Podcast Summary: Herm & Schrader

Episode: Tyler Reddick's 3-Peat Take NASCAR Mainstream

Date: March 4, 2026
Hosts: Kenny Wallace ("Herman"), Ken Schrader, with Dietz
Production: SiriusXM, Dirty Mo Media

Overview

This lively, irreverent, and story-packed episode dives deep into the historic feat of Tyler Reddick winning the first three NASCAR Cup Series races of the season—a never-before-seen accomplishment in the sport's 77 years. Wallace and Schrader, lifelong racers and Midwest personalities, mix personal tales, sharp racing insights, nostalgia, and plenty of good-natured ribbing while examining what Reddick's 3-peat means for NASCAR's momentum and mainstream appeal. Themes include the sport’s evolution (from mechanics to engineers), the impact of celebrity ownership (and Michael Jordan in particular), generational change among drivers, crossover with IndyCar, and reflections on grassroots racing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tyler Reddick's 3-Peat: Unprecedented NASCAR History

[06:08–08:15]

• Main theme: Tyler Reddick wins the first three NASCAR races of the year—a record.
• Schrader’s take: "You don't win those races because you're lucky. You position yourself in the right spot... yesterday he outran the best we got. Class of the field. Just the fastest. It was neat to see." (Schrader, 06:52)
• Respect for how Reddick overcame car troubles at Atlanta and still won.
• SVG (Shane Van Gisbergen) was chasing his own record, but Reddick stole the headlines.
• Wallace: marvels at the history, sets the tone for the show: “In the 77-year history of NASCAR, no one has ever done what Tyler Reddick has done.” (Wallace, 06:08)

2. NASCAR's Momentum & Circuit of the Americas (COTA) Crowd

[08:15–11:42]

• Wallace highlights: Record COTA crowd; tickets bought from 47 states and 10 countries.
• Dietz: Points to excitement in season openers, Michael Jordan’s involvement, and the short track at COTA making racing more fan friendly.
• **Wallace sees NASCAR as “on a roll,” noting the mainstream draw.

3. Michael Jordan’s Mainstream Impact

[10:56–12:53]

• Wallace: Notes celebrity turnout, social media buzz, and ESPN’s increased NASCAR coverage because of Jordan's engagement.
• Schrader: “He’s the most famous athlete in the world ... people pay attention to him. ... It brings a lot of attention to our sport, but, you know, one person doesn’t make or break anything. ... It goes in cycles.” (Schrader, 11:42)
• Tension between hype and veteran realism—Schrader warns of boom/bust cycles in racing’s popularity.

4. Denny Hamlin’s Role & Team 23XI

[16:00–17:09]

• Wallace: Quotes Michael Jordan: “It’s all Denny Hamlin. All I do is supply the money. Denny picked Tyler Reddick and the crew chief.”
• Schrader: “Now we’re keeping points for the total of the year ... come November, we’ll decide how good their year was, but it’s off to a phenomenal start.” (Schrader, 16:46)

5. Pit Lane Evolution: From Mechanics to Engineers

[17:09–22:22]

• Wallace: “NASCAR’s almost like Formula One… we don’t have mechanics anymore, we have engineers.” (Wallace, 17:09)
• **NASCAR execs remark on the technological shift—cars are worked on via laptops, not hammers.
• Schrader’s old-school pushback: “All it does is run the cost up. Makes your car faster—oh, wait, all the other cars got it too. ... NASCAR has screwed themselves in letting the teams do all that bull.” (Schrader, 18:36)
• Jokes about generators and WiFi—team independence at racetracks.
• Notable moment: Schrader’s rare animated rant about the cost and complexity, Wallace points this out humorously. (Wallace, 19:56)

6. COTA’s Atmosphere & Fan Experience

[21:31–25:54]

• Wallace: Vivid scene-setting: “All the pretty girls...doing social media...a really good vibe down there. Did they show it on TV?” (Wallace, 21:29)
• Dietz: Notes Austin’s unique, casual crowd, the difference from F1, appeals of NASCAR’s bolder racing (multi-wide, lots of contact).
• Wallace: COTA building a mini-Six Flags inside the track—“there is this vibe … these are events now; it’s a train coming and we might as well get out of the way.” (Wallace, 25:54)
• Schrader: Praises the facility, upward-sweeping first turn, and overall spectacle.

7. Race Rundown & Points Standings

[28:09–32:25]

• Dietz: Top 10 Finishers at COTA, current points leaders:
  • 1st: Tyler Reddick (3rd straight win)
  • 2nd: Shane Van Gisbergen
  • Notables: Ty Gibbs 4th, Bubba Wallace 2nd in points, 2311 Racing 1-2 after three races.
• Wallace & Schrader:
  • Bubba’s three straight top 10s.
  • Points "matter again”—more traditional storylines emerging.
  • Schrader: “2311 being first and second in points, that’s big. SVG being up there ... everybody’s mixed in.” (Schrader, 29:41)
• Dietz: “First off, we care about the points again. ... The last years I couldn’t have told you what the points were...But now, with no win-and-you’re-in, consistent good runs matter again.” (Dietz, 31:17)

8. The Next Generation & Apologies in Racing

[27:28–35:32]

• SVG wins O’Reilly Auto Parts race; kids like Corey Day and Connor Zilich are stealing the show with aggressive, emotional driving.
• Debate about apologies after on-track incidents:
  • “You’re going to have to toughen up. ... That’s just part of the deal. If he’s waiting for apologies, man, wait till it gets to Martinsville.” (Schrader, 27:28)
  • Wallace & Schrader reflect on generational change in expectations.
  • “I’m amazed and confused that we’re even talking about someone apologizing...” (Schrader, 34:02)

9. Physical Demands & Climate in Modern Cars

[35:32–36:29]

• Wallace: “It was very hot down there...Alex Bowman’s young and I don’t know why, but... Ricky Stenhouse’s cool suit never gave him an issue, but even Kyle Larson’s like ‘I lost my water bottle’.”
• Schrader: Notes need for forced air and cool suits with modern, tightly-sealed, aerodynamic cars.

10. NASCAR–IndyCar Weekend & Truck Series Crossovers

[37:19–43:36]

• Nostalgia: Fox's cross-promotion of NASCAR and IndyCar—“just like the '80s.”
• **Praise for Lane Riggs winning the trucks, Lane’s dad Scott Riggs, Joey Hand's influence helping Ford drivers on road courses.
• Dietz: Fans today are more likely to cross over between IndyCar and NASCAR than ever before: “Every time you turn around, you see NASCAR guys making comments on X...NASCAR and IndyCar fans are closer now than ever.” (Dietz, 38:27)
• **Jimmy Johnson’s Legacy footprint and European-style hospitality compounds at races.

11. ARCA Series Shoutouts & Female Drivers

[45:17–47:32]

• Wallace & Schrader: Celebrate Jade Avedisian—“She sets quick time and finishes eighth and doesn’t wreck.” (Wallace, 45:43)
• **Recognition of ARCA’s grassroots importance; Bill McAnally’s longstanding involvement in the West Series.

12. Old-School Legends: Bill Elliott & Mario Andretti

[47:57–56:58]

• Bill Elliott at 70: Wins vintage stock car race at Sebring, using Chase Elliott’s old car.
  • “You should see the victory lane. It looked like three 80-year-old guys and it was wonderful...” (Wallace, 49:17)
• Dietz: Reflection on generational fandom and what legends like Bill Elliott mean for fans across decades.
• **Deep dive into Mario Andretti’s early career, crossover brilliance (dirt, stock cars, F1), and remarkable longevity.
• Closing humor: “How did them guys live through that? ... It wasn’t what they were eating, it was those cars.” (Schrader, 53:41)

13. Dirt Track Update & Closing Banter

[56:58–end]

• Hudson O’Neal wins at Ocala, Florida; Lucas Oil race preview.
• **Signoff features classic ‘dad jokes’ from the crew—showing the signature Herm & Schrader humor and camaraderie.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Reddick’s hot streak: "Plain old outran them all day. Class of the field. ... Just the fastest. It was neat to see." (Schrader, 06:52)
• On NASCAR’s mainstream moment: "Michael Jordan's athletic friends are now piling on the bandwagon...of course I'm on social media...it sure helps our sport when Michael Jordan's great athletic friends are at the track..." (Wallace, 10:56)
• On NASCAR’s technological evolution: "We don't have mechanics anymore. We have engineers." (Wallace quoting a NASCAR exec, 17:09)
• On cyclical nature of racing's popularity: "Everything's just like it's always been. It goes in cycles." (Schrader, 11:42)
• Old-school vs. new school: "I'm amazed and confused that we're even talking about someone apologizing to someone. We put helmets on and got in the cars. Stuff's gonna happen." (Schrader, 34:02)
• Nostalgic delight: "I ain't watched Bill [Elliott] run a race in 10 years. And I feel just as excited as I did the last time I watched him race." (Dietz, 49:29)
• On legends surviving the dangerous eras: "How in the hell did them guys live through that? The era they went through..." (Schrader on Mario Andretti/A.J. Foyt, 53:41)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Tyler Reddick’s 3-peat historic win: 06:08–08:15
• NASCAR’s momentum & COTA crowd: 08:15–11:42
• Michael Jordan’s impact: 10:56–12:53
• Field technology & “no mechanics, only engineers”: 17:09–22:22
• COTA’s event atmosphere: 21:31–25:54
• COTA race rundown & points: 28:09–32:25
• Generation change & apologies: 27:28–35:32
• NASCAR/IndyCar crossover: 37:19–43:36
• ARCA & female driver spotlight: 45:17–47:32
• Bill Elliott at Sebring, Mario Andretti legends: 47:57–56:58
• Dirt late models & wrap-up: 56:58–end

Tone & Language

• Colloquial, funny, candid—true to the midwestern charm of Wallace and Schrader
• Lots of ribbing and laughs, but sharp insights on the sport’s business, technology, and shifting mainstream relevance.

For Listeners Who Missed the Show

This episode is essential for anyone who wants to understand why Tyler Reddick's 3-peat is such a big deal, and how it reflects NASCAR's current surge in popularity, technological evolution, and cultural status—helped in no small part by Michael Jordan’s presence. Whether it’s nostalgia for old-school racing, analysis of the new breed of stars, observations about pit lane wizardry, or the simple joy of racing legends in their twilight years, Herm & Schrader deliver both wisdom and laughter. Expect stories you won’t find anywhere else, strong opinions, and moments that are as hilarious as they are insightful.