1979 Firecracker 400
Race details
Race 17 of 31 in the 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
The 1979 Firecracker 400 program cover. "We Are America Day"
The 1979 Firecracker 400 program cover. "We Are America Day"
Date July 4, 1979 (1979-July-04)
Official name Firecracker 400
Location Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida
Course Permanent racing facility
2.500 mi (4.023 km)
Distance 160 laps, 400 mi (643 km)
Weather Hot with temperatures of 93.9 °F (34.4 °C); wind speeds of 12 miles per hour (19 km/h) with 0.28 inches (7.1 mm) of rain reported within 24 hours of the racing event[1]
Average speed 172.89 miles per hour (278.24 km/h)
Attendance 45,000
Pole position
Driver
Ranier Racing
Most laps led
Driver Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing
Laps 77
Winner
No. 21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing
Television in the United States
Network ABC's Wide World Of Sports
Announcers Bill Flemming & Sam Posey
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network
Booth Announcers Jack Arute & Barney Hall
Turn Announcers Turns 1 & 2: Mike Joy
Backstreatch: Hal Hamrick
Turns 3 & 4: Eli Gold
Pit Reporter: Ned Jarrett
The layout of Daytona International Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

The 1979 Firecracker 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on July 4, 1979, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Race report

There were 41 drivers on the starting grid of this race; Bruce Hill was credited with the last-place finish due to an engine problem on the first lap.[2] Fifteen drivers would fail to finish the race with problems varying from engine trouble, blown tires, and crashes.[2] Claude Ballot-Léna from France would make his final NASCAR Cup Series appearance here; winning $1,130. ($4,556.27 when adjusted for inflation).[2][3] His race ended on lap 83 of 160 with engine problems.[2]

Forty-five thousand fans were in attendance. The average speed was a record 172.89 miles per hour (278.24 km/h).[2] The green flag waved at 10 a.m. Buddy Baker earned the pole position during qualifying with a speed of 193.196 miles per hour (310.919 km/h).[2] Darrell Waltrip would become a frequent contender for the first-place position along with Buddy Baker and Neil Bonnett.[2] Bonnett would go on to defeat Benny Parsons by a single second.[2]

Terry Labonte went head on into the outside wall in one of the corners just past the halfway point and was sliding back down the track when Bobby Allison suddenly spun sideways and clobbered the #44 right in the door.[2] Neither driver was hurt but the heavy crash put both drivers out of the race.

Notable crew chiefs who participated in the race include Buddy Parrott, Joey Arrington, Kirk Shelmerdine, Darrell Bryant, Dale Inman, Harry Hyde, Waddell Wilson, Bud Moore, Tim Brewer, and Jake Elder.[4]

A souvenir program was sold for $3 USD ($12.1 when adjusted for inflation). Kyle Petty attempted to qualify for this race, but crashed during qualifying with the consequence of having to work on his father's pit crew. He would make his NASCAR debut at Talladega.

Qualifying

Buddy Baker would score the pole, averaging 193.196 miles per hour (310.919 km/h), a new track record at the time.

Grid No. Driver Manufacturer Team/Owner Time Avg. Speed (mph)
1 28 Buddy Baker Oldsmobile Ranier-Lundy Racing 46.585 193.196
2 21 Neil Bonnett Mercury Wood Brothers Racing 46.730 192.596
3 27 Benny Parsons Oldsmobile M. C. Anderson Racing 46.803 192.296
4 41 Grant Adcox Oldsmobile Adcox Racing 46.864 192.046
5 11 Cale Yarborough Oldsmobile Junior Johnson & Associates 46.889 191.943
6 88 Darrell Waltrip Oldsmobile DiGard Motorsports 47.067 191.205
7 67 Buddy Arrington Dodge Arrington Racing 47.091 191.120
8 51 A.J. Foyt Oldsmobile A. J. Foyt Enterprises 47.147 190.893
9 30 Tighe Scott Buick Ballard Racing 47.154 190.864
10 44 Terry Labonte Buick Hagan Racing 47.255 190.457
11 43 Richard Petty Oldsmobile Petty Enterprises 47.324 190.179
12 68 Chuck Bown Buick Testa Racing 47.392 189.906
13 12 Lennie Pond Oldsmobile Kennie Childers Racing 47.578 189.164
14 79 Frank Warren Dodge Frank Warren 47.713 188.628
15 47 Harry Gant Oldsmobile Race Hill Farm Team 47.765 188.423
16 3 Richard Childress Oldsmobile Richard Childress Racing 47.930 187.774
17 17 Roger Hamby Oldsmobile Hamby Racing 47.960 187.657
18 7 Al Holbert Chevrolet Al Holbert 47.988 187.547
19 90 Ricky Rudd Mercury Donlavey Racing 48.036 187.360
20 15 Bobby Allison Ford Bud Moore Engineering 48.046 187.321
21 2 Dale Earnhardt Oldsmobile Osterlund Racing 47.881 187.966
22 71 Dave Marcis Chevrolet Marcis Auto Racing 48.022 187.415
23 1 Donnie Allison Chevrolet Ellington Racing 48.116 187.048
24 72 Joe Millikan Oldsmobile DeWitt Racing 48.144 186.940
25 50 Bruce Hill Buick Ballard Racing 48.206 186.699
26 87 Gary Balough Oldsmobile Billie Harvey 48.300 186.336
27 9 Bill Elliott Mercury Elliott Racing 48.398 185.959
28 14 Coo Coo Marlin Chevrolet Cunningham-Kelley Racing 48.603 185.174
29 38 Sandy Satullo Buick Sandy Satullo 48.793 184.453
30 48 James Hylton Chevrolet James Hylton Motorsports 48.860 184.200
31 6 Claude Ballot-Lena Oldsmobile G. C. Spencer Racing 48.479 185.648
32 70 J.D. McDuffie Chevrolet McDuffie Racing 48.574 185.285
33 39 Blackie Wangerin Mercury Blackie Wangerin 48.981 183.745
34 32 Jimmy Finger Buick Don Bierschwale 48.987 183.723
35 40 D.K. Ulrich Buick Ulrich Racing 49.125 183.207
36 64 Tommy Gale Ford Langley Racing 49.156 183.091
37 05 Dick Brooks Oldsmobile Nelson Malloch Racing 49.255 182.723
38 52 Jimmy Means Chevrolet Jimmy Means Racing 49.350 182.371
39 46 Travis Tiller Dodge Travis Tiller 49.351 182.368
40 20 Rick Newsom Oldsmobile Rick Newsom 49.411 182.146
41 (FIA) 24 Cecil Gordon Oldsmobile Gordon Racing 50.654 177.676
Withdrew
WD 42 Kyle Petty Dodge Petty Enterprises 0.000 0.000

Finishing order

Fin St # Driver Make Team/Owner Sponsor Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 2 21 Neil Bonnett Mercury Wood Brothers Racing Purolator 160 77 running 185 $21,705
2 3 27 Benny Parsons Oldsmobile M. C. Anderson Racing Griffin Marine 160 6 running 175 $16,875
3 21 2 Dale Earnhardt Oldsmobile Osterlund Racing Rod Osterlund 160 1 running 170 $14,980
4 6 88 Darrell Waltrip Oldsmobile DiGard Motorsports Gatorade 159 54 running 165 $12,280
5 11 43 Richard Petty Oldsmobile Petty Enterprises STP 158 2 running 160 $9,480
6 12 68 Chuck Bown Buick Testa Racing Kings Mountain Truck Plaza 157 0 running 150 $4,990
7 15 47 Harry Gant Oldsmobile Race Hill Farm Team Race Hill Farm 157 0 running 146 $4,240
8 24 72 Joe Millikan Oldsmobile DeWitt Racing Appliance Wheels 156 0 running 142 $7,540
9 37 05 Dick Brooks Oldsmobile Nelson Malloch Racing Sub-Tropic 156 0 running 138 $5,575
10 8 51 A.J. Foyt Oldsmobile A. J. Foyt Enterprises Valvoline 156 3 running $3,140
11 27 9 Bill Elliott Mercury Elliott Racing Yandle, Thermol King, Dahlonega Ford Sales 156 0 running 130 $2,960
12 23 1 Donnie Allison Chevrolet Ellington Racing Hawaiian Tropic 155 0 running 127 $2,935
13 19 90 Ricky Rudd Mercury Donlavey Racing Truxmore 155 0 running 124 $5,075
14 9 30 Tighe Scott Buick Ballard Racing Russ Togs 154 0 running 121 $4,865
15 7 67 Buddy Arrington Dodge Arrington Racing Rossmeyer 154 0 running 118 $4,555
16 26 87 Gary Balough Oldsmobile Billie Harvey Fast Lane Ltd. 154 0 running $1,750
17 22 71 Dave Marcis Chevrolet Marcis Auto Racing Shoney's 151 0 running 112 $3,635
18 35 40 D.K. Ulrich Buick Ulrich Racing U.S. Army 151 0 running 109 $3,775
19 30 48 James Hylton Chevrolet James Hylton Motorsports Palatine Automotive Parts 151 1 running 111 $3,415
20 5 11 Cale Yarborough Oldsmobile Junior Johnson & Associates Busch Beer 149 0 running 103 $6,960
21 32 70 J.D. McDuffie Chevrolet McDuffie Racing Bailey Excavating 146 0 running 100 $2,855
22 38 52 Jimmy Means Chevrolet Jimmy Means Racing Mr. Transmission 146 0 running 97 $2,645
23 40 20 Rick Newsom Oldsmobile Rick Newsom MARS Inc. 145 0 running 94 $1,410
24 33 39 Blackie Wangerin Mercury Blackie Wangerin Wangerin Inc. 144 0 blew tire 91 $1,385
25 28 14 Coo Coo Marlin Chevrolet Cunningham-Kelley Racing Cunningham-Kelley 138 0 engine 88 $1,360
26 17 17 Roger Hamby Oldsmobile Hamby Racing Kings Inn 137 0 running 85 $2,260
27 36 64 Tommy Gale Ford Langley Racing Sunny King Ford & Honda 121 0 rear end 82 $2,225
28 13 12 Lennie Pond Oldsmobile Kennie Childers Racing Burger King 105 0 engine 79 $1,285
29 10 44 Terry Labonte Buick Hagan Racing Stratagraph 89 0 crash 76 $2,165
30 20 15 Bobby Allison Ford Bud Moore Engineering Hodgdon, Moore 89 0 crash 73 $4,925
31 31 6 Claude Ballot-Lena Oldsmobile G. C. Spencer Racing Lady & Son Auction 83 0 engine $1,130
32 18 7 Al Holbert Chevrolet Al Holbert Holbert Porsche-Audi 82 0 spindle $895
33 4 41 Grant Adcox Oldsmobile Adcox Racing Adcox-Kirby 81 0 engine 64 $1,180
34 1 28 Buddy Baker Oldsmobile Ranier-Lundy Racing W.I.N. 57 16 ignition 66 $4,225
35 41 24 Cecil Gordon Oldsmobile Gordon Racing Gordon Barnical Racing 50 0 engine 58 $1,915
36 39 46 Travis Tiller Dodge Travis Tiller Ring Enterprises 46 0 engine 55 $1,025
37 16 3 Richard Childress Oldsmobile Richard Childress Racing CRC Chemicals 28 0 engine 52 $1,520
38 29 38 Sandy Satullo Buick Sandy Satullo Copper Kettle Marina 18 0 crash 49 $1,015
39 34 32 Jimmy Finger Buick Don Bierschwale Vita Fresh, Pharis Chevy 17 0 crash 46 $1,010
40 14 79 Frank Warren Dodge Frank Warren Native Tan 7 0 engine 43 $1,505
41 25 50 Bruce Hill Buick Ballard Racing Global Heat Exchanger 1 0 engine 40 $1,035
Withdrew
WD 42 Kyle Petty Dodge Petty Enterprises STP

Standings after the race

Pos Driver Points[2] Differential
1 Darrell Waltrip 2720 0
2 Bobby Allison 2587 -133
3 Increase Richard Petty 2522 -198
4 Decrease Cale Yarborough 2500 -220
5 Dale Earnhardt 2342 -378
6 Increase Benny Parsons 2237 -483
7 Decrease Joe Millikan 2221 -499
8 Terry Labonte 2009 -711
9 Increase J.D. McDuffie 1997 -723
10 Decrease Richard Childress 1983 -737

References

  1. ^ Weather information for the 1979 Firecracker 400 at The Old Farmer's Almanac
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 1979 Firecracker 400 racing information at Racing-Reference
  3. ^ 1979 Firecracker 400 racing results at Race-Database
  4. ^ 1979 Firecracker 400 crew chiefs at Racing Reference
Preceded by1979 Gabriel 400 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season 1979 Succeeded by1979 Busch Nashville 420
Preceded by1978 Firecracker 400 races 1979 Succeeded by1980
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