In this week’s edition of A Look Back, we have decided to highlight Saturday’s race of legends at the Bristol Motor Speedway.  Bringing together some of NASCAR’s biggest living legends, fans and competitors alike were treated to one of the most unique races in recent history.

Not every day do you get to see competitors such as Cale Yarborough, Junior Johnson, Rusty Wallace, Harry Gant, Sterling Marlin and others on the same track running against each other on the high-banks of Bristol.  Hopping behind the wheel of late model stock cars, the legends rekindled memories and fought it out for charity and the delight of the fans.

Practice for the exhibition saw Junior Johnson wreck, but the 77-year-old climbed from the car and his crew went to work making repairs.

Paired with a celebrity driver, twelve of NASCAR’s biggest names from years past prepared for the event.  The celebrity exhibition race was broken up into two heats and set the lineup for Saturday night’s main event.  Former crew chief and owner Andy Petree won the first heat under caution beating fellow ESPN commentator Brad Daugherty.  Philadelphia Eagles place kicker David Akers took the checkered flag during the second heat race putting teammate Harry Gant on the outside of the front row for the main event.

The breakdown of teammates was as follows:
Terry Bowden and L.D. Ottinger, Ray Evernham and Rusty Wallace, Bill Jordan and Terry Labonte, Frank Beamer and Cale Yarborough, Brad Daugherty and Junior Johnson, Ron Capps and Jack Ingram, Doug Herbert and Larry Pearson, Riki Rachtman and Jimmy Spencer, David Akers and Harry Gant, Andy Petree and Sterling Marlin, Greg Anderson and David Green, and Mike Compton and Phil Parsons.

Eager to get out there and show the boys how to get it done, all the Silver Fox David Pearson could do – thanks to a bad back – was give the command to start the engines.  With former champion Ned Jarrett calling the race in the booth with his son Dale, the race got underway with Sterling Marlin and Harry Gant on the front row.

Marlin got out to an early lead, while Gant followed closely behind.  Rusty Wallace charged quickly through the field and L.D. Ottinger surprised many by passing cars left and right.  Gant’s chances came to an end when a hood pin came loose buckling his hood and bringing him to pit road.  With Martin out front, Wallace looked to make his move under the yellow and red No. 4, but could never get the job done.  As the two ‘youngsters’ drove away, the 70-year-old Ottinger moved past Jimmy Spencer and secured a third-place finish.

Celebrating in victory lane, Marlin thanked his crew saying this car drove much better than his Cup car he will run on Sunday afternoon.  By taking the win Marlin will donate $25,000 to the charity of his choice.

Saturday night’s exhibition was an event that was truly special.  To see that caliber of drivers racing against one another on one of NASCAR’s most popular tracks was something that will be hard to replicate.  These are just some of the men that helped build the multi-million dollar industry NASCAR has become and this event was a way to let them revel in the fun and excitement they enjoyed for many years.