The Most Wanted Man in Motorsports

[@noydb-1]

Ah, the good ole days, when IMSA stood for International Marijuana Smugglers Association.

[@FRONTI3R_yt]

lmao

[@nathanthomas8184]

Black lines matter when doing burnouts

[@milkshakemuncher]

Let me guess, the cars had 420hp 🤣

[@maxmulsanne7054]

There was a _high_ level of competition back then.

[@wendywebbtraumawarrior2204]

Bravo!! I needed a good laugh, thanks.

[@SSPEEDN]

Sports Car racing sure was the Wild West in the 80s, just got done watching the Randy Lanier story on Netflix with his exploits smuggling dope in.

[@Maverick33]

Look up Christopher Wilder

[@billygsell3625]

The Bad Sport episode about him was crazy, but was not as crazy and worse on that series as the horse colic death story that severely damaged Equestrian as a men's sport and was at one point that Budweiser sponsored that sport via their iconic Clydesdale horses.

[@lesblase3667]

@@billygsell3625 huh?

[@joeyjohnson4826]

@@billygsell3625 equestrian? Isn't that a bunch of rich people wearing funny pants? 🤣

[@dudley7540]

I was at Road Atlanta in '83. Quite a few people wearing ATF jackets.

[@CYMotorsport]

You’re a genius! I’m finishing one on the beauty queen killer right now. Thought I was crazy for wanting to do it & no one had tried it, but seeing how this video is already crushing it I feel better haha thanks for being the brave one to go first

[@sirbuster223]

I miss you CY - hope to see you upload a banger soon!

[@matthewlumsden3723]

We need more motorsport video's like this

[@jbaskinger41]

Agreed

[@nascar_vault]

We need one on Christopher Wilder, a serial killer who ran the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1984 while on the run from police

[@NASCARFAN93100]

Matthew Lumsden I couldn't agree more

[@SuperNASCARrocks]

Darian manages to find the most crazy motor sports stories ever.

[@Maverick33]

Look up Christopher Wilder

[@elliottjohnsonfan84]

@@Maverick33 oh, a serial killer, lovely

[@Maverick33]

@@elliottjohnsonfan84 well if he thought this one of the most crazy, then he's never heard of Christopher Wilder. That's the craziest Racing Reference story I've ever read

[@RosaFan161]

All of them are both creepy and fascinating, and I love them.

[@nascarisawesome5018]

Also, this was around the same time that L.W. Wright's scandal happened. They are probably not interconnected, but it shows that shady things were happening in motorsports around this time.

[@GetBenched2010]

Motorsports not called F1 were cheap to invest in and easy money laundering spots.

[@j-mangaming2923]

@@GetBenched2010 Even F1 had its fair share of financial scandals back then. Just look at Andrea Moda

[@sdsd2e2321]

@@j-mangaming2923 Well, Andrea Moda was just incompetence and the owner trying to cheap out. There wasn't any criminal money behind it.

[@emanuellopes8773]

@@j-mangaming2923 at that time F! was full of tobacco money, they didn't nedded shady money

[@Maverick33]

And Christopher Wilder 3 years later

[@WeChallenge]

Being a fan of racing in general, consuming everything from speed sport news magazine, all the way to national television coverage of all things related to racing. Recalling memories of the name John Paul, and John Paul Jr.. during their race careers, yes,, I remember their names, strangely, I don't remember hearing anything about the dark side of this racing family. Thanks for sharing. Peace..

[@BobDingleful]

I was thinking the same thing, I saw them racing and knew their names (unimpressive results) and didn't know anything about these stories. Amazing what we didn't know before the internet. I guess the networks that showed the races didn't want to promote the sport negatively.

[@backporchdriver3763]

Poor JPjr got caught up in his father's mess. Aside from him going to prison for not giving up his father, he led a straight life. He was a great driver, and would have loved to have seen him accomplish more.

[@berryboiblast]

A story I’ve never heard of yet? Why yes, yes I will watch this, and yes I will enjoy it. Thank you Darian!

[@djobe420]

Look up the Whittington bros and randy lanier

[@berryboiblast]

@@djobe420 I did a little research on both of Randy and the Brothers. Now those are some crazy stories right there, more drug smuggling, wow 😂

[@djobe420]

@@berryboiblast craziest thing is that they're all damn good race cars drivers.

[@berryboiblast]

@@djobe420 lol I know right it’s so funny 😂

[@budsodastories]

@@djobe420 Megmh we got a modified guy who got caught with untaxed cigarettes on both sides of the Canadian US border Idc really the sin Tax is INSANE I'd rather someone get cheap cigarettes off his product instead of stealing or worse robbery due to cost

[@KevinValdez1999]

There needs to be a video about Christopher Wilder. He competed in the 1984 24 hours of Daytona and was later on the FBI's Most Wanted list following a slew of murders.

[@RobJaskula]

Oh WOW that's a new one. Legit serial killer.

[@Maverick33]

@@RobJaskula there's a story about him on Racing Reference

[@Maverick33]

Rapes and murders actually. But, I'm glad I'm not the only one who knows about him

[@mattsisoler6125]

Jesus Christ. I looked him up on Wikipedia and I REALLLLLLY wish I hadn’t.

[@Houndini]

As Long no women around that nut case

[@crystaljon]

As messed up as it might sound, I feel like we need more stories like this to be put forward. Stories of people in motorsports being involved in criminal activity. Like Steve Seligman or Gary Balough for example.

[@skrimper]

I hope we get more, this is wild

[@plisskenationbackfromthede3657]

Scott tucker from imsa is another

[@illiogicalphilosophy2481]

Considering I personally have no idea who this is, I am intrigued and do agree!

[@imrustyokay]

I mean, Motorsports in the US did start with Moonshine. Hell, there's a story about Wendell Scott where the guy outran a bunch of cops up a winding dirt road... backwards, and then he and his family managed to take apart the car and the motor before the cops got to his place. A judge at the local night court couldn't believe the story, and famously said, "next time you bring him into my court room, you bring Him, the Liquor, and the Motor, or else there is no case." Wendell Scott may be one of my favorite drivers ever.

[@Maverick33]

Include Christopher Wilder

[@charlespruitt360]

Old saying goes... IMSA used to stand for International Marijuana Smugglers Association. You should do the Wittington brothers next.

[@Pwnulolumad]

Vinwiki has a good video about some smugglers that started a racing team

[@unclebill8076]

Pretty sure one passed away!

[@mikecumbo7531]

@@unclebill8076 plane crash, late 2021.

[@illiogicalphilosophy2481]

I was here when you had less than 5k subs, I'll be here next week when you surely hit that 50k mark, and I will be here when you get that 100k as well. Proud to be a fan and proud to say I witnessed YOUR story in real time. What you, Double E, Danny B and ole Berg have accomplished thus far is incredible stuff. And I wish you guys nothing but continued success down the line. Stay independent buddy!

[@IanTheMotorsportsMan_YT]

Yes, a story about John Paul, Sr!

[@drivendragon4557]

This was so intriguing as I don’t think most of us think of wanted people when it comes to Motorsports.

[@theRealBrandonRoberts1990]

Best vid you have done BFM ✔

[@tonygeinzer6034]

Darian, I've even warned my Teachers and my Peers Parents back home in Lisbon,IA about John Paul Sr. when he got on the lam again in 1999, and I do not like necessarily bringing up home stories.

[@johnbrown3947]

This needed to be an unsolved mysteries episode with Robert stack.

[@FRONTI3R_yt]

No wonder why they've probably never heard this dark story.

[@EddieMillerStudios]

Robert Stack passed away years ago.

[@racemom2737]

It was. Check out season 12 episode 12. "Wood I lie?" 13 minutes at the beginning of the episode.

[@johnbrown3947]

@@racemom2737 thanks, I've even watched that episode before and didn't make the connection

[@davidpeters2625]

Dude you are the GOAT at making these types of videos... I can't even tell you how many vids that I find where I learn something new, that totally blows my mind... Keep it up, Darian!!

[@lumberjackallen]

never heard this story, so well done! love your vids my guy!

[@mattjames602]

This is a very interesting change of pace from your regular content. Keep the great content coming

[@illiogicalphilosophy2481]

Agree. Love it

[@sirnickels9979]

The infamous history of motorsports between the 60's to 80's is always interesting

[@iagofreitas910]

Gone too Soon: Neil Bonnett John Nemechek Joe Weatherly Shane Sieg Bobby Hamilton

[@calebBalls69]

Bobby was not gone too soon he was successful and died at 50

[@uselesspaprclip5057]

@@calebBalls69 Bonnett was also around 50 to your point

[@calebBalls69]

@@uselesspaprclip5057 oh didn’t know that

[@calebBalls69]

Bonnet also dies due to a crash Hamilton was cancer

[@iagofreitas910]

@@uselesspaprclip5057 Bonnett is there because he died tragically

[@andrewhaywood1262]

When I read the title, I thought for sure that this would be about L.W. Wright or J.D. Stacy, but ho-ho-hooooooly shit. I first heard of Paul, Jr a while back from when I was watching some late 90s IndyCar races on KZbin, and knew that his father was a crook but had no idea it was this bad.

[@Nxtl68]

Man, 80s IMSA was WILD.

[@RobJaskula]

I always remember thinking one of the Whittingtons was a pretty decent driver. They're my favorite of this era of motorsport, they had some serious charisma around their criminality

[@Maverick33]

Especially when you include the Christopher Wilder story

[@Trainlover1995]

When I saw the title, my first thought was LW Wright.

[@Kid-Pink_88.]

Whoa! This a story that makes the L.W. Wright saga look like a kid stealing gum from a dollar store

[@mattserraes8561]

"It's a little known fact" that the garage scene in Cannonball Run was filmed JPR teams garage in Georgia.

[@laurataylor8179]

His wifewas in the opening scene

[@RDC_Autosports]

my friend was the truck owner, talk about losing everything! he lost everything!!! ranches, hotels, houses everything gone!

[@all-starlocations8687]

Who was that? Can we talk?

[@Dummyahhselfmustdie]

I've heard of John Paul, but not in that context

[@PersonaGrip]

Growing up in South Florida, I worked on those boats. I molded John Paul Jr's steering wheels for his Indy attempts, and I thought he was the nicest guy on the entire planet.

[@user-gz3cc8vh7g]

I work in racing JR was my age. I personally didn't know him but those who did had nothing but good things to say about him.

[@PersonaGrip]

@@user-gz3cc8vh7g, he definitely was one of the nicest guys on the circuit. Soft spoken and a true gentleman.

[@user-gz3cc8vh7g]

I've been in racing since 1972 Working ,volunteering and racing. If it seems like some folks have endless resources I can tell you I've seen Porsche racers bounce $50 checks at the gift shop

[@arronalsman3981]

Just heard Randy Lanier talk about this guy on the DJD

[@T0nit0_LIVE]

This gave me goosebumps honestly

[@DennyDeliversYT]

what if… *John Paul Sr is actually LW Wright?..* lol

[@riptor7641]

LW Wright was dogshit at racing though

[@RazorSharp75426]

He can't drive, but JPSR can

[@Maverick33]

@@riptor7641 well John Paul Sr never drove stock cars. So...

[@bhumiriady]

Interesting video as always! I've heard about John Paul Sr. before, but I didn't know he was that bad until I've discovered your video. Also, I would to see more videos on when crime and motorsports meet, such as Randy Lanier and the Whittington brothers.

[@RobJaskula]

Yes yes to the Whittingtons. I'm listening to the Dinner with Racers episode with Don right now. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoaolaqKqbKKi6M

[@bhumiriady]

@@RobJaskula That sounds cool... Definitely something I would love to listen to.^^

[@RobJaskula]

@@bhumiriady it takes a while to get going, you can definitely skip the first 15 minutes on the video I linked! Don sounds very charming but also like he'd have a very intimidating presence

[@bhumiriady]

@@psychlops924 Now that would make for an interesting video! The story on Mario Rossi's disappearance is mysterious, yet fascinating at the same time...

[@thomasjue1539]

I just finished reading this book about the life of Randy Lanier. It's well written and worth a read. He placed 10th in the Indy 500. Survival of the Fastest: Weed, Speed, and the 1980s Drug Scandal That Shocked the Sports World By: Randy Lanier , A.J. Baime - contributor

[@stevenkilsdonk2046]

This is out of left field but so awesome! Great job Darian!

[@johnm4529]

Darian, I enjoy your videos very much. How about doing one about a driver named Christopher Wilder. I talked to him at the Miami Grand Prix in 1984, turned out he was a serial killer and it’s thought he killed Rosario Gonzalez who was working at the race among many other women.

[@ollieminecraft]

This is crazy. I didn't expect this video to be about him. Great video! Probably my favorite on the channel, because it talks about IMSA GT and I love stories like this.

[@stevenkilsdonk2046]

A tiny tangent, but John Paul Jr had a dramatic last-lap IMSA win at Daytona. The video is in the first minute of this Motorweek Illustrated episode: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYG7lneMo76Za80

[@chardab8824]

Wow this was a rollercoaster from thinking hes a criminal to just a great engineer/driver and then back to criminal

[@PremierPrep]

This needs a movie.

[@all-starlocations8687]

Working on it

[@OscarLove]

Never heard the part about John Paul Sr killing 2 women and shooting his partner. Sounds like a Micheal Mann movie.

[@mattsharp2794]

As someone who went to ball state, and is also a racing fan, I am amazed I never heard of John Paul Sr.

[@papadragon695]

Finally, a video about John Paul Sr

[@JordanVeinotte11]

You need to do the Whittington brothers next

[@shaunmcgrath983]

JP Jr was a huge talent. Must have been a rough life being the son of that maniac. I saw them both run at Riverside in the 935 and it was night and day between the 2. Sr was a couple of seconds a lap slower thanJr. Jr would have that Porsche so pitched going through the esses at about 150mph, lap after lap. People were blown away with his car control. My father and I still talk about it to this day. He went to Germany in his peak and they went crazy for him over there. I don't think he had the best life even though he got to race at a high level. A bad accident and the prison sentence were the end of that. RIP Jr.

[@TxRsTer]

I think Miami Vice had an episode based on this

[@beansballcardblog]

Thanks for making this video. I knew top level about John Paul because Donald Davidson briefly touched it on TOGA, but he wouldn't talk about the story in any detail.

[@jacktheaviator4938]

The Whittington brothers were crooked, but they were fun and relatively harmless. My dad had a machine shop near Road Atlanta, and did alot of business with them making bespoke suspension parts. He said they were the nicest guys he has ever known, and incredibly generous. They gave away twice what they spent, and they spent ALOT. He also had some dealings with the Paul family, and he always said the son was far more dangerous than the father.

[@badbooking3221]

*Looks at title, thinks its a nascarman video* *opens* *sees its BFM* *gets popcorn*

[@BSNFabricating]

John Paul Sr was a villain... I always felt bad for his son, who I think was just another one of his victims, rather than an accomplice.

[@brandond73]

He lived in a house my dad built in Atlanta. He had secret hiding places behind walls.

[@all-starlocations8687]

What is the name of the development. I was at the house once with Chalice Paul when she was alive.

[@ryandoubleu.]

Gee, I wonder why they specialized in endurance races…

[@550LMS]

I met John Paul Jr in the Caribbean when I was younger. Very nice guy, talked at length about his drives in the Lola T600 and Porsche 935 at Le Mans.

[@chalicepaulDISAPPEARED]

Where and when did you meet him in the Caribbean. How can a serial killer be a nice guy? Please explain?

[@550LMS]

@@chalicepaulDISAPPEARED I was a teenager and was doing a bit of snorkeling, he pointed out to me where a moray eel was. Later in the restaurant he asked me if I saw the eel and I said yes and thanked him for pointing it out. He saw I was reading a car magazine and that's how we got to talking. Obviously I had no idea about his past, he just talked about our mutual interest of racing and he was surprised I knew about Lola's and the like given my age.

[@i3u3]

True fear doesn’t exi- Hearing John Paul

[@AeroGuy07]

The Paul's, the Whittingtons and Randy Lanier are part of the reason that IMSA was known as the International Marijuana Smugglers Association in the 70s and early 80s.

[@davecommentator]

Put together everything the Pauls, the Whittingtons and Randy Lanier got up to, and you could easily make a movie out of it. Fascinating.

[@chibby__]

We need a video about Randy Lanier

[@djobe420]

Aiden Millward has one on his channel

[@mazarati9]

@Chibby Marshall Pruett has two interviews with him on his youtube channel

[@backporchdriver3763]

I knew John Paul Jr. I only met Sr. Once or twice.

[@lord_moxley]

Here before Vice creates Darkside of Motorsports

[@johngancarcik5682]

I feel bad for those affected and his son and i hope that missing woman is found or something to give the family closure

[@thegetawaycat]

the most wanted man in motorsports would’ve been kevin harvick if chase elliott ended up missing the next round of the playoffs yesterday

[@vercingetorix444]

Lmfao

[@davidrice3337]

If anyone cared about NASCAR - Most people I know who used to be huge NASCAR fans including myself , couldn't name over 5 drivers In today's nascar - Hell, I betcha the France family gave those two bonus$ to keep it up -

[@cbracing808]

Omg my 2 favorite YT genres squished into one! This is amazing. Now I'm really curious how long this can go on for. We should help him make a list of criminal motorsport characters for him pull ideas from. I'll start 1) Pablo Escobar - ....no referance needed 2)Robert Boston - Fraud and Money laundering 3) James Monroe - Embezzlement 4) Randy Lanier - Smuggling 5)Don and Bill Whittington- Smuggling 6)Scott Tucker - Payday Loan scheme 7)Victor Lee- More cocaine 8) Gregg Loles - ponzi scheme 9)Jeremy Mayfield - 10)LW Wright - Shitty driver who scamed his way into the Winston 500. I definitely want to know more about this guy. He really pisses me off lol 😆

[@hehateme71]

I’m a simple man, I see a new video, I click.

[@KrazyKeith4]

Dislikes are from John Paul Sr and John Paul Jr

[@aureliobrighton1871]

Days have become sad at the pits ... no one earns a cockpit for successfully hurling a getaway car round police blockades anymore .. or starts out delivering Moonshine .. not even has to buy toiletpaper by the sheet at Le Mans . then 'Parc fermé' had a different flavour to some of the chaps :)

[@obscraft5375]

This is a beatiful video. Extremely informative

[@phoebeeileenbrooks110]

Yet another well written piece by BFM. I wish justice of some sort for the families involved.

[@Maverick33]

You need to do a video about the serial killer who competed in the 12 Hours of Sebring. Christopher Wilder. Very strange and intense at points

[@bluedog373]

Had a drink in an airport bar with Paul Sr. He was pleasant... JPjr. was a great guy.

[@chalicebarrett-paul3715]

Was Chalice alive still then?

[@bluedog373]

@@chalicebarrett-paul3715 Couldn't say.

[@laurataylor8179]

Thanks for sharing

[@tomjewell7759]

Movie script but it is too bad ass story for Hollywood.

[@SpyderSuasponte]

I remember his name in INDYCAR/CART. I was young at the time growing up in Indianapolis.

[@mattsisoler6125]

Stumbled on this at 2 am and couldn’t put it down. Great video Darian

[@speedwayanywhere6845]

Wow!!! Not too much gets by me in the racing world but that was a lot of details I wasn't aware of. Thanx bud

[@jinglebell61]

Future uploads: Not A Bust: Dick Trickle and Bad Seasons: Darrell Wallace Jr. 2021.

[@ownurhome]

John Paul Jr was legitimately FAST. As a crew member of the sister car with Pegasus racing (Bobby Allison) I saw it first hand 1985- at 24 hr. Daytona he put the Buick powered RC cola GTP on the pole after just a few laps......per Conte Racing “Our agreement with Buick, going into Daytona, involved three things. We said we would get them the pole, set a lap record and dominate the race while we were running. We did all of those things. We would not guarantee a win yet, but that’s coming.” Junior was arraigned in Jacksonville the day before he was to qualify for the Daytona 24-hour race in February. Asked if he felt the charges might affect his driving, he said no. The next day he was two seconds faster than any other driver in the international field as he averaged a record 126.278 m.p.h. over the 3.56-mile road course.

[@RazorSharp75426]

Yo, this is one of the most bizarre story in motorsports. I thought for some time that street racers go to proper motorsport or racing conmen was crazy shit but this (plus the Whittington story) is just crazier. Let's all delve into the craziest stories of Motorsport's Bizarre Adventure!

[@jefferyrobertson7520]

If You Remember Billie Harvey From The 70s Stock Car Driver He Was Charged With Gary Balough Under Cover Agent From FBI Back In 1980 South Florida

[@nolandavis9040]

Bruh where did you find all of this mess. And HOW TF did this guy not get arrested for the first disappearance?? BRUH!!!!

[@sethbomgardner9030]

$$$$. Also, how do you get away with probation when you get busted with over 1,500 pounds of weed? I'm guessing that's a combination of money and the Louisiana justice system.

[@mattheisen77]

Just wow dude! Great work and great story!

[@kevinmopar1211]

Drugs funding racing seems to be something Ive never thought of before, and oddly enough last night I watched the story of Randy Ranier on Netflix last night whom also used weed to fund his career. And lots of it. Bad Sport is the documentary if anyone's wondering.

[@amfk8079]

Love this! Thank you

[@T0nit0]

FBI on the search of this man…………..thanks Darian btw……………..

[@Actionronnie]

It's like Vice TV, The Dark side of Racing. 🏎️

[@Gamerplush17]

Do more scary Motorsports stories

[@lynlewis8606]

I thought this was gonna be about L.W. Wright

[@hrtvfan2870]

Looked up the Wikipedia article on John Paul Sr. out of curiosity and saw where his temper flared up at one moment in 1982 when John Jr. had just won the pole for a Camel GT race when John Sr. showed up and started berating his son for something minor; which led promoter Steve Earwood to observe that the younger John Paul "never did recover the rest of the night. He just looked beat." Based on that and some of the antics discussed in the video, I wonder if John Jr. may have feared for his life and whether that had anything to do with his deciding not to testify against his father.

[@lucastraman706]

The Crime in Sports podcast covered this It was absolutely hilarious

[@speedwayanywhere6845]

Wow, I kinda forgot about this. Its always had my curiousity. Thanx for the article

[@hi_c.v7289]

We need a story on the Whittington bros

[@orionexplorer]

I remember the Paul's racing in the late 70's and 80's. I knew that they got caught with drugs though murder I didn't know. This was when IMSA meant sarcastically but accurately the "International Marijuana Smugglers Association". This was around the time the Whittington brothers got busted for their drug dealings. It put a bad light on sports car racing at the time.

[@FMecha]

Sometimes I wonder which is wilder, this story or the plot to Racing Lagoon (a racing JRPG that is being translated right now).

[@Kenny7288]

Great work mate I thought I knew everything that mattered about Motorsport. I stand corrected. Interesting story great upload.

[@wolverine9632]

8:18 "he ended up taking her for a little joy ride" cuts to wreck. Nice.

[@mattskustomkreations]

Christopher Wilder would be the most wanted guy in motorsports. With this guy as a second.

[@need4speed5353]

10:38 this feels so weird to listen to because those are my parent's names lmao

[@ldnwholesale8552]

The headline pic for this looks like a Sprintcar driver I knew. THAT is where the similarity ends though.

[@aintplyn]

This man should have had a fish food company.. He sure fed them a few ppl ..

[@travishanner9970]

Great info, bro!! Love the video!!

[@CaseyMerritt-hq2ns]

Need to do one on Lazier and the Whittington's