April 7, 1974 - Darlington's Rebel 500

NASCAR's seventh race of its 1974 season was the Rebel 500 at Darlington Raceway - except it wasn't.

Source: Motor Racing Programme Covers

As was the case for about the first half of the 1974 season, NASCAR trimmed its race distances by 10 percent in response to the US energy crisis. Darlington's spring race, therefore, was only 450  miles - though it remained billed as the Rebel 500. 

Donnie Allison captured the pole in a DiGard Chevy recently purchased from Banjo Matthews. The pole was his second in three races after also starting first at Bristol. Donnie's top spot was a mild surprise as he bumped David Pearson to the second spot in the legendary Wood Brothers Mercury. Pearson had won the pole in three of the past four Darlington races - including both races in 1973.

Bobby Allison and Buddy Baker comprised the second row, and Dave Marcis completed the top five starters in Roger Penske's AMC Matador.

Richard Petty timed tenth - not the best starting spot but certainly not the worst. Hershel McGriff entered the race in a second Petty Enterprises-prepared Dodge Charger. McGriff raced in Darlington's first race in 1950. After a couple of days of practice that didn't yield the speed needed to be competitive, the team withdrew from the race without making a legit qualifying run. 

The Allison brothers tag-teamed to lead the first 25 laps. Pearson soon rose to the occasion to pocket 25 laps of his own out front. Baker banked about 15 laps for himself as the race neared its one-third mark.

The race featured three pretty frightening accidents. Around lap 60, 1973 Winston Cup Champion Benny Parsons spun and was drilled by Bobby Isaac. Fortunately, neither were injured.

The second major incident happened about 60 laps later when journeyman racer Johnny Barnes lost an engine. James Hylton hammered Barnes in the driver's side door. After being briefly knocked out, Barnes was treated and released from a nearby hospital without any serious injuries. Just rub some dirt on that noggin, son. It'll be a'ight. 

The third major accident occurred around lap 215 when Lennie Pond, the 1973 Rookie of the Year, blew an engine and wiped out about 20 feet of guardrail including six fence posts. Pond was OK, but NASCAR red-flagged the race for about 40 minutes as safety crews made repairs to the railing.

After the three major hits, Joe Frasson brought a good bit of levity to everyone as the red flag was lifted. The long-time independent racer made a beeline for Pearson's #21 Mercury rather than return to his own car. Pearson had to wrangle the sizable Frasson from his seat so everyone could return to racing action.

The second half of the race featured great racing action between the Allison brothers, Buddy Baker, and Pearson. Though they raced for different teams and manufacturers, the one thing they had in common - at least the Allisons and Pearson - was a smaller engine. 

As Detroit's engines changed in passenger cars, NASCAR began a similar transition. Dodge racers such as Petty and Baker continued to race the famed Hemi engine. NASCAR, however, mandated the engines be fitted with a restrictor plate. The Allisons and Pearson; however, raced with smaller cubic-inch engines - but without a plate. It became apparent the smaller, unrestricted engine - along with less nose weight - made a big difference.

Though Petty's Hemi had been a powerful beast for 10 years, it gave up the ghost just past the race's two-thirds mark.

With 50 laps to go, Donnie Allison and Baker faded a bit. The battle narrowed to just Bobby Allison and Pearson. Each took a turn leading a double-digit number of laps before the other returned - all as both managed their fuel mileage. Pearson re-assumed the lead for the final time with 11 laps to go when Bobby's engine sputtered a bit as he sought every last fuel drop. Allison barely held onto P2 as Baker charged hard in a failed effort to pass him for the position.

Pearson's 78th career win was also his third Rebel win in a row and fourth in five years.

Audio of Universal Racing Network's radio broadcast of the race is available on Appalachian State's library website. 

Source: Sumter Daily Item

TMC