It was Ricky Rudd who spun and hit Mike Rich at Atlanta, not Geoff Bodine. Rudd had taken over the 5 car in 1990 as Bodine had moved to Junior Johnson's 11 car. Otherwise, great vid!

Morgan Shepherd was the only driver who can *roller skate, lead a lap at Darlington, then park it and crack open a Mello Yello* in only an afternoon... lol

Morgan Shepherd once left a message on my answering machine apologizing that my t shirt and hat I bought from him was late being shipped. I couldn’t believe the man himself called my house. I was 15 yrs old. Racing with Jesus!

Let us not forget that in 2011 he stopped a shoplifter in Las Vegas.

Oh he was a boss, and made a legit run at the championship in 1990. To say he owned at Atlanta would be an understatement.

I met him at Pocono in 1992 when I was 7 years old. He actually let us on to his motor coach, posed for pictures with me and my father after the brutal 500 mile race! Class act!!

Morgan was incredibly underrated. He was top-5 in points in the mid-90s, then age and lack of equipment caught up with him. I met him finally 3 years ago, he couldn't have been nicer.

Keep in mind this man lost a Daytona 500 by a car length to Davey Allison. That’s not much.

Morgan Shepherd is a true NASCAR Legend

I hope he gets a HOF spot, considering he was racing till he was almost 80.

Neil Bonnett is another driver that could deserve a video like this. A lot of people just think of him as Dale's fishing buddy, but he had 18 cup wins. That's tied with guys like Kasey Kahne, Harry Gant, and Geoff Bodine.

I met Morgan Shepherd years ago, got to hear his testimony, and I have to say, he is a super nice guy.

When I was little, I used to think German Shepard’s were Morgan Shepard’s.

I worked with Morgan Shepherd. I learned a lot from him and he had a lot of great stories in his past. At his shop is all of his trophies including the 1993 Motorcraft 500 trophy. Very big. He also have the grand father clock from Martinsville in the crew member house that was an office when he was racing full length races 10 years ago. He made the office into an a small apartment if he have volunteers or crew that don't live in the area so they can sleep in there so they don't need to spend money for a motel.

every time i look back at old championship standings on racing reference, I'm like "oh wait, morgan shephard used to be good" lol

Don't forget, Brock Beard has a doc about Shepard on his channel.

Oh Morgan was and is still an absolute badass in Nascar, imagine if he raced in the cup series when he was in his 20s...

Being that old and still being though to compete is just awesome even if he dosen't do well

At his age racing at all in NASCAR, that's hall of fame worthy itself.

Morgan Shepherd is a true underdog, and based off of his testimony and the way he carries himself publicly, a pretty nice guy. And when you did all your interviews in 2020 at the track, his was the one I looked forward to the most. And you asked all the right questions. And did it tactfully Darian.

My earliest dateable memory is Morgan's last win. So I was fortunate enough to remember his better years. A small correction: Morgan was not the oldest first time winner at the time. Wendell Scott was 42 when he won at Jacksonville. Some more factoids about Morgan: His win at Martinsville was Pontiac's first win since 1963, and the only win they got from 81-82. Considering their driver lineup included Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty, we can conclude that Pontiac wasn't very good in this period. Also, it was the only win Cliff Stewart's team got during the '80's, even though he'd eventually get drivers like Geoff Bodine and Rusty Wallace. At the Bristol night race in '81, Morgan led over 100 laps in Cecil Gordon's car. That team had led all of 23 laps in the previous 11 years! He then got Ron Benfield's team it's only top ten points finish, and got more top tens in J.D. Stacy's Buick than Tim Richmond. At this point his career was a lot like David Reutimann's: Got started in his late '30's, had some impressive results, but lost major backing by his early '40's, and started bouncing around in junk rides. But while Reuti just quietly faded away, Morgan got his career turned around in a huge way with his Atlanta win in '86 (the only win the Buick Lesabre got outside of Daytona or Talladega). Then take a look at his 1988 results. He won a pole for Tom Winkle's crappy #97 team (33rd in owner points that year), led a bunch of laps and finished second at Dover while subbing for an injured Harry Gant, who hadn't had a single top five all year, and got a top five for Buddy Baker's team as well. He was more consistent at RahMoc than Neil had been, and won the Australian exhibition race. Then he hops over to Bud Moore's #15, and in only 11 races, he equals Brett Bodine's top ten total for that car in the last two years. Turned a team that seemed like a midpacker back into serious contenders. And at the Woods', he outperformed a much younger Dale Jarrett(!) and did better than his successor Michael Waltrip. Then he went back to RahMoc, which was 33rd in points with Todd Bodine, and brought them back to the top 20 (becoming the oldest driver to get a top 20 points finish in the process). With his third place finish at Atlanta the next year, he became the second oldest driver to get a top five finish (Dick Trickle was the oldest). Bottom line, for the better part of 20 years, Morgan was a guy who consistently exceeded expectations. Bonus fact: He has raced more numbers than any other driver in the modern era, second only to Tiny Lund all time.

Me: [watching more modern NASCAR races of the past several years, spots Morgan Shephard as a backmarker, ignores him the majority of the race] Me watching older races: [spots Morgan Shephard running Top 10 or Top 15] Also me: *"Wait a minute..."* [goes back to the newer races and spots Morgan Shephard] And that's how I was introduced to him.

Met him at a country buffet next to Darlington. He is a very nice man.

I started watching NASCAR in the late 80s so I knew of Morgan success with the Wood Brothers! I became friends after I moved to Charlotte with a gentleman who went to hundreds if not thousands of races from short tracks to cup from the 60s to the late 80s! I remember not long after meeting him he said Morgan was better than Jeff Gordon and Rusty Wallace and others! I was blown away by that comment! He told me just how great Morgan Shepard was at the short tracks in the 60s and 70s in the Carolinas and the south in general actually! He said the same thing about Harry Gant also!

Morgan Shepherd is actually one of my favorite drivers and in my opinion one of the most underrated drivers.

Awesome to see a guy compete and not have to compromise his convictions as well as winning in one of the toughest eras of nascar history

Racing With Jesus!

My first race in person was at the the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 in October 2003 at Atlanta. The race was postponed to Monday after they ran a few laps because it started pouring down rain. Me, my Dad, my Uncle and a few cousin all stayed the night in a old GMC van, the ones with the lay down back seat and the little TV, it was like a 80 something model. My Dad and Uncle bought me and my cousin some cloths from one of the tents since we got completely soaked and them and our other older cousin all just slept in their boxers and let their pants air dry. My dad about me some Jeff Gordon pants and my Uncle got my cousin some Kevin Harvick pants. The next day we watched the race and my favorite driver, Jeff Gordon won. It was one of the best experiences of my life, it was awesome. So I agree with Morgan Shepherd, Thank God for Atlanta.

My Dad has been friends with a family at our church for decades. They're good friends with Morgan. The main patriarch had his own Cup team in the 80s, and Morgan drove 2 races for them. 15-20 years later Morgan repaid the favor and helped their two sons, who are my Dad's age get their start in racing and gave them some equipment to run select Busch races, and in more regional series. They still keep in touch to this day, and have nothing but praise for Morgan and how great a driver, but an even greater man he is

NASCAR needs unique personalities like Shepherd in the sport again.

Great video! Since you seem to really appreciate NASCAR history, I'd love to see a video on Joe Ruttman. One of the most accomplished NASCAR drivers to never win a cup race. Was one of the best truck drivers in the early days. Led the most laps in the Daytona 500 once, and even led the points after 2 races in 1983. I think there is a good story there!

No speed limit? WTF I knew that safety was an afterthought in the old days but holy

Him and Dave Marcus were always the ones I pulled for. Especially Dave with his wing tip boots for racing shoes. Lol

Great video. Morgan is a legend. An addendum to his story, 2011 when Tony Stewart paid for his tires at Miami Homestead after getting wrecked at Phoenix the week before in the Nationwide, now Xfinity, race. The good karma of helping the Jesus car paid off for Tony as he caught multiple breaks with the weather to win the race and the Cup Championship. That was truly supernatural.

Good video! I loved watching Morgan growing up in that green Jesus car. You mentioned Joe Nemechek winning with four teams, but Ricky Rudd won with six teams, almost making it seven teams with a few runners ups driving for Wood Brothers. Not sure if that is what you meant, just something I noticed.

Morgan is just a diehard racer. His passion, dedication to compete regardless of his age or health. His attempts to help Landon Cassill when he couldn’t race. He’s a HoF worthy guy

In the 80s and 90s when you rolled into Atlanta, Morgan Shepherd was always up front. Great vid on shining a well deserved spotlight on him.

He's my personal favorite driver to ever get behind the wheel of a Wood Brothers car.

I met Morgan Sheppard at a roller rink in 1993 when I was 10 and he had his hero cards in his car and signed and gave me and my sister one man I loved living near lake Norman

Always great to see more Morgan Shepherd content. Well done, BFM!

Morgan was decent back in the day,the good ole days when you could run 80 m.p.h. Down pit road

I love seeing NASCAR's "hat man", Bill Brodrick, in every victory lane back in the day. I remember growing up thinking, "who the heck is this wolverine looking dude who keeps trying to steal the spotlight". lol Found out much later that he actually worked as a representative for Unocal 76 as the victory lane organizer or whatever due to the deal NASCAR had with Unocal 76 being NASCAR's fuel supplier at the time.

Morgan Shepherd and Dick Trickle were legends.

Morgan is the man! Of course I'm biased though so...😅

You should do a video on the only NASCAR and Monster Jam driver, Camden Murphy! A underwhelming driver in nascar but amazing in Monster Jam.

I, too, was exposed to that cool looking Racing For Jesus #89 as my introduction to Morgan Shepherd. It genuinely makes me happy to know just how good he was at his best.

One of my favorite underdogs. I remember going to Dover in person around 2012 or 2013, when he had the 1 man pit crew member to change tires and add gas in the car and basically working on the car during the pit stops.

Morgan shepherd has always been one of my favorites! Also another of my favorites is Dave Marcis but no one ever talks about him.

Damm I miss Morgan shepherd his team was supposed to show up last season but they haven't been around due to COVID-19

Wow, what you said about the coins Morgan Shepherd gave you is so cool! The nearest I have come to that story was while on placement from University at a Rallycross team based in Scotland, at the second round of the 2018 British Rallycross Championship, the driver of the team I was with, Mark Higgins, ended up winning that race and somehow I found myself in possession of the winner's baseball cap (that was given to the winner for the podium ceremony). Great video Darian, as always, since I discovered your channel last year, it has (in conjunction with S1apsho3s) broadened my horizons about NASCAR more than would have thought possible. As soon as Covid restrictions ease and money allows, I would quite happily cross the pond to watch a NASCAR race :)

When I worked at my local Sam’s Club in college, Morgan came through my checkout line a few times. Super nice guy. He was definitely one of my favorites as a kid when he drove for the Wood Brothers.

I hope Dinner with Racers interviews the “Hat Man” from Victory Lane.

I have to say looking Atlanta speedway back then is better than the current version. Morgan Shepard in viewing this video, we all have to appreciate the underdog and also has humble appreciation of his contribution of the sport. Plus his skating abilities in a track is pretty cool.

Morgan Shepherd deserves to be in the HOF.

This was such a good video. I was born in '86 and Shepherd was my fav driver growing up. Still my all-time favorite next to Bryan Clauson. He's such a character, too. Thanks for doing all this research and creating this video to tell the story of Morgan's career.

Every win he got he started by thanking God And dude had a really long career to show for all his troubles, like I always looked for Morgan to be in the race, cause I genuinely enjoyed seeing his love for racing,I mean you don't race that long with only moderate success and not love it

Remember that time he stopped a shop lifter...

Morgan Shepherd is the GOAT

I was never a big fan of Nascar, but when I did follow it, Morgan Shepherd was my favorite. His Remington ride was so freaking cool. Thank you for this!

You should make this a series. Some names I thought of Ken Scharder Neil Bonnett Michael Waltrip Jamie McMurray Sterling Marlin Jeremy Mayfield Elliott Sadler

He was still (somewhat) competitive in his 60s and early 70s before the start and parks started happening

Unpopular Opinion: Shepherd is Top 50 of all time!

You do such a great job of finding and piecing together these videos. I love that a young person such as yourself is so interested in nascar history. Insert yourself into these videos so we can see you and your personality.

forgot Atlanta was called “super Speedway”

anybody remember joey coulter

I remember seeing his Xfinity car back in 2008, it had a similar scheme to the 29 RCR car which he would end up having a partnership 2 years later.

Underrated driver and great man. Thanks for making this video!

If he had had Hendrick Power or back then Junior Johnson, he could have at least won more races

Future uploads: Ricky Rudd Was Better Than You Think and Championship Seasons: Mike Skinner 1995.

4:14 Jack Beebe's team didn't even exist after 1986.

This is my favorite video you’ve ever made. And you’ve made some good ones.

Please do one of these on Ricky Rudd, way better than most think.

Reasons For Morgan Shepherd to get into the HOF: Oldest driver to run a NASCAR event in the top 3 series Great Busch Series driver Over 50 years in NASCAR Extremely good in the Late Model Sportsman Series (including the championship in 1980) Kicked A$$ in something like 27 of 29 races in one of the Seasons in Late Model Sportsman or one of the other lower series Can roller skate And most of all, he's a genuinely good human being.

It’s all fun and games till you get taken out by a car that’s 15 laps down

Well-researched video; Shepherd sounds like a really interesting character! Cool that you got to interview him. I'd love to see it - do you have a link?

I saw him roller skate and win one Sunday in Martinsville. After the cup 500 in October they would wait a few weeks then have another 500. It was 250 laps modified and then 250 lap Busch Series race. Morgan won that race on a last lap pass when Harry Gant ran out of fuel heading for the checkers.So we know Morgan won himself a grandfather clock. At the end of his career, Morgan ran several unsponsored seasons in his own car, Some times he just had no sponsor, but then he ran several years with a crucifix and Jesus in big letters on the hood, you might remember these cars. I assume he was just scraping by with 36th place - or there about prize money, but was never very fast as a field filler. But, yes Morgan Shepherd of Conover, NC did have quite a few years in sponsored teams and picked up a few trophies along the way. I remember!

NASCAR need to do a race dedicated to every soul that’s given their life for this sport.

I was about 7 or 8 and went to the "spring" race at Atlanta in 1993. I remember being confused about how Morgan Shepherd won. I had been watching all the races on TV for a couple of years by then and, understand I was young, but I was still in shock that this Morgan Shepherd guy won. I wanted my boy Davey to win! Who the hell was this Morgan Shepherd guy? You brought back some memories with this one.

Morgan ran down a purse snatcher in vegas 2017-18. Guys mug shot looked like he ran into mike tyson

Been saying this for years about him, glad somebody others feel the same!

Morgan Shepherd comes in wearing rollerblades. XD

When I was going to hickory mother speed way, Morgan, Harry, and Tommy Houston was winning everything, I was a Houston fan.

6:37 "Sorry S1ap"

We need guys like that. I had no idea what his stats were, but top 5 in points against guys like Dale and Rusty shows he had some good runs. Cool story, thanks for sharing that.

I wanna see the pennies.

First car I ever got in the Racing Champions premier line was Morgan Shepherd's #21 car. Little bit worse for wear but it still has visible numbers and the Citgo logo on it and not too much paint has been chipped off.

I’m telling you. You put that guy on the right team and he’s a championship winner.

Great Video

I’m a starting to realize how good (Morgan Shepard)he was after watching a lot of these races in the 90’s 4th place finishes every where. 2nd place’s everywhere. Just watched a race where if he had 1 more lap he probably would have caught Ernie Irvan for a win. He was just as good as anyone else. Also just watched the 1993 motorcraft quality parts 500 Morgan Shapard won by 18 seconds over 2nd place Ernie Irvan.

nice work-

And then! he became a preacher.. good man 💯👊💯

Wait, do his roller skates have lights on them at the end? If so, that alone makes him the GOAT!

Thats cool he gave u something. Hell. I met chocolate myers at rcr in 2019, coolest day of my life. So far. Wanna meet rc and jimmie johnson

2:00 I swear I thought he was about to say “this win meant that he was locked into the playoffs”

Morgan shepherd could a easily been a cup champion had he ever got a good full time ride an not been jus a super sub pretty much his whole carrer

I wish there was still a track like the old Atlanta circuit.

Get to see his old car everyday at work. #89

Jeff Gordon = Tom Cruise, Days of Thunder Morgan Shepherd = John C. Reilly, Talladega Nights

Ya just gotta love this guy.

Morgan old school, Hickory, he just keeps on ticking!