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NASCAR is the biggest governing body for stock car racing in the world, but it didn’t always just have its sights on the oval circuit. In 1976, NASCAR also did a brief stint in road racing. This #21 Ford Torino is the result, and although it was only raced once, its place in NASCAR history is undeniable. According to Speedhunters, so to is its nostalgic essence.
A few days ago we brought you news of the most famous winged car in NASCAR racing history that was on display at Canepa Design in Scotts Valley, California. While this latest stock car is part of NASCAR history as well, it spent significantly less time in the limelight and was a trailblazer for a different kind of NASCAR racing.
In 1975, Bill France, the founder of NASCAR, asked the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and Federation Internationale de’ l’Automobile (FIA) to make a class for NASCAR stock cars in their 1976 road racing series.
France particularly wanted a place for NASCAR racers in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. IMSA and FIA obliged and the history of this #21 Torino started.
Created by Ford’s official racing contractor, Holden Moody, and Jack Bowsher, this Torino was based on a Grand Nation style chassis and made use of front suspension components based off the NASCAR Ford Galaxie’s setup and a coil suspension system with trailing arms in the rear. The car also got large front disc brakes.
The body of the car was fabricated to IMSA standards, which allowed for more modifications than traditional NASCAR racing. This allowed for the rocker panels to be completely removed and for the addition of front and rear spoilers, which held driving and brake lights for the 24-hour events.
For power, the Torino was equipped with a dry sump Boss 429cui V8 that produced over 600hp and was capable of pushing the 3,500-pound car to a top speed of 207mph.
This setup proved to be optimal at the 1976 24 Hours of Daytona held on January 2nd of that year.
NASCAR-great David Pearson, who is only second to Richard Petty in NASCAR victories, was chosen to be lead driver for the Torino at Daytona. It was him and his son Larry who lead the NASCAR class pack throughout the day. When night fell, brothers Jim and Gary Bowsher, Jack Bowsher’s sons, took over, maintaining the car’s contention until they blew an engine. Although the car was sidelined for 3 hours in order to change out the blown engine, the team managed to get back in the race and win the NASCAR class and finish sixteenth overall.
Excitement built over the win and plans to campaign the car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans moved forward until tragedy struck. After suffering a heart attack in 1975, John Holman of Holman Moody died shortly after the Daytona race, causing the Torino’s 24 Hours of Le Mans campaign to be called off.
The NASCAR class of IMSA racing was discontinued after 1976 and the #21 Torino never raced again.
Now the car sits in Capena Design’s Motorsports Museum completely unrestored and in the same as-raced condition from 1976. While it didn’t spend much time racing, the Torino definitely has a major part in NASCAR racing history and it’s good to see that the car and its legacy remain preserved.
