137 – CJ Wilson: Pro Baseball Player to Race Driver

137 – CJ Wilson: Pro Baseball Player to Race Driver

Author: Ross Bentley: Performance & Race Driver Coach August 15, 2019 Duration: 59:57

CJ Wilson joins me to talk about his transition from pro baseball player to race driver. We talk about the superstitions & routines baseball players rely on and how they apply to motorsport; what he learned from being a Major League Baseball pitcher that he uses in racing; how to practice with intensity; the different techniques required for an aero downforce car versus one without aero; and the overall mindset one needs to succeed. You'll love this episode – especially his description of feeling the tires when you're driving at the limit.

CJ pitched in Major League Baseball for the Texas Rangers from 2005 to 2011 and the Los Angeles Angels from 2012 to 2015. He is the founder and owner of CJ Wilson Racing, which has competed in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. His ultimate racing goal is to win Le Mans – and based on what you hear from him in this podcast, you can't help but believe he's going to do it.

Follow CJ…
Podcast: The Throttle Dogs - https://thethrottledogs.libsyn.com
Instagram: @supercar_cj, or @cjwilsonphoto

 


There’s a fine line between simply driving a car and truly connecting with it at the limit, and that’s the space where Speed Secrets Podcast lives. Hosted by renowned performance coach Ross Bentley, each episode feels less like a formal interview and more like a candid garage conversation with some of the most insightful minds in motorsport. The discussions go deep into the tangible details that make a difference on the clock: the nuanced art of trail braking, how to interpret data and video to find tenths, and the subtle interplay between steering input and throttle control. Whether it’s dissecting the ideal line through a complex corner or understanding how a specific car setup change affects handling, Ross and his guests break down complex concepts into applicable knowledge. You’ll come away from this podcast not just with inspiration, but with concrete tips and a clearer mental framework for your own time at the track, be it for competition or personal mastery. It’s a resource built on decades of professional experience, designed for anyone who wants to think more deeply about the craft of high-performance driving.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Speed Secrets Podcast
Podcast Episodes
126 – Lawrence Loshak: How to Win at Racing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:12
Lawrence Loshak joins me to talk about all sorts of really interesting & helpful topics, such as how to prepare for an event, simulators, adapting to your car, trail braking, left-foot-braking, being proactive with your…
125 – James Colborn: Making Your Driving Comeback [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:00
James Colborn joins me to talk about making his comeback to racing after taking more than a year off from it. Not only has he made a comeback, but he's done it in an open-wheel car – not something he's driven before – an…
124 – Kevin Boehm: How to Win the SCCA Runoffs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:47
Kevin Boehm, who's won the SCCA Runoff three times, shares what he's learned so you can win the Runoffs. Yes, he's sharing his secrets - from driving and car prep to his overall strategy towards the event, you'll hear ho…
123 – Jim Mero: Corvette Handling Engineer & Test Driver [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:40
Jim Mero joins me to talk about the Corvette, his contributions to its development over the past decade-plus, life as a development test driver, lapping the Nurburgring as part of one's job, and what's ahead for Corvette…
121 – Steve Spano: Using the Voices in Your Head to Drive Faster [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:34
Steve Spano joins me to talk about how we can use technology to drive faster, and specifically, the RaceVoice device he helped develop. This device plugs into your existing ECU and data system, and then provides auditory…
119 – Johannes van Overbeek: How to Win Endurance Races [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:34
Johannes van Overbeek and I reminisce about the time we spent together at ESM Patron Racing, and he gives away all of his secrets about winning endurance races. We then compare right-foot with left-foot-braking, how a dr…
119 – Johannes van Overbeek: How to Win Endurance Races [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:34
Johannes van Overbeek and I reminisce about the time we spent together at ESM Patron Racing, and he gives away all of his secrets about winning endurance races. We then compare right-foot with left-foot-braking, how a dr…

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