Episodes

This week on The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti dives deep into the legacy of the legendary Ontario Motor Speedway with Mike Allen, a retired U.S. Air Force officer and the foremost historian on the track. Mike shares insights from his upcoming book, backed by over 5,000 historical documents and interviews with icons like Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, and Robin Miller. We also reflect on an electrifying Gateway race weekend where Kyle Kirkwood, David Malukas, and Santino Ferrucci made headline...

This Father's Day edition of The Pits Are Open takes you trackside with exclusive updates from Worldwide Technology Raceway at Gateway. Host Will Marotti is joined by Nathan Brown, IndyCar reporter for IndyStar, who breaks down the season's surprising standings, Will Power’s future with Team Penske, and Fox Sports' rising role in IndyCar's media evolution. We also welcome Mike Lashmet, president of Vintage Indy, who previews the iconic vintage IndyCar showcase happening this weekend—including S...

In this special edition of The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti dives deep into the business side of racing — how teams get funded, land sponsors, and stay on the grid. Joined by industry experts Reid Mobley (Momentum Sports) and Don Cusick (Cusick Motorsports), this episode gives you rare, behind-the-scenes access into how real motorsports partnerships are built. From NASCAR and IMSA to the Indianapolis 500, the guests pull back the curtain on: 🔧 How small teams and young drivers can pitch sp...

The 2025 Indianapolis 500 delivered one of the most chaotic, emotional, and controversial races in recent memory—and The Pits Are Open breaks it all down. Host Will Marotti is joined by motorsport insiders Tony Donahue and Kevin Krauss for an unfiltered debrief of everything that happened on and off the track. From Scott McLaughlin’s stunning crash before the green flag to the fallout from Penske’s penalty, no topic is off-limits. The episode also explores whether hybrid tech is improving the s...

In this explosive episode of The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti tackles the biggest controversy of the 2024 racing season: the Team Penske technical violation scandal that shook qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. From the rear wing attenuator seam violations to the fallout for Roger Penske’s leadership, this episode dives deep into the ethics, optics, and consequences of rule-breaking at the highest level of motorsport. --- Featured Guest: ✅ Jagger Jones (IMSA Champion & Grandson of Parne...

Featured Guests: ✅ Simon Sykes (2023 USF2000 Champion) – Simon joins the show to talk about returning to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, testing with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, and the path from karting to IndyCar. He reflects on his first-ever race at IMS with Marotti Autosport, shares his experience in SCCA and USF Pro, and offers candid advice for young drivers trying to fund their racing dreams. ✅ Catherine Legge (Veteran IndyCar Driver & NASCAR Competitor) – In a candid and wide-rangin...

Featured Guests: ✅ Brad Hayes (Owner, Brad Hayes Racing & Kenyan Midget Series) – Brad shares his journey from Formula Ford driver to team owner and racing series operator. Learn how the Kenyan Midget Series is shaping the next generation of drivers with a cost-effective, spec-style development platform. Brad explains how the series works, how drivers can get involved for under $15,000 per season, and why it's a powerful stepping stone for teens coming out of karting. ✅ Megan Meyer (Two-Time N...

In this loaded episode of The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti is joined by IndyStar’s Nathan Brown and motorsports content creator David Land to break down the latest from Indianapolis—including test day developments, driver crashes, and the evolving impact of hybrid systems on IndyCar. --- Featured Guests: ✅ Nathan Brown (Motorsports Reporter, IndyStar) – Gives a detailed recap of IndyCar testing at IMS, including hybrid reliability issues, speed trade-offs, and the implications for qualify...

In this on-the-ground episode of The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti brings you live to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for IndyCar testing, while Alex holds down the studio with a sharp recap of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and the evolving 2025 F1 season. --- Highlights from This Episode: ✅ Live from IMS – Will reports directly from Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s first open test of the season, sharing insights on how the new hybrid power unit is impacting car weight, balance, and speed, plu...

In this episode of The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti brings the heat with two powerhouse guests and a brutally honest conversation on the future of American motorsports. From the broadcast blackout and plummeting IndyCar ratings to Tony Stewart’s historic NHRA win, this episode doesn’t hold back. --- Featured Guests: ✅ Ralph Sheheen (Broadcasting Legend, Co-Owner of SpeedSport) – Shares SpeedSport’s evolution into a 200M-user FAST channel, reflects on calling F1 in Monaco and swamp buggies...

In this episode of The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti delivers a dynamic mix of racing insight, legendary motorsports stories, and powerful business wisdom from two iconic guests. From the 50th anniversary of the Long Beach Grand Prix to smart strategies for securing sponsorships, this episode is packed with value for racing fans and industry insiders alike. Featured Guests: ✅ Kurt Hansen – Veteran racer, broadcaster, and host of Race Central TV, Kurt shares incredible stories from his days ...

In this special on-the-road edition of The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti heads to Indianapolis for a behind-the-scenes tour of historic race cars, legendary engines, and an inside look at the business of modern IndyCar racing. Featured Guests: ✅ Mike Lashmett (Founder, Vintage Indy) – Takes us on a guided tour through a museum of open-wheel racing history. From Mario Andretti’s 1969 Indy 500-winning engine to the infamous “Mystery Eagle” driven by Jerry Grant, Mike shares amazing stories, v...

In this packed episode of The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti dives into the controversy at the IndyCar Thermal Club race, the state of TV coverage on FOX, and an exclusive first look inside the completely renovated Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Special Guests: ✅ Tony Donahue (Motorsports Podcaster & Broadcaster) – Shares his take on the 15-minute FOX broadcast blackout, thermal racing logistics, driver drama (including Pato O’Ward’s fiery comments), and the debate over whether IndyCar ...

In this episode of The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti welcomes two dynamic guests for a deep dive into the world of motorsports branding, team ownership, and upcoming IndyCar action at Thermal Club. Whether you’re a young driver, a small team, or a fan of behind-the-scenes racing business, this one’s packed with valuable insight. Featured Guests: ✅ Brent Cox (Owner, Abacus Racing) – Shares what it’s like to own a successful USAC race team, how he built a championship program, and what it tak...

🏎️ In this episode of The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti is joined by two incredible guests as they explore IndyCar updates, NHRA racing, motorsports marketing, and the evolution of SpeedSport. ✅ Joe Tripp (CEO & Managing Partner of SpeedSport) – Talks about the transformation of SpeedSport, the rise of SpeedSport One, the future of digital motorsports content, and why FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) is the next big thing in racing coverage. ✅ Megan Meyer (Two-Time NHRA Top Alcohol Dra...

🏎️ In this episode of The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti breaks down the latest in IndyCar racing, sponsorship strategies, and industry trends with two powerhouse guests: ✅ Tony Donahue (Tony D Podcast) – Longtime Indianapolis radio personality and motorsports expert recaps the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, breaking down Fox’s debut IndyCar coverage, top driver performances, and championship predictions. ✅ Kim Skildum-Reid (Sponsorship Guru & Author) – One of the world's leading sp...

🏁 In this episode of The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti dives into the latest motorsports news, including: ✅ Inside IndyCar: A deep dive into the 2025 NTT IndyCar season, sponsorship challenges, and the impact of the latest driver and team developments. ✅ Exclusive Interview with JP Moery: Sponsorship expert JP Moery shares his proven strategies for securing motorsports funding, from building relationships to crafting the perfect pitch. If you're a driver, team, or fan of racing business, yo...

Special guest Alex Striler shares his expertise and advice on approaching sponsorship.

The first episode of The Pits Are Open featuring discussion about the Daytona 500, IndyCar Super Bowl Commercials, Big Staffing Changes at IndyCar and special Guest Mike Lashmett, President of VintageIndy.