What does it take to go from watching the Daytona 500 as a kid to driving your own BMW on track and becoming deeply involved in the motorsports community?
In this episode of Late To Grid, we sit down with Rory Gamble to discuss his motorsports journey, which began with one of the most memorable Daytona 500 finishes in NASCAR history. Rory shares how a childhood passion for racing evolved into rental karting, track days, HPDE events, and eventually owning and tracking a BMW M2 and E46.
We dive into the emotional side of racing, the importance of preparation before your first track day, the value of mentors and instructors, and how organizations like NASA and the broader motorsports community help newcomers succeed. Rory also shares lessons learned from his first experiences at Mid-Ohio, the challenges of getting started, and why grassroots racing remains one of the most welcoming areas of the motorsports industry.
Whether you're considering your first HPDE event, building a track car, exploring autocross, or simply love hearing stories about how people found their way into racing, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.
If you've ever wondered whether you should take your car to a track day, this conversation may be the push you need to get started.
🏁 Topics Covered:
Looking to get your car ready for the track? Atomic Autosports helps drivers maximize reliability, performance, and confidence whether you're heading to your first HPDE, autocross event, or endurance race. Contact us to learn how we can help support your motorsports journey.
Want faster laps and fewer headaches at the track? Atomic Autosports helps grassroots racers go from “I hope this works” to “I know this works.”
From alignment and suspension tuning to track-day prep, Atomic Autosports is here to help you drive smarter, safer, and quicker. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start progressing, learn more at atomicautosports.http://www.atomicautosports.comcom
If you’re serious about getting faster, start at AtomicAutosports.com where you can find guides, information, and even connect with us to make sure that your motorsports journey stays on track.
You know me as the host of Late To Grid, but my biggest shift wasn't on the track, it was leaving corporate life to own a Rad Air location. It gave me the freedom to turn my passion for cars into a career and actually get to the track more often. Ready to own your future? Visit radairfranchise.com and let’s get you living life in the fast lane.
Thanks for listening and taking an interest in growing grassroots racing. The Late To Grid podcast shares the stories and inspiration that help listeners along their motorsports journey.
Find all episodes on the Atomic Autosports website.
In this episode of the Late to Grid podcast, we sit down with Jon Miller—autocrosser, rally racer, and performance cooling expert from Mishimoto. Jon shares his deep-rooted motorsports journey, which began with his grandparents racing SCCA rallies in the ’50s and ’60s, and an early secret lesson in driving a manual transmission Ford SHO. Jon […]
In this episode of Late to Grid, we talk to Nigel Boyce, a mechanic who went from zero wheel-to-wheel experience straight into a 24-hour endurance race! Nigel shares his unique path, starting with a lifelong love for cars, graduating to autocross and time trials in his Honda Civic Si, and finally finding his track car […]
This week on Late to Grid, Bill sits down with Nisa Borghi to talk about her path into motorsports—from giving her VW GTI a personality on Instagram, to celebrating 100K miles at her first autocross, to taking on the challenge of a rear-wheel-drive Miata. Nisa shares what it was like stepping into the SCCA community, […]
This week on Late to Grid, we sit down with Jon Krolewicz to dive into his incredible motorsports journey. He shares how a third-grade book report on the Indy 500 sparked a lifelong passion , and how a chance meeting with a pro driver his own size transformed his dream into a plan. Jon offers […]
In this episode of Late to Grid, we sit down with Mike—driver, mentor, and seasoned wrench turner—to explore how seat time, smart preparation, and family support all come together to shape a successful race weekend. Mike shares how his years on track and in the garage have sharpened his approach to racing, teaching him what […]
