1976 Daytona 500


The 1976 Daytona 500, the 18th running of the event, happened on Feb. 15th, 1976 at Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fl. It is remembered for the late-race duel and accident between David Pearson and Richard Petty. Many fans consider this finish to be the greatest in the history of NASCAR. The end of the race was televised live on American network ABC.
First Daytona 500 starts for Neil Bonnett, Terry Ryan, Salt Walther, D. K. Ulrich, Roy Smith, Jimmy Lee Capps, Skip Manning, Tighe Scott, Dick May, and Jimmy Means. Only Daytona 500 starts for Terry Bivins, Johnny Ray, Dr. Dick Skillen, David Hobbs, and Tom Williams. Last Daytona 500 starts for Joe Frasson, Jackie Rogers, David Sisco, and Earl Ross.

Qualifying

stock car racer Ramo Stott won his only career NASCAR pole position. There was a major speed discrepancy between cars in their qualification runs. Top teams were qualifying in the to range and a few teams qualified in the range. Two of the teams who qualified in the range were disqualified after NASCAR inspectors found suspicious extra fuel lines. Some teams attributed these lines to performance-enhancing nitrous oxide. One driver later admitted that he deliberately qualified slower to let the time from "offending" teams stick out.
In the 125-mile qualifying races, Dave Marcis won race 1, while Darrell Waltrip claimed race 2.

Race

The opening laps were a battle for the lead between Buddy Baker, Waltrip, and David Pearson. AJ Foyt rocketed from the rear to lead 68 laps before falling out with engine failure.
An accident on lap 112 involving Johnny Ray and Skip Manning ended Ray's racing career.
Late in the race, Richard Petty and David Pearson were nose-to-tail, two laps ahead of all other competitors. On the final lap, Pearson passed Petty on the backstretch, and Petty attempted to re-pass in turn 3. Petty did not completely clear Pearson and the two cars made contact with each other and the wall, sending them spinning into the infield grass, just yards from the finish line. Petty's car stalled and would not re-fire. Pearson re-started his stricken car and crossed the finish line to win. Petty, with the help of a push-start from his crew, crossed the line for 2nd.

Box Score

Margin of victory: 50 yards
FinGridCar #DriverCar
Make		LapsStatusLaps
Led		Points
1721David PearsonMercury2003:17:0837180 '
k2643Richard PettyDodge199Crash40175
33272Benny ParsonsChevrolet199Running16170 '
41154Lennie PondChevrolet198Running0160
51312Neil BonnettChevrolet197Running0155
6281Terry RyanChevrolet196Running1155 '
74170J.D. McDuffieChevrolet193Running0146
81963Terry BivinsChevrolet193Running6147 '
9363Richard ChildressChevrolet191Running0138
103479Frank WarrenDodge190Running0134
113767Buddy ArringtonDodge190Running0130
12264Salt WaltherChevrolet187running00
13428Ed NegreDodge185running0124
142218Joe FrassonChevrolet183running0121
152360Jackie RogersChevrolet183running1123 '
161595Jim HurtubiseChevrolet180engine0115
172161Joe MihalicChevrolet159running0112
181724Cecil GordonChevrolet158running0109
192740D.K. UlrichChevrolet151axle0106
203929Roy SmithChevrolet148clutch0103
211014Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet147engine0100
223128A.J. FoytChevrolet143engine660
232948James HyltonChevrolet138running094
242426Jimmy Lee CappsChevrolet133engine091
2582Bobby AllisonMercury123engine293 '
26183Ramo StottChevrolet113engine0
27371Dave MarcisDodge112running082
283510Johnny RayChevrolet111crash079
294005David SiscoChevrolet110running076
303082Skip ManningDodge107crash073
312878Dick SkillenChevrolet99overheating070
32488Darrell WaltripChevrolet87engine067
33515Buddy BakerFord83engine2869 '
341673David HobbsChevrolet68crash266 '
351830Tighe ScottChevrolet58crash058
363347Bruce HillChevrolet43engine055
372538Tom WilliamsChevrolet41engine052
383833Dick MayChevrolet36engine049
391252Earl RossChevrolet28engine046
40205Jimmy MeansChevrolet20engine148 '
41990Dick BrooksFord5engine040
421411Cale YarboroughChevrolet1engine037

' Indicates 5 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading 1 lap
Indicates 10 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading 1 lap & leading the most laps

Failed to qualify, withdrew, or driver changes

Caution flags

7 for 35 laps
From
Lap		To
Lap		# Of
Laps		Reason
11166Car # 05 engine
35395Car # 52 engine
62654Car # 30 engine
68714Car # 73 accident
85906Car #’s 83,82,10 accident
1751784Car # 63 accident
2002001Car #’s 43 & #21 accident

Percent of race run under caution: 14.5%
Average green flag run: 24.4 laps

Lap leader breakdown

Lead changes: 36
LeaderFrom
Lap		To
Lap		# Of
Laps
Buddy Baker144
David Pearson562
Buddy Baker7115
Terry Ryan12121
Jimmy Means13131
Terry Bivins14152
Jackie Rogers16161
Buddy Baker173519
David Hobbs36372
David Pearson38392
Bobby Allison40401
A.J. Foyt41433
David Pearson44441
A.J. Foyt455612
Richard Petty57615
Benny Parsons62621
A.J. Foyt637311
Richard Petty748411
A.J. Foyt85851
Terry Bivins86894
Bobby Allison90901
Richard Petty91922
A.J. Foyt93964
David Pearson97982
A.J. Foyt991035
David Pearson1041063
A.J. Foyt10711812
David Pearson1191224
A.J. Foyt12314018
Benny Parsons14115414
David Pearson15516511
Richard Petty16617510
Benny Parsons1761761
David Pearson17718711
Richard Petty18819912
David Pearson2002001

Standings after the race