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| I WROTE THIS IN 1992 |
I'll write more about David Pearson later, but I was saddened tonight when I learned of Pearson's passing on Nov. 12, 2018. He was about a month short of turning 84.
David was the first big-time driver I ever interviewed, and he was nowhere near the last. But he was one of my favorite former drivers to talk to.
Almost ironically, the three-time NASCAR champion walked away from me the first time I tried to interview him. I think he was frustrated at my lack of knowledge about stock-car racing. Oh, I knew the drivers, the tracks and the races, but there was so much more to know.
In 2007, I was re-writing I Remember Dale Earnhardt into Angel in Black: Remembering Dale Earnhardt Sr., and Pearson was one of the many former drivers I called. I was walking into the local Wal-Mart, and my cell phone rang.
"Tom, Tom, it's David!" a voice said. After a beat, the voice added, "David Pearson."
I hadn't recognized the voice over my cell, so I was glad he told me.
I laughed and said, "David, I'm at Wal-Mart; can I call you later?"
He said he was going out to eat with friends, but I could call at 8:30. I did, and it was one of the best interviews I ever had with a driver.
By the way, I told him about him walking away, and he said, "I'm sorry." I told him it was OK. I was just glad how much better our relationship had improved over 20-some years.
I wrote a little more about Pearson in a blog post called Learning from Hoss Ellington. Hoss was the car owner when David walked away from me.
One quick Pearson story: When I was writing Angel in Black, I asked David who the greatest NASCAR driver of all time was, he didn't say Dale Earnhardt or Richard Petty. Unapologetically, he said, "I thought it was me."
By the way, in the early 1990s, I wrote a comic-book script about Pearson, and you can find it online here.
Bye, David. You're the best; and you're missed.
MORE: One more story, in the late '90s, Darlington Raceway hosted a press event featuring Pearson. Holly, my future wife, went with me to the event, and she saw Pearson in person.
"Well, he looks just the same as he does on TV," she said.
I laughed. Of course he does.
EMAIL: tgilli52@gmail.com TWITTER: EDITORatWORK
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(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)
(the book of great NASCAR stories)
EDITOR@WORK blog entries
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