| David Pearson, a three-time NASCAR Nextel Cup | | | | that he could make it in NASCAR, his fans around |
| champion, is second on the all-time win list with | | | | Spartanburg, SC, rallied together and raised nearly |
| 105, second only to Richard Petty. His Winston | | | | $1500, about half of what he needed to get a |
| Cup driving career spanned from 1960-1986. | | | | good used racecar. He did go for it and was |
| During that time he accomplished everything | | | | awarded Rookie of the Year in 1960. |
| possible in racing. He won the national | | | | David Pearson's duels with Richard Petty are |
| championship three out of the four years he ran | | | | legendary. Between 1963 and 1977, they finished |
| for it and was on the pole in one out of every | | | | first and second on sixty-three occasions, with |
| five races he ran. That record is hard to match. | | | | Pearson coming in first thirty-three times. Richard |
| Altogether Pearson started 574 races, ninth on | | | | Petty was quoted as saying, "Writers were asking |
| the all-time list. He knew early that he wanted to | | | | me last year who was the best driver I ever |
| race cars and in 1952, he started racing in a 1940 | | | | raced against. I told them David Pearson. David |
| Ford, at a hobby race in Woodruff, SC. When he | | | | and I ran more firsts and seconds than anybody |
| won $13, he was so thrilled; he knew racing was | | | | else, and we raced together on dirt tracks, super |
| to be his life. He never really planned on driving | | | | speedways, road courses, big tracks and little |
| NASCAR's Winston Cup Grand National tour; he | | | | tracks. It didn't make any difference; you had to |
| liked spending his time on the short-track | | | | beat him every week." |
| Sportsman circuit. "I used to listen to some of the | | | | During his career, Pearson was nicknamed "The |
| big races on the radio," said Pearson. "I thought | | | | Silver Fox". He was known for hanging back until |
| those guys must be crazy running 150 miles per | | | | the end of the race and then making a break for |
| hour at places like Daytona." | | | | the win. Pearson won 43 races from 1972-79 |
| But in 1969, Pearson ended up becoming the first | | | | while driving for the famous Wood Brothers and |
| driver to break the 190 mph barrier at Daytona, | | | | won the "Most Popular Driver" award in 1979 and |
| qualifying his Ford Talladega at 190.029 mph. His | | | | 1980. Pearson quietly retired in 1986, after 26 |
| supporters were the ones who boosted him on | | | | seasons in racing and having competed in 574 |
| to bigger and better things. In 1959, convinced | | | | NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National races. |