In this special episode of Heat Exchanger, we gather the second-place finishers

from the 2025 Grid Life Championships for a candid roundtable discussion.

Featuring Sam Dealing (Sunday Cup), AJ Hartman (GL GT), Mario Rise (Club TYA),

Ryan Matthews (Street GT), and Josh Halka (Street Class), we dive deep into

what it takes to compete at the highest levels of time attack racing.

Inspired by Nikki Lauda's famous quote about learning more from losing than

winning, our guests share what they have learned from this season and their future plans,

discuss the rule changes coming for 2025, reveal their off-season plans, and

debate everything from tire compounds to transmission swaps. Whether you're a

seasoned time attack competitor or just getting started, this episode offers

invaluable insights into the mindset, preparation, and camaraderie that defines

Grid Life competition.

Dewey and James break down Gridlife's surprising 2026 schedule announcement, diving deep into the reduction from 9 events to 6 and the controversial departure from Road America in favor of Watkins Glen. The guys discuss the financial realities behind the changes, including exclusive reporting from Gridlife's Adam on why Road America couldn't work despite its popularity. They explore what the new schedule means for competitors, the importance of event spacing for maintaining quality, and concerns about cultivating the next generation of racers. Plus, they analyze each venue on the calendar: Carolina Motorsports Park, Road Atlanta (with Formula D), Midwest Fest, Watkins Glen, Lime Rock, and Laguna Seca. The episode wraps with a hilarious tangent about Cameron Diaz in "The Mask" that you definitely don't want to miss. Raw, honest takes from two guys who ran 8 of 9 events this year and know the scene inside out.

The ultimate GridLife championship celebration! We gathered nearly every 2025 class champion for an epic roundtable discussion covering their biggest challenges, proudest moments, and plans for 2026.

Featuring:

• Mike Janssen (Sunday Cup)
• Evan McLaren (Club TR)
• Andy Holtz (Street)
• Luke McGrew (Street GT)
• Dewey (Street Mod)
• Jimmy Rock (Unlimited)
• Matan Rosenberg (GLTC)
• Hans (GLGT)
• Ryan Leach (Rush)

This week we’re joined by veteran driver Luke McGrew, a name well-known across Gridlife for his years behind the wheel of everything from Vipers to Corvettes. Luke takes us through his racing journey — from BMX bikes and RC cars to battling for championships in Time Attack and GLTC.

We talk about the evolution of driver skill, what it takes to build and tune a competitive car, and how seat time beats shortcuts every time. Luke shares stories from early track days, learning through trial and error, rally school adventures, and how sim racing really stacks up against the real thing.

It’s a deep dive into the mindset of a grassroots racer — touching on data sharing, the balance between driving and engineering, and why success in motorsport is as much about community as competition.

WTF happened in laguna? Tune in to this episode where we explore the drama filled weekend at Gridlife's Laguna seca festival!

Devin's Instagram

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Dewey Instagram

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Jame's Instagram

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Discord

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SummaryIn this conversation, the speakers delve into the intricacies of racing, focusing on the specifications and rules of oval track racing. They discuss the challenges of car setup, performance, and the search for suitable vehicles for competition. The Scion TC emerges as a potential candidate, leading to a broader discussion on gear ratios, community engagement, and future racing innovations. The conversation is filled with insights, humor, and a shared passion for automotive culture.

takeaways

• Oval track racing has specific rules and car specifications.
• Car setup is crucial for performance in racing.
• Finding the right car can be a challenge due to parts availability.
• Gear ratios significantly impact racing performance.

• Exploring various car models can lead to unexpected insights.
• Innovations in racing cars are essential for future competitions.
• Racing discussions often involve humor and camaraderie.
• The search for the perfect racing car is an ongoing journey.

Devin's Instagram

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Dewey Instagram

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Jame's Instagram

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/time_attack_typer/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Discord

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/b7vvpetp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Devin's Instagram

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Dewey Instagram

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Jame's Instagram

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/time_attack_typer/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Discord

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/b7vvpetp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠