David Pearson (racing driver)

David Gene Pearson is a former American stock car racer from Spartanburg, South Carolina. Pearson began his NASCAR career in 1960 and ended his first season by winning the 1960 NASCAR Rookie of the Year award. He won three championships every year he ran the full schedule in NASCARs Grand National Series . NASCAR described his 1974 season as an indication of his consistent greatness that season he finished third in the season points having competed in onlyofraces.

Pearson was born near Spartanburg, South Carolina. When Pearson was young, he climbed a tree at the local stock car racing track to see the races. Pearson said, Id always been interested in cars, and I decided right then that was what I wanted to do with my life. He worked with his brother in a car body repair shop, and used the money to purchase a Ford coach. Pearson removed the fenders to convert the vehicle into a street rod. He jumped the car over ditches until he rolled it over. His mother paid him to junk the car and he used the money to purchase another car to build. In 1952, he raced a 1940 Ford at dirt tracks and wonin an outlaw class race. He kept winning and attracted the attention of Spartanburgs racing community, including Joe Littlejohn.

Source: Wikipedia