1971 NASCAR Motor State Michigan 400

Great racing, great to see these cars on the track as I still drive both a 1970 Plymouth Satellite and 1969 Dodge Charger.

More people at that race than there is at any track now days. Thanks Brian France Jr for screwing up NASCAR

1:22 Nice shot of the Pontiac driven by David Pearson. I never knew Pearson drove a Pontiac at any time in his career. This is why I like watching these old NASCAR videos; you find little gems like this from time to time. The 366 engine I suppose was a Ram Air-V tunnel port and was probably very powerful. But couldn't last the distance. Can't say it's a small block because that term doesn't apply to Pontiacs in 1971.

NASCAR had restrictor plates that choked Hemi-Headed engines more than wedges.  The small blocks had even less or no restrictor plates.  So Ford and Chrysler went back to the wedge 427 and 426's.  The 366 was a short lived formula that eventually led to today's 358 cubic inch engines.  Restrictor plates originally came into play during the second half of the 1970 season when the wing cars and the Torino Talledegas and Mercury Spoiler II's were raced.  The Pontiac that Pearson drove was built by Nickell's engineering and financed by Chris Vallo who spent a big splash of money and the vanished leaving many people in the sport, including Nickels holding an empty bag.

@16:25, someone's got their head buried in Miss Hurst's giant chest. CLASSIC! Pearson's '71 LeMans/GTO sure looked sharp, but the experimental small block wasn't up to it. Can't beat the thunderous roar of the 426s but FoMoCos seem to be a fraction of a seconed faster. Even if you're running 5th or 6th, you still have one helluva car! Cool to se a 2 or 3 yr old Torino in the race. Good body style for this. As well dircted as many Hollywood films, Thanks for the show!!!

Even though Ford pulled all factory sponsorships, they still managed some good competition. The Golden era of NASCAR is over (the domination of Ford-Mercury vs Dodge-Plymouth) GM fans can now begin to follow NASCAR. By 2000, real NASCAR fans toss up their hands and begin walking away. By 2018, Dodge is long gone, Ford has too few entries and NASCAR has lost almost 50% of their fan base . . . while bending over for Chevrolet and Toyota. I know I haven't watched a race for 15 years, and haven't attended a race for 20 years. I won't be back, either. Got that, NASCAR?

Damn fine race. Close

I wonder if Bobby Allison #12 car ever thanked Ron Grana in the #5 Blue / Black hood 1970 Chevelle for blocking out Bobby Issac as Ron followed Richard Petty and took the momentum away from the #71 Car to give Allison the lead for good with just a couple laps left. Ron finished 14th after starting 28th. He earned $920. Not bad for an ARCA driver back in the day.

Bobby Allison's 22nd Career NASCAR Winston Cup victory

I'm wondering why the vallo team went with a .60 over 350 when it looks like everyone else is running big blocks and hemis.oops,and blew it up trying to tangle with them.like they said back then, theres just no substitute for horse power/cubic inches.

Who ordered the background music? Was that really necessary? LMAO!😂👍

It sickens me, when I see these cars and oh how I remember how special stock car racing, and I emphasize stock cars! You know what make, number placement and solid colors! What you see today, well, well well? And furthermore, you could actually look down inside the car as it passed, and you know who's driving!!!!

BONS TEMPOS

Real men driving real cars real hard

This commentator sounds like a young Steve Evans.

Pearson always had a pack of cigarettes in the race car. Bobby Allison drove for everybody Holman-Moody ,Junior Johnston , The Wood Brothers

Bud always favors the Mopars

Where are all the Chevy's I don't see one Chevelle.

Donnie Allison's hood said 427....wonder why they didn't have a Boss 429 under the hood...interesting

Look at that 366 ci Ray Nichels pontiac that Pearson drove in that race. Why?