The Scene Vault Podcast
Rick Houston
Updated about 19 hours agoAt The Scene Vault Podcast, we're all about NASCAR history, all the time. Our interview guests shed new light on their lives and careers each and every week, and hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid draw on their long careers in and around the sport to provide expert analysis and commentary. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 6 a.m. Eastern.
Are you the creator? Get your badge · Claim this podcast
Episodes (436)
Episode 210 -- Preview of Pete Wright on Junior Johnson and D.K. Ulrich on Nitrous Oxide at Darlington
Enjoy a sneak preview of the next installment of our interview with Pete Wright, in which he remembers getting hired and then working with NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnson. Also, longtime independent team owner and driver D.K. Ulrich gives us the inside story of the nitrous oxide system that was discovered in his car following a savage crash in the 1978 Southern 500. NOTE: This show is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.Please consider supporting this show via: www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastwww.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcastwww.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 209 -- NASCAR Veteran Pete Wright on the Loss of His Son
NOTE: This episode may be too emotionally intense for some listeners. Pete Wright worked in NASCAR as a crew member and crew chief for years, and with drivers ranging from Terry Labonte and Darrell Waltrip to Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman. We've got those stories, and they're remarkable. But on August 20, 2017, Pete experienced every parent's very worst night ... the loss of his child, a son named Adam, who'd followed in his father's footsteps in NASCAR. Pete shares memories of his son, but also Adam's beloved dog Lizzie, and the impact she and many other animals had on his grief process.You will never forget this incredibly emotional episode. NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.In honor of Pete Wright and Lizzie ... and in memory of Adam Wright ... please consider a donation to www.ruffloverescue.com/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 208 -- David Ifft on the Infamous Waylon Jennings Riot, Jailtime in Mexico, Benny Parsons and Cale Yarborough
This week in the third and final installment of our conversation with David Ifft, he tells us HIS side of the story of a long-ago riot before, during and after a Waylon Jennings concert at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Then, it’s on to his infamous stint in a Mexican jail while en route to the 1980 season finale at Ontario … a race he would win with Benny Parsons behind the wheel.After that, David remembers parting ways with … first … Benny … and then team owner M.C. Anderson and driver Cale Yarborough.Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid then tie into the July 9, 1981 issue of Grand National Scene. Cale Yarborough used a slingshot move on the last lap to get by Harry Gant for the win at Daytona. Cale got the victory and Harry wound up with ANOTHER second-place finish.Ricky Rudd escaped what could very well have been a devastating crash that also involved Dale Earnhardt, who was making his first start for car owner J.D. Stacy.Jake Elder makes good on a promise to stay put with Terry Labonte … for a while … and James Hylton gets a dream sponsorship from STP for an upcoming race at Talladega.Finally … an earlier column on women in the pits and garage gets things stirred up in this week’s letters to the editor section.NOTE: This show is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.Please consider supporting this show via: www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastwww.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcastwww.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 207 -- David Ifft on M.C. Anderson's Big Money, Buddy Baker, Benny Parsons, Dale Inman and Richard Petty
In the second installment of our interview with David Ifft, David tells all when it comes to his salary negotiation with M.C. Anderson, after which he become the first crew chief on record to be paid more than $100,000 a year. He also gives us the scoop on why M.C. started having his employees followed by a private investigator. Phil Parsons … if you’re out there and listening … don’t shoot the messenger, my friend.David also remembers lending a helping hand to Richard Petty and Dale Inman the week of the 1979 Daytona 500 and getting an extraordinarily rare Richard Petty mug … cough … cough … in return. Finally, he talks about the hand-shake sponsorship deal between M.C. Anderson and Harry Melling, as well as the trickery and deal making that led to Benny Parsons’ win in the 1980 World 600 at Charlotte.Note ... there is some background noise during parts of the interview. Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid then dig through the June 19, 1980 issue of Grand National Scene. Benny Parsons wins at Michigan, ONE of his hometown tracks, on a day that was wet and soggy and cold and just kinda downright miserable. David Pearson nearly misses the start of the race because he’d already headed back to the hotel.DK Ulrich and a fan have a misunderstanding at Riverside and publisher Robb Griggs calls for what amounted to a driver benevolence fund ... and better lounge entertainers?!? NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.Please consider supporting our show via: www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastwww.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcastwww.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 206 -- David Ifft on Bud Moore, Darrell Waltrip and DiGard Racing
The Spongebob Squarepants musical ... Rick coming to Steve's rescue and helping change a flat tire ... it all takes a back seat to the news that Las Vegas Motor Speedway is renewing its title sponsorship of The Scene Vault Podcast for the coming year! In the first of three EPIC installments of our interview with David Ifft, the longtime NASCAR crew chief talks about going from shop to shop to shop in his drive to land a dream gig in the sport, before finally getting hooked up with Bud Moore Engineering.After that, it was on to DiGard Racing, where he reunited with Darrell Waltrip AND doubled his salary to a whopping $700 a week. However … because it was DiGard … a parting of the ways was almost inevitable.Rick and Steve then take a look at the October 26, 1978 issue of Grand National Scene. Cale Yarborough beats the living daylights out of everybody at Rockingham and for the 1978 Winston Cup championship, his unprecedented third title in a row. L.G. DeWitt, Benny Parsons and Jake Elder have themselves a little bit of a row, while young David Ifft is called one of the best crew chiefs in the business. Finally, team owner Rod Osterlund denies rumors that he is grooming phenom Dale Earnhardt to replace Dave Marcis as his driver.NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.Please consider supporting the podcast via:www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastwww.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcastwww.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 205 -- Jeff Purvis on South Boston Pit-Road Brawl, Career-Ending Accidents
In the second and final installment of our interview with Jeff Purvis, Jeff talks about the all-out South Boston brawl and subsequent suspension he faced way back when, a Pikes Peak win he does not remember and TWO life-threatening and ultimately career-ending accidents … AND … giraffe money.Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid then dig into the August 2, 2001 issue of Winston Cup Scene. Bobby Labonte gets around Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the win at Pocono, Jeff Purvis wins at Pikes Peak in a fill-in role for Richard Childress Racing and Columbine shooting victim Rachel Scott’s family is treated to a weekend of Busch Series racing and hospitality. The issue also featured coverage of yet another NASCAR rule change and a package of stories on stress in racing.NOTE: This show is not affiliated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.Please consider supporting this show via:www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastwww.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcastwww.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 204 -- Jeff Purvis on Dirt and Asphalt Roots, James Finch and Cheating in Racing
Jeff Purvis … Never Nervous Purvis. This week in the first of what will be two installments of our interview, Jeff talks about getting into racing on dirt, his transition to asphalt, how he first got together with team owner James Finch and one of the very best cheating in racing stories that you’ll ever hear.In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid dig into the May 5, 1994 issue of Winston Cup Scene. Dale Earnhardt adds to his legendary win total at Talladega, while Ernie Irvan, Michael Waltrip and Jimmy Spencer come up just a little bit short. And Jimmy? Let’s just say Mr. Excitement didn’t exactly win a lot of friends that day. Mark Martin had one of the wildest rides of his career going through barriers and coming to a VERY hard stop against a guardrail.Jeff Purvis won Talladega’s ARCA race the day before, Deb Williams gives her stance on calling a NASCAR event a race ... or a show. And a young, up-and-coming and extraordinarily good-looking writer had both a feature story AND a column in this issue.NOTE: This show is not affiliated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand. Please consider supporting this show via:www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastwww.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcastwww.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 203 -- NASCAR Champion-Turned-Broadcaster Todd Bodine Part 3
We start off this week with a quick chat with Jamie Bishop, gasman for NASCAR Truck driver Parker Kligerman, who won Saturday's event at Mid-Ohio. Jamie is a longtime friend and supporter of the show who may ... or may not ... return the victory-lane caps he was given by Parker following Saturday's victory.In the third and final installment of our interview with Todd Bodine, Todd discusses the day that his older Geoff was involved in that just absolutely horrifying accident during the inaugural Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona. He also talks about his THRILLING Busch Series wins at Kentucky and Darlington … but NOT the one he pulled off at Rockingham.Finally, we wrap up our conversation with his move to the truck series, his championships and finally the move to television.Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid then dig into the November 23, 2006 issue of NASCAR Scene, which featured extensive coverage of championship efforts by Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and Todd Bodine, Mark Martin's final win and departure from Roush Racing and Rick's 2006 reaction to polls naming Mark Martin as the greatest driver in Busch Series history. NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.Please consider supporting the podcast via:www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastwww.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcastwww.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 202 -- NASCAR Champion-Turned-Broadcaster Todd Bodine Part 2
We’ve got a lot packed into this installment of our interview with Todd Bodine … getting booed because he’s Geoff Bodine’s brother, the infamous run-in between Geoff and Brett during the inaugural Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, his OWN issues in that event and the phantom caution he caused, ANOTHER historic race at Texas Motor Speedway that got away and last, but certainly not least … the Tabasco Fiasco. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid leaf through the August 13, 1992 issue of Winston Cup Scene. Kyle Petty wins a rain-shortened race at Watkins Glen and the Bodine brothers – Geoff, Brett and Todd – race against each other for the first time. There are rumors about future NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt, Richard Childress, Rusty Wallace, Ray Evernham and Jeff Gordon … one of which KINDA comes true. NOTE: This show is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand. Be sure to check out our newly designed website www.thescenevault.com!Please consider supporting our show via: www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastwww.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcastwww.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 201 -- NASCAR Champion-Turned-Broadcaster Todd Bodine
After taking additional questions from friends (?!?) of the podcast Rick Mast and Rusty Wallace, we dive into the first installment of our interview with Todd Bodine.Long before he was a champion of the Craftsman Truck Series … long before he became a NASCAR analyst and broadcaster … Todd bounced up and down the east coast, trying to make a name for himself in the sport. He got one big break as Felix Sabates’ very first employee in NASCAR … and an even bigger one the following year when Kyle Petty opted out of driving several Busch Series events.His performance in that car put him in line for a ride with car owners and fellow New York natives Frank Cicci and Scott Welliver. The deal worked … and worked well.Then, in our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid dig through the June 6, 1991 issue of Winston Cup Scene. Ken Schrader wins on an extraordinarily hot and humid weekend at Dover and he gets by Dale Earnhardt to do it. Todd wins the first race of his Busch Series career the day before … in one of the craziest days you’d ever want to see … and in some of the worst circumstances.Finally, a crew member for Jimmy Means Racing escapes very serious injury when a fire breaks out on pit road. NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand. Please consider supporting our show via:www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastwww.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcastwww.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 200 -- NASCAR Icon Richard Petty
Richard Petty … what else do we really need to say? NASCAR Hall of Fame inaugural inductee. Seven championships … seven Daytona 500 wins … the number 43 … 200 wins.It's a perfect fit for our 200th episode.It would also not be appropriate to celebrate our 200th episode without including our listeners, so we asked everybody to send in their questions for hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid … and we even got a few from PAST INTERVIEW guests Larry McReynolds, Jeff Hammond, Kenny Wallace and Las Vegas Motor Speedway President and General Manager Chris Powell.NOTE: This show is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.Please consider supporting our show via:www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastwww.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcastwww.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 199 -- Richard Childress Racing-Dale Earnhardt Tire Changer Will Lind Part 2
NOTE: Have a question to ask hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid for next week's milestone 200th episode? Tweet us @thescenevault and use #vault200, or email a voice file to [email protected]! In the second and final installment of our interview with Richard Childress Racing legend Will Lind, he discusses all the Daytona 500s that got away from Dale Earnhardt and what it meant to him personally when the NASCAR icon finally won the sport’s biggest race in 1998.Will also tells our listeners about the Goodyear-Hoosier tire wars, a controversial decision by the RCR crew to replace Earnhardt’s missing tires at Charlotte, the transition between RCR crew chiefs Kirk Shelmerdine and Andy Petree and his own decision to take a step back from life on the road.Then in our second segment, we take a long look inside the October 18, 1990 issue of Winston Cup Scene. This late-season, off-week issue features a preview of the conclusion to the battle for the 1990 Winston Cup championship, news of the passing of former team and track owner L.G. DeWitt, Rick Mast's Busch Series win at New Hampshire, the aftermath of a very scary pit-road clash between Alan Kulwicki and Ernie Irvan at Charlotte and an equally as frightening accident during testing at Rockingham for Richard Petty.DISCLAIMER: This show is not affiliated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.Please consider supporting our show via: www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastwww.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcastwww.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 198 -- Former Richard Childress Racing-Dale Earnhardt Tire Changer Will Lind
This week's show begins with a simple challenge ... pay it forward. Do something nice for someone else, without any expectation of receiving anything in return. Will Lind got his start in the sport working with James Hylton, but he went on to have a LONG and successful career with Richard Childress Racing and was probably best known for changing rear tires on Dale Earnhardt’s Flying Aces/Junkyard Dogs pit crews of the late 1980s and early 90s.This week, Will talks about his hardcore early days in the sport, when he went to GREAT lengths to carve out a place for himself in the garage, his beginnings with RCR and the Dale Earnhardt he knew away from the track.The September 2, 1982 issue of Grand National Scene marked a fairly significant milestone in the publication’s history. It was Scene’s first issue with a standard tabloid size, rather than the folded, two-cover format it had used since its very first issue back in the spring of 1977.In the pages of that week's issue, it wasn’t exactly breaking news that Darrell Waltrip won at Bristol. This was his fourth in a row there, but it wasn’t exactly easy … and surprise of all surprises … there was just a wee little bit of controversy that night.Bobby Allison and Harry Gant weren't exactly happy with NASCAR or Darrell Waltrip. Dave Marcis wasn't happy with Terry Labonte, and Terry Labonte AND Billy Hagan weren’t happy with Dave.After reading co-host Steve Waid's column, Jimmy Means probably wasn’t very happy either after being made fun of for being so skinny. And finally … Bill Elliott … yes, THAT Bill Elliott got downright chatty with Gene Granger about the never-ending battle between Ford and General Motors, his season to date and safety.NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owners of the Scene brand.Please consider supporting our show financially via: www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastwww.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcastwww.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 197 -- Medal of Honor Recipients-NASCAR Fans Joe Marm and Bob Patterson
NOTE: This episode contains vivid descriptions of the experience of combat. It may be too intense for some listeners. For this very special Memorial Day release, host Rick Houston had the honor of sitting down with Medal of Honor recipients Bob Patterson and Joe Marm to discuss their stories, their interest in NASCAR and why Bob is a big Kyle Busch fan. NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.Please consider supporting the production of this podcast via:www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastwww.paypal.com/thescenevaultpodcastwww.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 196 -- TIM BREWER PART 3
In the epic third and final installment of our interview with longtime NASCAR crew chief Tim Brewer, Tim talks about his and Junior Johnson’s 1991 suspension after a big engine was found in their car at Charlotte. He also remembers Bill Elliott coming on board with the team in 1992 … the early success … and then the crushing disappointment of losing out on that year’s championship.And if you thought Tim didn’t hold anything back in the first two installments of our interview … THIS episode is truly something to behold.Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid then thumb through the May 30, 1991 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which featured coverage of Davey Allison's dominant win in the Coca-Cola 600 and the furious response of Dale Earnhardt and Richard Childress. There's also news of Tim Brewer and Junior Johnson having their suspensions reduced from twelve weeks to four races.NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.Please consider supporting our show via:www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastwww.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcastwww.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 195 -- TIM BREWER PART 2
This week in the second installment of our interview with longtime … and outspoken … NASCAR crew chief Tim Brewer, Tim talks about his move to M.C. Anderson and why he considers that to be the biggest mistake of his career. He also guides us through some tumultuous years financially with Blue Max Racing and Tim Richmond, during which it was left to HIM to cover checks to keep the team going.Then it was back to Junior Johnson & Associates, to work with drivers Neil Bonnett, Terry Labonte and Geoff Bodine. And … yes … Tim talks about some of the … let’s just call ‘em rules interpretations he made over the years. That led to a couple of quotes that go STRAIGHT to the top of our favorites over the years on this show.Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid then dig into the September 9, 1982 issue of Grand National Scene. Cale Yarborough scores the fifth Southern 500 victory of his career, with rumors circulating that his car owner … M.C. Anderson … wanted him to run for the 1983 Winston Cup championship.The win comes after a heated late-race battle with Richard Petty, during which sheet metal WAS traded back and forth several times.There’s also a story on a couple of NASCAR movies that were in production at the time … and … finally … a piece on the whuppings drivers had received over the years.NOTE: This podcast is not affiliated in any way with American City Business Journals, owners of the Scene brand.Please consider supporting our show via: www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastwww.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcastwww.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 194 -- TIM BREWER PART 1
After some reactions to last week's release of CLIPS from our L.W. Wright interview, longime NASCAR crew chief Tim Brewer talks about his earliest days in racing at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, quitting school and hitting the road as a young teenager, the infamous Talladega boycott of 1969 and an encounter with NASCAR Founder Bill France Sr.Brewer got his big break when he went to work for an independent driver by the name of Richard Childress, before winding up with Junior Johnson & Associates.In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid leaf through the October 27, 1977 issue of Grand National Scene. Donnie Allison wins at Rockingham and Cale Yarborough clinches the championship with two races remaining on that year's schedule. There’s also a story illustrating the relationship that existed once upon a time between Richard Childress and Junior Johnson.Please consider supporting the show!patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastpaypal.me/thescenevaultpodcastvenmo.com/thescenevaultpodcastNOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owners of the Scene brand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 193 -- L.W. WRIGHT
You know the legend of L.W. Wright. Now meet the man.The driver known as L.W. Wright made the first and only start of his Winston Cup career on May 2, 1982 at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. He'd not been heard from in the FORTY YEARS since ... until now.May 2, 2022 marks the 40th anniversary of that iconic Talladega event, and for the first time ever, portions of an extensive interview with the man who went by the name L.W. Wright are being released ONLY on The Scene Vault Podcast.NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owners of the Scene brand.Please consider supporting this podcast:Patreon: www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastPayPal: www.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 193A -- L.W. WRIGHT TEASER
You know the legend of L.W. Wright. Now meet the man. The driver known as L.W. Wright made the first and only start of his Winston Cup career on May 2, 1982 at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. He'd not been heard from in the FORTY YEARS since ... until now. Monday marks the 40th anniversary of that iconic Talladega event, and for the first time ever, portions of an extensive interview with the man who went by the name L.W. Wright will be released ONLY on The Scene Vault Podcast. Be sure to subscribe and check back Monday at 6 a.m. for the full episode. NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owners of the Scene brand.Please consider supporting this podcast: Patreon: www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastPayPal: www.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 192 -- GIL MARTIN PART 3
After teasing next week's interview guest, we conclude our three-episode arc with Gil Martin’s cancer story. It’s powerful … because he went at his Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) diagnosis with the heart of a racer. If this doesn’t work, try that … over and over and over again.In honor of that cancer story … as we have in the past with others in the NASCAR community who have dealt with such serious issues … we let it stand on its own and forego our standard second segment. NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owners of the Scene brand. Please consider supporting the show: Patreon: www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcastPayPal: www.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 191 -- GIL MARTIN PART 2
Big news in the world of NASCAR history this week ... the rebirth of North Wilkesboro Speedway, thanks to the efforts of a small group of Wilkes County diehards and Speedway Motorsports!In our first segment this week, we share the second installment of our interview with longtime NASCAR crew chief Gil Martin. Gil shares his memories of his first Winston Cup victory as a crew chief, which came in November 2001 at New Hampshire with Robby Gordon behind the wheel of the Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. Gil also shares the story of the Corvette he was promised ... but never received ... following that win. Then, it's on to the sometimes topsy-turvy relationship he shared with young phenom Kevin Harvick, RCR's decision to bring back the number 3 and the urgency of winning the pole for the 2014 Daytona 500. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid break down the November 29, 2001 issue of Winston Cup Scene. That week's paper covered the Battle of the Gordons at New Hampshire, in which Robby gave Jeff a nudge up and out of the lead en route to that first win with Gil. Also, a Busch Series season review package relived some rather testy quotes from competitors.NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owners of the Scene brand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 190 -- GIL MARTIN PART 1
This week ... host Rick Houston and his sons Jesse and Adam join listener Bill Stripling for a memorable weekend of decidedly Old School and frigid short-track racing at Martinsville Speedway. In the first of what will be three installments with longtime NASCAR Busch Series and Cup crew chief Gil Martin, he takes us through his very first days in the sport. A buddy of his needed help out at the old Nashville Fairgrounds Raceway … and Gil didn’t particularly want to go. But he went any way, a move that very obviously turned out to change the course of his life.Gil also remembers Bobby Hamilton and the genesis of Filmar Racing, and the growing pains that Nashville-based operation faced with four very different drivers … Bobby Hamilton, David Green, Jeff Burton and finally, Kenny Wallace.Finally, Gil takes us through his move to Richard Childress Racing.In our second segment, Rick and co-host Steve Waid leaf through the April 16, 1992 issue of Winston Cup Scene. Davey Allison wins at North Wilkesboro, despite being battered, bruised and sore from an accident the race before in Bristol. Bobby Hillin gets put in lockdown due to a run-in with Kyle Petty … and there’s actually a connection to that incident AND our new NASCAR Technical Institute studio.Oh … but wait … there’s more. Dave Marcis helps pave the way for NASCAR to make its first appearance at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a young Dale Jarrett tumbles out of his car while trying to leave North Wilkesboro, a Junior Johnson & Associates crew member is unable to go on an important mission? Why? Because he’s locked in a porta-john. Finally, there’s an almost unbelievable connection … again … to our deal with John Dodson at the NASCAR Technical Institute.NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owners of the Scene brand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 189 -- MIKE BEAM PART 3
This week in the third and final installment of our interview with Mike Beam, Mike talks about the struggles he continued to face in the wake of the loss of Mike Rich and a fiery accident involving Sterling Marlin. Despite those reservations, Mike eventually moved over to Bill Elliott’s Junior Johnson & Associates team, where he and Bill combined to give Junior the final Winston Cup victory of his career.Mike also takes listeners through the controversy the team endured during the leadup to the 1995 Daytona 500, when the organization was discovered with an illegal intake manifold.Finally, Mike makes it back to the top of the mountain with Roush Racing, where he guided Mark Martin and Carl Edwards to successful seasons in truck and Nationwide competition. Afterward, he wound up with the organization now known as Petty GMS Motorsports … together again with Richard Petty.In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid dig into the May 28, 1981 issue of Grand National Scene. Bobby Allison wins at Charlotte, despite serious accidents involving his brother Donnie and good friend Neil Bonnett. Cale Yarborough finishes third just two days after getting scalded by a pot of boiling water in his hotel room, Dale Earnhardt moves back into his father’s old racing shop in Kannapolis and Gene Granger gets PUNCHED.NOTE: This podcast is in no way associated with American City Business Journals, owners of the Scene brand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 188 -- MIKE BEAM PART 2
In this very emotional episode, longtime crew chief and team executive Mike Beam discusses what was THE most controversial moment of Richard Petty’s career … the 1983 fall race at Charlotte, after which a REALLY big engine was discovered under the hood of the Petty Enterprises Pontiac. He also talks about taking some time off to be Mr. Mom and refocus his priorities on his family.Mike then discusses the absolute devastation of losing teammate Mike Rich in a terrible accident during the 1990 Winston Cup season finale at Atlanta, a fiery accident at Bristol involving Sterling Marlin just a few months later and the emotional impact that had on his life and career.Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid then dive into the October 25, 1990 issue of Winston Cup Scene. Alan Kulwicki wins at Rockingham, for the first time since positing the first Winston Cup victory of his career a couple of years earlier at Phoenix.The day was a very good one for Alan, but one of his crew members escaped very serious injury when he was struck by Rusty Wallace during a round of pit stops.Bill Elliott’s Melling Racing crew wins the Unocal 76 pit-crew race at Rockingham. Jeff Gordon makes the very first NASCAR start of his career and the origin of Jack Roush’s love for straw hats is revealed!NOTE: This podcast is not affiliated in any way with American City Business Journals, owners of the Scene brand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 187 -- MIKE BEAM PART 1
This week in the first of three installments of our interview with veteran crew chief and team executive Mike Beam, he talks about trying to break into the sport with Mike Laughlin, Butch Lindley, Harry Gant and Morgan Shepherd, before finally landing with Petty Enterprises. And … yes … he gives us HIS side of the story in the Great Lone Star Beer Escapade with Kyle Petty.In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid take a peek at the June 11, 1981 issue of Grand National Scene. Benny Parsons wins the final Winston Cup event at Texas World Speedway after a pretty heated late-race battle with defending series champion Dale Earnhardt, who was still searching for his first win of the season. Spotters take up for Earl Sappenfield and Joe Whitlock wheels and deals for Dale Earnhardt, for the time being.NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owners of the Scene brand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices