Dale Jr. Download: Rick Mast - "I Was Dying"

Rick Mast shares details about the carbon monoxide poisoning that forced him to exit the sport. Mast opens up about feeling "like he was dying," and decisions that saved his life and how he went to NASCAR to make changes to keep other drivers safe.
The full Dale Jr. Download with Rick Mast is available on all major podcast platforms.

[@truckerk]

I so enjoy these drivers stories.

[@Jewell579]

Same here. I've always enjoyed hearing behind the scenes stories in lots of sports, but I think these that Dale Jr does are my favorite.

[@bryancurtislyles12]

They're the best. Most underated channel on KZbin. The best free entertainment. #HMS

[@stadleroux]

I'm not even American and I don't see many Nascar races live, but I could listen to these guys all day long. I did happen to catch just about the last 3/4 of this year's Daytona 500 and then saw an interview with Jr about the crash at the end that decided the race. It was SO refreshing to hear him talk so rationally and calmly about a simple racing incident while all the fans outside were baying for the "other driver's" blood.

[@bryancurtislyles12]

@@stadleroux you've got to watch a short track ran at night. That's Nascar all summed up

[@stadleroux]

@@bryancurtislyles12 thanks, I think I may have seen parts of one or two, but yes, I should probably catch one from start to finish. Does Martinsville have a night race? I used to spend hours every night in front of my PC with Sierra's Nascar Racing 2003 and earlier back in the day, but I really sucked anyway, so I never got around to running a full season... 😕😊 Still, for me who don't get a lot of exposure to the sport, having played the game makes a really big difference to my experience. In the very early days of me playing it there were also several warehouse bookstores here who used to import old foreign magazines in bulk and sell them cheap, so I'd buy some that focused on Nascar and read about past races, driver profiles, standings, etc. Anything to try and put some flesh and personality on the AI drivers!

[@topangachronic9463]

If Rick changes his mind. He would pair up very well with Jeff Gordon in the booth. He would bring something that NASCAR is definitely missing! His voice and Cantor are perfect. Reminds me of BP

[@natedog24639]

Topanga chronic this is 100% spot on. The sport needs another BP.

[@BrianZacharyMusic]

@@natedog24639 I got some Buddy Baker vibes there as well. I surely do miss BP though.

[@johntrgovich4717]

U so right.jeffs good but a bit boring but with rick it would be verry entertaining with knowledge

[@GreenRC24]

#rickinthebooth

[@rodstanley881]

I Totally agree it would be a perfect fit in the booth

[@howabouthetruth2157]

I remember in the late 80's & early 90's, ole Rick Mast running up front, especially on the super speedways...... with NO sponsors on that car ( not any major sponsors anyway ).........yet there he was, blowing the doors off most of the field. We attended the '89 Daytona 500 in the infield that year, and all of these people kept saying: "Who IS that guy driving the white Chevy with no sponsors?"........again, right up there in the top 5 cars much of the race. Hell of a good driver.

[@johnpyle702]

HE WAS THE POLE WINNER FOR THE IS'T INDY CUP RACE !!!

[@howabouthetruth2157]

@@johnpyle702 That's cool. I know for a fact I watched that race LIVE on TV back then, because it was such a big deal: NASCAR cup cars racing at Indy!!! I also recall how everyone was really surprised at the speeds the cup cars were running & how well they handled those flat turns.......but I couldn't remember who won the pole. Thank you!

[@buckwaddell301]

@@johnpyle702 That was huge !! Remember that day well...

[@ferdterguson124]

I loved mr mast. He sent me a jacket, 2 tshirts and a hat in 92. I was the happiest 13 year old in wny. Thank you sir and God bless the skoal #1.

[@steves.922]

Rick is one of the "good guys"!

[@GreenRC24]

I always liked Rick, much respect!

[@TO-zq9zl]

Who the hell would give this video a thumbs down? I will never understand.

[@scottcurtis4849]

Morons are everywhere

[@mbrewer57]

The attention-seeking thumb suckers, that's who.

[@catmanrescue1]

there the ones that read with pictures ,,,, Rick purdy scarry looking!lololol

[@wolverine9632]

Must be carbon monoxide poisoning causing them to miss the like button.

[@davidarmstrong7966]

@@catmanrescue1 Did you mean they're - 'they are'?

[@jamesbuffington308]

I met Rick Mast in Virginia on a job in the mid 2000's. He and I were both contractors on a construction job. He is a stand up friendly guy. A great ambassador to the sport.

[@dekeg.6795]

I've been binge watching this podcast for 2 days now. The greatest racing stories I've ever heard.

[@braedonshelton2305]

They are great. Check out the scene vault podcast as well. They go into a lot of detail too about specific seasons.

[@jesuschristislord6790]

That's amazing about the Hendrick box. So in 1996, when everyone else was riding around dying from carbon monoxide. Gordon and Labonte were 1-2 fighting for a championship running so good because of skill and good equipment, but also, they were healthier because they werent full of carbon monoxide. Amazing.

[@DonCarlosDonCarlos]

Go look at the interview with Chad Knaus & Ray Evernham talking about working in the 24 team, they talk about how Jeff's voice would change throughout the race because of the monoxide he was breathing.

[@bryancurtislyles12]

#HMS

[@williambowen1771]

Read rumors that Jeff may have taken steroids. Dunno

[@chevyblock550]

@@williambowen1771 Anabolic steroids have no positive effect on racers. There's nothing in the skill of driving where strength will benefit you. Now, on PEDs, something like EPO will help your cardio which is a huge boost for these long races.

[@MikeBrown-ii3pt]

Rick Mast and all of the other old school guys, living or passed on, are national treasures and should be treated as such. Even though I remember watching many of them race, the stories that they tell now are what interests me most. If he was still with us, I can almost picture Dale Sr walking onto this set, bending over and telling Mast to kick his butt! Watch the first part of the interview if you don't know what that's about.

[@alwaysopen7970]

I am the same age as Mast but he looks 10 years older and I have had multiple brain tumor surgeries.

[@johngancarcik5682]

I love seeing the older drivers like Rick, the labontes, Kenny Schrader, the Wallace's red farmer, Spencer, DW, the king ect the stories that are told omg it is so cool

[@roberthaynie7852]

That was one of the best JR. I’m Embarrassed to say that I had forgot about Mast ; he is just genuine guy ....

[@SHFsteelers]

Dale, thanks for doing these interviews and the stories. You are doing more for the sport by these interviews. Your the best!

[@bryancurtislyles12]

* you're. This is the most underated channel on KZbin. #HMS

[@jeffreyrussell6909]

After watching this I have a newfound respect for Rick Mast. Seems like a guy that I'd really like to meet and chat with.

[@jerwatson79]

I wish i could hear a whole podcast about all the Hendrick teams and the "advantages" they pioneered before everyone else caught on

[@artthurman3446]

All I can say is WOW! I thought my issue was pulling 4+ G's too often in a sports racer after a few non racing head injuries. I am 63, and foggy every day. Thoughts are clear, but vision and nausea not good. Maybe I have more going on with O2...THANKS Rick, Thanks Dirty Mo!

[@JS-gk5yu]

13:25 Have a really strong feeling this is Ray Evernham.

[@BrandonSLedford]

Mast is a wonderful quest... Please Dale help him out

[@gregj1350]

Thank you guys sooo much for putting stuff like this out there. Not only from a safety standpoint, but for giving a face to the names I heard every week over the years. I could sit and listen to Rick for hours.

[@multitoolish]

Love Rick Mast!!! Great guy you can tell

[@bigred1941]

A great interview. Thank you Rick for the explanation. Thank you Dale and Mike for talking to Rick.

[@timmattison6553]

What an amazing story. Glad rick was able to recover

[@scottygdaman]

God Bless you Rick. awesome show. stay healthy

[@KK-ex5zu]

Happy to see Rick Mast doing well! I hadn't heard a word about Rick Mast in many years since his carbon monoxide poisoning. Like I said, I'm happy to see Rick Mast doing well another epic Dale Jr interview!

[@alexismspgaming8260]

Truly I feel as if this is what took Kasey Kahne out early as well. Just like chronic concussions are bad, and we have learned so much more about it, so is chronic carbon monoxide poisioning.

[@johngancarcik5682]

Dosent he run sprint cars now?

[@rileytrawick18]

no, kasey had a disorder with the water in his body that made him severely dehydrated after long races, its why he can run sprint car races because theyre shorter

[@drumminsonlive9199]

I always enjoyed watching Rick race he is one of the good old boys...

[@anthonyhill503]

Rick Mast will always be my favorite driver.

[@jimmyrayne5425]

Dale I’m wanting to hear ricks story about your grandad Ralph. I loved the video from yesterday with Rick Mast, I grew up watching him race in nascar so hearing his stories have been really fun.

[@don50oh90]

Good ol driver Rick Mast....Thank's Jr...watching

[@twoblacklabs904]

Again, another incredible insight from one of Racing’s greats. I never knew why we almost never heard from Rick Mast since he “retired...” I always thought he just never had the winning stats to keep his seat and was unceremoniously replaced. So glad to see and hear him again, that he’s healthy and happy with his career and his involvement in NASCAR during it’s growth heyday... and of course I’ll always remember his Pole in the inaugural Brickyard 400 in ‘94...he snatched it from Dale Sr. in the late stages of the qualifying session.

[@Nickearl1]

Id love to listen to Rick on Sunday’s. Him as a broadcaster would be top notch.

[@Peter-V_00]

When I was racing cars in New England back in the late 70's there were a couple of guys racing that were in the Air Force, we all thought they were crazy huffing oxygen before going out and even during races, those guys were really good too, makes you wonder who knew what when. Meanwhile I find Rick Mast's story of his experience fascinating, good to see him feeling well these days.

[@genemartin6962]

The adrenaline rush.... THAT is what he is talking about. I still miss it. Never ran the speedways but ran short tracks for 15 years and I STILL miss the rush.

[@scottmiller6167]

wow rick glad you are still with us all..........

[@howabouthetruth2157]

Ya know, I always wondered about these race car drivers & continuous exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning, but I never found anything at all about the topic, until now. Stories like these from the senior retired drivers are priceless.

[@user-me8hc3bs7i]

A lot of it depends on your surroundings and the way you work on stuff. Old race guys used to spray lacquer indoors with no respirators, tune carburetors with leaded fuel indoors for hours on end and then just hang out in it. It depends on your environment and length of exposure like most anything else.

[@plastic1492]

Great interview Dale, i know it's too late but sure would have been great to interview Dick Trickle, i never new he won more than 1000 short track races . The only great short track racer i new was Jr Hanley from Canada > he was something to watch

[@DupontandLowesWarrior]

Dick Trickle is underrated

[@howabouthetruth2157]

Best & most successful short track driver in history. I never knew that either, up until about a year ago.

[@mattw6585]

Dick Trickle was a great snowmobile racer too!

[@DupontandLowesWarrior]

@@mattw6585 Just like Geoffrey Bodine

[@jubelet]

Far as I can see, all of these interviews are awesome. Best channel on KZbin.

[@cnking27]

I remember one of the races at a plate track I think, where Mast was driving the black Skoal car and Harry Gant won on fuel mileage because Mast pushed him for the last 10 or 15 laps.

[@bryancurtislyles12]

I dig these stories. Most underated channel on KZbin. 👍 Keep it up. Thanks for the free entertainment.

[@spooler7828]

I have gotten Carbon Monoxide poisoning before by working on my car in the winter with a Kerosene Bullet heater pointing straight at me. I got sick as a dog. Throwing up, headache, couldn't even function for several days. I feel Rick's pain.

[@catmanrescue1]

I LOST a good friend because he would stand in the shop reving the motor , we would all vacate the shop ,, not Hal ,,,, he's no longer with us ,,,, RIP Hal and FRED ! Love ya all ,, hug the ones you love ! ran some laps with ya DAle the other day in Cali! in iracing ,,,, you got to 2nd on the chart and logged ,,, i beat your time after you left the server . see ya on track!

[@jamesclee1722]

Awesome stuff I always wondered why he stopped racing

[@MrPermafrost]

I love Rick Mast, sucks that he had to retire earlier, but it's good that he's made such a positive impact on the sport in retirement.

[@FrednecksPlace]

Thanks for sharing. I've experienced a life change with it as well. CO causes / concussions are: brain injuries. I always lived with a 'suck it up buttercup' philosophy and this changed everthing. Rick mentioned just trying to stay alive.... I can totally relate. The energy /drive to function normally just disappears.

[@lockedin60]

There is no way to make the cars 100% safe. The goal is to shoot for that. Yes technology has come along way. But there are so many elements to racing that there is no way to element all risk. Flying is another issue. I think what happened to Ryan Newman reminds us that we must not take anything for granted when it comes to auto racing. I am glad that Rick Mast is still with us. I am glad they were able to figure out his condition and other entities were able to step up to the plate and make the sport we love a better and safer environment!

[@diverbob8]

I worked in a steel mill around Carbon Monoxide frequently. They tell you that you can't smell it or taste it, etc. but when I got more than a casual wiff of it, it caused a burning sensation at the bottom of my sterum, right at the depression. It was a very promenent sensation that was consistently present in these occurances. We carried portable gas monitors that could be checked to verify exposures so it wasn't guess work.

[@danlove4270]

Thanks for sharing this Dale

[@drewherbert4835]

Just goes to prove timing is everything, I was just thinking of Rick yesterday and this issue crosses my desk. GLAD to see Rick is well!

[@jdgeibe]

I always thought that #1 Black & White Skoal car was so sweet looking 😎👌🏼

[@dono1716]

Bless you Rick thank you for your input.Hope you are feeling good again. I was a mechanic and know about the headaches and feeling bad.You answered so many questions for me. THANKS

[@mikeholton9876]

i remember a race im thinking at Darlington where Dale Sr. just wasn't right. wonder if CO was a potential cause for that ... anyway, Rick Mast is a Great Guy and honest about his career and the effects that caused him to leave racing. if there was EVER a person who could work with the medical field and sports medicine to help athletes understand how things affect their bodies long term, he's the one. i can sense in the interview with Jr. that he has a hole in his life to an extent, not that he doesn't have family and other things to help fill it, but wow, if he did nothing more than interviews like this with people in sports medicine, it could save lives, especially with concussion (not from experiencing them but in the general philosophy of cumulative damage).

[@danmelvin111]

Such a great show ! I'm hooked.

[@bertmustin]

Those were extremely hard hits that Bonnett and Earnhardt took.

[@TeamHeapMI]

I came into the comment section to say this same thing after I heard him say that. I would hope he said that from the interpretation made by many people that said it at the time. We both know dales wreck was insane hard and from the banks we Daytona as steep they sling shot his car after getting loose going up the banks then Kenny schraders car projected his car even more head on

[@willp8003]

I always liked Rick mast, he just always seemed like a really good genuine person.

[@DeBa1226]

What... a... story... holy cow, I can’t imagine! Praise God he weathered the storm. It’s important NASCAR knows this story. Asbestos exposure is another NASCAR needs to know about with all those old cars racing with asbestos in brake pads.... it would be very important to those early day drivers and pit crews and mechanics.

[@wolverine9632]

This legendary man drove a sponsorless car to a 6th place finish in his first ever Daytona 500 in 1989

[@DeBa1226]

@@wolverine9632 love it.... Grit=Passion... Sometimes one just finds a way.

[@DeBa1226]

They call asbestos exposure “Mesothelioma”... you’ve seen the tv commercials. It’s no joke, it’s real, and have learned even a third of all Navy shipmen have succumbed to as much. Those in the heating/ac business, auto mechanics, the changing of old clutches and brakes.

[@DeBa1226]

@NASTY CANASTA you’d be surprised how much asbestos is still used the US. For solid statistics visit curemeso.org Make a contribution even. Many hospitals aren’t even equipped or sophisticated enough to diagnose Meso. Mayo, John Hopkins and a few others are at the level to do so... many hospitals simply call the diagnosis cancer, and that’s it, unless the family insist on a deeper diagnosis, then the study is sent to the likes of Mayo to learn its more that “just cancer”.

[@jefferyashmore6477]

How about auto parts places, I turned thousands of drum and disc's dust flying off of them, then we had to bag up drum brake cores to be sent back for relining. You would cough up black stuff for 3 days after that.

[@mikejoerger3333]

Great interview really enjoyed it could sit and listen to his stories all day

[@zacharyjarrells7084]

Rick Mast, good ole Virginia boy. That would be cool to see him on Fox or NBC.

[@mikem7052]

Rick you just answered a lot of questions for a lot of people me being one ! Thanks buddy !

[@MaidensWorldOfWax]

Imagine what could have happened if Rick had been part of a major car program back then. He could drive the doors off those cars and I feel he never got his due in the sport.

[@anthonybelcher8860]

Great interview. Love hearing from the pioneers of the sport

[@williambowen1771]

Wow. Hendrick came up with the carbon monoxide converter for jeff and Terry way before any other teams?? Unreal !!!

[@bradkroboth5490]

I remember the 91 Diehard 500, he got turned in the trioval n flipped on his roof n slid past the start/finish line upside down. I still have the tape of the race and him crawling out

[@tagnut1952]

Always liked Rick Mast. Will never forget the Die Hard ('91 or '92) was sitting in the Anniston Tower and Rick came through the tri-oval upside down. He must've slid over 1000 feet on his top. No damage at all to his car cause it was a gentle slide. Never hit a thing. Just ended up at the exit of the pits on his lid. Talladega. I've seen it all there.

[@wuztron]

This show was three years ago. Goddamn.

[@1hfismrm]

Who knew Rick Mast was so cool! Love your videos Jr. Keep them coming!!!

[@Patmanx1]

this is scary to think about after watching a previous video with Larson taking about the chili bowl flu. Really makes you think

[@chadmurtorff4173]

Stellar video

[@coster3168]

Jimmy life is not what you achieve it's what you are inside and you're a good man they can't take that away from you God bless you but you better God bless the Lord

[@DupontandLowesWarrior]

Hut Strickland ended his career like that too

[@dannycoker6439]

Oscar jr Jimenez Hut is Bobby Allisons son in law! Check it out (no joke)..

[@alwaysopen7970]

I bet more than you want to think did as well. I wonder if both Dales suffered from it.

[@stevebalske5476]

alwaysopen Perhaps this was the cause of Dale Sr. losing consciousness behind the wheel.

[@shafferjoe1962]

God bless you brother. For God had a plan for you, through you he saved you and others. Never thought about this till this video. I will forever think more about what and how i fo things in and around running vehicles.

[@wolverine9632]

Interesting. I just finished watching the 1989 Daytona 500, in which Rick Mast drove a sponsorless car to a 6th place finish. I gained so much respect for this man, and looked up his Twitter. He's talking about Dirty Mo Radio, and I'm like, "Is this the guy I've been seeing in my recommended?" Ironically, in that '89 500, CBS did a whole piece on NASCAR drivers dealing with carbon monoxide poisoning.

[@mfree80286]

Rick's choke was stuck, basically, and it's lucky he didn't stall out.

[@unofficialpolitics9553]

Glad he got past it. Rick was my underdog favorite & I even built a scale model of his car. Loved that Oldsmobile.

[@kennybtow]

Best interview on your show by far. And there have been some great ones.

[@SlipFitGarage]

It was cool to hear Rick mention Blackie Wangerin at the 4 minutes mark. I know Blackie... I haven't seen him in a few years, in fact I wonder how he's doing these days.... but it was cool for me to hear his name mentioned on the JR download.

[@dannycoker6439]

Always open to this day I wonder how many drivers actually had carbon monoxide issues but never said a word in fear of loosing there ride-Rick had the guts to open up about the problem I appreciate your comment (Always open)!!

[@daviddix2911]

Great interview. Some things are hard to believe.

[@trulysurprised-bk7cy]

My dad was overcome with monoxide and for the rest of his life if he was in an enclosed area he would get an extremely sharp headache from it, kind of like a Miner Bird. I have always stayed away from closed garages with vehicles running.

[@RC.41]

Reminds me of Cal Naughton Jr

[@benrizzo2413]

Rick's Awesome!!!! 🏁😎

[@andyhughes9763]

We driver's in a weekly racing series get this stuff just about every weekend. Ya it's bad on us at times but it is still part of late model and street stock, mostly because of cost. We have to spend money on other things and I don't plan on stopping at 55 yrs of age. Seeya at the track!

[@hatzlmike1]

Incredible

[@jackstahlbush]

REMEMBER WHEN DALE SR HAD PROB WITH HIS CHICKEN FARMS / HE ASKED RICK TO QUALIFY THE CAR / RICK PUT IT ON POLE / DALE STARTED LAST BUT HE GAVE RICK A CAR FOR BUSH CLASH AT DAYTONA THE NEXT FEB / HATS OFF TO BOTH

[@johnnydobbs1399]

This is so interesting i love it!!

[@cudaman-yq7pq]

I remember seeing Richard Petty driving a race with an oxygen mask on later in his career. I don't remember which race it was.

[@snowman374th]

Are you guys racing these cars around the table after shows. They're always in a different position. You need a track to put em on #3 up front of course :-)

[@burnychaplin4601]

I had a kar kare Cale Yarborough Car that was a whiskey decanter like the one he has setting on that desk it's bigger than the model cars and I don't know what happened to it and I had a stp Red Indy car decanter I think Mario andrettie drove it and I have lost it along the way I actually had four or five of those whiskey or bourbon decanters made like race cars and I only have one left they used to sell them in the liquor stores I'll never forget the kar kare Chevelle Red and white# 11 before Yarborough got Holly Farms for a sponsor I well everytime I see that one on dale's desk I think damn I had one of those when I was a kid

[@snowman374th]

@@burnychaplin4601 Exactly.. I made my Dad so mad at me. I'm thinking I was around 8or9 169to present. So 77or78? He bought me 1 car of Dale E. & 1 of Daryl W. I loved them. But after watching a few races I wanted a wrecked car. I smashed them up and made them look like a crash.. And didn't realize I couldn't fix 'em. He said, I'll never buy you another one. And he never did either. haha.

[@utjason8]

This is interesting, the past few times I've been to Bristol and sat low in the stands I've felt like crap the next day. I wonder if I'm feeling the same effects? There is a strong exhaust odor down there. I don't recall feeling bad when sitting at the top of the stands and haven't experienced this at any other tracks.

[@ronniecardy]

Good thing they found out what was causing your problems

[@williambowen1771]

Rockbridge baths Virginia Rick mast on the pole for the inaugural brickyard 400!!!

[@usfreight]

Good ol' boy from Virginia.

[@cnking27]

This is wild.

[@7novalee]

Didn’t Richard Petty wear an oxygen masks for a while?

[@ronframe387]

After the races.

[@topangachronic9463]

He was the first one to run a hose bringing outside air into his helmet

[@donsteinhauer552]

DALE, COULD YOU TELL SOMETHING ABOUT EACH ONE OF THE MODEL CARS ON THE TABLE ?

[@alkennedy1124]

Ok thanks,now the question is, what are the symptoms of it is one of the symptoms of your skin and your complexion getting all gray colored, you know your complexion in your skin coloring, ? I’m watching Jimmy Johnson at his last California speedway NASCAR race, I was there for his 6th, win, ok thanks DaleJr, you are the Man, thanks BigAl California.

[@maxpuppy96]

Gas and oil heaters can create carbon monoxide in a home very important to have detectors in your house.

[@motordome3707]

Dale how about and episode on Future track design that includes changeable track from Asphalt to Dirt.

[@johnwilburn]

I remember when all that happened and it made me conscious of carbon monoxide.

[@6sin60]

lets get Blaise Alexanders dad in to talk about safety

[@TonyWud]

Thanks, Rick. Ever hear of the Chili Bowl Flu?

[@RAEckart22]

Quite possible. In general, it has to do with so many people being cooped up in an enclosed space for so long in the middle of regular flu season.

[@jamesholcombe435]

Richard petty went through the same issues

[@lesterlesoine9225]

Would hyperbaric oxygen therapy help get the carbon monoxide out of your blood?

[@cpgixxer]

Online, not online or whatever the deal was - I think he meant to say she went to the library......ah life before the internet, remember offline???? 44 year old here