The end of David Pearson’s career in the OTHER 21 (1985-86)
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).
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| Courtesy Fine Art America |
Why? As part-time drivers were becoming rarer and rarer, David Pearson found it difficult to find a place to run only a few races each season. Meanwhile, Wood Brothers Racing (where Pearson had dominated in the 1970s) was not using their famous #21 due to 7-Eleven sponsorship. So Pearson was able to use the famed 21 on cars first owned by Hoss Ellington, then owned by himself.
How successful were they? Pearson was obviously past his prime here, but the results are still glaring—a best finish of tenth place (twice) and numerous DNFs.
What was the aftermath? David Pearson retired, and the famed 21 returned back to the Wood Brothers, who had just picked up primary sponsorship from Citgo.
Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 3 silver foxes out of 10—probably the oddest-thing here wasn’t Pearson, bur rather seeing the 21 on the side of a Chevy.
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