The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 16, 1980, Page Page 13, Image 15
M OV/I I
at Darlh
By Thomas C. Cothran
AP Wrhnr
DARLINGTON, S.C. <AP)David
Pearson says there is a good
rule of thumb for stockcar drivers
at the old Darlington Raceway:
"Stay Out of Trouble."
But the 45-year-old Pearson also
used a lot of experience-36 other
Darlington races and 10 other
victories-in winning the Rebel 500
Grand National Sunday. i
There were several collisions, <
dui rearson noiea mai n "seemed i
like everything that happened was
on the other end of the speedway.
Everything went our way;
A heavy rain, and even some i
hail, delayed the race for two hours \
and 18 minutes. But the rain ap- <
parently just played into Pearson's 1
hands. "When the rain comes like i
that it washes everything off the
track," he said, referring to tire 1
rubber left by the cars that im- 1
proves their grip on the surface. J
"It makes it faster."
Pearson, of Spartanburg, said he
enjoyed the delay. "It gives you a (
chance to rest,'' he said. "I got i
something to eat." ' c
WHEN IT WAS over, Pearson, I
Benny Parsons, of Ellerbe, N.C., \
and Darrell Waltrip, of Franklin,
Tenn., battled for the lead for r
almost an hour. Parsons was I
ahead when Pearson overtook him v
on the 157th lap and ran away with ?
the lead. s
''Pearson's tough, ain't he?" 1
~ c _ A 51 1 -
rcuauiia, a iurmer ueirou laxi
driver, said. "He just got awav
from me. I did the best I could. I'm d
just glad it's over. r
"I am convinced the best car *
won the race," he added. 0
Waltrip said before it rained, "I v
felt good about our chances. When d
David Pearson (in car numb*
above)crosses the finish line to w
?
Sandersc
uaatvi^LUc
Scott Sanderson, a 6-foot-3, 190
pound point guard from s
Tuscaloosa, Ala., signed a national ^
letter of intent Tuesday to play c
basketball at the University of t
South Carolina. I
Sanderson signed on the day that
his father, Winfrey "Wimp"
Sanderson, became head j
basketball coach at the University
of Alabama. 1
wins Re
D.
nc
we continued it wasn't the same,
was running on seven cylinders,
was just hanging on."
Harry Gant, who edged Waltri
to come in fourth, remained in hi
car during the rain. He said h
decided to stay there to avoi<
irritating an injury. "I felt com
fortable in the seat," Gant said.
"Dave Wheeler fitted me out wit!
a flak jacket. It is something lik<
LjuarieroacKS use when they havi
injured ribs.
"I kept exercising by pulling
against the roll bar," he added. 44
wanted to keep that muscle are;
jnder my arm loose. The othei
Jay I got out of the car and thi
cruised area got real tight. I didn'
.vant that to happen today."
Despite the wet conditions
Pearson averaged 155.866 mph 01
he 1.see-mile" track to take th<
^21,430 first prize.
THE FOUR TOP drivers drov<
Dhevrolets. Pearson had jus
eached agreement 10 days ago t(
Irive Hoss Ellington's car.
Since it was "The first time ir
loss' car, it makes me feel good tc
vin it it," Pearson said.
Ellington said it had improvec
norale among his pit crew to have
3earson on the team. "I knevs
vhen I talked to David two weeks
igo that he could do the job," he
aid. "I hope we can run eight oi
0 races this vear and win..."
Some of NASCAR's best knowr
rivers were knocked out of the
ace early. Neil Bonnett ol
lueytown, Ala., and Buddy Baker
f Charlotte,N.C., left after c
freck in the first turn causec
amage to several cars. The
, - ' - 5
? :> :... .. . :'
vr one and 500 at Darlin
in the Rebel Petty (in car r
>n siyn s>
ill letter
The first-team All-Alabama
election from Central High
Jchool, who averaged 16 points anc
ight assists a game as a senior, is
he third prospect signed by new
JSC head coach Bill Foster.
Previously the former Duk<
Vlentor signed Ken Holmes, a 6
oot-6 forward from Savannah
[la., and Gerald Peacock, a 6-foo
ijuard from Raleigh, N.C.
bet500 E
?? 1
1
nrvi?
^wu/uy
I wreck occurred when Kicky Rudd, *
I of Chesapeake, Va., tried to move I
inside from his outside starting (
position and ran into veteran Jj
p Richard Petty of Fandleman, N.C.
s A pileup was avoided when most
e of the cars involved managed to
d get to the apron and out of the race,
i- "We were lucky we didn't have
any more cars involved," Bonnett
h said later. "That early in the race,
e we weren't up to full speed. At this
e track, you've got to beat the track
as well as the other drivers," .
Bonnett added. "Just one car can
I plug this track up and there's
I nowhere to go."
* I
r The 31-year-old track-known as
5 thp "riranrlaHHv" r?f t-1II
- VOW1IV4UUUJ WJL 1.11V OIVA.IV tai T
t racing circuit-was resurfaced
almost two years ago. There were *
, numerous caution flags Sunday as 1
l engines blew on other cars, and
3 rain forced a halt to the racing in
the 107th lap with Yarborough
leading.
i Dale Earnhardt, who had won t
two straight races coming into the I
) Rebel 500, dropped out in the 104th i
lap after his engine blew.
1
:> v . K^^ELa^x --<
IJ^
'.
gton Speedway Sunday. Richard
lumber 43) finished ninth.
USC-Georgia
I football tickets
are available
A limited of football tickets for
the Nov. 1, 1980 game between USC
, and Georgia at Athens will be
I available to all students on Mon;
day, April 21 between 8:30 a.m. j
r and 5:30 p.m. at the Athletic Ticket ,
Office on Rosewood Drive. There is !
a limit of one ticket per student, j
*
. Tickets are $10 each and may be
claimed in the fall by presenting a I
t current student ID card. For additional
information, call 777-4274.
Have the GAMECOCK delivered!
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