Welcome back to The Automotive Advantage. Today we reveal the 2025 Automotive Awards that absolutely no one asked for, but everyone will have an opinion about. We break down the best, the worst, and the completely unhinged moments from across the automotive world and crown winners in categories like Car of the Year, Truck of the Year, Top Upfitter, Best Performance Part, Top Media, Best Event, and more. We even pick the Dogs of the Year and talk about the trends that shaped 2025.

Inside this episode we cover
• The car companies that actually moved the industry forward
• Why Ford, Dodge SRT, and Toyota dominated different segments
• Corvette ZR1, GTD, used enthusiast cars, and the rise of the $200K build
• The Slate truck hype and the f 150 as the new Fox Body
• Fox Factory, Singer, RTR, and the future of upfitted vehicles
• Why sim racing and iRacing are becoming real sanctioning bodies
• Influencers vs traditional media and why Bring a Trailer runs the culture
• Power Tour, Roadkill, Dream Cruise and the event boom
• The campaigns that worked and the ones that felt cursed
• HP Tuners, Whipple, and the new performance landscape
• The rise of AI generated chaos in automotive media

Then we give out our picks for moment of the year, person of the year, and the industry low points we hope stay in 2025.

Drop your top ten lists, tell us where we were wrong, and let us know what you are looking forward to in 2026.

New episodes every week. Like, comment, subscribe, and share with a friend who loves cars as much as we do.

This week on Automotive Advantage, we're back from Las Vegas and breaking down the biggest trends, surprises, and takeaways shaping the automotive aftermarket right now. From industry optimism to wild builds, from burnout culture to AI-generated launch videos… we cover it all.

In this episode:

• Why the vibe in Las Vegas felt shockingly positive this year
• What booth quality, brand presence, and attendance say about the industry
• The rise of content creators at major events and why brands are doubling down
• Why face-to-face events are back in a massive way (and how brands should adapt)
• The hot segments by hall and what that tells us about 2026
• Trucks dominating the industry and the F-150 becoming the new “muscle car”
• Why extreme builds and million-dollar cars are overshadowing relatable, bolt-on projects
• The burnout/takeover trend and the controversial idea that it’s replacing motorsports
• What’s missing at today’s events: karting, dragsters, dynos, and grassroots racing
• Insights into OEM activity, stealth recon work, and what new trends they’re tracking
• Big wins for brands including a top-12 Battle of the Builders finish for a black Gen 1 Bronco
• Why brighter car colors still dominate photography and social media performance
• The return of audio builds and the competitiveness of the North Hall landscape
• How one builder’s Las Vegas success is transforming his business overnight
• A look at new product drops, extreme horsepower trends, blowers-through-hoods, and more
• The growing influence of AI in automotive marketing… including a launch video that used it
• How AI is (and isn’t) reliable for social metrics and brand performance
• What brands should rethink for 2026 and why the industry feels strong heading into the new year

Whether you're a builder, brand, marketer, shop owner, or gearhead, this Vegas recap delivers real insights you can actually use.

Watch, subscribe, and drop a comment:
What trend surprised you the most?

The Automotive Aftermarket is shifting fast. Sales are soft, brands are pulling back, and AI is rewriting how business gets done.In this episode, Dr. Jamie Meyer and Justin Cesler dive into the latest MidwayPlus Market Index, breaking down real B2B and B2C numbers that reveal what’s actually happening across the industry. They unpack why consumer confidence is down, how product launches drive attention in a flat market, and why every brand needs to rethink its SEMA strategy... from timing embargoes to launching early and often.From there, the conversation turns to marketing budgets, content creation, and AI. The guys explain exactly how much brands should be spending on marketing, where small shops can start, and how AI tools like ChatGPT and Sora are giving businesses a true unfair advantage.This one’s packed with actionable insights for shop owners, brand leaders, and content creators who want to stay ahead of the curve in 2025.Chapters:Welcome to the Automotive AdvantageThe SEMA Crunch: When to Drop Your NewsUnderstanding Embargoes & Launch StrategyThe MidwayPlus Market Index: Real Industry DataWhat Flat Sales Mean for the AftermarketHow to Build a Modern Content & Marketing StrategyThe Rise of AI in AutomotiveThe Future of Media, Manufacturing & EventsFeaturing:Justin Cesler – Founder, Driveline StudiosDr. Jamie Meyer – President, 6757 Consulting#SEMA #AutomotiveAftermarket #Automotive

48 years. One dealership. A lifetime of stories from inside the automotive aftermarket.

This week on The Automotive Advantage, Justin Cesler and Dr. Jamie Meyer sit down with Nicky Fowler, the man many call the Godfather of Chevrolet Performance Parts. After nearly five decades with Scoggin Dickey Parts Center, Nicky opens up about building an $80M+ operation, the evolution of LS and LT engines, the truth about private equity, and how to actually survive in today’s changing automotive world.

From learning business lessons from his drag racing father to navigating GM, Ford, and the aftermarket, this episode is a masterclass in how to build longevity, integrity, and success in the industry we all love.

Highlights:

• How Nicky built one of the most powerful dealerships in the country

• The rise (and future) of LS and LT engines

• Why integrity still matters in a cutthroat market

• The real effects of private equity in the performance world

• The secrets to surviving 48 years in the automotive aftermarket

If you care about performance, racing, or what makes the industry tick, you can’t miss this one.

#AutomotiveAdvantage #ScogginDickey #ChevroletPerformance #LSEngine #LTEngine #Aftermarket #PerformanceParts #CarCulture

Brian Lounsberry (ex-Motovicity CEO, now CEO of MidwayPlus) breaks down what’s really happening in the automotive aftermarket: a live market index, why some brands win while others slide, and the ops fixes (not hype) that move revenue. We dig into B2B vs B2C, channel margins, packaging, seasonality, Cyber Week strategy, and what private equity is actually doing next. Hosted by Justin Cesler (Driveline Studios) and Dr. Jamie Meyer (6757 Consulting).Highlights:

• The market is down overall and how MidwayPlus’ index shows whether you’re beating or lagging the trend.

• What winning brands have in common (behavior changes, not excuses).

• What MidwayPlus actually is (and why it makes B2B as easy as buying coffee).
• B2B ≠ B2C: buyers aren’t “shopping”; they’re completing a task. Optimize for speed and trust.
• Channel margins: manufacturer, retailer, dropshipper, and WD... the real numbers.
• Packaging & fundamentals: why flimsy boxes cost you customers.
• Seasonality curve + Q4/Cyber playbook for performance parts.

Chapters:00:00 Intro & market index04:30 What MidwayPlus does for manufacturers12:10 B2B vs B2C: design for utility18:45 Channel margins (real talk)25:10 Packaging & ops that actually move revenue33:00 Seasonality curve + Cyber Week plan40:00 PE, demand gen, and marketing that compounds47:00 Closing takeawaysSubscribe for weekly episodes that help you grow a modern automotive business.

It’s fourth quarter and that means pressure, opportunity,and the perfect time to rethink your 2026 automotive strategy.

In this episode of The Automotive Advantage, Dr. Jamie Meyer and Justin Cesler (Driveline Studios) break down how to survive and thrive in Q4. From industry trends and smart budgeting to social strategy, daring moves, and trade show survival tips… this one’s loaded.

Here’s what we cover:

• Q4 trends in the automotive aftermarket
• Why “flat” might actually be winning right now
• How to be 20% more daring in 2026
• Paid vs. earned media and building smarter marketing plans
• Social media that actually drives business
• The importance of new product launches
• What’s happening with private equity & consolidation
• Trade show survival guide for SEMA, PRI, HPX, and beyond
• AI “work slop,” Sora, and the future of content

Whether you’re a shop owner, marketer, or industry exec,this is your Q4 playbook for finishing strong and building momentum into 2026.

Comment what your Q4 focus is this year.

Everyone sees the speed… but few ever see the business behind it.In this episode of The Automotive Advantage, we sit down with Ida Zetterström, NHRA Top Fuel driver, European champion, and one of the most exciting rising stars in drag racing.Ida breaks down what it really takes to race at 330+ mph:

• How she built her brand from racing bikes in Europe to piloting the quickest cars on earth.
• The true cost of running Top Fuel in America vs. Europe.
• Why sponsorships are about more than logos on cars and how she’s bringing new brands into the sport.
• The behind-the-scenes hustle that makes racing possible.
• Why companies of any size can get involved and see a return on investment.

This is the insider’s look at motorsport sponsorship that no one else is talking about - the dollars, the strategy, the opportunities - and it might just change the way you think about racing.👉 Follow Ida on Instagram: @dragsterfia👉 Subscribe for more episodes of The Automotive Advantage

Garrett Reed (@AmericanMuscleHD) has over 2.4 million followers on Instagram, making him one of the biggest automotive content creators today. But how did he actually build that kind of following and, more importantly, how does he turn it into real business?

In this episode of The Automotive Advantage, Justin Cesler (Driveline Studios) and Dr. Jamie Meyer (6757 Consulting) sit down with Garrett to uncover:

• The early days of AmericanMuscleHD and how the page took off

• The shift from a faceless brand to a personal brand—and why it changed everything

• Where the money really comes from in content creation (brand deals, events, and beyond)

• Why relationships and showing up in person are more valuable than likes or DMs

• The next evolution for creators: building a team, moving into YouTube, and hosting events

If you’ve ever wondered what it actually takes to grow an audience in the millions and keep it thriving in today’s fast-changing creator economy, Garrett pulls back the curtain in this one.

Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of business, media, and the automotive world.