Jimmy Means: We Had To Get Creative To Compete 

Jimmy was the real deal in the 1990's. Imagine what he could have done with better equipment. But his legacy to the sport is what he did with what he had. Thank you, Junior for having Jimmy on your show. Much appreciated.

Possibly the best episode to date. Jimmy Means doesn't have "quit" in his soul.

I'm 39, so my introduction to Jimmy was unfortunately the JD McDuffie accident. It wasn't until later I realized what a stud this dude was. Class act!

Jimmy means is a great man. A legend and hero. Always hope he would have got a break and make big. It wasnt lack of talent. Its $$$. But hes still trying.

Love hearing these past drivers talk about the best days of Nascar!!!

That powder blue racing champions die cast was one of my favs growing up.

Now Dale that would be something to get your hands on.....Get ahold of Jd's old blue (1967-1972 Chevrolet C60 CrewCab ) and restore it. That is a piece of nascar racing history if anything is.

I love how dale knows all the answers to most of questions he asks but he's still over the moon when he hears it from jimmy

Great to see the man, Jimmy Means. Great racer and respected by so many.

This guy seems super genuine and a very level man. Awesome interview.

I used to love the design of the Alka-Seltzer car he used to drive.

Means was one of the true independent racers. When McDuffie went straight into the fence after the wheel assembly broke, Means was underneath and luckily McDuffie's Pontiac didn't land on top of his Pontiac. Sad that McDuffie passed away that day. #52 car.

We always pulled for Jimmy Means. I know where his shop is. We pass it every once in a while .

So many drivers with all kinds of stories, thanks Jr, for bringing all this out here to share with us

His Alka seltzer pontiac was one of my favorite paint schemes and his NAPA scheme was really good as well

I got thinking the other day, I’d love to see Jerry Nadeau as a guest on here.

It is so incredible to hear these legends speak amongst other legends. I love watching the podcast Dale. I hope to see many more podcasts in the future.

Jimmy has always been a really good guy. We used to stop by at Forest City once in a while and he was always friendly and welcomed us.

first rule of dirty mo club.Its never cheating!

PLEASE have the Allisons on while they're are still alive and with us

My introduction to him was when I was 7 years old in the 2nd row of Turn 6 at Riverside when Jimmy got forced inside and off the track entering 6 coming up the hill. All that Riverside dust had been worn away and it left a lip and Jimmy got forced into the dirt and cut that corner. He hit that lip and went airborne. To me he was about to sail over our heads like Free Willy. It seemed like it took forever, and then people started scrambling but of course he wasn't that high. He did slam into the wall nose first right in front of us. That's how I remember it anyway. Thought about it a lot. Never forgot Jimmy Means and that number 52 flying through the air right at me. Wish I could find video! I'm sure i wasn't nearly that spectacular but it is in my memory :)

#1, I like Jr's great respect for the history of NASCAR and racing in general. #2, When at the tracks, I always watched where Jimmy, #52, and the other independents were running. These were the guys that were really committed to it racing with second hand tires and old stuff from the richer teams.

Have more respect for Smut than any 10 of the current drivers put together!

Jimmy rules. I was introduced to him from the Stapleton channel, Jimmy showing off his ingenuity

Jimmy Means, J.D. McDuffie, Buddy Arrington, H.B. Bailey, Bobby Wawak...Always rooted for those guys...

When I think Jimmy Means two words come to my mind. Alka Seltzer.

6:24 that's some broken finger right there. So many great stories.

This was great! Although I pulled for Bobby Allison then Mark Martin, I was always rooting for guys like Jimmy Means, Lenny Pond, Dick Trickle, Rick Mast and Jimmy Hensley to run well.

I remember watching qualifying at Dover in the early 90s (when it was still asphalt) and watched Jimmy Means qualify for the race in a car with an engine that was down a cylinder.

Proud to have seen Jimmy “Smut” Means #52 many times at the Nashville Fairgrounds. I’m talking 1970’s. Good guy!

I can’t wait to listen to this podcast, I’m on vacation right now but when I get back this the one I’m listening to on my first run

Much respect to Jimmy. Dale thanks for making these videos!

Jimmy is still a local hero here in Huntsville AL!!!!

I've been a Jimmy "Smut" Means fan forever. I remember him racing at Huntsville Speedway in Huntsville, AL. I have a ton of respect for him, the late J. D. McDuffie, Ronnie Thomas, D. K. Ulrich and the other independents. I remember when Richard Childress was an independent!

The independents did what they could with what they had. Jimmy Means had a big break at the fall race at Charlotte in 1987. Probably would have secured a sponsor or maybe drive for Hendrick, but a wreck early in that race dashed his hopes. But he continued no matter what. Maybe if he had the money or was given the chance to drive for a top team, Jimmy 'Smut' Means would have won some races.

Had a teacher in school, jimmy means was her dad, she would talk about playing in the floor of the shop while her dad jimmy and dale earnhardt sr would work on cars, she was pretty cool,

Great interview. Dale is really knowledgeable.

Truth and Honesty Always a Great Show If all of media would be like Y’all things would be a lot better in this country Thanks to All at Dirty Mo

Awesome enjoy listening to your podcasts.

While working with Cecil Gordon in the mid 70's, I remember first seeing Jimmy Means at the fairgrounds in Nashville. Jimmy was fast and a strong competitor..

I love sterling marlin I miss him racing cup, Jimmy has good stories and man the history he has

I'm from the the same town his race shop is in. Forest city NC. It's a very small race shop compared to my most places.

Sounds like you need to get Brad Teague on the show

Great interview the Racing in the old days it was never cheating only creative engineering Wishing everyone at Dirty Mo Media well Take Care Guys

I grew up some in Huntsville and everyone there really liked Jimmy Means. I also had an Uncle that did alot of Dortrack racing bit he was able to get a guy named Elden Dotson in to Daytona once.

Buddy Arrington would also be a good one to host

Good interview!

I'll never forget your reactions, Smut. When JD spun you went to work. I'll never forget it.

Get Bill Elliott or Cale Yarborough on there.

I was always rooting for Jimmy, seems like he had a shop in Huntsville, AL

I remember watching the Richmond race and was at The Glenn when JD was killed. I also clearly remember that terrible week at Daytona in 1994 when Neil Bonnet and Rodney Orr were killed it was the year that Hoosier was trying to get into Cup racing and to get more speed out of their tire it was a half inch narrower on the idea a small contact patch means less rolling resistance and thus obtain higher top speeds. Officially NASCAR reports that both cars broke shock bolts which caused both cars to become uncontrollable. I also remember the dog and pony show Burton Smith put on dropping old Cadillacs from a crane nose first to find out how to make NASCAR racing safer. It took the death of Dale Earnhardt in 2001 for NASCAR to get off their dead ass to make the HANS device mandatory and to install safer barriers.

Jimmy Means a name to be remembered!

I really miss the way racing used to be...

Thanks, Dale. Jimmy deserved this.

Love Jimmy Means... Get Harry Gant please.

I always pulled for ole Jimmy Means , JD Mc. Jimmy Horton because of the fact being underdogs…. Life give ya strange curves sometimes ‼️ I’m here to say years after Horton gave cup up , we put together a dirt track car ran at a few local dirt some asphalt tracks in Southern New Jersey and low and behold! We ended up pitting along side of Horton all season. I’m a collector so …. Lol… every sat race nite I would bring something else for Jimmy to sign ! One nite I handed him a 1/24 size car to sign and he says God Dam !,! I didn’t know that NASCAR produced the amount of items of mine that you are bringing me to sign …….✌🏼 Too Funny #32 Active Trucking Chevrolet boyyyyy … we raced Jimmy for the championship that year and yup ! We took the $ ! I have to say Jimmy was in a wreck and also hurt for the later half of that season !

JR. you need to get Jimmy to write a book " how to race on a national stage with grocery money" serious he needs to write a book.

JM started at my local track---he was the hardest working racer ever

Why in the world do they not release the full length in video format here?

Wow, this was cool. I remember watching Brad Teague drive the yellow #3 57 Chevy at Johnson City and Kingsport dirt tracks. John A. Utsman and his brother Layman battled Brad and big Bill Morton all the time. The Sportsman Speedway in Johnson City was my favorite. Later on, Buck Simmons ran there also. Great memories.

Overlay some picture of these cars to which you refer; some of us, although life long fans, cannot recall some of these cars.

Legend.

I know you probably don’t check your comments but Dale, where do you get your shirts? Love the variety

I wonder how Sandy Jones, Jimmy's Crew Chief, is doing these days, he'd be about 70 yrs old ? Great Christian guy. He mentioned him @ 9:05.

I'll never forget the day ole JD McDuffie was killed. Had a house full of friends over drinkin' beer & watching the race. As soon as Jimmy Means looked into JD's car and frantically motioned for paramedics to hurry up, I knew right away. I told all my friends at that very moment "JD is dead! ". My friends were all saying "Nah, he's just hurt". They all changed their tune when the rescue workers started holding up sheets or boards to block the view of the cameras as they pulled him out of the car. What a sad day, for one of the very last independent racers.

YES, Secret Car Tech!!!!!

Respect.

I still have an Alka Seltzer press kit.

Hello Jimmy..... It is Dave from Canada.... Remember me ?????

Jimmy means is a HELL of a man and now we know what really happened to bonnets car

fun fact.he was 1st on the scene 4 jd mcduffies fatal crash at watkins glen.

Alka Seltzer ride was epic. Shame he never got to race with a funded team,he would have kicked some ass.

more Jimmy Means. mandude i feel fo this guy. haha..he knocked my hero down a notch or two heck yea..i remember them days. there is more meat left on the plate, than what we got. hearing the Pod cast isnt the same as eye contact. need a bonding moment, these old timmers are set back and reserved. i also agree Buddy Arrington would be essential to the show. Mr Mopar..never won, but still managed to rake in the cash.

Good job getting to 200 000 subs

BREWSTER04 HERE! Great video! More interviews like this, not all that other BULLSHIT. WISDOM is earned not LEARNED! keep interviewing the WISE MEN!

200k subs now

I have a diecast 52 Jimmy means still in the wrapper.Worth anything?

RIP JD.

I always thought JD damaged the fence so bad it actually saved Jimmy From getting hurt

Brian Vickers would an interesting guest. Matt Kenseth too

top class guy

Smut Means!!

Rip JD a true race car driver

I will continue to tell everyone publicly on how you have helped me earned massively. thanks once again Mrs Allen Jessica

I used to work with Jimmy's son n law Rex

they just get going & then it's over :(

They should call everything in NASCAR today "Restrictor" racing. Restrictor plate, Restrictor Body, Restrictor wheels...........

Back in the day Hoss Ellington gets caught for packing dry ice around the fuel line Why NASCAR picked him… He was just in line behind the others at the plant

Jimmy Smutt Means, just where did the “Smutt” come from??

Do he ever talk about JD McDuffie's crash that would take his life?

Who is this JD he keeps talking about?

I left my website in a comment and someone deleted it. Sorry for trying to promote business and get people jobs lol

That's what racing was about. Till corporate f ers got into it. Sell outs.

JM was given the golden opportunity to drive a Hendrick prepared Monte Carlo, and he was making the most of it. It could have finally got him into top equipment and no longer have to drive his own slapped together run-down heaps. Then, through no fault of his own, there was a crash and poor Jimmy got into it, effectively ending his chance at a top career.

JD MC Duffie crash real racing back then

Sounds like Spencer had a cheater special for his 2 wins.....lmao.