NASCAR NASCAR legend David Pearson, Leonard Wood and Carl Edwards pose in front of the restored 1971 Mercury that Pearson drove to 11 victories in 1973. Wood said preparing the white Mercury for its exhibition run at Darlington was "more involved than I would have ever thought." Sometimes a racing museum can seem more like a cemetery, a final resting place for some of the truly historic race cars.

Although well preserved, most museum cars, cars that once were the most mechanically advanced of their era, will never run on a track again.

Thanks to an idea by the folks at Darlington Raceway and the skills of legendary mechanic Leonard Wood, one of NASCAR's all-time great cars has been brought back to life.

Darlington officials persuaded Wood to get the 1971 Mercury that David Pearson drove to 11 victories in 18 starts in 1973 back into running condition. The car had been sitting in the Darlington museum for more than 30 years.

It's no surprise that Wood was both willing and able. Kyle Petty often says that Wood, long retired from his crew chief position but still a mechanic with the family team, was and still is the smartest man in the NASCAR garage.

The engine turned freely, but other parts of the car had deteriorated.

Wood repaired the radiator and carburetor, replaced the clutch, fuel lines and braking system.

Soon the car was running as good as it did back in the mid-70s, when the Woods dominated speedway racing despite running a limited schedule.

"This project has been more involved than I would have ever thought," Wood told reporters during the car's unveiling at the track last week. "I have enjoyed every minute that I have spent restoring on this car. It has brought back so many great memories for me and my family."

For the exhibition run at Darlington, an event to publicize the May 10 Dodge Challenger 500, the Woods added another standard item from the '70s. Five pieces of Wrigley Spearmint gum were taped to the dash. Pearson, when driving for the Woods, chewed gum during races, one piece for every 100 miles.

Pearson ran just a few laps on the newly repaved surface, with current driver Carl Edwards on the track in his No. 99 Ford.

That sight was all the payback Wood needed.

"I knew seeing David in the No. 21 at Darlington one more time would make the restoration worth it," he said.