The Checkered Flag Podcast

This week, Michael Shelton delivers the final episode of The Checkered Flag Podcast for 2021 as he recaps the final races of the season in NASCAR and World of Outlaws while also looking ahead to this weekend's action in Formula 1 and NHRA. You'll also hear from the new NASCAR Cup Champion Kyle Larson along with his car's owner, Rick Hendrick. In addition, you'll also hear from the new NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion Daniel Hemric, along with this year's NASCAR Cup runner-up Martin Truex Jr. and NASCAR Xfinity Series runner-up Austin Cindric.

This week, Michael Shelton gets you ready for NASCAR Championship weekend at Phoenix as he previews the four title races that will take place this weekend in the desert. You'll also hear from the four participants in this year's NASCAR Cup Championship 4 including Kyle Larson, defending champion Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. along with owners Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs. Shelton also previews this weekend's World of Outlaws World Finals taking place at the Dirt Track at Charlotte along with this Sunday's Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix.

This week, Michael Shelton previews this weekend's NASCAR races at the half-mile Martinsville Speedway that will conclude the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Playoffs and set the stage for the Championship 4. Shelton also speaks to Brad Keselowski as he hopes to put together a strong performance this weekend to stay in the NASCAR Cup title hunt. You'll also hear from Formula 1 points leader Max Verstappen after his big win at the United States Grand Prix, as well as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Clint Bowyer after they tested the NextGen Car at Bowman-Gray Stadium

This week, Michael Shelton previews this weekend's big events, including the return of the Formula 1's United States Grand Prix to Austin, Texas as well as NASCAR and ARCA heading to the mile-and-a-half Kansas Speedway. You'll hear from 7-time Formula 1 Champion Lewis Hamilton before this Sunday's U.S. Grand Prix, while NASCAR Cup contender Denny Hamlin weighs in on the debate between playoff drivers vs non-playoff drivers. In addition, NASCAR Xfinity Playoff drivers Daniel Hemric and Noah Gragson share their thoughts ahead of Kansas.

This week, Michael Shelton previews the Round of 8 of the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Playoffs that begin at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend! You'll hear from NASCAR Xfinity and Cup contenders Harrison Burton and Martin Truex Jr. before this weekend's races. You'll also hear from NASCAR Cup drivers Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick following testing of the Next Gen car earlier this week at Charlotte as well as NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart following the announcement of Tony Stewart Racing expanding to NHRA. Shelton also recaps the past week in Formula 1, World of Outlaws, NHRA and ARCA Menards racing.

Host Michael Shelton reports from Charlotte Motor Speedway and speaks with the winner of this year's Bank of America Roval 400, Kyle Larson. You'll also hear from his winning owner Rick Hendrick and his crew chief Cliff Daniels. You'll also hear from Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick as their feud came to a head again at Charlotte and Shelton breaks down the race as well as who advanced to the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Playoffs

This week, you'll hear from NASCAR Cup trailblazer Bubba Wallace and his car's co-owner, Denny Hamlin of 23XI Racing, following their historic victory at Talladega on Monday. You'll also hear from defending NASCAR Cup Champion Chase Elliott as he looks for his third straight Charlotte Roval victory this Sunday, along with his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, William Byron, as he faces elimination from the NASCAR Cup Playoffs heading into this weekend. Host Michael Shelton also speaks with defending NASCAR Xfinity Champion Austin Cindric about the upcoming Round of 8. Shelton also provides an update on who was testing at Indianapolis this week and previews not only this weekend's NASCAR races from the Charlotte Roval, but also this weekend's events in Formula 1, World of Outlaws and NHRA.

This week, Michael Shelton previews this weekend's NASCAR Playoff races in the Trucks, Xfinity and Cup Series and also speaks with two NASCAR Cup Playoff drivers, Martin Truex Jr. and Alex Bowman. You'll also hear from NASCAR Xfinity Playoff driver Daniel Hemric following the announcement of his new ride with Kaulig Racing. Shelton also speaks with the newly crowned INDYCAR Series Champion Alex Palou following his clinching drive at the Grand Prix of Long Beach and also previews this weekend's Formula 1, World of Outlaws, ARCA and NHRA events.

This week, Michael Shelton sits down for a one-on-one conversation with Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney to talk about preparing for the second round of the NASCAR Cup Playoffs, his future with Penske and his tradition of giving a youngster the checkered flag after he wins. Shelton also asks Brad Keselowski and William Byron for their thoughts prior to the start of the Round of 12 of the NASCAR Cup Playoffs at Vegas on Sunday. You'll also hear from Austin Cindric and A.J. Allmendinger prior to the kickoff of the NASCAR Xfinity Playoffs this weekend, while Shelton also previews this weekend's INDYCAR season finale as well as this weekend's Formula 1, World of Outlaws and NHRA events.

This week, host Michael Shelton sits down for a one-on-one conversation with three-time and reigning NHRA Top Fuel Champion Steve Torrence as his quest for a fourth title continues this weekend at ZMAX Dragway in Concord, NC. In addition, Shelton also previews this weekend's NASCAR action at Bristol and also reviews the 2022 NASCAR Cup schedule that was released on Wednesday. He also gets you ready for this weekend's INDYCAR and World of Outlaws races and gets you caught up on last week's Formula 1 results from Italy.

This week, host Michael Shelton previews the second race of the NASCAR Cup Playoffs at Richmond Raceway and speaks to NASCAR Cup Playoff drivers Denny Hamlin, Alex Bowman and William Byron. Shelton also gets you caught up before this weekend's big races in NASCAR, INDYCAR, Formula 1, World of Outlaws and NHRA. You'll also hear from NASCAR Cup Champions Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch as they reflect on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and the first race held after the events of that day in 2001.

This week, host Michael Shelton previews the 2021 NASCAR Cup Playoffs that begin this Sunday with the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. He also speaks to some of this year's playoff drivers including Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, defending NASCAR Cup Champion Chase Elliott and this year's NASCAR Regular Season Champion, Kyle Larson. In addition, Shelton also speaks one-on-one with 2019 Southern 500 winner Erik Jones about his new deal to remain the driver of the No. 43 Chevrolet for Richard Petty Motorsports and also asks NBA All-Star, NASCAR team owner and NBC analyst Brad Daugherty about the progress that's been made this past year for minorities in auto racing.

This week, Michael Shelton previews this weekend's NASCAR races at Daytona including the final race of the NASCAR Cup regular season, the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday night. Shelton also poses questions to last year's winner of the Daytona summer race, William Byron, as well as the driver hoping to hold onto the final playoff spot, Tyler Reddick. You'll also hear from Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Chris Buscher before Daytona as they hope to sneak into the playoffs. In addition, Shelton also previews this weekend's action in Formula 1 and World of Outlaws while also paying tribute to legendary motorsports journalist Robin L. Miller, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 71.

This week, Michael Shelton sits down with 19-year old ARCA Menards Series sensation Corey Heim to talk about his quest for this year's ARCA Championship and his brewing rivalry with fellow phenom Ty Gibbs. In addition, Shelton previews a busy weekend of racing including a big doubleheader in St. Louis with the kickoff of the NASCAR Truck Series Playoffs and INDYCAR's final oval track race of the year, as well as NASCAR Xfinity and Cup racing at Michigan International Speedway. You'll also hear from NASCAR Trucks regular season champion John Hunter Nemechek, NASCAR Xfinity standout Josh Berry after his new full-time deal was announced and NASCAR Cup Playoff contender Tyler Reddick.

This week, host Michael Shelton sits down with 4-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves to talk about his career rejuvenation following his memorable victory in the Indy 500 back in May as well as returning to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend to drive on the road course for the Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix. You'll also hear from NASCAR standouts Austin Dillion and A.J. Allmendinger ahead of this weekend's NASCAR race on the Indy road course, while Shelton previews this weekend's other big races, including one of sprint car racing's most prestigious events, the 60th Annual Knoxville Nationals.

The Checkered Flag Podcast is back on WRALSportsFan and the Capitol Broadcasting Podcast Network, with host Michael Shelton bringing you up to speed on the biggest news in auto racing and speaking to some of the top drivers and personalities in NASCAR, INDYCAR and beyond. This week, Shelton speaks one-on-one with 2-time INDYCAR Series Champion Josef Newgarden as he prepares to race on the streets of his hometown of Nashville on Sunday in the inaugural Music City Grand Prix. In addition, Shelton asks 7-time NASCAR Cup Champion and INDYCAR Series rookie Jimmie Johnson about the importance of mental health. Also, Shelton speaks with top NASCAR drivers Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney and Ross Chastain as well as Trackhouse Racing co-owner Justin Marks ahead of NASCAR's return to Watkins Glen International this weekend. You'll also hear from the reigning NASCAR Cup Series Champion Chase Elliott as he looks to claim his third straight victory at the Glen on Sunday.

In the final Checkered Flag Podcast for 2019, host Michael Shelton sits down with NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Christopher Bell, who will be part of the Championship 4 that will compete for the Xfinity Series title in Miami on Saturday. Shelton also previews this weekend's championship races in the Truck, Xfinity and NASCAR Cup Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

This week, host Michael Shelton welcomes back 2-time Daytona 500 Champion and 15-time winner of NASCAR's Most Popular Driver award, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Topics includes Earnhardt Jr.'s thoughts on this year's NASCAR Cup Playoffs as well as how he balances his duties as an analyst for NBC Sports with being an owner/operator of JR Motorsports. Earnhardt Jr. also opines on the success of his "Dale Jr. Download" podcast and TV show as well as reflects on being inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame back in May.

This week, host Michael Shelton welcomes NASCAR Hall of Famer and NBC Sports analyst Dale Jarrett to get his thoughts on last week's events at Martinsville and who he thinks has the inside edge for the NASCAR Cup title. In addition, Shelton sits down with NASCAR Truck Series driver Austin Hill, who finds himself on the verge of racing for a championship in Miami.

This week, host Michael Shelton sits down with NBC Sports Pit Reporter Marty Snider to preview this Sunday's NASCAR Cup Playoff race at Martinsville and talk about how the three playoff drivers for Joe Gibbs Racing stay on the same page. In addition, Shelton also welcomes the newly crowned champions for the ARCA Menards Series for 2019, 18-year old Christian Eckes.