Podcast
Racers Unchained with Paul Tracy
Hosted by RACER Podcasts · EN
”Racers Unchained with Paul Tracy” is an interview show hosted by IndyCar champion Paul Tracy. With 31 career victories and a reputation for intensity both on and off the track, Tracy brings his signature no-holds-barred approach as he sits down with top names from motorsports and beyond, pulling back the curtain on the moments fans never got to hear – until now. Each episode delivers insider access and candor that only a racer like Tracy can provide, exploring the sport’s past, present, and future with his trademark candor and curiosity.
24episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Mika Salo: Racing Through a Collapsed Lung and Still Landing on the Podium | Racers Unchained
Mar 1900:46:57Tap to summarizeMika Salo joins Racers Unchained and proves just how far a driver will go to compete. On race day in Miami, Salo was driving down from Fort Lauderdale when his lung collapsed—a recurring issue that had followed him since his Formula 3000 days in Japan. Struggling to breathe and unsure if he could even start, he made the call to race anyway. The result? A podium finish. From freezing winters in Finland to wheel-to-wheel battles across Formula 1, sports cars, and beyond, Salo reflects on a career that spans nearly every discipline in motorsport. He shares stories from his early karting days—starting at just five years old—through dominating Finnish and Scandinavian championships, to his rivalry with fellow Finn Mika Häkkinen as they climbed the ranks in Formula Ford and British F3. The conversation covers the realities of racing before the internet era, the challenges of losing a full year to military service, and the pivotal decision to race in Japan during a time when it was packed with top-tier talent. Salo also looks back on his endurance racing success, including wins at Le Mans, Sebring, and Spa, and what it takes to adapt across so many different types of race cars. This episode is a deep dive into resilience, old-school racing grit, and a career built on doing whatever it takes to stay in the fight. #MikaSalo #RacersUnchained #Motorsport #Formula1 #LeMans24 #RacingLife #PaulTracy
Transcribe →
Tony Stewart Unfiltered: Crashes, NASCAR Politics, & Life After Racing Full-Time | Racers Unchained
Mar 500:49:31Tap to summarizeTony Stewart joins Racers Unchained for a wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation about the biggest moments of his legendary career — from terrifying crashes and IndyCar speeds to NASCAR politics and life after racing full-time. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, 1997 IndyCar champion, and NASCAR Hall of Famer reflects on the wildest stories from his career, including the most violent crash he ever experienced, the brutal sprint car injury that changed his life, and the behind-the-scenes reality of racing at the highest levels of motorsport. Stewart also opens up about his transition from IndyCar to NASCAR, the business and politics behind the sport, and how his perspective has changed now that he’s a team owner, husband, and father. 00:00 Tony Stewart’s Most Violent Crash 01:12 Tony Stewart’s Legendary Racing Career 02:42 How Tony Stewart Got Started Racing 08:39 First IndyCar Test at Indianapolis 12:45 Why Tony Stewart Chose NASCAR Over IndyCar 15:05 The Crash That Broke “Everything” 22:52 IndyCar vs NASCAR: “Jetsons to Flintstones” 24:06 NASCAR Politics Behind the Scenes 31:34 Championship Formats & The Playoff Debate 37:06 Tony Stewart’s Fix for NASCAR’s Playoffs 38:48 Life After Racing Full-Time 43:16 The Scariest Cars to Crash Check out racer.com/bundle for an exclusive RACER+ and magazine offer! Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQ Follow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/ Follow RACER Network on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer_network/ Follow host Paul Tracy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/paultracyofficial/
Transcribe →
From Joyriding at 13 to 5-Time Trans-Am Champ Paul Gentilozzi | Racers Unchained
Feb 1900:49:34Tap to summarizeThis week on Racers Unchained, Paul Tracy sits down with legendary Trans-Am icon Paul Gentilozzi for one of the wildest origin stories you’ll ever hear. Before the championships. Before the Daytona wins. Before the Hall of Fame. There were midnight “borrowed” cars, 4-speed joyrides, and a 13-year-old kid who couldn’t wait to drive anything with wheels. Paul Gentilozzi takes us through: * The rainy race where he grabbed the lead… only to spin multiple times and end up six feet off the ground in a tree 🌧️🌲 * The heated on-track rivalry (and championship battle) with Tommy Kendall * Why being “just a driver” matters more than labels * His early drag racing days at Onondaga Dragway * The moment his dad caught him red-handed at McDonald’s with shoe-polish race numbers on the windshield With: 🏆 5 Trans-Am championships 🏁 31 Trans-Am wins 🏎 11 IMSA victories ⏱ 2 overall wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona 🏅 Hall of Fame Trans-Am status Paul Gentilozzi proves that racing greatness isn’t manufactured — it’s wired in from the beginning. Raw stories. Real rivalries. Zero filters. This is Racers Unchained. #RacersUnchained #PaulGentilozzi #TransAmRacing #IMSA #MotorsportsLegends #RoadRacing #Daytona24 #RacingStories #PaulTracy
Transcribe →
From Schumacher’s Crashed Wheel to the World’s Greatest Collection | Darren Jack Unchained
Feb 500:49:35Tap to summarizeWhat do you do when you find Michael Schumacher’s damaged wheel sitting in the trash after practice at Belgian Grand Prix? If you’re Darren L. Jack… you haul it three miles through the woods and take it home. In this episode of Racers Unchained, Paul Tracy sits down with the man behind Hall of Fame Collection — the world’s largest motorsports memorabilia collection — to unpack how a kid sneaking into paddocks became the most trusted name in race-used history. From camping outside San Marino Grand Prix at age four…to collecting debris at Isle of Man TT…to building relationships with legends across Formula 1 and IndyCar Series… This is a story about obsession, hustle, and spotting history before anyone else realizes it matters. They also dive into:• The wild early days of sneaking into F1 paddocks• How race-used gear went from trash to treasure• Building a global memorabilia empire• Fitness, discipline, and staying “race ready”• Lessons learned from icons like Nigel Mansell, Ayrton Senna, and Mario Andretti• Why authenticity matters more than hype If you love racing stories, paddock lore, and the kind of behind-the-scenes history fans never hear… this one’s gold. #RacersUnchained #MotorsportMemorabilia #Formula1 #IndyCar #MichaelSchumacher#RacingHistory #HallOfFameCollection #CarCulture #MotorsportLife https://offers.racer.com/subscribe for RACER+ and magazine offer! Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQ Follow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/ Follow RACER Network on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer_network/ Follow host Paul Tracy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/paultracyofficial/ Follow guest Darren Jack on IG: @daz_jack @halloffamecollection
Transcribe →
Justin Marks on Commitment, Chaos, and Building Trackhouse Racing | Racers Unchained
Jan 1500:49:28Tap to summarizeJustin Marks joins Paul Tracy on Racers Unchained for a wide-ranging conversation about driving on the edge, taking risks, and building something different in modern motorsports. Marks recounts the moment that changed his driving approach forever — committing flat-out into Turn 1 — and how that same mindset carried through his career. From growing up as a racing fan with no karting background, to starting at Skip Barber, winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona, racing NASCAR, and ultimately founding Trackhouse Racing, Marks breaks down what it really takes to make it in the sport. The discussion also dives into the controlled chaos of Trackhouse Racing: wild races, hard crashes, bold drivers, and why Marks wouldn’t trade the journey for anything. It’s an honest look at confidence, fear, commitment, and doing racing your own way. #RACERpodcast #JustinMarks #TrackhouseRacing #PaulTracy #Motorsports #NASCAR #IMSA #Rolex24 #RoadRacing #Racing 🎧 Subscribe to Racers Unchained Follow Justin Marks: https://www.instagram.com/realmarksjustin https://offers.racer.com/subscribe for RACER+ and magazine offer! Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQ Follow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/ Follow RACER Network on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer_network/ Follow host Paul Tracy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/paultracyofficial/
Transcribe →
Mark Martin on What NASCAR Got Wrong and Building Better Cars | Racers Unchained
Jan 100:49:40Tap to summarizeNASCAR icon Mark Martin joins Paul Tracy on Racers Unchained for a wide-ranging, brutally honest conversation about racing, confidence, aging, and the evolution of the sport. With 40 Cup wins, 49 Xfinity wins, five IROC championships, and inductions into both the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Motorsports Hall of Fame, Mark reflects on what truly made him competitive—not raw aggression, but building a better race car. Mark opens up about: Why he knew it was time to walk away from driving Getting back behind the wheel at Laguna Seca years after retirement How processing speed and confidence define elite drivers His deep involvement in car setup during his years at Roush Racing The shift from “eyeball engineering” to simulation-driven racing What he believes NASCAR got wrong with the Next Gen car Why closer fields don’t always mean better racing The importance of cars looking right to fans Follow Paul Tracy:https://www.instagram.com/paultracyofficial Follow Mark Martin: https://www.instagram.com/1markmartin 📺 Brought to you by RACER and racer.com, the trusted voice in motorsport news. Stream WRC, Dakar, DTM, BTCC, Le Mans, WorldSBK, Crandon Off-Road, Isle of Man TT, and more with RACER Plus — and get a full year of RACER Magazine. 👉 Visit racer.com/bundle to fuel up. 🔔 Subscribe to The RACER Channel for more exclusive motorsports interviews! Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQ Follow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/ Follow RACER Network on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ racer_network #PaulTracy #Racing #Motorsports #nascar #MarkMartin
Transcribe →
200+ MPH Down Mulsanne — Bill Auberlen on Le Mans, BMW, and a 30-Year Career | Racers Unchained with Paul Tracy
Dec 1800:49:24Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Racers Unchained with Paul Tracy, Bill Auberlen walks through a career that began in Southern California motocross, jumped straight into endurance racing, and turned into a 30-year factory relationship with BMW. From prototypes and GT cars to Le Mans, Daytona, and everything in between, this is a rare, firsthand look at what longevity at the top really looks like. They talk about: What Le Mans feels like at 200+ mph down the Mulsanne Driving the McLaren F1 Longtail and BMW prototypes Choosing BMW over an IndyCar opportunity Switching between prototype and GT cars—sometimes in the same weekend Why certain cars make you feel unbeatable Developing young talent and staying relevant across decades Follow Paul Tracy:https://www.instagram.com/paultracyofficial Follow Bill Auberlen:https://www.instagram.com/billauberlen 📺 Brought to you by RACER and racer.com, the trusted voice in motorsport news. Stream WRC, Dakar, DTM, BTCC, Le Mans, WorldSBK, Crandon Off-Road, Isle of Man TT, and more with RACER Plus — and get a full year of RACER Magazine. 👉 Visit racer.com/bundle to fuel up. 🔔 Subscribe to The RACER Channel for more exclusive motorsports interviews! Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQ Follow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/ Follow RACER Network on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ racer_network #PaulTracy #Racing #Motorsports #BillAuberlen #BMWMotorsport#BMW #indycar #enduranceracing #Rolex24 #IMSA #sportscars #WEC#LeMans #formulaone #f1
Transcribe →
Cristiano da Matta on His Deer Crash & Racing Comeback | Racers Unchained w/ Paul Tracy
Dec 400:49:26Tap to summarizeOn this episode of Racers Unchained, Paul Tracy sits down with former IndyCar and Formula One star Cristiano da Matta for an honest and emotional conversations in series history. Cristiano opens up about the terrifying deer-on-track accident that nearly took his life, what he remembers from that moment, and the long road that followed. The two old friends reunite after almost 20 years and dive into: - Cristiano’s memories from the deer incident - The feeling of winning again after years away - Growing up in Brazil with a legendary racing-champion father - His late start in karting at 16 - The rapid rise through Formula Ford, F3, Indy Lights, and Champ Car - Joining Newman/Haas and the dominant 2002 season - The evolution of IndyCar—from high-freedom development to today’s spec era - How racing shaped both their lives on and off the track 📺 Brought to you by RACER and racer.com, the trusted voice in motorsport news. Stream WRC, Dakar, DTM, BTCC, Le Mans, WorldSBK, Crandon Off-Road, Isle of Man TT, and more with RACER Plus — and get a full year of RACER Magazine. 👉 Visit racer.com/bundle to fuel up. 🔔 Subscribe to The RACER Channel for more exclusive motorsports interviews! Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQ Follow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/ Follow RACER Network on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ racer_network #PaulTracy #Racing #Motorsports #indycar #formulaone #f1 #cristianodamatta #indy500
Transcribe →
Tony Kanaan: From Indy 500 Glory to Life After Racing | Racers Unchained with Paul Tracy
Nov 2200:50:48Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Racers Unchained, Indy 500 winner and fan favorite Tony Kanaan sits down with Paul Tracy to reflect on a legendary career that spanned more than two decades at the top of IndyCar. From go-karts in Brazil and Formula 3 in Italy, through the ups and downs of the IMSA and IndyCar world, to turning mentor and team principal in the sport. They discuss the slippery slope of career transitions, how mindset drives performance, the fine margins between risk and reward on the track, and how life changes when the helmet comes off. 📺 Brought to you by RACER and racer.com, the trusted voice in motorsport news. 🔥 Stream more motorsports with RACER+ and get RACER Magazine at racer.com/bundle 🔔 Subscribe to The RACER Channel for more exclusive motorsports interviews! Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQ Follow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/ Follow RACER Network on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer_network #PaulTracy #TonyKanaan #IndyCar #Racing #Motorsports
Transcribe →
Kelly Collins got his big break standing in line for a hot dog.
Nov 600:49:29Tap to summarizeNo, this isn’t a joke... Longtime GM factory driver, Kelly Collins tells Paul the wild story about how he went from a kid on a motocross bike to off-road to racing school instructor to the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Collins unlikely journey to the top of racing featured brushes with Juan Pablo Montoya and Bryan Herta, but maybe not the way you’re imagining. Collins would go on to spend four seasons driving to numerous race wins for Corvette and a famous runner-up finish with Dale Earnhardt, Sr and Jr as co-drivers in the GTS class at the 2000 Rolex 24 At Daytona. #PaulTracy #KellyCollins #racing #motorsport #corvette #corvetteracing #LeMans #Rolex24atDaytona #IMSA #RACERpodcasts
Transcribe →