“A lot of people told us that they didn’t want us to get Sterling because he had run over 300 races and hadn’t won,” McClure said. “But Sterling had a relationship with our team. Runt had built engines and served as crew chief for Sterling when he drove for Hoss Ellington.”

In 2009, McClure pleaded guilty to five counts of filing false income tax returns, obstructing the federal investigation and lying to IRS investigators.

For the first time this week, McClure spoke about those dark days.

“Our racing was already at the end by then,” McClure said. “I certainly wish that it hadn’t happened. I don’t know for sure how it happened or why it happened, but I made a couple of bad decisions after it happened because we hadn’t done anything wrong. It’s water over the dam now.”

McClure, 72, said his religious faith helped to carry him through the ordeal.

“My faith was pretty good before, but during that whole time I didn’t worry about one thing. I was at peace,” said McClure, who was ordered to spend 18 months in prison. “The good Lord will take care if you ask him. Every episode in your life will make you stronger.”