Pearson, Edwards 'race' at Darlington promotional event
DARLINGTON, S.C. – David Pearson, the acknowledged master of Darlington Raceway, hit the freshly asphalted surface of the old track again Wednesday.
It was only an exhibition, of course, but it was a pretty sight, Pearson rolling through the turns at old Darlington once more. Alongside was current star Carl Edwards, who shared the spotlight with Pearson during a promotional appearance at the track and, while he was there, picked up a few pointers.
Pearson is perhaps the ultimate teacher at Darlington. He won 10 races and 12 poles – both records – at the old track. Pearson, 73, retired in 1986 after 105 victories and three Cup championships.
Leonard Wood, who was the crew chief for Pearson during his glory years, restored the 1971 Wood Brothers Mercury that Pearson drove to several of his Darlington wins, and Wood also was on hand Wednesday as the historic No. 21 maroon and white car hit the racing surface again.
The car has been in a museum adjacent to the track for more than 30 years. Wood agreed to work on the car so that it could be run on the track once more – at least for Wednesday’s exhibition. Pearson and Edwards, driving one of Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 99 show cars, turned several laps around the track at about three-quarters speed.
“It still looks tough coming off the turn, doesn’t it?” Wood said, watching Pearson lead Edwards off Turn 4 early in the session.
Pearson and Edwards didn’t “race” during the run, but they traded the lead several times. Edwards was in front when the checkered flag fell, although Pearson joked later that he didn’t know it was the last lap and that he would have tried a little harder if he had been prepared.
“I was trying to help Carl out,” Pearson said. “He had asked me about the line I ran around the track, and I was showing him.”
Edwards will be in the field May 10 when the Sprint Cup circuit returns to Darlington, which will be new in more ways than one. A new tunnel allows easy transporter access to the infield, and the racing surface, long famous for its abrasive nature, has new asphalt.
“But they haven’t changed where the outside wall is,” Edwards said. “The track is still the same shape. I don’t know what to expect with the new pavement. We’ll just unload for practice and set the cars up probably like we ran them here before. We’ll lean on our notes from testing a little.”
