PODCAST · sports
Before First Gear
by Cole Rosson
Before First Gear is a podcast that explores how professional racers have progressed through their careers. It focuses on telling their unique stories, the challenges they've faced, and the key inflection points that have helped get them to the top step of the podium. There's a synthesis of luck, timing and skill that all come together and Before First Gear explores how much each racer embraced their unique opportunity.
Episodes
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Mason Filippi: Touring Car Driver and OpenFender Founder
Mason Filippi is an American auto racing driver who competes in the TCR class of the Michelin Pilot Challenge for Bryan Herta Autosport. He's raced domestically and internationally as well as in Xfinity. Interestingly, Mason has launched OpenFender, a crowdsourcing platform for racing sponsorships.
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Keegan Widmyer: starting in Karting
Keegan is a young kart racer trying to pay his way into WKA events, then hopefully in Spec Miata and into a racing career. He discusses some of the costs associated with karting and ways to consider raising sponsorship dollars.
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Ashton Harrison: female sportscar driver
Ashton Harrison races in IMSA GTD and Lamborghini Super Trofeo. She also became the first female class winner in a global SRO event when she won the Indy 8hr.
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Amber Balcaen: becoming a female ARCA driver
Amber Balcaen is a Canadian professional stock car racing driver. She competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series and is most known for being the first Canadian woman to win in a NASCAR-sanctioned race in the United States. She started her career in Dirt Oval racing, finding some serious…
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Jordan Taylor: one of the best endurance racers it the world
The son of a successful driver, Wayne Taylor, Jordan has forged an astounding career of his own becoming one of the top sports car racers of his generation. It hasn't always come totally natural to him, so it's super interesting and humbling hearing how he's managed to get to where he is today.
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Jace Denmark: taking the Road to Indy
Jace Denmark is currently racing in USF Pro 2000 and discusses what it's like to be halfway through the most pivotal season of his career. If he performs well this season it'll set him on a direct trajectory to IndyNXT and IndyCar.
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Corey Alexander: MotoAmerica Rider
Corey is a MotoAmerica Superbike rider who's been involved in the sport since he could walk. Corey was selected for the Red Bull Rookies Cup in 2008, the since year it ran in the US and has raced in various series around the country. He also did a brief stint in American Flat Track, a move that...
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Kyle Marcelli: IMSA Drivers epic path to the podium
Kyle has one of the more unique stories I've heard about getting into IMSA and finding ways to make the funding work. Today he drives for Wayne Taylor racing, but has experience behind the wheel of various #ferrari Lexus, Acura, Audi and prototype cars. He's a hugely talented driver and I found…
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Rocco Landers: 19 Year old MotoAmerica rider
Really interesting to hear from Rocco Landers, MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion and a guy who's been on two wheels since he could walk. He's still early in his career, so at a pretty foundational stage, which made hearing about the last few years even more interesting. He's raced both overseas,...
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Kyle Kirkwood: IndyCar Driver from the Road to Indy
Kyle Kirkwood is an IndyCar driver for Andretti Motorsports and had one of the most successful paths through the Road to Indy that landed him in IndyCar. In only his second full season he's already won several races and is on his way to what should be a legendary career.
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Travis Wyman: MotoAmerica Racer and Flattracker
Travis Wyman is a MotoAmerica rider who comes from a racing family. Him and his brothers have racked up loads of wins and Travis road in the 2008 Red Bull Rookies Cup during the year it was in the US. More than anything though, it's fascinating to hear from the insiders perspective of going from...
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Louis Deletraz: European Le Mans Champ and ex-F2 driver
Pretty cool getting to chat with Louis Deletraz to hear more about his journey to becoming one of the top endurance drivers around, but also learn about his experience in the #f1 paddock as a reserve drivers, as well as being teammates with Robert Kubica. A few weeks after this interview Louis…
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Misti Hurst: Female ex-AMA racer and Superbike Coach
I met Misti when I went to the California Superbike school as she's a coach at the school and has become an absolute professional at helping riders gain speed. She also rips. She raced a few years in AMA, which as a female rider in the early 2000's was certainly a unique path to take. Speaking…
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Corey Lewis: Daytona 24hr Winner and Lamborghini Super Trofeo Champion
Corey has a pretty wild story, with some early connections to the Andretti's, but overall just a load of skill mixed with some luck and timing! His career has led him to Lamborghini, racing internationally and becoming the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Champ, as well as winning a Daytona 24hr GTD...
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Carter Fartuch, Director of Instructors at Skip Barber Racing School
Pretty wild story hearing how Cater started indoor karting at a relatively late age and with a minimal budget, yet has managed to develop a promising career as both a professional racer and instructor. Follow along with Carter's career on his IG: https://www.instagram.com/carterfartuch24/ Check…
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Ryan Vargas: NASCAR Xfinity Driver
Ryan has made it all the way to Xfinity following a successful early start in Bandolero's, then a ride in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program which really opened the door for him. More than anything though, his speed, but also determination around how he's raised sponsorship dollars and…
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Jake Gagne: 3x MotoAmerica Champion and WSBK rider
Jake Gagne is absolutely one of the top American motorcycle racers today. He's won the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship that last 3 years in a row, raced in World Superbike and Moto 2 and is currently riding for a 4th MotoAmerica Championship for Factory Yamaha. He's a master at living in the...
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Sergio Pena: a wild ride to NASCAR
Sergio Pena is an insanely talented driver, having won multiple karting championships in the early 2000's and progressing right to the lower ranks of open wheel. Like so many drivers though, running out of funding to make the jump to the next step of the ladder in open wheels led him to find...
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Davy Jones: 24hr of Le Mans Winner
Davy is a Le Mans winner, Daytona 24hr winner, and Indy 500 runner up. His early days had him on a path to Formula 1 but the path that was dealt to him guided him back to Sportscar. He's raced with guys like Aryton Senna and Martin Brundle and has stories for days from all kinds of series he's...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Before First Gear is a podcast that explores how professional racers have progressed through their careers. It focuses on telling their unique stories, the challenges they've faced, and the key inflection points that have helped get them to the top step of the podium. There's a synthesis of luck, timing and skill that all come together and Before First Gear explores how much each racer embraced their unique opportunity.
HOSTED BY
Cole Rosson
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Before First Gear have?
Before First Gear currently has 19 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Before First Gear about?
Before First Gear is a podcast that explores how professional racers have progressed through their careers. It focuses on telling their unique stories, the challenges they've faced, and the key inflection points that have helped get them to the top step of the podium. There's a synthesis of luck,...
How often does Before First Gear release new episodes?
Before First Gear has 19 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Before First Gear?
You can listen to Before First Gear on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Before First Gear?
Before First Gear is created and hosted by Cole Rosson.
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