It's Not the Car
Sam Smith, Ross Bentley, Jeff BraunIt’s Not the Car is a podcast about people and speed. We tell racing stories and leave out the boring parts. Ross Bentley is a former IndyCar driver and a world-renowned performance coach. Jeff Braun is a champion race engineer with time in NASCAR and IMSA. Sam Smith is an award-winning journalist, a club racer, and a former executive editor of Road & Track magazine. We don’t love motorsport for t... more
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 108 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | Sports | |||
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Latest Episodes
Our favorite race cars—the ones that stick out, from all the stuff we’ve driven.
This is an episode about many things. Love. Hate. Jeff’s mouse-filled Triumph Spitfire. The 1970s BMW IMSA factory team car that Sam rode all lock-stop-drift-slappy dow... more
This is what: Three races into 2026, the FIA is trying to fix what it broke. Because everyone hates it.
(Ross goes on a rant in this one! Ross *never* goes on rants!)
Here’s a joke: A former IndyCar driver and a former Road & Track editor walk into... more
We call this "Take Your Podshow to Work Day." Three stories of weird days on the racing job—one from each of our hosts.
Once, Sam had the chance to drive a 230-mph Le Mans prototype—a factory-owned Porsche 917K!—and he said no. Why? It’s complicated... more
Ten years ago, INTC's Jeff Braun helped a Japanese carmaker go IMSA racing with a 180-mph diesel prototype. The car was cool. More than 700 lb-ft of torque at 2800 rpm. Gobs of potential.
Also: It blew up every five minutes.
(An exaggeration, of co... more
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Reviews
- Great Pod
Such a great motorsports and car enthusiast podcast. Sam, Jeff, and Ross have so much experience and so many stories to share about their careers and life. A must listen for anyone who loves fast cars and racing culture.
Apple Podcasts5crashrideover
United States16 days ago - Only learned one thing…
…that it’s not the car
Apple Podcasts5Bennyman008United States2 months ago - Ooozes Charm, Not Gross
Interesting people using their astounding experience to discuss RACING CARS! YAY! (it’s not the cars!)
Apple Podcasts5twodogsnamedbobUnited States4 months ago - Ooozes Charm, Not Gross
Interesting people using their astounding experience to discuss RACING CARS! YAY!
Apple Podcasts5twodogsnamedbobUnited States5 months ago - Have Fun
This is such an enjoyable podcast. Listening to Sam, Jeff, and Ross is always entertaining and you even learn things…
Apple Podcasts5I can’t think of one..really?United States6 months ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #113 |  Argentina/Sports |
Apple Podcasts | #217 |  Netherlands/Sports |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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Frequently Asked Questions About It's Not the Car
What is It's Not the Car about and what kind of topics does it cover?
This show focuses on people and speed, delivering racing stories that center on process, psychology, and craftsmanship behind performance. Episodes frequently explore engineering challenges, coaching approaches, team culture, and the human side of motorsport, often weaving historical context with modern racing dynamics. A standout is the trio of hosts whose chemistry blends technical depth with storytelling, plus frequent expert guests who illuminate car design, race strategy, and performance mindset. The format ranges from endurance-race rebuilds to deep-dives into iconic races and driver development, making it a compelling listen for listeners who want both technical insight and human-interest in the world of speed.
Where can I find podcast stats for It's Not the Car?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for It's Not the Car. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to It's Not the Car and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does It's Not the Car get?
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What are the audience demographics for It's Not the Car?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for It's Not the Car, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.
How many subscribers and views does It's Not the Car have?
To see how many followers or subscribers It's Not the Car has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.
Which podcasts are similar to It's Not the Car?
These podcasts share a similar audience with It's Not the Car:
1. Dinner with Racers
2. The Smoking Tire
3. The Carmudgeon Show
4. Spike's Car Radio
5. The Marshall Pruett Podcast
How many episodes of It's Not the Car are there?
It's Not the Car launched 2 years ago and published 108 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact It's Not the Car?
Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.
Where can I see ratings and reviews for It's Not the Car?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for It's Not the Car from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for It's Not the Car?
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What guests have appeared on It's Not the Car?
Recent guests on It's Not the Car include:
1. Andrew Stittel
2. Charlie Ping
3. JR Hildebrand
4. Marshall Pruett
5. Chris Andrews
6. Kyle Kinard
7. Baptiste Viala
8. Jeff Braun
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.