In the second installment of our interview, Bobby Hamilton Jr. takes us through his grand master plan to get fired, joining team owner Ed Rensi, partnering up with crew chief Harold Holly, to use traction control or NOT to use traction control, the OTHER tricks of the trade and his plans for winning the 2003 Busch Series championship.

Instead of an issue-of-the-week segment this week, I sat down with Deb Williams, who was recently elected to the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame.

Deb’s resume as a journalist includes stops at United Press International, Grand National/Winston Cup Scene, USA Today and now Autoweek. She’s also a two-time winner of the prestigious Russ Catlin Award, as well as the Henry T. McLemore Award.

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

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We’ve had interviews here on The Scene Vault Podcast … and then we’ve had INTERVIEWS … and this is the one you didn’t know you needed.

In the first of three installments, Bobby Hamilton Jr. takes us through living life as the son of a Nashville racing legend, both on the track and away from it. We learn about him getting bit by the racing bug … and although his parents supported his racing habit … it was only to a certain extent … and after that, Bobby Jr. was on his own.

We then take a deep dive into the May 16, 2002 issue of Winston Cup Scene.

Bobby Hamilton Jr. wins the first race of his Busch Series career at New Hampshire, despite a couple of botched pit stops. Roush Racing attempts to get back up to speed at the Winston Cup level with drivers Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch behind the wheel.

Anthropologist James Todd does a study on Southern Culture and Stock-Car Racing. And a bunch of racers help get host Rick Houston past his issues with flying commercial in the most hard-core ways possible.

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

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In the conclusion to our interview, Jeff Green talks us through making the very most … and then some … out of the opportunity of a lifetime with team owner Greg Pollex and crew chief Harold Holly. Jeff also discusses his rocky relationship with Kevin Harvick and his departure from Richard Childress Racing, his efforts with Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, his tenure with Richard Petty at Petty Enterprises AND the decision to head back home to Kentucky.

We then take a look into the July 27, 2000 issue of Winston Cup Scene.

Rusty Wallace wins at Pocono after teammate Jeremy Mayfield has a tire go down on the last lap, while a number of competitors blow off steam after their CARS blow off steam at the tricky triangle and Brett Bodine shows up at the track with a HANS Device.

Jeff Green holds off his older brother David to land in victory lane at Pikes Peaks and extend his lead in the Busch Series standings even more.

Kyle Petty drives his son Adam’s Busch Series car, while Team Sabco puts Ted Musgrave … whose wife Debi had been diagnosed with leukemia earlier in the year … in its entry after the loss of Kenny Irwin.

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!

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In the first of what will be a two-part interview, Jeff Green talks about his high-school days with Michael Waltrip, his roller-coaster years with Dale Earnhardt Incorporated’s new full-time Busch Series program and finally reaching victory lane with Diamond Ridge Motorsports.

We then dig into the March 20, 1997 issue of Winston Cup Scene. 

Bruton Smith sits down with newly elected National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Famer Deb Williams for an extensive Q&A, while Jeff Green scores the first win of his Busch Series career in the division’s inaugural race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, America’s racing showplace … and a track that truly cares about NASCAR history.

Joe Nemechek learns of a devastating crash involving his brother John just before the start of that race at Vegas. There are features on spotters, Buck Baker, the relationship between Busch Series team owner Robbie Reiser and snow-mobile racer Tim Bender AND a look back on Darlington’s history going into its final race on its original configuration.

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!

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In the second and final installment of our interview with Larry Pearson, he talks about the theft of his trophy by the dastardly Mike Alexander, making a statement with his 1987 Busch Series championship, his Winston Cup woes that were followed by redemption at Darlington, teaching teenagers how to drive and his devastating wreck during an old-timer’s race at Bristol.

We then dig into the March 30, 1995 issue of Winston Cup Scene.

Sterling Marlin gets around Dale Earnhardt to win a wreck-marred race at Darlington. Larry Pearson makes it back to victory lane in the track’s Busch Series race and host Rick Houston gets the scoop ... cough, cough ... on James Hylton’s retirement.

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!

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This week in the first of what will be two installments of our interview, Larry Pearson talks about growing up as the son of NASCAR icon DAVID Pearson, racing with his brothers Ricky and Eddie, his move up the ladder from Baby Grand to Busch Series competition, his belief that he would’ve won the 1986 Busch Series championship even if Jack Ingram HADN’T been suspended and his ultra-superstitious ways.

We then dig into the September 25, 1986 issue of Grand National Scene.

Geoff Bodine has a good day at Martinsville, right up until his last pit stop. Rusty Wallace’s crew got him out first and he went on to capture the victory, much to Geoff’s chagrin. Ricky Rudd is FURIOUS with Kyle Petty, who uses an ambulance to ease out of the track.

Jack Ingram misses Martinsville, but is still atop the Busch Series standings afterward and Gene Granger has the scoop on all that ailed the Elliotts that season.

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!

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Let’s sum up this week’s interview with Gere Kennon this way … a life-threatening illness, fathers, sons and the Daytona 500.

In our second segment, we dive into the June 8, 1988 issue of Grand National Scene. 

Bill Elliott wins the Winston Cup race at Dover, with Morgan Shepherd winding up second while substituting for the injured Harry Gant. Bobby Hillin wins Dover’s Busch Series event in what COULD have been a controversial finish.

J.D. McDuffie makes his return to competition after being injured in his qualifying race at Daytona. There’s a photo spread on breakfast at Junior and Flossie Johnson’s house.

A couple of hoodlums are arrested in the Charlotte Motor Speedway suites for running an illegal betting pool. Clarksville, Tennessee native Bob Clark tries to make a go of it as a Winston Cup team owner and Slender You Figure Salons entrepreneur. Finally, folks write in to support the notion of retiring Richard Petty’s number 43.

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!

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Episode 250! We made it!

To celebrate our milestone, we put together one of our famous (infamous, maybe?) roundtable discussions. This time around, we've got former crew chiefs Larry McReynolds and Tim Brewer, along with former drivers Robert Pressley and Johnny Benson!

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

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In the first of what will be two installments of our interview, Gere Kennon remembers the King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley and the late, great NASCAR 75 driver Sam Ard.

Gere was the crew chief for both of Sam’s championships and can testify first hand to his talent behind the wheel of a race car, his strength and his ALMOST ALWAYS gentle demeanor and the terrible accident that ended Sam’s driving career.

We then take a deep dive into the March 1, 1984 issue of Grand National Scene. 

Cale Yarborough caps off an extraordinarily successful week with a win in the Daytona 500 AND Ricky Rudd comes back from a vicious wreck in the Busch Clash to win at Richmond and in the process, gives co-host Steve Waid a quote for the ages.

There’s also coverage of serious Daytona accidents involving three part-time competitors, including one who would go on to be named one of the 75 greatest drivers in NASCAR history.

Darrell Waltrip wins Daytona’s Busch Series event after mechanical trouble foils Sam Ard’s bid for the victory and Joe Ruttman’s team taps young Kenny Wallace as its co-crew chief.

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!

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In the second and final installment of our interview, NASCAR Hall of Famer Matt Kenseth talks about winning the 2003 Winston Cup championship and the seismic changes to the title format that might or might not have come about as a result.

He also gives us an inside look at his difficult decision to leave Roush Racing, run-ins with Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards and Joey Logano, the disappointment of being cut loose by Joe Gibbs Racing and his election to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

We then dig into the November 13, 2003 issue of Winston Cup Scene. 

Matt clinches the final Winston Cup championship ever a week early, and gives car owner Jack Roush his first Cup title in the process.

Bill Elliott wins the final race of his career, but afterward faces difficult questions about retirement. Tony Stewart gets a car back from NASCAR … while Kyle Busch has plans to make his first big-league start.

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!

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Please consider supporting this show via:

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