The Scene Vault Podcast

This episode of Moonshine and Motorsports features Dan Elliott sharing captivating stories about his family’s legacy and the rich history of Dawsonville, Georgia. Dan reflects on growing up in a small town with deep ties to moonshining and motorsports, recounting how his father’s passion for racing influenced the Elliott family’s career. He vividly describes the mischievous adventures of his youth and the strong community spirit that supported their early racing endeavors. Dan also shares personal anecdotes about his father’s determination, the sacrifices involved in racing, and the pride he takes in preserving his family heritage. The episode is a heartfelt tribute to the intertwining of small-town life, family bonds, and the love of racing. This is a collaboration between The Scene Vault Podcast and North Carolina’s Department of Cultural and Natural Resources made to spotlight the history of moonshine, motorsports, and the state of North Carolina. For more great Moonshine & Motorsports content, check out the other episodes and videos right here on the Daily Downforce. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we turn the mic over to Ken Ragan and he proceeds to regale us with one racing story right after another.   Family that goes A LONG way back in the sport.   A promise to his future wife.   Making an offer on an old Bobby Allison race car.   How his brother decided that they should go Winston Cup racing.   It's all here, and more.   Let's go ahead and put this out there ... Ken's Georgian accent is one of the best you've EVER encountered here on The Scene Vault Podcast.    We then dive into the March 31, 1983 issue of Grand National Scene.   Although he had to wait a week, Cale Yarborough wound up in victory lane at Atlanta after grabbing the lead on the final restart and cruising the rest of the way to the checkered flag. Ken Ragan makes the first start of his Winston Cup career, but finds himself in the middle of a late-race, multicar accident.     There’s a reward out for the capture of a thief who struck in the garage area, while a couple of guys go full on redneck in the campground.   We also say goodbye to another member of the Winston Cup Scene and Illustrated family.   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!   Interested in The Scene Vault Podcast T-shirts? Check out thescenevault.com and click on SHOP to see what we have available! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We honor the memory of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison in this very special tribute episode. 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. Interested in The Scene Vault Podcast T-shirts? Check out thescenevault.com and click on SHOP to see what we have available! Please consider supporting this show via: patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Rick meets with UNC Asheville professor Daniel Pierce to get an update on the recovery efforts in western North Carolina after the floods. Dr. Pierce shares his own personal story of how his family was affected, as well as the incredible resilience of local residents in the face of devastation.  This is a collaboration between The Scene Vault Podcast and North Carolina’s Department of Cultural and Natural Resources made to spotlight the history of moonshine, motorsports, and the state of North Carolina. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the third and final installment of our interview, Mike Trower talks about his decision to leave Hendrick Motorsports not long after the departure of legendary crew chief Ray Evernham … and how that meant winning another Daytona 500 with Dale Jarrett and Robert Yates Racing.   And, as it turned out with Mike, you CAN go back home again. He returned to Hendrick Motorsports to change tires for Jimmie Johnson. You guessed it … he won ANOTHER couple of championship rings with Jimmie.    We then dive into the September 30, 1999 issue of Winston Cup Scene.   Rumors were running rampant that Ray Evernham was on his way out at Hendrick Motorsports … AND he’d also spoken at a recent NASA awards ceremony at the Cape in Florida.   Mark Martin scores his first win of the Winston Cup season on what was a really good day for MOST of Roush Racing. We’ve got kind of a dubious Rick Mast Report from Dover … and Darrell Waltrip complains about not getting enough provisional starting positions.   Casey Atwood wins at Dover, while Dale Earnhardt Jr and Matt Kenseth have at it on the backstretch … actually, Dale has at it … and Matt pays the price. NASCAR hammers Greg Biffle for a truck series infraction at Las Vegas, a penalty that would eventually cost him that year’s truck championship.   Felix Sabates has a difference of opinion with track president Denis McGlynn on Dover’s facilities. Finally … the more things change, the more they stay the same … the NASCAR family responds to the devastation of a major hurricane that hit eastern North Carolina. 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! Interested in The Scene Vault Podcast T-shirts? Check out thescenevault.com and click on SHOP to see what we have available! Please consider supporting this show via: patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second of three installments of our interview with Mike Trower, he describes moving from Old School Dave Marcis to the decidedly New School Hendrick Motorsports team of driver Jeff Gordon and crew chief Ray Evernham.   We then dig into the November 16, 1995 edition of Winston Cup Scene.   Dale Earnhardt dominates the season finale at Atlanta, but it’s Jeff Gordon who walks away with the Winston Cup championship.   Darrell Waltrip collects what turns out to be the final pole position of his career and Dave Marcis discusses rumors about his NASCAR future. Finally … we talk about this sport’s unbreakable records.   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! Interested in The Scene Vault Podcast T-shirts? Check out thescenevault.com and click on SHOP to see what we have available! Please consider supporting this show via: patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When things this good happen in the world of NASCAR, you'd better believe The Scene Vault Podcast is going to respond!   In this very special episode, hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid sit down with Outside the Groove's Eric Estepp to discuss the historic news that NASCAR has officially credited Bobby Allison with a win in the August 6, 1971 event at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.   Which means ... of course ... that Allison will now rightfully be listed with 85 wins at the Cup level, which breaks him out of a tie with longtime rival Darrell Waltrip for fourth on NASCAR's all-time win list.   It's been a long time coming!   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! Interested in The Scene Vault Podcast T-shirts? Check out thescenevault.com and click on SHOP to see what we have available! Please consider supporting this show via: patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a heartfelt tribute to Gary McCredie, the founding editor of Grand National/Winston Cup Scene , we consider Mike Trower's resume … SEVENTY-THREE points wins with Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett and Jimmie Johnson and FIVE Cup championships.   That’s extraordinarily rarified air … and he did it as the Ultimate WEEKEND Warrior.   In the first of what will be three installments of our interview, Mike talks about his humble beginnings in the sport with Helen Rae and Dave Marcis, the schedule he had to keep between the race track and his full-time job with Duke Energy and the evolution of what it took to compete … and survive … on pit road. We then take a deep dive into the November 1, 1984 issue of Grand National Scene.   There’s a big multicar crash, a flip and one heck of a finish between Bill Elliott and Harry Gant in the Winston Cup event at Rockingham.    The weekend is a sad one for Sam Ard, his friends and family after he was involved in a terrible crash that ended his driving career. This issue also features a story on Junior Johnson and his influence up and down pit road.   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! Interested in The Scene Vault Podcast T-shirts? Check out thescenevault.com and click on SHOP to see what we have available! Please consider supporting this show via: patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wendell Scott was a pioneering African American driver in NASCAR, known for breaking racial barriers in the sport. As the first Black driver to win at NASCAR's highest level, he faced significant challenges and discrimination throughout his career. His perseverance and determination made him a symbol of resilience, helping to pave the way for greater diversity and inclusion in NASCAR. In this episode, Rick sits down with Warrick Scott, Wendell's grandson, to hear stories from growing up with one of the pioneers of motorsports. This is a collaboration between The Scene Vault Podcast and North Carolina’s Department of Cultural and Natural Resources made to spotlight the history of moonshine, motorsports, and the state of North Carolina. For more visit https://dailydownforce.com/moonshine-motorsports/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week in the third and final segment of our interview, Gary DeHart talks about how having a crappy seat at the Winston Cup awards banquet fueled his determination to win it all that much more.   1996 turned out to be quite interesting with Hendrick Motorsports drivers Terry Labonte and Jeff Gordon and their teams going after each other for the championship. And despite coming out on top in 1996, DeHart opted to step down the following season due to burnout.   Gary concludes the session with a breakdown of his extraordinary work in the field of safety in NASCAR and gives us as close a look at T-Rex as anybody’s going to get. We then took a look at the November 14, 1996 issue of Winston Cup Scene. It’s an extraordinarily good weekend for the Labonte family in Atlanta, with Bobby winning the 1996 season finale and Terry winning the Winston Cup championship.   There are features on the evolution of the NASCAR roll cage and Brett Bodine’s first year as an owner-driver, and coverage of Randy LaJoie’s first Busch Series championship with BACE Motorsports. This issue also features an incredible photo of a fiery crash at Homestead.   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!     Interested in The Scene Vault Podcast T-shirts? Check out thescenevault.com and click on SHOP to see what we have available!   Please consider supporting this show via:   patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We get things kicked off in a big way this week with the greatest Dave Marcis story you'll ever hear. Then the second installment of our interview, Gary DeHart gives us an inside look at the breakup of Hendrick Motorsports’ Darrell Waltrip-Waddell Wilson Dream Team, his role in the making of Days of Thunder and how that propelled him into a crew chief’s job with NASCAR Hall of Famers Ricky Rudd and Terry Labonte.   We then dig into the June 18, 1987 edition of Grand National Scene.   Tim Richmond wins at Pocono in his return to the sport after a lengthy illness. Richard Petty gets relief help from Joe Ruttman. There are features on Sterling Marlin and Brett Bodine, a photo bio on H.B. Bailey and news … timely for today … of an event honoring a NASCAR disaster relief effort.   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! Interested in The Scene Vault Podcast T-shirts? Check out thescenevault.com and click on SHOP to see what we have available! Please consider supporting this show via: patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode, Rick sits down with the legendary John Dodson to hear about his life in a North Carolina NASCAR family, and working and living alongside other state icons of motorsports. This is a collaboration between The Scene Vault Podcast and North Carolina’s Department of Cultural and Natural Resources made to spotlight the history of moonshine, motorsports, and the state of North Carolina. For more visit https://dailydownforce.com/moonshine-motorsports/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week in the first installment of our interview, Gary DeHart remembers getting his start in drag racing and his entrance into NASCAR with team owner Billy Hagan and driver Terry Labonte.   The team’s money issues forced Gary to work two jobs in order for him to be able to pay the bills. He eventually left the team when a request for a raise was turned down, but not before winning the 1984 Winston Cup championship.   We then dig into the November 29, 1984 issue of Grand National Scene.   Geoff Bodine takes advantage of Bobby Allison’s late-race flat tire to win the rain-soaked season finale at Riverside, while Terry Labonte overcomes Harry Gant in the battle for the 1984 Winston Cup championship.   Rusty Wallace wins freshman honors, despite enduring a difficult season with team owner Cliff Stewart. Bobby Rahal makes his one and only Winston Cup start for the Wood Brothers. Darrell Waltrip talks about safety in the wake of a fatal accident the week before at Atlanta, and also discusses rumors that he might buy into Junior Johnson & Associates.   And Steve Waid has a column for the ages.   IMPORTANT NOTE: We’re not going to be asking for any support this week for the podcast or YouTube channel. t would be FAR more appropriate to recommend that you make whatever donations you can to your charity of choice to help out in and around western North Carolina. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Rick sits down with the legendary Robert Pressley to hear his stories about growing up around racing - and moonshiners! - in the 1960's. Not only is he a well known name in the sport of NASCAR, but his father was even before him. Hear his incredible stories from the past on this episode of Moonshine and Motorsports. This is a collaboration between The Scene Vault Podcast and North Carolina’s Department of Cultural and Natural Resources made to spotlight the history of moonshine, motorsports, and the state of North Carolina. For more visit https://dailydownforce.com/moonshine-motorsports/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the third and final installment of our interview, Bill Ingle puts his team to the test in the shop and then gets tattled on by a teammate which leads to a hefty fine at Talladega.   He lets a team owner know in no uncertain terms that he wants the money he’s supposed to have coming his way. Finally, Bill walks away from the sport in favor of family and his love for music. We then dig into the May 4, 1995 issue of Winston Cup Scene.   Mark Martin wins at Talladega after using drafting help from Jeff Gordon to get by Dale Earnhardt as they charged toward the white flag and then it goes from bad to worse for Dale on the last lap.   Ricky Rudd and Bill Ingle get caught with their hands in the cookie jar by NASCAR inspectors, although THEY claim there weren’t any cookies IN the far.    There’s an article on Richie-Rich rich Gary Bechtel, owner of Diamond Ridge Motorsports. SHARON Mast … Rick’s WAY better half … is featured in this week’s Photo Bio.   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!   Interested in The Scene Vault Podcast T-shirts? Check out thescenevault.com and click on SHOP to see what we have available!   Please consider supporting this show via:   patreon.com/thescenevaultpodcast paypal.me/thescenevaultpodcast venmo.com/thescenevaultpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices