Join us as we broadcast LIVE from Celestial Gates Funeral Home of McLawton Hills! We've got a dreadfully good guest - one of the MVPs at Celestial Gates - award-winning funeral make-up artist Alexis! 

Plus! We make Tara's long-time dream come true with a total surprise on-air makeover!

Apologies to all of those attending the Higgins or McCoy viewings this morning about the misunderstanding leading to that understandably upsetting incident.

97.9 The Rat Race #38

Featuring: Ben Roy (Donny D), Beth Hoyt (Tara), Chris Marrs (Animal) & Abigail Marlowe (Alexis)

Written By: Chris Marrs

Audio Designed & Directed by: Evan Nix

Created by: Ben Roy & Chris Marrs

Join us as we broadcast LIVE from Celestial Gates Funeral Home of McLawton Hills! We've got a dreadfully good guest - one of the MVPs at Celestial Gates - award-winning funeral make-up artist Alexis! 
Plus! We make Tara's long-time dream come true with a total surprise on-air makeover!
Apologies to all of those attending the Higgins or McCoy viewings this morning about the misunderstanding leading to that understandably upsetting incident.
97.9 The Rat Race #38
Featuring: Ben Roy (Donny D), Beth Hoyt (Tara), Chris Marrs (Animal) &amp; Abigail Marlowe (Alexis)
Written By: Chris Marrs
Audio Designed &amp; Directed by: Evan Nix
Created by: Ben Roy &amp; Chris Marrs

Tara's Scary Good On-Air Makeover!

Marker 01

What a morning! Tara is a real trooper after her historic live on-air procedure from our good pals at LASIK-2-U Mobile Lasik Centers! Plus, the folks from No Bull in Our China Shop of River Lake swing by to show us some priceless antique china! Once again, big apologies to them. Enjoy!

97.9 The Rat Race #37

Featuring: Ben Roy (Donny D), Beth Hoyt (Tara) & Chris Marrs (Animal)

Written By: Ben Roy

Audio Designed & Directed by: Evan Nix

Created by: Ben Roy & Chris Marrs

What a morning! Tara is a real trooper after her historic live on-air procedure from our good pals at LASIK-2-U Mobile Lasik Centers! Plus, the folks from No Bull in Our China Shop of River Lake swing by to show us some priceless antique china! Once again, big apologies to them. Enjoy!
97.9 The Rat Race #37
Featuring: Ben Roy (Donny D), Beth Hoyt (Tara) &amp; Chris Marrs (Animal)
Written By: Ben Roy
Audio Designed &amp; Directed by: Evan Nix
Created by: Ben Roy &amp; Chris Marrs

Love (and Tara) is Blind

BONY BIRD SMACKS

It's a symphony in the skies! The Metro Area's stunning natural spectacle is the talk of the zoo crew this morning as the native starlings converge for their magnificent murmurations! Wow! Also, Animal shares diet tips and BE CALLER 97 to win those hot, hot Loverboy tickets!! Give 97.9 a preset and break off the knob!

97.9 The Rat Race #36

Featuring: Ben Roy (Donny D), Beth Hoyt (Tara) & Chris Marrs (Animal)

Written By: Chris Marrs

Audio Designed & Directed by: Evan Nix

Created by: Ben Roy & Chris Marrs

It's a symphony in the skies! The Metro Area's stunning natural spectacle is the talk of the zoo crew this morning as the native starlings converge for their magnificent murmurations! Wow! Also, Animal shares diet tips and BE CALLER 97 to win those hot, hot Loverboy tickets!! Give 97.9 a preset and break off the knob!
97.9 The Rat Race #36
Featuring: Ben Roy (Donny D), Beth Hoyt (Tara) &amp; Chris Marrs (Animal)
Written By: Chris Marrs
Audio Designed &amp; Directed by: Evan Nix
Created by: Ben Roy &amp; Chris Marrs

Dance of the Starlings

What a morning! The jam cam is loaded out there on the roads, but one of Hollywood's biggest stars  - TOM CLARK! - joins us live! We also do a little wrap-up after the mega-success of our sixth-annual 97.9 Fishing 4 Gold Contest, where listeners compete to down the most shots of Goldschlager with a live goldfish in it - a total blast of good, wholesome fun!!

Apologies to hilarious comic Adam Cayton-Holland who will be performing at the Jostens Park Auditorium all weekend, and was bumped when the Tom Clark interview ran long.

97.9 The Rat Race #35

Featuring: Ben Roy (Donny D), Beth Hoyt (Tara), Chris Marrs (Animal), Evan Nix (Luke), Homer Marrs (Driver) & Adam Cayton-Holland (Tom)

Written By: Beth Hoyt

Audio Designed & Directed by: Evan Nix

Created by: Ben Roy & Chris Marrs

What a morning! The jam cam is loaded out there on the roads, but one of Hollywood's biggest stars&nbsp; - TOM CLARK! - joins us live! We also do a little wrap-up after the mega-success of our sixth-annual 97.9 Fishing 4 Gold Contest, where listeners compete to down the most shots of Goldschlager with a live goldfish in it - a total blast of good, wholesome fun!!
Apologies to hilarious comic Adam Cayton-Holland who will be performing at the Jostens Park Auditorium all weekend, and was bumped when the Tom Clark interview ran long.
97.9 The Rat Race #35
Featuring: Ben Roy (Donny D), Beth Hoyt (Tara), Chris Marrs (Animal), Evan Nix (Luke), Homer Marrs (Driver) &amp; Adam Cayton-Holland (Tom)
Written By: Beth Hoyt
Audio Designed &amp; Directed by: Evan Nix
Created by: Ben Roy &amp; Chris Marrs

Traffic & Trafficked

It's the third-most romantic morning of the year! 97.9's post-honeymoon check-in with lovebirds Claire & Brian from our recent "Rando Wedding" - the most authentic and passionate total-strangers-get-married contest in radio! All brought to you by our pals at "Something Borrowed" Wedding Dress Rentals of Fisher Creek.

And don't forget to join Donny & The Crew this weekend for what is sure to be a CRAZY rowdy party at the 18th Annual Fabric & Craft Outlet ArtWalk!

Apologies to the brilliant and talented Maria Thayer (Those Who Can't, Superstore) who was bumped when we ran long.

97.9 The Rat Race #34

Featuring: Ben Roy (Donny D), Beth Hoyt (Tara), Chris Marrs (Animal) & Maria Thayer (Claire)

Written By: Chris Marrs

Audio Designed & Directed by: Evan Nix

Created by: Ben Roy & Chris Marrs

It's the third-most romantic morning of the year! 97.9's post-honeymoon check-in with lovebirds Claire &amp; Brian from our recent "Rando Wedding" - the most authentic and passionate total-strangers-get-married contest in radio! All brought to you by our pals at "Something Borrowed" Wedding Dress Rentals of Fisher Creek.
And don't forget to join Donny &amp; The Crew this weekend for what is sure to be a CRAZY rowdy party at the 18th Annual Fabric &amp; Craft Outlet ArtWalk!
Apologies to the brilliant and talented Maria Thayer (Those Who Can't, Superstore) who was bumped when we ran long.
97.9 The Rat Race #34
Featuring: Ben Roy (Donny D), Beth Hoyt (Tara), Chris Marrs (Animal) &amp; Maria Thayer (Claire)
Written By: Chris Marrs
Audio Designed &amp; Directed by: Evan Nix
Created by: Ben Roy &amp; Chris Marrs

Rando Wedding: Honeymoon Follow Up!

What a morning as Tara’s been horsin’ around and we clear the foggy air on all those listener calls and questions regarding the All Souls Remote! Plus, Luke calls in for a fun quickie update of his own! 

Don’t forget to call our friends at Gittin’ Plowed Snow Removal and enter promo code ‘979Donny’ for all their wintertime specials! 

#RIPCaptBeatterman

Written By: Ben Roy

Audio Designed & Directed by: Evan Nix

Created by: Ben Roy & Chris Marrs

What a morning as Tara&rsquo;s been horsin&rsquo; around and we clear the foggy air on all those listener calls and questions regarding the All Souls Remote! Plus, Luke calls in for a fun quickie update of his own!&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t forget to call our friends at Gittin&rsquo; Plowed Snow Removal and enter promo code &lsquo;979Donny&rsquo; for all their wintertime specials!&nbsp;
#RIPCaptBeatterman
Written By: Ben Roy
Audio Designed &amp; Directed by: Evan Nix
Created by: Ben Roy &amp; Chris Marrs

The All Souls Remote: Explained!

It's a 97.9 Halloween BONUS!

What a morning as Donny D & the Crew broadcast live from the gorgeous All Souls Cemetery & Memorial Park! First 97 guests to join us before sunrise win FREE 97.9 glow-in-the-dark neon necklaces!

PLUS Don't miss All Souls' spectacular deals all month long on hillside plots, urn upgrades & more! Don't live long enough to miss this sale!

Shout-out Leonard!

97.9 The Rat Race #32

Featuring: Ben Roy (Donny D), Beth Hoyt (Tara), Chris Marrs (Animal) & Evan Nix (Luke)

Written By: Chris Marrs

Audio Designed & Directed by: Evan Nix

Created by: Ben Roy & Chris Marrs

It's a 97.9 Halloween BONUS!
What a morning as Donny D &amp; the Crew broadcast live from the gorgeous All Souls Cemetery &amp; Memorial Park! First 97 guests to join us before sunrise win FREE 97.9 glow-in-the-dark neon necklaces!
PLUS Don't miss All Souls' spectacular deals all month long on hillside plots, urn upgrades &amp; more! Don't live long enough to miss this sale!
Shout-out Leonard!
97.9 The Rat Race #32
Featuring: Ben Roy (Donny D), Beth Hoyt (Tara), Chris Marrs (Animal) &amp; Evan Nix (Luke)
Written By: Chris Marrs
Audio Designed &amp; Directed by: Evan Nix
Created by: Ben Roy &amp; Chris Marrs

Live From All Souls Cemetery!

It's, uh, WORLD PREMIERE time at 97.9 as the zoo crew unveils a hot new banger from rising artist and visionary Keith Heat - who in no way, shape or form coerced us into playing his song*.  

Big Thanks to Ray Longbow & our friends at Ray Longbow Mitsubishi, Mini, Tesla of RidgeRock for offering to get us a new life-size cardboard cutout.

Shout-out Only Pros Staging & Lighting! Shout-out water!

*portions of this episode description written under duress

97.9 The Rat Race #31

Featuring: Ben Roy (Donny D), Beth Hoyt (Tara), Chris Marrs (Animal) & Matt Braunger (Keith Heat)

Written By: Ben Roy

Audio Designed & Directed by: Evan Nix

Created by: Ben Roy & Chris Marrs

It's, uh, WORLD PREMIERE time at 97.9 as the zoo crew unveils a hot new banger from rising artist and visionary Keith Heat - who in no way, shape or form coerced us into playing his song*.&nbsp; 
Big Thanks to Ray Longbow &amp; our friends at Ray Longbow Mitsubishi, Mini, Tesla of RidgeRock for offering to get us a new life-size cardboard cutout.
Shout-out Only Pros Staging &amp; Lighting! Shout-out water!
*portions of this episode description written under duress
97.9 The Rat Race #31
Featuring: Ben Roy (Donny D), Beth Hoyt (Tara), Chris Marrs (Animal) &amp; Matt Braunger (Keith Heat)
Written By: Ben Roy
Audio Designed &amp; Directed by: Evan Nix
Created by: Ben Roy &amp; Chris Marrs

The Ballad of Keith Heat

A gorgeous morning here at Lakefront Park as the crew is on remote for the Metro Air & Water Show!

Join us at the 97.9 tent for our fantastic giveaways and enjoy aerial acrobatics from the coolest vintage military aircraft on the planet! PLUS take a pic with the speedboat from Miami Vice or let the kids play in the lifeboat where Captain Phillips was held hostage!

Also, tough news update regarding The Claw Machine Bomber. Listen!

#GiveEmHellArtie

97.9 The Rat Race #30

Featuring: Ben Roy (Donny D), Beth Hoyt (Tara) & Chris Marrs (Animal)

Written By: Chris Marrs

Audio Designed & Directed by: Evan Nix

Created by: Ben Roy & Chris Marrs

A gorgeous morning here at Lakefront Park as the crew is on remote for the Metro Air &amp; Water Show!
Join us at the 97.9 tent for our fantastic giveaways and enjoy aerial acrobatics from the coolest vintage military aircraft on the planet! PLUS take a pic with the speedboat from Miami Vice or let the kids play in the lifeboat where Captain Phillips was held hostage!
Also, tough news update regarding The Claw Machine Bomber. Listen!
#GiveEmHellArtie
97.9 The Rat Race #30
Featuring: Ben Roy (Donny D), Beth Hoyt (Tara) &amp; Chris Marrs (Animal)
Written By: Chris Marrs
Audio Designed &amp; Directed by: Evan Nix
Created by: Ben Roy &amp; Chris Marrs

Live at The Air & Water Show!

The gang welcomes back fan favorite William Jones, the foul-mouthed owner of Freddy Footlong's (Metro Area's #1 rated hot dog stand 12 out of the last 16 years) to promote the hot spot's 20th anniversary celebration: HotDog-A-Rama!

Apologies to brilliant actor, comedian & podcaster Daniel Van Kirk (PenPals, Dumb People Town) who was bumped from the show today to accommodate William's visit.

Unrelated: if you have have knowledge regarding the current whereabouts of William Jones, please contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Metro Area Field Office.

97.9 The Rat Race #29

Featuring: Ben Roy (Donny D), Beth Hoyt (Tara), Chris Marrs (Animal), Daniel Van Kirk (William Jones) & Evan Nix (Luke the Puke)

Written By: Evan Nix & Adam Nix

Directed by: Adam Nix

Produced & Edited by: Evan Nix

Created by: Ben Roy & Chris Marrs

The gang welcomes back fan favorite William Jones, the foul-mouthed owner of Freddy Footlong's (Metro Area's #1 rated hot dog stand 12 out of the last 16 years) to promote the hot spot's 20th anniversary celebration: HotDog-A-Rama!
Apologies to brilliant actor, comedian &amp; podcaster Daniel Van Kirk (PenPals, Dumb People Town) who was bumped from the show today to accommodate William's visit.
Unrelated: if you have have knowledge regarding the current whereabouts of William Jones, please contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Metro Area Field Office.
97.9 The Rat Race #29
Featuring: Ben Roy (Donny D), Beth Hoyt (Tara), Chris Marrs (Animal), Daniel Van Kirk (William Jones) &amp; Evan Nix (Luke the Puke)
Written By: Evan Nix &amp; Adam Nix
Directed by: Adam Nix
Produced &amp; Edited by: Evan Nix
Created by: Ben Roy &amp; Chris Marrs

Hot-Dog-A-Rama

Welcome to the homepage of 97.9 The Rat Race, the metro area's #6 ranked morning radio show. Check back here every week for weather and traffic updates, as well as your favorite moments from Donny D, Animal, and Tara in the morning.

97.9 THE RAT RACE

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