1972 NASCAR Motor State 400

From the old Car & Track program, host Bud Lindemann heads to Michigan International Speedway on June 11th 1972 for the Motor State 400 NASCAR Grand National race.

[@Runnerup5.68]

Loved watching these as a child,lots of lead changes and attrition.

[@jeffrykopis5468]

Gee, folks, remember when there were car companies called Mercury, Plymouth, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile?

[@jerryhopper1685]

And AMC

[@sludge4125]

There were eight Mercury cars in this race. Five Chevrolets. Seventeen Mopars. Ten Fords.

[@happydays8171]

Those were some beautiful cars then. The cars raced so 'clean', no bumping, or silly games, fun to watch! Thanks for posting.

[@jeffcampbell2710]

"clean" no "bumping"? Lol.

[@656hookemhorns]

Better coverage and better racing than today, plus you tell what make car they are driving just by looking at it!

[@goldenltd1970]

The shape of the sidewindows alone could show you what car it was

[@sludge4125]

Better coverage? Did you really write that? Just another shithead...

[@jeffrykopis5468]

Back then, for a kid in Washington, the races were real hard to find on tv. You had to sit thru Chinese Acrobats of Taipei and Canadian curling to see 15 minutes of racing, 4 months after the fact! That's how I saw the 76 Daytona 500 in JUNE of 76!

[@charlesstemple2362]

1970 Mercury my favorite stocker thanks to David Pearson.

[@adamUDavies]

At 11:05 front tire changer throws down the air gun and breaks off fitting , air hose out of control then Bobby Isic runs over the air gun as he leaves the pits. Few minutes later the 21 looses control of a tire during a pit stop ! No penalties !! Awesome 👍

[@MrRustyFord]

How about all that gas splashing around on Allison's stop at about 11:50

[@mikehileman7672]

This was real racing. Production cars converted to race specs. Run whatcha brung and hope ya brung enough

[@sludge4125]

Mike is another shithead. A real “work of art.” Run what you brung???? Yeah, right, head of shit. As long as mother nascar said it was okay. Where are the Winged Warriors? Whoops, those cars were “too good.”

[@MrChristopherHaas]

THNKS FOR THE POST! Cars that you wanted to watch go round and round regardless of position cause they just look good

[@joett84]

That comment sums up how I feel. Those cars looked so great up on those high-banked turns. And so many different body styles: 71 Torinos, 72 Gran Torinos, Mercury Cyclones, Dodge Chargers, Plymouths, and Chevrolets.

[@jeffrykopis5468]

If Pearson had run a full schedule every year, like Richard did, they would each have 150 wins and 5 championships. The only 3 years that David ran the full schedule, he won the Championship each time.

[@beberle9641]

Yes this is one of the 1st races i went to as a kid at MIS! Thanks dad and mom for bringing me up right.

[@jeffrykopis5468]

The cars were so freakin' cool then. And the drivers were grown-ass MEN, not 20 year old jockeys.

[@zcam1969]

i grew up with these cars .i love them . I still have a 69 Camaro today

[@troydowning3302]

Amazing the cars all looked different imagine that. I loved that racing.

[@BigEightiesNewWave]

Silver Fox best ever.

[@KCBarr1]

Dale Earnhardt said in an interview once, that David Pearson was the best driver, ever, in the Nascar series. I have no evidence to dispute that.

[@sludge4125]

Me, either!!

[@Slinger43]

200-7-7 Nuff said 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@irjoecamel]

@@Slinger43 It has been said many times Petty was lucky on more than 1 occasion. Not to mention there was years that Chrysler threw all kinds of money and parts to Petty that no other team could match from any manufacturer. Even Petty said in more than 1 interview about how he got lucky. Pearson was known to take a car that started off as junk and could figure out how to make it win come the end of the day. This is why Dale Earnhardt made the comment he did concerning Pearson. Nuff said!

[@Slinger43]

@@irjoecamel Ain't nobody here trying to belittle the Great David Pearson, but anyone who think's the equally Great Richard Petty just got "lucky" 200 time's is a damn fool, period! As for your money accusation towards "The King" if you think The Wood Bros, who had the full backing of the FORD MOTOR CO were under funded back in those day's, well all I can say to that is.... 👎😆🤣😂👉You

[@jeffrykopis5468]

Richard Petty said the same thing, several times.

[@dansmith6748]

I looked forward to Car and Track to keep me updated, as races on cable were in the future

[@BigEightiesNewWave]

The peak of my NASCAR interest. Coca Cola/Allison Monte Carlo Pearson Mercury. David DOMINATED at OMS , California. Class of 1.

[@lolbr6818]

I don't actually remember this race but at the begining I do remember this. I've never saw a race, where Pearson drove that red & white 21 & there were TV cameras, Pearson was unbeatable...

[@Slinger43]

One of the best looking Racecars ever was that beautiful Wood Bros Ford & Merc's, just a beautiful color combo!😍👍 As for unbeatable, naw, Richard beat um plenty of times. Long Live The King & Silver Fox!

[@davidpayne4315]

When Nascar was worth watching

[@tobylou8]

At 1:52, you can see Parson smoking a cigarette in the car!! Too funny!

[@tarasbulba3190]

Some of these "Stock cars" had cigarette lighters in them!

[@billiebobthemechanic]

Wish I had a time machine! Back when the cars were were mostly “stock”. Love the Monte Carlo!!!

[@jeffrykopis5468]

Oh, they were full blown race cars by then, hidden under stock bodies. But at least the motors, axles, etc were production based. And they blew up like it too! 😂

[@Ziggy_Moonglow]

@@jeffrykopis5468 1972 rule book says otherwise. Things that weren't 'stock', 'production', 'standard', 'factory' or 'original' include - Exhaust, seat belts, rear axle, lubrication/filters, steering components, spoilers, window net, roll cage, fuel cell, wheels, tires, fire extinguisher, numbers and helmet. Everything else was 'original appearing' in dimensions and weight. Out of 30 sections in the 1972 rule book, there are 14 exceptions, like under 'bodies' where spoilers and tire clearance modifications are mentioned. Engine, transmission, clutch, flywheel and driveshaft all had to be available to buy, battery had to be under the hood in stock location, fan had to be stock, radiator had to be 'stock appearing'. "Mostly stock" is correct.

[@brianhearon1930]

I loved that #71 car.I think it still holds several speed records.I watched a bunch of these races growing up.

[@zcam1969]

i grew up with these cars too

[@Thunder_6278]

I remember seeing this on ABC's wide world of sports.

[@dsnodgrass4843]

I love the car-spotting in these old films. A Ford Torino? Hell yeah! However, just like Pearson's GTO in '71, didn't quite make it all the way home.

[@phillight352]

I would like to see these on motor trend.

[@phillight352]

The last days of the Big motors.

[@rnvrnv354]

They called him the Silver Fox!

[@rafaelquinones5110]

I love this era....raceing REAL cars😎all AMERICAN MUSCLE😎

[@jeffcanyafixiy]

Little fact about Richard Petty. It was well known back in the 70's that Richard always drove with a damp rag in his mouth. You can see the pit crew offering a fresh one on the drink pole at 11:15 - 11:18. Just one of those old school facts about drivers.

[@HODIUSDUDE]

Nice catch! I love it.

[@Slinger43]

On hot days Richard would get out of the car after the race & look like he had blood all over his white driving suit! The track emergency workers complained about it, because he always looked like he was badly injured in a crash, when infact he wasn't 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@jeffrykopis5468]

A little later, he was the first driver to have a "cool suit", where cold water was pumped thru tubes within the driving suit.

[@zcam1969]

#12 Allison car has the factory chrome bumpers on it and the factory sheet metal .

[@5thcorps]

REAL racing

[@sludge4125]

Real insipid commenting.

[@5thcorps]

@@sludge4125 Don't be so hard on yourself.

[@sludge4125]

Wow, that was supposed to be clever. Oh, well, I am used to putting retards in their place around here.

[@5thcorps]

@@sludge4125 All you need is a mirror........

[@sludge4125]

Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful. Hopefully, you and the Boomer Remover will become acquainted with each other.

[@chuckselvage3157]

I was born in 72 so anyone like to correct me if I'm wrong Chev-427 Mopar-426 Hemi Ford/Mercury-BOSS 429? Thanks.

[@jeffcampbell2710]

351 ci

[@robertparker6654]

​@@jeffcampbell2710after 74

[@sludge4125]

LeeRoy Yarbrough drove the Bill Seifert car. Bill Seifert drove the Dave Marcis car. Dave Marcis drove the Hammer Mason car. Dick Brooks drove the Junie Donlavey car. Johnny Halford drove the Dick Brooks car.

[@sludge4125]

Keith, those hemorrhoids acting up again? What’s the problem, champ? You can tell us. The pecker doesn’t work anymore during your solo sex acts? What is it? Mommy found the hidden camera you placed in her bedroom? Come on, you can tell us. Don’t be shy, champ.

[@fathermetalASMR]

4:38 ... Check out that Road Runner. It was ultimately not as successful as the Charger but still a legendary Mopar. 🤘

[@beeemm2578]

Sicko! Bad ass

[@zcam1969]

they tried to run a 600 mile race there in 1969 ,,it didn't go so well . half the cars blew engines.that track is brutal on engines !

[@MrChristopherHaas]

My dads first date with my beloved stepmom was this race. There was a gm conferencegoing on lol...

[@HODIUSDUDE]

Ha.Ha....Great story.. Thanks for sharing!

[@MrChristopherHaas]

Alas, its true. Good story for all but my mom lol.

[@dennisrichards2604]

@5:50 Ron Keslowski. Brad's uncle? They are in Michigan.

[@mnowakpoland]

Yep, Ron is Brad's uncle and Bob's brother.

[@makaylahtheunicornrupcic4051]

Dennis Richards yeah he is

[@circaseventies]

05:40 Ron Keselowski running a 2nd generation Charger

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

Thoae Coca Cola pants on the pit crew are awesome

[@tomdavis3038]

In the weight for cubic inches era I’m surprised more teams didn’t run small blocks at MIS since they have few cautions and often come down to fuel mileage.

[@prodigy-hu6dy]

1972 is right when they downsized the blocks for EPA compliance. 358 cubic inches being the maximum

[@Ziggy_Moonglow]

@@prodigy-hu6dy 366 was the small block size limit in 1972. 1975 was when the small blocks were limited to 358 CID.

[@Ziggy_Moonglow]

1968 was the last year NASCAR used the 9.36# per CI rule. All cars weighed a minimum of 3800# ready to race, no driver, in 1972. 366 at 7500 RPM isn't much different mileage than the 430 at 6400 RPM which is what the big blocks were turning with the restrictor plates.

[@coreybaldwin7563]

Petty was favored to win that race, but I guess they forgot Pearson was running that day with his limited schedule. Pearson won nearly as many races as Petty with half the races.

[@matthewnosal6893]

Was this w transition year from big block to small block? I see 429 and 351’s?

[@robertparker6654]

No, big blocks gone 74 or75😢

[@eddiedawkins19]

Make sure you put that gas cap back on...lol

[@andrewrcmadwilkinson6999]

AH THE DAYS BEFORE VEGANS !!!

[@dsnodgrass4843]

This was 1971, dude; the heart of the 1970s "back to the land movement". So A. you're wrong; and B. no one here cares about your morbid cringe fetish. Get well soon.

[@jeffcampbell2710]

And Alphabet, I mean Betabets

[@SeaMonkey137]

Real men splash gas everywhere.

[@RacingForLife88]

Not enough credit for Ron Keselowski getting a top 5 at home. Also, Pete Hamilton had some skills

[@sludge4125]

Yeah, those zero laps Ron led was impressive.

[@circaseventies]

He was running the 2nd generation Charger body with the regular production style back window 05:40 which had poor aero results @@sludge4125

[@jerryhopper1685]

Back when cars were made out of steel not plastic junk like today

[@ricklane8342]

Pretty sure a young Robert Yates built that big block Chevy for Junior Johnson's Bobby Allison Coca-Cola Monte Carlo. Read about that combination in Hot Rod Magazine as a 13 year old. I remember being pretty bummed all the way home to Ohio because David did it to him again lol.

[@DBAllen]

What say you Bud Lindemann Old Spice, English Leather or Aqua Velva Wearer?

[@jimbosc]

Old Spice

[@Slinger43]

🤔...Ol' Bud had to be a Brut Man 💪😏

[@eddiedawkins19]

Cigar smoking on pit road, with all that gas spilling all over the cars and ground..SMH

[@Slinger43]

That's when Men were Men & the Sheep were scared! 🤣

[@realtorman2]

“Stock cars”

[@nathanielwaters6730]

This was the real NASCAR that I remember, the Good Ol' Boy sport, DAMMIT!!! NASCAR today is a GODDAMN JOKE, meaning the drivers act like jealous divas!!! Make NASCAR as I remember, bring back Dodge and get rid of Toyota!!! I wish Richard Petty was young again, David Pearson was still alive, and the rest, those were the best damn times in NASCAR racing!!!

[@robtans5042]

Here here👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@artjones2498]

wow...fast and fourious pit action.....they wouldnt make against pit crews these days

[@HODIUSDUDE]

True.. but that is evolution. Now they have jacks that lift the car in 1.5 pumps. Teams now have huge budgets, fabrication specialist at the shop and over the wall specialists that fly in for the races. Back then it was more common to have the fab guys going over the wall too.

[@sludge4125]

Art, your post is barely readable, and doesn’t really make sense. Today’s pit crews would wipe their ass with the 1972 pit crews.

[@phillight352]

I see rule changes coming.

[@johnnytenjobs]

How fast are they going on the straights?

[@sludge4125]

My best guess is 170 on the straights.

[@alfonsopreciadogonzalezpre7622]

What can I do to be NASCAR memberchip I'm racer hotwheels race Cars I hace an a longitud race track by hotwheels 1968 2019

[@makaylahtheunicornrupcic4051]

8:49 he take a pit stop it good everyone need pit stop in nascar

[@invisiblepuppet3437]

2:23

[@johnjennings8085]

No stage racing or corporate crap! Real cars that are not the same. And Dodge's with wings and no Fiat in sight. What else do you need?

[@BigEightiesNewWave]

11:31 use of duct tape.

[@Garystrat1263]

ah the golden days of NASCAR when those 6 letters meant something...when the cars were "stock" racecars nit the canned fruit salad of today

[@tomdavis3038]

I know what you mean, but they were far from stock. I find the weight fir cubic inches rule interesting. . The Wood brothers would run the Cleveland at 351 cubic inches with a lighter car at some races or a 429 big block with a heavier car at others. GM and Chrysler teams had similar options. Makes things very interesting IMHO.

[@mcswain69]

@@tomdavis3038 but still a lot more stock than today's cars. Real sheet metal, bumpers, actual manufacturers engines, etc.

[@Ziggy_Moonglow]

@@tomdavis3038 In 1972, all the cars weighed 3800#, without driver, not matter the engine size. Aside from safety components, steering components, tires, wheels, rear axle and spoilers, the parts had to be 'production', 'factory', 'original', etc. 1968 was the last year of 9.36# per cubic inch. The smaller engine meant no restrictor plate and more ballast weight to move around which can certainly help handling.

[@Ziggy_Moonglow]

@@mcswain69 Don't forget transmission, bell housing, driveshaft, wheelbase, track, ignition, distributor, radiator fan, radiator, windshield washers and my personal favourite, "original headlight and rear light rims must be used".

[@tommyd.6592]

Funny the black girl didn't kiss DP. Just sayin.

[@robertparker6654]

He wasn't disrespectful to her, I noticed that. Always the gentleman.