Editor’s Note: NASCAR is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2023. Pearson began NASCAR’s Silver Anniversary season at the by dropping out of the season opener at Riverside (Calif.) Int’l Raceway and finishing 22nd in the Wood Brothers Racing Mercury. After attending his dad’s funeral, Pearson qualified 20th and dropped out of the race after only 63 laps. Pearson took a month off before qualifying for the Carolina 500 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Pearson headed the 500-mile event for all but one mile, setting a NASCAR record for domination. Pearson joined the esteemed Wood Brothers team in 1972 and won six races in 14 starts.

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