Spade Racing’s Stars in Unusual Cars: David Pearson (part 1)



David Pearson, super-sub for Dale Earnhardt (1979)

Join me throughout this year as I take a look at when some of the sport’s biggest stars drove some unusual cars! (Presented in no particular order).

Courtesy John Betts and Bench Racing from
the Volunteer State


Why? After running for several different teams at the start of his career, David Pearson settled into running a part-time schedule for the Wood Brothers from 1972-1979.  Then, the 1979 spring Darlington race, a miscommunication led to an embarrassing pit road miscue.  Pearson left the team that day, then found himself called into a substitute role for Rod Osterlund when Osterlund’s driver Dale Earnhardt suffered a broken collarbone.


How successful were they? VERY.  Despite having run nothing but Mercurys for the past 6+ years, and having missed the past eleven races, The Silver Fox posted a win, two top-fives, and one top-ten in four races.


What was the aftermath? Pearson went on to run for seven more seasons (albeit still on a partial-schedule) for several different teams.


Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 2 Purolator filters out of 10—David Pearson ran for so many teams outside of his Wood Brothers years that the most-surprising thing here was probably his immediate success.



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Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized


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A MOXOC Media production

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The Hero Card Project 2025 Part 6

 Click here for Part 5


Hero Cards!  They’re collectable, they’re colorful, and they’re free!  I have SASEs (Self Addressed Stamped Envelopes) going out to every Cup, Xfinity and Truck team, as well as a few major ARCA operations as well.  If you’re new to hero card collecting, check out my guide at herocardguide.com for step-by-step instructions on how to request hero cards, how to receive them, and how to store them.


Here’s my third batch of Hero Cards—these arrived on Monday June 30th:

Two autographed cards from Timmy Hill's team

A card from the Wood Brothers

A BOUNTY of cards (some of them signed!) by
ARCA team FastTrack





www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly


www.facebook.com/spaderacing


www.twitter.com/spaderacing


Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing


Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized


Does this track have lights?


A MOXOC Media production

www.moxoc.com

Race Picks (the last season?), Uncle Max vs. The Points Leader: CHICAGO


EDITOR’S NOTE: Uncle Max is on his way back from vacation.  He texted me his picks a few minutes ago.



TRUCK SERIES (4 wins) off 


XFINITY SERIES (1 win) The Loop 110 (Saturday 4:30pm ET on CW) CONNOR ZILISCH—Saturday, in the park, I think it was the Fifth of July.


CUP SERIES Grant Park 165 (Sunday 2pm ET on TNT) Points Leader picks WILLIAM BYRONFavorite (2 wins): CHASE ELLIOTT—people racing, people wrecking.  Next Favorite (2 wins): KYLE LARSON—a real celebration.  Dark Horse: SVG—singin New Zealand songs.


www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly


www.facebook.com/spaderacing


www.twitter.com/spaderacing


Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing


Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized


Does this track have lights?


A MOXOC Media production

www.moxoc.com