Herm & Schrader Podcast: "We're Still Racing...Right?"

Episode Date: February 4, 2026
Hosts: Kenny Wallace (“Herm”) & Ken Schrader, with Alan Dietz
Produced by Dirty Mo Media / SiriusXM

Episode Overview

In this episode, Kenny Wallace and Kenny Schrader (with regular contributor Alan Dietz) sit down together in Ormond Beach, Florida, to talk about current racing events—especially the wild weather affecting racing schedules and the ongoing action at Volusia Speedway. They dive into racing stories, reflect on changes in motorsports culture, and hilariously debate the future of NASCAR events, IndyCar's big DC race, and Tony Stewart’s renewed interest in NASCAR. The tone throughout is light, candid, irreverent, and full of midwestern racing wisdom.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Scene: Weather and Volusia Speedweeks

• Ormond Beach Unseasonable Weather: The show opens with the hosts at Rusty Wallace’s Ormond Beach house, commiserating over “feel like” temperatures and rare Florida cold fronts disturbing race activities.
  • Schrader: “They have that every place, Kenny… I don’t go by that. I go by whatever the thermometer says.” (03:02)
• Volusia Speedway Early Struggles:
  • Schrader recounts struggling to get his car up to speed, with Tom Berry lending help.
  • High winds and cold wreak havoc with the ASCS Sprint Cars, causing flips and ultimately postponement of races.
  • Herm on the impact: “My god, it felt like 70 mile an hour gust at time.” (06:12)
  • RTJ (Ricky Thornton Jr.) crashed uncharacteristically, prompting the hosts to discuss how wind affects racing, especially with big sprint car wings.

The Florida Racing Shuffle & Lost Tracks Conversation

• East Bay Closure Impact: Alan Dietz asks whether cars formerly at East Bay have migrated to Altec or elsewhere.
• Track Scheduling Shifts:
  • Herm and Schrader discuss how new tracks like Needmore and Hendry County are stepping up to fill the East Bay void.
  • Noted that “Hunt the Front” was forced to cancel events due to challenges.

Bowman Gray & NASCAR: Scheduling Chaos and TV Influence

• Bowman Gray Weather Woes:

  • The team discusses ongoing delays at the famed track, with Alan Dietz noting, “It almost feels like now they’re trying to prove a point. But I still think the race should be in Daytona.”

• Debate Over Scheduling Around TV and the Super Bowl:

  • Schrader on who calls the shots: “...wherever the TV people are, because TV runs our sports now. And that’s a good thing...”
  • Herm: “...you got Eric Shanks, my old boss, the president of Fox...they got a little thing going on called the Super Bowl...”
  • Repeated refrain: “Why?”—echoing Herm’s late father and urging transparency in NASCAR’s decision making.

• NASCAR's 120% Ticket Refund/Credit:

  • Schrader lauds NASCAR’s unusual offer of a 120% credit for rained-out fans (excluding Daytona 500): “In most races it’s like next clear day, if you couldn’t stay, I’m sorry...here they are giving 120% refund.” (20:11)

IndyCar’s D.C. Street Race & Racing as American Celebration

• IndyCar to Race in D.C.: Both Kennys reflect on Roger Penske, the executive order background, and the spectacle of racing in front of the White House.
  • “Celebrating American greatness with American motor racing. And Kenny, I think that’s what’s most important.” – Herm (25:52)
  • Alan Dietz supplies fun trivia: Last organized race in DC was in 1801—a horse race with Thomas Jefferson as president! (27:43)
  • “How come your hair’s not all screwed up like it is when you do that other stuff?” Schrader ribs Herm (24:54)

Turning NASCAR Events into Entertainment Experiences

• Ben Kennedy’s Vision:
  • Herm shares Ben Kennedy’s comments about transforming NASCAR races into weekend festivals modeled after events like F1’s city experiences and St. Louis’s Confluence Music Festival.
  • Schrader: “When the race is a lot more than just the race. It’s an event and there’s other things to do.” (31:10)
• Ballpark Village Example:
  • Wallace shares how MLB’s Ballpark Village offers pre-game entertainment, implying NASCAR is moving that direction for fan engagement.
• Alan Dietz’s “Blue Collar” Plea:
  • “Cater to your blue collar fans… It doesn’t need to be, you know, Guy Fieri, it needs to be Hardee’s or Bojangles. And that’s where NASCAR I think has to get over itself.” (36:57)

Drivers Returning: Tony Stewart & (Maybe) Kevin Harvick in NASCAR Trucks

• Tony Stewart’s Return:

  • Claire B. Lang reports Stewart is “happily surprised and warming back up to NASCAR” (42:59), despite previous tensions. He will pilot a Ram truck at Daytona as part of a new All-Star truck lineup.
  • “I guarantee you he will be thrilled at lap 20...and some 17 year old kid’s pushing him...but it’s neat. Anything Tony does, Tony coming back is fantastic.” – Schrader (43:01)

• Harvick Rumors:

  • Hosts are unsurprised at rumors Kevin Harvick might return part-time in the new Ram “superstar truck.”
  • Schrader: “Hell, yes. And I can see Kevin running real good too.” (45:38)
  • Herm affirms Stellantis's smart marketing, praising the investment behind the new return.

Dirt Racing Highlights

Tyler "Sunshine" Courtney's Comeback

• Emotional Win: Tyler Courtney returns from a severe Eldora crash, wins his first 360 Wing Sprint Car race back, and then a dramatic follow-up win the next night.
  • “He put a good whooping on ‘em the first night...the second night, that was big...he’s been fabulous and the ASCS cars have put on a fantastic show.” – Schrader (51:17)
• Support and Solidarity: Herm describes hugging Courtney post-race: “I put my rental car in park. I got out and I gave...I literally gave him a hug. I said, ‘That was big. Are you relieved now?’” (52:44)

Volusia & Modifieds Action

• Ricky Thornton Jr.’s unusual crash attributed to high winds. Charlie Medford, a young phenom, wins a major modified event. Herm notes, “It’s been good for me and I’m excited.” (54:28)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On TV’s Power Over Racing Schedules:
  Schrader: “TV runs our sports now, and that’s a good thing. That’s not all bad, because what it brings to our sport.” (14:05)

• On New NASCAR Refund Policy:
  Schrader: “Here they are giving 120% refund. I think that’s just showing that they care...” (21:12)

• On IndyCar’s D.C. Race:
  Wallace: “Let’s celebrate auto racing. I don’t care what it is. This is my opinion. It’s look, it’s going to be racing...” (27:00)

• On NASCAR Events As Festivals:
  Dietz: “Cater to your blue collar fans... if you’re going to have a mobile restaurant like a formula one race, it doesn’t need to be Guy Fieri… it needs to be Hardee’s or Bojangles…” (36:57)

• On Tony Stewart's Return:
  Schrader: “Tony talking good about our sport is good for our sport, you know.” (44:06)

Humorous Moments

• Herm’s “Show Hair” Confession:
  • Schrader pokes fun at Herm’s styled hair, leading to a running gag. (24:54)
• Dad Jokes Segment (58:01-59:02):
  • Alan Dietz delivers several groan-worthy dad jokes to end the episode on a light note. For instance:
    • “What do you call an angry carrot?”
    • “A steamed veggie.”

Important Timestamps

• 03:02 – Weather struggles at Volusia & the impact on racing
• 07:32 – Ricky Thornton Jr. crash & wind chaos
• 13:21 – Debate on the NASCAR Bowman Gray schedule & TV influence
• 20:11 – NASCAR’s 120% ticket refund/credit
• 23:43 – IndyCar announces D.C. race; Penske at the White House
• 31:10 – Discussion of NASCAR events as festivals
• 36:57 – Alan Dietz's call for blue collar fan focus
• 42:59 – Tony Stewart's "warmer" return to NASCAR
• 45:38 – Harvick possibly returning in the Ram truck
• 51:17 – Tyler Courtney’s emotional dirt comeback
• 58:01-59:02 – Dad joke interlude

Overall Tone & Closing

Herm & Schrader never take themselves too seriously—even as they offer an insider, real-racer’s perspective. The show is unscripted, irreverent, and full of genuine affection for their racing community. Whether it’s dissecting the politics behind NASCAR’s rain delays or ribbing each other about their hair, every segment remains conversational and relatable, with a healthy sprinkling of beer-and-barstool wisdom.

For More

• Catch Herm & Schrader weekly on Dirty Mo Media, YouTube, and SiriusXM.
• Upcoming Events Plugged:
  • New Smyrna World Series (Feb 6-14, 2026)
  • Florence Motor Speedway Icebreaker (Feb 7, 2026)
• Find show photos, merch, and bonus content: shop.dirtymomedia.com
• Connect on Social: Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram @DirtyMoMedia

(Skipped all advertisements, intros, and outros as instructed; content and tone preserved.)