Herm & Schrader – "The Fastest Facial Hair in the West"
Date: March 11, 2026
Hosts: Kenny Wallace (“Herm”) & Kenny Schrader
Analyst: Dietz
Platform: Dirty Mo Media
Episode Overview
This episode of Herm & Schrader is a wide-ranging celebration of racing culture: from dissecting the latest NASCAR and IndyCar events, storytelling about past and present drivers, to commenting on mustaches, fan behaviors, and the latest motorsport controversies. As always, the two Kennys blend deep knowledge with irreverent, good-natured banter, offering a mix of analysis, reminiscence, and humor—plus a few classic racing jokes.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Catching Up and Weekend Recaps
[01:09–05:10]
- Herm is broadcasting from his mother's house in St. Louis, catching up with family and working on his race car.
- Schrader describes a jam-packed week: catching the World of Outlaws in Daytona, checking out his buddy’s bikes during Bike Week, and then heading to Golden Isles Speedway for Lucas Oil Late Model action.
- “Man, the day put on a show. Whoa. The racetrack was great. The racing was great. I played with a Crown Vic and run us little 602 car one night.” (Schrader, 04:07)
2. Phoenix NASCAR Cup Race Review
[05:40–14:00]
- Ryan Blaney’s win at Phoenix is dissected:
- Blaney overcame pit troubles twice to claw his way from the back.
- “He did a phenomenal job. Would have been a shame if he didn't win because he was the car all day.” (Schrader, 06:32)
- The hosts praise Blaney’s grounded Midwest mentality and humility.
- Dietz details Blaney’s late-model upbringing and family support.
- Emotional weight of Blaney’s first win as a parent:
- “He says, ‘I'm going home for the first time to my family, my wife and my child.’ That one hit home.” (Herm, 12:17)
- Discussion of the psychological pressures drivers face—20th out of 40 is seen as a disappointment, illustrating the ruthlessness of the sport.
3. The Era of 'The Mustache'
[15:10–16:47]
- The show humorously dwells on Blaney’s much-discussed mustache.
- “I’m gonna tell you right now, he's got the best stash since Dale Earnhardt. He looks like Sam Elliot out there.” (Dietz, 15:15)
- Stories about Earnhardt shaving his stache to go scuba diving, with Herm joking about Blaney’s look resembling a cowboy.
4. Tire Pressure Tricks & Race Strategy at Phoenix
[18:00–21:25]
- Goodyear’s pre-race warning about tire pressures is analyzed.
- Multiple drivers (notably Kyle Busch) suffered flats from pushing the limits on air pressure.
- “Lower air pressure and more camber... You can make your car turn better and stick better, but you pay a price.” (Schrader, 18:58)
- Crew chiefs play the rules, being conservative early and squeezing more in latter stages.
5. Carnage and Competitive Intensity
[21:25–26:40]
- Record number of cautions at Phoenix—blamed not on spite, but on how fiercely everyone drives for position in today’s NASCAR.
- “They were just trying to get spots... That’s how competitive the sport is.” (Herm, 21:25)
- Phoenix’s unique layout promotes chaos; Schrader explains how its multi-wide lines confuse even the pros.
- Highlight that even mid-pack is a fierce, career-defining fight.
6. Jeff Gluck’s Race Poll & NASCAR’s Momentum
[24:14–27:14]
- 85% of Jeff Gluck’s poll respondents rated Phoenix as a great race.
- The hosts discuss NASCAR’s positive momentum: big wrecks, strategy, storylines, and huge drive-through-the-field performances.
7. Recognition for Ty Gibbs
[28:33–29:50]
- Despite drama and criticism, Ty Gibbs earns praise for finishing fourth.
- “You got to be mentally strong, and I’m sure Grandpa Joe Gibbs has taught this to Ty—drown the noise out.” (Herm, 28:46)
8. Points Rundown
[27:14–28:33]
- Dietz quickly recaps Phoenix’s top 10, highlighting Blaney, Bell, Larson, and Ty Gibbs.
- Tyler Reddick leads early-season Cup points standings.
9. NASCAR & IndyCar Sharing the Stage
[31:15–37:37]
- Discussion of NASCAR and IndyCar doubleheaders at Phoenix and St. Petersburg.
- “In the United States, NASCAR Cup and IndyCar racing have got to be our two biggest series, and we can run them both together. It’s a win-win for the sport.” (Schrader, 32:54)
- Success needed buy-in from both series—helped by Roger Penske’s ownership and Fox’s stake in IndyCar.
10. State of the Sport & Fan Sentiment
[38:24–39:32]
- Noting a decline in fan complaints—Dietz considers most online complaining to be a “loud minority.”
- “I don't think it [NASCAR] was ever gone... Right now, we don't have as many complaints or we're not even looking for them.” (Schrader, 39:04)
11. O’Reilly Auto Parts Race: Justin Allgaier’s Victory
[39:55–42:10]
- Quick nod to Allgaier’s third Phoenix win, the “hard way, Midwest way”—outdueling Jesse Love.
12. Cletus McFarland’s NASCAR Approval Controversy
[43:12–50:25]
- Debate over Cletus McFarland’s rapid approval to race in the O’Reilly Series for RCR at Rockingham.
- Schrader: “I like watching Cletus... [but] he has no business being approved to run that race with the limited number of races he’s ran.” (Schrader, 43:48)
- Herm notes NASCAR either looks good (if Cletus fails, it’s proof of difficulty) or benefits from a huge audience if he succeeds/fails spectacularly.
- Dietz draws parallels to Travis Pastrana and recounts how A.J. Foyt had to pass a rookie test at Darlington.
- Schrader shares a story about Foyt’s rookie test, highlighting how standards were enforced even for legends.
13. Formula 1’s Push for Electrification
[51:55–55:45]
- A segment on Formula 1 going 50% electric, storing energy for straightaways—but drivers, including Hamilton and fans, are skeptical.
- “You have to have a college degree. And I still don't understand it. And that's the champion of all champions.” (Herm quoting Lewis Hamilton, 52:21)
- Dietz observes that F1’s promise was always about “faster, not slower” technical progress.
- Schrader cracks: “The biggest problem has got to be the extension cords.” (55:46)
14. Update: Joe Gibbs vs. Chris Gabehart Lawsuit
[55:45–57:38]
- Brief update on a real-world racing lawsuit with some soap opera flair (“as the toolbox turns”).
15. Dirt Racing Highlights
[57:38–60:23]
- Donny Schatz wins his 317th World of Outlaws race after a 510-day drought, marking victories in 29 different years.
- “Congratulations, Donnie. Sure is.” (Herm, 60:23)
- Schrader discusses his ongoing dirt racing campaign—already 15 nights in this year.
16. Classic Jokes & Sign Off
[61:32–62:22]
- Dietz runs through a rapid-fire set of dad jokes:
- “Why did the chicken cross the playground? To get to the other slide.”
- “Why did the belt get arrested? It held up a pair of pants.”
- “Did you hear about the guy who drank invisible ink? He's at the hospital waiting to be seen.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “If you’re a kid, [20th out of 40 cars] is good. Yeah, it's bad if you’re getting paid to drive the car, it's not good.” — Schrader, [13:44]
- “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink it. Same thing in racing.” — Herm, [11:32]
- “I didn’t know we were gonna spend this much time talking about mustaches.” — Schrader, [16:41]
- “He’s not famous for his racing career.” — Schrader on Cletus McFarland, [46:39]
- “I would think the biggest problem has got to be the extension cords.” — Schrader on electric F1, [55:46]
- “Herm, we play well off of each other. Some of the things I say are showmanship.” — Schrader, [39:55]
Important Timestamps
| Topic | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------|--------------| | Show kicks off | 01:00 | | Schrader’s wild week and dirt recap | 03:26 | | Phoenix NASCAR review & Blaney’s win | 05:40–14:00 | | Mustache mania | 15:10–16:47 | | Tire pressure strategy | 18:00–21:25 | | High-caution Phoenix chaos | 21:25–26:40 | | Polls & positive NASCAR momentum | 24:14–27:14 | | Ty Gibbs gets credit | 28:33–29:50 | | IndyCar–NASCAR doubleheader discussion | 31:15–37:37 | | Fans and the state of NASCAR | 38:24–39:32 | | Allgaier's Phoenix O’Reilly win | 39:55–42:10 | | Cletus McFarland controversy | 43:12–50:25 | | Formula 1 electrification debate | 51:55–55:45 | | Lawsuit update | 55:45–57:38 | | Dirt racing shoutouts | 57:38–60:23 | | Joke time! | 61:32–62:22 |
Summary Tone & Personality
The Herm & Schrader show radiates with irreverent, Midwest buddy energy—no-nonsense, humorous, and deeply knowledgeable. The hosts balance old-school wisdom and storytelling with honest, sometimes tongue-in-cheek commentary on modern racing’s trends, challenges, and characters. Perfect for racing diehards and casual fans alike.