The no-BS podcast for racers who want fans, funding, and freedom.
Hosted by motorsports growth strategist Amanda Van Den Elzen and 2x NHRA Champion Megan Meyer, this show pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to grow in racing today. From sponsorship and social media to mindset and money, we share the stories, strategies, and straight talk that help racers build a brand and a career they love. Whether you’re weekend wrenching or full-time chasing, you’ll find real advice to help you create your version of success in motorsports.
In this special one-year anniversary episode, Amanda and Megan bring on their husbands, Chris Van Den Elzen and Adam Lingner, for an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to run their racing programs. From surviving a 34-hour cross-country RV haul to Glen Helen for the Champ Off-Road series finale to navigating sponsor connections and challenges, the group breaks down the real-world communication dynamics, relationship building, and behind-the-scenes prep that keeps their race teams running. Plus, they dive into the crucial distinction between treating racing as a stress-relieving hobby versus managing a professional business with sponsor obligations, raising the next generation of racers with a strong work ethic, and why authentic industry relationships will always beat fake social media trends.
WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE:
THE GLEN HELEN ROAD TRIP & RV DYNAMICS: The group recaps the 34-hour haul out West, long nights on the road, audiobooks, and managing the team and family dynamic during high-stakes travel.
INFORMAL NETWORKING & FACTORY TOURS: How a casual pit conversation with Alex Striler led to a private tour of Eibach Springs, and how Method Race Wheels worked with Chris to help design next-generation Pro Spec wheels.
HOBBYIST VS. PROFESSIONAL MINDSET: The real-world friction between racing for fun to blow off steam versus running a structured program that delivers measurable ROI to sponsors.
RAISING THE NEXT GENERATION OF RACERS: How young drivers like Carson Hill are learning to prep their own cars, handle sponsor relations, and build a solid work ethic on and off the track.
THE "YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A BADASS" EPIPHANY: Adam's key insight on why race wins aren't the only way to attract sponsors—and why brand promotion, professionalism, and ROI matter far more than driving talent alone.
1 Oct 2026
Episode 25 | Influencers Had It Wrong
Amanda and Megan break down a recent marketing study revealing a major shift in the creator economy: mainstream brands are finally abandoning one-off influencer deals in favor of long-term, relationship-centric partnerships. For motorsports athletes, this isn't news—it's what racing sponsorship has been built on all along. Between breaking down the recent news of Marty Fiolka’s departure from Crandon, reviewing Chris's high-stakes motor swap drama before the Glen Helen championship finale, and sharing fuel-saving apps for long hauls out West, Amanda and Megan deliver a deep-dive guide on distinguishing sales discount programs from true marketing partnerships, providing value through R&D testing, and becoming a brand's go-to ambassador.
WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE:
CRANDON RECAP & SHAKEDOWN DRAMA: Amanda shares the intense behind-the-scenes story of Chris's motor issues at Crandon, an all-night 4:00 AM motor swap, and preparing for an uphill championship fight at Glen Helen.
THE CREATOR ECONOMY CATCHES UP TO MOTORSPORTS: Megan breaks down a recent Net Influencer article (https://www.netinfluencer.com/creator-strategy-for-the-back-half-of-2026-50-experts-on-the-one-change-brands-should-make/) showing that mainstream brands are pivoting to long-term creator relationships—a strategy motorsports athletes have used for decades.
SALES DISCOUNT PROGRAMS VS. MARKETING PARTNERSHIPS: Why generic discount codes, preferred racer programs, and automated affiliate links are sales tools rather than marketing programs—and how to target the right marketing contacts to earn actual income.
R&D AS A HIGH-VALUE SPONSORSHIP OFFER: How Randy Meyer Racing tests custom engine components and how VDE Racing conducts consumer surveys and prototype tire testing for Nexen Tire to deliver massive value off the track.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
MEGAN'S BLOG & NET INFLUENCER ARTICLE: Read Megan’s blog post (https://motorsportsmarketingtips.com/the-sponsorship-lesson-motorsports-got-right-before-the-creator-economy/) breaking down the Net Influencer (https://www.netinfluencer.com/creator-strategy-for-the-back-half-of-2026-50-experts-on-the-one-change-brands-should-make/) creator study on relationship-centric marketing.
AMSOIL PREFERRED RACER PROGRAM: Amanda’s case study on understanding the difference between sales discount programs and building a true marketing partnership. Apply for the AMSOIL Preferred Racer Program here (https://blog.amsoil.com/preferred-racer-program/?utm_source=RacerOnDemand&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=RacerOnDemand_social).
FUEL DISCOUNT APPS: Download Mudflap, Greenlane, and 10-4 to save money on diesel fuel.
- Mudflap referral link - Get $10 in free fuel: https://dashboard.mudflapinc.com/invite/amb9ec (https://dashboard.mudflapinc.com/invite/amb9ec)
- Greenlane referral link - Get a $5 credit: https://greenlane.ai/app (https://greenlane.ai/app) CODE: AMANDA467
- 10-4 referral link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wex.tenfour&pli=1 (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wex.tenfour&pli=1) CODE: CRPUY
RACER ON DEMAND COMMUNITY: Head over to racerondemand.us (https://racerondemand.us/pages/sell-with-racer-on-demand) to professionalize your brand, access resource guides, and take your racing program to the next level.
17 Sept 2026
Episode 24 | An Audience in Every Lane (ft. Haily Unferdorfer)
Amanda and Megan sit down with Haily Unferdorfer from Racer (Senior Marketing Manager for Racer and GridLife) to pull back the curtain on how major media outlets, race series, and grassroots teams build high-value partnerships. The trio explores how GridLife is revolutionizing fan acquisition by combining music festivals with motorsports, the step-by-step formula for creating year-end Proof of Performance (POP) reports that keep sponsors renewing, and how unique pit activations—like Amanda's 6th Annual Crandon Chili Cook-Off—turn casual networking into lasting B2B relationships. Whether you are trying to reach new fans or prove return on investment to corporate partners, this episode is your blueprint for authentic growth.
WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE:
LIVE FROM CRANDON & RACER'S R92 ACTIVATION: Haily breaks down how Racer and GridLife built their R92 suite experience to deliver elevated value to fans, racers, and corporate partners alike.
BRIDGING THE AUDIENCE GAP: How GridLife interconnects music festivals with time attack and drifting to lower the median age in motorsports and convert music fans into race fans.
THE PROOF OF PERFORMANCE (POP) BLUEPRINT: Why year-end POP reports, consistent engagement over viral spikes, and presenting clear ROI metrics keep multi-year sponsors renewing.
PIT ACTIVATIONS & THE CHILI COOK-OFF: How creating unique pit experiences—like Amanda's 6th Annual Crandon Chili Cook-Off backed by AMSOIL—serves as a high-value networking hub for B2B partners.
AUTHENTICITY & FINDING YOUR LANE: Why Gen Z and millennials demand authenticity, and how leaning into your unique personality (from Cross Kirchmeier's pinball machines to pit karaoke) builds an unbeatable personal brand.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
RACER (https://racerplus.com/home) & GRIDLIFE R92 MEMBERSHIP: Explore Racer's membership perk suite, digital archives, and live stream experiences interconnecting fans and sponsors.
ALEX STRILER & PROOF OF PERFORMANCE (https://www.sponsorshiptactics.com/products/bundle-decks-proposals-and-proof-of-performance): Revisit Alex Striler's framework for building coffee-table book proof of performance reports for corporate clients.
RACER ON DEMAND COMMUNITY: Head over to racerondemand.us (http://racerondemand.us) to professionalize your brand, build pit activations, and grow your partnerships.
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