NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver Gray Gaulding Joins Shawne Merriman

There's NASCAR time NASCAR season. Uh, Normally, in a in a typical situation, I'll probably get out to seven eight tracks a year. Uh. Last year's you know, we all were sitting at home and couldn't do anything, so uh going to the tracks was impossible. But I'm excited and can't wait for the season to break up and start this thing up. Bringing in the day Greg Guarding. Man. Uh, you know what I think about Gray is I met him when he was a kid. He was literally called

the kid on the Cannon series. Uh, and I was hearing about him winning these races fifteen years old. Fifteen is some change, and they said, hey, man, his kid is is winning. I'm like, where is he? And I look at him I found him and literally it was a kid fifteen years old on the Cannon Series. I've been driving since he was three or four, and a lot of time, a lot of experience behind the wheel and and just a flat out grinder and a lot of confidence here. So I can't wait to bring in

Gray Man. It's gonna be asking the conversation, Gray, where are you right now? You're down in Daytona? Right, No, No, we're actually not. Um, I'm running the Axfinity Series, so this is actually my shop right here, Jimmy means racing. Uh right, Actually my Daytona car isn't here yet. It's uh, it's at NASCAR getting ready to roll. But everything behind me is all the cars I'll be racing this year. Um. I think that that's our Phoenix car. There's our road

course car. But we'll be heading down there on Thursday for Daytona. Was just about to say, when you guys gonna pack up the head down? That's right, because you're you're not that far away anyway. No, No, we're our shop is I think it's about it's about six and a half seven hours, so it's not too bad. I'm sure the haulers have to have to be there by Friday morning because we practice Friday evening. So we'll get

in the car and leave Thursday. And that that's what's kind of cool about Daytona is like we we normally fly everywhere. But the coolest thing is like, ever since I was a little kid, me and my dad and grandfather would actually get in the car and drive to Daytona. Uh, and we just kind of kept it as a little road trip, you know, for the boys. You know. So I'm guessing that you're not staying till midnight eleven o'clock breaking down the equipment because I've been on that side

of it too. No, no, no, I will if I need to, but I prefer not to. But um, now these guys they gotta handle man. There. I'm really excited about um obviously you know the Panini deal. The car looks unbelievable. Um, but just being back full time and and getting back in the group things, you know, like in Daytona second there last year, I think I think, I think we'll we'll have a lot to show this

year and I'm excited about it to kick off. So tell so tell me about that with the Panini because I just did a trading car assigning for them some months ago, and uh, the guys hooked me up over there. So tell me, tell me a little bit about the partnership you got going on with them. Yeah, man, no, that's cool, No, I Um, Panini has just been such a great partner. You know. Uh, two years ago we kicked off our relationship. It was kind of crazy, you know,

just a spear of the moment. We didn't have anybody on the car at Bristol, and my dad got in touch with Jason obviously from Panini, and the relationship just built from there more not just business, but you know, me and Jason, I mean I remember at Bristol like we were are being at the racetrack playing cornhole, like we were able to give Jason the full effect of of NASCAR the way we do it, you know. Yeah, we're no, we're not like the big teams, you know,

We're we're kind of the bullnoses. We get out, we work and we have to kind of work for everything. But uh, just so so thankful and fortunate for Panini. Um, you know, they gave me an opportunity. Actually, at the end of twenty nineteen, during the summertime, I told Jason and everybody, and I was like, hey, I need an engine for for Tyl Degan. If we get this engine, I know I can give myself a chance to win. And we lost by six ft finished second. You know, got a lot of TV times. So, like I said,

it's it's amazing brand to be a part of. You know, now we're in our third year together, and this time we're full time. I got a full time ride again, and it's just I don't know, it's just like a fresh start. You know. Last year was a tough year obviously for everybody, all of us, you know, um so to break in the new year having my Panini colors and and and having you know, wearing this shirt allowed and proud to go to Daytona. So we're excited for

another season together. You know, I think the first time, maybe I've met you indirectly or I kind of ran into years at the cann because that's why I started out at. So I got into the NASCAR around two thousand seven, two thousand and eight, and I remember, I don't know if it could have been around two thousand twelve or thirteen, somewhere around there. I think I ran into you one of the can In tracks is one of the short and the short tracks my friend cane

in uh all two thousand and thirteen, fourteen thirteen. That's when it was Yeah, man, that's crazy. So how how has that been? Man? Because it's it's crazy. I was when I was there, and it would tell me about some kids, some young kids that was winning all these damn races. And I remember I started to look for you out of one of the tracks and I wanted

to kind of run into you. Um, because that's why I started to really get into NASCAR and and understand, um, you know, kind of the short tracks and how certain things going, and then you know, climbing the ranks as you are right now with the Exfinity. Man, how's that whole process been from then? Man, it's been. Um, it's been a journey, to say the least, you know, I mean, the the amount of time and effort. You know that I've been really trying to work on my craft ever

since I was, you know, nine years old. Is you know, just getting reps, practicing doing everything I can personally, mentally and physically to be at the top of my game. And and I think the coolest part for me though is I don't know. You know, I feel like everybody goes through this, but you always feel like you're always gonna have downs, right, You're always gonna have people say now that yeah, he's too young, he's not ready yet.

So I feel like every every year that I moved up, I had to hit the reset button and and go out and prove people that I could get it done. And and I'm the type of person, you know, if you say I can't do something, I can promise you I'm gonna give everything I have to go get it done and prove that I can do it. So, um, my career has been a whirlwind. You know. I went to Cup when I was eighteen years old, which is crazy,

but it's one of those deals. You know. It wasn't a big team, but it was something I couldn't turn down. So the amount of of guys that I've been able to race again, especially in a couple level, at such an early age, I felt like that's why I feel more confident in my ability today is because I've really been in the trenches, man, like having to grind it out. You know, different rides here and they're trying to keep you know, staying in sport, and it's a tough business.

I mean, I'm being I'm being dead honest. There's been times that I've kind of looked at myself in the mirror and like, how how long can I keep doing this? You know, you you you feel like nothing can go your way, and but at the end of the day, you gotta keep grinding and you keep working. So for me, every time I move up, I you know, start with a new team or whatever that may be, it's time to go out and prove it and and show people that I can get it done, because at the end

of the day, you're gonna have doubters. And I felt like those doubters over the years have you know, kind of fueled my my fire and my edge um to just be on my a game. So it's it's been a heck of a journey. But I'm one of those people, you know, I don't like to live and regret, you know, good or bad decisions that you know, I've had to make in my career. I look back on my career and I think that's what's molded me as the driver in the in the person that I am today. All

the things I went through along the way. You know, I remember that was that was one of the talks because when your name came up when you're winning on a cannon canon level, they it was a lot of talk about you're not being ready, right and so now I can see a shift in your confidence due like you can't you say it one time? You wanted to

be the greatest right of all time. You wanted to be the best at to do it, And I'm like, man, you right now it just seemed like, I mean, I don't know if you want to say it to night, but to me it sounds like you're sticking it to all the damn hater because I remember to talk then, you know, six seven years ago and too now I was like, hey, I'm trying to be the best you man, that that confidence which has been outstanding, No, I appreciate

it now. That's I mean, that's the thing man like growing up, you know, one thing I'll give my parents and and the way my career path was, I never stayed in a division long enough to like dominate, right like, as soon as I was of age to move up and race against older guys, better better, better drivers, and and in teams I was moving up. So I feel like I was almost like the like the new kid on the block type of thing every year that I moved up. But like I, like I said, it was

so good to be able to see new drivers. See once I got to the highest level. When you're racing against you know, Jimmy Johnson, like my heroes, Jeff Gordon, Um, you just learned so much for him, even if even if they're laughing sometimes, you know, you you get to see those guys and really learned from them. And um. But yeah, man, I don't I don't mind being the the kid. Uh the kid is what kind of my nickname was back in the day. Or the doughnut kid that too, I didn't. I didn't like the donut kid.

How now we Uh it was funny. But my my sponsor for five straight years was Krispy Kreme, and our relationship it was a great partnership. You know, wish them all the best and and still love the obviously I love those donuts. But you know my thing was every year or every every year we go to the racetrack, every single race, we'd stopped the closest um Krispy Kreme, and we'd hand old teams, even our rivals, we've had them donuts, you know, with a smile, Hey, good luck

this weekend. So that donut donut boy, donut kid kind of nickname is like, yeah, it was funny then, but I still have fans come up to me. You're like, oh, yeah, you're the donut boy, and I'm like, well, I mean, yeah I am when I was mean, but you know, I'll take it. And that's what makes it cool. Though. How has all your expectations change? Right? Because yeah, not to cut you off, there there there it is, right,

there's doughnut boy right here. Oh man, good. It's it's crazy because I feel old, you know, to even call you a kid. But I do remember, you know, being at the track and they were like, you know this kid just one, he's like fifteen. I said, get the hell out of here, no way, yeah, no, it's uh no, it was. It was cool. I look back on the cane in days two and and I just look back and I'm like, the guys that I was racing against every weekend and week out, those guys are those guys

are on the Cup stage. I mean me and Chase Ella. I'll never I'll never forget me and Chase Ella. I was I was fifteen. They had the NASCAR next. A lot of people don't know this, but I was in the NASCAR next. I was fifteen. I was with you know, Chase Elly, Ryan Blainey, Corele Joy, Um, Daniel Swarrett. I mean we're talking, you know, this is the future of the sport. And here here's us kids. I'm fifteen years old, don'tly have my license yet. And I got you know,

eighteen nineteen year old Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney. You know, I was kind of the kid they picked on because I was. I was the young buck, you know. And I looked back like when we were doing all those events together, Um, you know, just goofing off in the hotel room, like all of us boys, just goofing off being typical teenagers, laughing, just carrying on, having a blast.

And Chase just wins the championship. You know, you see these guys and and and I'm just really fortunate to be part of that group and and to grow up with those those type of guys, and and and you know the thing is, my career path obviously, is a little bit different than their's. You know, they they kind of blossom and went on to different things. But I really had to, you know, grind it out. Not saying

that they didn't, but I really love seeing that. You know, I grew up around those guys and see they're having success and and I and I want to do the same. I want to raise some toe to toe for championships and wins and uh. It's just cool though, because those are the group the group, a group of guys that I was messing around with fifteen sixteen years old, Like, you know, guys were looking at us. Oh yeah, that's Bill elliott Son, and you're Grey Gold and Blaney, all

of us just goofing off. Man. It's just it's pretty cool to see the success they're having. And I wish I'm nothing the best in the future, you know, It's it's nothing like that. I don't care how old you are. When you come in with those guys, you always look up to him in a way. But then you know, those those same guys who you look at as you know, idols and and and stars are the same people you're competing against. Has has that support been the same Because

I know you mentioned Jimmy Johnson. I know and I've known Jimmy for a long time. He's always took under the young guys under his when he always showed love like you'll never hit Jimmy coming, you know, kind of be a certain type of way because the guy he thinks is coming up in the ranks. Was was any of those guys like that towards you, like where they just kind of took you under the wing. Yeah, you know you said the best name. I mean, Jimmy Johnson, Like you know, I grew up watching him. He was,

you know, my idol, and I'll never forget. I was at I was in Atlanta. This is my it's my second Cup race ever. And I went up to Jimmy and I was kind of star struck a little bit to go up to him because I'm like, man, you know, we're about to practice and this is my second race. Like I'm just I'm the new kid again and I haven't had a whole lot of track time with with the big dogs. So I go up to Jimmy, and you know, I was kind of expecting a short answer.

I just saw him. I saw him in the garage and and and I kind of ambushed him, like I was like wait, waiting to see him because I knew he was coming from his motor home. Well, I approached him and and the craziest thing, I didn't really know he knew my name or anything or watched me. He's like, hey, what's up, Gray, And just like me and you were talking, just me and him are chatting it up, you know,

getting ready to go practice. And I'm like, yo, Jimmy, you know this is I've never been to Atlanta before. Man I said, uh, you know, I I if you got a couple of corners for me, I'd really appreciate it. And he literally took me through a whole lap, just just me and him, just like we're doing, just chatting it up. Took me through a whole lap of you know, hey, you need to lift here if you're tired, when your

tires were out, and you know, maybe run the top. So, you know, you look at guys like that and to think that this guy just took out five minutes of his time to help the new rookie myself, you know, at Atlanta and he's you know, he's he's a seven time champion, you know, at two times days like you know, he's he's he's the goat. You know you put him on that pedestal, and I just thought it was so cool to to really get to interact with my idol um, Jimmy Johnson and and and just see the type of guy,

you know. He he's one of those champions that always said, you know, growing up, me and my dad always talked about I always just want I envied him so much. I mean, he he's the family man, you know, good looking guy, he got the sponsors, you know, and he goes out and win. So um, I definitely appreciate that

moment and I'll never forget it. And and I wish you know, Jimmy nothing but the best race and there's any cars man he Uh, I could tell he's having fun and I think he's just had an unbelievable career and I appreciate everything he's done for our sport. Absolutely, you're right right on the same path. Man. I've I've watched you for a long time. And what are you hoping to happen this weekend? I mean, what what if your team and the strategy and what's the mindset going

into this weekend? No, I mean I'm I'm I'm very excited. And once again, you know, uh, to kind of fill you in about my deal this year with Bannini and full time I'll be racing for Jimmy means racing. I don't know, if you know, if a whole season, whole season, ye, number fifty two car and um, it's it's you know, I don't know, I've really enjoyed it. You know. Jimmy, he's uh, he's quite a character. You know. I don't know if you know this. He's a past driver, He's

been in the sport, you know, for a long time. Owner. I mean, I put him in the classes. You know, he's a pioneer of our sport. I mean, this is all this guy knows and and and that's that's the type of people I want to race. Four. When I drove for Bobby Dotter in two thousand nineteen, you know, I had I had a lot of drive there because I knew I knew he's a racer. I love being around racers. And and that's the first thing when I came in and sat down with Jimmy about me possibly

driving for him. Um, is he's just a role racer, you know. I mean you can tell by this show. He's had this shop since I think nineteen seventies something or nineteen eighty and he still races out of this shop. So a lot of history here. And I'm really excited what my self can bring to the table as driving for him, you know, just a little bit, maybe a

different flavor. And I like our combination. You know, you got the old school guy, the the guy that used to race in the Cup Series, is owned his own team forever, and he's bringing in the you know me, the new guy, and and I just like that combination. And I think what we can do this year will shock a lot of people. And and I think going into this weekend, we just need to have a good, solid race, put ourselves in a position. We we got an e CR motor, which we're very excited about. And

you know, I feel like I've done a good job. Yep. That'll be under the hood, which you know is a big help because last year I had a e c R when I finished second. I finished second with e c R within the Panini car at Talladega. So I just think, man, you know how you know how Daytona is. You gotta stay out of the rex, but you also gotta put yourself in position, you know, me and my career. Chief have been talking a little bit, just trying to, you know, make sure that we do all the right

things to uh get a good result. But the main, the main thing is, I really think I can put myself in position I'd really love to give Panini and Jimmy means racing to win and man, that'd be a perfect, perfect start of the year. So that's what we're gonna

be shooting for. That's awesome. So me just being how I am in my personality, I can't wait to see things get extremely aggressive, those that last stretch to me, That to me is now that the funniest part is I I tell people all the time it's like, you know, we might run, especially Daytona. Daytona is the worst. I think it's actually worse than Talladega because you know, Daytona is a little bit it's it's it's a lot tighter than Talla Talladegas. Why, Like we're four wide, that's easy.

But when you're three four wide at Daytona, I mean we're talking, I could reach out and touch the guy next to me, like you know, it's it's it's tight. But I swear every year when the spotter says ten laps to go, all of us drivers, we just take our helmets off, we throw our brains right out the door. It's just I mean, the moves were making. I'm thinking there's still ten laps to go, and then I mean, I I can't say much because I'm just as bad

as any of them. But you know, hey, when it gets down to the nitty gritty, you know we're talking Daytona here, you'll do. I mean, I wrecked my mom to win at Daytona. I mean, there's a lot of a lot of history there, so trust me, the aggression is going to be at a at all time high when when he gets about ten minutes ago. But I'm excited about it. Hey, that's a good thing. I'm getting

chills thinking ab I'm getting you're telling me. I'm sitting there getting hyped it myself and also piste off because I'm not gonna make it this year. But a great man, good luck down there. Uh, come out clean and if you gotta get a little you know, aggressive towards the end of that thing to pull it out, man, go ahead and do your thing. You got it, brother, Hey man, thanks for having me on. Man, I really appreciate your time.

You got it man, Thank you, appreciate you, Yes, sir, Thanks Bro, Thanks guys for tuning into another lights Out podcast with me, Swan Marriman and great Gulden Man. That's that was. That was dope for me. That was really cool for a few things, for a few different reasons. I remember him being a kid in fifteen years old at the tracks and uh, you know, people were just saying he wasn't ready, he wasn't ready. And to see what he's going down now having a fourth season um on,

you know, the Extimity series. And then also I want to give a quick shout out to Polonini Man Polini Trading Cards. You guys are awesome. You guys are great. I love that partnership with you and Gray, and I appreciate you also for having a little card signing with me. So that was that was cool and um really excited, man, really really really excited about this NASCAR season. I get out some tracks this year and make sure that uh I'm up close and personal again and it's that time again.

So thank you guys for listening again. Appreciate the Gray for coming on and good luck to him this season. And make sure you guys keep subscribing and leaving these uh leaving those great reviews. I see all the comments, so thanks again