Oil and Whiskey with Roadster Shop

This week on Oil & Whiskey , we’re doing things a little differently. The guys went on location at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis and sat down with Elite Motorsports inside one of the biggest hospitality setups in drag racing. Richard Freeman joins the show to talk about how Elite Motorsports grew from family roots in drag racing into a full-scale operation with multiple teams, dozens of people on the road, national event wins, world championships, and drivers like Erica Enders, Aaron Stanfield, Greg Stanfield, Jeg Coughlin Jr., and Tony Stewart all under the same umbrella. We get into the business of modern Pro Stock, what it takes to scale a race program, why people are still the hardest part of any operation, and how Elite has built a program where racers can show up, plug in, and compete at the highest level. Erica Enders and Aaron Stanfield also jump in to talk about getting behind the wheel of a Top Fuel car, the difference between Pro Stock and nitro racing, pressure, nerves, race-day focus, and why Pro Stock is still one of the purest hot rods in motorsports. There’s also plenty of talk about the future of NHRA, making drag racing more accessible, pit access, the chaos behind the scenes, law enforcement stories, life advice, 1969 Camaros, no-blue race cars, and the usual Oil & Whiskey detours. Watch or listen now wherever you get Oil & Whiskey .

This week on Oil & Whiskey, we’re joined once again by our friend Shawn Davis and this time with Kyle Simon from Autotopia LA.It’s been a few years since Shawn first sat down with the guys, and a lot has changed since then. The Autotopia LA channel has kept growing, the team has evolved, the podcast has launched, and the guys are now closing in on that next big YouTube milestone.We get into what makes an Autotopia video work, why the car and the owner always come first, and how their approach feels more like a modern video magazine than traditional influencer content. Shawn and Kyle talk about finding the right cars, the right characters, the right builders, and why the best videos usually come from people who actually use the cars they built.The guys also dig into sketchy ride-alongs, bench-seat burnouts, 2,500 horsepower street cars, naturally aspirated vs. boosted power, the Ruffian Fox Body, Ringbrothers, Roadster Shop chassis, ergonomics, car sounds, and the difference between a car that looks good and one that actually feels right from behind the wheel.They also talk about YouTube comments, AI, social media’s effect on the car world, the Autotopia LA podcast, the Roadster Shop SEMA booth and party, and why giving builders more visibility matters.

This week on Oil & Whiskey, we’re joined by Kenny Davis of Kenny Davis Hot Rods.Kenny has been around the Roadster Shop crew for a long time, long enough to remember picking up some of the first RS chassis back around 2008/2009, including the one still under his dad’s ’55 Nomad. We get into Kenny’s history with Tri-Fives, growing up around his dad’s cars, road-tripping Nomads and ’55s all over the country, and why those cars still have such a hold on him. The guys also talk about the evolution of Roadster Shop chassis, Kenny’s current builds, Suburban and Blazer projects, the collision side of the business, hot rod shop realities, customers, craftsmanship, and how much the industry has changed over the years. And because it’s Kenny, there are plenty of stories: the coma, the steamroller, body shop conferences, Arkansas vs. Yankees, Kenny Davis jeans, American Graffiti, Ferrari 308 dreams, music comparisons, and a whole lot of ball-busting between old friends.

This week on Oil & Whiskey, we’re joined by Josh Wallace of Reviving Relics.Josh made the trip from Lebanon, Tennessee to talk about how he went from diesel trucks, Peterbilt quality control, and working on Matt Hagan’s NHRA crew to starting Reviving Relics and figuring out what it actually takes to run a hot rod shop that can survive.We get into the early days of taking on service work, learning how to quote jobs, tracking time, finding the right customers, building relationships with vendors, and why making a business profitable in this industry is a lot harder than just working harder.Of course, we also dig into Terry’s ’59 truck, the SEMA push, the Roadster Shop booth, the custom tailgate, the big-window conversion, the thrash to get it done, and why that build became Reviving Relics’ first real business card.Josh also talks about building for repeat customers, the importance of the experience, current shop projects like the ’70 Challenger, the LT4/T-56 Camaro, the Viper-powered Power Wagon, and what’s next for the shop.Add in a ’72 F100 first car story, Eagles Greatest Hits, Wild Turkey, work ethic debates, Lebanon pronunciation lessons, and the normal amount of Oil & Whiskey nonsense.

This week on Oil & Whiskey, we’re joined by Josh Shaw.Josh is one of those names that seems to show up everywhere once you start paying attention. Hot rod art, concept drawings, custom paint, flame work, vintage race cars, Indy cars, Miller restorations, Firebirds, old Roadster Shop shirt designs, and about a thousand stories in between.We get into his early days drawing cars, how napkin sketches at the right lunch turned into real work with some of the biggest names in the industry, the Ohio deep-flame era, working with guys like Bobby Alloway and Jesse Greening, the Dynamat coupe, and the road that eventually led him deep into restoring vintage sprint cars, Indy cars, and historic Miller race cars.Josh also talks about the research side of restoring old race cars, why accuracy matters, how taking the customer’s opinion out of the equation can actually make a build easier, the Firebird hood art that earned him the “Fire Chicken Facilitator” title, and a hilarious full-circle moment involving some very old Roadster Shop artwork.Audio note: we had a rare issue with this episode’s audio, but the conversation was too good not to share. Turn it up, turn on captions and enjoy this one.

This week on Oil & Whiskey, we’re joined by the crew from Revamped Rides.Dalton, Scott, and `'Diet' Dalton sit down with the guys to talk about how Revamped Rides came together, how the shop has grown in just a few short years, and what it takes to build cars at a high level while still figuring things out the hard way.We get into the Thunderbird that put Revamped Rides on a lot of people’s radar, the metalwork, fabrication, bodywork, paint, customer expectations, and the reality of building the kind of cars that don’t need to be over-explained when they roll into a show.The guys also talk about shop culture, learning through mistakes, taking criticism, building a body of work, SEMA, Roadster Shop chassis talk, car show etiquette, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is let the car speak for itself.

This week on Oil & Whiskey, we’re joined by Heath and Jeff of Murray Kustom Rods.The guys made the trip from the Dallas/Fort Worth area to talk about the road that led them into building cars at a high level, from sport trucks, paint and body work, choppers, race cars, and early custom work to the kind of full builds Murray Kustom Rods is known for today.We get into their current Lincoln project, what it takes to build something with Riddler-level expectations, how a shop grows through the hard seasons, and the reality of keeping a team together while still pushing the quality of the work forward.Heath and Jeff also talk about sheet metal work, developing young talent, the difference between just getting cars done and actually building something special, their Roadster Shop connection, burnout, work ethic, and why sometimes you have to be just a little too stubborn to quit.Plenty of shop stories, industry talk, and custom car chaos in this one.

This week on Oil & Whiskey, we’re joined by Spencer and Jean of Arizona Rod Shop.Spencer and Jean made the trip from Arizona to talk about the shop’s path from paint and collision work into full custom hot rod builds, how their friendship started through a C10 part, and how Arizona Rod Shop has grown into the shop it is today.We get into Spencer’s deep C10 and squarebody obsession, the Arizona Rod Shop truck “farm,” the little factory details most people miss, and how that knowledge carries into the builds they take on now.The guys also talk about blending old-school craftsmanship with new-school technology, from Pullmax machines, English wheels, and metal shaping to 3D scanning, reverse engineering, 3D printing, Roadster Shop chassis, and high-end drivetrains.We also cover customer expectations, building the right vendor relationships, why not every project is worth taking on, OBS trucks, Pro Street making a comeback, the future of automotive content after Discovery Channel, and plenty more.

This week on Oil & Whiskey , we’re joined by Alicia Marie. Alicia made the trip down from Canada to talk trucks, cars, content, and what it’s like carving out a real place in the automotive world without pretending to be something she’s not. We get into the story behind her rowdy Chevy truck, her 1967 Nova, the reality of buying and fixing old vehicles, learning as she goes, and why stance and sound are at the top of the list. Alicia also talks about balancing a corporate career with a full-blown car obsession, growing her platform, dealing with the “influencer” label, earning respect in the industry, SEMA, Roadster Shop, Canadian whiskey, Tim Hortons, and plenty of classic Oil & Whiskey chaos along the way. Watch or listen now wherever you get Oil & Whiskey .

This week on *Oil & Whiskey*, we’re joined by Roadster Shop’s Kyle Blanas and Jimmy Emiley for the next installment of our behind-the-scenes RS department episodes.Kyle and Jimmy have both spent over a decade at Roadster Shop, starting at the bottom and working their way through chassis production, frame rails, TIG welding, CNC/plasma/laser work, assembly, crating, and eventually into leadership roles overseeing RS1 and RS2.In this episode, we get into the evolution of Roadster Shop chassis production, how the team has grown, what changed when the shop moved from plasma cutting to laser cutting, the balance between process and “cowboy,” and what it takes to keep chassis moving out the door without losing sight of quality.We also talk about customer pickups, the importance of the final details, shop stories from the early days, moving from the floor into management, and why the last thing the chassis team touches is often the first thing the customer sees.

This week on Oil & Whiskey, we’re joined by Gary Ragle of Ragle Design. Gary brings a unique perspective to the custom car world, with a background that started in OEM design at Mitsubishi and Ford before moving full-time into hot rods, customs, and some of the highest-level builds in the industry. In this episode, we get into Gary’s path from concept cars to custom builds, what it’s like designing cars that actually get built, the balance between wild ideas and real-world execution, and how his eye for proportion, restraint, and detail has shaped projects with shops like Ringbrothers. We also talk about ENYO, Octavia, the evolution of interiors, traditional hot rods, ugly duckling cars, OEM design trends, Goodguys Columbus, and where the custom car world might be headed next.

This week on Oil & Whiskey , we’re joined by John Wargo of The Custom Shop. John has been at it since 1988, building everything from wild mini trucks and graphic-heavy show vehicles to muscle cars, SEMA builds, custom paint, and full-blown one-off projects. This one gets into the early days, building cars right out of high school, work ethic, the evolution of the custom car world, SEMA stories, magazine features, old builds coming back around, and what it really takes to keep doing this at a high level for decades.

Its here! The longest runtime, the long awaited & highly requested... Roadster Shop Sales Team on Oil & Whiskey!Phil Smunt, Ervin Cabrales, and Andrew Erichsen join us this week to talk all about customer relations, hanging out at shows, and how a $200 cooler of beer is the best marketing tool there is.

This week on Oil & Whiskey , we’re joined by Dave Hall and Tyler Flaherty of Restore a Muscle Car. We get into the shop, the builds, the business, Trans Ams, muscle cars, and what it takes to keep classic American performance alive at a high level. A lot of great stories in this one from two guys who have been deep in the muscle car world for a long time.

On this episode of Oil & Whiskey, we’re joined by part of the RS hot rod fab team: Jon York, Spencer Newman, and Dakota Montour. From the work that goes into high-level builds to the chaos, craftsmanship, and shop stories that come with it. A trip, and a stumble, down sketchy memory lane, the boys recall the early days and how each of them ended up at Roadster Shop.

This week on Oil and Whiskey, we’re joined by Sam Murtaugh, COO of Mecum Auctions.Sam sits down with the guys to talk about his path from detailing cars at Turtle Wax to working with Dana Mecum’s personal collection and eventually helping lead one of the biggest names in collector car auctions. The conversation gets into the evolution of Mecum, what makes the auction world tick, how buyer behavior has changed, and why quality builds are bringing serious money.They also dive into the current state of the collector car market, the rise of ’80s, ’90s, and early 2000s cars, hidden gems that may still have room to grow, massive auction moments like Kissimmee, the stories behind rare collections, and what it takes to keep younger enthusiasts engaged in the hobby.

This week on Oil & Whiskey, we sit down with racing legend Tony Stewart.From dirt tracks and Talladega stories to NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA, sprint cars, and life after Cup racing—this episode goes everywhere.Tony talks about:The moment he knew NASCAR was changingOld-school racing stories most people have never heardGetting pulled over… multiple timesThe chaos of grassroots racing cultureWhy dirt racing still mattersLife after NASCAR and finding new challengesThis wasn’t your typical polished interview. It turned into one of the funniest, most honest conversations we’ve had on the podcast.

This week on Oil & Whiskey, we sit down with Ben VanEperen and Zach Raddatz from No Coast Custom & Rod Shop.

This week on Oil & Whiskey, we sit down with Jasmine Green, better known as @six_four_stout.If you’ve seen her work, you already know. Some of the cleanest metal shaping and fabrication out there right now, all coming out of a shed in Australia.Jasmine walks us through how it all started, from getting into mini trucks with her first Hilux to building her now well-known Toyota Stout. What began as a simple project quickly turned into something much bigger, pushing her skills in metal shaping, design, and fabrication further than expected.We get into her process, learning as she goes, figuring things out without everything planned, and the mindset it takes to tackle builds at this level. A lot of the work you see is not mapped out ahead of time. It’s built piece by piece through creativity and problem solving.

OW S5 EP 15 Lost AngelsIn this episode of Oil & Whiskey, we sit down with Aaron Valencia, founder of Lost Angels Career Center, a nonprofit using classic cars and hands-on training to give at-risk youth a real path forward.What started as a passion for cars turned into something much bigger. An opportunity to teach valuable skills, build discipline, and create second chances for kids who need it most. Through restoration projects, fabrication, and mentorship, Aaron and his team are changing lives in a way that goes far beyond the garage.We talk about how Lost Angels got started, the impact it’s having, and why the trades and the car community can play such a powerful role in shaping the next generation.This is what the automotive world is really about.