Episodes

The pits are open for a high-octane look at the wild NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series street race at the San Diego naval base. Host Will Marotti breaks down the action as trucks slammed the walls, battled extreme wheel hop, and raced sideways past decorated military aircraft carriers in a spectacular tribute to the nation. Plus, we look ahead to the upcoming IndyCar action at Mid-Ohio and the massive celebrations surrounding America's historic milestone. On the business side of racing, we dive dee...

In this episode of The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti pays tribute to the legendary IndyCar team owner Dennis Reinbold, who recently passed away at 65. We dive into the massive talking points circling the paddock, including upcoming schedule updates for 2027, the future of the 2028 Dallara chassis, and the growing debate among drivers against electrification and hybrid power units. Plus, we break down the controversial world of racing charters and whether they help elevate or suppress independ...

The Indianapolis 500 never disappoints, and this year's race delivered everything from dramatic crashes and strategy calls to emotional highs and heartbreaking moments. On this episode of The Pits Are Open, Will Marotti and Alex Smith look back on an unforgettable Month of May and break down one of the most exciting Indianapolis 500s in recent memory. Will shares his unique experience serving as a host inside McLaren's exclusive Tower Terrace hospitality suite, spending race day with sponsors, ...

The biggest week in American racing is finally here, and the drama has already begun at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Just as the month seemed to be concluding with historic cleanliness, a massive, multi-car Monday practice wreck involving Alexander Rossi, Pato O'Ward, and Romain Grosjean sent shockwaves through Turn 2. Meanwhile, Alex Palou captured back-to-back poles, making him the clear odds-on favorite heading into Sunday's legendary race. Host Will Marotti also drops major show news, reveal...

The month of May is officially underway at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and we are breaking down an action-packed Sonsio Grand Prix. Host Will Marotti and guest Tony Donahue dive deep into the chaotic weekend, from the controversial decision to hold qualifying in the dry despite rain tires being available to the heart-stopping safety lapse during Alexander Rossi’s main-straightaway incident. We explore why race control is under fire and what these split-second decisions mean for the safety o...

The month of May kicks off with high-speed action from the Miami Formula 1 Grand Prix to the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Host Will Marotti and producer Alex Smith break down the drama in Miami, including Max Verstappen's recovery from a spin, McLaren's development leap, and the penalties that shook up the top of the grid. Meanwhile, focus shifts to the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500, beginning with an intense day and a half of testing as teams prepare for qualifying and the big ...

The month of May is officially here and the field is set! This week on The Pits Are Open, we dive into the latest testing news from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including the exciting confirmation that Jacob Abel and Katherine Legge have filled the 33-car grid. We also explore the dramatic disappearance of entry depth since the 109-car high-water mark of 1982 and discuss what IndyCar needs to do to bring back the thrill of bumping. Beyond the track, we are talking about the enterprise of ra...

The pits are open! This episode dives deep into the shifting landscape of motorsports sponsorship and why the traditional model is leaving too many drivers on the sidelines. Host Wilmer Otto introduces the launch of Speedway Venture Studio and SVS Insiders, a media-first approach designed to help drivers build enterprise value and achieve self-sufficiency beyond the standard sponsor check. We are also joined by two powerhouse emerging drivers. Taylor Reimer discusses her transition from dirt mi...

The racing world is facing a hidden crisis: a staggering 70% unemployment rate among American racing drivers. On today’s episode, host Wilmer Marotti pulls back the curtain on the inverted funnel of motorsports, where thousands of talented drivers hit a glass ceiling due to a lack of capital, not a lack of talent. We dive deep into how teams can build long-term enterprise value to reduce their dependency on the traditional sponsorship cycle and keep more drivers in the seat. We are also joined ...

The Pits Are Open | Episode: March 30, 2026 Host Will Marotti recaps a thrilling weekend at Barber Motorsports Park, where Alex Palou put on a "flawless" performance to take the win. We also look back at Scott McLaughlin’s terrifying practice crash and how the Aeroscreen/Halo technology likely saved his life. In this episode, we tackle the "95% Problem" in American motorsports—the reality that 95% of race teams are not financially healthy. Will discusses how the current sponsorship-dependent m...

On this episode of The Pits Are Open, Will Marotti and Alex Smith tackle one of the biggest misconceptions in motorsports: the idea that sponsors are everywhere and just waiting to be found. Will opens the show by breaking down the real numbers behind sponsorship in the United States. Out of millions of businesses, less than 1% are actively involved in motorsports, creating a highly competitive environment for teams and drivers trying to secure funding. The conversation sets the tone for a deep...

On this episode of The Pits Are Open, Will Marotti and Alex Smith break down a huge weekend for IndyCar, reflect on the strong launch of the season, and dig into one of the biggest issues in racing today: the gap between drivers seeking sponsorship and brands willing to invest. Will opens the show with reaction to IndyCar’s first race in Arlington, Texas, highlighting Kyle Kirkwood’s win, Marcus Ericsson’s pole, and the continued momentum behind IndyCar’s early-season partnership with Fox. The ...

In this episode of The Pits Are Open, Will Marotti and producer Alex Smith break down a huge weekend across motorsports. 🏁 IndyCar returns at St. Petersburg 🏁 Tyler Reddick’s historic NASCAR three-peat 🏁 The future of IndyCar manufacturers and charters 🏁 A bold new model designed to reshape motorsports sponsorship Plus two great guest conversations with rising and veteran voices in racing media. The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg kicks off the season and once again Alex Palou proves why he’s th...

This week on The Pits Are Open, Will Marotti and Alex Smith return live and immediately break down one of the biggest announcements in modern IndyCar history. Honda and Chevrolet officially re-commit as engine manufacturers in the NTT IndyCar Series. Will explains why this move may have saved the long-term health of the series. Key discussion points: Why losing a manufacturer would have damaged competition and R&D The expansion from 25 to 27 charters How manufacturer charters reshape team s...

This week marks one full year of The Pits Are Open — and this anniversary episode delivers two powerful stories from opposite ends of the racing world: grassroots ownership in Trans Am and the explosive growth of sim racing. Host Will Marotti and producer Alex Smith reflect on the show’s first year, the evolution onto SpeedSport One, and tease a major upcoming motorsports development focused on sustainable sponsorship models for independent teams. Then the racing talk gets serious. Trans Am T...

This episode of The Pits Are Open delivers one of the most thought-provoking and forward-looking conversations of the year. Host Will Marotti and executive producer Alex Smith break down the biggest headlines in racing before welcoming two guests who represent the future of motorsports storytelling and competition. The show opens with a passionate deep dive into the NTT IndyCar Series announcement of the Freedom 250, the first-ever motor race to be held in Washington, DC, celebrating America’s ...

This episode of The Pits Are Open dives deep into the business, development, and human side of motorsports, as host Will Marotti and engineer Alex Smith welcome John Harkenreiter, General Manager of Havoc Motorsport, for an in-depth conversation recorded after meeting at PRI. John shares his unique path into professional motorsports—from 15 years as a firefighter to running a Chicago-based, multi-car open-wheel race operation competing in the SCCA Super Tour. He breaks down what it really takes...

This episode of The Pits Are Open is packed with raw speed, deep storytelling, and major shifts across motorsports. Host Will Murati is joined by engineer and producer Alex Smith for an unforgettable show airing on SpeedSport One. We open by celebrating recent racing headlines, including Westin Workman’s incredible Daytona class win, the latest action from the Chili Bowl Nationals, and early momentum heading into the Rolex 24 at Daytona. From IndyCar prospects to endurance racing, the season is...

This week on The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti and engineer Alex Smith kick off January with real racing momentum—Daytona prep, IMSA buzz, and two guests who represent the future of motorsports across drag racing and sports cars. NHRA Top Fuel standout Ida Zetterström returns to unpack her journey from Sweden and the Scandinavian drag scene to the brutal precision of Top Fuel racing. Ida explains what it really feels like to drive 12,000-horsepower nitro cars, why Top Fuel requires steering ...

This week on The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti and producer Alex Smith return to a “regular show” format after a run of PRI interviews — and they kick it off with a simple ask for the fans: visit thepitsareopen.com to sign up for the weekly newsletter (racing news + upcoming show preview), and if you watch on YouTube, subscribe to The Pits Are Open Podcast channel to help the show grow. First, Taylor Ferns joins the program for a wide-ranging conversation about one of the most unique careers...

Happy New Year from The Pits Are Open! Host Will Marotti and producer Alex Smith kick off 2026 with a high-energy PRI 2025 special spotlighting four women who are shaping motorsports through marketing, competition, legacy, and community-building. Will opens the episode with gratitude for the show’s first year with the SpeedSport family and invites listeners to get involved by signing up for the weekly newsletter at thepitsareopen.com and leaving a voice message through the site’s microphone fea...

This week on The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti and producer Alex Smith bring you a powerful PRI 2025 special episode, recorded live from the Indiana Convention Center during the biggest motorsports industry event of the year. The show opens with reflections on an unforgettable PRI week — over 20 interviews, nonstop industry energy, and gratitude for the partners and people who made the broadcast possible. Will also shares exciting news that The Pits Are Open will be airing on Christmas Night...

This week on The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti and producer Alex Smith bring you a powerful mix of motorsports storytelling and NHRA intensity — all while broadcasting from PRI week in Indianapolis. The episode opens with Jason Stein, award-winning automotive media executive, broadcaster, and CEO of Flat Six Media. Jason shares the origin story behind Cars & Culture, his hit SiriusXM program celebrating the personalities who shape automotive passion. He breaks down the changing relationship ...

This week on The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti and producer Alex Smith deliver a powerhouse double-header focused on the future of motorsports networking, driver development, and high-fidelity racing simulation. First, Heidi Bandisch, founder and CEO of Racership, returns with updates on her soon-to-launch platform designed to unite racers, mentors, brands, teams, and industry insiders into one trusted digital ecosystem. Heidi explains how Racership streamlines sponsorship matchmaking, provi...