Rephonic
Artwork for It's Not the Car
Indy 500
IMSA
NASCAR
Indycar
Le Mans
Formula One
Motorsport
Porsche 911
Ferrari
Road America
Racing
Days Of Thunder
Road & Track
Race Engineering
Porsche
John Godfrey Parry-Thomas
Race Strategy
Flow State
24 Hours Of Daytona
Gilles Villeneuve

It’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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes117Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

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Artwork for It's Not the Car

Latest Episodes

This summer, for the first time in 15 years, IndyCar unveiled a new chassis. The Dallara IR-28 has a chance to change everything about the world’s fastest wheel-to-wheel racing. And when the car takes its first green flag in 2028, maybe it will.

Pa... more

This episode is about how racing sucks you in—even (or perhaps especially) if it’s tied to your day job. And never more than with endurance racing.

Last month, BFGoodrich invited Ross and Sam to co-drive a Porsche Boxster in a ChampCar enduro weeken... more

Balázs Remenyik is a professional sim racer and the official simulator development driver for the Citroën Formula E team. He’s also chief instructor at the Speed Secrets Sim Racer Academy, where INTC co-host Ross Bentley is founder and head coach.

S... more

Some love it, some hate it. You’re probably doing at least part of it wrong, even if you’re good at it.

Twenty years ago, INTC co-host Ross Bentley was a beta tester for the original version of iRacing, the world’s largest online racing sim. Today,... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Tuned In
Tuned InHigh Performance Academy

Recent Guests

TJ Dennis
Brand manager for Ultra-High Performance tires, BFGoodrich (now racing business lead)
BFGoodrich
Episode: Crappy Miatas, Endurance Porsches, and Other Fun Diseases — with TJ + Ed from BFGoodrich
Ed Gliss
Test/development driver for tires
Michelin / BFGoodrich
Episode: Crappy Miatas, Endurance Porsches, and Other Fun Diseases — with TJ + Ed from BFGoodrich
David Kicak
Manager of ChampCar Endurance Series Marketing
ChampCar
Episode: Crappy Miatas, Endurance Porsches, and Other Fun Diseases — with TJ + Ed from BFGoodrich
Balázs Remenyik
Pro sim racer, co-founder of the sim racing academy
Advanced Sim Racing (Montreal)
Episode: FREE BONUS: The Hyper-Nerdy Sim Racing FAQ — with Balázs Remenyik
Balazs Romeniak
Pro sim racer, simulation developer, and coach mentioned as Balazs in conversation
Advanced Sim Racing / Citroën Formula E team (mentioned)
Episode: You're Wrong About Sim Racing
Ashley Bailey
Tire specialist for 13 Autosport
13 Autosport
Episode: How to Get a Job in Racing — Ashley Baily, IMSA Tire Specialist
Ori Fadani
Team owner, 13 Autosport
13 Autosport
Episode: What it Feels Like to Quit Le Mans
Matt Bell
Pro driver, part of the Corvette GT program
Corvette Racing / IMSA
Episode: What it Feels Like to Quit Le Mans
Bill Elliott
NASCAR legend, Sprint Cup Champion, and American racing icon
NASCAR
Episode: Sliding Hoopties with a NASCAR Legend — (Live in Grattan, MI - 6/13/26)

Hosts

Ross Bentley
Former IndyCar driver and performance coach; co-host focused on coaching, engineering intuition, and driver development.
Sam Smith
Award-winning journalist, club racer, and former executive editor of Road & Track; hosts and content driver with a focus on storytelling and industry context.
Jeff Braun
Champion race engineer; co-host and technical lead, with hands-on experience in IMSA, NASCAR, and endurance programs.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 394 ratings
  • Sam needs to pump the brakes.

    I like this pod. I’d like it a lot more if Sam would talk a bit less. Good guy, just way too verbose and a bit overbearing.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    poortry
    United States4 months ago
  • 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 Podcasts
    5
    crashrideover
    United States4 months ago
  • Only learned one thing…

    …that it’s not the car

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bennyman008
    United States6 months ago
  • Ooozes Charm, Not Gross

    Interesting people using their astounding experience to discuss RACING CARS! YAY! (it’s not the cars!)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    twodogsnamedbob
    United States8 months ago
  • Ooozes Charm, Not Gross

    Interesting people using their astounding experience to discuss RACING CARS! YAY!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    twodogsnamedbob
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise deep engineering insights paired with engaging storytelling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#184
Argentina/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

You're Wrong About Sim Racing
Q: What role does coaching play in turning sim practice into real-world results?
Coaching helps steer practice toward high-leverage tasks, ensures correct technique, and can create structured practice plans that avoid wasting hours on nonproductive drills.
You're Wrong About Sim Racing
Q: What makes sim racing a valuable training tool beyond just playing a game?
Deliberate, goal-oriented practice on sims can translate to real-world driving skills, especially when coaching helps focus on the right techniques and structure rather than just racking up hours.
How to Get a Job in Racing — Ashley Baily, IMSA Tire Specialist
Q: How did you get started in tires and racing given your pastry background?
Ashley explains she started by helping with tasks around the tire wall, learned on the fly, and gradually took on more responsibility, proving that passion and hands-on learning can lead to a full-time role.
Sliding Hoopties with a NASCAR Legend — (Live in Grattan, MI - 6/13/26)
Q: If there is one skill that you could secretly install in our brains tonight, what would it be and why?
Sleep and rest—without it, performance and learning suffer; with a plan and proper rest, you can process and improve more effectively.
BONUS Episode PREVIEW – Listener Q&A – 11/25
Q: How do drivers manage sleep during a 24-hour race?
Drivers use various techniques including short naps, massages, and nutrition to manage rest during endurance races.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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 centers on high-speed engineering, driving psychology, and racing culture through candid storytelling and deep-dive analysis. Episodes frequently explore how to translate real-world racecraft into coaching, data-driven decision making, and practical driving prowess, often featuring guests from sim racing, endurance, and top-tier motorsport. A standout is the trio's blend of engineering know-how, journalist perspective, and coaching experience, which yields a rich mix of technical breakdowns, behind-the-scenes paddock anecdotes, and practical tips for aspiring drivers and industry professionals. Listeners can expect a mix of myth-busting discussions, live-event storytelling, and actionable guidance on preparation, training, and per... more

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Which podcasts are similar to It's Not the Car?

These podcasts share a similar audience with It's Not the Car:

1. The Smoking Tire
2. The Carmudgeon Show
3. Spike's Car Radio
4. Everyday Driver Car Debate
5. Tuned In

How many episodes of It's Not the Car are there?

It's Not the Car launched 3 years ago and published 117 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on It's Not the Car?

Recent guests on It's Not the Car include:

1. TJ Dennis
2. Ed Gliss
3. David Kicak
4. Balázs Remenyik
5. Balazs Romeniak
6. Ashley Bailey
7. Ori Fadani
8. Matt Bell

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