The Scene Vault Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.