Daily Driver

Racing IQ

Flexibility

Flexibility, or "versatility" is one of the common traits among the greats in our sport. Does driving a variety of cars and competing in different classes make us better drivers? In this episode, I answer this question with some recent experience in my own vehicles. 

Trees in a Forest

Lacking a compass, an old scouting trick is this... If you're lost in a forest, unsure of the way out, or even what direction to move, you locate three trees in a row. One close by, another a little ways away, and one farther off in the distance - all in line with each other. And you move from one tree to the next, picking another tree farther down the line each time that you progress. That's a literal interpretation: actually finding our way out of a forest. The generality applies...

Dealing with a long tree

Expectation

In this age, it’s easier - more natural than ever - to judge ourselves and our racing in comparison to others. Between social media, live feeds, and frankly people like Jed and I, It’s so easy to put successful racers on a pedestal: Racer X wins, and is never worse than 010 on the tree for 9 straight rounds. Racer Y dominates, holding .06 or more. Racer Z’s matched the dial in 8 times in 9 rounds. And we think… Damn. I can’t do that!

To stage or not to stage?

Opportunity

Under Reacting and Presence

Very selfishly, part of this podcast is for my own benefit: as I work through some of these ideas in the process of my own day-to-day life. On our way here, not even halfway through our trip, our new (to us) motorhome broke down. It was certainly not the way that things were planned! The reason I share this, not to pat myself on the back, is because I'm actually really proud of the way that I handled this situation. 

Happiness is Available

In racing, I think we face this juxtaposition a lot, often in settings that can elicit high emotion. We’re passionate about what we're doing. We put a lot of time & work into it. We’ve typically got aspirations surrounding competition. We’ve often got an expectations - both about our performance and how things will go in general. And, occasionally (perhaps more often than not), something doesn’t align w/ those expectations! How we deal with that, I'd argue impacts not only our...

The Best vs My Best

How do you frame personal performance? Is your self talk directed toward being THE best, or toward being YOUR best? There's not necessarily a right or wrong answer; but it's interesting to dive into the connotation and the mental framework of each approach - not necessarily to think about what others are doing, but to think about which approach may best serve each of us.

Perfection

Are you a perfectionist? Have you convinced yourself that such perfectionism serves you? I've often held myself to incredible standards... And I've been very hard on myself when I've failed to uphold those standards. Often times, that constant drive - that incessant pursuit has helped make me better. Perhaps you feel the same way. And yet, what got us to where we are, isn't necessarily going to be what gets us to where we want to be.

Patience

There is an element of patience in what we do - this HARD game that we choose to play; and how patiently staying the course (even when the destination isn’t completely clear) has a tendency to pay off (often when we least expect it). 

Passion

Morning of the Million

A speech for the ages. Listen in on what reads like pre-game pump up message to those competing on the biggest stage of their careers. Taken from an exclusive ThisIsBracketRacing ELITE strategy session, this episode describes competing in the most electrifying atmosphere our sport has to offer: The Spring Fling Million. 

Analyzing Outcomes for Growth

I believe that we tend to overestimate the presence of skill in our own positive outcomes. And that we tend to overestimate the presence of luck in our negative outcomes. When we view others, however, that gets flipped. We tend to overestimate the presence of luck in other's successes. And we overestimate the presence of skill (or lack thereof) in their negative outcomes. In short: we lose because we're unlucky. They lose because they suck. They win because they're lucky. We win ...

Weather Factors

While we typically use this podcast space to focus on the psychology of competition (partly because you've requested it, but mostly because that's totally my bag!), we occasionally get requests for more specific, technical, on-track insight. The most common of those requests often revolves around weather, and predicting the impact that changes in weather will have on our cars' performance. In this episode, we focus on the impacts weather can have, and the specific weather measureme...

Hoops Reflections (Part 2)

In a previous episode, I shared some takeaways from coaching youth basketball that I think apply directly to driving a race car. If that may have seemed like a stretch, this week's show may provide a more direct parallel. In it, I discuss some of the lessons that coaching has to offer than can make us better parents, leaders, and teachers.

Hoops Reflections (Part 1)

What does coaching 4th and 5th grade basketball have to do with drag racing you ask? Well, maybe more than you think. In this episode, I share what I've learned about staying in the moment when we're surrounded by overwhelm. When there are 7 different things I could focus on, how do I pick the one that's going to facilitate my best performance? 

Build a new sand castle

Our game is filled with ups and downs. It's easy to go from "hero to zero" and feel like we're only as good as our last run down the race track. In this episode, I share a mindset you can use to combat this constant battle of ups and downs.

Potential bye

In this episode we discuss the (obvious) benefits of a potential bye run and the common pitfalls racers often overlook when sitting on the bye. While these pitfalls can have a negative impact on performance, a simple mindset shift in the staging lanes can help you avoid them altogether. 

Where to begin?

Where do you start when you're new to this? How do you "catch up" when you feel like you're years behind the rest of your competitors? In this episode, I share what I believe to be the best approach for accelerating your learning curve when you're new to bracket racing.

"We need you back for a re-run..."

Getting called back for a re-run doesn't happen very often, but when it does... It's often associated with some feelings of discontent. In this episode, I share some of my "re-run" experience and how I approach these rounds.

Leveling Up

When should you "level up" to the next class? Or should you at all? In this episode, I discuss this question and share key factors you should be considering.

Cultivated Ignorance (Part 2)

Last week we discussed the idea of "cultivated ignorance"- purposely ignoring distractions or annoyances that we find ourselves in at the race track. This week, I share a story of a staging lanes argument I had many years ago that drives this point home.

Cultivated Ignorance (Part 1)

What if we could ignore everything upsetting or distracting in the race car? To have that trash-talking opponent's words go in one ear and out the other? These annoyances only affect us to the extent that we let them... In this episode, I share how to adopt a sense of "cultivated ignorance" and filter out these distractions.

Starting Line Procedure

An age old problem: your car "rocks" forward/backward when you set the transbrake. Should you wire-in a Line Lock to fix this issue? In this episode, I share my thoughts on how to approach this issue.

Marathon Events

Ever prepare for a Marathon? How about a Marathon race? Yea, the 4+ day mega races, with high stakes. Whether it's a Million dollar bracket race, the US Nationals, or even your annual trek to the bracket finals... These races present unique challenges (and opportunities) from your typical Saturday-night bracket race. In this episode, I discuss how you can best prepare and perform at these marathon events.

Boldly optimistic

Is the choice to be optimistic as black and white as I tend to make it out to be? In this episode, I share some perspective that will help you understand the value in being "boldly optimistic" at and away from the race track.

Judging track conditions

The Daily Driver is back! Thanks to the overwhelming support from our listeners, we have decided to continue posting new Daily Driver episodes on a Weekly basis; every Monday. To kick things off, here's a new episode on "Judging track conditions"!

The future of the Daily Driver

You asked... We delivered! Starting today, we'll post new Daily Driver episodes on a weekly basis. You can expect a new episode to drop every Monday morning.

Sympathetic Joy

In this episode, I share a mental framework that challenges the way we often think about the success of those around us.

Raw Data

What aspect of your program needs the most work? In other words, how do you determine where you should be focusing your efforts to improve? In this episode, I share how you can use "raw data" (instead of emotion) to pinpoint this areas and start improving.

Burnout

What to do when you feel "tired" of all this racing. It's a common feeling; burnout after a long season. But there's no need to feel guilty about it. In this episode, I share how to manage racing "burnout".

Take .00x or go dead on?

What's the best finish line strategy? Should you focus on trying to "take" .00x at the stripe? Or is it more about trying to "match the scoreboard" and go dead on? To be honest, my answer on this has changed over time. In this episode I explain my personal opinion and share how you can approach this question.

Optimal ET?

What's the best ET for bracket racing? Is a 4.40 dragster better than a 4.60 dragster? Do faster cars have the advantage? Is there a "Sweet spot" for door cars? The truth is, ANY of these ET ranges can win (they do all the time). The "optimal" ET is more than just a number. In this episode, I share why.

The addiction of our time

High achievers often face a common dilemma; the unattainable pursuit of perfection. How can we embrace this challenge to keep things exciting?

The Way of the Bee

Is there such thing as an original thought? Or is every new idea the combination of numerous ideas we've already heard?

The value of the Physical

Does physical health affect performance on the race track? In this episode, Luke shares his answer along with some examples to support his case.

Whatever happens

"Everything happens for a reason"... Whether you believe this or not, there's a powerful mindset tool hidden in this message.

Overnight success

You've heard that quote right? "It takes 20 years to make an overnight success". Racing is kind of like that. Race by race, it may feel like you're failing to make progress. But when you look up after 5 years you can be in a totally different place. How do you make sure that happens? That's what this episode is about.

Freakout<Preparation

Performance anxiety, nerves, that pit in your stomach. It's part of our game. In this episode, Luke shares a way to ease this feeling prior to competition.

Pressure is a blessing

In this episode, I share the victorious story of Bob Locke and his chase for the 2022 NHRA Super Gas World Championship. His story is inspiring, and it teaches us a little something about how we frame pressure.

"Don't think?"

A follow up from yesterday's episode, "Unconscious".

Unconscious

"Until you make the unconscious, conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate".

To double or not to double

Should you double enter a race? Check out this lesson for how I approach this question and some things you need to know if you're considering double entering.

It's not enough

There are dozens of potential variables at play when we're talking about reaction time... The most critical: believing that you can.

Ambition, Consistency, & Patience

Ever heard the saying, "there's no need to reinvent the wheel"? A word of caution to the "problem solvers" out there.

Starting Line Mentality

There are dozens of potential variables at play when we're talking about reaction time... The most critical: believing that you can.

Bringing out the best in your competition

Have you ever lost to "that guy"? That guy you know you're better than and probably should have beat? Of course you have; we all have. That's the reality of our game. Anyone is capable of making a great lap at anytime. The point is: you can only control what happens in your lane. In today's arena, you can't afford to take any round off.

Busyness & Laziness

Are you spending time on the "right" things? Or are you just doing the same old tasks over and over again to make yourself feel good? It's easy to fill our plate with "busy work" when things get tough. It's a trick our brains use to help make us feel better when we're stressed, or we have a lot on our plate. But is this serving us? This episode is a "check" to ask yourself, "Am I spending my time on the right things?".