In this episode of the podcast, we are paying tribute to a group of true trucking pioneers who have some deep roots in the NTDC Community as well as its history. On Wednesday, the first-ever Team USA of professional drivers will be wearing the red, white and blue while being ready to roll as the 33rd edition of the UICR Professional Driver World Championships opens in Germany at a motorsport club near Heidelberg.

Through this edition of our show, you’ll learn how the members of Team USA answered the call and how the door opened for a stellar group of accomplished professionals to drive in an international competition that runs from Sept. 9-12. Looking at the 15 drivers who have made the trip to Germany, there are 12 state champions, four Captains from America’s Road Team, two TA Citizen Drivers and a two-time NTDC Grand Champion. The team also includes another National Champion, and it features a former TDC competitor serving as team captain who is fluent in German.

We’ll be bringing you a conversation with Ramon Guzman, a two-time California State Champion who started the grassroots effort to build Team USA. It was just one year ago that Ramon began this quest to realize the dream of a Team USA following his trip to an international exhibition competition in Ireland. You’ll also hear from NTDC legends Roland Bolduc and Jim Kohr as well as Ron Round, one of the America’s Road Team Captains who is on the ground in Germany.

FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR:  The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org.

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