The Scene Vault Podcast

In the third and final installment of our interview, Robbie Reiser talks about making it to the top of the mountain with Matt Kenseth in winning their first race together at NASCAR’s highest level and then the sport’s biggest prize itself … the Winston Cup.   Robbie also takes us through his decision to step down as Matt’s crew chief, his turbulent years as the general manager at Roush Fenway Raci...

This week’s installment of our conversation with Robbie Reiser is pretty much all Matt Kenseth, all the time. Robbie gives us the background on hiring Matt, struggling that season to come up with sponsorship for Matt, borrowing money to start the 1998 season out with Matt … and then Matt’s momentous first win in the Busch Series. We then take a look through the newly digitized July 28, 1983 issue...

Thanks to a listener, we kick off this week's episode with a look at co-host Steve Waid's halfway-decent race lead for the 1976 Daytona 500.   Then, in what will be the first of three installments, Robbie Reiser talks about getting started in racing with a beat-up old Pinto, Alan Kulwicki, and Dale Earnhardt’s involvement in his first Busch Series ride, the uphill climb once he and his family move...

After a special appearance by official studio dog Otis, we dive into the third and final installment of our interview with the one and only Harold Holly. He talks about his intense drive for excellence, parting ways with PPC Racing, getting hooked up with gas-masher Bobby Hamilton Jr., and his decision to leave NASCAR and go dirt racing.   We also take a look at the February 3, 1983 issue of the G...

We start off this week with a reaction to our weekend in Las Vegas and the BEAUTIFUL Rusty Wallace commemorative issue of Grand National Scene.   In the second installment of our interview, Harold Holly gives us the lowdown on Chad Little’s monster 1995 Busch Series season, his incredibly intense expectations and work ethic and, finally, getting hooked up with Jeff Green.   We then dig into the Au...

In the first of what will be three installments of our conversation, Harold Holly talks about the impact of hanging out with his PeeWee football coach … and more importantly … that coach’s race car. Harold breaks into the sport with fellow Alabama native Mickey Gibbs. A break from the sport doesn’t last very long, and Harold winds up doing math on the run for the late, great Alan Kulwicki before g...

We hear this week from Bobby Burrell, who was the tire changer for Ricky Rudd who sustained serious injuries when he was hit on pit road at Homestead near the end of the 2001 season. Within a month, NASCAR mandated that ALL over-the-wall crew members would be wearing helmets AND firesuits from there on out. Then in our second segment, we page through the November 15, 2001 issue of Winston Cup Scen...

This week's episode kicks off with hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid sitting down with Las Vegas Motor Speedway President and General Manager Chris Powell and NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace for a very special announcement. Then, in the third and final installment of our conversation, Archie Kennedy talks about his disappointment at being cut from the Petty Enterprises over-the-wall pit crew an...

NOTE: This episode may be too emotionally intense for some listeners. Archie Kennedy remembers Bobby Hamilton, John Andretti and the loss of his friend and protege, Adam Petty. As we’ve done in the past … when we deal with such an emotional topic … we do not go through a Scene issue of the week this episode. NOTE: This show is not associated in any way with American City Business Journals, owner o...

In the first installment of our interview, Archie Kennedy remembers his young and rambunctious Go-Kart racing protégé Adam Petty. He also discusses Richard and Lynda Petty in their motorhome … their home away from home … as well as going to work as the jackman for Petty Enterprises. We then land on the July 17, 1980 issue of Grand National Scene. Dale Earnhardt wins on an extraordinarily hot and h...

In the third and final installment of our interview with Danny Lawrence, he discusses the very precise details of what Dale Earnhardt expected in the cockpit of his race car … the three sides to Dale’s personality … and the devastation of the 2001 Daytona 500. We then tackle the packed June 17, 1982 issue of the Grand National Scene. Tim Richmond wins the first race of his Winston Cup career at Ri...

This week in the second installment of our interview with Danny Lawrence, he talks about Dale Earnhardt, the king of cool … AND freebies. He also recalls Richard Childress’ strict ban against the tricks of the trade that nearly every other team in the garage was using. We then sneak a peek into the April 2, 1981 issue of Grand National Scene. Surprise … surprise … Darrell Waltrip wins at Bristol w...

Richard Childress Racing legend Danny Lawrence joins us this week for the first of what will be three installments of our epic interview. This week, he talks about his time as a high-school wrecker driver, getting the engines he helped build for Dale Earnhardt to last, the magic that happened when they DID find some reliability, and being part of one of the most storied teams in NASCAR history. We...

This week in the final installment of our interview with Bobby Hamilton Jr., he talks about going Cup racing with Cal Wells and the difficulties he faced there, the devastating loss of his dad and attempting to race without him, and his decision to walk away from the sport. We then dig into the October 29, 1987 issue of Grand National Scene. Bill Elliott and Morgan Shepherd win at Rockingham, but...

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 w...

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 …...

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 Enterpr...

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 Motors...

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...

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 w...

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 C...

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. Interested in The Sc...

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 drivi...

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 disap...

This week in the first of what will be two installments of our interview, we talk to NASCAR Hall of Famer and NASCAR 75 driver Matt Kenseth. Matt discusses going up against rival Robbie Reiser in and around their homes in Wisconsin, and then just a few short years later joining forces in the Busch Series. That deal led to Matt and the team’s first Busch Series win at Rockingham, a victory that Mat...