367 - Red Farmer: Pry This Wheel Out Of My Hands

Separated by generations, but forged in honor, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the legendary Red Farmer now share a bond that will last a lifetime, as two of the most recent inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. A racer for over 75 years, Red has competed at tracks from makeshift tracks on abandoned runways in Miami, a cardboard bordered track in Key West, the beaches of Daytona to the famed Superspeedways of America. The storyteller unlocks the secrets of a career that started In 1948 and is still going strong today. Yes, at nearly 90-years old, the old master still steers a racecar around the red clay high banks of the Talladega Short Track in Alabama. From Short Track to 2-mile speedways, asphalt to dirt, Red has raced about everything. Even speedboats! I bet you didn’t know Red Farmer once raced at a Yacht club, did ya? Red is the leader of a legendary group known as the Alabama Gang, which terrorized local short tracks across America stealing trophies and collecting riches to feed their families. And a family it was. The bond shared by three short-track racers, Red, fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison, and Donnie Allison is something truly special. The “table of truth” brings out stories of heroism and heartbreak. Red details his time serving in the Army, which interrupted his points leading NASCAR season. Many race wins and championships later, both Farmer and the Allison family experienced moments of grief and unthinkable tragedy. Red recounts his perspective of Davey Allison’s tragic helicopter crash, and doesn’t hold back his emotion revisiting Clifford Allison’s deadly accident at Michigan. Choked up, he shares his inner thoughts about the band of brothers that helped define each other's lives and careers. There are stories about wrecks… a lot of them. Dale Jr. and Farmer take to the monitor to recap a few of Red’s famous crashes in real-time. Some he escaped, and others left him hospitalized for months. Regardless of the severity, Red always returned to racing.  There are also stories of pranks and fights, including a never-before-told tale of Allison brother's fisticuffs at a Miami bullring. Red shares some of his most valuable life lessons that led to his remarkable life as a champion on and off the track. It’s a peek behind the curtain into the life of a 752-time race winner that few have ever heard. Before Red’s interview, the DJD opens up about the Clash at the Coliseum. Earnhardt and Davis share their thoughts on the polarizing Exhibition race at the L.A. Coliseum in California. They also talk about Dale and wife Amy’s latest business venture, High Rock Vodka. A drink Mike successfully taste-tested at the Hall of Fame party. Speaking of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Dale Jr. shares some of his thoughts on one of the greatest honors of his career. Ask Jr. provides his in-depth analysis on the new NASCAR Next Gen car and its debut at the Clash, and colored side skirts!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices