David Pearson, just a simple man loaded with raw talent and knew how to use it. He did a lot for nascar, but those that knew him also know how much he did for children in the Hejaz Shrine Temple. Thank you Noble Brother David for everything.
I lived about 1/4 mile from him in boiling springs S. C. If he was out near the road when I drove by I could stop and talk to him about racing . My uncle grew up with him and they were good friends also a guy I worked with was also friend with them. After I first meet him whenever we would see each other out in public he would always speak to me or give a wave if we not too close to each other. He was a class act . R. I. P. SILVER FOX
Pearson was fast but what set him apart were 3 things: 1) He was the smoothest driver I've ever seen 2) He was the smartest driver I've ever seen 3) His will to win was second to nobody He also raced in an era when you had to take care of your car and he was a master at that. With today's bullet proof parts and pieces, none of the current drivers have ever had to do that.
Let’s not go there. They were both great. Pearson may have been better, but Petty is the way me who elevated the sport in the national conscious. I do believe that their rivalry made both of them better. So great that two fierce rivals could become and remain great friends.
Controversial opinion but I seriously think Pearson is the most underrated driver of all time. Nobody talks about his 105 wins, his three championships, his Daytona 500 win. Above him is Richard Petty and his 200 wins, and everyone talks about them, whether because he won 200 races or whether becuase he's the GOAT or because they talk about how they think he cheated for most of them and half of them were illegitimate. People talk about Jeff Gordon below him becuase he managed to win 93 races during the points era, but David is just kind of THERE. He won three championships and 105 races as a part-timer, and even his HOF induction just feels like something that was done because they had to.
A die hard Petty fan here but Pearson's name CANNOT be mentioned without all the respect that Richard got. He is a class act, tremendous driver, cornerstone of the sport and somebody I admire tremendously. I have been lucky to meet all the greats. The Cale's, Bobby's, Richard's, David's and Buddy's. I feel my life is complete.
David Pearson Was From My Father's Hometown Of Spartanburg, SC. I Always Loved When He And Richard Petty Went At It, They Were Like Muhammad Ali And Joe Frazier! 👍
My grandpa and David we're great friends. He would ask David to come speak at his church and he would always come and bring one of his racecars and all the fans from the whole area knew when pearson came to town. It was like a dream come true when they got to sit in the car.
“Well lookie here “ my favorite I saw him as 5 year old kid at my first cup race world 600 1976!! Racing in penny loafers, cigarette lighter installed in his race car One of a fucking kind there will never be another David Pearson ever
David Pearson should have been in the first hall of fame class he was that good. It was a shame NASCAR did not put him in the hall of fame that first year.
***** By far the best race driver to ever get in a NASCAR race car. He lived up to his name "The Silver Fox" by sneaking up on a very enthusiastic driver in 1st place and stealing the win. No one could handle a car like him -- legendary is the only word to describe his abilities. I love how the announcer said at 2:39 " a 160 mile an hour of whits and courage, and the master just called checkmate" -- that's an understatement.
***** I know, I don't understand why he kept moving around from team to team or running half the season and so on. I liked when he was with the Wood Brothers the best -- driving the 21 Purolator Cyclone. He should have won the cup during that time too. I haven't heard drom him in a long while, I hope he's doing well and his health is good. He's a good ol' southern guy. I think we're going to see a lot more of the great old time drivers passing away shortly -- they're at that age. I built a beatiful model of David's Puro Mercury and the hauler and it sit's in my glass case as a symbol of his excellence. Cheers
And those words came from someone who should be in NASCAR's Hall of Fame in the media category, legendary motorsports commentator Bud Lindemann. It could be argued that, along with Chris Economaki on the TV side with ABC Sports and his National Speed Sport News paper, Lindemann was the voice of auto racing in America from the late 60s through much of the 70s with his Car & Track program. The American racing legends of the 60s and 70s came alive when their exploits were documented by Economaki and Lindemann.
Statistically he's by far the best driver ever he started just over 500 races and won 105. Petty started 1500 races and won 200. Pearson only raced the full schedule 4 years that qualified him to run for the championship he won three.
Rest In Peace Silver Fox.... The best there was in a time when the driver made the difference between the cars . Like how he ended his HOF speech....We'll see you later
Just think of the hall of fame speech as the longest post race interview you've ever had. "Boy this Ford Motorcraft 21 car was good all day. We had some trouble early on in the pits but we worked twice as hard afterward and won the race! I'd like to thank Pepsi, Slim Jim, Wood Brothers Racing, Holly Farms, Purolator... everybody!" They should have had a girl to kiss him up there.
I am a 5 th generation Pearson. I have never seen him in person really would have loved to. I myself have had a hand in racing dirt and black top. I have never driven one my passion is working on them. I have watched many of the interviews and the straight to the point and jocking around lives on.
There are a Few Great Drivers but millions in backing by Ford or a 426 Hemi helped too. When GM was not even in racing and Smokey Yunick built a '66 Chevelle that could beat the Big 4 Multi Million Dollar Factory Teams they disqualified him .. Ford Mercury Plymouth Dodge.. | Yes there have been exciting times in NASCAR but it was always tainted with NASCAR Politics and Rules that always favored one Brand or another..
Buddy Baker once said he was driving his butt off and Pearson passed him and he looked over and David was lighting a cigarette at 180mph!! He had a cigarette lighter in his race car. LoL
@@garywells1294 not surprised at all about a cigarrette lighter in the car. They were production automobiles. The cigarrette lighter was already there.
I am a 5 th generation Pearson. I have never seen him in person really would have loved to. I myself have had a hand in racing dirt and black top. I have never driven one my passion is working on them. I have watched many of the interviews and the straight to the point and jocking around lives on.
David Pearson, just a simple man loaded with raw talent and knew how to use it. He did a lot for nascar, but those that knew him also know how much he did for children in the Hejaz Shrine Temple.
Thank you Noble Brother David for everything.
I lived about 1/4 mile from him in boiling springs S. C. If he was out near the road when I drove by I could stop and talk to him about racing . My uncle grew up with him and they were good friends also a guy I worked with was also friend with them. After I first meet him whenever we would see each other out in public he would always speak to me or give a wave if we not too close to each other. He was a class act . R. I. P. SILVER FOX
Pearson was fast but what set him apart were 3 things:
1) He was the smoothest driver I've ever seen
2) He was the smartest driver I've ever seen
3) His will to win was second to nobody
He also raced in an era when you had to take care of your car and he was a master at that. With today's bullet proof parts and pieces, none of the current drivers have ever had to do that.
In my opinion, Pearson was the best there ever was. If he started as many races as Petty started, he would have crushed his record number of wins
Let’s not go there. They were both great. Pearson may have been better, but Petty is the way me who elevated the sport in the national conscious. I do believe that their rivalry made both of them better.
So great that two fierce rivals could become and remain great friends.
@@Mark-sj3xb Nah! Petty got all the Press attention because he was flamboyant but Pearson was the far better driver!
Controversial opinion but I seriously think Pearson is the most underrated driver of all time. Nobody talks about his 105 wins, his three championships, his Daytona 500 win. Above him is Richard Petty and his 200 wins, and everyone talks about them, whether because he won 200 races or whether becuase he's the GOAT or because they talk about how they think he cheated for most of them and half of them were illegitimate. People talk about Jeff Gordon below him becuase he managed to win 93 races during the points era, but David is just kind of THERE. He won three championships and 105 races as a part-timer, and even his HOF induction just feels like something that was done because they had to.
No less than The King himself said that The Silver Fox was the greatest driver he ever raced against.
A die hard Petty fan here but Pearson's name CANNOT be mentioned without all the respect that Richard got. He is a class act, tremendous driver, cornerstone of the sport and somebody I admire tremendously. I have been lucky to meet all the greats. The Cale's, Bobby's, Richard's, David's and Buddy's. I feel my life is complete.
My favorite story: Lennie Pond leading at Talladega with David Pearson on his bumper at 190 mph lighting a cigarette.
Happened to Buddy Baker also.
David Pearson Was From My Father's Hometown Of Spartanburg, SC. I Always Loved When He And Richard Petty Went At It, They Were Like Muhammad Ali And Joe Frazier! 👍
One of the true class acts in all of motorsports.
Absolutely
Correction, one of the true class acts in all of SPORTS!
My grandpa and David we're great friends. He would ask David to come speak at his church and he would always come and bring one of his racecars and all the fans from the whole area knew when pearson came to town. It was like a dream come true when they got to sit in the car.
“Well lookie here “ my favorite I saw him as 5 year old kid at my first cup race world 600 1976!! Racing in penny loafers, cigarette lighter installed in his race car One of a fucking kind there will never be another David Pearson ever
Rest In Peace David Person “Silver Fox” - Thank YOU for all You did for NASCAR !!
Pearson is the goat of stock car racing
David Pearson should have been in the first hall of fame class he was that good. It was a shame NASCAR did not put him in the hall of fame that first year.
Even Richard Petty said that Pearson was the better driver!
Of course Richard is going to say that, because Richard is nothing but class!
@@Mark-sj3xb technically Pearson IS better than Richard
Pearson's win percentage is higher than Richard's
@@Mark-sj3xb If you don't sincerely believe my comment just youtube the 1976 Daytona 500.
I remember as a kid watching Petty and Pearson as far as I can remember in the early 70's two of my favorites
Pearson is the greatest.
***** By far the best race driver to ever get in a NASCAR race car. He lived up to his name "The Silver Fox" by sneaking up on a very enthusiastic driver in 1st place and stealing the win. No one could handle a car like him -- legendary is the only word to describe his abilities. I love how the announcer said at 2:39 " a 160 mile an hour of whits and courage, and the master just called checkmate" -- that's an understatement.
+flashy5150 just look at what he did when he didn't run for the championship!! Would have won probably 4 or 5 had he run full time.
***** I know, I don't understand why he kept moving around from team to team or running half the season and so on. I liked when he was with the Wood Brothers the best -- driving the 21 Purolator Cyclone. He should have won the cup during that time too. I haven't heard drom him in a long while, I hope he's doing well and his health is good. He's a good ol' southern guy. I think we're going to see a lot more of the great old time drivers passing away shortly -- they're at that age. I built a beatiful model of David's Puro Mercury and the hauler and it sit's in my glass case as a symbol of his excellence. Cheers
And those words came from someone who should be in NASCAR's Hall of Fame in the media category, legendary motorsports commentator Bud Lindemann. It could be argued that, along with Chris Economaki on the TV side with ABC Sports and his National Speed Sport News paper, Lindemann was the voice of auto racing in America from the late 60s through much of the 70s with his Car & Track program. The American racing legends of the 60s and 70s came alive when their exploits were documented by Economaki and Lindemann.
Statistically he's by far the best driver ever he started just over 500 races and won 105. Petty started 1500 races and won 200. Pearson only raced the full schedule 4 years that qualified him to run for the championship he won three.
Him and Petty were two of the best drivers of all time. When they got together on a racetrack it was just so much fun to watch and experience
nascar's Driver of the Century,The Silver Fox,there is only 1 David Pearson.
David was a good man! Had the pleasure of meeting him at Darlington many years ago!
"He was the Steve McQueen of NASCAR." can't get a better quote than that.
It sure was a different Era back then More Grass Roots.. David Pearson from Humble beginnings and always stayed humble ..
I remember when this first aired, it was an awesome tribute and induction of David Pearson!
R.I.P. David, the silver fox
My all time favorite
My all time favorite driver
Best there ever was. A true American hero and icon.
And the best there ever will be
david Pearson was my hero
What Nascar driver has a cigarette lighter in his car, smooth as silk.
Rest In Peace Silver Fox.... The best there was in a time when the driver made the difference between the cars . Like how he ended his HOF speech....We'll see you later
What a Career ..............Class Act ! !
R.I.P. David Person
One thing I will say. there could be another KING
But never will be another
SILVER FOX
Greatest of all time
Simply the best
Would've loved to seen David and sale sr race against each other I do think pearson was best ever
R.I.P
Best race car driver ever
Just think of the hall of fame speech as the longest post race interview you've ever had. "Boy this Ford Motorcraft 21 car was good all day. We had some trouble early on in the pits but we worked twice as hard afterward and won the race! I'd like to thank Pepsi, Slim Jim, Wood Brothers Racing, Holly Farms, Purolator... everybody!" They should have had a girl to kiss him up there.
Awesome driver even though that was way before my time but nice footage and highlights of his driving.
R I P
A LEGEND
I don't care who you are you don't want to see him in your rear view mirror in the last lap of the race .
Pure class ryt there!
Epitome of cool
best driver in history
2:50 WOW NJ looks young. When is that?!
Smooth is always the fastest way around...on and off the track. David was the best at both
RIP
With a cigarette lighter in the car
I am a 5 th generation Pearson. I have never seen him in person really would have loved to. I myself have had a hand in racing dirt and black top. I have never driven one my passion is working on them. I have watched many of the interviews and the straight to the point and jocking around lives on.
Mr Cool great driver sadly missed
#ripsilverfox
👍👍👍
Chewing that gum. Silver Fox.
There are a Few Great Drivers but millions in backing by Ford or a 426 Hemi helped too. When GM was not even in racing and Smokey Yunick built a '66 Chevelle that could beat the Big 4 Multi Million Dollar Factory Teams they disqualified him .. Ford Mercury Plymouth Dodge.. |
Yes there have been exciting times in NASCAR but it was always tainted with NASCAR Politics and Rules that always favored one Brand or another..
No wonder the guy looked so old for his age, that cigarette hanging out his grill does you no good
Pretty much all of them smoked back then.
Buddy Baker once said he was driving his butt off and Pearson passed him and he looked over and David was lighting a cigarette at 180mph!! He had a cigarette lighter in his race car. LoL
@@garywells1294 not surprised at all about a cigarrette lighter in the car. They were production automobiles. The cigarrette lighter was already there.
RIP
I am a 5 th generation Pearson. I have never seen him in person really would have loved to. I myself have had a hand in racing dirt and black top. I have never driven one my passion is working on them. I have watched many of the interviews and the straight to the point and jocking around lives on.