1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports, where in a situation 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: that we haven't dealt with in modern times, the pandemic 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: here has really accelerated the investments that we've been advocating 4 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: for for a year. From a macro standpoint, I think 5 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: our sport industry is really forced to look at the 6 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: business a little bit differently. In depth conversations with the 7 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: leaders in the sports industry and he sport, there is 8 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,320 Speaker 1: a good admiration. We're still moving forward part of something 9 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: much bigger than the sports right now, the health and 10 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: sastry of our stakeholders are real smart important every moment. 11 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 1: I think we're all from a business respective thinking about 12 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: the impact that the virus is having across the country. 13 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 1: In Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio, Hello, I'm 14 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: Michael barn and I'm Mike Lynch, and we will explore 15 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 1: the big money issues in the world of sports and 16 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 1: talked to some of the biggest players in the industry. 17 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 1: And oh, man, we have one of the big ones 18 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: that happened this past week. He won the sixty third 19 00:00:54,720 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 1: running of the Daytona five hundred. Hello Michael McDowell, congratulate Asser, 20 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: Oh thank you guys so much. And I know this 21 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 1: is you answered this yet I saw you on on 22 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 1: Kelly and Ryan, I saw all this. How does it 23 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: feel you you won the big one? You didn't. You 24 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: didn't win the belly Lent two hundred. You want the 25 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: biggest dot car race, the big Daytona five hundred. How 26 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: does it feel? Yeah? You know what, I don't think 27 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 1: it's all really stinking, you know, but it's it's amazing. 28 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: I mean, to win a race in the Cup Series, 29 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 1: it's so incredibly difficult, um, But to win, to win 30 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: the Daytona five and be a Daytona five champion, it's 31 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 1: you know, it's just it's a dream come true. It's 32 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: an opportunity of the lifetime. And um, you know, I'm 33 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: so thankful and thankful to to be in the spot 34 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 1: that I mean and in it feels a little bit surreal. Hey, Mike, 35 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 1: this is Mike Lynch up in Boston and this is 36 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: one day where everybody wants to be like Mike. Uh So, 37 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 1: congratulations from from all your buddies up here in the Northeast. Um, 38 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 1: what has been the craziest text email phone call that 39 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,920 Speaker 1: you've gotten in the last forty hours? When you said, Wow, 40 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: I can't believe that person actually got in touch with me. Yeah, 41 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: you know, there's been a lot of them, um, and 42 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 1: so it would be hard to pinpoint, you know one, 43 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: but you know, getting getting a text from from Jimmy 44 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 1: Johnson yesterday was was was awesome. And you know, I 45 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: got a text from Lynnwood and just so many others. 46 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,799 Speaker 1: I mean I literally had five text messages that were 47 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:38,359 Speaker 1: unanswered yesterday and um, and so I haven't been through 48 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: all of them. And but you know, just the support 49 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 1: that I've had, you know, inside the you know, the 50 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 1: racing community and and all of you know, our fans 51 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,639 Speaker 1: and our friends and family, it is a bit overwhelming 52 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 1: and um, but you know it's it's an incredible journey 53 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 1: and I'm so thankful for you know where I'm at 54 00:02:56,919 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 1: and how I got here. You are the example of perseverance. 55 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: You on your three D start, you had one a 56 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,519 Speaker 1: cup race, and then three you win the big one 57 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,919 Speaker 1: and it happens because you're in the right place at 58 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: the right time. Take us through that moment because it 59 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:22,679 Speaker 1: was a last lap wreck that happened right in front 60 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: of you. In fact, with two other teams, with two 61 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: teammates Uh, for Penske take us through that in that 62 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: experience of what happened. Yeah, you know, I knew that 63 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 1: we needed to be in that top three to four, 64 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: you know, coming to the white flag to have a 65 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 1: shot at it. And in Daytona and restrict to plate 66 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: racing and super speedway racing all about getting yourself in 67 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: the right position. And I felt like we were in 68 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 1: a good spot. And you know I was. I was 69 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 1: pushing my four teammate Brad Kislowski, and we got a 70 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: big run coming off a turn to and um, he 71 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: went to make the pass on Joey, and Joey blocked 72 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: the pass and and they just made contact and I 73 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: was pushing at and um, you know, Brad spun to 74 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 1: the right and Joey spun to the left, and the 75 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 1: seas parted and I drove right through the middle. But 76 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: you know it wasn't over there. I had to throw 77 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: a big block on Chate Elliott. He was coming with 78 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 1: a big run and uh. And then we were three 79 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: wide with with Chase and Austin Dylan and the caution 80 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:18,599 Speaker 1: came out and I do it was closed, you know 81 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: I do that that we were you know, out front, 82 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: but I wasn't sure when the caution flew and and 83 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 1: NASCAR came over the radio and said, we won the race, 84 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 1: And man, I just overwhelming. It's a it's an overwhelming feeling, 85 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: just you know, just the sheer excitement and joy and 86 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,799 Speaker 1: then also just the gratitude and and man, it's it's humbling. 87 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: It's overwhelming to to think about, you know, the fourteen 88 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: years it took to get to this point, and you 89 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 1: know the amount of sacrifice from you know, everyone around me, 90 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: and and just man, I've had to grind it out 91 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 1: and and and never give up hope, and and never 92 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: lose sight that this was possible. And you know, for 93 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: a lot of years when when you're when you're getting 94 00:04:57,760 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 1: your teeth kicked in and your face shown in the mud, 95 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: it's it's tough to to get up and say it's 96 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 1: gonna happen. But you know, I show up every week 97 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: and thinking this is it, this is the weekend it's 98 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:10,360 Speaker 1: going to happen. And it happened. You know that that's 99 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 1: a great message I'm sure you can pass along to 100 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 1: all the young kids out there who have been told 101 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 1: they're not tall enough, they're too slow, they're not going 102 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 1: to make the team. Um, you know what, what kind 103 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: of message is this to them to thinking like, Okay, 104 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 1: you know, maybe I shouldn't hang in there. Yeah, you 105 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 1: just never give up. You just I mean, all things 106 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: are possible and you you just never give up. And 107 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 1: you know it's you gotta work hard. It's not just 108 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: a belief. You have to you have to put your 109 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: faith into action. And and so you just gotta you 110 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: gotta hire hard, you gotta you gotta want it, you 111 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 1: gotta hip for you gotta work hard. And um and 112 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:49,280 Speaker 1: and just never give up. Hope. The business part of 113 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: it has to change. Front Row Racing has been the 114 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,719 Speaker 1: motorsports has been going on for years. It's only the 115 00:05:55,839 --> 00:06:01,479 Speaker 1: third Cup victory in almost eleven starts. This has to 116 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 1: change some of the sponsorship. Um, let's let's call it. 117 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: People looking at front Row Motorsports now that you've won 118 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 1: the big one, Well absolutely, I mean it does change. 119 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 1: It changes, you know, from a lot of different aspects. 120 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: But you know the fact of the Daytona is the 121 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,359 Speaker 1: biggest race in our sport, It's the biggest race in 122 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 1: in in motorsports. And to be able to provide that 123 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:30,839 Speaker 1: value to our partners, to you know, our partner in particular, 124 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:33,479 Speaker 1: love to travel stops on you know, on the car 125 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:37,040 Speaker 1: and to get all the exposures that they're that they're receiving. 126 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 1: I mean, they've been the backbone of our organization for 127 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:43,600 Speaker 1: nine years and uh it's their first time to Victory 128 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:46,920 Speaker 1: Lane with the organization as well. So it just means 129 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: so much to them and to us and to be 130 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 1: able to provide that for them. And like you said, 131 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 1: I mean for champions and so now you know, when 132 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 1: we're having those conversations and we're trying to bring new 133 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: partners in it, it definitely changes to come versation and 134 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:03,799 Speaker 1: allows us to you continue to grow this team and 135 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,479 Speaker 1: continue to make it better and and and that helps 136 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: us to win more races. And so you know, this 137 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 1: sport is tricky. It's it's different than sticking ball sports. 138 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: You gotta have partners and you gotta have sponsorship to 139 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 1: be competitive. And so once you are competitive and and 140 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: you have that success, it just helps you to continue 141 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 1: that into to make the program better. Mike, I want 142 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: to go back to the moment when you've got over 143 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: the radio from NASCAR. Um you described it perfectly. The 144 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: sea's parted and the first thing that into my mind 145 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 1: was Moses in the Ten Commandments, when the sea's parted 146 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 1: and he just took the opportunity. And you were Moses baby. 147 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 1: You were just heading down the track, but you had 148 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: to wait to find out where you were at that 149 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 1: moment of caution. And I think your crew might have 150 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: gotten the word before you did. I'm not sure, because 151 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 1: they had a cutaway and they were all celebrating up 152 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: and down, and I think you were still like, okay, 153 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 1: let's not chink that, let's not chink said, Did you 154 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 1: see them celebrate? I don't, I don't. I don't know 155 00:07:58,160 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: where you were in relationship track to where the way 156 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: the crew was. But what was going through your head 157 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: in those few seconds before you got official confirmation? Yeah, 158 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 1: well it felt like a long time and I don't 159 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 1: know the timing of it, but I think my my 160 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: crew might have been jumping the gun um on our 161 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: nobody on our radio said we want you know, UM, 162 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: we were just waiting to hear, and you know, so 163 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 1: much goes through your mind in that in that period 164 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 1: of time, and yeah, I was. I was fairly confident 165 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: at first, um that we had won the race, and 166 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: you know, and then my mind started going, Man, I 167 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 1: think we just won the day tone of five, I 168 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: think we won, you know, And then immediately I just 169 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: it went to but what if you didn't? And I'm like, 170 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 1: I am going to be so mad that, you know, 171 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:51,320 Speaker 1: we finally get in position, and if we lose this 172 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: thing by an inch, I don't know if I'm gonna 173 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,080 Speaker 1: be able to do these interviews because I'm gonna lose 174 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: my mind. Yeah, you know, you go through so much 175 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: emotion and um, but you know they came over the 176 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: radio and said thirty or four card to the victory lane, 177 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 1: and um, man, I was just so overwhelmed in that moment. 178 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 1: Just um. You don't even know how to express it, 179 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 1: you know, just uh yeah, there's so much joy and 180 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:19,440 Speaker 1: its excitement and just relief and gratitude. I mean there's 181 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:22,560 Speaker 1: just everything and all flowing at once, and it's an 182 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 1: incredible feeling. And I think that for me and for 183 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 1: our team. But I mean I really do feel like 184 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 1: the journey is is what makes that so special. I 185 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 1: mean it is all those years and all those starts. 186 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,440 Speaker 1: I mean, man, I lost three hundred and fifty seven times. 187 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 1: I mean it's hard to lease three hundred fifty seven times, 188 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 1: you know, and still get up thinking that you're gonna win, 189 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 1: and so all that building up, you know, it's just 190 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: it's just overwhelming. See you're talking to a couple of 191 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: old geezer broadcasters. In fact, you are about the age 192 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,679 Speaker 1: of anyway. I'm not gonna get into it, but I'm 193 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 1: trying to get to is that things have changed so much. 194 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: I remember when they first brought stage racing, and I'm thinking, 195 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 1: all right, and I'm old school, I'm not gonna lie, 196 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 1: what's this? Okay, But as I'm seeing it and as 197 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 1: it's developing, I'm starting to like it. What do you 198 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: think about I do like it? Um. I like it 199 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 1: from my you know, selfish, you know perspective. I like 200 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 1: knowing that lap fifty or whatever it might be that 201 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:29,560 Speaker 1: weekend that we're going to get an opportunity to work 202 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 1: on our car and trying to make it better. Um. 203 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 1: And so you're racing too that right, You're you're racing 204 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 1: to lap sixty and then then I know I'm racing 205 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: again to lap one twenty and then I'm gonna get 206 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: an opportunity to work on it. And so I feel like, 207 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: you know, the stages and the stage points, it gives 208 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 1: you races inside the race, and and that seems to, 209 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 1: uh to make it exciting for us and hopefully for 210 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 1: the fans as well. Michael, you're a hundred or one 211 00:10:56,800 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: long shot. The DraftKings out in Nevada and guy plucked 212 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 1: down a hundred bucks and he made himself ten thousand 213 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 1: dollars on your win. How many of your buddies have 214 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: called you up and said, man, he said, did you 215 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:09,599 Speaker 1: have a gut feeling you could at least dropped a 216 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: dime on us this morning so we we could have 217 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: made a little money for ourselves. Yeah. So you know, 218 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:20,560 Speaker 1: I haven't heard from anybody, uh in that regards. And yeah, 219 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: you know, it's it's crazy, you know, A hundreds of 220 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 1: one odds. That's that's pretty wild, you know. But it's uh, 221 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 1: that'll change next year. I bet you that that number 222 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: will change. Oh yeah, you're gonna be on everyone's bingo 223 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:35,320 Speaker 1: card now after after this one. Man. You also own 224 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:40,559 Speaker 1: a small card racing track in North Carolina, right, that's right? Yeah, Moisville, 225 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: North Carolina. We have a GoPro motorplex. And and yeah, 226 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 1: that was that's all about, you know, my roots and 227 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: and just getting back to you know, racing at its 228 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:56,200 Speaker 1: periods form and that's you know, families racing go cards 229 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: and that's how I grew up. And so we have 230 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 1: that now and Wars of North Carolina and the track 231 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: has done really well. And you know, my my business partner, 232 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:07,559 Speaker 1: Justin Marks, it's it's really his baby. He just lets 233 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 1: me be a part of it. Um. But it's just 234 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:12,319 Speaker 1: a dream him and I had and and something that 235 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 1: we literally wrote it out on a napkin of what 236 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:17,319 Speaker 1: we would like to do and build. And you know, 237 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 1: it took a long time, but now we have, you know, 238 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:23,839 Speaker 1: this facility that that young kids, you know, like me, Um, 239 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: starting on goo cards. You know, twenty years from now, 240 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 1: we'll be talking about them when the day two hundred. 241 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:32,440 Speaker 1: You know, UM, I know you're gonna answer this question 242 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 1: with I'm still gonna be the same old Mike every 243 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 1: single day. But your life is about to change dramatically. 244 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 1: Are you ready for that? Are you ready to embrace that? Um? Yeah? 245 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 1: Do you think that there there will be some you know, 246 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 1: peripheral things that change. And Um, but I'm man, I'm 247 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: I'm grounded in my faith, in my family. And when 248 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:55,680 Speaker 1: you have four kids and you come home, reality hits 249 00:12:55,720 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 1: really quickly. I'm dad and and they're super proud and excited. 250 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:05,959 Speaker 1: But we still have school work, and you know, we 251 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 1: still have messes to clean up and dishes and chores 252 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 1: to do and um and so you know, I feel, 253 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: I feel really good about where I'm at. You know, 254 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: I think that had I had success when I was, 255 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 1: you know, new to the sport and in twenty some 256 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:22,559 Speaker 1: years old, than that would be really different. But you know, 257 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 1: I do feel like like I'm seasoned at this point 258 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 1: and feel up for the task. Now. You're going back 259 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 1: to Daytona for the next race. This time is going 260 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: to be on the road courses fourteen turns, three point 261 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:41,080 Speaker 1: six one miles of action pact or right the older parts. 262 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 1: The race is going to be great three pm on Fox, 263 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 1: and which brings up this point. This is something in 264 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 1: the world of COVID now, we we've never had something 265 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: like this where we're kind of going back to the 266 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 1: same track, just a different way of doing it at Daytona. 267 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:00,679 Speaker 1: Can you take us through and that what it's like 268 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 1: racing in a in a COVID world. Well, it's definitely 269 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:07,840 Speaker 1: changed things. I mean, you know, we we as a sport, 270 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:11,679 Speaker 1: I feel like are fairly unique because our sport is 271 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 1: outdoors and we're in our racecars and and so it's 272 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:18,439 Speaker 1: it's definitely got a different you know bubble to it, um, 273 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 1: which has allowed us to you know, to come back 274 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 1: into race and and to do it you know, at 275 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:26,160 Speaker 1: a different capacity. But um, you know, we're racing at 276 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 1: Daytona for the second time on the road course because 277 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 1: we can't go to California. That was the next race 278 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 1: on the schedule, and and you know, unfortunately we're not 279 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:38,360 Speaker 1: able to go there. And and so everybody, everybody, I 280 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: don't mean NASCAR and teams, I mean all of us, 281 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: UM have learned to We just have to, you know, 282 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 1: improvise a little bit. And things aren't exactly how they 283 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 1: used to be. Um, but I feel like we're working, 284 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 1: you know, in a good direction to to get back 285 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 1: to how we were. UM, just gonna take some time, 286 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 1: and we're just you know, trying to get to these 287 00:14:56,320 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 1: racetracks safely. Michael, since Sunday night when you wont have 288 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 1: you had a chance to even to just google it 289 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 1: and look at the list of names. I think there 290 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 1: are forty different people over the sixty three years that 291 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: have have won the Daytona five D and just run 292 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 1: your finger down and said, oh, my goodness, I'm I'm 293 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: in the same list with him and him and him 294 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: and him. You know, I haven't gone through the list, 295 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 1: but you know, I know a few off the top 296 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 1: of my hut. And really, honestly, that's enough to to 297 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 1: know that it's crazy to think that my name, you know, 298 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 1: on there as well. I know we're running out of 299 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 1: time here and and you're you've been so busy and 300 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: so kind to talk with us. I want to ask 301 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: you this one last question when you're dealing now in 302 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 1: this business, because in the end, it is a business. 303 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:50,520 Speaker 1: What advice would you give anybody trying to start up 304 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: to do this for a living? Because it is hard, 305 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 1: and I hope you know anybody trying here's the example 306 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: of Mr three fifty eight finally just kick butt. What 307 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: what advice would you give? Yeah, my advice don't give 308 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 1: up and enjoy the journey in the process. It's not 309 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 1: all unicorns and rainbows, but you just keep fighting and 310 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: you can accomplish anything you want. Michael McDonald, thank you 311 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: so much. My goodness, man, what a feel good story. 312 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 1: I mean really, it really is neat. And and again, 313 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 1: thank you and the three mics here, uh, all of 314 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 1: us talking into a microphone feeling thank you, guys, appreciate it, 315 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 1: thank you, congratulations. Awesome And by the way, you can 316 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 1: see Mike mcnowell try to win another race at Daytona. 317 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: He'll be on the fourteen turn three point six one 318 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 1: mile road course and that will take place at three 319 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 1: pm on Fox. I'm Michael Barr. You've been listening to 320 00:16:56,520 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: the Bloomberg Business of Sports, and I'm Mike Lynn. We 321 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: all like Mike McDowell today. You can follow me at 322 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 1: Lynchy w CBB. You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports 323 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:09,359 Speaker 1: and Bloomberg Radio around the world.