1974 NASCAR Southern 500

[@STP43FAN1]

The Pearson-Petty rivalry was the big news maker but Allison vs. Cale was more bitter

[@STP43FAN1]

Benny Parsons and David Pearson crashing out at Darlington - we’d see an even more eye popping example the following April

[@onesecureone]

They don't make em like this anymore...these guys were almost as good as me

[@craigpennington1251]

That's what they all say.

[@STP43FAN1]

This was Ritchie Panch’s career nadir. He got the most criticism after being involved in three wrecks.

[@mattfulmer4243]

And he didn't cause any of them. 😑

[@dandypoint]

I was there!

[@craigpennington1251]

Lucky dog. I was in Uncle Sam's Canoe Club on the other side of the planet loading bombs & rockets.

[@carypyke935]

Did he say only 12 cars running??!!😮

[@anthonydeloreto3881]

Richard Petty’s 35th place finish gave him more points than Darrell Waltrip who finished 2nd in this race. That 1974 points system was a complete mess! 😵‍💫

[@STP43FAN1]

The problem was it worked. TOO well. It was designed to reward winning and the point lead changed nine times between Petty and Yarborough. But the system counted purse payouts times number of starts divided by zero. Because Petty had won six big track races to that point the bigger payouts kept counting higher for Petty’s points total. Cale couldn’t win enough to catch Petty as a result. And David Pearson finished a spectacular third in points despite only 19 starts

[@STP43FAN1]

I hate my keyboard. “Divided by 1,000” it should say

[@carypyke935]

Carling beer !!

[@craigpennington1251]

Yessir. Good stuff.

[@louislepage5111]

Petty never did well at Darlington 😢

[@tommyadams2802]

Ddto. You dadddy