The Strange Case of L.W. Wright | NASCAR Race Hub

[@ryansheehan9462]

To quote Slapshoes, “some random schmuck defrauded his way into a NASCAR Cup Series car. What a freakin’ legend.”

[@garyshope8378]

The most interesting man in the world. Sounds like a comersial

[@ZeteticPlato]

Elvis left the building but not his home man

[@HendrickChase9]

Imagine being that guy and you just see everyone talking about you and you’re like “oh yea that’s me”

[@zacharymohammadi]

Plot twist: L. W. Wright is D. B. Cooper

[@princessnodak]

actually wouldn't surprise me

[@chada75]

Or Loki.

[@bobdunstan5457]

My thought exactly!

[@Poundcakebowler]

This wouldn’t shock me at all

[@aroundthehouseintennessee587]

A time traveler completing his bucket list.

[@KDS_PRODUCTIONS]

ah yes, the D.B. Cooper of NASCAR

[@lukethompson2714]

Ayyyyyyyy reference

[@KellieLeigh48]

RIP LW Wright. Died this morning according to Scene Vault. He was a legend in his own unique way

[@Celestial_Being666]

Probably fake

[@TrooperA113]

@@Celestial_Being666 He died on January 27th 2024 in Tennessee. Acc. Wikipedia

[@XaviDaRoRacer25364]

@@Celestial_Being666he revealed himself and got arrested then he died

[@thejman3489]

I saw this on S1apSh0es video (The Worst Sponsors, Team Owners, and Track Promotors in NASCAR History) but it was merely a telling of the story. I'm glad this has a documentary style video on it now with actual people who were involved!

[@clipobserver]

Black Flags Matter did a story about LW, a reason why S1apsh0es didn't talk about it and actually shared the video from BFM.

[@benscovil]

That's cause slapshoes isn't very good

[@thejman3489]

@@benscovil He had to keep it brief because he had like 6 other stories to tell in that video. Even then he did a good job explaining what happened. Go watch some of his stuff. He has really great videos on NASCAR's History.

[@benscovil]

@@thejman3489 I've watched quite a bit. One I watched a video on an abandoned track and in the woods he claimed the track was there and an abandoned bum's trash and beer cans from the 70s or 80s was "Race fan's stuff from the 50s" when cans didn't even yet exist.

[@thejman3489]

@@benscovil Maybe you missed the first 2 videos where he found a race track that was all but lost to history, put out a bounty for photos of the track, and tracked down the location of the track. And you want to discredit him for a beer can.

[@romansans1]

“You could never do this again!” Was that a challenge, Kyle?

[@clipobserver]

Hey, if you want to go for it and tell us how that works out for you.

[@roxstrongo8961]

L.W. Wright throwback paint scheme at Talladega?

[@charlespetersonjr1994]

well that kinda depends on Front Row Motorsports. They have the 34 and L.W. drove the 34 soo.......

[@brandonsettle8089]

But is there any record of his paint scheme or has it vanished too?

[@daneamann6225]

Handful of pictures are online but most in black and white. It's not a super complicated livery, someone could put it together if they wanted to.

[@clipobserver]

@@daneamann6225 It looked like Red and Gold

[@tcjohnson3437]

@@brandonsettle8089 I saw the car at the race. Dark blue with a gold hood and decklid. Numbers were in the same color gold. Pretty generic . Easy to reproduce. Could even have been a blackish blue. Nascar has plenty of good pics of that car. He abandoned at the speedway. Pretty sure S. Marlin would have hauled it back out.

[@johnwilburn]

I wish NASCAR would guarantee amnesty and cover any claims that the statute of limitations hasn't run out on, then advertise that they would like to interview him (and of course verify his identity).

[@b.j.morgan8175]

That would be so cool. I feel like there is so much more to the story that they barely touched on here. So many questions... What 's His real identity? Did he have any accomplices? Why did he pick that track/race? Did somebody from Nascar actually know what was going on the whole entire time? It might go deeper than we think! 😁

[@HandsUpforThePanther]

@@b.j.morgan8175 the issue is that, is that nascar would just arrest him probably, sadly.

[@tcjohnson3437]

They are all fraud charges. Statues ran out a long time ago on all of them. Could still be sued in civil court do to the circumstances. DB Cooper and LW Wright have a lot in common. Hell, lets start a rumor that they are one and the same people ! Lol

[@NeoMK]

He could sell the rights to his story for millions!

[@charlesfoster9530]

Larry Elmer Wright. Ashville Tennessee. There's an interview dropping on Monday.

[@beversluis1]

Rick Houston found and interviewed him, podcast May 2n at 6am

[@My2020View]

As far as I'm concern, my uncle is a legend. I'm working on vid from my point of view as his nephew.You'll see proof from all my pictures of my uncle. RIP Uncle Larry.

[@obscraft5375]

Somehow this circulates to the 1992 Hooters 500, Sterling Marlin would drive for Junior Johnson and had Maxwell House sponsorship. The Maxwell House sponsorship had been Alan Kulwicki's biggest hopes before Johnson stole that chance from Kulwicki, and Marlin was the teammate to Bill Elliott

[@hessxpress]

Everything always circulates to the 1992 Hooters 500. No matter what it is.

[@hypgar8678]

@@hessxpress In the words of S1apsh0es "It's a running joke on this channel that no matter the topic, it always comes back to the 1992 Hooters 500 at Atlanta motor speedway, and y'know what, a lot of truth is said and jest."

[@RailsandStadiums]

Wish the car was on display somewhere. That'd be cool to see.

[@adamplace1414]

You know, there's times where I'd like to pull off something like that. Just be an unsolvable mystery. Nothing absurdly illegal or anything. But wouldn't it be great to sit at home watching this and cackling like a madman if you were him?

[@Tvsnumber1fan]

Oh, also back in the 1970s and early 1980s you could race the old Sportsman Division (Currently the modern Xfinity Series) race at Daytona the Sportsman 300 without any prior experience in any other racing series anywhere in the world, just by buying a car and get a NASCAR License without no trouble at all. This changed after serval massive wracks had happened at the Sportsman 300 in the late 1970s and 1980s which lead to serious injuries and even death. Kyle Petty was even able to start five cup starts in 1979 after winning his very first major stock car race at Daytona in 1979 the Daytona ARCA 200. Kyle Petty’s first Cup race was at the 1979 Talladega 500 where he finished 9th.

[@PyroBun_2844]

Great to see NASCAR expand on this mystery.

[@coltcadaddy418]

I feel like this is just NASCAR’s attempt to get us to think we cant recreate this

[@brandonhoffman7319]

I don't think the "License" part is the hard part. Quin Houff got a Cup license. It's the fact that you'd need millions, not just thousands of dollars to pull it off.

[@svpracer98]

L. W. Is also the same initials of Larry Woody... COINCIDENCE???

[@Ratt2004]

that popped into m head too as soon as I saw that....interesting.

[@Kouzie28]

He is also a writer..

[@mickeysorrento6528]

Soon as I saw the mailbox, I said let me see the comments lol

[@bowserjr.]

S1apShoes. That’s all im gonna say

[@PG2248CoasterNews]

S1APSHOES YEAAAA

[@Razz415]

Yus

[@bowserjr.]

@Zac Hill I saw it first from S1apSh0es

[@fastEdCanuck]

Why didn't they interview Sterling Marlin for this? Surely he had the most interaction with the mystery man. Or maybe he declined to be part of it.

[@jamesbowers5946]

Sterling Marlin is not in good health...he is currently battling parkinsonism

[@jayryan3181]

I doubt he'd want to be a part of this, he was taken too

[@JWD26]

@@jamesbowers5946 Parkinsonism?

[@caribman10]

Uh, if I were involved in a criminal conspiracy to defraud NASCAR, I think I'd stay silent too. Wouldn't you?

[@racdude01]

@@jayryan3181 not exactly, LW paid him $17,000 used the car briefly then left it at the track and since LW still owed money on the car Sterling probably just took the car back and called it even. Even if he had to spend on the repairs from qualifying I’m sure he still came out ahead

[@charlesfoster9530]

They finally found him! The Scene Vault podcast is dropping the interview on Monday.

[@arus64]

I don’t believe that they really found

[@davidcrow3101]

Imagine if some random guy talked an NFL team into giving him a uniform, walked onto the field, played the first few plays in an NFL game and then took off the uniform, walked into the crowd and disappeared. And the cherry on top is he took a game check for playing in the game with him when he left That's what this guy did. Legendary. Sometimes amazing things happen if someone just has the guts to ask. BTW, this is just more proof that Talladega Superspeedway is just flat haunted. The absolute weirdest stuff in racing happens there.

[@PintoPopProductions]

When you turn into Wright just because everyone else turns to the left.

[@imrustyokay]

Man, i'd never thought NASCAR would acknowledge this guy, lmao.

[@TheMNrailfan227]

Larry Woody sounds awfully suspicious

[@karlbrh824]

Larry Woody. L.W?😳😳. (Just a joke)

[@skittlecar1]

This is the correct conspiracy theory.

[@TheMNrailfan227]

If I had any say, I would say that is him

[@svpracer98]

ITS NOT JUST ME!

[@TheMNrailfan227]

Just they way he spoke sounds off. He also could have made Larry Woody as a fake ID

[@largol33t1]

This is one of the craziest true sports stories I've ever heard. Even those who haven't seen a NASCAR race have heard of this little scandal.

[@jeralddaughtry5041]

He actually showed up the next week at Nashville and DNQ'd according to Racing Reference

[@jonnobarrie1744]

He didn't show up. Was entered.

[@davescott686]

@@jonnobarrie1744 He did show up. DNQ

[@citizenoftheyearCC]

To make his debut at one of the fastest tracks is what makes this story even more insane. Could of ended even worse!

[@sludge8506]

And he qualified at 186!!

[@30AndHatingIt]

I’m really surprised he chose Dega. Like he did well enough qualifying by running 186… why didn’t he just try a smaller track? Might’ve gotten away with it and even been competitive!

[@marchedgie6838]

I thought this was a story NASCARs sanctioning body would like us fans to not know about.

[@Konformation07]

To be fair after almost 40 years NASCAR probably has moved on to have a wry smile about it

[@gothard5]

Bringing the story to a whole new generation of fresh eyes in hopes that somebody might have an idea who this guy might be or where he might be or if he is even still alive.

[@FalconDroppings]

Who else is here after that Donut Media video?

[@unclejoe6811]

NASCAR's channel doesn't even have a million subs...man how times have changed.

[@BrainExploder]

L.W. Wright like the reporter (Writer) Larry Woody who published the whole story? Sus.

[@Oppi_1]

What if L.W. is just DB Cooper 😂

[@jabber1990]

some think DB Cooper was Tommy Wiseau

[@dacoup5955]

Somewhere out there, deep in some desolate desert town in the fold of the south sits a man alone in an empty bar ... He's a man of few words, a man of mystery, a man ...of opportunity. He pauses ... Raising his glass he tilts it towards the bartender as a grin begins to stretch across his lips, he tells the man - "I used to be someone ... I used to be LW Wright, and in 82 i raced at Talladega "

[@unleasherquiles8319]

Just got here after I heard the news that he got arrested. Yes I know that I'm late to it.

[@SoldiesBC]

It shall forever remain a mystery...

[@auburnltl7452]

This man was or is a freaking legend!

[@JediTim28]

And now he has been found

[@luisy.gonzalez6469]

Larry Ernest Wright was arrested this week 😜

[@kevinhuneycutt9691]

Great film. More please!

[@sylentxtinction2097]

"L.W. Wright" = "Larry Woody Write(er)" Coincidence? Every known conman is just a face. It's the one behind him that gets it done... and his article started it all.

[@chardab8824]

Such a cool story

[@SingerDinger]

Y’all be sure to look at other channels on stories like this like Slapshoes, or Nascarman History. They’re great

[@pennyandwoody]

Still say the name L.W. wright sounds like a character Roger (alien for American dad) would have come up with. Someone needs to tell Seth MacFarlane about this story. And see if he have Roger do this.

[@aaronz9410]

The D.B. Cooper of NASCAR.

[@nolancain8792]

I never even knew we had a picture of the guy.

[@AA-ik7ni]

Fun fact my grand father was there in the NASCAR race where lw wright races

[@clipobserver]

It should be noted LW Wright didn't finish in last place, he was second to last.

[@PaperBanjo64]

I'm watching the official NASCAR upload of this race right now.

[@tcjohnson3437]

Maybe make a diecast ? Drivers and owners make big royalties of them. That would be a popular one with everyone. Myself included. Maybe that would be enough for him to show up and claim his share ?

[@dandankokoro]

Let LW Wright be another Loki Variant lol

[@guerd87]

Obviously done for the thrill or just to say ive done that. As he actually spent some cash on the car and followed through with everything. If he just wanted money he would have just split after receiving the 37k

[@pumpkinking5174]

And....he's been found.

[@PG2248CoasterNews]

who's here from S1apShoes?

[@brandonwray7260]

Me

[@mikemantle7596]

LW Wright lives in a duplex, next door to DB Cooper

[@sludge8506]

How does a guy qualify at 186 mph if he’s inexperienced??

[@noviranger88]

One word: Dega.

[@sludge8506]

@@noviranger88 Well, I give the guy credit for qualifying that fast. 👍👍

[@catfishandcoleslaw]

Definitely an interesting watch!! Wow.

[@CJBarry55]

It’s looks like a fun time and place to watch a race.

[@drivin379]

Waylon and George also put in $$$

[@MemphiStig]

Kyle's wrong about one thing. Racing is more about money than ever, and it's worth more than ever. But this *would* make a heck of a movie.

[@mandpcheadle4291]

Make a movie use everything he could claim the royalties or rights to and he may come out of the woodwork.

[@RustyGuns]

Ok he wrote bad checks, but he didn't break any of the actual rules that Nascar had at the time. So seems like Nascar is just mad they got played. Because he didn't make any huge amount of money off it, he literally left everything behind at the track. He just made everyone except Sterling look like suckers.

[@josephgabello3214]

I feel like he should be able to come forward now the statute of limitation should be up.

[@davescott686]

You got your wish 😉

[@Tvsnumber1fan]

Boy how things have changed in NASCAR. I mean by 2007 drivers in NASCAR were not happy that 1997 Formula One World Champion and 1995 IndyCar and Indy 500 champion Jacques Villeneuve was going to make his Cup debut at Talladega. This unhappiness was lead by four time champion Jeff Gordon.

[@demiller74]

Back in 1982 or 1983 we had new Hardee’s in my hometown in Iowa. When it opened up, there was a guy there signing autographs who called himself ‘The Runner’. Looked like a generic racer… just like this guy. At the time I figured Hardee’s hired him… but since Hardee’s was a Canadian company by then, why would they hire a fake race car driver?

[@garybelling3494]

they could have just sponsored a local driver from the local track to run a hardees logo on the car and part of the deal is him coming to sign at the hardees

[@Ls_swap211]

Hardee’s race car with Ernie and the runner commercial in link above lol

[@chrisfajardo2065]

My uncle claims he snuck on to Talladega speedway back in the 80s and raced half a race before he wrecked. I always thought he was serious until I got older and my dad told me that uncle Larry tells stories amd he’s pretty sure he never did that. I’m going over to my dads place right now to show him the video

[@zanemurcha9742]

Is his sure name Wright?

[@maxdobbs4907]

He is now found

[@NormalDrop561]

Yes I also watch S1apS0es

[@jasonbone7033]

Amazing!

[@benjaminwilkinson863]

Scooby Doo and gang could have solved this case with ease.

[@rickyboby560]

And now he’s back

[@wev2344]

No finger prints?

[@_priincecj]

S1apShoes??

[@for146]

Id say the size of Richard Pettys engins are the biggest mysterys in nascar.

[@CamaroAmx]

It was common for all the drivers to run oversized engines in the early 80s. As long as you ran 3rd or worse, there was a solid chance you wouldn’t get caught.

[@ylilycam]

Some mysteries just never need to be solved.......2021...leave this man alone and don't ruin a great story

[@nevetslegasi5686]

I dissagree, it would be so cool to hear HIS side of the story. Someone out there knows.

[@JK-gm6kk]

It's like the max headroom incident in Chicago. Part of me thinks it would be cool to know, but the other doesn't want to ruin the mystique

[@joshuawise5089]

Wait my grandpa raced at talledega in 1982

[@princessnodak]

what's his name??

[@pulsemediamontgomery]

i would love to know whatever happened to the car? someone had to leave with it..

[@johnnywalker640]

One of the many stories I've heard says car belonged to Coo Coo he left with it.. Several versions of this story around.

[@pulsemediamontgomery]

@@johnnywalker640 one day, i hope that car is found, restored and housed in the Museum at Talladega.

[@johnnywalker640]

Man Sterling outta know what happened to it. For years after this deal their were so many rumors about it in Nashville. I've always heard several know who this guy is but ain't talkin.

[@ROUDFAN]

"Change the world, my final message, goodbye"

[@Diecast-pj1md]

Bye

[@wev2344]

Who’s the narrator? Sounds familiar!

[@tomcurran860]

I think he does the Nascar Commercials

[@lucky-rowe2623]

Watch the Catch me if you can movie and his name is Frank Abagnale.

[@JH-kn6rt]

Breaking News: the car was not even driven by LW Wright, it was driven by another man with the same initials and same last name, LW Wright...

[@RobertDetert]

It wasn't his real name.

[@JH-kn6rt]

@@RobertDetert That was a joke. A guy has stepped forward claiming to be the guy.

[@TheCrewChief374]

Well considering the shady history of Talladega and for that matter Nascar. Mr Wright is par for the course, so what he did to get onto the race track is not a huge surprise me at all... And Yes, Kyle Petty, someone could do the same thing today. Because there are still people, who should not be given a Nascar license. That not only get the license, but they get onto the track. When they have no business. On the track to begin with...

[@austinreed5805]

L. W. Wright is the J. D. Cooper of NASCAR.

[@randomcub922]

Buzzfeed Unsolved needs to do a video about this guy

[@davescott686]

Now we no the story told here is not exactly 100% accurate.

[@charlespetersonjr1994]

Two things first the video itself, How the hell did they get a photo of L.W. Wright (If that is his real name) AND NASCAR When are you gonna upload classic races again? I'd love to have a classic race uploaded to the channel just so I can get ready for Watkins Glen. I have a suggestion, the 2003 Sirius at the Glen.

[@dubdaze68]

Considering that it looks like a reproduction from an old newsprint (dots), local papers used to print the lineup and pictures, print a "race day special" section, and flog them at the race inside of that day's paper. It probably came from that.

[@Luigiman_95]

Somehow a KZbin comment was the lead for finding him.

[@arthurf1fanoficial460]

remembering that he could be alive today and could be your parent someone you know even someone you saw but you didnt know

[@tonystewartfan2014]

I hope they find him

[@jackmehoff6551]

The D.B. Cooper of NASCAR!

[@jamese.morris2891]

D.B. Cooper strikes again...

[@zanemurcha9742]

Wright wasn't a smooth talker... He was a well ordered singer

[@christiankallio8586]

I'm L.W. Wright

[@RobertDetert]

A guy came forward a few years ago and says it's him Used a fake name. Decided to come forward in case he died and didn't come forward noone would have ever known he said.

[@pennyandwoody]

Is anyone going to mention, hey Tim Richmond is in this

[@visionnr2004]

Had anyone been here from Black Flags Matter's video

[@Msflamingo-wl4qo]

Uncle Larry, you son of a bisquit!

[@reginaldhall6871]

A LW Wright autograph can't be authenticated

[@ludologytv5525]

slapshoes

[@markjamison984]

With everyone that tells this story the money amounts are different and the story is different. I think it wasn’t all that. I think they were duped and felt stupid so they jacked the amount up to pay for pain and suffering to the pride.