By Rick Houston
On the long drive home from the 1975 Firecracker 400, DiGard Racing President Jim Gardner stopped for gas. By chance, he encountered Darrell Waltrip, a young up-and-coming driver with a world of promise.
After a brief conversation, they got back in their vehicles to continue their journey. A few hours later, Gardner stopped again. And again, there was Waltrip. Was hiring Waltrip meant to be?
Waltrip did, in fact, wind up with DiGard … and team owner Bill Gardner, Jim’s brother, wasted no time in approaching Bill Stokely, the head of Gatorade’s parent company, with a proposition. Stokely would pay Gardner for first-, second- and third-place finishes, and laps led.
Stokely agreed, and the DiGard Racing entry driven by Darrell Waltrip and sponsored by Gatorade became one of the most iconic relationships in NASCAR history. This is Bill Gardner’s story.
For more than 32 years, Grand National/Winston Cup/NASCAR Scene writers and photographers were there to record NASCAR history as it was being made. Join hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid each week on The Scene Vault Podcast Presented by Q Ware as they take a look back at the extraordinary people, places and events woven into the rich tapestry that is our sport.
To hear the entire podcast, visit The Scene Vault on iTunes.
To watch the complete interview, visit The Scene Vault YouTube channel.
Fore more on the Scene Vault, check them out on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
You can further support their efforts at Patreon.