A Lifetime in Motorsports

When Drivers Had Winning Personalities (feat. Mike Hembree of NBC Sports)

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."  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

Illegal Wins: The History of Disqualifications (feat. Ken Martin of NASCAR Productions)

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."   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

Jerry Punch on Benny Parsons - Driver, Broadcaster, Friend

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.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

Harry Hyde: The Most Innovative Crew Chief in NASCAR History

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. 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

"You Wanna Drive?" - The History of NASCAR Team Owners

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. 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