The Scene Vault Podcast -- David Pearson on NASCAR's Hall of Fame and GOAT Debate, Richard Petty

[@turbo1438]

I could listen to David Pearson talk all day long

[@Ever443]

I'm lucky enough to be able to say David was a friend. Always had the greatest respect for him. Really a nice person. RIP Silverfox

[@rebelracing88]

Great interview. My Dad was a diehard Pearson fan so I grew up knowing the Silver Fox was the best!

[@terrylessmann2274]

As a kid in the 70s, I got to experience the Pearson - Petty battles. Our family would drive 2 days from Neb to Michigan to watch them race. Our ears would ring into the next day - we don't need no stinking ear protection. We were Pearson / Wood Bros fans and loved it when he beat Richard (big engine and all).

[@danielmoose1273]

Not only an EXCELLENT Interview, but FUN Too(!!!) 🙂. I sure do miss David and Cale.

[@Cullark]

While it's an absolute disgrace he didn't get in on the 1st ballot because of his greatness as driver, the class & respect of his response confirmed it equally so as a man.

[@johncarter1137]

That's a man I can respect. David always sounded cocky, but that was confidence coming out and like they say it ain't bragging if you can do it. Thanks for the episode, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@rogertynerthinkthiswastheo3112]

Simply the best all time. The statistics back it up. 576 race entries 105 wins. Look at top 5’s, Top 10’s, etc. Ran enough races in 4 years to qualify for the championship and won it 3 of the 4. What if he had been running a full schedule his whole career? Voted the Drive of the Century by Sports Illustrated in 1999. Voted on by drivers, track owners, etc. People who really know the sport. They put heart monitors on some of the drivers years ago. All the drivers heart rate went up during the race. Pearson was the only one who’s heart rate went down. Mr. Cool. There are a lot of Kings but only One Silver Fox.

[@paulflowers5497]

Richard Petty won 106 races in less starts than Pearson won 105 look it up. That being said they were both great,, Who's the best?? No one really knows

[@rogertynerthinkthiswastheo3112]

@@paulflowers5497 Richard was a great driver. But one big advantage he had that no one else had was a factory ride his whole career. Plus he entered nearly 1200 races. Not one close to number of races entered. But I’m glad for all his success.

[@terrysr9569]

Excellent points! I also believe that Pearson was the greatest, but he and Petty were both GREAT. Something to think about when comparing Pearson and Petty: Every time that Pearson won, Petty was also competing. But there are many, many Petty wins where Pearson wasn't even in the race. If you don't believe me, look it up. But both were GREAT drivers and, more importantly, GREAT men!

[@GoodOlRoll]

@@paulflowers5497 that's only because of Pearson's higher DNF rate thanks to more unreliable cars, and DNFs aren't indicative of how good a driver is. I did the math, and subtracting DNFs Pearson reached 100 wins in 328 finished races to Petty's 335.

[@rickcooper6817]

When everyone else was pulling for Petty I was pulling for David. One of my all time favorites,

[@richarddupont8431]

I'm a Richard Petty fan but I always respected David Pearson

[@rickcooper6817]

@@richarddupont8431 Same here with me. I have great respect for Richard. He is genuinely a good man.

[@ogboogerdog]

They are both stand up (well sit down in this case) guys....

[@victorpotts7244]

Me TOO!

[@terrygarvin1980]

Pearson drove the Fast Ford's so he was my favorite,later in life I came to understand what a really great person The King was.. I know he drove everything but The Wood Brothers Mercury was my biggest memory..

[@EmyBrowndogMom]

If David Pearson had the money and the equipment that Richard Petty had back in the day, David Pearson would have 10 championships or more. This man had pure talent. And he could knock you slick out too.

[@terrysr9569]

I believe that you are absolutely right! I watched David from 1972 to the end of his career in 1986. He ran with the Wood Brothers from 72-79 and they only ran about 18 races per year; about half of the yearly races. Had they run for the Championship I have no doubt that Pearson would have won at least 5 and maybe 7 more Championships to add to the 3 her won in 66, 69 and 70. If Pearson could have driven his entire career with the Wood Brothers there is no telling how much success they would have had!

[@stealthbomber2127]

In Cotton Owens and Holman Moody equipment he was in some of the best cars available at the time.

[@EmyBrowndogMom]

@@stealthbomber2127 You are absolutely correct! However, he had somebody else telling him what to do instead of having his own money and doing what he wanted to do. And he could knock you slick out!

[@kechumgreen8893]

this video is a gold bar out of the scene vault!!!!!

[@johnquick574]

Without a doubt one of the all time greats. Thank You for sharing !!

[@CallDoubleAught]

Pearson is the greatest driver to ever strap in, in any form of racing, PERIOD!

[@maxpuppy96]

Yup

[@GoodOlRoll]

He once ran a few laps in IndyCar. He ran a full second faster than anyone else but he got out because he didn't like it.

[@rdathome123]

love david but in all forms of racing its all got to be aj foyt

[@stealthbomber2127]

I loved David and was a huge fan, but Ayrton Senna was the greatest talent behind the wheel I ever saw.

[@patrickskahill6530]

This is fantastic. Seems like a real down to earth guy. Great interview.

[@af4od02]

This is pure gold.

[@mrsteve4313]

Definitely agree with David on the Hall of Fame stuff. They definitely should be putting the older guys in there first!

[@fatman1288]

ugh i was born too late! i wish i could of seen Richard and David race in the 60s and 70s

[@Whitetailpursuer]

Absolutely love hearing the “Old Guns” talk about real racing! I appreciate this type of interview. Keep’m comin’!!!

[@marshalllaw2865]

More please !

[@htalbott1899]

Pearson was one of the best, he was one of the greatest with the wood bros.he could have won many champion ships.

[@Jeffbambam]

Man I miss the real Nascar !

[@victorpotts7244]

Don't we all ?

[@pualsmall5378]

I liked Petty and my Dad liked Pearson It made it great when he would take me too MIS for the races..our first race we went down in Infielder and shook hands with DP and RP..who were laughing and talking about the race..won by Yarlbrough..I have a die cast of the 69 Talladega DP drove and its autographs across the windshield a prized possession for sure

[@WillChandlerFLD120]

Was pumping gas in my gen 1 prius 20 yrs ago one day in spartanburg sc. i looked up and David was pumping gas on the other side. He said how much you have to fill that thang😂i said about every 3 week's. He said how big an engine. I said small 1.6 but its basically a generator. How fast that thang go? I said it probably run 100 mph keeps up with any car. Said i drove to myrtle Beach and back on 9 gallons. He said damn thats unbelievable. Dont think he knew i recognized him. I was starstruck didnt even think about asking him for a autograph 😅 cool dude

[@markc9409]

I sure do miss drivers like Pearson. My dad was trying to watch that race in 76 and I about drove him nuts asking questions why this why that I miss him to.

[@pualsmall5378]

My buddy runs a vintage GTP cars and has the engine done it a shop in SC and David's son Larry runs the joint

[@timmypilkerton2835]

My dad and uncle pulled for David Person back in the day. We have always Pulled for Fords and 21 woods brothers were just amazing. They didn’t even run A full schedule. If they did no doubt they would have won 200 Races. He was one of the smoothest drivers I’ve ever seen I don’t remember him much racing when I was a kid because I was so young but I have watched plenty of videos of him racing and he was the original iceman in my book.

[@ixlr8677]

loved workin on my ole vick and listening to mrn back in the late 60s an early 70s.

[@timmypilkerton2835]

@@ixlr8677 My dad just told me that the woods brothers ran for points for 3 seasons with Pearson and won the championship all 3 times!

[@slimbrady6691]

@@timmypilkerton2835 The Wood Brothers have never won a championship. They won a lot of races with Pearson tho.

[@oldskoold22]

I wonder if he knew the Marshall Tucker Band guys back then? Toy and the bunch... Wow, thanks for posting!

[@kevinhuber8723]

Pearson was a first ballot hall of famer. As an open wheel guy I think Pearson is at least the equal due to how many of the large track victories he accomplished.

[@cboy132]

I love this guy. Don't watch much NASCAR but I watch old races and I Love to watch him beat Petty!

[@ixlr8677]

you dam rite david. the pioneers soulda been1st.

[@billp5656]

Saying Earnhardt is better than Pearson is stupidity

[@richarddupont8431]

Earnhardt wasn't even close to Pearson and Petty

[@DanEBoyd]

Haha, Pearson really snookered Petty, when he feigned the breakdown!

[@GoodOlRoll]

The end of the '74 Firecracker 400 is the greatest finish in NASCAR history. Tied with the '76 Daytona 500.

[@roberthill2219]

' he's done that quite a few times I come to find out...'

[@TomChame]

Excellent, thanks!

[@roadkingryder6685]

Pearson and Petty were Nascar in the 60's and 70's. They were The Best ever,Period. Their win records will never be broken. Thank you for this series of interviews with some of the all time great drivers and crew chiefs. This history needs to be documented. I really miss the old Nascar as today's is a total shit show. Keep up the great work!

[@blawson2112]

“THE GREATEST” He with the Wood Brothers Lights Out

[@wysetech2000]

That right there was one of the greatest drivers ever by far. He raced with his brain and that's why they called him the "silver fox" when his hair started to turn grey. He seldom ever crashed anyone on purpose. Driving was a game of chess to him. So many times I watched him run sixth with two or three laps from the end, and then would turn on the power and win the race. All the other drivers, even Richard would be worn out by the end of the race and Pearson would be as fresh as when he started. He took care of the car as well as himself when it was a hot day. I really enjoyed listening to that interview.

[@frankofva8803]

I love this!

[@melindayoung7459]

One of the best

[@GregorySovine-bt9hj]

I would probably say, probably the best pure talent in Cup, and this is an Earnhardt guy talking.

[@blawson2112]

“THE GREATEST” Period

[@nickknickerbocker6415]

🚖 " David Pearson " Was One of the " MAIN INGREDIENTS " in " NASCAR "💫 I'm in my 60s I Watched 🏁 🎵 Artist✨️The Charlie Daniels Band🎶 Song🎙Stroker Ace 🏁 🍯♨️🧉

[@markwitkowski6418]

David is 100% correct

[@chrishedrick3117]

THE man!!

[@Dennis-pb7oe]

David Pearson the best stock car driver who ever lived best there ever was best there ever will be

[@daleflinchum3244]

I often wondering if anybody knew whether Pearson ever was approached by Johnson to drive his car and if so why Pearson never did.

[@TheSceneVault]

According to Larry McReynolds in our 250th episode roundtable, Junior was in the process of building a Ford for David at some point. I don’t know how the deal fell through.

[@pamshewan9181]

The Greatest of all Time.

[@grplrhashi]

David Pearson is the GREATEST driver of all time F-1 Indy and all.

[@stealthbomber2127]

David was one of all time greats in all forms, but watch Ayton Senna's onboard qualifying laps as well as his rain driving. He was the greatest natural talent I ever saw and David was there too.

[@Carlos-r5n2b]

I used to see David sitting in parking lots waiting on his wife. Had many conversations with him .

[@deantait8326]

Wow can’t imagine a 426 Hemi or 427 SOHC making it 600 miles back then. Sounds like the Wood’s we’re using drag race ideas.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

David Pearson raced part-time. Had he raced full-time, he would've surpassed Richard Petty for wins.

[@charliethomas2798]

If a frog had wings

[@jasonjackson5493]

If he had the equipment petty had and ran the full schedule, no disrespect but the King may not have been the king.......David was way more talented

[@maxpuppy96]

David Pearson the GOAT

[@drivin379]

When David left didn't he tell wood bro #21 is going with Me and if not he was gonna buy the rights or something. I do know his dirt car and his boys cars where number 21 around this this time . Seems in fine print is why Kyle was #7 cause David said I made 21 what it is and if I'm not In That car it's nottttt Gonna be 21

[@davidh6818]

You obviously don't know the process Nascar had concerning car numbers.The Wood Brothers own the right to use the number 21 as long as they pay Nascar for the rights to the 21.Pearson had no say in whether the Wood Brothers used the number 21 or not.

[@charlesbelvin4929]

goat

[@tRumpblows]

David Pearson should have been in the HOF from the beginning. Clearly one of the greatest ever. Shameful that he isn't in the HOF.

[@rotart12arx3]

He went in for the 2011 year.

[@onesecureone]

2 of the best to ever hold a steering wheel not counting me