December 20: A.J., Banjo, Cotton, David ... and Pauls

December 20, 1966 was an "ABCD" day.

A.J. Foyt signed with Banjo Matthews to race in several GN events in 1967 - NASCAR superspeedway ones that were also recognized by FIA. Also, Cotton Owens announced he and David Pearson were staying together for the 1967 season. From: Spartanburg Herald

From  Danny Quick collection.

From  Stacy Todd collection

In the closing paragraph of the above article, it was also noted Cotton Owens contracted to build Dodges for a "Tennessee man" who was expected to hire PAUL LEWIS as his driver. Turns out the owner was another A.J. - A.J. King.

Driving his familiar #1, Lewis made 8 starts for King with 2 top 5s and 4 top 10s. After the 25th race of the season in the Carolina 500 at Rockingham in June, however, King made a driver switch. Bobby Isaac made one start for King at Bristol in the 33rd race of the season.

From Spartanburg Herald .

Then another Paul - Paul "Li'l Bud" Moore was hired to take the seat. Moore made 5 starts for King during the second half the season. When Moore took over, the number was changed to 53.

From Spartanburg Herald .

From  Jack Walker collection.

Moore and King made another 9 starts together in 1968 before parting ways after the Firecracker 400. King fielded cars only 4 more times in 1968 and 1969 with Sam McQuagg and Pete Hamilton. He returned in 1975 after a long absence for an ill-fated entry with Tiny Lund in the Talladega 500.

From  Ray Lamm collection

From  Chuck Johnson collection.

The inspector is looking at the wrong end of the template on Foyt's car. Seems to me that the hood is a bit low on that Fairlane. It's nice to see chrome (and door handles!) on a race car again. Or any car.

Peasrson didn't stay with Cotton Owens beyond April, and Cotton ran most of the season. What happened there? Did David have a another disagreement like he did with the Wood Brothers? I believe he was good enough to take the 1967 championship from Petty if he had run more races. He could have had four titles before Richard got his 2nd. I don't care if Jimmy Johnson gets eight championships, Pearson is still the man.

The December 20, 1959 issue of the Daytona paper carried a story showing Big Bill's thoughts were running in a straight line. Check all the dragsters lined up coming off turn 4 of the Big D!

In one of the funnier, head-shaking, racing stories I've heard over the years, Pearson and Cotton separated over a bag of ice. Likely more to it than that - but that is Pearson's side of the story.

From Charlotte Observer .

Q: WHAT CAUSED YOU TO GO YOUR SEPARATE WAYS? Pearson: Were just as close friends now and we didnt get mad at each other. We were getting ready to go to Columbia (S.C.), to the race down there. He had the truck pulled outside (of the garage) and went home to take a shower. All of us were out there ready to go.

We were running a little bit late so we just decided, me and the crew, we got in the car and took off to get some ice for the cooler so we wouldnt have to when he come out. So when we went to get the ice, Cotton came out and he thought we run off and left him. He kind of got a little ill about that and he just pulled the race car and truck and everything back in the garage. So when we got back we thought hed left us and wed have to hurry up and go catch him. So we took off to Columbia and when we got there, there was no Cotton.

He got mad and pulled his truck and stuff into the garage and we thought he had already gone. When we got back, we didnt see no car or truck or nothing. He had pulled it back into the shop. We thought he run off and left us and he thought we had run off and left him. It all ended up on account of that bag of ice we went to pick up.

But the next morning I went up there and the boys were standing on the outside. I said What are yall doing standing out here? They said He just fired us. He got mad, said we run off and left him last night. I couldnt believe it and I went back in there and I said What are you doing Cotton, getting mad at these boys and running them off. We thought that you run off and left us. We went to get ice. He said if you dont like it you can go too. I said, well, I dont like it so I just turned around and walked out. I told the boys when I went outside Well, Im gone too so thats what we broke up about. Neither one of us was mad. He said that and when he said that, I didnt like it. I lost a bunch of points. I didnt race. Anyway, it worked out all right. I wasnt mad. I understood why he got mad cause he thought we run off and left him and later on, he felt the same way that I was. He wasnt mad at me; he just didnt understand what happened. Were real close friends.

O h yeah, I remember hearing that story. Reminds me of how much more relaxed things were back then. Imagine the series champion losing his ride today over a bag of ice. I'll bet Jimmy has a refrigerated truck follow him every time he goes to a picnic and a crew of twelve to manage it.

I understand that 6-Time has a refrigerated truck to fit any size picnic!

Bump of ABCD.