Feuds, Heartbreaks, and Victory: Winston Kelley’s 30 Years in NASCAR
Published 2024-07-17
Winston Kelley's journey in NASCAR started with his passion for the sport, beginning his career working on the road for free. He witnessed iconic moments from there, including the final races of legends like Cale Yarbrough, Richard Petty, and Jeff Gordon. Winston also conducted Dale Earnhardt's final interview at the 2001 Daytona 500, sharing insights on Earnhardt's mood before the race.
Throughout his career, Kelley faced challenging moments, from interviewing Dale Earnhardt after his Daytona 500 heartbreaks to navigating the heated feud between Rusty Wallace and Earnhardt.
As the Executive Director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Winston fulfills his childhood dream, working with his heroes and contributing to the legacy of the Hall. Since the groundbreaking of the museum in 2006, he has been integral in the induction process of NASCAR's most prestigious figures.
The interview wraps up with Winston's reflections on his best and worst interviews, including memorable moments with Tony Stewart and a poorly worded question that cost him dearly. Winston Kelley shares a treasure trove of NASCAR stories in this episode. Comment below which one was your favorite.
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Chapters
00:00 - Introduction and Overview
02:16 - The Role of Broadcasters in NASCAR
04:39 - Winston Kelly's Early Life and Career Path
10:12 - Getting Started in Broadcasting
18:14 - The Dedication and Passion of Broadcasters
21:30 - Memorable Moments and Interviews
30:31 - Special Experiences Outside of NASCAR
34:24 - The Cop-Hedy Charity Ride and Unexpected Challenges
34:54 - Memorable Experiences on the Kyle Petty Charity Ride
40:17 - Interviewing Dale Earnhardt Sr. After Races
45:00 - Memorable Moments and Announcements
53:34 - Funny Stories and Emotional Moments
58:55 - Working at the NASCAR Hall of Fame
01:05:02 - Selection of Charlotte as the Hall of Fame Location
01:07:52 - Career at MRN and Pit Reporting
01:28:07 - Winston Kelly's Role as Executive Director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame
01:31:27 - The Importance of Trust and Relationships in the Industry
01:34:20 - Memorable Interviews and Moments
01:38:19 - The Emotional Experience of Inducting Deserving Individuals
01:39:18 - The Dedicated and Passionate Team at the Hall of Fame
01:41:36 - Challenges and Criticism in the Voting Process
All Comments (21)
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If they just let MRN announcers talk over the TV broadcast ratings would be through the roof.
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Great Interview, we are so lucky to have Winston Kelley involved in our sport. I can tell he really enjoys his work at whatever capacity he contributes. Thanks for having him on your show Dale.
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Winston Kelley was the voice for me growing up!
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Thank you so much for having my brother on the show. He’s been one of my biggest role models and heroes my entire life. Love they touched on how far back Dad & Winston go with the Earnhardt’s around Concord/Kannapolis & the spelling of Kelley’s name. Jr. always has some of the best interviews, appreciation and insight to the history of NASCAR.
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I always listened to the races when I was a teenager on the radio. I don't have cable so I still listen on the radio. Most times when racing is on TV I turn the volume off and the radio on. 👍🏁🙏🙏
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The best compliment I can give to MRN is this. I had a friend who worked at a radio station that carried MRN broadcasts. He was no kind of race fan, had no interest at all. I remember him telling me in the early 2000’s the MRN broadcasts were of such high quality that he actually became interested in the races.
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One of the best conversations/ interviews I've ever heard. I grew up in Oregon in the 70's- 80's. All we had were radios to listen to the races. Moved to New Hampshire in the 90's. Still just the radio. Loved all of MRN's coverage. They painted a picture so we'll. Awesome stuff.
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Where do I get one of those shirts Jr ?
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This is another example of a great person being humble. Winston is a great guy but so quick to give others the credit they deserve also. I really enjoyed this interview.
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Are we gonna get another season of "Becoming Dale Earnhardt?" I loved hearing the stories. Jr is a good story teller..
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At the top of my favorite episode gift, just because he's the coolest man at my job😊 I truly turned into a fangirl the morning he told me he was coming on. I thoroughly enjoyed working the event with Dale and Kelley. The best part of the job, is being surrounded by the stars who makes this sport so freaking amazing!!
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I say it every week, but these guest segments are goldmines. I’m a professor, and I’m looking to do some academic research projects on NASCAR. This type of long-form oral history storytelling is super valuable. Can’t thank Jr. and Dirty Mo enough!
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Winston Kelley Pit Reporter For MRN Radio From The 80s And Early 90s 1988 To 1993 2nd Behind Jim Phillips NASCAR Winston Cup Series And Busch Grand National Series Thanks For Uploading
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Damn. You keep raising the bar. Just when I thought it couldn’t get much better after Gary Nelson, you get Winston Freaking Kelley. Hall of Famer in the car, Hall of Famer in the Media. Keep making America proud
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@DirtyMoMedia After moving from Charlotte back to Florida in late 80’s The @MotorRacingNetwork was the only way to get Live Racing. Great Video today Dale! A Winston Kelley interview is:“Food for your @Nascar Soul” 💯 🇺🇸☮️
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Winston Kelley, Eli Gold, Barney Hall all the original MRN announcers were my only way to follow Nascar back in the early days...loved listening to them bring the race to life! Thank you!
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1:27:50 Junior, you've won 2 Championships. Don't sell yourself short man. You are not only a 2 time Xfinity Champion, but a BACK TO BACK Champion, and that harder to accomplish than people think.
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I feel bad that I only found out about MRN in my return to Nascar in 2021, so I missed the bmulk of Winston Kelley's broadcasting days. But I'm fortunate for the handful of times he comes on when they rotate the crew, and need extra people on deck when the 3 series go racing at different tracks during a weekend. The first time I heard Winston on pit road, my ears perked up - who is this guy? I just knew he was a man who is knowledgeable, articulate, and has a pleasant accent to boot.
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I really enjoyed this interview, I worked with Winston's dad Earl for many years and I loved hearing him tell stories about his early days in Nascar, Hearing Winston telling a story was like listening to his dad all over again. Mr Kelley was always a class act and its obvious that Winston is a chip off the old block.
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Used to listen to MRN Radio a lot if I didn't have TV or the race wasn't on regular TV. I remember hearing Winston a lot talking to the drivers, he knew how to get it straight from the horse's mouth. Him, Joe Moore and Barney Hall were right next to Bob Jenkins, Benny Parsons, and Ned Jarrett the voices of NASCAR.
