The Scene Vault Podcast

We went BIG with our 300th episode!

Joined by legendary pit-road reporter, radio, and TV host Matt Yocum as a guest host, we also sit down with Richard Childress Racing and Dale Earnhardt's Flying Aces/Junkyard Dogs pit crew ... crew chief and NASCAR Hall of Famer Kirk Shelmerdine, Chocolate Myers, Will Lind, and Danny Lawrence.

NOTE: This show is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.

Be sure to check out the latest and greatest stories from the world of NASCAR at dailydownforce.com!

Interested in The Scene Vault Podcast T-shirts? Check out thescenevault.com and click on SHOP to see what we have available!

Please consider supporting this show via:

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In this episode, Rick chats with Gray Garrison about the history - and now future - of racing at Bowman Gray Stadium. One of the most historically significant tracks in North Carolina, Bowman Gray was recently revealed to be coming back to the NASCAR racing schedule in the very near future. Rick talks to Gray about that and of course, what it's like to race at what has affectionately become known as the Mad House.

This is a collaboration between The Scene Vault Podcast and North Carolina’s Department of Cultural and Natural Resources made to spotlight the history of moonshine, motorsports, and the state of North Carolina.

You can also listen to every episode of the Moonshine and Motorsports Racing Podcast on all your favorite podcast apps.

For more, visit https://dailydownforce.com/moonshine-motorsports/

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

In a perfect world, Jocko Maggiacomo would be best remembered for having one of the greatest names in NASCAR history.

But that all changed in a split second … in the time that it took for Jocko to be involved in the crash that ended the driving career of the legendary Bobby Allison. 

Today … we know Bobby’s story … we know that he was hurt very badly in a crash at Pocono … and that he never raced again. Yet on the other hand, we know next to nothing about Jocko. And that’s why I wanted to do this interview … because it’s the ultimate other-side-of-the-story feature.

We then take a long look into the August 27, 1987 issue of Grand National Scene, Jocko Maggiacomo is featured in the Winston Cup spotlight and in Gary McCreadie’s column about a heartbreaking night in Michigan. 

Dale Earnhardt continues his torrid 1987 pace with a dominant win at Bristol, despite lingering effects from a crash the week before. Rusty Wallace TRIES to run Dale down in the closing stages … but winds up run down himself on a brutally hot night. Ken Schrader makes the only choice he can make when it comes to his safety. Benny Parsons suffers through a terrible season and makes things even worse with his choice in headwear. 

 Everyone in the NASCAR community comes to the aid of BIG Jesse Skyes … except … that is … his team owner. And Joe Whitlock gets the last laugh with a fan.

NOTE: This show is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.

Be sure to check out the latest and greatest stories from the world of NASCAR at dailydownforce.com!

Interested in The Scene Vault Podcast T-shirts? Check out thescenevault.com and click on SHOP to see what we have available!

Please consider supporting this show via:

patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast

paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast

venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast

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This week … fresh out of host Rick Houston's mini-cassette stash … Ron Bouchard. In this nearly half-hour conversation, Ron talks about his first exposure to the sport, hooking up with car owner Jack Beebe, and that magical 1981 day at Talladega.

He also discusses a couple of opportunities that got away … and a couple that didn’t pan out quite the way he’d hoped. Finally, he takes us through his decision to walk away from the sport once and for all.

We then take a long look into the August 6, 1981, edition of Grand National Scene.

Ron Bouchard stuns the racing world with a three-wide victory over Darrell Waltrip and Terry Labonte at Talladega on a weekend that saw Dale Earnhardt and Morgan Shephard part ways with their respective teams.

Future NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin continues making a name for himself with a win in Talladega’s ARCA event. You wrote about the “RELUCTANT PLAYBOY” Tim Richmond, and a couple of items confirmed once again that there was still a lot of work to do when it came to the issue of women in racing.

NOTE: This show is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.

Be sure to check out the latest and greatest stories from the world of NASCAR at dailydownforce.com!

Interested in The Scene Vault Podcast T-shirts? Check out thescenevault.com and click on SHOP to see what we have available!

Please consider supporting this show via:

patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast

paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast

venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast

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

This is a collaboration between The Scene Vault Podcast and North Carolina’s Department of Cultural and Natural Resources made to spotlight the history of moonshine, motorsports, and the state of North Carolina.

You can also listen to every episode of the Moonshine and Motorsports Racing Podcast on all your favorite podcast apps.

For more, visit https://dailydownforce.com/moonshine-motorsports/

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

In the third and final installment of our interview with Sandy Jones, he discusses the meaning of REAL friendship and remembers an all-out Dukes of Hazzard-style car chase that our listeners will just have to hear to believe.

We then dig into the April 28, 1988 issue of Grand National Scene.

Dale Earnhardt wins at Martinsville after Lady Luck … once again … frowns upon Harry Gant. Sterling Marlin and Bobby Hillin have their day in the sun by finishing second and third, respectively, while Buddy Baker gets a top 10.

You heard that right … Buddy Baker … top 10 … at Martinsville. Kyle Petty has at it with Geoff Bodine … and then NASCAR. There’s a feature story on trailblazing seatmaker Brian Butler and his ButlerBuilt company. Bobby Wawak discusses his career-ending accident earlier in the season at Daytona, and lunch does NOT go well for Darrell Waltrip and members of his Hendrick Motorsports team.

Finally, the letters to the editor section isn’t exactly a meeting of the Dave Marcis fan club after an incident between he and Harry Gant at Bristol.

NOTE: This show is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.

Be sure to check out the latest and greatest stories from the world of NASCAR at dailydownforce.com!

Interested in The Scene Vault Podcast T-shirts? Check out thescenevault.com and click on SHOP to see what we have available!

Please consider supporting this show via:

patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast

paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast

venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast

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

We get things started off this week with a stunning find ... Rick's old mini-cassette tapes featuring interviews with a number of long-lost members of the NASCAR community.

Sandy Jones then remembers a team divided at Junior Johnson and Associates, Tim Brewer’s jaunt through Ingle Hollow, and parting ways with the team. He remembers his time with Darrell Waltrip and the Tide Ride, their 1989 Daytona 500 win together, and a SHORT-lived stint with DW’s own operation.

 We then dig into the December 5, 1985 edition of Grand National Scene.

Bill Elliott … and NOT Darrell Waltrip … is named Driver of the Year. Bobby Allison was unhappy with a two-car situation at DiGard … so he leaves and JOINS a two-car operation with the Stavola Brothers.

Rusty Wallace makes the move from Cliff Stewart to Blue Max. There’s a Sandy Jones photo bio. Mark Martin has a new Cup deal. Michael Waltrip loses his crew chief to a terrible highway accident. Richard Petty undergoes surgery … and … finally … the name Grand National gets dropped from the Cup series and moves to the Busch Grand National division.

NOTE: This show is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.

Be sure to check out the latest and greatest stories from the world of NASCAR at dailydownforce.com!

Interested in The Scene Vault Podcast T-shirts? Check out thescenevault.com and click on SHOP to see what we have available!

Please consider supporting this show via:

patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast

paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast

venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast

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

This week in the first of what will be three installments, Sandy Jones remembers Jimmy "Smut" Means, the LONG road home from Pocono, his stint with D.K. Ulrich, and going to school at Junior Johnson University, where he was the new kid in Ingle Hollow … and treated like it.

We then tackle the April 3, 1980 edition of Grand National Scene.

Dale Earnhardt wins his second race in a row, early in his sophomore season. The win comes at Bristol, where he’d scored the FIRST victory of his Winston Cup career the year before.

Donnie Allison parts ways with Hoss Ellington, and there’s speculation on who might go into the seat. Gene Granger has the scoop on David Pearson and Hoss … and yes … another feature on his friend. Gene also takes aim at ABC’s coverage of the recent Atlanta event, a broadcast anchored by the legendary Al Michaels.

Neil Bonnett talks about Harry Hyde, qualifying, and his quite liberal interpretation of the rulebook. Finally, there are features on Jimmy Means’ "main man" … Sandy Jones … and former boat racer Bill Elswick.

NOTE: This show is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.

Be sure to check out the latest and greatest stories from the world of NASCAR at dailydownforce.com!

Interested in The Scene Vault Podcast T-shirts? Check out thescenevault.com and click on SHOP to see what we have available!

Please consider supporting this show via:

patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast

paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast

venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast

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

This week in the third and final installment of our interview, Norman Negre remembers the mother of all road trips … and flights … with Bobby Allison … who, by the way … has 85 Grand National/Cup wins, not 84.

After that, we’ve got false teeth flying all over the place, while race cars AREN’T taking flight quite as much, thanks in part to Norman.

We then dig into the June 15, 1995 issue of Winston Cup Scene.

Jeff Gordon’s missed shift hands the Pocono win to Hendrick Motorsports teammate Terry Labonte. Ted Musgrave takes second place and does not get PUNCHED this time. Hut Stricklin’s fifth-place showing gives him hope that his Kenny Bernstein-owned team won’t shut down at the end of the season. And Dale Jarrett’s day lasts but a few laps for the second race in a row.

Larry Pearson and Ryan Pemberton win at Myrtle Beach, while little ol’ me does a feature on my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee’s connections to racing. Finally, Junie Donlavey is joined for a cool photo op by several of his former drivers.

NOTE: This show is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.

Be sure to check out the latest and greatest stories from the world of NASCAR at dailydownforce.com!

Interested in The Scene Vault Podcast T-shirts? Check out thescenevault.com and click on SHOP to see what we have available.

Please consider supporting this show via:

patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast

paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast

venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast

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

Norman Negre didn't want to talk about whether or not nitrous played a part in Dale Earnhardt making the first start of his Winston Cup career … and I respected that … but we’ve since discussed it a little bit more … and he did admit that there were some things that he wanted to get straight.

So … we met AGAIN … and we got the story straight from Norman.

This week in the second installment of our interview, Norman also talks about the lengths to which independents would go to make ends meet, his relationship with Harry Hyde, and how that led to stints with Tim Richmond, Bobby Hillin, and ALMOST Rick Hendrick.

 We then take a deep dive into the July 24, 1986 issue of Grand National Scene.

 Tim Richmond and Harry Hyde celebrate on the cover of this issue after Tim overcomes Hendrick Motorsports teammate Geoff Bodine and Ricky Rudd in a thrilling last-lap battle at Pocono.

Richard Petty isn’t happy with Tim after the race. Harry Gant takes the pole position during qualifying … but afterward … his crew chief Travis Carter is hammered with a thousand-dollar fine for a piece that was SPIRITUALLY illegal.

There’s a feature on Norman Negre; Gene Granger has the inside look on rising salary demand; and two letters to the editor stand out ... one discusses Janet Guthrie's career stats, while the other mentions rumors(?!?) that Kyle Petty might join the 1960s supergroup The Monkees!

NOTE: This show is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.

Be sure to check out the latest and greatest stories from the world of NASCAR at dailydownforce.com!

Interested in The Scene Vault Podcast T-shirts? Check out thescenevault.com and click on SHOP to see what we have available!

Please consider supporting this show via:

patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast

paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast

venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast

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