Remembering The 1979 Daytona 500 "The Perfect Storm"

On February 17, 1979 Presidents Day, a massive snow storm pounded the East Coast with several inches of snow. Forcing everyone to stay indoors and the only thing that was on television February 18th was The Daytona 500. Some say NASCAR was born that day because there couldn't have been a better race for the first televised Daytona 500. The audience was set to watch one of the greatest races in NASCAR history.
During qualifying Buddy Baker #28 had won the pole for the race and was along side Donnie Allison on the front row when the race would start. Some of the other names in the top 10 was Cale Yarborough #11, a hard nosed veteran, Bobby Allison #15, brother of front row starter Donnie Allison. Richard Petty #43 would be starting 13th and a young kid that was just getting started named Dale Earnhardt #2 that was starting 10th.

The race began with Buddy Baker leading the first 15 laps with ease. On lap 16 Donnie Allison would take the lead and lead 5 laps. Yarborough, Parsons, Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison and Darrell Waltrip would all lead one lap a piece before the first wreck of the race. Donnie Allison, Yarborugh and Bobby Allison all would be caught up in the wreck but would be able to keep racing.

The next wreck wouldn't come until lap 55, it included 6 cars. Skip Manning #17, David Pearson #21, Bruce Hill #50, Joe Milikan #72, Butch Mock #75 and Gary Balough #87. All the drivers but hill we be out of the race.

Richard Petty would take the lead and stay out in front for 10 laps after the wreck. Then on lap 74 in turn 4 Neil Bonnet #5 and Harry Gant #12 would wreck to bring out another caution with Benny Parsons leading the way. Both Bonnet and Gant would be out of the race. Benny Parsons would stay in the lead for 21 laps. Donnie Allison would lead 75 of the next 94 laps with only 3 more cautions the rest of the way.

Then on the final lap with Donnie Allison leading Cale Yarborugh running second and Petty running a distance 3rd all hell broke loose.

On the backstretch of the final lap Yarborough pulled out to make a pass around Donnie Allison and the 2 cars began beating and banging only to run each other up and into the wall and eventually coming to a rest in turn 3 grass. Richard Petty went on and captured the Daytona 500 win!

Meanwhile Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough having a heated discussion while Bobby Allison has already pulled up to the heated discussion, the FIGHT breaks out and NASCAR is born! The whole television audience is greeted to one of the best fights in NASCAR.


Ever since that 1979 Daytona 500 the race has grown to be one of the biggest watched sports on TV thanks to good ole guys getting into a fight on live television. You can ask any NASCAR fan these days that have been around for a while and they can tell stories of that race and the big fight! Thanks for reading!