A Lifetime in Motorsports

Latest Episodes:

Remembering Bruton Smith Jul 05, 2022

Show notes

Throughout his life, O. Bruton Smith, he enjoyed a great passion for stock car racing that began during his childhood. His first love was to drive race cars, but when fate sent him in an entirely different direction, he far exceeded his early dreams by building an empire of race tracks for drivers to race. Smith always put race fans first when they visited his Speedway Motorsports tracks located across the country. Historians Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski discuss Smith's incredible legacy as well as the origins of the number 69 in NASCAR in podcast No. 69 of "A Lifetime in NASCAR.

Give "A Lifetime in NASCAR" a listen for some interesting information on this week's podcast.

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

The Petty's Unstoppable 67 (w/ Eric Estepp!) Jun 23, 2022

Show notes

The 1967 NASCAR Grand National season dawned like any other with great anticipation that drivers and teams would find their places within the win column and bid for the season-long championship. Among those that drove Fords, Mercury's, Chryslers, Dodges and Plymouths were the stars that fans loved and admired. They were sure their favorites would emerge best and take the coveted crown by season's end. When the season began, no one had any idea the Petty's would ultimately win 27 of 48 races and take the championship going away. It was a magical year for the team from Level Cross, N.C. and even Richard Petty, crew chief Dale Inman and engine builder Maurice Petty were surprised by their own incredible success. Ben White and guest analyst Eric Estepp discuss the Petty's and their incredible 1967 season as well as the 1966 Plymouth Belvedere that carried Richard to the best year of his 32-year career. They also look back at the origins of the No. 67 in NASCAR in podcast No. 67 of "A Lifetime in NASCAR.

Give "A Lifetime in NASCAR" a listen for some interesting information on this week's podcast.

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

Who ISN'T in the NASCAR Hall of Fame? Jun 15, 2022

Show notes

When the NASCAR Hall of Fame officially opened on May 11, 2010, there was a great deal of enthusiasm among race fans as well as the motorsports media. A prestigious panel of motorsports icons voted on the inaugural class, naming Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Junior Johnson, Bill France Sr. and Bill France Jr. as the first recipients to go into the hall. Over the past 12 years, a remarkable list of individuals have been inducted among drivers, crew chiefs and team owners. Many icons of the sport have yet to be inducted in the years to come. NASCAR historians Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski look back at many of the stories involving those that haven't been inducted in podcast No. 68 of "A Lifetime in NASCAR, as well as the origins of the car number in this episode.

Give "A Lifetime in NASCAR" a listen for some interesting information on this week's podcast.

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

The Toughest Stock Car Driver That Ever Lived Jun 08, 2022

Show notes

When Cale Yarborough was growing up near Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, in Timmonsville, S.C., the allure of the 1.366-mile speedway was just too difficult to ignore. He was only 11 years old when it opened in 1950 and eventually, the young farm boy would drive there and become a five-time winner at the historic track. The three-time Cup Series champion has quite a story concerning his life and career, some of which includes being lucky to be alive. NASCAR historians Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski look back at many of the stories involving Yarborough's life in podcast No. 66 of "A Lifetime in NASCAR, as well as the origins of the car number 66 in this episode, a number Yarborough used when he was a team owner in the Cup Series.

Give "A Lifetime in NASCAR" a listen for some interesting information on this week's podcast.

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

A Lifetime at Charlotte Motor Speedway Jun 03, 2022

Show notes

When O. Bruton Smith opened the gates of Charlotte Motor Speedway in the summer of 1960, he had no idea what kind of problems he would encounter before returning to reclaim his prize 13 years later. Ultimately, the track served as the foundation and cornerstone of NASCAR's Cup Series and helped make numerous careers in the sport. It continues to serve as the flagship of Speedway Motorsports Inc. formed in 1994 and is predecessor to all of the state-of-the-art race tracks under their umbrellas, NASCAR historians Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski look back at many of the stories involving the track's history in podcast No. 65 of "A Lifetime in NASCAR, as well as the origins of the car number in this episode.

Give "A Lifetime in NASCAR" a listen for some interesting information on this week's podcast.

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

NASCAR's Day One Rivalries May 19, 2022

Show notes

Rivalries have always been a part of NASCAR history. They began with the first Strictly Stock race on June 19, 1949 at Charlotte, N.C. when Jim Roper drove into victory lane for the very first time, He did so after race winner Glenn Dunaway was declared illegal for having leaf springs at the rear of his Ford. From that day forward, drivers have expressed their unhappiness with other drivers, especially after being sent sideways on the track followed by angry comments on pit road or the garage area. From the 1940s through the 1990s, there were plenty of legendary drivers that kept fans on the edges of their seats with the latest skirmish in the headlines. NASCAR historians Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski look back at many of those stories in podcast No. 64 of "A Lifetime in NASCAR, as well as the origins of the car number in this episode.

Give "A Lifetime in NASCAR" a listen for some interesting information on this week's podcast.

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

Bet You Didn't Know That! - Trivia from 74 Years of NASCAR Racing May 12, 2022

Show notes

Throughout NASCAR's incredible history, there have been plenty of noteworthy stories that have made the sport of stock car racing just that much more enjoyable. They are the trivial yet amazing pieces of information that leaves one with a smile after learning extra tidbits hidden deep in the history books. NASCAR historians Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski look back at a few of these astonishing facts and share their thoughts on how and why they came about. They also look back at the origins and interesting milestones of the No. 63 in NASCAR's past during podcast No. 63 of "A Lifetime in NASCAR."

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

From Cotton Field to Crown Jewel: The History of Darlington Raceway May 05, 2022

Show notes

In the mind of Harold Brasington, Darlington Raceway was nothing more than a sketch of what his track would look like for well over a decade before ground was finally broken to get the process started. When the gates finally opened for qualifying 10 days before the green flag waved over the inaugural Southern 500 on Sept. 4, 1950, the 1.25-mile superspeedway was all the rage among the people of Darlington County, S.C. It was the one entity that would put Darlington, S.C. and Florence, S.C. on the regional and national map. Eventually, over a period of 70 years, the track "Too Tough to Tame" helped to build the careers of many NASCAR legends. Thus far, 63 checkered flags have fallen over drivers in spring and fall events at the legendary and historic track. NASCAR historians Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski look back at how the track came into existence and revisit some of the greatest victories that occurred there. They also look back at the origins and interesting milestones of the No. 62 in NASCAR history during podcast No. 62 of "A Lifetime in NASCAR."

Give "A Lifetime in NASCAR" a listen for some interesting information on this week's podcast.

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

Neil Bonnett: Friend First, Racer Second Apr 28, 2022

Show notes

To many in the garage area, Neil Bonnett was one pf the most beloved drivers in NASCAR's long history. The native of Hueytown, AL. was lost in a single-car crash during a practice session at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 11, 1994, nine days before the Daytona 500. Bonnett was attempting a comeback for six races scheduled for that season in a Chevrolet fielded by team owner James Finch. NASCAR historians Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski look back at Bonnett's life and career, as well as his career as a broadcaster for several major networks. They also discuss the origins and interesting milestones of the No. 61 in NASCAR history during podcast No. 61 of "A Lifetime in NASCAR."

Give "A Lifetime in NASCAR" a listen for some interesting information on this week's podcast.

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

Biggest Cheaters? Genius Innovators? Depends on Who You Ask... Apr 21, 2022

Show notes

Throughout NASCAR's 74-year history, there have been plenty of instances where competitors have searched for advantages within the rules that could help them on the race track. Many of those innovations have been tried and been caught by NASCAR officials and deemed cheating outside the spirit of the rules, NASCAR historians Ben White and Jerry Bonkowski dedicate this week's show to looking back at many of those items discovered as well as some of the crew chiefs and mechanics that came up with them. They also discuss the origins and interesting milestones of the No. 60 in NASCAR history during podcast No. 60 of "A Lifetime in NASCAR."

Give "A Lifetime in NASCAR" a listen for some interesting information on this week's podcast.

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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected