Michael’s Motor Alley

Start your Engines, with Roush Yates Engines

Get those engines going today! Michael chats with Madison Conrad, a Universal Technical Institute graduate, who is a Powertrain Reliability Specialist at Roush Yates Engines. Roush Yates is the exclusive Ford engine builder for NASCAR, including Team Penske race cars. They discuss several topics including how Madison’s passion drove her to build engines, Joey Logano’s win at the Clash at the Coliseum, and more! 

Bob is the Oil Guy Q&A

Join Michael and three different guests from the ‘Internet’s Number One Motor Oil Web Site’ Forum – Bob is the Oil Guy – for a round robin of in-depth automotive and motor oil questions! 

The Importance of Automotive Technicians, with Universal Technical Institute

Universal Technical Institute is the nation’s leading provider of technical training for automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians, and more, with 14 campuses around the United States. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) is the hot topic today, as Michael chats with Jorge Moreno, an Automotive Instructor at Universal Technical Institute’s Dallas, Texas campus. Michael and Jorge touch on nationwide automotive trends, what it’s like to teach the future automotive technicians and more! Learn more about Universal Technical Institute at www.UTI.edu. 

Patrick Hayes, Driven by Diversity

Patrick Hayes is the CEO of Driven by Diversity, a non-profit organization with a mission to educate individuals and organizations on the value of diversity and inclusion in motorsports, while also providing educational resources and services that directly address growing diversity in the motorsports industry.  

Patrick's love for motorsports goes back THREE generations and he has always been a motorsports and car enthusiast. He spent his adolescent years growing up in a house only four miles from the historic Los Angeles County Raceway. As an adult living in Okinawa, Japan, while serving in the U.S. Marines, he immersed himself in the Japanese car culture and became one of the few Black men to work for a major Japanese aftermarket performance manufacturer. Patrick's journey through the industry has spanned over 20 years, with his newest chapter focusing on helping push for diversity and equality within motorsports. 

A Blast from the Past - Car Movies

Who doesn’t love a great car movie? How about an exhilarating chase scene or the final lap in a racing flick? The list of classic movies goes on and on. In this episode, Michael dives into some of his favorite car movies and chase scenes from the last several decades. What are your favorite car movies of all time? Let us know by tagging @Pennzoil on social media!

Michael’s Top Trends of 2022

Michael rings in the new year with his Top Trends in the Automotive Industry, highlighting some big and exciting changes coming in 2022 and on: vehicle smart connectivity with more vehicles communicating with each other for safer roads, growth in autonomous cars and trucks, increased vehicle artificial intelligence which will monitor and calculate vehicle surroundings and more!

LIVE at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show with Alex Taylor

For the final episode of 2021, Michael fittingly reaches the finish line while recording live from the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) trade show in Indianapolis (December 9-11, 2021). Special guest, Alex Taylor, also stops by to chat with Michael! Alex is an automotive builder, racer, influencer and content creator with an unquenchable desire to go fast. At 23, Alex started her own high-performance automotive company: Alex Taylor Racing. She has 155k+ Instagram followers (@AlexTaylorRacing) as well as 88k YouTube subscribers

John Hennessey, CEO of Hennessey Performance

John Hennessey is the founder & CEO of Hennessey Special Vehicles, Hennessey Performance, Tuner School, and Lonestar Motorsports Park. Born with a passion for speed and fast cars, John found early racing success behind the wheel of a modified Mitsubishi 3000GT at events such as the Pikes Peak Hill Climb and the Silver State Classic. Not to mention, Hennessey set a world speed record in his class at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Today, the Hennessey facilities in Texas include a large manufacturing plant and a dedicated test track – where vehicles may be tested at speeds of up to 150 mph. Overall, more than 12,000 specialty vehicles, including mid-engine supercars, six-wheeled supertrucks, and modern muscle cars have been enhanced by Hennessey’s performance modifications. Grab your racing helmets and buckle up folks, as Michael and John talk all things speed and performance! 

Drifting around the SEMA Show with Vaughn Gittin Jr.

Any car enthusiast cannot hear ‘drifting’ without thinking of world champion drifter, off-road racing champion, and Professional Fun-Haver, Vaughn Gittin Jr. Vaughn joins Michael on this rubber-burning episode to talk about his origins with drifting, following his true passion, and how Pennzoil motor oils have enhanced Vaughn and the RTR Motorsports team’s performance. As a bonus, Michael recaps his experience from attending the 2021 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. 

Coming to America - Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske IndyCar Driver

Today’s episode features our very first IndyCar driver on Michael’s Motor Alley! Scott McLaughlin is the IndyCar driver of the #3 Dallara-Chevrolet for Team Penske. Michael sits down with the 2021 IndyCar Rookie of the Year winner to discuss his introduction into racing, his experience since moving to the United States and what’s on tap for him next.