No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 25

No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 25

Author: Ross Bentley: Performance & Race Driver Coach January 11, 2024 Duration: 55:28
Welcome back to the last episode of No Dumb Questions (...but have no fear, we're not going far)! We sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. Sam Smith joins us again, and we talk a little about the new podcast we've just launched (it's live now!), called "It's Not the Car." Please go check it out right now, subscribe to it, and let us know what you think. 

On this episode, Jeff, Sam, and I answer two great questions: 1) what do you do, and how do you think differently, when you don't know what to do next, and 2) all things RWD downshifting.

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He's engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he's doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

Sam Smith is a brilliant and hilarious storyteller, a writer, an amateur racer, and a journalist. Over the last 20 years, he's written for outlets as diverse as the New York TimesWired, and Hagerty Media. From 2012 to 2020, he was executive editor and then editor-at-large at Road & Track.


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
136 – Ryan Staub: Managing Risk on the Track [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:46
Ryan Staub is back, and we're talking about the stuff many drivers don't want to talk about. You know, the stuff about risk, responsibility, waivers, liability, insurance and so on – for both drivers and instructors. But…
135 – Garth Stein: The Art of Racing in the Rain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:46
Garth Stein joins me to talk about his wildly successful bestselling book, The Art of Racing in the Rain – and how it's now a major motion picture (premiers August 9th). You'll love Garth's stories, and the behind-the-sc…
134 - Preston Lerner: Learning From the Best, Ford GT & Driver Ratings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:40
Preston Lerner joins me to talk about what he's noticed that the best drivers – such as Colin Braun – do that make them so great. As a journalist, that's what he does – observe things that most people miss. We also talk…
132 – Brian Bonner: What's New in Motorsport Sponsorship [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:44
Brian Bonner joins me to talk about motorsport sponsorship. Specifically, we talk about new trends in how motorsport marketing deals are put together, even if you're not a big pro racing team. Brian shares a couple of gr…
131 – Steve Olsen: NuCalm Yourself to Faster Driving [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:33
Dr. Steve Olsen joins me to talk about the Corvette Challenge Club, the importance of managing one's state of mind – particularly being calm – and the NuCalm system (www.nucalm.com). Steve purchased a Corvette when he tu…
130 – Peter Krause: What Have You Learned Lately? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:47
My friend, fellow coach, and co-conspirator in the Virtual Track Walk videos, Peter Krause and I take time after a couple of days of coaching at VIR to catch up and talk about driving (what else?!). We share thoughts on…
128 – Andy Hollis: One Lap of America & More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:37
Andy Hollis joins me to talk about everything to do with the One Lap of America. It's an event that I'm dying to do, so I pick his brain to learn as much as I can. If it's not on your list of motorsport events to do yet,…