“He doesn’t care if you’re mad…win at all costs is the name of the game, isn’t it?” That’s how Brett Griffin summed up Austin Dillon’s aggressive move, shoving Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin aside to claim victory at the Richmond race. This remark, typical of Griffin’s unfiltered style, is one of many from the outspoken host of the Door Bumper Clear (DBC) podcast.
DBC, a Dirty Mo Media production under Dale Earnhardt Jr., regularly features Griffin alongside co-hosts Freddie Kraft and TJ Majors. Griffin, a NASCAR veteran, has spotted for prominent drivers like Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer, but he’s best known for his no-holds-barred opinions on the podcast. In a time when many are cautious with their words, fans appreciate Griffin’s candid approach. Recently, however, the veteran announced he’s stepping down from DBC, sharing the news after the latest episode aired.
Most recently, Griffin spotted for Austin Dillon at the Michigan Cup Series race, filling in after Brandon Benesch was temporarily suspended following a call to wreck Logano in Richmond. Throughout this season, Griffin has spotted for various drivers, including Austin Hill, AJ Allmendinger, and Ty Dillon. However, he’s largely remained in the public eye through his podcast and occasional articles for The Athletic. Now, Griffin has decided to sign off from DBC, expressing gratitude on X with a message: “Thank you, listeners. I’ve had a blast on this journey, and my goal was simple – share the knowledge and experiences I’ve had during my career. Let’s laugh and learn as we go, and we did just that. Ep 355 was my last.”
Griffin’s blunt style has led to many memorable, and often controversial, comments on DBC. Regarding the Richmond incident, he once said, “The three biggest heels in our sport, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano. Kyle Busch has gone somewhat quiet. They’re arrogant (expletive). They wreck a lot of people to win.” Perhaps his most polarizing remarks, though, came after the Chicago Street Race last year.
NASCAR’s first street race in Chicago, part of their experimental road course lineup, saw newcomer Shane van Gisbergen win in a thrilling event. But Chicago’s mayor, Brandon Johnson, hinted that the city might reassess the three-year contract for the race, stirring frustration from Griffin. His response was blunt: “So for you to say as a city, you don’t know if you want us back for the next two years and we can’t already be selling tickets and talking about it, then that leader can (expletive) off.”
Griffin was also irritated when the Xfinity race was cut short due to a scheduled concert. He vented his anger, saying, “It’s an absolute embarrassment to what we do for a living to not be able to finish that race on Saturday afternoon and have the concert and have all of those fans that invested all of their time and hard-earned money to come in and have the experience that they deserve. So, I will stand on the hill and (expletive) the city of Chicago’s leaders.”
Griffin’s NASCAR journey wasn’t always easy. After numerous cold calls and emails, he landed his first job in 1999 as a PR rep for Elliott Sadler, handling media relations for CITGO Petroleum, which was partnered with Wood Brothers Racing and Sadler at the time. Soon after, Sadler chose Griffin as his business manager and spotter. Over the years, Griffin secured several sponsorships and team contracts for Sadler, and together they celebrated their first win at Bristol in 2001. Later, Griffin went on to spot for Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer, staying with Bowyer until his retirement in 2020.
Despite controversy over some of his comments, Griffin’s unapologetic honesty has earned him a loyal fanbase. Without him, many fans believe DBC’s viewership will take a hit. One fan expressed this sentiment online: “Huge loss to @DirtyMoMedia. Nobody has the balls to tell it like it is anymore. You do and we need that. Everyone is so PC and polished. Let us have our group of realists (expletive) it.”
