The Scene Vault Podcast

Following the recent news that NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip is stepping further away from public life, we wanted to do something different this week.

This isn’t a rundown of wins, championships, and statistics. It’s a chance to spend some time with one of the biggest personalities NASCAR has ever known.

In this special episode of The Scene Vault Podcast, we look back on Darrell Waltrip’s remarkable life and career through the stories that made DW … DW. From the brash young driver who wasn’t afraid to tell the established stars exactly what he thought, to his championship years with Junior Johnson, the turbulent “Dream Team” era at Hendrick Motorsports, his unforgettable 1989 Daytona 500 victory, frightening crashes, the challenge of becoming an owner-driver, and the winding road toward the end of his driving career, Waltrip tells the story with the humor, candor, confidence, and personality that made him impossible to ignore.

For longtime NASCAR fans, these are memories of one of the sport’s defining figures during an era when rivalries were personal, personalities were enormous, and Darrell Waltrip was usually right in the middle of it.

For fans who primarily know DW from the FOX broadcast booth, this is a chance to hear just how much happened before “Boogity, Boogity, Boogity” became part of NASCAR Sundays.

Most of all, this episode is our way of saying thank you to Darrell Waltrip and celebrating the stories, memories, and unmistakable voice he has given NASCAR fans for more than half a century.

We’re thinking of Darrell, Stevie, and the entire Waltrip family.

Be sure to check out the latest NASCAR stories, news, and history from

The Daily Downforce: dailydownforce.com

WATCH The Scene Vault on YouTube: youtube.com/@TheSceneVault

FOLLOW The Scene Vault:
X/Twitter: x.com/TheSceneVault
Facebook: facebook.com/thescenevault

MORE FROM THE SCENE VAULT:
thescenevault.com

SUPPORT THE SHOW:
Patreon: patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast
PayPal: paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast
Venmo: @thescenevaultpodcast

Interested in The Scene Vault Podcast merchandise? Visit thescenevault.com and click SHOP.

The Scene Vault Podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is special for a couple of reasons.

First, Eddie Nau was a weekend warrior for several years with Junior Johnson and Associates and then for Kranefuss-Haas. But then also … his full-time weekday job was as an officer with the New York City Police Department … which put him in the city … on September 11, 2001 … and he DID respond to the attacks that day.

You’re not going to forget this episode for that reason and that reason alone … but also …host Rick Houston's son Adam joins the show as co-host.

What we’re going to do … or at least attempt to do … is talk about a little bit about 9/11 and then we’re just going to discuss the state of the union … so to speak … or in our case … the state of The Scene Vault Podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week in the first of what will be two installments, host Rick Houston sat down with Eddie Nau (pronounced NOW) last week to talk about his time working with Junior Johnson & Associates as a weekend warrior and his full-time job as a New York City police officer.

That’s this week. NEXT week … Eddie was THERE on 9/11.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You probably don't know the name Dick Conway, but he was one of the greatest motorsports photographers ever AND one of the most influential marketing/public relations representatives in the 1980s, 90s and early 2000s Busch Series garage.

More importantly to our story, Dick was also an incredibly important figure in host Rick Houston's own journey in the sport. Enjoy this candid conversation between two long-time friends.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After going through the Mark Martin interview in our last three episodes, we’ll return to Mark Melling this week and finish up with him.

In this episode, Mark Melling talks about his determination to continue racing in the wake of his dad Harry’s untimely death ...

Jerry Nadeau’s move to Hendrick Motorsports ...

Melling Racing’s move to Dodge ...

Chad Knaus and … ultimately …

how the attacks of 9/11 impacted his race team’s future.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 411 -- NASCAR Hall of Famer on Losing 1990 Championship, Relationship with Dale Earnhardt

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week in our conversation with NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin … if there’s anything you need to know about what makes Mark tick, or how he became the man that he is today, you HAVE to listen to this segment without a doubt.

When Mark talks about hitting rock bottom in this special episode, he doesn’t hold anything back. It’s not sugar coated during this interview … and it’s not whitewashed in his new book Never Lift, either.

Call it Mark Martin … raw and unfiltered.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week in the first of what will be installments of our epic interview, NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin remembers his extraordinary ... yet ultimately dysfunctional ... upbringing with a larger-than-life father and "bad ass" mother.

Mark also takes us through his meteoric rise through the ASA ranks and successful first season at the Winston Cup level ... right up to the point of reaching the abyss that would completely derail his career.

We're then joined by guest co-host Matt Martin, to discuss his dad and their recently-released autobiography Never Lift.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Mark Melling talks about the 1988 Winston Cup championship … Bill Elliott’s decision to leave Melling Racing to join Junior Johnson and Associates … and what it all meant in the aftermath … and how Lake Speed added a much-needed shot of stability to the organization.

Hosts Rick Houston and Tony Liberati then dive into the August 8, 1996 issue of Winston Cup Scene.

Dale Jarrett outlasts rival/Robert Yates Racing teammate Ernie Irvan for the win in the Brickyard 400. Earlier in the weekend, Ernie has a bit of a THING with Sterling Marlin. And … Scottie Maxwell shows Rick around an honest-to-goodness firehouse in Queens, New York.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices