- The Daytona 500 with The Fight between the Allisons and Cale Yarborough and Richard Petty's surprising win
- Cale v. Donnie Allison round 2 the following week in Rockingham's Carolina 500
- Rookie Dale Earnhardt's win in the Southeastern 500 at Bristol
- The power of Buddy Baker's #28 Harry Ranier-owned Olds. Baker dominated Speedweeks (except for the 500) and won the Atlanta 500 three weeks before Darlington.
With so much going on in first few weeks of the season, it was doubtful Darlington could match or top what had happened thus far. Right? Wrong.
For the first time in the track's history, one of its races featured a title sponsor. In January 1979, CRC Chemicals announced it would sponsor the race and be added to the existing, traditional Rebel 500 name. The announcement coincided with CRC's announcement of a sponsorship deal with independent racer Richard Childress.
For the first time in the track's history, one of its races featured a title sponsor. In January 1979, CRC Chemicals announced it would sponsor the race and be added to the existing, traditional Rebel 500 name. The announcement coincided with CRC's announcement of a sponsorship deal with independent racer Richard Childress.
Like many others, Childress raced an Olds 442 in the Daytona 500. For most other tracks, however, he raced the reliable Monte Carlo.
Courtesy of Statsman from Randy Ayers NASCAR Modeling Forum |
Courtesy of Statsman |
Credit: blue65pv544 on Flickr |
Courtesy of Statsman |
Courtesy of Statsman |
Courtesy of Statsman |
Pearson's 1979 season had gotten off to a shaky start - especially considering how well the 21 team had run the previous few seasons. But he was at Darlington - where he raced the place perhaps like no other. And he managed to get by Waltrip a couple of times to lead a couple of laps. But then...
With less than 100 laps to go, Pearson hit pit road for a green flag stop. The Wood Brothers crew combined with Pearson as the driver then made a remarkable mistake - one that still leaves old school race fans slackjawed. Pearson understood the team planned a two-tire stop. When the jack dropped on the right side, Pearson took off - business as usual. The crew, however, had removed the lugnuts on the lefts in anticipation of a four-tire stop. Pearson made it only about a hundred yards down pit road before the left side tires took off like wayward children at a theme park.
The Pearson-Woods pairing had been exceptional from 1972 through 1978. As a surprise to many, the relationship had begun to fray. After the disastrous miscue at Darlington, Pearson and the Woods parted ways.
Pole-winner Allison stuck his nose to between the two to lead a lap here and there, but the final stretch was between the legend Petty and the relative newcomer and one-time Darlington winner Waltrip.
A late race caution bunched the field a final time. The field took the green again with six laps to go and light rain beginning to fall. No one knew exactly if the race would run all the way to its scheduled 367 laps - or it might be call a lap or two early because of the rain. Because of the uncertainty and urgency, Petty and Waltrip began pulling moves thought impossible at Darlington. The two swapped the lead with crossover moves of fantastic precision - often more than once during a lap.
At the line, Waltrip had his second Darlington win in three years. Petty was close yet again but couldn't claim another victory at the Track Too Tough To Tame.
Waltrip's trophy is on display at his Franklin, TN car dealership, and the framed checkered flag hangs there as well.
Source: Gadsden Times via Google News Archive |
My driver is Darrell Waltrip Jaws watching TV living room eat popcorn chicken and white cheddar cheese crackers Dr. Pepper wild cherry Pepsi cherry Coke pepperoni pasta salad Penrose hot sausage Pringles pizza can thank u memories of Nascar
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