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
147 – James Chartres: Gaining Confidence and Gaining Speed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:11
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145 – Scot Elkins: Motorsport Safety Foundation, IMSA, and ALMS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:09
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144 - Dane Cameron: Driving Styles and What Makes Drivers Fast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:40
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143 - Andrew Rains: How to Get the Most out of Your Data System [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:05
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141 - Dave Peters: Being a HPDE Junkie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:51
Dave Peters joins me to talk about the world of HPDE, driving Miatas, and where driving confidence comes from. Dave founded and runs HPDEjunkie.com, a website devoted to listing HPDE events in the U.S. (and Canada soon).…
140 – Travis Okulski: The Future of Road & Track [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:00
Travis Okulski joins me to talk about where Road & Track is headed, his racing experience and how that's contributed to where he is today, what makes drivers like Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal, and Colin Braun so great, a…
139 – Jim Kearney: How to Win Races [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:58
Jim Kearney joins me to talk about what it takes to win more races, and we discuss the importance of car prep, mental prep, having triggers to get you in the right state of mind/mood, and track notes. Jim is a super-succ…
138 – Ryan Yard: Motorsport Motivation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:34
Ryan Yard joins me to talk about everything from using motorsport to motivate you in other areas of your life to the creative puzzle that is driving faster. In our conversation, we talk about getting in flow, car setup,…