Herm & Schrader Podcast — Episode Summary

Podcast: Herm & Schrader
Hosts: Kenny Wallace ("Herm") & Kenny Schrader (“Schrader”), with guest/producer Craig Moore
Title: Ryan Blaney Finally Earns His Loudon Lobster!
Date: September 24, 2025
Theme:
A raucous, story-stacked recap of a packed NASCAR weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway ("Loudon"), featuring Ryan Blaney’s long-awaited win, race breakdowns, industry controversies, dirt track dispatches, and classic racing banter.

Major Episode Themes

• Ryan Blaney's first career victory at Loudon and the significance of "the Loudon Lobster"
• Analysis of the race’s standout moments, car performance, and crowd energy
• Discussion on the state and momentum of NASCAR’s current playoffs
• In-depth dirt racing coverage, including sprint cars and late models
• Insider stories, listener Q&A, and the triumphant return of the show's weekly joke segment

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Welcoming Craig Moore — New Producer/Sidekick (03:04–05:41)

• Craig Moore (MRN senior producer, audio engineer) joins the podcast, bringing racing production chops and deep NASCAR experience.
• Brief introductions and fun banter about race shop history and MRN's move to the NASCAR production facility.

“There he is. I call him the great Craig Moore, because... they don't keep people that long if they're not very good.” — Herm (05:24)

Race Weekend Recaps

Schrader & Herm’s Racing Weekends (06:29–08:21)

• Both hosts recount rainouts and racing at Benton, Missouri; laughs about being “first loser” (P2), and love for lobster—Herm self-confessedly opts for the “lazy man’s lobster” in Loudon.
• Anecdotes about lobster’s “rags-to-riches” evolution:

"It was a poor man's meal years and years ago... Now, if you go up there, the locals, literally... are you crazy? That stuff’s too expensive." — Herm (08:21)

New Hampshire Race Review

Record Crowds & Excitement (09:10–11:43)

• Huge turnout: 5,000 for the dirt race, 21,000 for Saturday’s NASCAR event.

“Chase Briscoe said... that was the biggest Saturday crowd I've seen in my NASCAR career.” — Herm (10:01)

Racing Quality Surging (09:07–13:11)

• The unexpected: cars 3-, 4-, even 5-wide on Loudon’s traditionally single-groove track.
• Track, tires, and current car package credited for “phenomenal” competition.
• “Yellow cars”—Penske’s Blaney, Logano, Berry—dominated, all running upfront.

“Like, who in the hell would have ever thought you'd see cars three and four wide at Loudoun?” — Schrader (09:10)

“This was funny, you know. In our day... All the teams started saying the yellow cars... those yellow cars are fast today.” — Herm (13:48)

Penske Performance: The Blaney–Logano–Berry Show (13:48–15:20)

• Joey Logano, as usual, draws ire from competitors; Josh Berry and Blaney part of the "yellow car" swarm.
• “Cedric finished 17th” — near full Penske sweep.

The Loudon Lobster & Blaney's Joy (18:02–20:03)

• Blaney fulfilled a childhood dream, finally grasping the literal “Loudon lobster” trophy, a quirky New Hampshire tradition.
• The lobster is presented alive in Victory Lane but later transformed into a wall-mounted trophy.
• Past winner Kurt Busch recounted his odd experience with the lobster.

“Blaney says he's been wanting to hold that effing lobster for 30 years. He's a kid, you know... He's the only driver I know... that really wants to hold that lobster. Everybody else is afraid of it.” — Herm (18:02)

Playoff Picture & Stage Points (20:20–25:20)

• Top 10 rundown post-Loudon (21:05):

  1. Ryan Blaney
  2. Josh Berry
  3. William Byron
  4. Joey Logano
  5. Chase Elliott
  6. Christopher Bell
  7. Kyle Larson
  8. Michael McDowell
  9. Ross Chastain
  10. Chase Briscoe

• Chase Briscoe earns fourth consecutive top 10 (21:05).

• Emphasis on stage points: how crucial they are for playoff advancement.  

“Those stage points sure do get important.” — Schrader (24:42)

Ty Gibbs vs. Denny Hamlin: “Team Orders?” (25:20–28:38)

• Recap: Denny Hamlin, hunting a title, battles teammate Ty Gibbs and finally “Harry Gants” him (a gentle bump), expressing frustration with Gibbs’ refusal to yield.
• Anticipation about how this will play out with Joe Gibbs (both Ty’s grandfather and Hamlin’s boss) in the Monday team meeting.

“He [Denny] just barely put that bumper there and said, kid, you're pissing me off.” — Herm (25:59)

“I'd like to know how that one's going to work out because it's a little different when it's grandson of the owner.” — Schrader (27:05)

Keselowski’s “Hail Mary” Move (29:45–31:10)

• Brad Keselowski attempts a bold move, thinking he could “make it stick” four wide off Turn 2; the gap closes and chaos follows.
• Herm reflects on his own memories of Schrader passing entire rows at Loudon daringly on the outside, “because everybody was afraid to go to the top except you.”

“I can make it, I can make it. I mean, I know what he—I've—we've all thought like that before... and then you get in there, it's like, oh, heck, I shouldn't have done this.” — Schrader (30:21)

Truck, Modifieds & Future Talent Watch (31:58–36:14)

• Corey Heim earns ninth Truck win in a year, tying Greg Biffle’s record.
• Speculation: Heim’s Cup future, no room at 23XI—“all you gotta do is get rid of somebody” if a top prospect arrives.
• Major praise from Denny Hamlin:

“...the most mature driver for his age that he’s ever witnessed.” — Herm (34:32)

• Modified race: wild finishes, famed 3-car's history.
• Huge, energized crowds; Loudon “now feels like party central,” reflecting broader NASCAR event programming upgrades.

Dirt Racing Dispatch (36:36–51:08)

• Steve Kinser’s Biography: Kenny Schrader wrote the foreword. Heartfelt admiration for Kinser’s pioneering role and the stories recounted (“hard to put down”).
• Wing Nation: Craig Moore spotlights MRN’s long-running, sprint-focused podcast.
• Sprint and Late Model News:
  • Rico Abreu replaces Donny Schatz in Tony Stewart’s sprint car for 2026; signals end of an 18-year owner-driver partnership.
  • Outlaw sprint race at Tulare pays $83k to win; Lucas Oil late models at Knoxville pay $75k—biggest dirt purses ever.
• State of the Sport:
  • Multiple healthy national sprint and late model series; record purses and fan turnout.
  • Discussion on how costs and payouts have increased, but the racing “is stronger than ever.”

“Sprint car is healthy though, don't you think, Craig? ... It’s the healthiest it’s ever been, in my opinion.” — Herm & Craig (50:02–50:07)

"The race is the excuse you get to use to, to get all the people to come. Yeah, but you got to have more to keep them entertained." — Schrader (37:49)

Memorable Quotes & Banter

• “We're always honest.” — Schrader (02:42)
• “It's the same thing every year.” — Schrader (49:28)
• “No one's running real fast at the start, you could do it at Loudon in Martinsville... now they just do it all the time.” — Schrader (30:50–31:10)
• “All you gotta do is get rid of somebody. Somebody. I mean—no, I don't mean [only] 23XI, any team! ...People quit and owner make a decision, he doesn't want them back. The driver make decision, doesn't want them back...” — Schrader (34:00)

Listener Q&A, Stories, and the "Joke" Segment (58:09–60:05)

• The show closes, as always, with gently groan-worthy, irreverent jokes sourced from listeners and the crew.
  • Example: “Why do blondes carry red pens?... In case they have to draw blood.” (58:18)
  • Herm’s favorite: “I could fart in my pocket and still not have a scent.” (59:18)

Notable Moments & Timestamps

• Craig Moore Introduction – 03:04
• Lobster & Crowd Energy – 07:50 / 10:01
• Race Quality (“three and four wide” at Loudon) – 09:10
• Penske Sweep & “Yellow Cars” – 13:48
• Blaney Gets His Lobster – 18:02
• Stage Points Discussion – 24:42
• Gibbs vs. Hamlin Team Drama – 25:20
• Keselowski’s Four-Wide Attempt – 29:45
• Future Talent Spotlight (Heim, Zilisch) – 31:58
• Steve Kinser Book/Volusia Tales – 39:11/54:39
• Sprint/Late Model Purse Talk – 53:17
• Joke Segment – 58:09

Tone & Takeaways

• Honest, playful, and deeply authentic—Herm and Schrader pull no punches, mixing in technical insights with storytelling and plenty of ribbing.
• Blaney’s Loudon win was a feel-good headline; the NASCAR scene, by all accounts, is thriving—crowds are back, the product is great, new talent is emerging, and tradition is alive and well.
• The episode is a love letter to racing, from top-tier stock cars to “dirt warrior” legends, told with the kind of warmth and personality that only two Kennys and their racing family could deliver.