FOUND HIM | The Search For L.W. Wright

[@bobbybrandon584]

"Why not run a Cup race (before going to prison)?", might be the single most Appalachian thing to have ever happened.

[@drivin379]

Y not say wat u really think

[@evanwallace8683]

Lmao

[@SomeUsernameSomeoneElseTookIt]

6:42 I researched this and it shows up to be that the Larry Wright in this obituary is Larry Dane Wright, not Larry Elmer Wright. This is most definitely not L.W. Wright. His obituary is also visible. It says he was a retired educator and town council member. Larry Elmer Wright on the other hand, perhaps he is. But this citation does not line up. Sure, ages line up, but professions don't.

[@NBRRacing]

You are most certainly correct, after looking up what you said, I found the exact obituary which restates his brothers from the previous obituary that was is in the video. I appreciate the invigorated interest in the topic as one of my primary goals was to try and get people talking about L.W. Wright. I couldn't be more thankful for people like you and others who have done their own research in their own time wanting to also understand more about the mystery man.

[@UZnate]

@NBR could you ask that person from the comment section if he has photos of him? If he’s as close to him as it seems he might have a photo from that time that matches the newspaper photo

[@lucius6667]

Could it be possible that L.W is using his dead brothers ID and that's how he's evaded capture to this day ,back then it would of not Ben hard to get a fake birth certificate and other paperwork if u had money also the person that commented sounds like he's related and his grandmother could still be alive so that could give a few hints if u look under the last name in the death records and work who had a sibling who died who could of been a twin etc

[@landyalmond7742]

@@lucius6667 yes he could...and if he had access to birth certificate, social security card, and other government/banking documents after his brothers passing...hell, those are official ... not fake documents Not to mention...if proper death certificates were not presented and filled at the proper places... well you can see where I'm going with this. He could, for all intense and purposes, be his brother...

[@ElTurbinado]

@@NBRRacing i think your thumbnail and title on this video are dishonest and should be improved.

[@jeffcass3728]

If he went to jail in June of 82 he should've had a intake mugshot taken. That would be the key find. Good work!

[@JMChladek]

Depends on how far back prisons keep their photo records. Theoretically one should be able to find it. But it may take a personal visit to wherever the records are stored to dig through them. Otherwise the prison system might not be able to spare the manpower unless the request comes from a state police agency or the FBI.

[@TommyCubed]

@@JMChladek Records are probably in a room under many other boxes

[@brucelance7554]

@@JMChladek 8íø

[@ctrproductions2033]

@@TommyCubed Do we know which prison system it would be under? Richlands, Virginia?

[@Pauleh123]

Submit a foia request to the county

[@dannycomellas]

I wonder if someone can dig up a mugshot of this Larry Elmer Wright

[@Azeria]

Great work!

[@crazycars81]

Why you here

[@Azeria]

@@crazycars81 I love NASCAR

[@threepea1151]

@@Azeria I would like too see u try nascar vids!

[@Azeria]

@@threepea1151 I’m actually working on one now, all things told

[@threepea1151]

@@Azeria nice! I’ll be sure to check it out

[@lorddrac_dontaskmetodance]

At least at this point, we can smell Wright's breath now; we just can't see him. Here's a subscriber for you.

[@GetBenched2010]

If Junior Johnson's most infamous illegal car is in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, LW Wright should be inducted too.

[@Warmachine-tz3vf]

Hello I know who Larry W Wright is. You are correct he graduated from Richlands High School and lived there for some time. He was raised in Raven Va and full name is is Larry Wayne Wright. I don't have all the facts but def interested in learning more about my family. As far as my mother remembers he now lives in North Carolina and has pulled time there for other con man activities.

[@rosiejo2045]

Pin this comment

[@rosiejo2045]

A

[@rosiejo2045]

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[@rosiejo2045]

A

[@JackTheripper911]

Yeah, suuure you know who it is 🙄

[@BarryWilkinson]

Maybe LW Wright is DB Cooper, they both seem to be equally mysterious.

[@CoryAY82383]

true the name could be fake eh

[@NortonTheMailMan]

Imagine, knowing you're going to go to jail anyway for 10 years, so you say screw it, run the race at talladega and then when that's done, escape, and then rob a plane....

[@anne.andromeda]

"Hmm, I seem to have gotten away with my plane haist. So, what could I do next?" Dan Cooper/LW Wright probably

[@zlinedavid]

Would explain where some of the cash came from

[@racingkronicles5516]

I have heard the story of this driver. I have just retired in Southwest VA near the town of Richlands. If you need any ground work here on your investigation please reach out to me. Great work so far, you have a couple theories working.

[@aspiceronni4462]

Could you imagine sitting your grandchildren down and telling them about the time you snuck into a NASCAR race? I've always been fascinated with this story and love hearing peoples theories.

[@largol33t1]

Definitely one of the greatest capers outside the actual DB Cooper story! I saw the video on this "Wright" fellow about 2-3 years ago and was shocked to learn that NASCAR had its own "DB Cooper." But then, Slapshoes' videos about con artists and straight up crooks opened my eyes to the real world of the sport and it's incredibly risky. Stop by Slapshoes' channel and check out one or two videos. He's a GREAT storyteller and has a good voice and personality with plenty of energy. He could read me a boring-ass book and I'd be listening to every page!

[@Adam-pw4jt]

I actually work with LW Wright for a brief period in the early 1990s. His story goes much deeper than anyone can imagine. It is a story of intrigue, organized crime, greed, and sexual deviancy of the kind not known until the demi-trans-queer-conservative movement of the early 2020s. I am looking for a publisher to write a book about LW’s story.

[@modifish68]

Larry Wright aka LW Wright passed away 1/27/2024. crazy how he didn't really even fake his name....

[@danm2422]

Look up the scene vault podcast, they found L.W wright “Larry Wright” and they interviewed him.

[@JReaLBiz86]

I'm genuinely astonished. I remember hearing about this story on the Dale Jr. Download. Up until today, about halfway through your video, I figured he was just your average con man. But, like... This makes too much sense! I think you found him! That's insane!!! I've taken an interest to this because I share the last name. If Larry is this L.W., that's one of the wildest cons I've EVER heard of, racing-related or not.

[@senna3]

Just when we thought Yarborough vs. Allison or Spencer vs Busch was the greatest NASCAR fight of all time, retired driver Sterling Marlin finally finds LW Wright

[@VeliusCoba]

I actually think you found something deep. Especially the first theory. and the whole "One last hurrah before going to prison". Nice detective work Sir! Great video! Happy Thanksgiving to all!

[@crazycars81]

The iceberg

[@VeliusCoba]

Think I seen his too, But am second guessing now, have to go double check.

[@bdavis24fan]

Dude I love the music for the opening.

[@jayt1077]

It's a remix of Chariots of Pumpkins from the Halloween 3 soundtrack.

[@DAILYDRIVENJUNK1983]

I looked up a Larry Elmer Wright in the Tennessee DOC inmate locator, says deceased but his sentence began 11/12/1978, he was born 6/7/1960

[@RobbieWilliamsandJakobWilliams]

better be a part 2 to this video this is better then unsolved mysteries

[@Cramhead43]

Very impressive video, hopefully NASCAR media can interview him before he passes away. Maybe they can put the car in the HOF too lol.

[@KitsuneGB-hc9zb]

Do they still have the car?!

[@robertbrewer6245]

No he doesn't because he just walked away and left it on pit row.

[@mbp2112]

If he really used 99% of his real name and still evaded capture, that is a tip of the hat. A booking or intake photo would be awesome, as would a visit to the local watering holes, I'd bet somebody has more info.

[@TheEmilyFravel]

I looked him up a few days ago and saw what he looked like and I said "Boy's, we found his face. Now we should wait for info.". So honestly this is amazing how you did this! Also, where did you find the comment?

[@jabber1990]

I think he found the comment on KZbin, because I believe I read that comment

[@ThreeLions82]

@@jabber1990 Makes you wonder who the person was that posted the comment?

[@dougthevolfan]

From the comments I believe you have got the wrong person but am glad that you and others are still looking after all these years. I hope he comes forward though and tells the story of how and why. To me those years of Nascar was the greatest. Local guys could still build or buy a car and live out a dream. You couldn't do that today.

[@brapa1190]

THE LEGEND! L.W WRIGHT, Who would've though a guy with no pfp found the legend?

[@taufiqutomo]

We will watch your career with great interest.

[@dbabb2484]

If that obituary is his mother’s, then according to his sisters obituary from 2020 she was preceded in death by all her brothers except John Wright. It says he lived in Wise Va and I live pretty close by and know several people that live there, if I can track him down that might be all the answers we need as to whether you got the right guy or not

[@ctrproductions2033]

Give it your best shot

[@jamescato7136]

Larry wright son of alta wright died in 2017. No tracking him down. Go look at the scene vault podcast. They found the real LW Wright.

[@Jasondirt]

Amazing. Great work. You solved what these giant yt channels, law enforcement, and nascar with million $ lawyers couldn't. Good you had high brother

[@tombo6245]

What a fucking amazing and intriguing video. Glad you got recommended to me, I'm subscribed!

[@jacobkelley7762]

The scene vault is dropping an interview with L.W. on Monday

[@EclecticBuddha]

This is gonna be fun. Just came back here to see if anyone else here was talking about it.

[@jasonstacy5587]

I lived in Richlands for 7 years, and currently live in Lebanon. My grandmother spent time in the same nursing facility as his mother.

[@johnwilburn]

I'm from Bluefield. His pronunciation took me a minute to figure out where he was talking about! LOL.

[@My2020View]

Hey Jason. My grandmother was never in a nursing home. This story is mind blowing and im loving these comments.

[@johnwilburn]

@@My2020View So are you his son?

[@My2020View]

@@johnwilburn nah. Lol. But i would be someone interesting to talk to with ALOT of facts. Goodlookin guy like myself bwahha

[@johnwilburn]

@@My2020View Maybe for an aspiring psychology student. I’ll pass.

[@christierobinson692]

I was working for Larry when he started his "mining" business in Raven. So, to say he was in the "con game", I can say I'm a believer, but I liked the man. He was good to me, no matter what he had done in the past, and I was paid for every day I worked, so he didn't con me out of money. Lol

[@LSTNSCRFN]

S1apshoes and Brock Beard NEED TO WATCH THIS!!!

[@Ratt2004]

There was a mini documentary on one of the NASCAR programs earlier this year...I saw on it there was a man who was a reporter for some paper, I forget his name, but the initials for the 1st and last name were indeed L & W...kind of makes one wonder.

[@FMecha]

It was a NASCAR on FOX/Race Hub doc: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGmlmKyJZ9ehfrM

[@CantingWall3286]

Larry Woody

[@andypittman357]

I wondered the same thing.

[@johnnywalker640]

Larry Woody older gentleman looks nothing like him.

[@marktaylor2290]

Wow. I lived in Richlands Va for 6 years

[@nelsona779]

he came forward for an interview more info coming out soon. this is an awesome event and can't wait for it to come full circle

[@vollrathfgc]

When you said "I may have figured it out" I was ready for the biggest reach but this is all very realistic seemingly

[@Ever443]

Was working on Travis Tillers car in 82 when LW Wright “ bought” the parts with the check. We warned Travis that this guy was sketchy and to not let him have the parts but he didn’t and got taken for that.

[@robertbrewer6245]

Larry's one slick talker.

[@zanemurcha9742]

I just wish that guy who said he knew who is was, and where he lived would just come out of hiding. He provided such a detailed explanation it couldn't be a lie.

[@Racer881Ken]

Fun Fact before he disappeared at Talladega he was supposed to run the next race at Nashville.

[@jonr6722]

Dude your awesome great great job one of my most favorite stories except for people not getting their money other then that it's hilarious you got to be smart as heck to find out information on this thank you for your great videos one I will definitely wear out watching it more then once great job on the music to made it even better

[@mollycaz1]

That is amazing it might be nascar biggest mystery and con all at same time

[@Greenbean3227]

This is unrelated i know nothing about this man or haven't heard anything about this man but i live less than 30 minutes away from the town of richlands id love to learn more

[@stewpuddy4161]

Dude. I'm subscribing. This is fascinating stuff.

[@TheBordens222]

The nostalgic 80s music was a nice touch in the intro 🤙🏼

[@SadMarinersFan]

1982 Winston 500 Me: "oh wow, like 25 years ago" NBR: "the 40 year mystery" Me: *confused screaming*

[@JackTheripper911]

What are you like 8 years old? How difficult is it to understand 1982 is older than 25 years.....? Good lord and these are nascar fans these days. No wonder the sport is dying. The intelligence of their viewers died off a long time ago

[@zlinedavid]

@@JackTheripper911 It was a semi-humorous way of saying “Time moves really fast”.

[@JackTheripper911]

@zlinedavid Yeah my comment is 8 months old. I dont know what my problem was at the time, sometimes im just an asshole apparently 😮‍💨

[@zlinedavid]

@@JackTheripper911 Aren’t we all? Lol

[@thedennis4412]

This guy is so fuckin' cool. Seriously, what a legend.

[@rstrama64]

Great investigation! You're hope that good investigative journalism is still alive.

[@nickgiles3865]

Seems like the TN Dept. of Corrections would have his photo on file and comparing the race photo beside the car and the arrest photo only being months apart should confirm it it is Wright.

[@Cleaveland72]

Good video. Let me offer a few thoughts. 1) he wouldn't be on parole, he'd be out on bail. And for a non-violent crime in the early 80's, probably wouldn't be more than a few hundred bucks for bail. Since most bonds can be 10% , he might not of had to give up even $100. 2) the breach of contract for a house sale would fit perfectly if he was in prison. Can't close a house deal from behind bars. And most places let you have as much involvement as security allows when you are being sued while incarcerated. They kind of have to or risk liability for denying you due process. 3) arrests and intake at prisons almost always result in a photograph (mugshot) being taken. Gotta make sure the right guy makes it to serve time. Plus they usually have to sign a bunch of paperwork. Compare signatures on rubber checks to prison records or court documents. 5) as cool as it would be to find him, much like DB Cooper, the idea of him getting away with it is almost better. Yes, stealing is wrong, but rooting for the guy feels a little right (Wright) too. Good luck finding him, but if you do. . . . I kind of hope he's already gone to his grave taking the "why" with him. In today's tic-toc culture I believe they say "Go, little rock star".

[@aldouscoroza]

Oh my God finally, I heard about him on Black Flags Matter's Video

[@james_mccullors4141]

I have unlimited respect for this guy

[@thinkandrepent3175]

With our powers combined... we can find this DAMNED FIEND

[@Marko295]

I’m really interested seeing where the goes! Subscriber for you!

[@jamescato7136]

Go look up the scene vault podcast. They found and interviewed LW Wright.

[@W4114C3]

What episode?

[@jimeditorial]

Well, he must have had some racing experience.......I used to race a little on short tracks and did the Petty school at Daytona once. An eye-opening experience. It's harder than it looks. I doubt that he could have qualified for Talladega if he had no experience.

[@joshingtonbarthsworth631]

Agreed. I've heard he was a short tracker who continued after this. So the legend goes, as I heard it, he still keeps the "stolen" hauler in his yard.

[@JackTheripper911]

The amount of basic questions he asked? No. Lol. The guy basically asked at one point how you refuel the cars 🤣🤣. Nobody With racing experience is that fucking stupid lol. Also let not act like 1982 had hundreds of people vying for sports. Pretty much ANYONE who posted a time could join back then, they barely had enough to continue filling the field at times.

[@lemonrick474]

I’m an hour away from richlands not a huge place. Why not go there and try to find him?

[@luisy.gonzalez6469]

Who is here after the arrest of Larry Ernest Wright on February 14, 2023, more than 40 years since his Talladega stunt?

[@kevinpyne3339]

I just want to know what became of his racecar afterwards

[@anne.andromeda]

B. W. "Bernie" Terrell, from whom he got money to buy the car, took the car afterward since it was bought with his money

[@RobertDetert]

Sterling Marlin probably reclaimed the racecar.

[@evanwallace8683]

Awesome video I always thought that nascar threw the black flag for him on lap 13 I read that in a recent article but your knowledge and story telling is so great Im gonna go with what you said

[@ctrproductions2033]

They threw the black flag for him on lap 3. U have heard he didn't have enough experience to come down pit road so he blew it up by putting it in 1st when going around 150.

[@ctrproductions2033]

I meant to say I have heard

[@WildDiamond07]

I love these vids, even if they're not NR2003 they're still very good. I'm so watching this!

[@brandensimmons653]

Ladies and gentlemen we found him

[@SamDraissMedia]

yeah inb4 this blows up. Incredible job.

[@fishproductions22]

Man deserves more subs

[@thenglishannel]

I smell a Netflix special

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

Great video. Keep digging !!

[@Dre_47]

Congrats im your 999 subscriber

[@EmptyCheetosBag]

I’m #1,000

[@JackTheripper911]

@@EmptyCheetosBag no one cares

[@EmptyCheetosBag]

@@JackTheripper911 cope harder

[@dubdaze68]

Interesting. It would be neat to see if he has any of the memorabilia still.

[@doylestownstew]

So much for a thought that NASCAR would have asked for a SSN on a racers license request and checked it out.

[@theset-upman3500]

I keep trying to make this comment and it keeps failing to post. His sister, Margaret Weaver, as shown in his mother's obituary, is listed as living in Millwood, WV, which is just a few miles from where I live. I found Margaret Weaver's obituary. If you're still researching this, I can see if anyone around here knows her, or knows anything about her. She just recently passed away (2020) and was a retiree from our local hospital. There were no children listed in the obituary and it listed all of her brothers, including Larry as preceding her in death. I can post the link to her obituary if you are interested.

[@nascarvintage17]

"That would deserve a movie.

[@caseylitton562]

Larry Wright is most likely not our L.W. because I just found an obituary for one Larry Dane Wright in 2017 and for occupations it listed educator, guidance counselor, and bus driver for over 30. It also doesn't mention anything about a criminal record in the obituary, so I don't think Larry is our guy. I found this obituary by looking at Alta's, so maybe he is another one of the siblings just with an entirely different name.

[@libertarianman69]

That's funny as hell that much money wouldn't buy tires for the weekend now.

[@willengland7336]

The man in the obituary isn’t LW Wright because the town of Pound is 78 miles away from Richlands.

[@rosiejo2045]

Warmachine 221some in comments said they no him possibly related

[@kozippio7854]

good,, now find what happened to Darren Charles Crowder. Pace car thief of Talladega. I have been trying to track him down for years....

[@derrickbarnes5352]

I have always wondered what happened to him also !!!

[@derrickbarnes5352]

I have always wondered what happened to him also ?

[@derrickbarnes5352]

I have always wondered what happened to him myself

[@RG-yc5lc]

He passed away

[@davidh1249]

I was there the day he stole the pace car,they beat the shit out of that guy after getting him out of the car.

[@zanemurcha9742]

Someone needs to head to Richlands and look through the phone book.

[@theset-upman3500]

If there was an unpaid long distance bill for a call to Richlands, VA, why didn't the private investigators that originally worked on the case follow-up on this lead?

[@abigailandchristopherschof5379]

Cant be on parole before conviction. Was probably out on appeal bond. After conviction sometimes you can file for an appeal and get an appeal bond and be released prior to another trial.

[@headbrown5629]

Great vid. I've watched all the older vids about L.W. you did a damn good job on this one. I think another interesting topic would be J.D. Stacy & his involvement in nascar. I think Tim Richmond's crew chief, the legendary Harry Hyde & Stacy had a serious legal battle in court. If I'm not mistaken, someone mailed a bomb, or placed a bomb near someone else...I can't recall the details. There is a videos on KZbin of the old tv program from 20 + years ago called " men behind the wrenches ".......I think that the name of the show..... in the vid, Harry Hyde talks about his career & says he got into racing business with the crook of the century & said he wouldn't even call his name. Those guys had some serious problems. Harry lost everything he had & was broke. A little while later, Rick Hendrick came to Harry to see about renting a shop building Harry owned to store racing boats. Harry ended up going to work for Rick, a boat racer & car dealer at the time, & they started "All Star Racing" team. They had enough money to make several races that year. .....1985 i think. Geoff Bodine was the driver. The won Martinsville & the rest is history....Hendrick Motorsports

[@pennyandwoody]

I still think L.W. Wright was one of Roger's (American dad) various characters persona. 🤣🤣🤣 It was Roger this whole time.... Someone needs to tell Seth MacFarlane about this story so he can actually spoof this with Roger going by this.

[@DaveWrightKB9MNM]

I wonder if there is any relation…..

[@GetBenched2010]

LW Wright is like the Bre-X guy before the Bre-X guy!

[@bradsanders407]

How did he commit a break in when he wasnt paroled til a month later?

[@omegaformerlyknown]

Your channel needs more views

[@mrt601]

Never accept a check that's from day one

[@j.d.b.pennamesonofharraant3367]

Be he was at Wright Air Force Base

[@billy.mccalley]

subbing now so when you become big i’ll be here haha

[@mrmann2002]

Will you be able to contact him/interview him?

[@SirRelkinstein]

Ladies and gentlemen, we got him

[@rbminer4567]

You should be hired as a cold case detective

[@sludge8506]

Why? He found nothing.

[@bobwake5521]

Heard of this years ago.

[@brok3assgamr897]

They said he was caught 40 years after the crime how long is the statue of limitations then

[@ElTurbinado]

his engine gave out? i thought he got black flagged for going too slow (cause of inexperience) (i literally just watched the 82 winston last week lol). also isn't it well known thet he didn't leave from the track? he received prize money from nascar after the race and also got a dnq for the next race.

[@JackTheripper911]

He didnt get a DNQ next race, he literally left all the equipment and the car at the first race track and disappeared. He never showed up for another race because by then all his checks bounced and people were looking for him..... what idiot would go back after that...?

[@basketballcory2]

You must have watched a recent up to speed...

[@themoo908]

I found some info on the court case and it says Larry Elmer Wright got life in prison… soooo maybe he’s still locked away?

[@lukea.907]

Good job, just one booboo... he was out on bail and not parole. Parole is what you're on when they let you put of prison early.

[@williamcannon8315]

You know way too much about parole and bail. 😆

[@4_14_fan]

This has to be one of the most interesting mysteries in the world tbh, not just NASCAR. Not even the United States government can find out who L. W. Wright really is

[@krs561]

You need to change the title to "I MAY HAVE found him" otherwise you are making a declarative statement that you can not and do not prove. Otherwise good work!

[@robertbrewer6245]

He definitely him and yea that's some good detective work.

[@pendremacherald6758]

A man named Larry G Wright that went to the 8th district US Appellate court in 1997 for assault of a woman in Council Bluffs Iowa.