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A Lifetime in Motorsports — Automotive
A Lifetime in Motorsports

A Lifetime in Motorsports features NASCAR writers and historians Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski taking a look at the current events of NASCAR through the lens of the past. Join these historians as they tackle the NASCAR timeline from an all-new perspective.

Copyright: © Out of the Groove Podcast Network

Latest Episodes:

Radio Origins 2: The Birth of MRN (w/ Joe Moore!) Nov 24, 2022

Show notes

Beginning in 1970, Motor Racing Network began as a new entity with a mission to bring NASCAR events to race fans via radio on a national scale. Over time, the network grew into a tremendous cornerstone of the sport. It became so because of the long list of talented broadcasters that brought their talents to the microphone, such as Ken Squire, Mike Joy, Barney Hall and Joe Moore, as well as many, many more in the decades to come. Episode No. 82 of "A lifetime in Motorsports" focuses on a visit with Moore and as he discusses his years with the network. NASCAR historians Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski explore his years with MRN and how he arrived on the scene and also the origins of the No. 82 during podcast No. 81 of "A Lifetime in Motorsports."

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The Very First Talladega Nov 17, 2022

Show notes

In September of 1969, NASCAR's founder, Bill France, Sr., had a very big problem on his hands. He had built the 2.66-mile Alabama International Motor Speedway near Talladega, Alabama that could generate the fastest stock cars in the world. What would keep that from happening was the fact that there were no tires that were strong enough to handle the 190-mile per hour speeds the cars could generate. They were blistering in three to five laps and making drivers very nervous with every lap completed. NASCAR historians Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski explore that weekend as it unfolded and bring it to light for race fans of today that may not have ever heard the story from 54 years ago. They will also discuss the origins of the No. 81 during podcast No. 81 of "A Lifetime in Motorsports."

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The Origins of NASCAR Radio (w/ Dave Moody!) Nov 10, 2022

Show notes

Since the very early days of NASCAR's existence, public address and radio broadcasts of races have been a huge part of the sport. Long before television coverage became commonplace, local public address announcers at tracks and then radio networks were the only source for finding out what was going on at weekly NASCAR events. Some of the greatest radio announcers in the sport's history kept fans informed lap after lap about their favorite drivers and where they stacked up as far as track position. Some even made the greatest calls of race finishes in the sport's history that can still be heard today. Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski discuss the business of calling NASCAR races through radio broadcasts with Dave Moody, a longtime member of Motor Racing Network. They will also discuss the origins of the No. 80 during podcast No. 80 of "A Lifetime in Motorsports."

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The Ballad of Waltrip & Yarborough (w/ Jeff Hammond!) Nov 03, 2022

Show notes

Throughout NASCAR history, there have been some incredibly strong driver and team owner combinations. One of the most successful of the 1970s and 1980s came with team owner Junior and drivers Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip. Yarborough collected 55 wins and Cup Series championships in 1976, '77 and '78 with Johnson, as did Waltrip with 43 wins and championships in 1981, '82 and '85. Even though their styles were vastly different on and off the race track. success came to them and the teams they worked with under Johnson's direction. NASCAR historians Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski discuss Yarborough and Waltrip with Jeff Hammond, a longtime crew member with Junior Johnson and Associates that worked with close friend Yarborough who was also crew chief for Waltrip. They will also discuss the origins of the No. 79 during podcast No. 79 of "A Lifetime in Motorsports."

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The Origin of NASCAR Stats (with NBC Sports' Dan Beaver) Oct 28, 2022

Show notes

Keeping track of all the numbers in any sport can be a challenge. Looking at them for 40 NASCAR teams at any given time can be a daunting task. Drivers, teams, teams owners, laps. tracks, cars, car numbers, percentages, and how they perform on track week to week and year to year is quite a bit to absorb. NASCAR historians Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski discuss NASCAR statistics with special guest Dan Beaver of NBC Sports, a renowned Fantasy Racing expert as well as a statistician in other professional sports, The trio of analysts will also cover other subjects including the origins of No. 78, during podcast No. 78 of "A Lifetime in Motorsports."

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When Drivers Had Winning Personalities (feat. Mike Hembree of NBC Sports) Aug 18, 2022

Show notes

Throughout the 1970s, NASCAR's top drivers enjoyed a great fan following because of their accomplishments on the race track. A good portion of their fame came from the fact they were recognized for their amazing down-home personalities and their willingness to engage with their fans. Historians Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski are joined by award-winning journalist Mike Hembree of NBC Sports to discuss relationships with drivers of the 1970s, as well as other subjects including the origins of No. 74 during podcast No. 74 of "A Lifetime in NASCAR."

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Illegal Wins: The History of Disqualifications (feat. Ken Martin of NASCAR Productions) Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

During the very early days of NASCAR's existence, drivers and car owners looked for any way possible to gain advantages that at times led to race wins. NASCAR officials immediately looked at their cars and wasted little time finding problems when they arose after leaving victory lane. On seven occasions, wins were taken away and given to second-place drivers. In the early 1960s, NASCAR's founder, Bill France Sr. stopped the practice of taking wins away and elected to take points away and levy hefty fines. His reasoning was that fans should leave the track knowing which driver was the winner. Over 60 years passed before a Cup Series winner was disqualified, the latest being Denny Hamlin at Pocono on July 24, 2022. Historians Ben White, Jerry Bonkowski and special guest Ken Martin discuss times in NASCAR history when wins were taken away, as well as other subjects including the origins of No. 73 during podcast No. 73 of "A Lifetime in NASCAR."

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Jerry Punch on Benny Parsons - Driver, Broadcaster, Friend Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

During the 1970s and 1980s, Benny Parsons was a full time driver in NASCAR's Cup Series and logged 21 victories, including the 1975 Daytona 500. Two years before winning NASCAR's biggest race, Parsons won the 1973 Cup Series championship. When Parsons ended his driving career in 1988, he turned his attention to TV and radio broadcasting and mastered them just as he did driving race cars, Historians Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski discuss Parsons incredible legacy with fellow broadcaster, Dr. Jerry Punch. Also discussed are the origins of the number 72 in NASCAR in podcast No. 72 of "A Lifetime in NASCAR.

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Harry Hyde: The Most Innovative Crew Chief in NASCAR History Jul 21, 2022

Show notes

For over three decades, Harry Hyde was known as one of the most innovative crew chiefs in NASCAR history. The native of Brownsville, Ky. began his racing career on the local short tracks of Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky by building race cars for other drivers after driving for a couple of seasons himself. His reputation for winning helped land a crew chief position in the Cup Series with team owner Nord Krauskopf in 1966 with driver Bobby Isaac. From there, his career produced 56 Cup Series victories with Isaac, Buddy Baker, Dave Marcis, Neil Bonnet, with Krauskopf and J.D. Stacy and Geoff Bodine ,Tim Richmond and Ken Schrader with Rick Hendrick before his retirement in 1993. Historians Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski discuss Hyde's incredible legacy as well as the origins of the number 71 in NASCAR in podcast No. 71 of "A Lifetime in NASCAR.

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"You Wanna Drive?" - The History of NASCAR Team Owners Jul 13, 2022

Show notes

Team ownership has been a huge part of the sport since NASCAR's first Strictly Stock (now Cup Series) season of competition in 1948. Some competitors drive, while those that own the teams make sure the cars are prepared and sponsored and ready to race. It's a model that has produced hundreds of victories and many, many championships. A large number of team owners in NASCAR competition are just as well known as the drivers that have raced their cars. NASCAR Historians Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski discuss many of their incredible legacies as well as the origins of the number 70 in NASCAR history in podcast No. 70 of "A Lifetime in NASCAR. Also discussed is a look back at the life and career of NASCAR legend J.D. McDuffie.

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