Dale Inman: I Don't Know Life Without Richard Petty

One of the all-time greats, NASCAR Legend Dale Inman, walks into the studio to sit down with Dale Earnhardt Jr and talk about the shaping of the Petty racing dynasty. From humble beginnings in rural North Carolina grew local legends and a driver that would turn into an American icon. "The King" Richard Petty was the driver and the crew chief that led the way was Inman. The 8-time NASCAR Cup Series champion details that family matters also produced a split that surprised the racing world, with Dale Inman parting ways with the family team in 1981 shortly after winning the Great American Race. Why? It's a topic that Inman still struggles to talk about today.
Listen to the full episode on dirtymomedia.com or any major podcasting platform.

[@Rev1Kev]

Dale Inman, a true legend

[@elchapo6079]

There's something about this generation of Southerners with that calm gentleness that just makes them a pleasure to listen to. Ned Jarrett, Richard Petty, they all have that same grace.

[@DB1Journeys]

Grace is what we said at the dinner table growing up. We were taught right from wrong. We are the kindest on Earth, yet will stand up when it's time to stand up. It's time.

[@guywilson3233]

And the wood brothers

[@Slinger43]

So well said & so very true 🙏 I could sit & listen to Richard, Inman, Leonard Wood & Pearson talk all day every day for a month straight and never get tired of it. True Southern Gentleman, the lot of um 👍 I believe the lack of Southern accents is "one of" the reasons for declining interest in the sport of Stockcar Racing, it's roots run so deep thru the South, but yet almost no one sounds Southern on TV when the race is on, just sad really 😟

[@stevemcentee2880]

@@Slinger43 Thats because they are all hyping up their sponsors

[@Slinger43]

@@stevemcentee2880 Umm...🤔...What? 😕

[@varmint243davev7]

That is class like you don't see much anymore these days. A man keeping the private stuff private.

[@mikesowell7969]

Today is Dale’s 85th birthday. Happy Birthday Dale Inman!

[@DonkeyEvo]

This is one of the golden episodes in my opinion. Still cool guy, very sharp, kind and intelligent. Perfect example of why you don't have to be a driver to be a legend in this sport. Worthy of his seat in the hall of fame for sure.

[@RonnyScott]

Dale I know you’ll never see this but you’re a damn good puller of stories and truth and trust for people on this podcast! Continue to be yourself, glad you found it! Wish it was sooner so I could’ve watched you race and be you!

[@williamcap2236]

Man it was awesome to see Mr. Inman again loved him & my all time favorite driver Richard Petty !

[@robtans5042]

The 👑

[@kidwave1]

These podcasts are the best ever.

[@mikemarolt3422]

Awesome interview. Hope all these episodes never disappear. By far the best coverage of the past and present. I don't follow NASCAR like I did in years past but I'm glad to see and hear the greats talk about their careers.

[@tennesseesmoky9012]

This is one of the Dirty Mo’s most iconic interviews. As a Crew Chief Dale Inman would lead NASCAR teams to eight (8) championships. He partnered with his two cousins, Maurice and Richard Petty to win the championship seven (7) times. A NASCAR Hall of Fame member and was considered to be a leader in race team innovations. Thanks Dale Jr for bringing us this conversation.

[@reginaldhall6871]

Inman winning 8 Championships isn't mentioned enough compared to how often other Nascar records are brought up.

[@DDD-us6uu]

Always admired Dale Inman, the man was good. 😎

[@sjfarish]

What an awesome and honorable man.

[@Slinger43]

I remember well back in the 70's & on thru the 00's, the garage area at a Nascar race was absolutely littered with crew members that attended Inman U! So many crew members on so many different team's learned their craft at the knee of The GOAT...DALE INMAN!💪💙👍

[@petecastle5762]

If only you could bottle up the knowledge Dale Inman has it would easily be worth millions , seems like a nice man too, hard qualities to find nowadays

[@ernestdougherty3162]

Amen to that brother

[@for146]

Huge engines

[@billponder5182]

Go find the post race interview of Dale Inman following the 1979 Daytona. He was very, very, emotional, almost in tears. That was very revealing as to the strained family dynamics at the time..

[@ghostofpastghostofpast3700]

One of my heros.

[@lisachaney7504]

Love dale inman

[@TheXopony]

Damn how i loved nascar back in the day

[@mgcarr61camaro91]

Thanks again dale ! You are recording amazing nascar history on this show !! Love it

[@rickb3288]

That was a fast 16 minutes. I enjoyed every second of it. Thanks Dale!

[@ban-0ne77]

Wow it's about damn time!! This is the one I have been waiting for. If anyone has ever deserve the title goat is definitely the legend mr Inman. Love it!!?!

[@whynotride327]

Great interview.

[@kevinkuhlmann6845]

Dale ! This stuff is gold ! Your childlike curiosity along with Mike " the best wing man ever ! " had me glued to my screen for answers to questions i had forever and never found in my circle track magazines ! Great ! Great work !

[@teresagoodwin7458]

Dale for you to have talked about being shy,YOU ARE MASTERFUL AT ASKING QUESTIONS INDEPTH to the wonderful lineup of people you interview 👍💞😁 THIS is another PRICELESS TREASURED BLESSING to hear stories of days gone by LIKE A BLAST FROM THE PAST 👍💞🤗 THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE GEMS THAT'S MORE VALUABLE THAN ALL THE MONEY AND PRECIOUS METALS ON THE EARTH 🙏🏻👍💞🤗💞 PLEASE KEEP BRINGING IN THOSE AWESOME PEOPLE, WHETHER DRIVER OR IN SOME CAPACITY IN RACING, LETTING THEM TELL THEIR STORIES OF THEIR TIME IN NASCAR AND INTERACTIONS WITH YOUR PRECIOUS DAD👍💞🤗💞THEY'RE AMAZINGLY CAPTIVATING AND PURE GOLDEN HISTORY 👍💞🤗💞🙏🏻🙏🏻🏁🏆🏁

[@papasmodelcarroom8450]

DAM I love these old stories.....definitely the good old days

[@rodstanley881]

The only crew chief with 8 Championships a true legend

[@terrilane2140]

What a lovely man! Enjoyed this episode.

[@dave2873]

I recently got a diecast with Mr. Pettys an Mr. Inmans autographs. The best Christmas present i got since i was a kid. Was like getting that red ryder bb gun....only better. Lol im 54. Thanks again Dale for these videos.....awesome!

[@SallyBedow]

What a treasure Dale Inman is!

[@bobbolieu9013]

Thank you. It is beyond words for me to be able to express my gratitude to you and your crew who make it so that we can get reminded of, be refreshed in our love for the sport that is NASCAR. I especially enjoy this time of show because we all get to learn who your dad really is. He has done so much for sports, and for humanity as a whole. I guarantee that lives were touched then, and lives are still be touched today by the Earnhardt family. Those experiences are so valuable, and make such a positive impact on us people. I am a huge fan of your dad. It was through your dad that I learned to be a true fan of the sport. He said something along the lines of, "Drivers will come and go, and it's okay that people look up to us. But it's the fans who really love the sport that keeps us drivers going, and doing what we do." In other words, a true fan is first a fan of the sport. Thank you, one and all.

[@ejharrop1416]

Jr this is another epic interview. Love it. Thank you , take care and peace out!

[@mroptical1982]

Hello Dale and Mike and Dale awesome interview with Dale Inman great story's Wishing everyone there well Take Care Guys

[@hemiman43]

Dale and Richard need to write a book about growing up in Level Cross to NASCAR Championships.

[@reginaldhall6871]

I cant wait to read Kyle's upcoming book.

[@alvarsdzenis4739]

"Where was you at?" "I don't know, I was 4." Now that's funny! I love seeing and hearing the stories from the NASCAR legends. A "Stories With Legends" segment would be a nice add to DJM. What do you think folks?

[@Slinger43]

I vote YAY on that Legends segment! 💪

[@jodyrolandconstruction6577]

He got real shy when they started talking about “innovation”. That was funny.

[@Mtlmshr]

A absolute LEGEND!

[@joshuapowers4623]

It's funny how Enman uses "you know what I mean" as just an expression but when he says it around the 11:45 mark Dale just matter of factly simply says NO

[@Ezisnotaman]

Dale Inman= CLASS

[@stinkybeagle]

Another outstanding clip. Gonna watch the whole thing. I may not know all the parties mentioned in the conversation, but I feel like I am the 4th person at the table, just listening. Thanks for the invite, Jr!

[@jcearnhardt393]

Back in the day nobody messed with petty on the track and it had alot to do with dale Inman. . He was a true gentleman but he was old school and would put knots on your head and everybody knew it.

[@Kilz78]

I always heard Maurice was the muscle behind the scenes........

[@jcearnhardt393]

@@Kilz78 both was. You are right also. You go back and find how many times people just run into Richard. Or even beat and banged on him. You won't. He didn't race like that and you wasn't going to do that to there car. They would hurt you.

[@EclecticHillbilly]

@@jcearnhardt393 There really wasn't as much beating and banging in the old days as people would have you believe. Even the big teams like Petty only had 3-4 cars and they were running 50 races a year. A lot of guys only had one car and if they tore it up, they couldn't race again until they got it fixed. They raced clean for the most part.

[@Slinger43]

Dale Inman absolutely would backhand the slobber outta you mouth if needed, but someone really had to be begging for it, Maurice on the other hand was the one you really had to watch out for if ya went messin with the Petty Team, a violent temper & hair triggered was that one. Very handy with a wrench, both under the hood and in a fight 🤕

[@jcearnhardt393]

@@EclecticHillbilly wasn't as much beating and banging? Lol seriously is that a joke?, that's all they did on dirt tracks. Man that's all they still do on short tracks all over the country dirt and asphalt, Actually Lee petty was first to race very clean but when Richard came along he would show up and every car out there would be beat to pieces and Richard would come through them and win without a scratching. That's why he is the king. Everybody thinks it's because he always had the superior car. No its because the same men worked on it, new how to set it for that track that night and Richard took care of the car and tires, while the rest of them was out there beating and banging and burning up tires Richard just smooth as ever and on to victory he would go.

[@mikemckinney5491]

Great interview 👍

[@arthurhouston3]

I was parked in the third turn and the fight took place right in front of me.1979

[@maxpower78-15]

Awesome to listen to this living legend. Thumbs up

[@lamarmcalister2449]

I gotten to see Dale Inman and Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough, David Person and Bill Elliott, Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace,Donnie Allison, and the Great One Dale Earnhardt at what was known back then The Upper State Fair at Greenville Pickens speedway on the Monday after The Darlington race I think it was The Rebel 500 and it never failed a few of the drivers would always come to Greenville Pickens and sign autographs for hours. Now I was a little boy but my Uncle loved David Person from Spartanburg and David drove Fords a great southern gentleman. I truly wished Nascar would get back to its roots and welcome the drivers to be more involved with the fans and the fans be involved but respectfully to the drivers.

[@DaleHunsucker-b7f]

Dale Inman is the REAL DEAL ✅

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Really enjoyed!!!!!!!! 👍👍👍

[@CR7659]

getting so I cant miss a week on these, they're so good. Thanks guys.

[@mutantryeff]

It is easy to find good people on this channel.

[@albertmcfry6322]

Dale was a great crew chief,full of knowledge!

[@calvin036]

Dale please make a movie or series chronicling the family aspects, the race family aspects, and these great stories stuck in there too about the real history of nascar. These interviews are fascinating.

[@jmd76family]

Glad for Greenville Pickens history drop!

[@user-cs3zs6jn1d]

Same here. Been around that track a few times. Love the place. It's only about 20 miles away from me.

[@jmd76family]

Work near it. Got a bud who does demolition derbies and such there.

[@lamarmcalister2449]

I live about 45mins from GPS but grew up in what's known as " Brandon " mill hill community and we could hear the races and I loved going out there when I was a kid.

[@81ghale]

I absolutely love these podcasts! But, please work on letting the guest finish their sentence before firing more questions at em. I’ll keep watching either way, but sometimes I feel bad for the guest, especially the older ones.

[@johnmatchett5242]

That race in 79 is likely the reason i exist.

[@ripriotrc4561]

Great show from a fellow 4 year old in 1979😂

[@borismcfinnigan3430]

What a nice guy.

[@terrysummers9424]

love this show

[@amycollins9657]

Pure class❤️❤️

[@anitagarrison6916]

I love these short clips. They have to edit so much we miss a lot of good part's.

[@mrwinston_thepug]

I agree Tire Pros does great work!

[@rynosraceroom66]

Best ever🤘🏼🏁

[@easygoing2479]

Hey Jr. - you need a die-cast SUPERBIRD on that table!

[@arthurhouston3]

Knew Billy Hagen form La. Stramgraph , Billy started at the Barton Rough Int Speedway almost killed himself one night wrapped his 55 cheve around a light pole and it caught fire.

[@ashleywhite3291]

You need an Earnhardt in The Race

[@arthurhouston3]

199 win at Charlotte the 50 CI over sized engine? they took everything away from Richard but the win.

[@jamesscully529]

It also took Richard away from Petty Enterprises. I think what Inman won't talk about is that Maurice Petty was the catalyst for him leaving. Just a guess. Maurice was no longer involved when Richard resurrected Petty Enterprises in 1986 and Dale came back.

[@arthurhouston3]

@@jamesscully529 out of all the guest he has had Dale I was the worse. He was not willing to tell all. Sad

[@johnhenryNC]

The reason Dale Inman left Richard during the '81 season was because him & Maurice were butting heads BIG TIME. Dale knew he had to go because Maurice wasn't going to go because he was Richard's brother and Petty Enterprises was the family business.

[@kainhall]

anyone know the song that is playing in the intro??? . its probably some "trucker song" / country..... but i LOVE that tone and want to hear more

[@patrickchristie5261]

I was standing on top of Richards Hauler when Terry wrecked in turn 9.

[@ronnieleebailey]

OK, so what's the story with Mike's ballcap? What is "LFO"?

[@TheBallewLife]

Hey Jr, have you thought about seeing if you could be in one of Cleetus McFarlands 2.4 hrs of Le Mullets??? I think you'd enjoy it lol!!!

[@coreymarcum5728]

Dale Inman has 192 wins as a crew chief. #2 has 83. He won twice as many races as #2, and then for good measure added 26 more.

[@skittlecar1]

MORE J.D. STACY STORIES!

[@spence7985]

Dale is 7 years older than joe Biden and is communicating sharply. That’s all I’ll say about that

[@robtans5042]

Hell yeah

[@deepnhock]

I have some additional info regarding the original STP/Petty arrangement... Straight from Andy Granatelli....

[@bbrcummins1984]

Before boy buns and skinny jeans, back when men were men .

[@JoshDHelton2006]

Dale jr. Do you own hickory Motor Speedway

[@simshadyhagrmfchevy3908]

Why ppl give thumbs down….friggin’ millennials

[@nalehale415]

"Had a late caution that was probably staged" ... That doesn't happen!!!! 😂

[@daviclar867]

If it wasn't him and Richard then who was it, another family member...Maurice?

[@Kilz78]

Somebody sneaking over to someone else house when husband wasn't home probably. Who I don't know

[@ronframe387]

My guess is Dale's wife. If you watch the interview after the 1981 race ,Dale gets real emotional. They had spent like a month away from home testing, rebodying the car and more testing.

[@briangoodwin8281]

I'm going with there was an issue with Kyle. In an segment during a Daytona 500, the first year Richard was at Curbs, Linda Petty says that Kyle is running Petty Enterprises and he can no longer say " Daddy its your fault, Uncle Maurice its your fault" I'm just thinking is all. My son met Dale Inman in Talladega a couple of years ago through Victory Junction, even got to sit in Dale's chair in the hauler lounge. My son Adam loved Dale. The world needs more people like Dale Inman

[@daviclar867]

@@briangoodwin8281 Kyle Petty?...running Petty Enterprises at 22 years old?

[@briangoodwin8281]

If you go back on KZbin and watch the 1984 Daytona 500 at about the 1:00 mark there is alot of information on the split from the Petty family

[@macsmith-cg6wg]

👍

[@drivin379]

Now we need cale

[@rowdyreviews6530]

Tire Pros where's our discount at!?!? I am.gonna go tomorrow get some tires and wheels and when it's time to pay just do exactly what you said dale Earnhardt Jr, I am gonna say Dale jr sent me here for these, idk how Dale Jr is gonna pay for them but I hope he has an account or something. Lol!! Now after checking with tirepros you need to call Quality Auto and Tires in kannapolis NC, family owned, family.operated, 4.7.stsrts out of 5 on Google they have ways been amazing the father and sun are always working and I mean working very very hard in the heat, tell them the Rowdy1Reviews sent ya!!! Sorry if I broke any rules dale but had brag on them boys, also MAKE SURE TO TAKE CASH FOR 7-10% OFF price and I don't have an account so don't try that lol

[@willseegers5098]

the first time I got stopped by the police while I was driving was when I was 10 my dad almost got in trouble for a child endangerment because he accidentally told the cop that he gave me permission to take the car out God rest his soul

[@jamesheiden696]

'My Daddy"!George Carlin😍

[@paulwatson4189]

Kyle was the reason he left and Richard also.

[@JD_Spencer]

So if it wasnt DI and it wasnt Richard, who was it?

[@RR-1977]

See if Derrike Cope will sit down with ya’ll.

[@j.d.b.pennamesonofharraant3367]

It's a bird ... Not a airplane Superboy .... Sincerely Batson

[@deantait8326]

So Petty won the 79, Daytona 500? All I remember is the fight 😁

[@SingerDinger]

Yup. Donnie and Cale wrecked from 1st and 2nd handing the lead to Richard and DW.

[@carrsllccarrillo6507]

Leave it to Chrysler to be junk. It was junk in stock form and it was junk in race form. The Buick was not only a better looking car but they look fast standing still. However a Lemans? Now that's interesting to hear. Now I want to know more about how that was better then the rest. Was it aero? Was it the powerplant?...many questions and I love racing history

[@drivin379]

They even talk alike and use same words

[@turbo1438]

Second!

[@Dethmegadeth]

😁

[@jolenew9595]

I thought Mr. Inman was arrogant and condescending. While he is legendary, he could have been nicer. An uncomfortable interview...

[@jackharle1251]

John Andretti was a joke. Says a lot when your own family won't give you a ride.

[@lancehurley9743]

Without Maurice Petty and Dale Inman,no way in hell Richard Petty wins 200 races and 7 championships...no way

[@j.d.b.pennamesonofharraant3367]

👍