Dale Jr. Download: Smugglers Blues with Gary Balough
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- A curious Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets deep with legendary racer Gary Balough about his role in the drug smuggling operation that led to his incarceration.
LISTEN:
Web: bit.ly/2H17XzJ
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Google: bit.ly/2Hw7l8d
Dale jrs podcast literally best thing in Nascar right now!!!!!!!!!!!!
And it aint even close. Well what Chastain is doing is awesome too. But other than that...............
Coffee with Kyle 'Hold my latte'
Disagree! Eric Jones is slowly becoming a top notch driver at a young 23 years old.
It’s the only thing about NASCAR that is doing well. If Dale Jr wasn’t around, NASCAR would be completely dead.
Dale is a great person
Gary balough is a true racer and a legend in his own time a man of his word
Thanks guys I am 63 and smuggled in the Keys for years and got 10 years in the fed. Greetings Gary and God bless you. It took my family from me too.
Captain Hook Good!
I did too, but got 8 years fed.
Wow, ballsy choice jr. Glad to see you have total control!
I have so many pictures and trophies from Gary and his days dominating Orlando and New Smyrna. My dad worked on his crew. He was so good to my family. I haven’t seen him since I joined the Air Force back in the 90’s but he helped make my childhood cool. Love this podcast. Thanks Jr.
My grandpa owned the Smyrna track and died not that long ago, I’m just now starting to get into racing and I’m unfortunate that I didn’t realize the beauty of what we had.
@@elihope5692 was Clyde your grandpa? He passed a long time ago so I don’t think that’s who are are talking about. I don’t know who owned it before or after Clyde/Robert. Very awesome family. I got to see Gary a couple years ago at NSS and hung out with Robert Hart for a little. Sorry to hear about your grandpa.
He had to be SOLID or he be dead
Watched him at dirt tracks in northeast, as far back as when he was in Hildebrandt’s #9. Mr. Balough belongs in hall of fame.
@@elihope5692 Golden age of racing thanks to your dad and racing legends like Mr. Balough.
I was waiting for this! I love that Dale is bringing such an eclectic group of people/racers on his podcast!
@@lskiller1903 OK. I didn't know it was a race, but I am happy for Mark...
@@lskiller1903 touche lol
@@lskiller1903 x
He ain't the only one either....he just got caught.
He needs to keep bringing on these outliers instead of family too. I love hearing from his family, but love hearing these stories you have never heard from the fringes.
Fascinating. I just watched the '82 Richmond 400 where Gary's troubles were mentioned in the telecast. I thought to myself "Hmm, I've never heard of this guy." And now, this podcast....amazing timing! Thanks Dale for your commitment to these types of people and their stories from NASCAR's past.
Gary, you rock. At the point in racing and you life. You did what it took to race. Lived up to your set backs.
I think this would be a great movie.
Listened to complete interview 2 days ago. One of the most riveting interviews in the history of motor sports
@@lskiller1903 why don't you get back to holding Mark's sack for him he said they were getting cold! LMFAO 😂🖕🏻
I worked with the warehouse that Bob Harmon approached about the All Pro deal. I saw Balough at the first All Pro race in Montgomery in the 112 car. He had Pete Hamilton advising him that day. He was a racer. He took a short cut and got caught. He was and still is a racer. Great Interview.
Bob Harmon is my uncle. He got the name Uncle Bob Harmon from me because, even once I was an adult, I continued to call him Uncle Bob. I grew up at Montgomery International Speedway, spending at least half of every summer at the track from 1963 to 1972 with Uncle Bob & Aunt Helen. My mom is Erin Lee, Uncle Bob's elder sister.
I remember mom telling me about this.
She died of a heart attack in the office at Odessa Speedway in August 1989.
Nascar bought him out for the 1990 season.
When you say warehouse, do you mean the jail Uncle Bob got him out of for that race?
Cool to see Uncle Bob's name, thank you. I miss them all very much.
I grew up in south Florida. My parents would take us to Hialeah speedway. We also took vacation during speedweeks in Daytona and new Smyrna. This podcast took me back to my childhood!
i grew up there too. haven't heard hialeah in years. shame it closed.
I raced a few times at Hialeah. Only track that I felt like I was racing in a city
Dale JR KILLING the game!! Gary Balough = OG, Legend, 🐐
You would love Junior Johnson’s story, it was immortalized in the article and movie The Last American Hero.
Agree 💯.
Some of the greatest memories in my life were with this man and his son Brian. RIP BB, miss you.
Somehow I’m just now stumbling on to Dales channel, and I can’t put the phone down! Great content!
Omg that’s so funny me too I’ve watched hours of this now it’s crazy I can’t stop
@@timmcgee7974 We too I may wet my panties with all the Joe Biden loving gun banning clowns on here...
And I’m finding it even later 😲
This was awesome junior. Glad you give him the chance to tell his stories...
I'm reading Balough's book currently. He suckered me in buying the book, and I'm glad, it's pretty fascinating!
All I'll say is "he's the biggest 'what if?' in North American racing history".
Wow man I would watch Gray during speedweeks in the 80’s and he was awesome
Always thought he could have been one of the great ones in NASCAR because he was the best on short tracks
Thanks for the interview JR
Gary's and Billy Harvey's teams would stay at The Islander in New Smyrna Beach during Speedweeks in the early '80s. We would open-up the dining room just for them when they returned from Samsula. Prime rib or Surf 'n Turf. They partied pretty hard!! After everyone got up and left for the bar, the waiters and waitresses, me included, would get on our hands and knees looking for buds of weed they might have dropped while rolling joints before heading out. Wild times.
Gary Balough was one hell of a driver and innovator !!!
Watched Gary regularly in the Northeast Big Block Modifieds, was there for every Syracuse win, joined the military and saw him run All-Pro at Five Flags, Mobile and Nashville. He was a great driver - it’s refreshing to hear and see someone own up to their life choices.
I’ve known this man and his family for years since i was a kid he is the most stand up guy you will ever meet and and awesome race car driver
Excellent video. Gary's honesty in telling his own life story is revealed so plainly in his talk and mannerisms. Live long and happy Gary. thanks.
@@lskiller1903 we have a rat here people.
One of the coolest stories of all time
Killin it with the podcasts Jr but we need full episodes on youtube.
These podcast are the best thing smokin on TH-cam and in NASCAR right now and this podcast here really took me back and brought up some good ol memories but memories that I'm glad to be done with.
I had the pleasure of watching Gary Balough race at Hialeah when I was a kid. Hands down the greatest driver to ever live.
Jeff DeMarcus I watched him too. Brack, Anderson, Balough in 84 or 237 and Griffins. These guys were wheel men
@@58bobw, Buddy Griffin was my favorite driver next to my Dad of course lol. There were some great racers out of the Miami area. I have to laugh when I hear Alabama Gang knowing Bobby,Donnie and Red were Miami boys.
@@jeffdemarcus160 I was a Chuck Johnson fan! About the only ford there. Went every weekend with my dad and Granddad.
@@thomasrowley9833 ,can't forget Mel Payne drove a Ford and Vance Murray did for awhile.
Dang! Podcast of the year! I remember being 22 and having Dirt Week at Syracuse ruined by Gary and the Batmobile.
I remember seeing Gary Balough race in the All American 400 at Nashville Fairgrounds in the early 80’s. Very good short track driver, beating Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace, Mike Eddy, Bob Senecker, Butch Miller, Junior Hanley and more.
these podcasts really lighten up the past and history into nascar. from its roots and heritage
Best guest yet. I must say JR, I absolutely love your podcast. Keep digging up some of these legends.....maybe try and get Steve Kinser or Sammy Swindell, bet they have some great stories
Kinser for sure as the King of the Outlaws. Love WOO.
Loving these interviews. Wish I had found it sooner. Would give anything if my brother and father-in-law could have been here for it. Man it would have been awesome.
Absolutely this podcast the best thing in NASCAR and man I’d really watch more if the sport and those who run it were more like him
Amazing ....right or wrong it is compelling ...best podcast going ...hands down
The most interesting interview I’ve ever seen!
Great interview ! No dumb questions- down to earth- heart felt questions . I lived that life he'a ah talkin'- not on the same scale but Same. The risks he took- but when he mentioned doing TIME- and away from family, friends & loved ones-- yep he Nailed it. Great interview
I kinda agree but when Jr kept asking why and why he kept smuggling it showed that he has never been in a financial position we’re nothing is going right and you kept falling into debt and it feels like you can never get out.
@@zacharyradford5552 Yeah, but drug smuggling is not smart. And not like Gary could not drive, right?
Fascinating story! Thanks for putting it out there!
Used to watch him race 237 and 84 at Hialeah Speedway 1971-1973. Favorite driver, used to tilt his head to to the left. Went to high school with my brother. . Favorite driver ALL TIME
Listened to the whole podcast on Stitcher, Awesome interview! I totally understand why he did the things he did back then! High paying sponsors were few and far between back then. He was chasing a dream back then!!
back then, back then, back then, back then...........................
Every team was looking for money to race. Most had morals enough not to haul dope. Don’t legitimize what he did. He was a criminal.
@@edhughes6854 And you are a butt pirate but we don't hold it against you! LMFAO 😂
Rusty Wells Being a butt pirate has no effect on anyone or anything other than my butt. Being in the dope business ruins lives.
@@edhughes6854 is that what you've been told?
LMFAOUPOS
Are you 13 years old or just really stupid?
Keep the faith brother ! Gary is huge here in Syracuse. Big controversy in 1980 when they brought the aero dynamic DIRT modified.
I think most of us have known someone like Balough. Decent guy, but no matter what cannot seem to walk the straight and narrow. It's sad because his family probably suffered more than he did.
Good one, Dale. Fascinating.
Thank you for put this on the air/web...
A long segment on TH-cam! Hell yeah!
Straight up Honesty This. Show and Dale are #1 Hands Down The Very Best Thanks Dale
We had some good ones at modified country usa , flemington nj was the 2nd largest state fairground in the usa now a Loews, 5/8 mile 128 mph avg speed (outlaw winged sprints ) , started out as indian ceremonial grounds , could of easliy been an historical landmark but politics and greed buried it all
Hot Shoe Gary Balough. One of the absolute best!
You do what you gotta do to get where you want to be! NO APOLOGIES!!! Love This Dude!!!
Dale Jr I enjoy your pod casts very much. On this subject look in to IMSA sports car racing. Jon Paul Sr and the Whiting Brothers. They both ran 935 Porsche race cars in that program. Both got arrested for their Pot work. Paul Sr built the biggest underground pot growing farm ever. On his race car he had no sponsor labels. I saw him race at Lime Rock in CT many times. One year he went off track on the day before the race and the front A arms and more was trash. The talk was he went to the Porsche parts truck and bought the needed parts for $50,000 cash. raced the race.
The Whiting Brothers were into airplanes. So flying pot was how they did it. They ran Kramer built slant nose 935 Porsche race cars. Both Paul Sr and the Whiting Brothers did well sports car racing.
History. Now Pot is becoming league in many states. I like the Cup Cars and still sports car racing.
Keep up the good work!
That is a very interesting story I think Black flags matter did something on that the fact one of the women involved is still missing
One of my joy's in life is looking in an honest man's eye's & knowing he's telling the truth. While we are human & continually make mistake's, this honest man survived, came home & shared this expeiriance. Thank you...
I wonder what Dale was thinking when Matt asked the serving time question. Great question! Well presented. This team brought us The Real, again. Thank you!
Yeah he saved it when it was getting kinda rambling by JR and Mike.
Greatest episode ever. Long live the112
IMSA was once not so jokingly called the International Marijuana Smugglers Association.
The Paul family was pro at part of it xD
Love this podcast it’s off the chain brother. I love this guy just a man that wanted to make it work so he could succeed at what he really loved doing.
Sammy Thomas Sure that’s why. I have a bridge I’d like to sell you.
Yes a long segment YES !!!!!
He won because when he was in the car that was the only time he wasn’t thinking about it, and the better he did on the track the more it distracted him from his future fate.
he was on top of the world in a way. every successful run was like winning a race. he loved the adrenaline rush of it.
Days of Thunder + Blow. I'm waiting for this movie!
weed*
blow is for losers
Not blow whatsoever. Weed only.
Im talking about the movie blow. Mixing the 2 movies. DoT and the movie Blow.
This was really fascinating ...... Thanks Jr. !
Owning up to a checkered past garners respect.
My Uncle, Bob Harmon, created the All Pro Slim Jim series. My mom worked every one of those races. I remember my mom telling me about Uncle Bob vouching for a driver & getting him out of custody to race, on his guarentee that the driver would report to prison after the race. It must this guy.
P76214
"Im not knocking drivers these days" Just seriously questioning their mental toughness
Lets make a movie of this please!!!
In the mid 1990's, a Gary Balough raced, in the World Cup 400 @ I-70 Speedway (Odessa, Missouri) and his main Sponsor was "Mary-Jane's Boatloads o' Potteries and Snacks, Shack". Different Gary Balough, probably and small World, either way.
Gary, you're an American treasure
Love the podcasts!! Amazing stories. Especially this one.
One thing that makes me upset is the fact that people serve time for a substance that grows naturally and was used for centuries as medicine. In fact, the word marijuana didn't exist before 1937, it was called to as cannabis. The US government classes it as a class 1 substance, meaning there is no medicinal value but yet the US government owes a patent, Patent No. 6630507.
Well said, yet it goes even deeper than that! If one looks into their "Con-trolled Sub-stance ACT", they actually show in black and white their MAKING of that switch they created, renaming it to "marijuana" while at the same time, calling it by it's horticultural label, "cannabis"! I've beaten the bastards at their own game at the FEDERAL level! No lawyers either, just the self against them all....knowledge is all it takes for anyone to do the same! That's why the age old saying is oh so true, "The pen is mightier than the sword!" It truly is indeed! As well as their infamous, "Ignorance of the Law, is NO excuse!" Wish I could catch up with Gary and share the knowledge I'm speaking of!
Hemp has been around for millenia and used in rope, clothing, medicine all kinds of things.
The smugglers blues with Gary blough was the best show you done thank you gary for your honesty I remember the news headlines when this happen understand totally way it was done being a real man Not having to worry about were you been gary b is a roll modle of that
Awesome story
I wish he would show the whole podcast in video! The clips are great!
That man's a legend around Derita
That was really good. 🤠🤪😜🌴🤔😳😲😎🌞🐊🤯 Hello from Orlando, Florida.
This guy is fascinating to listen to, even though I can't understand half of what he says.
Can't remember his name, but the guy in the booth asks really good questions of Gary. Listen to Gary talk about what it means to be imprisoned, away from family, being under the control of someone else 24 hours a day, and having no freedom. That's what prison must be like.
Matt Dillner
Fascinating story.
When I was a kid in Hialeah my mom used to yell at Gary and Pete Rintell for flying up and down the street, then we would get dressed and go root for them at Hialeah Speedway.
Great driver, just had some personal issues. I agree marijuana is not a hard drug and that he did some good with the money. Desperate situations make us do things. Respect.
Very intriguing.........Any info at all out there about Mario Rossi? Very interesting character during this time.....
Hot Shoes. Saw him many times racing at Birmingham and Montgomery.
He was at our Track Tonight...Midvale Speedway
Best dirt racer of all time
i watched Gary up in the northeast the man can drive and he can also skirt the rules like the batmobile at the syracuse fairgrounds for one
Wasn't it Junior Handley whom designed the batmobile? He's worth a story too!
When are you going to talk to Almendinger? He was a great racer that needed another chance. I felt he never got!
What an interview. Wow.
Gary is a true American. Rough time back then. #75 Jeff Orvil
Great one....
Wow ole hot shoes , he was one of my favorite drivers in the all-pro series
When your in that seat on Sunday and you know you got nothing to lose come Monday , You Win!
That’s is a great story!!! That was super funny!!!
I remember as a very young boy, watching Gary hot shoes, blue he would race here in Palm Beach for your gun speedway every winter and he was unstoppable. Nobody could really beat him when he came down he took everything but I also remember the rumors about the pot it was funny how it went on and on for years, it seem like everybody knew, but it was a long time before we ever got caught or told on as he says that the man can drive.
I have a new favorite race car driver
Where's his movie!? Awesome story!
Biggest secret in racing....lol
I gotta get Gary's book
I'm sure many people thank you for the quality marijuana you provided them on their Friday and Saturday night parties
Wow Dirty Mo that was GREAT
Thanks for this having the b____ to do this story. Obviously you know where nascar came from. I just wish the people running it would remember where they came from .
Is ballz the word you're looking for? ;-)
The World needs more Barry Dodson's.
Wasn't he a major road course racer financing his whole racing program from drugs?
@@sillygoose2508 No, that was John Paul Sr & John Paul Jr.
@@Slinger43 and maybe Mickey Thompson and robbie Gordon but this is just conjecture for liability purposes and I thought there was a bigger name formula racer that got busted for drug trafficking but I'm sure you're right
@@sillygoose2508 🤔...I don't recall a F1 driver/team being involved in trafficking. Rumor's were rampant throughout the 70-90's about many big-time racer's being involved in such doings. Raymond Beadle run'in stolen cars to Mexico, Felix Sabatis, run'in coke (Probably just because he's Cuban & stupid rich) Thompson mostly because of the way he & his poor wife were brutally murdered. Even Tim Richmond had rumor's swirling around him, mostly because of his association with Gary Balough & of course, his flamboyant life style. The list goes on, but as I said, it's just all rumor's that were NEVER proven. The convicted one's I know of are Gary, Randy Lanier, John Paul Sr & Jr, The Whittington Bros (Don-Bill) Darrell Alderman of the NHRA & that's all I can recall right now.
Totally agree with you. Barry Dodson was one helleva racer & an Outstanding human being 💪 RIP BD ✝️
Interesting interview
Raymond Beetle blue max💪🏼😎 nice to see JR with Rossi shirt one
Gary ran weekly at Orlando Speedworld in the mid 90s and they had a bounty if anyone could beat him. Ran a black number 3. Never knew about any of his history until I got older. Crazy stuff.
Man's an OG
That would be called "dead reckoning" the old way we did it back in the days!!
It's ALWAYS the conspirisy that gets ya!!!
Wow this was s great interview. Good perspective from the other side