HOT ROD Pod: Where It All Began

HOT ROD Pod: Where It All Began

The HOT ROD Pod: Where It All Began brings 75 years of journalism and storytelling to the audio waves as hosts Brian Lohnes and John McGann sit down with the automotive aftermarket's latest trendsetters, motorsport mavens, and mechanical wizards on where they've been and where the hobby and sport are headed.

Episodes

March 19, 2026 67 mins

Custom car legend Troy Trepanier discusses his journey, award-winning builds, and lasting passion for hot rodding on the HOT ROD Pod.

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Dustin Whipple shares how Whipple Superchargers evolved from boosting 1988 Chevy farm trucks to becoming the go-to upgrade for 2003-2004 Terminator Cobras and Ford Cobra Jet drag racers. For the full story: https://www.hotrod.com/features/whipple-superchargers-history-2003-cobra-origins

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Legendary custom car builder Scott Sullivan discusses his roots at the drag strip, his signature wide-tire street machines, and decades of craftsmanship in this episode of the HOT ROD Pod.

Read more: https://www.hotrod.com/features/scott-sullivan-pro-street-style-hot-rod-pod-interview

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Brian Lohnes & John McGann chat with American race car driver Danny Thompson! Danny talks about the Challenger II, the evolution of the streamliner, the impact of his father Mickey Thompson, bringing the Challenger II back to life, his 450mph Speed Week Record Run, the Ferguson car, and his goal of hitting 500 mph! NEXT, the guys chat with OpenRoad Auto Insurance Chief Revenue Officer Bryan Ballatore all about collector car, sp...

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NHRA's Brian Lohnes & HOT ROD Magazine's John McGann are back at Pomona Speedway for the final day of HOT ROD Power Tour West! Today, the guys sat down with Hot Rod Garage Host, Lucky Costa, to talk about Where It All Began, Overhaulin', his '66 Chevelle, the genesis of Hot Rod Garage, Roadkill, driving himself to jail, steering column failure, the best cars he's ever owned, his HRG Co-Host Alex Taylor, and more! 1:56 - Where ...
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NHRA's Brian Lohnes & HOT ROD Magazine's John McGann take the podcast to Pomona, California for Day 3 of HOT ROD Power Tour West 2023! The guys chat with Hollywood Hot Rods Owner, Troy Ladd, about where it all began, the "One-Day Hot Rod", how he built Hollywood Hot Rods, Road Thrash in 2008, his creative process, behind-the-scenes stories from the Gauntt Coupe & Mulholland Speedster builds, firing customers, working with o...
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NHRA's Brian Lohnes & HOT ROD Magazine's John McGann take the podcast to Irwindale Speedway for HOT ROD Power Tour West to chat with Steve Pazmany of Fully Torqued! Steve tells us where it all began for him, building up his Fully Torqued brand, the world of aftermarket, working with clients, Thermal Club, and what's next! 1:09 - Day One of HOT ROD Power Tour West @ Irwindale Speedway! 3:11 - Steve's mission with Fully Torqued....
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David Frieburger, Brian Lohnes & John McGann are back from the PRI Show to chat with 2023 FIA Top Fuel World Champion - Ida Zetterstrom! Ida talks about her decision to join the NHRA, her racing history - starting at 8 years old, her history in motorcycle drag racing, how she made the transition from Motorcycles to Top Fuel, process of getting her Top Fuel license, joining JCM Racing, plans for 2024 season, major adjustments, s...
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NHRA's Brian Lohnes & HOT ROD Magazine's John McGann chat with former editor of HOT ROD Magazine & Car Craft - Jeff Smith! Known for his decades long tenure as the Editor of both HOT ROD Magazine & Car Craft, Jeff brings us back to where it all began! Jeff tells stories about being hired by Rick Voegelin at Car Craft Magazine in 1979, Pro Street, the impact of Real Street Eliminator, Autocrossing, the genesis of the fir...
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From Snowboarding to HOT RODS! NHRA's Brian Lohnes & HOT ROD Magazine's John McGann chat with Roadster Shop CEO Laurent Potdevin! Laurent's path has taken him from Louis Vuitton, Burton Snowboards, Lululemon, Toms... and now the Roadster Shop! The guys talk to Laurent about Where It All Began, working with Jake Burton, his path to the Roadster Shop, working on a Nitro Dragster with Randy Meyer, thoughts on the EV wave, Cleetus ...
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NHRA's Brian Lohnes and HOT ROD Magazine's John McGann chat with Nelson Racing Engines Founder, Tom Nelson! Tom takes us through the highs and lows of his career, telling never-before-heard stories like putting Twin Turbos in an airboats, and plummeting off 50-foot cliffs in Iceland! The guys talk to Tom about the genesis of Nelson Racing Engines, StreetFire.net, how the show "Driven" got started, the formula off-roading crash in I...
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The legendary Tony Stewart joins hosts Brian Lohnes & David Freiburger on the HOT ROD Pod - LIVE from the 2023 PRI Show in Indianapolis! Tony discusses starting a family with wife Leah Pruett, the decision to take over driving duties for Leah in 2024, making the move to the NHRA, racing in the Indy 500 AND Coca-Cola 600 on the same day (TWICE), why he never returned to the Indy 500, getting a taste of F1, Sprint Car racing, bui...
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Brian Lohnes, David Freiburger, & John McGann chat with South City Rod & Custom owner, Bill Ganahl! Bill talks about the influence of his father Pat, what winning the Goodguys Trendsetter Award means to him, Saint Christopher, barf bags, tradition vs trend, owning a shop vs being an artist, the road to owning his own shop, how the vision has changed for South City, the Low-Buck Special, Gray Baskerville, his father's legacy...
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Brain Lohnes, David Freiburger & John McGann sit down with 6x NHRA Pro Stock World Champion, Erica Enders! Erica talks about becoming the Winningest Woman in Motorsports with her 47th national event win at Texas Motorplex, her racing history, how driving has evolved over the years, relationship with Bob Glidden, handling the heat, Dodge, the feeling of a hole shot win, how she prepares for every race, more women in racing, Tann...
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Brain Lohnes, David Freiburger & John McGann sit down with 2x Drag Week Champion and Owner of Lutz Race Cars, Jeff Lutz! One of the most well-known faces in the sport of drag racing, Jeff Lutz, brings us back to where it all began! The guys talk to Jeff about where the inspiration for racing began, the early days of Drag Week, his rivalry with Larry Larson, how Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings was born, Farmturck and AZN, life in ...
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Brian Lohnes, David Freiberger & John McGann chat with the co-founders of Ringbrothers - Jim & Mike Ring! Ringbrothers tell stories from their early days, discuss the keys to their successful partnership, their process of working with clients, special projects of the past, the Winnebago, how their careers have evolved, cars at this year's SEMA show, the corporatization of Hot Rodding, and what's next! 0:28 - What is the HO...
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December 6, 2023 41 secs
LAUNCHING DECEMBER 15. Welcome to the HOT ROD POD: Where It All Began! Join Brian Lohnes as he talks to the biggest engine builders, drag racers, competitors, and hot rod builders in the business - the movers and shakers of the high performance aftermarket, legends past, present and future. Each week Brian will be joined by an amazing rotating cast of co-hosts like John McGann, the Editor of HOT ROD Magazine, David Freiberger of ...
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