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Originally Posted by Lee Stewart
Part of the Ray Evernham Race Car Collection. Would someone please explain why there is a "396 C.I." engine callout on a Ford Torino/Fairlane. |
Famous race cars often have a great story behind them. David Pearson’s 1968 NASCAR Torino is one of those cars. When Pearson scored his first super speedway victory since 1961, the car he drove was purpose built for the track on which he was racing.
For the Rebel 400 in Darlington, South Carolina on May 11, 1968 Holman-Moody prepared a Ford Torino that was specially built to not only beat the competition, but to beat the track itself. They used a Ford 396 ci NASCAR approved motor and a special setup on the Torino to shave 293 pounds of weight off the car. They gambled that the smaller engine would increase the handling in the corners, especially in the late stages of the race when Darlington gets slick from imbedded oil and grease, and to slow the tire wear. Both Cale and LeeRoy Yarborough blew tires during the race and lost time. Pearson took the lead early for the first 18 laps, then laid back like a cat watching drivers lose tires and time. Late in the race he and Richard Petty in a Plymouth fought it out for 50 laps until Petty had to pit. Pearson’s No. 17 went on to take the flag and make Darlington super speedway history.