He was linked to names like Petty, Yarbrough, Earnhardt, Baker, Jarrett, Lorenzen. Second all time 2 wins behind Petty, and helped put Holman-Moody and the Woods Brothers on the map. One comment I read about him was, "when you saw him toss his cigarette out the window with 5 laps to go you knew you'd better step it up!"
https://www.foxnews.com/auto/nascar-leg ... dead-at-83

Met and saw him race in 1956 Spartanburg Fairgrounds, 1/2 mile dirt, limited sportsman (flat heads). He was driving 37 Ford coach, light blue, #16. Also Ned Jarrett #238 and Bobby Isaac #6 were also racing. Was there with my brother Frank Steelman Jr who owned and built sportsman 1957 for Jarrett and modifieds for Isaac 1958-61, modifieds for Ken Rush 1962-65.

9Steelman wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 13, 2018 10:21 am

Met and saw him race in 1956 Spartanburg Fairgrounds, 1/2 mile dirt, limited sportsman (flat heads). He was driving 37 Ford coach, light blue, #16. Also Ned Jarrett #238 and Bobby Isaac #6 were also racing. Was there with my brother Frank Steelman Jr who owned and built sportsman 1957 for Jarrett and modifieds for Isaac 1958-61, modifieds for Ken Rush 1962-65.

Nice piece of racing history right there. I had a friend in middle school whose dad raced on the dirt track at the Wilson County (NC) Fairgrounds. Enjoyed being close to the action.

The Wood Brothers were dominant in the late 70's, the "Golden Age of NASCAR". The #21 Mercury with Pearson at the wheel was hard to beat.

My all time favorite driver. I loved NASCAR back in those days. Not so much now.

I met Mr. Pearson at the Peach Blossum Diner 'tween Spartanburg and Boiling Springs some years ago. I would have missed him but he walked over to comment on the #21 Woods Brothers racing cap I was wearing. I pulled for him when I was a kid. He would be the first to tell you that in all the races that he and R. Petty both entered, he won more of those than The King and finished ahead of him more times than not. Heated rivalry there, back on the 60s and 70s.

11 consecutive poles at Charlotte about sums up how good he was. Racing partial schedule and won 105 races!

Best there was in NASCAR.

Just read where he and Petty finished 1-2 63 times with Pearson winning 33 and Petty 30.

Cro-Magnon App wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 14, 2018 11:39 pm

Just read where he and Petty finished 1-2 63 times with Pearson winning 33 and Petty 30.

If he'd have run a full schedule and Fred Lorenzen had not retired so soon, Petty would have never won 200 races.

I remember well back in the day. Petty and Pearson side by side at North Wilkesboro and Charlotte. Seemed like every race was like that when I was young.