The Scene Vault Podcast

We’ll share the third and final installment of our interview with Michael McSwain … and if you thought the first two parts were something … you ain’t seen nothing yet. Michael talks about an incident between Ricky Rudd and a Robert Yates Racing employee that left Ricky with a pretty nasty black eye. He talks about his reasons for leaving Robert Yates Racing to go work for Joe Gibbs Racing as crew chief for Bobby Labonte. Finally … Michael rejoined Ricky Rudd at Wood Brothers Racing, where Michael stayed until his decision to get out of the sport in 2007. At the end of the conversation, Michael shared some pretty raw feelings about no longer being in the sport … and the conversation turned very personal. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid tackle the April 27, 2000 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which featured a package of stories on several up-and-coming crew chiefs at the time, with Michael McSwain right there on the cover. There's also a feature on Mark Martin’s dominance in the Busch Series, in what was going to be his last year in the division. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, we share the second installment of our interview with Michael McSwain. He talks about working for Cale Yarborough, joining Ricky Rudd in his last year as a team owner and then going with Ricky to Robert Yates Racing, where the kid from Lattimore, North Carolina won his first Winston Cup race. Just a few months later at Richmond, McSwain was about ready to burn the whole place down for a few minutes. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid thumb through the June 21, 2001 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which featured coverage of Ricky and Michael's Pocono win, Kevin Harvick’s double-duty weekend flying back and forth between Pocono and the Busch Series race in Kentucky and the mild-mannered Hank Parker Jr. running into Randy LaJoie after the Kentucky event. Also ... Junior Johnson makes a run at purchasing North Wilkesboro Speedway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Michael "Fatback" McSwain talks about the origin of his nickname, padding his resume a little bit when he first got into Winston Cup, the influence of Robert Gee and Harry Hyde on his career, trying to make ends meet with team owner Richard Jackson, an INCREDIBLE third-place finish with Morgan Shepherd at Atlanta and how standing up for himself and his beliefs was one of his greatest strengths … and maybe, one of his greatest weaknesses. Then, in our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid tackle the March 13, 1997 issue of Winston Cup Scene. That paper carried coverage of Dale Jarrett's dominant win at Atlanta, a third-place finish by Morgan Shepherd and McSwain and a horrifying crash involving Steve Grissom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We share the third and final installment of our interview with Humpy Wheeler, and this week, he talks about a 1983 confrontation that he had with Tim Richmond. And speaking of confrontations, Humpy absolutely LOVED it when drivers were mad at each other, because it was one more tool in his tool box that he used to help sell tickets. Humpy also talks about a spur-of-the-moment pitch to run The Winston under the lights at Charlotte, NASCAR’s expansion across the country and the impact it had on tracks like North Wilkesboro and Rockingham and … finally … the movie Cars! In our second segment, we go back to the May 25, 1982 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured a MASSIVE feature on Humpy by the legendary Tom Higgins, as well as stories on a very young Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin, former driver Earl Brooks and a “bleep” year for Buddy Baker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second installment of our interview, Humpy Wheeler talks jumping school buses, helping drivers up to and including Dale Earnhardt get their starts in the sport, why Earnhardt might not have gotten a ride in today's NASCAR, a Waylon Jennings concert gone wrong and the creation of The Winston all-star race. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid thumb through the May 30, 1985 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured coverage of Darrell Waltrip's sweep of Charlotte's The Winston AND the World 600, Bill Elliott's first attempt at winning The Winston Million, volunteer crew member Junior McGee, "Sterlin" Marlin and an associate sponsorship that would eventually become one of the most iconic backers in the history of the sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Once and for all ... Brett Bodine DID win the 1990 spring race at North Wilkesboro, and in this installment of our interview, he lets you know about it in no uncertain terms. He also remembers his friendship with fellow competitor Davey Allison, his highly charged incident with brother Geoff in the inaugural Brickyard 400, his decision to buy out Junior Johnson and a devastating relationship with an all-talk sponsor. In our second segment, co-hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid dig into the November 23, 1995 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which featured coverage of the Junior Johnson-Brett Bodine team transaction, Rick's column on a championship party for Gary Wall, Jeff Gordon's scorer; and features by Rick on Darrell Waltrip, Wanda Lund Early and Doris Roberts; and the Fast Track pit-crew school. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first of what will be a three-part interview, Brett Bodine discusses his phenomenal 1985 Busch Series rookie season, during which he won three races in just 13 starts. Then, in his first full-time campaign the following year, Bodine finished achingly close to the championship in one of the most bizarre seasons anyone could remember. After that, he moved to the Winston Cup circuit with veteran team owner Bud Moore. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid dig into the April 11, 1985 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured coverage of Dale Earnhardt's Bristol win, which came despite the fact he lost power steering just 100 laps into the event. That race also saw short-track carnage galore, while other notable stories concerned Bodine's inaugural Busch Series win at Martinsville, Petty Enterprises truck driver Horst Fisher, Dave Marcis' new shop and memories of Bill Elliott pushing his car across the finish line at Darlington to score a third-place finish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second and final installment of our interview, legendary NASCAR independent Jimmy Means remembers his one-race deal with Hendrick Motorsports, the wrecks that finally convinced him to quit driving, working as a crew chief for Bud Moore and finally making it to victory lane with Ed Berrier. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid dig into the October 15, 1987 issue of Grand National Scene. The paper featured coverage of Bill Elliott's fall Charlotte win and a rash of accidents, one of which took Means out of contention in the very early going. Ken Schrader discussed the chance meeting that led to his own Hendrick Motorsports ride in one feature story, while other news items outlined Neil Bonnett's job as a union pipe fitter and Junie Donlavey's loss of driver, crew chief and sponsor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first of our two-part interview, Jimmy Means sits down with hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid to discuss his career as an independent driver and team owner. Before getting down to business, Rick discovers that Jimmy's mom worked at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, the same Army base on which he was born a LONG, LONG time ago. Jimmy then turns his attention to busting Steve's chops a little bit over a long-ago joke. In our second segment, Rick and Steve dig into the April 23, 1987 issue of Grand National Scene. The cover story featured Jimmy and fellow NASCAR independents J.D. McDuffie, James Hylton and Elmo Langley, with additional stories on engine builder Keith Dorton, Herb Nab and NASCAR participants going through media training. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the conclusion to our conversation, former Winston Cup team owner Larry McClure remembers an acrimonious split with Ernie Irvan, two Daytona 500 wins with Sterling Marlin, his team's departure from the sport and an incredibly trying time in his own life. Our Issue of the Week takes a deep look into the September 9, 1993 Winston Cup Scene, which featured coverage of Mark Martin's Southern 500 victory, his fourth win in a row. The issue also covered Irvan's overnight move from Morgan-McClure Motorsports to Robert Yates Racing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second installment of our interview, former Winston Cup team owner Larry McClure describes his team's short-lived association with driver Phil Parsons, before turning to Ernie Irvan very early in the 1990 season. It was with Irvan that Morgan-McClure Motorsports got its first taste of true success on the race track ... and vice versa. Irvan won his and his team's first race at Bristol in the fall of that same season, and then the Daytona 500 just a few months later. With that competitiveness, however, came no small amount of controversy. After a number of on-track incidents, Irvan stood up at a Talladega drivers' meeting and apologized for his actions. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid rummage through the August 1, 1991 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which carried coverage of Dale Earnhardt's win at Talladega, intense disagreements within the Ford camp following the race, Rick Mast's flip and Irvan's apology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once upon a time, Morgan-McClure Motorsports was one of NASCAR's most prominent teams. This week, team owner Larry McClure recalls the team's rise from the most humble of beginnings in and around the Abingdon, Virginia area. Incredibly, current NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin was one of the team's very first drivers, with some wondering if he was tough enough to manhandle a full-sized NASCAR stock car. A subsequent driver pick came down to another future NASCAR Hall of Famer, Davey Allison, and Rick Wilson. It was only after Wilson and sponsor Kodak came on board that Morgan-McClure finally began its upward trajectory. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid discuss the July 7, 1988 issue of Grand National Scene, which coverage of Wilson's nail-biting second-place finish to Bill Elliott. The issue also carried Waid's column on a rash of driver injuries in 1988; a feature on full-time undertaker and part-time driver Eddie Bierschwale; and A.J. Foyt's penalty for missing the Daytona driver's meeting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this extraordinary conclusion to our interview, Larry McReynolds describes his tumultuous tenure with Richard Childress Racing and driver Dale Earnhardt. They did win the 1998 Daytona 500 together, but also endured one of the driest spells of Earnhardt's career. Ultimately, McReynolds would be moved over to helm Mike Skinner's RCR efforts before moving on to the Fox broadcast booth. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid dig into the June 11, 1998 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which featured coverage of the McReynolds-Kevin Hamlin-Earnhardt-Mike Skinner crew chief swap, as well as that year's spring event at Richmond. Jeff Gordon was angry with Rusty Wallace, while Dale Jarrett was peeved with not only race winner Terry Labonte, but also NASCAR for throwing a late-race red flag that allowed the race to end under green. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this powerfully emotional episode, Larry McReynolds remembers the devastating loss of his best friend, Davey Allison, and the life-threatening injuries sustained by Ernie Irvan the very next year. Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid then remember the late, great Maurice Petty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this installment of our second interview with Larry McReynolds, he talks about his run with Robert Yates Racing and the late, great Davey Allison. The discussion covered everything from McReynolds' decision to make the move from Kenny Bernstein’s team to Robert Yates Racing … to his decision NOT to make the move … then his final decision TO pack up and Bernstein for Yates. It was a move that paid immediate dividends. Allison won five races after Larry Mac came on board in 1991 … and then came an absolutely tumultuous 1992 Winston Cup season. Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid then break down the April 11, 1991 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which featured coverage of that year's Darlington spring race ... McReynolds' first race as Allison's crew chief. Ricky Rudd inherited the victory after problems in the pits foiled a dominant run by Michael Waltrip. The issue also carried a poignant column about Neil Bonnett's struggles with not being able to race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the conclusion of our conversation, Ricky Craven comes back from what many would consider the wilderness years of his career to win at both Martinsville and Darlington. In the episode's second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid dig into the March 20, 2003 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which featured coverage of Craven's thrilling win over Kurt Busch at Darlington, an equally-as-thrilling conclusion to the track's Busch Series event between Todd Bodine and Jamie McMurray and a large package of stories concerning NASCAR's reaction to the invasion of Iraq. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Helton's career began at an AM radio station in his hometown of Bristol, Virginia. Twenty years later, he was the president of NASCAR. Helton describes that incredible journey for our very special 100th episode. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid chat with listeners Hallie Imrie, Joe Ruch, Jeff Marcosky, Jay Coker, Edwin Turner and Matt Miles about how the podcast reached the 100-episode milestone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this incredible installment of our interview, Ricky Craven remembers the aftermath of two accidents -- the first at Talladega in 1996 and the second at Texas in 1997. And while Talladega was the more spectacular of the two mishaps, Craven's crash at Texas altered his career trajectory in a major way and left him doubting himself and his abilities for the first time in his career. In our second segment, co-hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid dissect the May 2, 1996 issue of Winston Cup Scene, which covered that fateful Talladega event. Along with Craven's incident, Bill Elliott suffered a broken leg in a separate accident. Sterling Marlin won, continuing his restrictor-plate mastery. The issue also contained features on longtime crew chief Bob Johnson and up-and-coming driver Buckshot Jones. Finally, several in the racing community escaped injury the morning of the race when a jet blew the windows out of the airport gate at which they'd just arrived. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Ricky Craven talks about his Busch North days, when he rolled like a tank through the 1991 season. He built on that success by moving South and running the Busch Series in 1992 through 1994, We discussed his friendship with Jeff Gordon and their shared sponsorship from DuPont, the exhaustion of running his own team and finally, his move to Winston Cup with team owner Larry Hedrick. Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid then take a peek at the July 11, 1991 issue of Grand National Scene, which carried coverage of Ricky's Oxford 250 victory, Bill Elliott's Pepsi 400 win at Daytona and the announcement of Dale Jarrett's decision to move to the newly formed Joe Gibbs Racing for the 1992 Winston Cup season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the third and final installment of our interview, DiGard Racing team owner Bill Gardner discusses the team's controversial win in the 1985 Firecracker 400 at Daytona with driver Greg Sacks, the end of the team's run in the sport and, ultimately, its place in NASCAR history. Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid also take a quick look at the new inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame before digging into the April 9, 1987 issue of Grand National Scene, which features coverage of Dale Earnhardt's dominant win at North Wilkesboro, Tim Richmond's comeback press conference and Darlington test, a Joe Dan Bailey feature and news on Jake Elder, an injury that nearly derailed Terry Labonte's start streak and controversial team owner Eric Freedlander. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second installment of our interview with DiGard Racing owner Bill Gardner, we discuss the crushing disappointment of losing out on the 1979 Winston Cup championship; the on-again, off-again relationship with Buddy Parrott; Darrell Waltrip's departure from the team; the 1982 "Bumper-gate" controversy; Bobby Allison's 1983 Winston Cup championship; and a sugar residue that was discovered in Allison's fuel cell at Riverside in that year's season finale. Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid also take a long look into the November 19, 1981 issue of Grand National Scene. The week's paper featured coverage of Neil Bonnett's win at Atlanta in front of Ford officials; Ford's return to the sport; Harry Melling buying Bill Elliott's family owned operation; and features on Dale Earnhardt's move from Richard Childress Racing to Bud Moore Engineering and James "Tweetie" Hylton Jr. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DiGard Racing was one of the most successful ... and controversial ... NASCAR teams of the 1970s and 80s, and team owner Bill Gardner addressed it all in his interview with The Scene Vault Podcast hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid. In this week's installment, Gardner remembers how it all began over a game of pinochle, his parting of the ways with Donnie Allison and the beginnings of what would turn out to be a tumultuous relationship with Darrell Waltrip. In our second segment, Rick and Steve dig into the May 26, 1977 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured an epic column by publisher Robb Griggs, outlining, among other things, a controversy at Nashville that left the race track without an ambulance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the third and final installment of our interview, Darrell Waltrip talks about everything from his rough start with the Dream Team at Hendrick Motorsports, his 1989 Daytona 500 win and The 1989 The Winston controversy with Rusty Wallace to his really bad broken leg at Daytona the following year, when he was also planning his OWN team, his 1991 flip at Daytona and, eventually, the end of his driving career. In our second segment, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid dig into the crammed-pack February 23, 1989 issue of Grand National Scene. That week's issue featured coverage of Waltrip's iconic win in the Daytona 500, Rick Mast's storybook finish, a post-race confrontation involving Davey Allison and Geoff Bodine and scary accidents involving Neil Bonnett, Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a very expensive buyout of his contract with DiGard Racing, Darrell Waltrip joined the famed Junior Johnson & Association for the 1981 Winston Cup season. Because of his often-heated rivalry with Cale Yarborough, the team's former driver, Waltrip wasn't accepted with open arms at first. Winning, however, has a way of warming up even the coolest of relationships ... and Waltrip did plenty of winning at Junior Johnson & Associates. Still, it wasn't enough to keep him from being booed after a crash in the 1982 World 600 at Charlotte ... and an infamous "meet me in the Big K parking lot" interview with writer Larry Woody. After winning three Winston Cup championships with Johnson, Waltrip received an offer to go drive for then-upstart team owner Rick Hendrick. In our second segment, Rick Houston and Steve Waid are joined by Jaret Lundberg of The Iceberg NASCAR YouTube channel for a look back at the December 17, 1981 issue of Grand National Scene, which featured coverage of NASCAR's first trip to New York City for the Winston Cup banquet. Highlighting the issue is a glowing commentary, praising Waltrip for his superb representation of the sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darrell Waltrip was one of the centerpieces of the NASCAR universe for nearly 20 years. In the first of our three-part Zoom interview, DW discusses everything from the early days of his career through the crushing disappointment of losing out on the 1979 Winston Cup championship ... and a good many things in between. In our second segment, we go back in time to the July 21, 1977 Grand National Scene, which featured coverage of DW's crazy victory at Nashville and a scathing column by publisher and founder Robb Griggs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices