1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 31st season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 8th modern-era Cup series. It began on Sunday, January 14, and ended on Sunday, November 18. Richard Petty won his seventh and final Winston Cup championship, winning by 11 points over Darrell Waltrip. Dale Earnhardt was crowned NASCAR Rookie of the Year.
This marks the last season without Rusty Wallace until 2006.

Teams and drivers

Complete schedule

Limited schedule

Schedule

Winston Western 500

The 1979 Winston Western 500 was run on January 14 at Riverside International Raceway at Riverside, California. David Pearson won the pole.
Top Ten Results

88–Darrell Waltrip
21–David Pearson
11–Cale Yarborough
73–Bill Schmitt
1–Donnie Allison
72–Joe Millikan
28–Buddy Baker
51–Jim Thirkettle
74–Tim Williamson
12–Harry Gant
Busch Clash

The inaugural Busch Clash, a non-points race for all of the pole winners from the previous season, was run on February 11 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Benny Parsons started on the pole via a random draw.
Results

28–Buddy Baker
88–Darrell Waltrip
11–Cale Yarborough
27–Benny Parsons
15–Bobby Allison
21–David Pearson
54–Lennie Pond
5–Neil Bonnett
70–J. D. McDuffie
125 Mile Qualifying Races

The two Daytona 500 125-mile qualifying races were run on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Buddy Baker and Donnie Allison started on the pole for races one and two, respectively.
Cale Yarborough was pessimistic about rivals' chances
against Baker, saying, "Baker is just pure horsepower."

Daytona 500

The 21st annual Daytona 500 was run on February 18 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Buddy Baker won the pole. The race, the first televised nationally in its entirety, ended in spectacular fashion, as race leaders Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough crashed on the last lap in turn three, allowing Richard Petty to take the lead and win his sixth Daytona 500. During the cool-down lap, Allison and Yarborough got into a heated argument which later escalated into a fist-fight, which was later joined by Bobby Allison, who stepped to try to defend his brother. TV ratings were bolstered that day due to much of the U.S. Northeast being snowed in by a major blizzard. Petty would use the win as a springboard to his seventh and final championship, but it was going to be anything but easy.
Top Ten Results

43–Richard Petty
88–Darrell Waltrip
51–A. J. Foyt
1–Donnie Allison
11–Cale Yarborough
30–Tighe Scott
68–Chuck Bown
2–Dale Earnhardt
14–Coo Coo Marlin
79–Frank Warren
Carolina 500

The 1979 Carolina 500 was run on March 4 at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina. Bobby Allison won the pole, but the story was Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison, who crashed out of the lead on Lap 10 in a wreck that swept up five other cars.
Top Ten Results

15–Bobby Allison
72–Joe Millikan
05–Dick Brooks
30–Tighe Scott
3–Richard Childress
40–D. K. Ulrich
48–James Hylton
37–Dave Watson
79–Frank Warren
27–Benny Parsons
Richmond 400

The 1979 Richmond 400 was run on March 11 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. The race had been postponed from its original date of February 25. Bobby Allison won the pole.
Top Ten Results

11–Cale Yarborough
15–Bobby Allison
88–Darrell Waltrip
27–Benny Parsons
43–Richard Petty
72–Joe Millikan
70–J. D. McDuffie
44–Terry Labonte
1–Donnie Allison
40–D. K. Ulrich
Atlanta 500

The 1979 Atlanta 500 was run on March 18 at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia. Buddy Baker won the pole and after a late yellow got tires and stormed away from Bobby Allison for his first win since May 1976. Driver Dave Watson accidentally struck a bystander on pit road and quit the race; it turned out to be his final race.
Top Ten Results

28–Buddy Baker
15–Bobby Allison
88–Darrell Waltrip
11–Cale Yarborough
27–Benny Parsons
02–Dave Marcis
1–Donnie Allison
72–Joe Millikan
90–Ricky Rudd
05–Dick Brooks
Northwestern Bank 400

The 1979 Northwestern Bank 400 was run on March 25 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Benny Parsons won the pole.
Top Ten Results

15–Bobby Allison
43–Richard Petty
27–Benny Parsons
2–Dale Earnhardt
88–Darrell Waltrip
70–J. D. McDuffie
3–Richard Childress
28–Buddy Baker
11–Cale Yarborough
72–Joe Millikan
Southeastern 500

The 1979 Southeastern 500 was run on April 1 at Bristol International Raceway in Bristol, Tennessee. Buddy Baker won the pole.
Top Ten Results

2–Dale Earnhardt
15–Bobby Allison
88–Darrell Waltrip
43–Richard Petty
27–Benny Parsons
1–Donnie Allison
44–Terry Labonte
72–Joe Millikan
48–James Hylton
90–Ricky Rudd

This was Dale Earnhardt's first Winston Cup career victory
CRC Chemicals Rebel 500

The 1979 CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 was run on April 8 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Donnie Allison won the pole.
Top Ten Results

88–Darrell Waltrip
43–Richard Petty
1–Donnie Allison
27–Benny Parsons
28–Buddy Baker
11–Cale Yarborough
9–Bill Elliott
90–Ricky Rudd
05–Dick Brooks
72–Joe Millikan

Waltrip won this race following a fierce duel with Richard Petty; they exchanged the lead eight times in the final five laps and three times on the last lap alone.
This was also David Pearson's last race with the Wood Brothers, for whom he had driven the #21 Mercury since 1972. Following a tire-change pit stop, Pearson reached the pit road exit, when two tires came off his car. Within a week, Pearson was fired from the team and replaced by Neil Bonnett.
Virginia 500

The 1979 Virginia 500 was run on April 22 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.
Top Ten Results

43–Richard Petty
28–Buddy Baker
88–Darrell Waltrip
15–Bobby Allison
72–Joe Millikan
47–Harry Gant
48–James Hylton
2–Dale Earnhardt
44–Terry Labonte
70–J. D. McDuffie

This was Petty's first win on a short track since 1975 and his first win in a Chevrolet.
Winston 500

The 1979 Winston 500 was run on May 6 at Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega, Alabama. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.
Top Ten Results

15–Bobby Allison
88–Darrell Waltrip
67–Buddy Arrington
43–Richard Petty
72–Joe Millikan
9–Bill Elliott
64–Tommy Gale
79–Frank Warren
44–Terry Labonte
14–Coo Coo Marlin

A 17-car crash erupted on the fourth lap when race-leader Baker blew a tire; Cale Yarborough came to a stop and got out of his car, then was hit by Dave Marcis' car, momentarily losing feeling in his legs; he recovered later that day.
Sun-Drop Music City USA 420

The 1979 Sun-Drop Music City USA 420 was run on May 12 at Nashville Speedway in Nashville, Tennessee. Joe Millikan won the pole.
Top Ten Results

11–Cale Yarborough
43–Richard Petty
15–Bobby Allison
2–Dale Earnhardt
70–J. D. McDuffie
3–Richard Childress
27–Benny Parsons
28–Buddy Baker
44–Terry Labonte
90–Ricky Rudd

Race notes
The finish was marred by controversy. Richard Petty and Bobby Allison asserted that Cale Yarborough was a lap down at the finish. Said Petty, "He lost one lap when he spun, then he lost another when he spent 22 seconds in the pits." Allison agreed, saying, "Richard won this race and I finished second. I don't know how they had Cale winning."

Mason-Dixon 500

The 1979 Mason-Dixon 500 was run on May 20 at Dover Downs International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.
Top Ten Results

21–Neil Bonnett
11–Cale Yarborough
28–Buddy Baker
15–Bobby Allison
2–Dale Earnhardt
44–Terry Labonte
27–Benny Parsons
72–Joe Millikan
12–Lennie Pond
67–Buddy Arrington
World 600

The 1979 World 600 was run on May 27 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Neil Bonnett won the pole.
Top Ten Results

88–Darrell Waltrip
43–Richard Petty
2–Dale Earnhardt
11–Cale Yarborough
27–Benny Parsons
90–Ricky Rudd
44–Terry Labonte
7–Al Holbert
12–Lennie Pond
3–Richard Childress

The race saw 59 lead changes, a still-standing track record.
Texas 400

The 1979 Texas 400 was run on June 3 at Texas World Speedway in College Station, Texas. Buddy Baker won the pole. It was NASCAR's first visit to the track in College Station, Texas since 1973; the track had closed in 1974 but reopened with USAC racing in 1976.
Top Ten Results

88–Darrell Waltrip
15–Donnie Allison
28–Buddy Baker
11–Cale Yarborough
44–Terry Labonte
43–Richard Petty
3–Richard Childress
72–Joe Millikan
67–Buddy Arrington
48–James Hylton
NAPA Riverside 400

The 1979 NAPA Riverside 400 was run on June 10 at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.

15–Bobby Allison
88–Darrell Waltrip
43–Richard Petty
11–Cale Yarborough
27–Benny Parsons
3–Richard Childress
70–J. D. McDuffie
93–Norm Palmer
67–Buddy Arrington
72–Joe Millikan
Gabriel 400

The 1979 Gabriel 400 was run on June 17 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. Neil Bonnett won the pole.
Top Ten Results

28–Buddy Baker
1–Donnie Allison
11–Cale Yarborough
21–Neil Bonnett
43–Richard Petty
2–Dale Earnhardt
15–Bobby Allison
90–Ricky Rudd
30–Tighe Scott
05–Dick Brooks

The lead changed 47 times among 11 drivers. Dale Earnhardt was criticized by Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty when he nearly spun out trying to pass Neil Bonnett late in the race in front of both.
Firecracker 400

The 1979 Firecracker 400 was run on July 4 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Buddy Baker won the pole.
Top Ten Results

21–Neil Bonnett
27–Benny Parsons
2–Dale Earnhardt
88–Darrell Waltrip
43–Richard Petty
68–Chuck Bown
47–Harry Gant
72–Joe Millikan
05–Dick Brooks
51–A. J. Foyt
Busch Nashville 420

The 1979 Busch Nashville 420 was run on July 14 at Nashville Speedway in Nashville, Tennessee. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.
Top Ten Results

88–Darrell Waltrip
11–Cale Yarborough
2–Dale Earnhardt
27–Benny Parsons
43–Richard Petty
48–James Hylton
3–Richard Childress
70–J. D. McDuffie
25–Ronnie Thomas
52–Jimmy Means
Coca-Cola 500

The 1979 Coca-Cola 500 was run on July 30 at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Initially scheduled for July 29, day-long rains forced postponement. Harry Gant won the pole.
Top Ten Results

11–Cale Yarborough
43–Richard Petty
28–Buddy Baker
27–Benny Parsons
90–Ricky Rudd
72–Joe Millikan
22–Darrell Waltrip
21–Neil Bonnett
15–Bobby Allison
30–Tighe Scott

Race notes
The lead changed a still-standing track record 55 times.
Dale Earnhardt suffered broken collar bones in a bad crash in Turn Two.
Darrell Waltrip lost five spots when he pitted under yellow with four to go for tires but the race never restarted. It cost him 19 points, a margin he would regret at the end of the season.

Talladega 500

The 1979 Talladega 500 was run on August 5 at Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega, Alabama. Neil Bonnett won the pole.
Top Ten Results

88–Darrell Waltrip
2–David Pearson
90–Ricky Rudd
43–Richard Petty
77–Jody Ridley
30–Tighe Scott
47–Harry Gant
67–Buddy Arrington
42–Kyle Petty
3–Richard Childress

This was David Pearson's first race after leaving the Wood Brothers. Pearson was hired to drive the #2 temporarily after Dale Earnhardt's injury.

Champion Spark Plug 400

The 1979 Champion Spark Plug 400 was run on August 19 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. David Pearson won the pole.
Top Ten Results

43–Richard Petty
28–Buddy Baker
27–Benny Parsons
2–David Pearson
08–John Anderson
72–Joe Millikan
90–Ricky Rudd
30–Tighe Scott
70–J. D. McDuffie
3–Richard Childress

Blackie Wangerin flipped out of the track on Lap 2.

Volunteer 500

The 1979 Volunteer 500 was run on August 25 at Bristol International Raceway in Bristol, Tennessee. Richard Petty won the pole; it was his final pole as a driver and last for his racecar until 1996.
Top Ten Results

88–Darrell Waltrip
43–Richard Petty
15–Bobby Allison
27–Benny Parsons
11–Cale Yarborough
72–Joe Millikan
2–David Pearson
44–Terry Labonte
90–Ricky Rudd
17–Bill Elliott
Southern 500

The 1979 Southern 500 was run on September 3 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Bobby Allison won the pole. David Pearson won the race for Rod Osterlund.
Top Ten Results

2–David Pearson
17–Bill Elliott
44–Terry Labonte
28–Buddy Baker
27–Benny Parsons
71–Dave Marcis
05–Dick Brooks
90–Ricky Rudd
43–Richard Petty
15–Bobby Allison

Darrell Waltrip had over a lap lead when he had an accident. Darrell Waltrip had to make a pit stop which put David Pearson on the lead lap as well. Waltrip was passed by David Pearson and then involved in a second accident. David Pearson would win by 2 laps over second place.
This was Pearson's last race for Osterlund because Dale Earnhardt was back for the Capital City 400 due to a crash at Pocono with rib injuries.
This is the last race not featuring the Earnhardt name on the grid until the 2012 Charlotte fall race.
Capital City 400

The 1979 Capital City 400 was run on September 9 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.
Top Ten Results

15–Bobby Allison
88–Darrell Waltrip
90–Ricky Rudd
2–Dale Earnhardt
11–Cale Yarborough
43–Richard Petty
71–Dave Marcis
27–Benny Parsons
47–Harry Gant
72–Joe Millikan
CRC Chemicals 500

The 1979 CRC Chemicals 500 was run on September 16 at Dover Downs International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.
Top Ten Results

43–Richard Petty
1–Donnie Allison
11–Cale Yarborough
28–Buddy Baker
72–Joe Millikan
15–Bobby Allison
71–Dave Marcis
90–Ricky Rudd
2–Dale Earnhardt
30–Tighe Scott
Old Dominion 500

The 1979 Old Dominion 500 was run on September 23 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.
Top Ten Results

28–Buddy Baker
43–Richard Petty
72–Joe Millikan
15–Bobby Allison
71–Dave Marcis
90–Ricky Rudd
67–Buddy Arrington
11–Cale Yarborough
44–Terry Labonte
40–D. K. Ulrich

Waltrip blew his engine after leading 188 laps; the DiGard team changed engines in a record 11 minutes. NASCAR outlawed mid-race engine changes after the 1979 season.

NAPA National 500

The 1979 NAPA National 500 was run on October 7 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Neil Bonnett won the pole; it was the thirteenth straight Charlotte pole for the Wood Brothers.
Top Ten Results

11–Cale Yarborough
15–Bobby Allison
88–Darrell Waltrip
43–Richard Petty
1–Donnie Allison
27–Benny Parsons
9–Bill Elliott
05–Dick Brooks
40–D. K. Ulrich
2–Dale Earnhardt
Holly Farms 400

The 1979 Holly Farms 400 was run on October 14 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The race had been postponed two weeks due to rain. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.
Top Ten Results

27–Benny Parsons
15–Bobby Allison
43–Richard Petty
2–Dale Earnhardt
90–Ricky Rudd
44–Terry Labonte
25–Ronnie Thomas
40–D. K. Ulrich
67–Buddy Arrington
3–Richard Childress

The story of the race was Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip. On Lap 309 Waltrip sideswiped past Allison in Turn Three; coming onto the frontstretch Allison hooked Waltrip head-on into the wall. Benny Parsons took the lead at that point; Waltrip got repairs and under yellow began crowding Allison to the wall; NASCAR black-flagged Waltrip, but after pitting he went after Allison again. NASCAR competition director Bill Gazaway went onto the track and personally waved another black flag to Waltrip, making sure Waltrip stayed out of the way of the leaders. The wreck narrowed Waltrip's point lead over Richard Petty.
American 500

The 1979 American 500 was run on October 21 at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina. Buddy Baker won the pole.
Top Ten Results

43–Richard Petty
27–Benny Parsons
11–Cale Yarborough
1–Donnie Allison
2–Dale Earnhardt
88–Darrell Waltrip
3–Richard Childress
25–Ronnie Thomas
71–Dave Marcis
51–Slick Johnson

With the win, Petty finished erasing a 229-point gap to Waltrip and led the points standings.
Dixie 500

The 1979 Dixie 500 was run on November 4 at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia. Buddy Baker won the pole.
Top Ten Results

21–Neil Bonnett
2–Dale Earnhardt
11–Cale Yarborough
15–Bobby Allison
88–Darrell Waltrip
43–Richard Petty
44–Terry Labonte
90–Ricky Rudd
72–Joe Millikan
77–Jody Ridley

Waltrip took a two-point lead over Petty; it was the second straight race where the point lead changed hands.
Los Angeles Times 500

The 1979 Los Angeles Times 500 was run on November 18 at Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California. Cale Yarborough won the pole.
Top Ten Results

27–Benny Parsons
15–Bobby Allison
11–Cale Yarborough
28–Buddy Baker
43–Richard Petty
21–Neil Bonnett
05–Dick Brooks
88–Darrell Waltrip
2–Dale Earnhardt
90–Ricky Rudd

Waltrip finished a lap down when he spun with John Rezek and pitted before the leaders did. Richard Petty won the championship by 11 points, then the smallest margin of victory in NASCAR history and the first time in the sanctioning body's history the point lead changed hands in the final race.
Final point standings

43-Richard Petty 4830
88-Darrell Waltrip 4819
15-Bobby Allison 4633
11-Cale Yarborough 4604
27-Benny Parsons 4256
72-Joe Millikan 4014
2-Dale Earnhardt 3749
3-Richard Childress 3735
90-Ricky Rudd 3642
44-Terry Labonte 3615

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1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

Teams and drivers

Complete schedule

Limited schedule

Schedule

125 Mile Qualifying Races

Texas 400

Firecracker 400

Capital City 400

Final point standings