wallace, defending the playoffs [26:28]
• “No matter which one of them four win it. Not going to be surprised.” — Schrader, on the 2025 finalists [51:18]
• “If you’re racing NASCAR for a living...the difference between second and points and fourth in points could be $2 million.” — Wallace [56:08]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Championship Four & Playoffs: [02:57 – 05:29], [25:28 – 27:32]
• Martinsville Recap & Tradition: [11:39 – 20:19], [31:19 – 41:28]
• Hosts’ Racing Weekends & Modifieds 101: [05:57 – 10:27]
• Engine Issues & Conspiracies: [22:52 – 24:25]
• Fan Polls & Race Vibe: [34:30 – 35:11]
• Driver & Season Stats: [43:29 – 54:33]
• Jokes & Lighthearted Closing: [59:48 – End]

Final Thoughts

This episode captures why the Herm & Schrader show is so beloved: unvarnished opinions, deep insider knowledge, Midwest humor, and a genuine love for racing culture—from NASCAR’s glitzy finale to the grassroots tracks that made the hosts legends. As Phoenix looms, listeners get both the big-picture stakes and the colorful minutiae that make race fans feel like they’re part of the family.

Next up: The championship showdown—and plenty more stories.