Episode 385 -- Firestorm Reaction -- Two Accidents, Two Funerals, Same Track, Same Turn

Slugger Labbe, who served as Kenny Irwin's first Winston Cup crew chief, joins co-hosts Rick Houston, Steve Waid and Jeffrey Baker to remember the promising young driver. In this episode of The Scene Vault Podcast, we dive deep into the heartbreaking "Firestorm" era of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. We react to the tragic loss of Irwin at New Hampshire International Speedway—an event that, along with the loss of Adam Petty forever changed the sport. Hear the raw, unfiltered perspective of crew chief Slugger Labbe, who opens up about the immense pressure placed on Irwin to become the "next" Jeff Gordon ... and to uphold the incredible success of Robert Yates Racing's legendary number 28 entry. From his Rookie of the Year battle to his time at Robert Yates Racing and Team SABCO, we explore the talent that was lost too soon. Was the pressure too much? Did mechanical failure seal his fate? Join us as we remember a driver who had all the potential in the world. In this episode, we cover: The eerie similarities between the Kenny Irwin Jr. and Adam Petty accidents Slugger Labbe's emotional recount of the 2000 season The "stuck throttle" controversy at New Hampshire The pressure of driving the #28 for Robert Yates after Davey Allison and Ernie Irvan How these tragedies reshaped NASCAR safety forever Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices