Minnoxide

Matt Latino on Pro Stock Racing, 1500HP NA Engines, and Making Horsepower With Cats

Matt Latino joins us to break down the world of NHRA Pro Stock racing, from 1500HP naturally aspirated engines and thousandth-of-a-second reaction times to the real cost of running a full season. We also dive into G-Sport catalytic converters, emissions-compliant performance, and why modern cats don’t have to kill horsepower.
Take your build up a whole new level with 6XD Gearbox: https://6xdgearbox.com
Code "Minnoxide5" for 5% off
High Performance Academy: https://hpcdmy.co/Minnoxide
Use code "MINNOX" for 55% off ANY course
Use Code "MINVIP" for $300 of the MINVIP Package
Tuned By Shawn: https://www.tunedbyshawn.com
Code "Minnoxide" for 5% off! Ship With Sure Thing Logistics: https://www.surethinglogistics.net
MORE BIGGER Turbo T-Shirts:  https://www.minnoxide.com/products/more-bigger-t-shirt
00:00 – What Makes Pro Stock So Different?
04:26 – Matt Latino’s Path Into Pro Stock Racing
12:07 – What It Costs to Run a Pro Stock Season
21:21 – NHRA Hood Scoop Rule Changes and the Cost of R&D
29:11 – Aero Limits, Weight Transfer, and Finding Thousandths
34:19 – Testing, Track Conditions, and Breaking in Tires
38:06 – Global Emissions, G-Sport Cats, and High-Horsepower Compliance 40:44 – How to Size Catalytic Converters for Power and Load
49:35 – Cell Count, Cat Diameter, and the 200-Cell Myth
55:16 – Explaining Types of Cats and Failures
01:02:17 – Testing Catalytic Converters on a 1500HP Pro Stock Engine 01:08:23 – Driver Focus, Reaction Times, and Trusting the Car
01:20:08 – Clutch Control, Burnouts, Staging, and Rookie Mistakes
01:29:13 – Working on His Own Pro Stock Car
01:35:10 – Crew Roles, Young Talent, and What Makes a Driver Good 01:44:04 – Marketing, Racing With His Dad, and Dream Cars

Pancho Weaver on Nascar Chassis, Building a Trans AM Monster and a Career in Racing

Pancho Weaver joins us to break down his incredible journey from off-road racing and working with legends in the industry to building one of the most unique Trans Am cars on track today. We dive into the engineering behind his iconic Challenger, his time working alongside Dale Earnhardt, and what it really takes to compete as a privateer in modern racing. Plus, we get into wild builds, future projects, and the mindset behind pushing innovation in motorsports.
Take your build up a whole new level with 6XD Gearbox: https://6xdgearbox.com
Code "Minnoxide5" for 5% off
High Performance Academy: https://hpcdmy.co/Minnoxide
Use code "MINNOX" for 55% off ANY course
Use Code "MINVIP" for $300 of the MINVIP Package
Tuned By Shawn: https://www.tunedbyshawn.com
Code "Minnoxide" for 5% off!
Ship With Sure Thing Logistics: https://www.surethinglogistics.net
MORE BIGGER Turbo T-Shirts:  https://www.minnoxide.com/products/more-bigger-t-shirt
00:00 – Intro, Road America Discovery & Meeting Pancho
07:06 – The Challenger's Identity: Sound, Menard Yellow & Building a Statement
14:28 – Chassis Engineering, Mechanical Grip & Solving Steering Challenges 21:22 – Drivers, Coaching, Boris Said & Building a Development Program
28:14 – Early Career: Parnelli Jones, Off-Road Racing & Stadium Racing
35:36 – Leaving Off-Road, Physical Toll & Falling in Love with Trans Am
43:22 – Meeting Dale Earnhardt & The Start of a NASCAR Chassis Program 50:05 – String Alignment, Setup Accuracy & What Changed in NASCAR
57:11 – Engine Program, Dodge Powerplants & Making Reliable Power
01:04:30 – Running a Trans Am Program: Costs, Strategy & Privateer Reality 01:12:00 – Bonneville Land Speed Project, Dual Engines & 6XD Partnership 01:20:30 – Three-Wheeler Build, Wild Concepts & Creative Engineering 01:35:30 – Driving Experience, Favorite Tracks & What Makes These Cars Demanding
01:38:08 – Faith, Family, Career Perspective & Long-Term Outlook

Chris Patterson on 3000 Horsepower Diesels, Building Race Trucks and Ultimate Callout Challenge

Chris Patterson of Unrivaled Diesel joins the show to discuss his journey to becoming "Mr. 3000" and discussing him competing in the Ultimate Call Out Challenge. The conversation dives deep into building 3000-horsepower engines, everyday trucks and everything in between. Covering everything from billet part selection and advanced cooling strategies to the critical safety gear when things go wrong.
Take your build up a whole new level with 6XD Gearbox: https://6xdgearbox.com
Code "Minnoxide5" for 5% off
High Performance Academy: https://hpcdmy.co/Minnoxide
Use code "MINNOX" for 55% off ANY course
Use Code "MINVIP" for $300 of the MINVIP Package
Tuned By Shawn: https://www.tunedbyshawn.com
Code "Minnoxide" for 5% off!
Ship With Sure Thing Logistics: https://www.surethinglogistics.net
MORE BIGGER Turbo T-Shirts:  https://www.minnoxide.com/products/more-bigger-t-shirt
00:00:00 - The Origin of "Mr. 3000" and Dyno Records
00:01:21 - The Ultimate Call Out Challenge: A Diesel Triathlon
00:06:02 - Rocky Mountain Race Week: 1500 Miles and 6 Transmissions 00:10:24 - Filling Blocks for Street and Strip
00:12:51 - Picking Connecting Rods For Diesels
00:17:18 - Fourth Generation Racing and the Evolution of Unrivaled Diesel 00:20:31 - Guide to a $100,000 Build
00:25:20 - Essential Safety: Driveshaft Loops and Fire Suppression
00:33:53 - Track Prep: Swapping Injectors, Nitrous Jetting, and Suspension 00:38:08 - Clean Power: Moving from "Smoky" to Tuning Efficiency
00:41:41 - Lessons from a $100,000 Weekend Mistake
01:05:15 - Plumbing Massive Nitrous Systems
01:22:40 - Torque Management and Surviving the Sled Pull
01:43:48 - Gale Banks and Industry Pioneers
01:55:00 - Global Diesel Trends and Future Projects at Unrivaled Diesel

195. Zach Denney on ECUMaster USA, Tracking Cars and Developing Strategies For Drag Racing

Zach Denney of ECU Master USA joins us to share some insights into how he got started with ECU Master, what the current plans are to expand offering into the aftermarket including drag racing strategies, and various conversations about the collection of cars he has.
Take your build up a whole new level with 6XD Gearbox: https://6xdgearbox.com
Code "Minnoxide5" for 5% off
High Performance Academy: https://hpcdmy.co/Minnoxide
Use code "MINNOX" for 55% off ANY course
Use Code "MINVIP" for $300 of the MINVIP Package
Tuned By Shawn: https://www.tunedbyshawn.com
Code "Minnoxide" for 5% off!
Ship With Sure Thing Logistics: https://www.surethinglogistics.net
MORE BIGGER Turbo T-Shirts:  https://www.minnoxide.com/products/more-bigger-t-shirt
00:00 - Introduction
01;42 - Building the Iconic Civics from Fast & Furious
06:05 - Launching ECU Master USA from a College Bedroom
12:36 - Evolution of Manufacturing
22:11 - Drifting and Why "Unique" Builds Stop You From Learning
33:08 - Wildest Applications: Land Speed & Twin Engines
46:11 - Short Track Side-by-Side Racing & Jumping Dirt
54:05 - Tuning
1:15:40 - Investing in Tech, Development and Hub Dynos
1:30:37 - Overcoming Development Delays & Toyota’s Obscure Networks 1:42:40 - Developing for the Drag Racing Market
2:00:25 - The Viper’s Constraints: Building a Supercar on a 12-Cent Budget

Justin Starkey on Building VMP Performance, Whipple Superchargers, R&D & Building a Legacy

Justin Starkey of VMP Performance joins the show to talk about building one of the most respected performance brands from the ground up over 25 years — from eBay side hustle to full supercharger development.We talk about the business, performance, and more.
Take your build up a whole new level with 6XD Gearbox: https://6xdgearbox.com
Code "Minnoxide5" for 5% off High Performance Academy: https://hpcdmy.co/Minnoxide
Use code "MINNOX" for 55% off ANY course
Use Code "MINVIP" for $300 of the MINVIP Package
Tuned By Shawn: https://www.tunedbyshawn.com
Code "Minnoxide" for 5% off! Ship With
Sure Thing Logistics: https://www.surethinglogistics.net
MORE BIGGER Turbo T-Shirts:  https://www.minnoxide.com/products/more-bigger-t-shirt
00:00 – Intro - Justin Starkey of VMP Performance
01:10 – The Origin Story: Selling parts to building the VMP brand
04:53 – From eBay to Engineering: Developing intercooler kits and early V6 mods
06:41 – Learning to Tune and the early SC days
11:54 – The First Dyno: Building a mobile tuning rig
23:50 – Entering the Supercharger World
30:50 – Building the Business: Mobile Dyno Days, Family Life & Growing the Team
37:30 – The Coyote Era & Launching VMP's Supercharger Line
40:50 – The Story Behind Teaming Up with Whipple
55:55 – R&D Philosophy: Intercooler Development, Testing Rigs & the LED Lid 01:04:47 – SEMA & Advocacy: Lobbying in DC to protect the automotive industry
01:15:29 – Government Scrutiny: Navigating EPA and emissions regulations 01:39:20 – Managing Expectations: The reality of owning a 1,000HP daily driver

Nick Plocienik on Preparing For Pikes Peak, Racing At Daytona, and Driving Porsche Racecars

Nick Plocienik returns to break down his rapid rise from grassroots racing into Porsche Cup cars, GT4/GT3 machinery, and his first IMSA experience at Daytona. He dives into the pressure of real race environments, the chaos of a last-minute car swap, and what it takes to compete at a higher level. We also get into his 1000HP Camaro build for Pikes Peak, sim vs real-world driving, and the mindset behind chasing a full-time racing career.
Take your build up a whole new level with 6XD Gearbox: https://6xdgearbox.com
Code "Minnoxide5" for 5% off
High Performance Academy: https://hpcdmy.co/Minnoxide
Use code "MINNOX" for 55% off ANY course
Use Code "MINVIP" for $300 of the MINVIP Package
Tuned By Shawn: https://www.tunedbyshawn.com
Code "Minnoxide" for 5% off!
Ship With Sure Thing Logistics: https://www.surethinglogistics.net
MORE BIGGER Turbo T-Shirts:  https://www.minnoxide.com/products/more-bigger-t-shirt
00:00 Intro and Racing Progress Since Last Appearance
01:10 From NASA to Porsche Cup Cars
04:00 Camaro vs Porsche: Learning Different Platforms
06:00 GT4 / GT3 Experience & Pro-Level Testing
10:30 Preparing for Pikes Peak and Getting Accepted
15:00 Sim Racing vs Real Life Racing
18:20 Learning New Tracks and Finding Speed
21:00 Pressure, Confidence & Race Mindset
24:00 Camaro Evolution + Race Build Progression
27:00 MoTeC, 6XD Sequential Gearbox & Build Complexity
30:00 Engineers, Data & Life Inside a Race Team
41:20 Daytona Experience and Race Day Chaos
50:30 Camaro Setup, Testing Plans & Truck Build
1:08:00 Future Goals, Sponsors & What’s Next

Jay Meagher on Engine Building, the Next Generation, Land Speed Racing, and Supra Updates

Jay Meagher of RS Garage joins us to break down engine building, fastener science, and what it really takes to build high-horsepower cars. From 2JZ setups and transmission choices to the reality of running a performance shop, this episode dives deep into both the technical and business sides of the industry.
Take your build up a whole new level with 6XD Gearbox: https://6xdgearbox.com
Code "Minnoxide5" for 5% off
High Performance Academy: https://hpcdmy.co/Minnoxide
Use code "MINNOX" for 55% off ANY course
Use Code "MINVIP" for $300 of the MINVIP Package
Tuned By Shawn: https://www.tunedbyshawn.com
Code "Minnoxide" for 5% off!
Ship With Sure Thing Logistics: https://www.surethinglogistics.net
MORE BIGGER Turbo T-Shirts:  https://www.minnoxide.com/products/more-bigger-t-shirt
00:00 Intro
00:55 The Future of the Car Scene
03:27 Modding Cheap Cars, Rust & Barrier to Entry
07:46 Best Platforms for Young Builders and Picking The First Build
13:43 Learning Cars Today (YouTube, ChrisFix, Info Access)
17:35 What Jay Is Still Learning (Business, Ethics & Hardware)
20:58 Engine Building vs Tuning
24:05 Fastener Science (Torque, Clamp Load & Failures)
32:13 Advanced Hardware, Materials & Engine Mistakes
34:49 The Supra Build: Starting Over
37:09 Transmission Talk, Liberty, Dog Boxes & Reliability
41:22 The “Fun Zone” for Power
44:02 Shop Growth: Hiring, Teaching & Paying Talent
01:07:40 Engine Break-In, Startup Process & First Run Philosophy
01:15:30 Data, Tuning Approach & Real-World Testing Mindset
01:24:26 Cooling Strategy, Power Delivery & Traction Reality
01:33:00 Compression Ratio, Fuel Choice & Engine Durability
01:58:00 ECU Control, Throttle Limiting & Managing Big Power
02:08:30 Business, Money & Long-Term Thinking in the Industry
02:17:11 Life Perspective & Closing Thoughts

Tom Taschner on Moving to the US to Drag Race, Drag & Drive Builds, and Starting Lucky 8 Performance

Tom Taschner of Lucky 8 Performance joins the show to talk about moving from Austria to the United States to pursue drag racing and to build a performance shop . We dive into the differences between European and American car culture, drag & drive racing, and Tom’s twin-turbo Caprice build.
Take your build up a whole new level with 6XD Gearbox: https://6xdgearbox.com Code
"Minnoxide5" for 5% off
High Performance Academy: https://hpcdmy.co/Minnoxide
Use code "MINNOX" for 55% off ANY course
Use Code "MINVIP" for $300 of the MINVIP Package
Tuned By Shawn: https://www.tunedbyshawn.com
Code "Minnoxide" for 5% off!
Ship With Sure Thing Logistics: https://www.surethinglogistics.net
MORE BIGGER Turbo T-Shirts:  https://www.minnoxide.com/products/more-bigger-t-shirt
00:00 Intro
01:48 Moving from Austria to the U.S. + early shop life
06:06 Discovering Drag Week + Europe’s drag racing scene
10:06 Why Tom moved to America and building a performance shop
12:24 Tom’s first wild race car projects + dragster history
19:37 The Caprice build: LS combo, twin turbos, and drag-and-drive goals 31:49 Customer builds, wiring, trucks, and shop work
37:04 Lifted truck culture in Europe vs America
43:12 Favorite platforms, tuning, shop future, and long-term risk
49:33 Audi / VW talk and fast European builds