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00:00Alright everybody, we are joined here this afternoon with now returnee Meyers Schenck
00:07Racing driver, but this man has a lot of accolades to say the least.
00:12Mr. Colin Brown.
00:13Colin, thanks so much for taking some time in to talk, obviously exciting week for you
00:18guys at Meyers Schenck Racing.
00:20We knew the team was coming back, we weren't sure what the driver lineup would be, but
00:23now we know you and Tom Bloomquist will be back fielding the number 60 and you guys will
00:28be joined with a couple newbies with Rainer Van Der Zand and Nick Yellowy, obviously not
00:34new to the IMSA paddock, but definitely going to be new to the Acura organization and obviously
00:40to Meyers Schenck Racing, but just kind of get your overall thoughts, I mean, how excited
00:44are you for this opportunity?
00:45It's got me pretty pumped.
00:46Yeah, man, thanks for having me on and then yeah, I mean, very exciting to come back to
00:52Meyers Schenck Racing.
00:53I mean, had a great season in 2023, you know, with a lot of wins and just what a great team,
01:01what a great organization.
01:02You know, I couldn't have dreamed up a better return back into GTP and, you know, the folks
01:09at HRC and Acura have been working extremely hard over the whole course of time and, you
01:15know, I think we're going to really hit the ground running come Daytona 2025.
01:20How excited are you to be connected back again with Tom Bloomquist?
01:22It seems like you two really hit it off when you guys ran in that in that 2023 season in
01:27the first year in the GTP class.
01:29So just how excited are you to be able to team with Tom again?
01:32And obviously we know how how impressive he is behind the wheel of a GTP car, whether
01:36it be Acura or what we saw with him in Cadillac.
01:38So how excited are you to just be back with him racing again in this in this kind of return
01:42venture with Meyers Schenck?
01:43Yeah, very excited.
01:45I mean, Tom and I obviously we've become great friends, you know, off the racetrack.
01:50But, you know, working together, I mean, I haven't driven with a co-driver that I think
01:55is more similar in style and approach and and sort of what they want in a car as I have
02:00with Tom.
02:01I mean, we're both I feel like we always want the same thing out of the car.
02:05And that's, you know, I think a big portion of the success that we were able to have together
02:11as a package is, you know, when I'm in the car, I'm trying to make it better and improve
02:16it for what works for me.
02:18And fortunately enough, that's exactly what Tom needs and vice versa.
02:21You know, we're both pulling the rope in the same direction and very, very, very excited
02:27to be back back with him.
02:28And yeah, I mean, it's just, you know, kind of like getting the band back together.
02:32I mean, we've got, you know, the same partners with with the car side on Acura and HRC and
02:38same co-drivers, same team.
02:40I mean, it's just it's perfect.
02:42Talk about this kind of process to come back with Meyers Schenck Racing.
02:45You're doing a little bit of different things throughout this year.
02:49You raced an IndyCar early in the year.
02:51You obviously had the opportunity to race with CrowdStrike Racing by APR.
02:56So you've had a lot of different opportunities throughout the year.
02:59But kind of when did this process kind of begin of of you coming back to Meyers Schenck?
03:03We obviously heard the news earlier this summer that they were going to come back.
03:07But when was kind of that process of of you returning to the team and getting back with
03:12the program?
03:13Well, yeah, that's a good question.
03:15And I think, you know, as soon as the checkered flag fell at Petit in 2023, you know, Mike
03:21obviously was very determined to get Meyers Schenck back in the IMSA Patek in the GTP
03:26class.
03:27And he was working full force on making that happen.
03:29And so, you know, he'd always told me, hey, if I get this done, when I get this done,
03:34like, you know, I want you to come back and be a part of it.
03:37And so, yeah, you know, I would say kind of middle of the summer was when it really started
03:42to, you know, to look like I was going to have a chance to come back and be a part of
03:48it. So, you know, it's it's a process.
03:51I mean, you know, there's only so many of these GTP cars in existence and they're big
03:57programs. And, you know, I was just thrilled when when Mike said, hey, it's looking like
04:02it's all coming back together and we want you to come back and be part of it.
04:06Yeah. And you guys really have such a strong lineup, especially coming into this year,
04:10obviously, between you and Tom and then adding Rainer and Nick, both who have been, you
04:15know, factory drivers for their respective manufacturers.
04:17I mean, you guys arguably have one of the biggest one of the strongest lineups heading
04:23into twenty twenty five.
04:24I mean, I mean, overall, what do you think of just the talent level that you're going to
04:27get to work with and and also kind of being a little bit of a help for for a guy like
04:31Nick and Rainer, who are new to this program and are going to be learning from you guys
04:35and also from the team as well?
04:38Yeah, I mean, really looking forward to working with Rainer and Nick, obviously, those guys
04:42both have had a lot of success with Cadillac, with BMW, you know, so it's going to be
04:48interesting kind of working with them and, you know, getting their perspectives on, you
04:52know, what what were pros and cons of their cars and, you know, what the accurate drives
04:58like and, you know, maybe blending blending some of the things that, you know, their
05:02experience and some of the knowledge they have kind of into our program.
05:06And and vice versa, I think, you know, it's always always an opportunity to learn and
05:11improve and, you know, get better from from driving side, engineering side, system side.
05:16I think there's going to be, you know, a good meld of things that come together.
05:20And, you know, not to mention they're both great guys.
05:23I've raised Rainer for forever and ever and ever and always had a lot of respect for him.
05:28And, you know, Nick's obviously done a great job in the BMW.
05:32And and yeah, I think we're going to, you know, all get along really well and just try
05:37to push this program forward.
05:39Now, the last time you guys were in the Acura, obviously you you were a one car operation
05:44and Wayne Taylor had the other other operation for it for Acura.
05:47But now you guys get to have both cars within within the paddock for for Meyers Schenck
05:52Racing.
05:53So how beneficial is that to just have both of of the cars underneath the team's brand
05:58in terms of just the development, you know, kind of working together with the team, having
06:03a little bit more synergy, obviously, when you guys were with Wayne Taylor Racing, you
06:06know, you're two different teams.
06:07So you're competing against each other and you're trying to win.
06:10And both teams are trying to compete to win the championship.
06:12So so how beneficial is going to be to have the other Acura within your team for this
06:18upcoming season?
06:19Yeah, I think really good point.
06:22I think it's going to be definitely a big help.
06:24I mean, you know, these cars are so sophisticated and there's so many different setup options
06:29and systems options and ability to tune different things that, you know, having two cars will
06:36allow us to spread some of that load and, you know, accomplish more setup changes and
06:41system changes.
06:42You know, and every time we're on the track, I mean, we're going to, you know, just double
06:47down sort of our ability to to learn and try things.
06:52And so I think that's going to be really beneficial for us as a group.
06:56And, you know, of course, you get to the race side of things and you get to some of
07:00the decision making strategy calls where it could go one way or the other way.
07:05And, you know, we now have, I think, the ability to sort of split strategies on some of those
07:10things.
07:11And, you know, obviously it's going to work for one car and not for the other.
07:14But, you know, as a group trying to get Honda and Acura in victory lane, I think it's just
07:18going to be massively helpful.
07:20Absolutely.
07:21And you mentioned just about how how difficult these cars are.
07:24They're very there's there's a lot of different features that that makes these cars very complex,
07:30if you will.
07:31And obviously, in your first season in the GTB class, you know, you guys win the Daytona
07:36race, obviously a massive deal going back to back.
07:40I mean, how big of a confidence boost was that?
07:42I know there was a lot obviously a lot of stuff that happened after the fact.
07:45But I mean, you guys were still able to win the race.
07:47You guys still were able to kind of kick off the season, you know, start the GTB era in
07:51a big way.
07:52I mean, how important was that for a confidence boost for you guys with the new car, with
07:56Acura?
07:57You know, it was, you know, a new venture for everybody.
07:59So how important was that win back at Daytona a few years ago?
08:02Oh, it's huge.
08:03I mean, it was so, you know, it was so much work, you know, and as as a driver, I got
08:09to see only glimpses of all the work that went on behind the scenes.
08:13I mean, the people at at at that time, HPD, now HRC and all the folks at Acura, I mean,
08:19they'd been working so hard to get those cars ready to go racing and, you know, all
08:25the hybrid systems and all the things that were brand new, not to mention all of our
08:29guys at Meyers Schenck.
08:30I mean, it was just I don't think people, you know, in racing, we always talk about
08:34how much work it is and all that.
08:36But I mean, this was just insane next level amount of work that all these people put in,
08:43you know, working through the holidays and all these crazy things.
08:46And so I think to be able to get that win rewarded and pay off all that hard work and
08:51motivated that group for the rest of the season, I mean, we saw the amount of work pay off
08:57and we won and it was successful.
08:59And I think that just made everyone dig in that little bit harder and want to put that
09:04extra effort in throughout the rest of the season.
09:06And, you know, we kept getting rewarded with that hard work by winning and running up front.
09:10And so, yeah, kind of, you know, fed the momentum for us, for sure.
09:14And absolutely.
09:15You guys found a lot of success, too, in the endurance races.
09:17That's definitely got to give you a little bit of confidence heading into this season.
09:21A lot of endurance races, you know, I imagined that you guys are going to be pretty confident
09:26early on, often running, especially with two endurance races to kick off the year.
09:30Yeah, for sure.
09:31I mean, you know, those races are some of the hardest ones, but they're also some of
09:36the most, I think, favorable for teams that are well prepared and that show up ready to
09:42execute.
09:43You know, I think that really is a strong suit of Meyers Schenck and the folks at HRC.
09:49I mean, they're, you know, so buttoned up and we just show up to the racetrack ready
09:52to do our job.
09:54And that really plays a big part of those long endurance races, for sure.
09:59Looking at this GTP class this upcoming season, I mean, the first year that you guys were
10:03in it, only four manufacturers.
10:05It was under 10 cars.
10:07Now you look at this season upcoming, I mean, you're going to have six manufacturers over
10:12double digits in terms of the amount of cars they're going to be running in this race.
10:16I mean, are going to be running in this season, I should say.
10:19I mean, it's really going to be an exciting year for the GTP class.
10:23How excited are you just be able to go up against an expanded field, more competition?
10:28Other manufacturers are jumping in.
10:29I mean, this is a really, really big season for the GTP class coming into 2025.
10:35Yeah, for sure.
10:36I think IMSA has done such a great job with the class and with the series.
10:40I mean, you know, it's just crazy the amount of publicity and interest and, you know, not
10:47only from the manufacturers like you talk about, but, you know, just going to these
10:51races, seeing the amount of fans, seeing the amount of people that are excited to watch
10:55on TV.
10:56I mean, the series is in a great place with a lot of momentum and it's definitely really
11:02cool to be a part of.
11:03And, you know, I couldn't think of a better way than to hit the ground running in Daytona
11:08and repeat what, you know, what we're able to accomplish there in 23.
11:12Yeah.
11:13I mean, just looking at the interest for Daytona, I mean, John Doonan had said that
11:17there was a potential that there was 90 cars that are interested in running that race.
11:23I mean, that's definitely got to be something where as a driver in this series, that's you
11:27got to be pretty proud of that to be able to be a part of this kind of golden era of
11:31racing here in IMSA.
11:33Absolutely.
11:34I mean, it's such an exciting time to be a part of what is going on and the interest
11:39and, you know, from a nuts and bolts technical side of being a racer.
11:45I mean, you know, we're just doing some cool stuff.
11:47I mean, the whole hybrid, the whole regen systems, how all of that plays into what the
11:53drivers are able to change from a car balance and set up and feel standpoint.
11:58The amount of tools that we have to work with, man, it's just crazy.
12:02It's so much fun.
12:04You know, so exciting from from that standpoint and, you know, to see the fans and the general
12:09public interest in that as well as is just it's great.
12:13It's such a good time to be part of it.
12:15You talked about at the end of 2023, just, you know, ending the season with Meyers Schenck
12:19Racing.
12:20Obviously, you're hoping that, you know, they're everybody's hoping that the team kind of comes
12:23back for 2025, at least, you know, taking the year off.
12:27I mean, heading into 2024, you had a lot of different opportunities.
12:30You got a chance to ride with your good buddy, George Kurtz, and with CrowdStrike, you had
12:35a chance to run an IndyCar, which was something I know you've been pursuing for a long time.
12:39So just kind of heading into this year, like, what was your mindset?
12:42Because, you know, Meyers Schenck Racing wasn't officially coming back yet, but you also had
12:47other opportunities.
12:48Were you just exploring maybe what that next move was going to be?
12:51Were you still kind of hoping you were going to come back to Meyers Schenck?
12:53Like, what was just kind of that mindset heading into 2024 early on in the season?
12:58Yeah, you know, for me, it was just sort of heads down, focused on my program, you know,
13:02on the CrowdStrike side.
13:04And then, you know, when I started looking towards what was going to happen in the future,
13:08obviously, you know, for me, I had such a great relationship with, you know, not only
13:13Mike but Jim Meyer and everyone at Meyers Schenck that, you know, I thought, what could
13:17be a more perfect scenario than, you know, them, you know, getting back a program back
13:23in GTP.
13:24And I just kept hoping and, you know, fingers crossing that that would work out.
13:28I mean, they're just such a great team to drive for.
13:30And, you know, Mike himself, he's such a racer, such a driver's team owner, you know, I mean,
13:38he's just a great guy to work for and to drive for.
13:41And yeah, I could not have written it better for, you know, what ended up playing out.
13:46It's like I said earlier, I think a bit of a dream scenario for me.
13:50Going down to the LNP2 class this past year, I mean, just seeing the amount of talent that's
13:54even coming through the LNP2 class as well, I mean, what was it like competing in that
13:58class this year?
13:59Because there's a lot of young guns in that class who are really, really strong.
14:04Connor Zilich made a name for himself in the LNP2 class of the era.
14:08I mean, there's a lot of fun drivers to keep an eye on here in the 2024 LNP2 class.
14:13So what was it just like running in that class this season with CrowdStrike and how loaded
14:17it was this year?
14:19Yeah, it was tough, man.
14:20I'll tell you, man, it was competitive.
14:23I mean, I think, you know, the fact that all of those cars are the same and all of them
14:28are, you know, on the same tire and it just comes down to these small little setup nuances
14:34and small little driving things.
14:36I mean, you know, the teams are so good, the drivers are so good that everyone's in this
14:41tiny little tight box.
14:42And, you know, every week we would go and race, you could have had just about anybody
14:47in the field win the race.
14:49You know, it just came down to really executing all those small, tiny little details, getting
14:54the strategy piece of it right, the whole thing.
14:57And yeah, it was, you know, it was fun because it was so competitive on track.
15:02I mean, you're always racing somebody and it was it was a blast.
15:05I really enjoyed it and have a lot of respect for all those drivers and teams in that class.
15:10How important is that relationship to because you, you know, obviously are good friends
15:15with George Kurtz and he gave you the opportunity to drive with him.
15:18I mean, how important is that relationship in and out of the car?
15:21You know, I mean, George, obviously you braced with him prior to him owning the team and
15:25then he obviously owns the team.
15:27He brings you in.
15:28So, I mean, what was that?
15:29Really?
15:30You know, how is that relationship like?
15:31How important are those relationships like in racing, especially on the track and even
15:35off the track when you guys are working on the car, trying to get it better and and trying
15:38to get the best possible setup you can for for races?
15:41Yeah, for sure.
15:43Important.
15:44You know, you got to have, you know, a good kind of personal relationship, I think, to
15:48to, you know, really be able to take it to the to the next level.
15:52And George is a great guy.
15:53I mean, I've worked with him now for 10 plus years and and really enjoy driving with him,
15:59obviously, all season and, you know, in years past and in different championships together,
16:04we've always always driven together and, you know, won a lot of races.
16:08You know, 24 Hours of Spa this year, 2023 Le Mans in LMP2.
16:14So we've, you know, had great success and won big races and yeah, I mean, he's a hard
16:19working guy for sure on his on his racing.
16:21I mean, he puts so much effort into it, spends so much time and, you know, just keeps pushing
16:28everyone around him and himself to to get better and improve.
16:33And yeah, it's no question why he's been as successful, you know, as he has.
16:38Talking about being an IndyCar this year, I mean, what was that like?
16:41I mean, you got a chance to do something you've been pursuing for a while.
16:44I know you you were interested in IndyCar at times over the years.
16:48So what was it just like to get the opportunity?
16:50A lot of people were weren't expecting it.
16:53And it was it was pretty exciting when we got to see you get to race in it.
16:56I mean, what was just kind of that whole experience like getting a chance to race at St. Pete
17:01in the opener and and getting to learn racing an IndyCar?
17:05I mean, that must have been a bit of an interesting experience, to say the least.
17:10I was yeah, I was a bit unexpected.
17:13I mean, it all came together so late, you know, I like realistically, literally got
17:20the call to come to Sebring like a day or two before the test started and wasn't sure,
17:26you know, if I was going to do the St. Pete race or not.
17:28And luckily, that test went well and they said, hey, do you want to come and do the
17:32race?
17:33And I was, you know, five or six days after the test and I said, hey, can't pass up a
17:37chance to to go and do it.
17:40So I went ahead and did it.
17:41But yeah, I mean, great experience and great.
17:44I'm really glad I did it.
17:45I, of course, would have loved more time to prepare and, you know, be ready.
17:50And, you know, I think the team probably would have agreed and liked more time to prepare
17:55themselves.
17:56You know, the offseason for them at that specific team was, you know, was, I think, more survival
18:01mode than it was prepare and get ready.
18:03So we were all a bit behind that eight ball, so to speak.
18:07But man, it was great.
18:08Cool to be a part of it for me, a lifelong dream of driving one of those cars, racing
18:13one of those cars.
18:14So that was cool.
18:15Yeah.
18:16What was it just like?
18:17I mean, going up against some of the top talent, too, in that series, I mean, Joseph New Garden
18:20Paddle Award.
18:21I mean, you know, you're going up against some of the best drivers you've raced in and
18:24then against him in IMSA.
18:26But then you go up against him in IndyCar.
18:27I mean, what was it kind of like, you know, going up against guys who are, you know, that's
18:31their discipline, you know, that's that's what they're known for.
18:34So what was it kind of like, you know, racing against them in kind of their world, if you
18:37will?
18:38Yeah, it's you know, it's kind of neat.
18:40I think how linked that and and the IndyCar world is because I knew most of those guys
18:47from, you know, Daytona 24 Sebring 12, where they come in and are a third or a fourth driver.
18:53So, you know, it was really nice.
18:54The whole paddock was was very welcoming and, you know, eager to help and all of that.
18:59But yeah, I mean, you know, talking with some of those guys, you know, gosh, the amount
19:04of experience they have in those cars at those tracks.
19:07I mean, you just you know, there's no there's no substitute for that.
19:10I mean, a guy like, you know, Scott Dixon sitting next to him at the autograph session.
19:15And he was saying that I think this year at St. Pete was his 20th season racing an IndyCar
19:21at St. Pete.
19:22And I was like, how long has this race been on?
19:25And he's like, I think I've done every one that they've had.
19:27Right.
19:28And so you're like, man, OK, you know, on the other side of me, I think was willpower.
19:31And he said, hey, I've been with my race engineer here at Penske for 12 years.
19:36And I said, well, I haven't driven St. Pete in, you know, 10, 12 years myself.
19:42I met my engineer yesterday.
19:44So yeah, I think I'm a little behind the eight ball here starting off next to these guys.
19:49So yeah, I mean, you know, it's incredible.
19:51Those guys are super talented and, you know, the amount of experience that they have and
19:56knowledge to draw on is just hard to overcome.
20:00Is there any interest at all of you wanting to run any other races, maybe down the road,
20:04maybe do an Indy 500 run?
20:05Obviously, Meyers Schenck, they do have that extra car I know they use for Helio last year.
20:10But is there any interest in maybe wanting to come back to IndyCar at some point down
20:13the road?
20:14Well, you never know.
20:15I mean, I'm definitely a race car driver who isn't shy about jumping in anything he can
20:21get his hands on.
20:22So I would, you know, I'd definitely be open to it and love to, you know, just keep driving
20:27cool, different stuff.
20:28I mean, I've had such a fortunate career from NASCAR to sports cars to doing a little bit
20:34of IndyCar stuff that, you know, I'm always eager to jump in and give it a try.
20:38And that's why it's actually funny.
20:40That'll go perfectly into my next question is, what is it like just transitioning between
20:44the different machinery?
20:45I mean, every car is different that you race in.
20:47An IndyCar is going to be different than a GTP car and a GTP car will be different
20:52to a GT3 and a cup car or an NASCAR, I should say, is going to be different than some of
20:56those cars as well.
20:57So, I mean, what is that like transitioning between different machinery?
21:00Is it more mental?
21:01Is it muscle memory?
21:02I mean, what's kind of that, you know, thing that you kind of got to get used to when you're
21:07jumping in between different cars during a during a season?
21:10Oh, that's a tough question.
21:12I think, you know, it's yeah, there's so many things to get used to.
21:18I mean, you obviously have all the car pieces to get used to.
21:21And then you've got all the rules and all the different things.
21:24And yeah, I mean, you know, a challenge to get used to all these different things.
21:27But man, it's so fun to just jump in and be able to drive, you know, all these different
21:31disciplines of cars.
21:33And, you know, I think at the end, when you really boil it down, they're all more similar
21:38than they are different.
21:40You know, in a way, you're you're kind of driving the limit of the tire.
21:44And, you know, once you kind of figure out what is between you and the tire and what
21:51that feels like, man, you're kind of, you know, like, surprisingly, it's not so different.
21:57I mean, you got to, you know, find that ability to feel the edge and the limit of the tire
22:01and then off to work you go.
22:03And it's just about, you know, kind of figuring out what that connection is to the tire.
22:07Absolutely.
22:08And especially for the GTP class, I mean, you know, entering that first season, I mean,
22:13what was kind of the biggest learning challenge for you with with the new hybrid systems dealing
22:17with kind of the the the fuel systems as well?
22:21I know there's like the energy battery as well.
22:23So there's a lot of different components to the car.
22:26I mean, what was kind of the biggest learning process with the GTP car that you were kind
22:29of going through in that first season that maybe you you may be mastered by now?
22:33Well, yeah, I mean, I don't know about master, but I think probably the biggest thing would
22:40be just that there was so many unknown and new systems and tools that we had on how the
22:48hybrid system worked, how the brake by wire system worked, that, you know, I think it
22:54was a learning process for both us as drivers and also the engineers on the engineering
23:00side of how to use all of these tools.
23:03You know, there was so much freedom and so much ability to kind of tune and change and
23:08shape and massage different things on how that braking and hybrid system worked.
23:16You could really change the balance of the car a lot.
23:18And I think that understanding how to use some of what we were able to do was was probably
23:24the biggest thing.
23:25You know, when we started out, I think we thought things may work one way and then we
23:28kind of got in there and started to learn that maybe it doesn't work how we thought
23:33it would work.
23:34But, hey, this actually could help this or that.
23:37And so it was really, you know, I think both sides, drivers and engineers kind of wrapping
23:42our heads around, you know, how do we use what we have and make it work for going faster?
23:49And I think what we thought of on paper necessarily didn't pan out.
23:54And then we kind of had to adapt and and move our focus and wow, we could use this tool
23:59actually for this and that works even better.
24:02And so it was really cool to kind of take in what we, you know, all thought was going
24:06to work and then find out what did work and adapt and and quickly change.
24:10And I think that's a big part of the success of Acura and HRC was their ability to adapt
24:17and and, you know, quickly go, hey, that's not what we thought was going to happen.
24:21But boom, we can adapt and do this.
24:24Try that on the racetrack.
24:25Oh, wow.
24:26That really worked.
24:27And that was pretty cool.
24:28Absolutely.
24:29I want to go back a little bit.
24:31You actually raced in NASCAR back in the mid to late 2000s.
24:33You won a race at Michigan in the Truck Series.
24:36You've had a lot of success in the Xfinity Series or I believe it was the Bush Series
24:41at the time, if I'm not mistaken.
24:42I was Bush and then it was Nationwide for a while.
24:45I mean, it was a little bit of everything.
24:46They mixed it up a little bit there during that time, I remember.
24:50But I mean, what do you think now of the product in NASCAR, especially in the Cup Series with
24:54the next gen car?
24:55I mean, you know, the versatility of that car, it's incredible to see what NASCAR is doing
25:01with the drivers that they're getting into.
25:02I mean, what is it like to see where NASCAR is now as a series?
25:05And then even to have a little bit of an IMSA tie with the the Garage 56 entry, I mean,
25:10that's gonna be pretty cool to see where NASCAR is and where it's heading.
25:13Yeah, absolutely.
25:14I think they've done a great job with with the next gen car.
25:18And, you know, it's wild for me, sort of more in the sports car world, obviously, the last
25:23five or 10 years to see how similar that next gen car is to some of these GT3 cars that
25:29are racing in IMSA.
25:30I mean, there's a lot of commonalities when you look at splitters and the way the body
25:34panels bolt on and off and things like this.
25:37And yeah, I think it's, you know, incredible.
25:40I think the racing's been great.
25:42And you know, certainly, they look like a ton of fun to drive those cars for sure.
25:46Yeah.
25:47And I mean, just I mean, you're seeing guys coming from other disciplines.
25:51And I mean, in racing in general, I mean, how important is the versatility now in racing
25:56for a series?
25:57I mean, again, NASCAR is becoming more versatile for drivers to jump into.
26:00I mean, you're even seeing an IMSA as well.
26:02Robert Wickens released the new braking system that he had with Bosch.
26:07And now we're going to maybe see, you know, maybe give a chance to drivers who may have
26:10disabilities potentially that could come in the series and and drive with that new system.
26:15I mean, it's really incredible to see the technology and how it's advanced over the
26:20last several years and made it more accessible for drivers in different series and and even
26:25in different situations to come and race.
26:27No, for sure.
26:28I think you hit the nail on the head with the technology and the adapting of that into
26:34racing has made the racing better, the cars faster, the cars more fun to drive, more reliable.
26:42You know, it's it's yeah, it's a heck of a time to be in motor sports right now, for
26:46sure.
26:47Absolutely.
26:48Absolutely.
26:49Testing is approaching.
26:50We're only about a month away from from Daytona testing, which is hard to believe.
26:55I mean, what do you guys hope to kind of take away from testing that that first that first
27:01test in Daytona in November?
27:03I mean, what do you hope to be able to kind of learn about the car?
27:06Obviously, I know you're used to the car, but it is going to be kind of a I guess you
27:10would say dust dust off the cobwebs, if you will, and try to get back to racing the car
27:16again.
27:17So, I mean, what's going to be kind of that, you know, takeaway that you hope to bring
27:21out of the Daytona test here in about a month?
27:24Yeah, I think, you know, for us, it's just about getting everyone back working together,
27:29you know, getting the procedures back and some of those kind of basic fundamental things
27:33that, you know, when we ended the season in twenty twenty three may have been sort of
27:38second nature.
27:39We're just going to have to get back into the swing of all of that working together
27:43and then understanding, you know, where Acura and HRC have taken the car in twenty twenty
27:50four.
27:51Obviously, they've worked hard to advance and continue to push and develop and make
27:56their car better.
27:57So, you know, kind of seeing where that unfolds and looks like and where it's improved and
28:03understanding, you know, where we ended in twenty three and kind of putting all that
28:09together to make a great package for Daytona in twenty twenty five.
28:14Absolutely.
28:15Absolutely.
28:16And there's a lot of exciting stuff happening with Acura and Honda.
28:18I mean, there's a lot of of exciting things to come for the brand.
28:22I mean, you know, you know, what do you hope to again for year one?
28:28What are you just hoping to be able to kind of to take away from year one?
28:31I know it's early.
28:32I know there's a lot of time until, you know, the end of the season for next year.
28:36But I mean, like, what do you hope to be able to just kind of take away from from the kind
28:40of return year one, if you will?
28:43Yeah, that's that's a good question.
28:45I think for us, you know, we're focused on kind of picking up where we left off.
28:49I mean, I know the amount of effort the team's putting in, the amount of effort that Acura
28:54and HRC are putting in.
28:57You know, I feel like we have no reason we should not be contending for for podiums straight
29:03off the bat when we go to Daytona.
29:05You know, it's obviously a really, really tough, challenging field and it's, you know,
29:11continues to get harder and and, you know, more competitive every year.
29:16But, you know, I know the effort these guys are putting in and I think that we're ready
29:20to to get in there and get back to work.
29:23And, you know, I know our goals are definitely to be, you know, podium contenders week in
29:28and week out next year.
29:29I love it.
29:30I love it.
29:31Well, Colin, I want to say, hey, thank you so much for taking some time to talk.
29:33Really do appreciate it.
29:35Again, good luck for for the next season.
29:38What do you got going on?
29:39What's going on in the offseason?
29:40What's coming up for you?
29:41Obviously, I know testing's coming up, but what else is is going on in your offseason
29:46here coming up?
29:47Yeah.
29:48Testing's coming up.
29:49You know, unfortunately enough, my wife and I had our first child at the end of of last
29:55year.
29:56Congratulations.
29:59Yeah.
30:00So he's just over, you know, one one now and then just a blast every day.
30:02We're having so much fun with him and yeah.
30:04So hanging out with him, you know, his first kind of maybe holiday season where I think
30:10he'll be into, you know, Christmas lights and looking around and having a good time.
30:14So, yeah, looking forward to that this offseason.
30:17And then, like you said, not too long, we'll be back, Daytona, in January, ready to get
30:22back to work.
30:23How excited are you to get him near the car and get him around the the paddock, if you
30:26will?
30:27Yeah, he was actually just a tiny little baby when he came to petite last year, you know,
30:32just over a month old.
30:33He came to petite last year, watched us win.
30:35So I feel like I've set the bar high now.
30:37It's probably his expectation every time he goes to the track is that dad wins.
30:41So we got to keep it going.
30:43I love it.
30:44I love it.
30:45Keeping it going.
30:46Keeping the tradition, if you will.
30:47But Colin, hey, thanks.
30:48Thanks so much, man.
30:49I really do appreciate it.
30:50Thanks for your time.
30:51Anytime, man.
30:52I appreciate it.
30:53Thanks for having me on.
30:54And hopefully we'll see you at the track soon.
30:55Absolutely.