Darrell Waltrip's Time Capsule: 1971 GMC Hauler Packed FULL of NASCAR History (Museum Grade Stuff)

If you've watched the first video on this epic hauler you already know it was formerly hauling Dale Earnhardt cars and Bobby Allison among other things in its career. Darrell packed this thing full to the roof with personal items, awards, and memorabilia at some point when moving in the mid 90's...then completely forgot about it. The truck has moved to a couple locations since then but NEVER unpacked until now! Darrell gives us the backstory on the truck itself over the phone and is excited to have some of his old trophies back! This right here is honestly one of the coolest things I have ever been a part of. I am glad we could team up with ‪@TheGarageShop200‬ to share it with you guys too. Make sure you subscribe if you are into history like this because this is just the tip of the iceberg!
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[@Stapleton42]

If you could keep one thing from inside this truck..what would it be? Merch link! Stapletonautoworks.com

[@dakotaharbert935]

One of the yoyo's

[@dakotaharbert935]

The #11 mountain dew car

[@redneck_ridge_reptiles]

I love digging thru old stuff so cool to see, smell and feel the past ... Also fuckin love the boom tubes on the Monte that thing is just to cool bro congrats!!!!!!! Keep Mitchell in line Logan lol cheers guys!!

[@Fordman6546]

The steering wheel.

[@redneck_ridge_reptiles]

That steering wheel would be cool for the Monte if DW would let ya have it

[@derekcolson7589]

Hey guys! This is Derek Colson! The piece of wood with the car on it at the 40:30ish mark of this video is something my Dad and I made and gave it to Darrell at North Wilkesboro Speedway while he was sitting in the back of the hauler! Really cool to see it again after all these years! Looks like it's in perfect shape!

[@Stapleton42]

Dude that’s awesome. I’m so glad you found this video 😂

[@KillyJoe]

Hahaha awesome

[@johnsnow1355]

I bet the Nascar museum wants the video tapes. Lost history needs to be digital for everyone to watch.

[@edwardott7239]

Same for those letters, especially the ones from Goodyear (during the "tire wars" with Hoosier) and Harry Melling. That's some next level materials of NASCAR history there!

[@Karmy.]

Yeah all of those need to be digitized

[@mesquitegirl2013]

Dang this is epic

[@mdavidson101]

Man calling up Darrel Waltrip and talking to him about his hauler had to be an experience.

[@kylegeitzenauer9121]

You mean Darrel Waldtrip

[@aaronmccall3849]

I miss DW being around the sport. Guy could tell some stories.

[@greglang848]

That's why they called him JAWS.

[@mistertheking]

"Time only happens once" Shit, that's a quote, man. Insane.

[@MindofMatter]

I thought Stapleton did a great job explaining why this stuff is important to him

[@H03tRiLL]

Imagine if DW made an account and left a comment here 🤣 -honestly it looks like they moved DWs office at some point and just needed a place to put all his memorabilia and stuff, so it went in the old truck and was forgotten about. I can imagine all the awards and keepsakes accumulating over the years. Just awesome.

[@jeffnpatricia]

This is a " not all heroes wear capes " moment. I respect the amount of respect you had with the process. - Mark martin fan

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks dude. Mark martin guys are always respectful 🤟🏻

[@adamtereska8734]

Definitely restore the truck. That would be ideal to preserve the history, so definitely restore it to new.

[@ixlr8677]

dont put neil in the western auto hauler!

[@zachneeson2608]

Boogity Boogity Boogity boys let's go race I miss hearing that every week when the race is on!! Good ol DW!

[@OhioKyle513]

Wish DW would call in and announce it BOOGITY BOOGITY BOOGITY boys let's go racing race fan's would love it

[@justinraystyles3537]

Yeah I miss him too! But he deserves his time off now!

[@RyanlaBlue51]

Back I'm gonna say around 1990-1991. Our local track here in Tucson used to invite the pros out and they would race the top five cars. The class was late model sportsman it was a dirt track. I got to meet Dale Earnhardt Senior, Richard Petty, and Darrell Waltrip. And actually have a beer I'm not sure what they were drinking keep in mind. We all just sat at the beer well and chitchatted after the race. All I have to say is those were Men for sure. We were talking about restrictor plate racing and I remember Dale Earnhardt said if it was up to me we just take those damn restrictor plates off May the best driver win! Then I became a fan LOL

[@RyanlaBlue51]

Im assuming you have watched the movie Stroker Ace. If not I highly suggested I guarantee you you will dig it it

[@loganerwin42]

That’s awesome! Memories that will last a lifetime for sure

[@Timmy6216]

We gotta keep the history. We got to appreciate it.

[@eddean6663]

My late wife was a big Darrell Waltrip fan. She would have loved this.

[@rdlcav]

It would be sick if you can get a sit down interview with D.W and talk about his experiences

[@MR.BAD_IDLE]

I would love to see everything restored but not replaced and of course get her running and sounding like a monster. It would be super cool to have Darryl record an audio biography on the truck so the recording can be played if used for an exhibit.

[@brandonenglund7516]

My God, Darrell is just such a treasure. I could listen to him talk all day, and he could talk all day 😂 the fact that he held onto so many items, gifts, letters from fans speaks volumes what a great person he is. Love you DW

[@paulpz04]

im not even a nascar fan (i prefer dirt, i.e. - MX, rally, trophy trucks, etc.) but being born in '85 i miss the 90s so bad id do unspeakable things to go back to those days so i soaked up every unboxing in this video and support you as a follower of a solid dude with a cool gf that actually wants to be involved with his passion..lucky man you are sir

[@madcowmark7129]

Just hope you bring the GMC back to life. What RAT could put a thumbs down to this video? Not one RAT was harmed in the making of this video!

[@2Pi100]

(Museum Grade Stuff) is a huge understatement. This video alone belongs in a museum let alone all the memorabilia. It is the live unraveling of a time capsule

[@astridsactionrc545]

This was the era of NASCAR I grew up with. 80’s and 90’s. I love that the drivers from this era are practically excited for guys like you to rescue their old stuff.

[@randalthavandal]

You are the only person that could ever appreciate and stand in awe of race history. Thank you for your vids bro

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man. This stuff will always fire me up.

[@youdropwemop8854]

He's definitely not the only one, although im super thankful he did this. I'd have a stroke if i had an opportunity like this, my whole life is deeply entrenched in vintage nascar 😂

[@matthewconway1494]

That is amazing, I would be like a twelve year old kid if I was there, and witnessed all of his history stuff. DW built the sport , and it's not the same when he's not in the booth. I bet he's enjoying retirement, I hope he's doing well.

[@Crispy1320]

That was absolutely awesome to be able to see some of that stuff. Someday that all might be in a museum and you'll be able to say I helped ReDiscover that a out of Darrell Waltrip's old car hauler. To be able to hear from DW himself was the icing on the cake

[@DennisPlace-hj7yx]

The level of history in this one hauler is nuts! This is History hugging your face. If i could just get one piece of this. Its so stimulating.

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you!

[@DanEBoyd]

The GMC Astro 95 and Titan 90 are THE BEST LOOKING cabover trucks ever produced, in my opinion. A box, but with perfectly rounded corners and edges... Those Busch Pole Plaques were made in Batavia Ohio, by Contemporary Plastics Inc. It looks like the founder/owner of the company died in 2018. Love this stuff!

[@Austoner421]

This is so cool. I'm literally at a loss for words. So much history and so many stories!

[@gixxernut8021]

I love that you care about the history!! Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it!!

[@Stapleton42]

Exactly

[@catmanrescue1]

Ive watched Darrel grow, now watching you grow Stapleton , Awesome ....... Awesome.............................

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man 💪🏻 just getting started

[@jamisonmeyer521]

I grew up as a DW Fan, this is awesome to see!

[@josteincarlsen2905]

Please say thanks to Darryl from me in Norway for showing us this cool stuff!!!! And I really want to see it go broom again!!

[@bennyhelgeson401]

Your Nascar knowledge is impressive. "Time only happens once" Pearl of wisdom.

[@Stapleton42]

That was said on the spot I had never used that phrase before 😂

[@bennyhelgeson401]

@@Stapleton42 Another way of saying live life in the moment "Time only happens once" sounds better. OK if I use that quote?

[@musicalbenjiman]

39:40 the President spells his first AND last name wrong. Definitely legit 😂 authentic artifact there

[@RS5DAN]

Find something cool, everyone at the same time “awwwwwwwwwww” 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@jcnpresser]

The monte needs that drive shaft in it. No more broken driveshafts, lol. It fits the theme.

[@CoastalAutoReactionCAR]

I’d love to see this truck restored back to its former glory!

[@stephenlukovich9648]

I’m a truck driver I would do anything to be able to fix the cab up and put her on the road. This is awesome and something only die hard race fans can enjoy. THANKS TO THE WALTRIPS.

[@evanwilliams6406]

That's 84 wins and 3 championships worth of stuff right there and I think that was the trophy that Phoenix awarded Darrell on his Victory Tour in 2000 as a farewell gift, I think it is touched on in the TNN broadcast of the race.

[@chadpacetti2710]

Mark Martin was my favorite driver growing up. That's crazy you know him. I hear he's a really nice guy

[@Stapleton42]

He’s a really cool dude

[@travosautomotiveandbbq]

Dude this is the coolest video I’ve seen in awhile. I’m a huge nascar guy. This is awesome can’t say not enough. Great job.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks dude I’m glad you came across this video 💪🏻

[@VSigma725]

I have so many of those early 90s Racing Champions cars, including Darrell's #17 of course. A local thrift store randomly got in tons of sealed 1992-93 Racing Champions cars and I bought up basically any driver I knew well, even if some of the cars are sponsor-less due to not being allowed to use alcohol or tobacco sponsors.

[@banditgrizzy1955]

He, (Darrwell),said restore it "make it right" ... I agree. Restore the ol beast , bring er back to life.💪😉👍

[@zepedrofd]

You hear good and bad stories about people, but someone that kept all that stuff, and most of all the stuff fans gave him...that says a lot lot about the man! New found apreciation!

[@jcnpresser]

This was one of the coolest videos, I love that era. Back when the cars were real cars, and you could tell them apart and every make was in it, except dodge.

[@mr.freeman3199]

Dude you got to talk to an actual nascar driver on the phone..casually...that's so crazy and overwhelming. Everything in this video was just surreal. Wow. Epic video.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man! You gotta watch our videos with mark Martin and Kenny Wallace!

[@mr.freeman3199]

@@Stapleton42 oh yeah you know it. I'm bingewatching but saving some of the good ones 😆 thanks for the reply and the epic content as always. I'm gonna miss the hood track racing tho, those were lit

[@Actionronnie]

Wall-Trip was my second fav driver. The best part is that he's still around to possibly enjoy the stuff, and bring back some cool memories.

[@jb.899]

You would think somebody had gone through all of that stuff. This is NASCAR royalty memorabilia

[@mistertheking]

That Melling letter is in reference to the fatal pit road accident in the 1990 Atlanta Journal 500 that killed a member of the Melling pit crew. May that man rest in peace, interesting to see so much history that would've likely never been unearthed otherwise. Thanks for documenting this stuff.

[@dchawk81]

Aaron: Hey DW we got some personal stuff here of you and your family. You probably want it because it's sentimental. DW: That was a cool hauler truck. It probably still runs.

[@Stapleton42]

😂

[@JustAGuyWithALongScreenName]

Awesome finds. That Mark Martin Folgers car and the Harry Gant car took me way back to my childhood.

[@stuartstogdill2406]

This might be the best content you have created... very cool to see all that stuff and the call with DW. Keep the great work going Sir!

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man. We are always pushing to discover new things and learn!

[@Shadow0fd3ath24]

Lmao i like Spud talking about Bill Boner and "I only drink 2 kinds of beer, Budweiser, and FREE", and all the other quips and jokes lmao he fits right in on this channel. Im not even a nascar guy but i love the history and thinking what was going on in that trucka nd seeing all the time capsule stuff

[@foxbodymotorsports]

I just jumped on facebook and found Derek Colson who did that painting of DW's car in '81 - sent him a message with a link to the video hope he gets it! Love this discovery man what a once in a lifetime opportunity!!!

[@jdhaase1417]

My favorite driver. That’s stuff is gold! Remember seeing that truck in the pits at the All American 400 in Nashville.

[@spedward8609]

NOO WAY I am so freaking excited you made this video!!!!!!!!

[@HammerPowered]

Everything about this is freaking cool. Time capsule stuff right here. Glad you got the chance to do this.

[@Calebmason13]

20:05 that’s our Kentucky state flag right there! Proud to say not only is D.W. a Kentucky boy, but even better an Owensboro Kentucky boy! Being from the same hometown as me! His mom and dad and siblings actually lived in the same neighborhood as my mom and her family.

[@Stapleton42]

Awesome!

[@joeymj1211]

A literal nascar time capsule. So much lost media, hidden letters, and unseen photos. OMG.

[@kevinAuman1]

Some of this stuff is absolutely priceless but could you just imagine if you were to take everything to an automobile collectors club auction or sports/racing memorabilia auction the money that it would go for?!?!? Insane find and alot of this stuff belongs in a Nascar museum for sure!

[@glennevitt5250]

This was the time when men were men cars was real and racing was racing Thank you for memory lane

[@joshuafarmer3467]

I wished I knew who Stapleton was because he seems to know a lot of people in the industry, but I have never even heard of him before I came and saw his videos. Thank you for honoring DW!!! He must have bought this trailer or have some sort of in roads. Stapleton, whomever your girlfriend, wife or sister is I can relate. When I was growing up, my Dad would buy me Racing Champions cars from a place called 4-point in McAdenville NC, a gas station. I made electrical tape racetracks, race tracks on old pieces of wood with Sharpies and buy duplicates of cars just to use enamel (aka nail polish) or acrylic paints to create my own paint schemes. I know it's silly but my sister (1 1/2 years younger) and I would spend hours and hours and hours making up NASCAR stories. I still have all of the stats I took from qualifying to race speeds and my champions. Until I was 14 I would push the 1/64th scale cars around (and yes, I had a real life, too) and crash them. In the mid 90s I created the Red Devil team, a team of cars that were 6 strong with bright red nail polish coatings and Sharpie black numbers. I also used white out to "primer" the 1/64ths. When N2K3 came out, I gave up on "playing" and my sister was growing up so I went into the game and recreated all of the cars I'd made from half of my field being women driver's and multiple bad ass champions to "families" of racers and storylines. My sister and I still have some stories about our ficticious fun, but I will never forget the walls of my house being "darlington striped" from my cars I had painted. I did 100 seasons that I have in a box in my attic with my biggest season being 125 different drivers. You could only do 43 in N2K3 at a time (if I remember correctly) and I simulated the last 20 seasons for all my drivers by changing the 14 settings it had for driver rating. To this day, 20 years later, the best memory of my life was, on Green Chapman Road in McAdenville, NC, molding dirt in the field behind my grandmother's house into an oval. I then mixed Quikcrete and chicken wire for the fence.

[@Stapleton42]

I used to paint die casts with model paint brushes too. Started out by using my moms white out 😂

[@indianagashauler3377]

You two ROCK! That hauler definitely needs restored and drove.

[@MeneCenter69]

I've always wanted to stumble upon something like that. Its basically an unopened time capsule to something we love and enjoy

[@johnwendland8367]

Love this video, brought back alot of memories of watching NASCAR of my dad when I was little. I know they were talking about maybe having someone get it back up and running, this is a small suggestion if you even notice it. I recommend reaching out to Gentry and Sons Trucking they do a lot of cabover rebuilds and he put alot of love in to his truck. I think this might be something he would like to get into.

[@glennevitt5250]

Me Two Thank you for The memories

[@kennethatchley3355]

That would be awesome conten G&S AND STAPLETON42 IN WILL IT RUN VIDEO 💯🇺🇸🔥✌✌

[@glennevitt5250]

@@kennethatchley3355 I Think Its In The Future

[@tokentimit4t437]

Yesssss I agree with this be a cool ass video

[@rudyhollis6540]

Man that was awesome, the only DW thing I have is a pic of him when he sub'd for Steve Park and he drove the #1 Pennzoil car!!! I painted my racecars in that yellow and black scheme for a couple years!!!!

[@SGolenski]

Mitchell, the more I watch the more I'm glad I found your channel. I just watched the Holman Moody videos, now I'm going backwards watching your older stuff.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks Scott I’m so glad to hear that because we WANT people to go watch the things we’ve already done when they find us!! Sometimes people forget to look 😂

[@mac9983]

I've put off watching this because I hyperventilate everytime I think about being able to do this. All the diecasts and wall pieces are dream items to own.

[@dakotaharbert935]

That grant steering wheel is so freakin sick!!!!!

[@dickeymoorefield1286]

You would need a stadium sized musium just to hold the items that should be on an office wall, Thanks for the peek back in his-story of a racing legend.

[@greglang848]

3 in the morning , can't stop watching this stuff. I am a big Waltrip fan. Painted my tool box like the TIDE RIDE! I too am a Nascar history chaser. Had to stop and comment after 40:40 in this vid. Key to Huntsville Al....where I live, DW fan @ 3 am. Something just clicked??? You keep filming, I'll keep watching! Great stuff! Keep on trucking....see how I did that.....Trucking. BIG Earnhardt Sr&Jr fan too. You ought to see my race room! Started it in 1998. I'll send you a shot. Cya.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks dude we’re so glad you’re into this stuff too!!

[@dirk_diggler320]

you are not lying, Bella canvas is one of my customers . high dollar sh!t brother !! awesome to see you going through D.W.s time capsule .....

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks dude. Only the best 🤟🏻

[@KEIFabrication]

That was excellent! THE TRUCK MUST RUN AND HAUL RACE CARS AGAIN!

[@Ol_Dude_Macabre]

Man, this vid should have a million views by now. So much jaw dropping stuff in there.

[@Stapleton42]

We think so too. Maybe someday

[@ChurchesMoney]

I remember when they filmed Days of Thunder when I was a kid growing up in Mooresville. I used to see Dale Sr at Isy Bells restaurant on Linwood rd and north main St mooresville..

[@KnuxCardDad]

Stiller Sunday, after some Stapleton Archaeology. Gonna be a good day. Throw that Grant in the Monte and add 30 horsepower, and a solid +100 on early 90’s style points.

[@mattr8128]

Needs to be a t-shirt

[@Seven50ml]

Been waiting for this one! The driveshaft and roller full of old hardware were my favorites. Thanks for sharing this.

[@roadkingryder6685]

That was way cool. Lots of awesome stuff in those boxes. Of all the stuff in there the one thing I would want would be the Mountain Dew clock with the green and white Buick on it. Never cared for Jaws but that was one of my favorite cars in the early 80's. Was at a saturday night dirt track race in 82 at the Thunderbowl Speedway in Valdosta Georgia and the Mountain Dew show car was there. It did a couple of laps between the heat and feature races and was badass. I hope Jaws has that old truck restored. That would be way cool. Keep up the great work you guys!

[@fallinjamesable]

Mind blowing time capsule. Amazing. Love old nascar and love old stuff. This video is amazing.

[@Stapleton42]

Glad you enjoyed it man!

[@TheQcskater88]

great video as always!! so awesome watching you two grow together!!

[@chevyfan82]

That was cool brought back my childhood of the 80's early 90's. Definitely need to keep that history alive thank you for sharing it👍, and yes save that sweet 71 GMC.

[@catmanrescue1]

An interview with Darrel about Davey would be awesome, Me being a Davey fan Bill, Darrel and dale were me driver's , yup.

[@badassjeep1]

Now that was definitely worth 47 mins ! Excellent video!!!!

[@fetusmccarlane9627]

What a sensory overload! So stoked to see all of this , thanks so much for sharing this piece of amazing history!

[@2fish_tacos814]

One of the best videos I’ve ever seen…Darrell is my favorite cup driver! I pulled for Davey until he died and Darrell has been my guy for years. Great guy and great family! Thanks for doing this Staple!

[@Stapleton42]

My pleasure! We appreciate you

[@leefoster4463]

What a great group of guys to unpack history with !!!!!!

[@v4yt126]

your enthusiasm is contagious

[@Stapleton42]

thanks man

[@staglione79]

Dude that's a tuff question. There's so much super cool stuff in there. Truly a once and a lifetime experience. Great job Mitchell and Logan... keep kickin ass!!!

[@bigblockjess617]

YES!!! BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!!

[@rowdybroomstick1216]

I remember picking out grant steering wheel for my pos 93 Toyota 22R 5 speed from Western Auto! I loved that steering wheel! So many highschool memories

[@billsulfridge6059]

You all make such great content. The history and drivers you've had the privilege to uncover and interview is just amazing. Enjoy all your content, and really like the DW discovery

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you bill!

[@BUD420MAN]

Kung Pow Sumo Tea Bag Smash...Compliments of Darrell Wal(d)trip!! Very cool stuff! Would have been a blast to go thru all that!! Thumbs up to the glass case trophy with the saguaro cacti from Phoenix ...Just because that's where I am ATM!

[@Stapleton42]

Hahaha thanks man

[@loganerwin42]

The tea bag smash comment made me laugh the most😂

[@BUD420MAN]

I was going for a multi level mashup comment with the Kung Pow Sumo, misspelling of Waltrip, and the "Water Boy" reference when you found the Gatorade powder. When you said the Kung Pow... I heard Adam Sandlers lispy voice in the movie Waterboy in my head say "compliments of Captain Insane-o". I had to share my warped take on it. Was hoping you would get a kick out of it

[@MalibuDan1967]

Such a cool episode Mitchell & Logan... Glad you had the opportunity with the blessing of DW to go through the contents of that hauler. The difference between you & American Nose Pickers is this is REAL reality. Not SCRIPTED "reality". I'm sure you'll find a competent 2-Stroke Detroit mechanic who is just as interested in this rig as you & a lot of others are. If you're looking for some creators to possibly collaborate with a "WILL IT START???" I would suggest Ole2Stroker in Pennsylvania & BusGreaseMonkey who I believe is in Tennessee now. Be cool to see if you could find some more Allison & Earnhardt memorabilia surrounding this truck. SUCK IT!!! *LoL*

[@mattrandolph2944]

I am so glad to watch this to live vicariously through you guys and looking at NASCAR history.

[@Stapleton42]

thanks man thats what we are here for!

[@mdplemons]

"There's a block with a rod hangin' out of it that says 'The Winston' in Sharpie...probably nothing"

[@petercole2339]

This channel has come so far!! Def on of my favorites the content is amazing part history part hot rodding!!

[@campingwithhomer7371]

That was so enjoyable to watch! What more can you say than "WOW"! My notification bell is definitely on!

[@Stapleton42]

Heck yeah you will be glad you did 🤟🏻

[@joshuashanahan4359]

This is sick man. Such cool history and memories. Thanks for the content man. Keep killin it.

[@gregsimon9061]

Old pictures are priceless and they tell such a story. So glad you guys got to do that and you shared it with us, great memories and all that memorabilia.

[@chesa6795]

One of the coolest videos I've seen. When do you get to see the unveiling of personal property of a NASCAR legend. Thanks for sharing and thanks to DW for allowing us to see a glimpse of his life. Such a great video.

[@switz10]

Amazing time capsule. A very cool chunk of history!!

[@truckerk]

I had that Mountain Dew plastic race car. Man I even forgot about it, and to this day a racing enthusiast. Wow I had a rush of memories.