DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 15, 1976)

David Pearson, the three-time Winston Cup champion who had a phenomenal history at Daytona International Speedway, won only one Daytona 500 -- but his victory in the 18th annual running of the "Great American Race," was perhaps one of the most dramatic in the 42-year history of the event that has become the crown jewel of the series.

Midwest veteran Ramo Stott started from the pole in a Chevrolet, but A.J. Foyt was the fastest qualifier with a lap of 185.943 mph in Hoss Ellington's Chevrolet. Foyt's lap was one of three that was disallowed on pole day, elevating Stott into the pole position.

Pearson, who drove the Wood Brothers Mercury, led only 37 laps in the event in which veteran drivers such as Bobby Allison and Buddy Baker played a big part. But they, along with other stalwarts such as Darrell Waltrip, Foyt and Cale Yarborough failed to finish the event.

With the exception of one lap led by 1975 Winston Cup champion Benny Parsons, Pearson and Petty, driving a Dodge, dominated the last 46 laps of the race, swapping positions three times. Pearson led from laps 155-165, Petty paced 166-175 and Parsons led 176. Pearson and Petty led the next 11 and 12 laps, respectively, gauging each others' strengths the whole time, until the race came down to the final lap.

The last half-lap was a Daytona classic. Pearson used the draft to pass Petty going into Turn 3. He slipped high after making the pass and Petty slid back underneath him. They ran side by side through Turn 4, before the cars slipped and made contact exiting the corner.

"I'm not sure what happened," said Pearson at the time. "He went beneath me and his car broke loose. I got into the wall and came off and hit him. That's what started all the spinning, I think."

Petty crashed into the outside wall, then spun into the trioval grass, scant yards from the finish line. Pearson spun to the pit entrance, made contact with Joe Frasson's car, then spun back towards the race track. Through it all, he engaged the clutch and kept his car's engine running. When he straightened his car out, he was able to stagger across the line and win the event.

Pearson averaged 152.181 mph and won $46,800. Petty's crew attempted to push his car across the finish line but that was not allowed, so he was credited with second, one lap down.

Parsons, Lennie Pond and the late Neil Bonnett rounded out the top-5 finishers.