No. 1: The 1976 Daytona 500
Winner: David Pearson
Margin of victory: 150 feet
Why it's No. 1: Pearson was known as the "Silver Fox" because of his slyness on the track. Most fans considered only one driver to be his equal: Richard "The King" Petty.
Pearson and Petty had waged many battles over the years, and the 1976 Daytona 500 was perhaps the most memorable installment in their rivalry. They were side-by-side as they screamed toward the finish line on the final lap. It was a test of guts, grit, and gumption. Neither driver gave an inch.
Their cars touched, swerved, and then crashed hard into the wall 20 yards shy of the finish line. Petty's crushed car spun into the infield and stalled. Pearson -- shouting into his radio, "Where's Richard!?" -- managed to get his equally mangled racer refired. He wobbled across the line at 30 mph, smoke billowing from his car and torn metal clanking.
"For a minute, I thought I was going to become the first driver to win the Dayton 500 backwards," said Pearson.
Win the Daytona 500 he did. It was the greatest finish ever in NASCAR's greatest race.
Here are the top-10 finishers in the 1976 Daytona 500:
For more information on NASCAR and cars in general, check out:
Larry Woody covers auto racing for The Tennessean in Nashville. He is a three-time Tennessee Sports Sportswriter of the Year and a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Margin of victory: 150 feet
Why it's No. 1: Pearson was known as the "Silver Fox" because of his slyness on the track. Most fans considered only one driver to be his equal: Richard "The King" Petty.
Pearson and Petty had waged many battles over the years, and the 1976 Daytona 500 was perhaps the most memorable installment in their rivalry. They were side-by-side as they screamed toward the finish line on the final lap. It was a test of guts, grit, and gumption. Neither driver gave an inch.
 ©Ford Motorsports History via Wieck Few drivers in NASCAR were more cunning than David Pearson -- but his victory in the 1976 Daytona 500 came down to guts, not guile. |
Their cars touched, swerved, and then crashed hard into the wall 20 yards shy of the finish line. Petty's crushed car spun into the infield and stalled. Pearson -- shouting into his radio, "Where's Richard!?" -- managed to get his equally mangled racer refired. He wobbled across the line at 30 mph, smoke billowing from his car and torn metal clanking.
"For a minute, I thought I was going to become the first driver to win the Dayton 500 backwards," said Pearson.
Win the Daytona 500 he did. It was the greatest finish ever in NASCAR's greatest race.
Here are the top-10 finishers in the 1976 Daytona 500:
| Finish | Driver | Car | Money Won |
| 1 | David Pearson | Mercury | $46,800 |
| 2 | Richard Petty | Dodge | $35,750 |
| 3 | Benny Parsons | Chevrolet | $23,680 |
| 4 | Lennie Pond | Chevrolet | $16,890 |
| 5 | Neil Bonnett | Chevrolet | $14,000 |
| 6 | Terry Ryan | Chevrolet | $13,800 |
| 7 | J.D. McDuffie | Chevrolet | $11,260 |
| 8 | Terry Bivins | Chevrolet | $9,665 |
| 9 | Richard Childress | Chevrolet | $8,990 |
| 10 | Frank Warren | Dodge | $8,340 |
For more information on NASCAR and cars in general, check out:
- To learn everything you need to know about "The Great American Race" -- from its history to the technical aspects of driving at Daytona International Speedway -- read How the Daytona 500 Works.
- Ever wonder what makes a stock car go? Read How NASCAR Race Cars Work to find out.
- Driver safety is a huge concern in NASCAR. Learn what measures the series takes in this area by reading How NASCAR Safety Works.
- Muscle cars embody the NASCAR philosophy of speed and power. Here are features on more than 100 classic muscle cars, including photos and specifications for each model.
- Toyota introduced its Camry to NASCAR in 2007. To learn about the history of this popular car, read How the Toyota Camry Works.
Larry Woody covers auto racing for The Tennessean in Nashville. He is a three-time Tennessee Sports Sportswriter of the Year and a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
