The Scene Vault Podcast
Rick Houston
Updated about 22 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.
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Episodes (436)
EPISODE 136 -- HUMPY WHEELER PART 1
Former Charlotte Motor Speedway President Humpy Wheeler joins the podcast this week for a look back at his extraordinary career. Humpy remembers Joe Weatherly and Curtis Turner, his early years at what was then a rough-and-tumble Charlotte race track and the rebirth of his own relationship with Bruton Smith. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid dig into the June 9, 1977 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured coverage of Richard Petty's dominant win on an intensely hot World 600 weekend and a feature on David Pearson's hijinks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 135 -- BUTCH MOCK PART 2
In the second and final installment of our interview, Butch Mock remembers Lake Speed's second-place finish in the Daytona 500, his friend Neil Bonnett's miraculous comeback from injuries he sustained at Charlotte in late 1987, racing in Australia, struggles making ends meet as the sport evolved, Alan Kulwicki's influence on his career, the end of his NASCAR career and the influence of his family. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid dig into the February 25, 1988 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured coverage of Bonnett's Richmond win, a heated protest by Ricky Rudd and Richard Petty, and Petty's reaction to his infamous wreck the week before in the 1988 Daytona 500. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 134 -- BUTCH MOCK PART 1
In the first of a two-part interview, former Rahmoc Enterprises co-owner Butch Mock remembers his beginnings in the sport in South Florida, the decision to make the move to Winston Cup and the struggles he and Bob Rahilly faced once they got there. After going through several drivers in a few short years, an opportunity with Neil Bonnett and Warner Hodgdon finally brought the team to prominence, only to see a deal with Richard Petty and Mike Curb fall apart at the last minute. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid pick through the September 21, 1978 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured coverage of Bobby Allison's dominant win at Dover, the first and only pole position of longtime independent driver J.D. McDuffie's career and suspicions that Darrell Waltrip had lightened his car by dumping buckshot on the track at Bristol. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 133 -- WARD BURTON PART 2
Ward Burton remembers his move to Bill Davis Racing, that first Winston Cup win at Rockingham, the 2002 Daytona 500, his not-so-pleasant split from the Davis operation and his adherence to The Code. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid tackle the October 26, 1995 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which featured coverage of the terrible confusion at the end of Ward's first Winston Cup victory, Rick Mast's dominant run foiled by engine trouble, an incredible Busch Series finish and a feature on Bahari Racing show-car driver and cancer survivor Mark Hayes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 132 -- FIRESTORM PREVIEW
Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid discuss and share clips from the upcoming 10-episode documentary podcast series, Firestorm: 2000, 2001 -- The Years That Forever Changed NASCAR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 131 -- WARD BURTON PART 1 and ASTRONAUT DOUG HURLEY
Not only did astronaut Doug Hurley command the first crewed Demo-2 SpaceX mission to the International Space Station last summer, he is also a HUGE NASCAR fan. Doug joins us this week as a guest co-host. Our interview is the first of what will be a two-part conversation with Ward Burton. This week, Ward discusses his love for the outdoors, his stint in military school, a potential college major, living out in the woods, his relationship with younger brother Jeff and his entrance into the Busch Series, which culminated in his first career victory at Rockingham. In our second segment, we go back to the March 5, 1992 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which featured coverage of Bill Elliott's first win with car owner Junior Johnson and that first win for Ward at The Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 130 -- JEFF HAMMOND PART 3
In this installment of our interview, Jeff Hammond remembers escapades with Dale Earnhardt and his attempts to bring Earnhardt into the Junior Johnson & Associates fold. Instead of hiring Earnhardt, however, Johnson brought former foe Darrell Waltrip on board. And while Waltrip's reception with his new teammates was quite frosty, he went on to capture Winston Cup championships in his first two years with the Johnson organization. Finally, Hammond discusses Waltrip's very serious accident in the 1983 Daytona 500. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid break down the March 25, 1982 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured coverage of Waltrip's early season victories at Bristol and Atlanta. Finally ... stay tuned to the very end for a special announcement of an upcoming documentary podcast series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 129 -- JEFF HAMMOND PART 2
In the second installment of our interview with Jeff Hammond, Jeff remembers his impression of Darrell Waltrip before DW came to Junior Johnson & Associates as the team's driver ... and Johnson's reaction to Cale Yarborough's decision to leave the team at the end of the 1980 season. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid pick through the June 8, 1980 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured coverage of Cale Yarborough leading all 420 laps at Nashville, a commentary by photojournalist David Chobat and a highway accident involving Ed and Faye Negre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 128 -- JEFF HAMMOND PART 1
In the first of what will eventually be a SIX-part interview -- in two separate three-episode arcs -- Jeff Hammond gives listeners insight into his very earliest days as a NASCAR fan. So taken with the sport was Hammond, he was determined to find a spot working for a team. After stints with several different teams, Hammond finally landed with Walter Ballard ... and then ... the legendary Junior Johnson & Associates. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid go through the August 21, 1980 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured coverage of Cale Yarborough's victory at Michigan. Although Richard Petty was coming off a horrific accident at Pocono the month before, he still managed to finish fifth. Darrell Waltrip was unable to get his DiGard Racing entry into the field, so he took over car owner Joel Halpern's car ... and proceeded to finish fifth. The DiGard Racing-DW relationship was on its last legs, and we dig back into the archives to get the viewpoints of both Waltrip and team owner Bill Gardner. Finally, this issue announces the retirement of Tighe Scott. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 127 -- PHIL PARSONS PART 2
In the second and final installment of our interview with Phil Parsons, he recalls winning his first Winston Cup event at Talladega in 1988. Less than two years later, however, Phil was unceremoniously dumped by Morgan-McClure Motorsports just three races into the 1990 season. Phil also discusses rumors that he had substantial problems with his eyesight, and the impact that gossip had on his career. After more than five years of career turmoil, he then experienced a resurgence with a win in the 1994 spring Busch Series race at Charlotte. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 126 -- PHIL PARSONS PART 1
We're back! In our first episode of the new year, Phil Parsons remembers the influence of his older brother Benny on his life and career, his earliest days in NASCAR's old Baby Grand division and meetings with Humpy Wheeler and Johnny Hayes that changed the course of his career. Finally, Phil discusses his vicious crash at Talladega, in just the second Winston Cup event of his career. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid thumb through the May 5, 1983 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured coverage of Richard Petty's 197th career win at Talladega, Benny Parsons' runnerup effort and his kid brother's infamous accident. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 125 -- RICK'S PICKS
Our final episode of the year features the best of the best of a year filled with incredible stories from NASCAR history, as selected by host Rick Houston. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 124 -- BEST OF 2020
In this very busy holiday season, take a moment to relive The Scene Vault Podcast's greatest moments of 2020. From the silliest of stories like Kyle Petty's race pool to the seriousness of hitting rock bottom for Brett Bodine and Cliff Champion, we've made it our mission to bring you the very best NASCAR history content possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 123 -- WILL CRONKRITE PART 2
In the second and final installment of our interview, Will Cronkrite discusses the night he and an eager young driver named Dale Earnhardt first worked together ... with a 3 1/2-year-old Dale Earnhardt Jr. watching nearby. Cronkrite also remembers his time with Mark Martin, a way-too-narrow car at Talladega and the tumultuous time he spent on the epic NASCAR film Stroker Ace. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid thumb through the June 1, 1978 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured coverage of Darrell Waltrip's thrilling win in the World 600 at Charlotte, a confrontation between Lennie Pond and Herb Nab and a feature story on Blackie Wangerin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 122 -- WILL CRONKRITE PART 1
Longtime NASCAR car owner, crew chief and car builder Will Cronkrite shares the story of a friendship forged by the shared experience of the most devastating circumstances imaginable. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid dig into the July 16, 1987 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured a midseason review, stories on Dick Hutcherson's passion for show horses, brothers Gary and Walter Smith and sports-car-driver-turned-NASCAR-racer Rick Knoop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 121 -- PAUL GOLDSMITH
In this very special episode, we sit down with NASCAR pioneer Paul Goldsmith for an inside look at his incredible career. Now 95 years young, Mr. Goldsmith had a diverse resume that saw him race everything from thoroughbred horses to motorcycles to stock cars and Indy cars. NASCAR historian Buz McKim joins hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid to break down Mr. Goldsmith's career and then dive into the May 8, 1980 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured a thrillingly close finish between Buddy Baker and Dale Earnhardt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 120 -- CLIFF CHAMPION PART 2
In the second and final installment of our interview, Cliff Champion remembers his time with DiGard Racing, Alan Kulwicki, decisions he would've changed and a tragic accident involving his charter boat. In our second segment, we go back to the December 9, 1993 Winston Cup Scene, which featured coverage of the Winston Cup banquet celebrating Dale Earnhardt's sixth championship, the fabulous Flock family, teams helping each other out and Rusty Wallace's impromptu stint as an NYC cabbie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 119 -- CLIFF CHAMPION PART 1
Cliff Champion may not be a household name to many fans of the sport, but he's led an astounding life in the world of NASCAR. In the first of what will be a two-part interview with Cliff, he talks about getting into the sport with his cousin, Bill Champion, and struggling to gain a foothold in the sport with Ricky Rudd, James Hylton and Richard Childress before finally making it to victory lane with Buddy Baker in the 1980 Daytona 500. In our second segment, we go all the way back to the June 16, 1983 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured coverage of Bobby Allison's dominant win at Pocono, an incredible column by Steve Waid about Richard Childress' shenanigans and Ricky Rudd's youth and a feature on drivers Skip Manning, Sam Sommers and Bruce Hill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 118 -- TOMMY HOUSTON PART 2
In the conclusion of our two-part conversation, Tommy Houston remembers everything from his heartbreaking loss in the 1989 Busch Series championship battle to his and his family's friendship with Rob Moroso and his own decision to retire from driving. Andy Houston, Tommy's youngest son, and longtime crew member Jamie Reynolds joins hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid for a trip down memory lane, winding throughout the latter stages of Tommy Houston's career. In our second segment, we take a long look at the April 23, 1992 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which featured coverage of the first test under the lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway and the emotional final win of Tommy Houston's iconic Busch Series career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 117 -- TOMMY HOUSTON PART 1
It's wall-to-wall Houstons on The Scene Vault Podcast Presented by Q Ware this week. Tommy Houston sits down with host Rick Houston (no relation ... we think) to discuss the early years of his career in the Busch Series. Tommy remembers a legendary 1983 scrap at IRP with Tommy Ellis, his own limited attempts at the Winston Cup level and "innovations" designed to get around the rules. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 116 -- CLIFF CHAMPION SPECIAL
In this very special episode, longtime NASCAR crew chief and mechanic Cliff Champion tells his story of hitting rock bottom, attempting suicide not once, not twice, but three times before finding redemption. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 115 -- PAUL ANDREWS PART 3
In the third and final installment of our interview, Paul Andrews remembers the transition from Alan Kulwicki to Geoff Bodine; working with Jeremy Mayfield and "teammate" Rusty Wallace; and a very bad week in which he was released from his job at Petty Enterprises and just days later suffering a fall that left him with multiple injuries. We then dig deep into the May 26, 1994 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which featured coverage of Bodine's win in The Winston Select all-star race; John Andretti's planned Indy 500-Coca-Cola 600 double; Jimmy Spencer's controversial driving style; competitors being charged to park in the infield at Charlotte; and a million-dollar challenge from Felix Sabates to Rusty Wallace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 114 -- PAUL ANDREWS PART 2
In this extraordinarily emotional episode, Paul Andrews remembers his incredible 1992 championship season with Alan Kulwicki ... and the loss of his driver, team owner and friend just a few months later. In our second segment, we do a deep dive into the November 26, 1992 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which featured coverage of the iconic 1992 Hooters 500. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 113 -- PAUL ANDREWS PART 1
In the first of a three-part interview, veteran crew chief Paul Andrews takes listeners back to the very beginning of his racing career with Rusty Wallace. He recalls the time he got out of the sport to sell real estate, only to be drawn back in by a job offer from the one and only Alan Kulwicki. Together, Kulwicki and Andrews would experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. This week, Andrews remembers Kulwicki's first Winston Cup win at Phoenix and his decision to turn down a ride with team owner Junior Johnson. In our second segment, we turn to the November 10, 1988 issue of Grand National Scene, which features coverage of Kulwicki's Phoenix win, which came after engine woes doomed the efforts of the dominant Ricky Rudd. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EPISODE 112 -- BRETT BODINE PART 3
In this very powerful conclusion to our conversation, Brett Bodine remembers his brother Geoff's infamous crash in the inaugural truck race at Daytona; Dale Earnhardt's severe reaction to Brett's use of the HANS Device; a career-ending crash at Michigan; and ... rock bottom, the point at which Brett was all but homeless. Thankfully, that's not where Brett's story ends. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid go back in time to the September 25, 1997 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which features coverage of Mark Martin's fuel-mileage win at Dover, Dale Earnhardt's runnerup effort and dominant Kyle Petty falling short after having to make an extra stop for gas. Steve also tells his best Dick Thompson story and Rick recalls the time he and Brian Vickers had the bejeebers scared out of them at the Pentagon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices