Wood Brothers Racing

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Lore & Background

The Wood Brothers Racing Team was founded in 1950 by brothers from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia. Walter and Ada Wood, who owned a farm near Woolwine and Stuart, Virginia, had five sons—Glen, Leonard, Delano, Clay, and Ray Lee—and one daughter, Crystal. Inspired by Curtis Turner, a local sawmill operator and champion racecar driver known for his 'win or crash' style, the brothers formed a stock car racing team. In the early 1950s, they recruited fellow lumberman Chris Williams as their driver. They bought their first car for $50, leading them to number it 50—years before adopting their iconic No. 21. Chris Williams and Glen Wood each drove in a few races for the team, finding success at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC, and Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, VA. The team permanently adopted the No. 21, making it as iconic in NASCAR as Petty's No. 43 and Earnhardt's No. 3.

In Their Own Story

The Wood Brothers revolutionized motor racing by inventing the modern pit stop. In the early days of racing, drivers would pull into the pits, turn off their cars, step out, and sometimes smoke a cigarette while the crew changed tires and serviced the vehicle. The Wood Brothers realized that minimizing time off the track could improve their position. They developed the pit stop common today, which is used in all types of racing. In 1965, Ford invited the Wood Brothers team to the Indianapolis 500 to support the Lotus-Ford team. Their speed and precision in the pits contributed to Jim Clark's victory in the 1965 Indianapolis 500. After their Indianapolis 500 win, Wood Brothers Racing gained international acclaim as motorsport pioneers and leaders. Featured in Sports Illustrated and other major media, they built a top-tier roster of drivers, with victories rivaled only by Richard Petty. The Wood Brothers signed a long-term deal with Purolator as the primary sponsor for the No. 21 car. Their drivers through the mid-1960s included top stock car racers like Curtis Turner, Marvin Panch, Fireball Roberts, Parnelli Jones, Tiny Lund, Junior Johnson, Speedy Thompson, Fred Lorenzen, and Cale Yarborough. Open-wheel star Dan Gurney drove the No. 121 on NASCAR road courses for the team, winning every race Gurney entered for them, including the Motor Trend 500 at Riverside International Raceway in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1968. In the 1968 season, the Wood Brothers earned over $160,000 ($1,544,910 Today) in single-season winnings.

Reader's Guide

In 1972, David Pearson became the full-time driver of the No. 21 car, launching one of motorsports' most successful runs. From 1972 to 1979, the team competed in 143 races, securing 46 wins and 51 poles, with race earnings exceeding $1.3 million. In 1976, with Pearson still driving, the Wood Brothers achieved NASCAR's 'Triple Crown' by winning the Daytona 500 at Daytona, the World 600 at Charlotte, and the Southern 500 at Darlington. Due to their remarkable success, the Wood Brothers were invited to the White House in the late 1970s at the request of President Jimmy Carter. The 1980s brought driver Neil Bonnett from Hueytown, Alabama, part of the 'Alabama Gang.' Bonnett and the Wood Brothers team enjoyed a successful partnership that spanned three and a half seasons and 83 races, achieving nine victories and over $700,000 ($2,275,483 today) in winnings. During the 'Bonnett Years,' Purolator's longtime president, Paul Cameron, retired, leading to the conclusion of the Wood Brothers' long-term sponsorship with Purolator. The No. 21 car was then sponsored by National Engineer, a California-based company owned by Warner Hodgdon, who prominently featured his name on the No. 21 car as its main sponsor.

Did You Know?

• The Wood Brothers bought their first car for $50, leading them to number it 50—years before adopting their iconic No. 21.
• The Wood Brothers revolutionized motor racing by inventing the modern pit stop, which is now used in all types of racing.
• In 1965, Ford invited the Wood Brothers to the Indianapolis 500, where their pit crew contributed to Jim Clark's victory.
• Open-wheel star Dan Gurney won several NASCAR road course races for the Wood Brothers, including the Motor Trend 500 at Riverside in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1968.
• In 1976, with David Pearson driving, the Wood Brothers achieved NASCAR's 'Triple Crown' by winning the Daytona 500, the World 600, and the Southern 500.