The Derek Pernesiglio Show

He’s the patriarch of one of the most well known Long Island, open-wheel racing families. NEMA Hall of Fame Inductee,“Mazda” Pete Pernesiglio has been staple in the Northeast midget racing scene for over four decades. In a very special episode, Derek sits down to share stories with his father about a lifetime in the sport, utilizing a Mazda engine and grooming the next generation of driver in the family. All this and more on this episode of The Derek Pernesiglio Show.

Longtime NASCAR crew chief, Clyde McLeod has been part of some of the most memorable moments in racing. He stops by The Derek Pernesiglio Show to share early racing memories in the modifieds, building a NASCAR shop from the ground up and what life is like with retirement just around the corner.

Doug Smith- I've Got Two Drivers Headed To Jail: He’s one of the figures in the sport who doesn’t have to wear a firesuit. From announcing races for over thirty years to operating Ace Speedway to his current position as race director for Caraway Speedway, Doug Smith has done it all from the other side of the windshield. Doug talks about his life in the sport and calling races alongside Derek for years in the booth at Concord Speedway in this episode of The Derek Pernesiglio Show.

Dutch Miller Would Be Proud- Former NASCAR Modified driver and Cup series spotter, Carl Miller pays Derek a visit to talk about the early years of racing, having a famous starter for a Dad and years of driving a NASCAR Modified against the greats. Miller also talks about his years as a spotter, the legend of “The Flying Dutchman” and tragedy striking after winning his first race. All this and more on this episode of The Derek Pernesiglio Show.

Kevin Hughes roots began on the short tracks of Maine. He took every opportunity possible, rising through the industry to become vice president of the biggest communications supplier in auto racing and a car owner on the SMART Modified Tour. He sit’s down with Derek to talk about the early years, becoming a car owner and the advantages of getting and keeping a sponsor on this episode of The Derek Pernesiglio Show.

After a career ending crash eliminated his NASCAR Cup career, Jerry Nadeau opens up about that fateful day. He also chats with Derek about racing around the world, touring Europe and turning down a possible path to Formula1 to chase a dream of being a NASCAR driver and still getting to turn laps in race cars today. These stories and more on this episode of The Derek Pernesiglio Show.

Pete Pernesiglio: He bears the same last name as our host. Former NEMA Midget driver and Derek’s big brother, Pete visited the studio to share stories about growing up in racing family in New York, their grandmothers origins of the “I can out drive you.” line and wrecking the family race car on the Long Island railroad.

Two-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion, Todd Bodine stops by to talk about rising through the ranks to race in NASCAR’s top three series, what he would do if he were a team owner and Bugsy Stevens holding a gun to his head on this episode of The Derek Pernesiglio Show.

From the short tracks of Pennsylvania to Indy 500 and Daytona 500 victory Lanes, Brent Wentz has enjoyed success at the highest levels, but his biggest win came when he restored his fathers old race car. Find out what happened on this episode of The Derek Pernesiglio Show.

They are both cut from the same cloth of Racing. Hard work, do it yourself attitude, and a never give up instinct of racing. Anything they can afford to buy, they build and they are building the foundation for a strong racing team in the ARCA Menards Series. It’s Andy Seuss, and Andy Jankowiak on this episode of The Derek Pernesiglio Show.

Rick Benjamin has enjoyed a long career in motorsports broadcasting for everything from NASCAR to IndyCar to everything in between. Rick Benjamin was also the person who gave Derek his big break on camera. Today it comes full circle as Derek pays homage to one of his mentors on this episode of The Derek Pernesiglio Show.

From sprint cars to NASCAR to playing Jeff Gordon in a Pepsi commercial, Brad Noffsinger has enjoyed a storied career in motorsports and is a National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Inductee. He sits down with Derek to talk about going from a world of sprint car racing on the West coast to then getting thrust into NASCAR. First as a driver, then as a crew chief for some well known teams on this episode of The Derek Pernesiglio Show.

Chris Romano was an award winning journalist, covering racing for decades but one day he got fed up. After putting down his pen, he picked up a camera and became a noted drag racing and international photographer with pictures in galleries around the world. Derek gets an in-depth and candid interview with his mentor on this episode of The Derek Pernesiglio show.

At 15 years of age, Gavan Boschele doesn’t have a drivers license but he’s won big events like the Tulsa Shootout and spends his weekend going over one hundred miles per hour in a sprint car. Get to know this rising star as he sits down with Derek to talk about driving at three years old, his dirt stardom and the fast track to NASCAR on this episode of The Derek Pernesiglio Show.

He’s the bad boy of open wheel racing cut from the old school cloth. Derek sits down with two-time ATQMRA and 2003 NEMA Midget Champion, The "Jersey Jet" Joey Payne. In an in-depth interview about rising through the ranks, beating heroes, throwing hands and becoming a Supermodified star on this episode of The Derek Pernesiglio Show.

What does Derek know about moto surf racing or Pan American super bikes? Absolutely nothing! Pan American super bike racer, Andres Cevallos and #1 USA ranked moto surf racer Antony Squire give Derek a lesson on racing with two wheel and no wheels on this episode of The Derek Pernesiglio Show.

Bill and Cathy Venturini have enjoyed a career in ARCA spanning four decades. Today they own the largest multi-car team in the series. They have seen the best in the business drive and win championships for them. Bill and Cathy sit down with Derek to talk about life on the road, building an empire and winning championships with an all female pit crew.

After watching his Dad work alongside Dale Earnhardt and Robert Gee in the shop, Mike Herman Jr. went on his own life adventures in racing. From humble beginnings in go-karts to becoming a two-time Concord Speedway Champion, a reality TV show star to a winning NASCAR spotter, Mike Herman Jr. tells all the stories to The Derek Pernesiglio Show.

Longtime Thursday Night Thunder and ESPN Producer, Ken Martin sits down with Derek to tell stories of the broadcast side of the racing business, the late, Bob Jenkins and the early days of producing NASCAR and Midget racing for ESPN.

Motorsports Promotional Model. Trophy Queen. Entrepreneur and Mom. Addy Jacobs splits her time between being a promotional model, a baking business, a trophy queen at local dirt tracks and a Mom to two beautiful little girls. She sits down with Derek to talk about how to balance it all and answers the question: What is MILF and cookies? All this and more on this episode of The Derek Pernesiglio Show.