1973; David Pearson drives for the Wood Brothers to win 11 of 18 NASCAR races entered, but the championship goes to Benny Parsons, who runs them all.(50th Anniversary countdown)

Ford buys out Alejandro de Tomaso's remaining minority interest in De Tomaso Inc., maker of the two-seat, mid-engine Pantera sold by Lincoln-Mercury dealers in the United States.

Ontario Motor Speedway, pronounced dead only months ago, is revived by a new management team. Likewise, the Sebring circuit is reincarnated after intense discussion between city fathers and IMSA. It's a good year for resurrections: Sears Point near Sonoma, California, closed for three years, reopens with new owners, as does Summit Point in Virginia, closed last April.

A Competition Press & Autoweek report on the federal government's experimental safety vehicle (ESV) program includes photos of the profoundly homely machines built by Fairchild-Hiller and AMF under the headline "Maybe we could have it stuffed and mounted?''

Peter Gregg and Hurley Haywood drive a Porsche Carrera to victory in the 24-hour Daytona race, after a half-dozen prototypes falter. They repeat the feat in a different car in the 12-hour race at Sebring, run under IMSA sanction, beating the Corvette of John Greenwood, who was instrumental in the track's revival.

Four years after the car went out of production, Ralph Nader is still beating the anti-Corvair drum, disputing a new government report that the compact Chevy did not, in fact, suffer from the treacherous instability the consumer advocate had alleged.

It's too bad this classified advertiser won't dicker: "Cobra 1967, CSX3329, 13,500 miles, green, 427. Wide fenders. Absolutely original, exceptionally immaculate, never in rain/snow. $1,300 firm.''

Alpine Renault sweeps the top three spots in the Monte Carlo Rally.