NASCAR legend David Pearson is will celebrate his 74th birthday on Monday December 22, 2008 and HardcoreRaceFans.com would like to take this opportunity to wish him a Happy Birthday and to say thanks for all of the memories you provided.

Pearson had an incredible racing career that started on the short tracks near his hometown of Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1952. In honor of his birthday this column is dedicated to the "Silver Fox" and his many racing accomplishments.

David Pearson's first NASCAR race was the 1960 Daytona 500 where he started 33rd in car number 67. Pearson ran 185 of the 200 lap race and won 200 dollars in his first effort at the big time.

The 1961 World 600 (today's Coca-Cola 600) was a storybook race for David Pearson. Car owner Ray Fox hired him at the last minute to drive his Pontiac and Pearson did not waste any time behind the wheel that day. He would lead 225 of the race's 400 laps in winning his first major NASCAR race on May 28, 1961.

Becoming more popular with the fans and more successful every year Pearson was able to win the Cup Series Championship in 1966, 1968 and 1969.

A major career move in 1972 would lead Pearson to the greatest success of his career. After being chosen by the Wood Brothers to drive their famous number 21, he would score 43 victories by the 1979 season. Pearson and the Wood Brothers set a qualifying record by
winning 11 straight pole positions at the Lowe's Motor Speedway from 1973 to 1978.

One of his most famous wins was the 1976 Daytona 500. While swapping the lead on the final lap with Richard Petty the cars made contact and crashed all the way down the front stretch. Pearson kept his clutch engaged to keep the motor running and crossed the finish line first to take the victory and record one of the most memorable finishes in NASCAR history.

Pearson currently sits second on the NASCAR all time winners list with 105 victories to his credit. He was inducted into the National Motor Sports Press Association's Hall of Fame at Darlington Raceway in 1991 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame at Talladega in 1993. Pearson was inducted into the Charlotte Motor Speedway's Court of Legends in 1995 and the Bristol Motor Speedway's Heroes of Bristol in 1998.