Month: June 2020

Exclusive Pontiac Racing Mini-Interview with NASCAR Cup Pontiac Winner and Legend, Morgan Shepherd

Posted on by Pontiac Racing

06/02/2020 – I had the great fortune to conduct a brief interview with the one and only legendary Morgan Shepherd.  Morgan, who has forever secured a place in Pontiac NASCAR Cup history by being the first Pontiac winner in NASCAR’s ‘Modern Era’,  has been a timeless figure on the NASCAR circuit going all the way back to 1970 when he ran 3 Grand National races in Bill Flowers’ Chevrolets.  Following that 1970 debut, Morgan eventually tallied 517 Cup starts with 4 wins, 7 poles, and 168 top-10’s; Morgan also has 453 Xfinity starts with 15 wins, 6 poles, and 67 top-10’s and 57 Gander Truck Series starts.  A man of great faith, charity, honesty, and perseverance, it’s no wonder Morgan is so well-liked and respected by competitors and fans alike.

The Pontiac connection with Morgan starts in 1981 when he got behind the wheel of Cliff Stewart’s Pontiacs with sponsorship by Performance Connection.  For his first race with Stewart and Pontiac (his 9th career Cup start), Morgan proceeds to win the pole at Richmond, lead 150 laps, and finish 4th.  Not content with that, a mere 6 races later at Martinsville, Morgan starts 12th in the Performance Connection Pontiac and charges to the lead by lap 63.  Morgan eventually leads 203 laps on the day and takes the win by 15 seconds as only he and 2nd place finisher Neil Bonnett finish on the lead lap.

While Morgan went on to greater heights and wins in Fords (and also one win in a Buick), Pontiacs were a presence in Morgan’s career throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s and served as notable bookends.  Morgan’s first and last pole was in a Pontiac – the aforementioned Richmond race in 1981 and then in 1989 driving the Valvoline Grand Prix for Rahmoc, Morgan won pole at Watkins Glen in 1989.  Morgan’s first and last top 5/10 was in a Pontiac – again the same race at Richmond in 1981 and then in 1997 driving Richard Jackson’s Delco-Remy America Pontiac, Morgan finished 3rd at Atlanta and then 9th at Charlotte.  Morgan also won in a Pontiac in Xfinity, but that’s another story.

[NOTE – This interview was the result of a very brief, one-time back and forth with Morgan who took the time out of his busy schedule to communicate with someone very, very far down on the media ladder].

The Pontiac Racing interview with Morgan Shepherd –

Pontiac Racing – For your very first race in a Pontiac you won the pole at Richmond, February 22, 1981, and wound up leading the first 150 laps.  What was your impression of the new, down-sized Pontiac racecar and of the down-sized Cup cars in general?

Morgan  – I was impressed with the new down-sized Pontiac racecar due to the fact that we were performing exceptionally well at the Cup level.

Pontiac Racing – When you won your first Cup race at Martinsville, April 26, 1981, it was the first time a Pontiac had claimed a win in Cup since Joe Weatherly in 1963.  Did Pontiac/GM Motorsports make a big deal of it at the time?

Morgan – Pontiac/GM did make a big deal out of their win in 1981 as it had been a long time since their previous win.

Pontiac Racing – You raced Pontiacs frequently in the 1990’s, did you feel the Pontiac bodystyle was handled fairly size by NASCAR in comparison to the 2 giants Ford and Chevrolet?

Morgan – I do not feel the Pontiac bodystyle was handled fairly when it came to body modifications and spoiler size compared to Ford and Chevy.

Pontiac Racing – In 1989 when you raced Pontiacs for Rahmoc, do you think that you were treated fairly by Pontiac/GM in comparison to the other Pontiac teams?  Was there an unspoken pecking order?

Morgan – I believe we were treated fairly in our Rahmoc Pontiac as compared to the other Pontiac teams.

Pontiac Racing – Here’s a situation – you’re at one of the restrictor plate tracks and on the final lap.  You are running third and you can choose to line-up between a fellow manufacturer/driver who doesn’t look like he can win or between a different manufacturer/driver who looks stronger.  Would the manufacturer expect you to automatically to help the fellow manufacturer/driver or do they want you to go for the win?

Morgan – My opinion, on the final lap of a restrictor plate race, a manufacturer would prefer a win over assisting a manufacturer/driver.

Pontiac Racing – How do you feel Pontiac Motorsports handled their Cup obligations in comparison to how Ford did when you raced for the Wood Brothers and Bud Moore?

Morgan – Pontiac and Ford both handled Cup obligations well, however, Ford might have excelled by a small margin.

Pontiac Racing – Were race teams ever consulted by the manufacturer as to which model would be the best performer on the track (this is in reference to Pontiac pushing the Grand Prix in the early 1980’s, but many racers preferring the LeMans), or was it all about moving product in the showrooms?

Morgan – Race teams were consulted in the 1980’s, but running well on the track and selling product on Monday go hand in hand.  Both are equally important.

Pontiac Racing – What was your impression of the Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2 Aerocoupe?  Was it a real answer to the Thunderbird at the time?

Morgan – I personally did not care for the Grand Prix 2+2 Aerocoupe due to the aerodynamics of the car.

Pontiac Racing – As you know, NASCAR fans place a strong allegiance to a driver as well as a manufacturer.  Do professional racecar drivers like yourself feel the same way about manufacturer loyalty or does the necessity of business/financials dictate the direction you go?

Morgan – Manufacturer loyalty has always been a priority to professional drivers such as myself.

Pontiac Racing – Looking back, out of all the Pontiacs you raced, do you have a favorite?

Morgan – My favorite Pontiac has to be the one that I won Martinsville with in 1981.

Pontiac Racing – And lastly…what is your favorite Bible verse that provides great comfort, in times good or bad?

Morgan – My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’.

– END –

A big Thank You to Morgan; it was tempting to hit him with many more questions and even more follow-up questions, perhaps next time…

For all things Morgan Shepherd, please see Morgan’s official website –

Morgan Shepherd Racing Ventures

The Morgan Shepherd Charitable Fund  was established in 1986 as a program to assist the needy and handicapped in the Virginia Mountains.  The Charity raises funds to support the PARC Workshop, an organization that provides handicapped adults with job and daily living skills.  Each year in December, the Morgan Shepherd Charitable Fund hosts a very special trip to the Virginia Mountains to share the true meaning of Christmas with the less fortunate.  You can donate here –

Morgan Shepherd Charitable Fund

For all statistics regarding Pontiac in NASCAR Cup racing, please see –

Pontiac Stock Car Racing Factbook

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Morgan Shepherd and Pontiac in Victory Lane, Martinsville, 1981.