The Scene Vault Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 214 -- D.K. Ulrich on Bad Darlington Crash, Cheating in NASCAR, Tim Richmond Sep 21, 2022

Show notes

We might as well call this installment of our interview with D.K. Ulrich "Cheating in NASCAR" simply because of all the tricks of the trade that he laid out for us. We’ve got everything from the infamous nitrous oxide incident from the 1978 Southern 500 at Darlington to trick tires, trap doors and soaked tires.
D.K. also remembers his friend and driver, Tim Richmond and the part he played in David Ifft’s little excursion into Juarez, Mexico.
Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid then pick through the July 24, 1980 issue of Grand National Scene. D.K. Ulrich appears on the inside cover of the paper with Tim Richmond, who’d tested a NASCAR entry for the first time at Charlotte the week before. There’s a huge photo spread on drivers in their cowboy hats, and a certain The Scene Vault Podcast co-host ALSO evidently took part in the fashion trend that was ALL the rage way back when.
There are also columns, news stories and features about Herb Nab and Harry Ranier, Judy Parrott … Buddy’s wife ... and the infamous Jim “Two Can” Murray. Finally, there’s a one-page layout of baby photos of one Adam Kyler Petty.
NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.
Please consider supporting this show via:
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Episode 213 -- D.K. Ulrich on NASCAR Independents, Holman-Moody Heist and Mark Martin Hijinks Sep 14, 2022

Show notes

This week in the first installment of our fantastic conversation with DK Ulrich, DK talks about how AJ Foyt influenced him to not only be known by his initials, but also to pursue a career in racing. He then remembers a chance offer for a 1957 Chevy that altered the course of his life and his earliest days as one of NASCAR’s independents.
And make no mistake about it … those independents were NOT just stroking around the race track to collect an easy paycheck. There was NOTHING easy about … and if being an independent meant boosting parts from Holman-Moody and traveling all over the United States without ever once going home … then so be it.
Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid then dig into the June 15, 1978 issue of Grand National Scene. Benny Parsons whups Richard Petty at Riverside, after Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip fall out of contention. There’s a feature story on Humpy Wheeler written by this kid out of Roanoke, Virginia who went on to have a halfway decent career in the sport … and a story on the women of the Petty family … Lynda, Elizabeth, Sharon AND Lisa.
NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.
Please consider supporting this show via:
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www.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast
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Episode 212 -- NASCAR Veteran Pete Wright on Junior Johnson Team Strife, 1991 The Winston, Traction Control and Travis Carter Sep 07, 2022

Show notes

This week's episode gets off to a rousing start with discussion of Erik Jones' win in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, driving the number 43 Petty GMS Racing entry.
In the third and final installment of our EPIC interview with Pete Wright, Pete talks about the friction that existed between Junior Johnson’s teams, the controversial suspension of Junior and crew chief Tim Brewer going into the 1991 edition of The Winston all-star race and how he and teammate Mike Hill felt like they were left holding the bag a little bit.
Pete also remembers leaving Junior Johnson & Associates to re-join Terry Labonte and Billy Hagan and the neat little trick that ALMOST got them a win at North Wilkesboro. Finally, Pete discusses his long association with MB2 Motorsports.
Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid then dig into the October 7, 1993 issue of Winston Cup Scene. Rusty Wallace wins at North Wilkesboro, but doesn’t gain much ground on runnerup Dale Earnhardt in the Winston Cup standings. Terry Labonte takes seventh in that event despite developing … wink, wink … engine problems.
MORE rule changes designed to slow speeds at Charlotte and Atlanta were tested … and … of course … debated. Buddy Baker announced plans to retire as a driver, with additional features on John Andretti’s transition from IndyCar to NASCAR, a book of poetry on the late Alan Kulwicki and the mentor of every NASCAR historian, Greg Fielden.
NOTE: This show is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.
Please consider supporting this show via:
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Episode 211 -- NASCAR Veteran Pete Wright on Jack Beebe, Terry Labonte, Dale Inman, The Witch Doctor Incident and Joining Junior Johnson Aug 31, 2022

Show notes

We’re back with the second installment of our interview with longtime NASCAR crew member and crew chief Pete Wright, and this week, Pete talks about attending his first Grand National race at Martinsville and the impact drivers like Fred Lorenzen and Buddy Arrington had on his career.
Pete got his start at the Winston Cup level with team owner Jack Beebe, before winning a championship with Terry Labonte. Pete recalls his rather testy reaction to a witch doctor who showed up in the garage to put a hex on the Hagan Racing entry.
And … finally … Pete tells us all about getting hooked up with Junior Johnson and the respect he had for the first-year NASCAR Hall of Famer.
Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid then take a look into the August 3, 1978 issue of Grand National Scene. Darrell Waltrip wins at Pocono, amidst rumors that he would be leaving DiGard Racing at the end of the year. Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough and Benny Parsons all have their powerplants go kaput, which leads Jake Elder to express his displeasure with NASCAR rules allowing teams to change engines during a race. The issue is rounded out by a feature on DiGard Racing's Buddy Parrott.
NOTE: This show is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.
Please consider supporting this show via:
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www.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast
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Episode 210 -- Preview of Pete Wright on Junior Johnson and D.K. Ulrich on Nitrous Oxide at Darlington Aug 24, 2022

Show notes

Enjoy a sneak preview of the next installment of our interview with Pete Wright, in which he remembers getting hired and then working with NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnson.
Also, longtime independent team owner and driver D.K. Ulrich gives us the inside story of the nitrous oxide system that was discovered in his car following a savage crash in the 1978 Southern 500.
NOTE: This show is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.
Please consider supporting this show via:
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www.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast
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Episode 209 -- NASCAR Veteran Pete Wright on the Loss of His Son Aug 20, 2022

Show notes

NOTE: This episode may be too emotionally intense for some listeners.
Pete Wright worked in NASCAR as a crew member and crew chief for years, and with drivers ranging from Terry Labonte and Darrell Waltrip to Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman.
We've got those stories, and they're remarkable. But on August 20, 2017, Pete experienced every parent's very worst night ... the loss of his child, a son named Adam, who'd followed in his father's footsteps in NASCAR.
Pete shares memories of his son, but also Adam's beloved dog Lizzie, and the impact she and many other animals had on his grief process.
You will never forget this incredibly emotional episode.
NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.
In honor of Pete Wright and Lizzie ... and in memory of Adam Wright ... please consider a donation to www.ruffloverescue.com/donate

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Episode 208 -- David Ifft on the Infamous Waylon Jennings Riot, Jailtime in Mexico, Benny Parsons and Cale Yarborough Aug 17, 2022

Show notes

This week in the third and final installment of our conversation with David Ifft, he tells us HIS side of the story of a long-ago riot before, during and after a Waylon Jennings concert at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Then, it’s on to his infamous stint in a Mexican jail while en route to the 1980 season finale at Ontario … a race he would win with Benny Parsons behind the wheel.
After that, David remembers parting ways with … first … Benny … and then team owner M.C. Anderson and driver Cale Yarborough.
Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid then tie into the July 9, 1981 issue of Grand National Scene. Cale Yarborough used a slingshot move on the last lap to get by Harry Gant for the win at Daytona. Cale got the victory and Harry wound up with ANOTHER second-place finish.
Ricky Rudd escaped what could very well have been a devastating crash that also involved Dale Earnhardt, who was making his first start for car owner J.D. Stacy.
Jake Elder makes good on a promise to stay put with Terry Labonte … for a while … and James Hylton gets a dream sponsorship from STP for an upcoming race at Talladega.
Finally … an earlier column on women in the pits and garage gets things stirred up in this week’s letters to the editor section.
NOTE: This show is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.
Please consider supporting this show via:
www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast
www.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast
www.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast

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Episode 207 -- David Ifft on M.C. Anderson's Big Money, Buddy Baker, Benny Parsons, Dale Inman and Richard Petty Aug 10, 2022

Show notes

In the second installment of our interview with David Ifft, David tells all when it comes to his salary negotiation with M.C. Anderson, after which he become the first crew chief on record to be paid more than $100,000 a year. He also gives us the scoop on why M.C. started having his employees followed by a private investigator. Phil Parsons … if you’re out there and listening … don’t shoot the messenger, my friend.
David also remembers lending a helping hand to Richard Petty and Dale Inman the week of the 1979 Daytona 500 and getting an extraordinarily rare Richard Petty mug … cough … cough … in return. Finally, he talks about the hand-shake sponsorship deal between M.C. Anderson and Harry Melling, as well as the trickery and deal making that led to Benny Parsons’ win in the 1980 World 600 at Charlotte.
Note ... there is some background noise during parts of the interview.
Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid then dig through the June 19, 1980 issue of Grand National Scene. Benny Parsons wins at Michigan, ONE of his hometown tracks, on a day that was wet and soggy and cold and just kinda downright miserable. David Pearson nearly misses the start of the race because he’d already headed back to the hotel.
DK Ulrich and a fan have a misunderstanding at Riverside and publisher Robb Griggs calls for what amounted to a driver benevolence fund ... and better lounge entertainers?!?
NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.
Please consider supporting our show via:
www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast
www.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast
www.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast

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Episode 206 -- David Ifft on Bud Moore, Darrell Waltrip and DiGard Racing Aug 03, 2022

Show notes

The Spongebob Squarepants musical ... Rick coming to Steve's rescue and helping change a flat tire ... it all takes a back seat to the news that Las Vegas Motor Speedway is renewing its title sponsorship of The Scene Vault Podcast for the coming year!
In the first of three EPIC installments of our interview with David Ifft, the longtime NASCAR crew chief talks about going from shop to shop to shop in his drive to land a dream gig in the sport, before finally getting hooked up with Bud Moore Engineering.
After that, it was on to DiGard Racing, where he reunited with Darrell Waltrip AND doubled his salary to a whopping $700 a week. However … because it was DiGard … a parting of the ways was almost inevitable.
Rick and Steve then take a look at the October 26, 1978 issue of Grand National Scene. Cale Yarborough beats the living daylights out of everybody at Rockingham and for the 1978 Winston Cup championship, his unprecedented third title in a row. L.G. DeWitt, Benny Parsons and Jake Elder have themselves a little bit of a row, while young David Ifft is called one of the best crew chiefs in the business.
Finally, team owner Rod Osterlund denies rumors that he is grooming phenom Dale Earnhardt to replace Dave Marcis as his driver.
NOTE: This podcast is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.
Please consider supporting the podcast via:
www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast
www.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast
www.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast

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Episode 205 -- Jeff Purvis on South Boston Pit-Road Brawl, Career-Ending Accidents Jul 27, 2022

Show notes

In the second and final installment of our interview with Jeff Purvis, Jeff talks about the all-out South Boston brawl and subsequent suspension he faced way back when, a Pikes Peak win he does not remember and TWO life-threatening and ultimately career-ending accidents … AND … giraffe money.
Hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid then dig into the August 2, 2001 issue of Winston Cup Scene. Bobby Labonte gets around Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the win at Pocono, Jeff Purvis wins at Pikes Peak in a fill-in role for Richard Childress Racing and Columbine shooting victim Rachel Scott’s family is treated to a weekend of Busch Series racing and hospitality. The issue also featured coverage of yet another NASCAR rule change and a package of stories on stress in racing.
NOTE: This show is not affiliated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner of the Scene brand.
Please consider supporting this show via:
www.patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast
www.paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast
www.venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast

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