Kelly Crandall joins Davey this week (8:30) to discuss and reflect on her impressive motorsports journalism career to date, which includes not one but two NMPA Writer of the Year awards. The industry veteran recalls hilarious (and horrific) stories from covering the NASCAR beat on the road over the years, and whether or not it feels like she’s been covering the sport full-time for almost a decade.
The 2001 Pepsi 400 at Daytona had Crandall hooked, and she was racing obsessed from there on out. Getting started writing whatever, wherever and however, she incrementally gained reps and parlayed that into an opportunity to lead Popular Speed’s coverage. After quitting her day job at home, she decided to make the move to Charlotte to pursue a full-time career in the sport, where she received a plethora of help from others in hopes of making it. She explains some tumultuous times while grinding to make it, and why she’s trying to pay it forward today.
Hear why she “was gonna throw up” when she realized she’d become the Writer of the Year and her reflection on the hard work that it took to get to that moment. She now spearheads Racer's NASCAR coverage and is loving every minute of it. Crandall discusses the creativity that is allowed in her current role and why it’s refreshing given her past. Plus, how she’s navigated being a female in a male dominated industry, if having a significant other in racing makes things easier and her love of WWE and Schitt’s Creek.
Papa Segal gives an ode to a Hall of Famer you probably didn’t know piloted the No. 02 car and Davey previews the action from Martinsville Speedway.
