Herm & Schrader: Rick Mast – Selling a Cow to Race in NASCAR

Date: November 6, 2025
Hosts: Kenny Wallace & Ken Schrader
Guest: Rick Mast
Producer: Dirty Mo Media / SiriusXM

Episode Overview

This episode features beloved NASCAR veteran Rick Mast, joining Kenny Wallace and Ken Schrader for a lively, heartfelt, and at times, deeply personal ride through racing history and life lessons. The conversation spans Mast’s rural Virginia roots, his humble beginnings in racing (including truly selling a cow to get his first race car), the historic Brickyard 400 pole win, the realities of fame, and rich, funny, and sometimes emotional reflections on what it all means. The discussion is both hilarious and touching, filled with stories never before shared so candidly.

Main Discussion Themes

• Rick Mast’s upbringing in Rockbridge Baths, Virginia
• The transition from rural farming life to NASCAR
• The epic tale of the first Brickyard 400 and winning the pole
• Navigating NASCAR’s changing landscape and traditions
• The value of humility, hard work, community, and change
• The friendship and mutual admiration among “the Kennys” and Rick Mast

Key Segments & Insights

Hometown Roots & Humble Beginnings

[03:56–11:18]

• Rick Mast shares about his tiny hometown of Rockbridge Baths, VA (pop. ~100), the local history, and the healing moss of “the Bass” resort once frequented by Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee.
  • “You just light up, you know, when that racing stuff showed up in the mail.” —Rick Mast (02:10)
• Mast’s upbringing was simple—country, resourceful, “very Tom Sawyer existence.”
• Explanation of the friendly rivalry between West Virginia and Virginia.
  • “Around here, it’s not a big deal…but you get to that line, it becomes serious.” —Rick Mast (09:14)

First Brickyard 400 – Making History at Indy

[11:49–32:10]

• Kenny Wallace introduces the Indianapolis Motor Speedway moment: Mast set quick time and won the pole for the inaugural Brickyard 400.
  • “You are etched in history forever…at 171.726 mph. You are in the history books forever.” —Kenny Wallace (12:01)
• Rick reflects:
  • The event’s hype—two years building up, 50,000 fans at a tire test.
  • Overwhelming press attention, new rules (the “yellow coats” and formality of Indy), and a culture shock for NASCAR teams.
  • “I ain’t never seen so much press…there were people there I never seen before. It was the damnedest thing.” —Rick Mast (15:58)
• Detailed walk-through of a lap at Indy: Taming the flat, fast, intimidating corners—“At the end of the straight, all you see is a friggin’ wall…you gotta make a sharp 90-degree turn and it’s flat. Your foot says keep it in, your brain says you stupid ass, this can’t work!” (19:49–22:03)
• Sharing a special moment with Dale Earnhardt Sr. before the race, and the pressure delivered directly by Bill France: “Do not embarrass me or this sport.” —Bill France, recalled by Rick Mast (29:13)
  • “At that moment, Dale Earnhardt was humbled.” —Rick Mast (29:53)
  • “You know I’m leading that first lap, Rick.” —Dale Earnhardt Sr. to Rick Mast (29:58)

Tradition, Change, and the Magic of Indy

[32:41–36:12]

• The shifting significance of Indy for NASCAR—transitioning to the road course, and the loss of “the magic” of the original Brickyard event.
  • “It was totally magical…hard to put a word to what that event was.” —Rick Mast (34:32)

From Selling a Cow to Racing

[40:24–44:47]

• The origin of Rick Mast’s racing journey: literally selling his 4H calf to buy his first race car.
  • “I sold this dude for $575…went and picked up that ’57 Chevy race car that was wrecked, with a motor and a little trailer, and that’s how it started.” —Rick Mast (41:04)
  • “Sixth race out, we won with that car.” (42:22)
• A run-in with the law for speeding (“before I had my driver’s license”), paying his own fine after a judge’s stern warning, and using his race winnings to do it.

The Power of Calm & a Transformative Friendship

[44:47–57:54]

• Kenny Wallace describes a pivotal moment when Rick advised him to “calm down” on pit road at Dover, a piece of advice that changed his life.
  • “You don’t know this, but you saved my life.” —Kenny Wallace (45:56, tearfully)
• Rick’s approach: growing up witnessing fights at the track, realizing the value of peace early, plus lessons from legends like Richie Evans.
  • The last words Rick heard from Evans before his fatal crash: “Work hard, treat people right, and be happy.” (50:05)
  • “It made me realize there’s a bigger picture than this lap you just ran.” —Rick Mast (51:07)

Success, Survival & Earning a Cup Ride

[57:54–62:59]

• Reflecting on helping others, the importance of empathy, and the challenges of making it in NASCAR without backing or a “clique.”
• The story of landing the Skoal sponsorship with Richard Jackson while $50,000 in debt—the behind-the-scenes of making it, including the decadent sponsor trips and the instruction not to “embarrass the company.”
  • “If you win on Sundays, that’s just icing. All I ask is, do not embarrass me.” —Lou Bantle, CEO of US Tobacco (62:21)

The Sacrifices and Lasting Impact of Racing

[63:09–65:28]

• The cost of commitment to racing—putting it over family and faith until making it to Cup.
  • “I put it before God, before my family, before my finances, because all I knew was I had to have my race car on the track at 8 am, and I had to be able to win.” (63:20)
• A companion anecdote from Jeff Burton on similar sacrifices and the after-effects on family.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On racing’s impact:
  “My daughter Brooke does not like NASCAR today…she said, ‘Dad, I saw what it did to you.’” —Kenny Wallace (64:44)
• On staying grounded:
  “It’s kind of like being anointed by the Pope, you know?” —Rick Mast on being accepted by Richie Evans (49:29)
• On helping others:
  “You…come across to me as one of those guys that’s just good-hearted, sober. I wanted you to succeed.” —Rick Mast to Kenny Wallace (56:05)
• On beginnings:
  “We call it a shop: it was four poles and a stick over the top.” —Rick Mast (41:30)
• Motivational mantra:
  “Work hard, treat people right, and be happy.” —Richie Evans / Rick Mast (50:05)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Rick Mast’s Hometown & Family Roots: 03:56–11:18
• The Brickyard 400 – Setting the Pole: 11:49–32:10
• The Magic & Decline of Indy: 32:41–36:12
• The Cow Story & Early Racing: 40:24–44:47
• Kenny’s Life-Changing Conversation with Rick: 44:47–57:54
• Getting the Skoal Deal / Making It Big: 57:54–62:59
• Racing Sacrifices & Family Reflections: 63:09–65:28
• Emotional Closing Remarks: 65:28–66:58

Tone & Final Thoughts

The episode delivers everything fans love about Herm & Schrader: rich stories, raw honesty, big laughs, and genuine affection between friends. Rick Mast’s storytelling is full of humor and humility, while Wallace and Schrader bring out deeper insights and humanity—showing what it really takes, and what it sometimes costs, to live a dream in NASCAR.

For More

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