Three very different automotive events in two weeks and the real question every brand should be asking: how do you actually measure whether showing up was worth it?
Is the automotive industry actually slowing down? Not even close. In this episode, Justin and Jamie recap one wild stretch of “car summer” 2026 — three completely different events in two weeks — and use them to dig into the question most brands never stop to ask: how do you actually measure whether an event was worth it?
From a JEGS distribution deal closed on the trade-show floor, to Tom Peters sketching a future Corvette live, to three Chevrolet Performance reels racking up three million views in a week, this is what the modern car business actually looks like — and why showing up the right way is no longer optional.
While most automotive media celebrates products, horsepower, and highlight reels, this episode zooms out to the business underneath it all — strategy, brand positioning, and the operational discipline that separates the companies that scale from the ones that stall. The takeaway from three very different rooms is the same: the industry has serious momentum, and the brands that show up with a plan are the ones turning that momentum into revenue.
Built for shop owners, operators, builders, and brand leaders who take this industry seriously. Every episode explores growth, leadership, strategy, and what it actually takes to build a lasting automotive business.
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Justin Cesler and Dr. Jamie Meyer unpack a doubling in vehicle recalls — 21.7 million in the first half of 2026 — and what it signals about the industry's quality problem. Then they pull business lessons from watches, firearms, and grocery deli counters, and map out how to activate a brand at Woodward Dream Cruise.
Chase Lautenbach, Co-Founder, Street Car Takeover | 1320 Video Alumni
Chase Lautenbach built one of the most influential organizations in grassroots motorsports — and most people never saw it coming. In this episode, he breaks down the real business behind 1320 Video, Street Car Takeover, and how an 18-race season, a high-horsepower dealership, and a billion-dollar media footprint all trace back to a phone call and a Sonic parking lot.
No guest this week — just Jamie and Justin working through what's actually going to happen in the automotive industry in 2026. They debut a live prediction market segment, recap recent guest episodes, dig into automotive photography as a brand strategy tool, and close out with an AI Watch that includes a conversation about shop robots that every operator needs to hear.