Podcast Summary: Herm & Schrader – "Nick Hoffman: Racing Is In My Roots"

Release Date: March 12, 2026
Host: Kenny Wallace (A)
Guest: Nick Hoffman (C)
Producer: SiriusXM, Dirty Mo Media

Episode Overview

This episode of Herm & Schrader digs deep into the racing life of Nick Hoffman, regarded as one of the best to ever compete in dirt UMP Modifieds. Hoffman joins Kenny Wallace for a wide-ranging conversation spanning his upbringing in a racing family, his dual dreams of asphalt and dirt greatness, career-defining wins, technical insights, the evolution and controversy of his Elite Chassis program, and the mindset that fuels his historic run. Rich with gritty anecdotes, racing philosophy, and good-natured Midwestern candor, the hour-plus chat is a must-listen for race fans and gearheads.

Major Discussion Points & Insights

Nick Hoffman's Racing Roots

[03:21] – [04:11]

• Grew up in Belleville, Illinois, claiming St. Louis due to proximity.
• Family deep in racing: father Daryl had his shop in East St. Louis, building cars and engines.
• Emphasizes grit: "We didn't have a whole lot of money, so I just got to do whatever it takes to, to make it work." (Nick, 07:32)
• The family’s “do-it-yourself, never give up” mentality—welding in basements, innovating on the fly—laid the foundation for his success.

Early Racing Ambitions: Asphalt vs. Dirt

[04:11] – [06:20]

• Moved to North Carolina at age 10, where asphalt was king.
• Raced Bandoleros, legend cars, Allison Legacy cars, competing with future NASCAR talents like Corey Lajoie.
• Got breaks in asphalt, including Truck Series starts for the legendary Mike Mittler, fulfilling a childhood promise from the late owner.
• Ultimately, the call of dirt and the Modified scene drew him back.

Work Ethic & Family Approach to Racing

[06:59] – [09:05]

• Wallace highlights Hoffman's hands-on approach—building, welding, creating—praising the “Hoffman way” of doing everything the hard way.
• Nick’s trial-and-error philosophy: learning by being outmatched and lapped by the best in Illinois, gaining his edge “the hard way.”

Quote:
"You work your guts out... melt your own lead down, bend the tubing, weld your own cars together." – Kenny Wallace (06:59)

Hoffman’s Move to Super Late Models

[12:11] – [13:01]

• Achieved a childhood dream, now racing full-time with the World of Outlaws Dirt Late Models, scoring an emotional breakthrough win at State Line Speedway.
• Reflects on the "huge sigh of relief" and surge in confidence after that victory.

Quote:
"Passed [Gordy] for the lead... biggest thing, now I know I can get it done. Just confidence is high." – Nick Hoffman (13:01)

The Role of Car Owners and Opportunities

[14:53] – [17:05]

• Details how he landed his current Late Model ride—through industry contacts at Ricky Stenhouse’s wedding, a call from Ty Touring, and support from Steve Arpin.
• Emphasizes it’s "a family deal, just like my deal was," echoing his values.

Technical Insights & Racing Philosophy

[18:03] – [20:57]

• Discusses having "peripheral vision"—always learning by watching other teams’ setups.
• Warns against "setup survey"—overconsulting others, stressing the importance of focus and balance on one's own program.

Quote:
"Everybody thinks there’s a secret… what I won on is pretty much standard stuff. It’s about balance." – Nick Hoffman (20:25)

The Science & Psychology of Winning Streaks

[21:51] – [24:01]

• Dirt racing is cyclical: dominant cars and teams inevitably go through rough patches.
• Noted that trends in chassis—Longhorns, then Rocket—shift quickly.
• Importance of “testing by racing”—making changes in real time, learning from legends like Scott Bloomquist.

Quote:
"You test during races a lot… best way to find out what's gonna work in competition." – Nick Hoffman (24:01)

Learning from Scott Bloomquist

[25:26] – [28:23]

• Offers rare insight into Bloomquist’s legendary and idiosyncratic work ethic and fine-detail focus (checking rear ends for straightness, tire wall with past winners).
• Nick says he “went to school” with Bloomquist’s approach, praising his different way of thinking.

Quote:
"He's a super nice guy… thinks about things way different than we do." – Nick Hoffman (25:51)

The Birth of Elite Chassis

[29:42] – [32:49]

• Elite Chassis was born out of necessity after mentor Monty Grice became ill.
• Built first car in 17 days, won the Eldora Fall Nationals with over 130 cars present.
• Rapid growth, big orders while still a teenager, learned business on the fly, shocked the industry by building world-class cars in a two-car garage.

Quote:
"That leaped my whole chassis company, you know, that first week. I'm an 18-year-old kid..." – Nick Hoffman (32:49)

Building & Operating on a Shoestring

[34:59] – [39:31]

• Describes the challenges (and pride) of operating Elite from a tiny garage—cars left in trailers for months due to lack of space.
• Balancing customer builds, storage issues, and upcoming plans for a consolidated shop.

Quote:
"I've showed up at racetracks with my stuff still dirty… you make chicken salad out of chicken [bleep]." – Kenny Wallace (39:31)

Family Ties: Millbridge Speedway

[41:08] – [43:25]

• Acknowledges his sister Ashley and brother-in-law Jeremy's work transforming Millbridge Speedway into a national micro-sprint hub.
• Millbridge has become a social racing epicenter for NASCAR drivers and kids.

Controversy, Domination & Racing Culture

The Modified Win Streak & Its Backlash

[45:13] – [48:38]

• Dominated UMP Modifieds to a degree that stirred jealousy and accusations—winning 16 straight at Summer Nationals, 19 of 20.
• Responds to “cheating” allegations: “My car’s been tacked or checked so many times… that’s out of the equation.”
• Admits the expectation of victory became a burden; “I hate losing more than I love winning.” (46:39)

Driving Technique & Technical Tinkering

[47:54] – [51:04]

• Built cars around his own straight, “asphalt-influenced” style; heavy on brake, footwork is key.
• Value of roll speed over sheer traction: “Everybody thinks they need more drive off, but it’s what they did on entry...” (48:38)

Pushing the Rulebook & Tech “Antics”

[51:15] – [54:57]

• Recalls playing head games with rule enforcers: adding non-performance modifications like “mail slot” C-pillars just to bait scrutiny.
• Philosophy: push the gray areas but change things without complaint when flagged.
• Candid about the culture: “If you don’t like something, tell me, I’ll change it. I never go in there pissed off.”

Quote:
"We call them mail slots because that’s where I deposit all my checks." – Nick Hoffman (53:33)

Dominance and the Human Response

[54:57] – [55:35]

• Wallace and Hoffman reflect on how society resists sustained greatness—fans and competitors want to "find something wrong."
• Nick: “I enjoy watching any kind of dominance… I know what it takes to get to that level.”

State of the Modifieds & Racing Business

[56:21] – [58:08]

• The UMP Modified scene is strong, with robust car counts—perhaps “because I’m not out there!” Nick jokes.
• Costs are up dramatically; a competitive “roller” is now over $40k; Hoffman and Wallace both lament low purses and argue for a share of streaming revenue to come back to teams.

Quote:
"We got to start paying more and pull a little of that money away from TV… some of that money needs to come back to the drivers." – Nick Hoffman (57:48)

Catastrophic Accident & Outlook on Life

[58:12] – [62:51]

• Hoffman recounts the harrowing truck and trailer crash while chasing a fourth UMP title; suffered a skull fracture and struggles with short-term memory loss.
• Recovery ongoing; sees it as a perspective-shifting, life-altering event.
• Stresses luck, family, and the racing community’s support during recovery.
• Despite personal setback, new car owner leads him to Late Model opportunity—“everything happens for a reason.”

Quote:
"If I died that night, I would have never knew the difference… just would have never woke up." – Nick Hoffman (60:34)

Closing Thoughts & Takeaways

• Nick is candid, grounded, and technically shrewd—balances confidence with humility.
• Emphasizes family, work ethic, and innovation as the real “secrets” to his success.
• Looks forward to the future with new perspective after his accident, continuing to build his business and chase wins.

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• "We didn't have a whole lot of money, so I just got to do whatever it takes to, to make it work." – Nick Hoffman [07:32]
• "Everybody thinks there’s a secret…what I won on is pretty much standard stuff. It’s about balance." – Nick Hoffman [20:25]
• "That leaped my whole chassis company, you know, that first week. I'm an 18-year-old kid..." – Nick Hoffman [32:49]
• "I enjoy watching any kind of dominance…because I know what it takes to get to that level." – Nick Hoffman [55:35]
• "We call them mail slots because that’s where I deposit all my checks." – Nick Hoffman [53:33]
• "If I died that night, I would have never knew the difference…just would have never woke up." – Nick Hoffman [60:34]

Essential Segments & Timestamps

• 03:21–04:11 – Growing up Hoffman: St. Louis, family, mindset
• 06:59–09:05 – Work ethic, family innovation, learning the hard way
• 12:28–13:01 – First major Outlaw Late Model win, emotional impact
• 14:59–17:05 – Getting the ride with Ty Touring and Longhorn Chassis
• 18:03–20:57 – Technical insights, focus on “your own program”
• 25:26–28:23 – Bloomquist stories: genius and weirdness
• 29:42–32:49 – The birth and rising legend of Elite Chassis
• 34:59–39:31 – Building a winning program in a tiny garage
• 45:13–48:38 – The backlash of domination in Modified world
• 58:12–62:51 – The truck accident, recovery, and perspective

Tone & Style

• Unfiltered, frank, often humorous—Kenny Wallace and Nick Hoffman are candid and speak as insiders for a passionate racing audience.
• Generous with technical details, but always accessible and relatable.
• The episode is equal parts hard-nosed Midwest racing talk and open-book personal reflection.

For Listeners

If you’re passionate about dirt racing, racing family origins, or the science and psychology of winning, this episode is a masterclass—delving into technical, personal, and cultural aspects of the grassroots-to-pro-racing journey. Nick Hoffman’s story is proof that greatness comes from persistence, creativity, and a refusal to ever stop digging.