AutoSportRadio.com 2024 Show for February 20th

The AutoSportRadio.com 2024 Show for February 20th – Guests: Andy O’Gara, Danny O’Gara and Mike Kitchell
The AutoSportRadio.com 2024 Show was recorded Tuesday February 20th at Green Street Pub and Eatery, 911 N. Green Street (SR 267) in Brownsburg, - Stay tuned for details on our next live AutoSportRadio.com Show recording.
Andy O'Gara
Andy got his start racing by following in the footsteps of his father, John.
The elder O’Gara began in 1980, working on the late Tim Richmond’s car. Moves to A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Dan Gurney’s All-American Racers and Team Menard were next. Andy watched his dad and, like many sons, decided to follow his father in the same business.
Andy began with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in the Indy Racing League. It was in the IRL that O’Gara met his wife, race car driver and team owner Sarah Fisher.
Fisher had the highest finish for a woman in the IRL when she took second at the 2001 Infinity Grand Prix in Homestead, Fla.
After marrying in 2007, O’Gara and Fisher, established Sarah Fisher Racing, where O’Gara spent most of his career until a 2015 merger with Ed Carpenter Racing. O’Gara, like his father, also worked with Foyt.
And while Sunday’s Indy 500 race will be the 24th for O’Gara, racing isn’t his only passion. Along with Fisher, he owns and operate O’Gara Enterprises, a multi-business company that includes Speedway Indoor Karting, Business Art Designs, O’Gara’s Irish Pub in Beech Grove, Metal Fabrications Plus and the nationally known Whiteland Raceway Park.
“We started Speedway Indoor Karting in 2016 and then bought Whiteland Raceway Park in 2018,” O’Gara said. “We revamped it and finished a multimillion-dollar expansion there. On top of that, we’re trying to establish a foothold for industries that we utilize within motorsports as a whole.”
And they juggle family life, too, with two children.
As if that weren’t enough, there’s also the “other” race team they direct, which runs on the short ovals of the Midwest.
“We have two USAC midgets, one USAC sprint car, one USAC Silver Crown car and one USF2000 car, so we’re busy racing those non-stop as well,” O’Gara said.

Danny O'Gara
“Danny O’Gara’s outstanding performance at the 50th Annual WKA Manufacturers Cup Series is a testament to his dedication and skill as a young driver. We are proud to have him represent our team, and excited for him that he is apart of history at the famed Daytona International Speedway now having 2 wins on his resume.” said Blake Deister, Owner Top Kart USA.
Sarah Fisher, Owner of Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, and mother of Danny O’Gara states, “Karting has been the most fun, best grass roots racing experience that Andy [Husband] and I have been apart of and this weekend was no different! From the variety of competitors to the depths of the fields, it was a tremendous weekend.
We shared another year of family racing traditions in Daytona, although Dan set a record for our family, leaving with two wins and purple race laps in both classes!
Hard work, preparation and the very best support from Top Kart USA, Allison Racing Engines and Lawson Racing Engines kept us top of class all weekend. Can’t wait for the next challenge!”

Mike Kitchel
I learned about the public relations profession at 230 mph: Ten years with an IndyCar Series team – Panther Racing – followed by another four seasons as the director of communications at INDYCAR, the sanctioning body for the open-wheel racing series that’s highlighted by the Indianapolis 500. Now I’ve decided to take the next step with the formation of Catalyst 317 – opening our services to the masses and, hopefully along the way, creating an opportunity to help up-and-coming PR professionals grow, inspire and flourish.