Business conversations for shop owners, operators, and brand builders who take the automotive aftermarket seriously.
Justin
Driveline Studios
Dr. Jamie
6757 Consulting
In the one-year anniversary episode of Automotive Advantage, Justin and Jamie break down five practical ways to use AI in your automotive business — from reading contracts to running Shopify catalogs — and share fresh first-half 2026 data showing the aftermarket up 12.3%. Plus the marketing lessons the World Cup can teach every shop, brand, and builder.
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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.
Justin and Jamie break down three very different events from car summer 2026 — the High Performance Expo (HPX), Streetcar Takeover, and Hot Rod Power Tour — and answer the question most brands never ask: how do you actually measure whether an automotive event was worth it? A business-first look at B2B vs. B2C strategy, brand activation, event ROI, and why the performance aftermarket is booming.
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.
Johnny Dmytryszyn, Keynote Speaker & Team Chevy Brand Ambassador (Johnny D)
Johnny D — a Detroit kid told in fourth grade he would never amount to anything — turned a $5 stack of business cards from a truck stop into a 25-year career as a keynote speaker, four-time author, and Team Chevy Brand Ambassador. He breaks down what it actually takes to build a personal brand that lasts.
"This is not a hype show. It is not bench racing. It is not another highlight reel of who just made the most horsepower."
Driveline Studios
Founder of Driveline Studios. 20+ years in automotive media, marketing, and agency strategy — from GM High Tech Performance to enterprise campaigns for Chevrolet, Ford, and McLaren.
Full profile → 6757 Consulting
20+ years at the center of the performance automotive industry — OEM engineering, aftermarket innovation, national event leadership. Founder of High Performance Expo and principal of 6757 Consulting.
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