Run Over By A Bug Eyed Dummy: A NASCAR Timeline

[drcynic]

This is the story of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series from 1979 on. As you could probably guess by the title of the thread if you were a NASCAR fan back in the day, my favorite driver was Sterling Marlin. I'll try not to make it a Marlin wank, but it probably will be because it's my world. My POD is the infamous 1979 Daytona 500, when NASCAR formally arrived on the national scene.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE FOR 1979:

Full Time Drivers (Or Ran Over 20 Races):

Bobby Allison

Donnie Allison

Buddy Arrington

Buddy Baker

Neil Bonnett

Dick Brooks

Richard Childress

Dale Earnhardt

Tommy Gale

Harry Gant

Cecil Gordon

James Hylton

Terry Labonte

Dave Marcis

J.D. McDuffie

Jimmy Means

Joe Millikan

Benny Parsons

Richard Petty

Baxter Price

Ricky Rudd

Ronnie Thomas

D.K. Ulrich

Darrell Waltrip

Frank Warren

Cale Yarborough


Part Time Drivers/Field Fillers (5 - 20 races)

Grant Adcox

H.B. Bailey

Chuck Bown

Bill Elliott

Roger Hamby

Bruce Hill

Al Holbert

Slick Johnson

Coo Coo Marlin

Dick May

David Pearson

Kyle Petty

Lennie Pond

Tighe Scott

Travis Tiller

Blackie Wangerin

​

1979 DAYTONA 500 SUMMARY:
​

NASCAR's big debut on CBS, the race ended up marred by cautions (largely due to the terrible conditions on the track thanks to a rainstorm) and was one of the slowest 500's up to that point. Pole sitter Buddy Baker came in a heavy favorite, but had to drop out due to engine problems. Early in the race as Yarborough and Donnie Allison jockeyed for position, Allison lost control of his car and spun with Yarborough into the swampy infield. Also collected in the accident was Donnie's brother Bobby. Somehow all three cars only sustained minor damage. The Allisons only went one lap down while Cale lost two laps. The frequent cautions that ensued aided their efforts to unlap themselves, Donnie and Cale both had very strong cars that were able to run with the leaders while Bobby could not. At the end of the race, Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough were battling for the lead while Richard Petty was half a lap behind and Darrell Waltrip, another early favorite (who stated later that his engine was experiencing overheating issues and he was trying to just coax it to the finish line) was further back. In turn 4, Yarborough attempted a slingshot pass around Allison, who blocked him, which caused the two to begin wrecking. Both cars slid across the finish line and into the infield. The photo finish of the race revealed that Donnie Allison (who had led the most laps through the course of the race) had come across the finish line just ahead of Yarborough as they were wrecking. An angry Cale confronted Allison and the two began an argument that quickly escalated into a brawl for all the cameras to see that also included Donnie's brother Bobby who came over to separate the two. The Allisons and Yarborough were fined by NASCAR for the brawl. The fight turned into a PR victory for NASCAR though as the New York Times' sports section declared that NASCAR had arrived as a national sport and finally shed its regional roots.

 

[drcynic]

1979 CAROLINA 500

Joe Millikan's DeWitt owned Chevrolet
​

The Rockingham race proved to be both an exciting and bizarre affair. A crash on lap nine collected several of the lead cars including both Allison brothers, Buddy Baker, Richard Petty, Neil Bonnett, and Ricky Rudd after Baker made contact with leader Bobby Allison when attempting to pass into the lead. The only two front running cars at the onset, David Pearson and Cale Yarborough battled for a time, but on lap 249, Pearson's engine blew. Yarborough also struggled with engine trouble (though he did finish the race some 30 odd laps down). With the race wide open, Rookie of the Year contenders Joe Millikan and Dale Earnhardt managed to pull away from the rest of the field. Leading the race, Earnhardt's fuel situation became precarious around lap 488 and his crew chief, Jake Elder, gambled that they would make it. Unfortunately for Earnhardt, on lap 491, his car sputtered out of gas on turn 1, leaving Millikan, who had taken a later pit stop than Earnhardt had under green, the only car on the lead lap and the victor of the race. Many leaders having been taken out left some normally mid-to-back markers in the top ten such as Dick Brooks, who while a few laps down, finished a creditable third, Tommy Gale, in the underfunded Elmo Langley car finished 7th, and Baxter Price, in what would be the only top 10 finish of his career, finished 9th. Benny Parsons, who had been a contender in the middle part of the race, finished fourth.

1979 RICHMOND 400

Driver Cale Yarborough and owner Junior Johnson with Cale's Number 11
​

Only 30 drivers ran at Richmond, which featured a paltry average speed of under 84mph. This was really a two man contest featuring another tangle between Yarborough and an Allison brother, this time pole sitter Bobby. Allison dominated the first 220 laps of the race, but a caution caused by Richard Childress' blown engine allowed Yarborough to beat Allison off of pit road and he held on to finally win his first race of the season. In victory lane, Cale was typically combative and stated that this win, his 60th in Cup competition, was vengeance on the Alabama Gang for Donnie Allison's Daytona 500 victory (Donnie finished 9th in this race and wasn't a factor). The top five was rounded out by Darrell Waltrip, Benny Parsons, and Richard Petty.

1979 TOP TEN STANDINGS (AFTER 4 RACES):

1. Cale Yarborough
2. Darrell Waltrip
3. Bobby Allison
4. Joe Millikan
5. Donnie Allison
6. Benny Parsons
7. Dale Earnhardt
8. Richard Petty
9. Terry Labonte
10. Dick Brooks

​

 

[drcynic]

1979 ATLANTA 500

Buddy Baker in his car, "The Gray Ghost", at Atlanta
​

In a race that was marred by the tragic death of a member of rookie Dave Watson's pit crew, Buddy Baker took home his first win of 1979 in what was, up to that point, his first really good run of the year. The first several races of the year had been tough for the Gentle Giant. Mechanical problems at Daytona, where he'd come in as the favorite and at Richmond, on top of the early crash out at Carolina, had demoralized the Harry Ranier team and Baker himself had told people that he just felt like he'd been bitten by a rattlesnake. Baker ran a strong race and he avoided the mechanical issues that plagued his nearest competitors, Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip. Allison, who led the most laps in the race stated afterward that he didn't know what happened to the car, but it felt like he'd lost a piston sometime around when Baker passed him for the lead. Points leader Cale Yarborough and Benny Parsons rounded out the top 5.

1979 NORTHWESTERN BANK 400

The King was victorious again at North Wilkesboro
​

Well, another race, and another victory for Richard Petty's number 43. Although eleven different drivers led at least one lap during this race, making, by far, the most individual leaders of a race so far that year, Petty led the most and he led at the end, finishing about three seconds ahead of second place Benny Parsons, who also had a very good day in the M.C. Andersen car. Also having good runs were the spirited Rookie of the Year contenders, Millikan and Earnhardt, who both led laps and finished in 7th and 8th respectively. Behind Petty and Parsons, the top 5 was rounded out by Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison, and J.D. McDuffie.

1979 SOUTHEASTERN 500

Rookie Dale Earnhardt's first win at Bristol
​

Fellow rookie Joe Millikan had beaten Earnhardt to victory lane, but the North Carolina native picked up his first victory of the year at Bristol in an exciting contest that featured a battle between Earnhardt in the Osterlund car trading position with Darrell Waltrip's DiGard 88 car through the whole race and eventually Earnhardt bested Waltrip, who got caught in lapped traffic just in front of the white flag, which allowed Dale to assume the lead and take the checkered. Also having strong races were Buddy Baker and Cale Yarborough, but both succumbed to crashes just three laps apart. Yarborough's poor finish ended up costing him the points lead after this race. The rest of the top five was rounded out by Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, and Terry Labonte.

1979 TOP TEN STANDINGS (AFTER 7 RACES)

1. Bobby Allison
2. Darrell Waltrip
3. Cale Yarborough
4. Benny Parsons
5. Joe Millikan
6. Dale Earnhardt
7. Richard Petty
8. Donnie Allison
9. Terry Labonte
10. Dave Marcis​

 

[Unknown]

Interesting start--wondering what happens next...

 

[drcynic]

Interesting start--wondering what happens next...

So far, I haven't changed too much from our timeline apart from Joe Millikan's victory at Rockingham and Richard Petty actually finished second IOTL at North Wilkesboro. There will be more specific changes though as we go along.

 

[drcynic]

1979 REBEL 500

Jaws wins at Darlington
​

Darrell Waltrip arrived in victory lane for the first time in 1979 at Darlington as he and Richard Petty engaged in a spirited back and forth contest that was mired by early cautions, but eventually picked up pace. The race didn't start promising as on lap 14, the #46 of semi-regular field filler Travis Tiller blew his engine which caused Dale Earnhardt and David Pearson to wreck when trying to avoid rear-ending Tiller's dying machine. Earnhardt and Pearson had both been running in the top ten while Tiller had just been put a lap down. Tiller's wasn't the only engine to blow during the day as the blistering pace set by Waltrip, Petty, and pole sitter Donnie Allison also collected the engines of Tommy Gale, Dick May, Roger Hamby, Cecil Gordon, Terry Labonte, Dave Marcis, and even Bobby Allison. While Pearson's day was finished after the crash, Earnhardt returned to the track to try and make up for points. Waltrip and Petty's battle was the real story though as they swapped the lead 13 times between the two of them (and Waltrip also traded with Donnie Allison, who gamely kept pace, although his car just wasn't as strong as Waltrip and Petty's, and Buddy Baker). Along with Waltrip, who publicly complained about underfunded drivers like Tiller "messing up people's day", Petty, and Donnie Allison, the top five was rounded out by Baker and Benny Parsons.

1979 VIRGINIA 500

Buddy's Back!​

Buddy Baker snagged win number 2 of 1979 at Martinsville, holding off a spirited attempt by Richard Petty, who once again finished a frustrating second in a race that he felt that he should've won. Surprisingly for Martinsville, there weren't any major accidents, although several of the 30 man field struggled mechanically, beginning with Dick May, who did not even manage to complete a single lap before having to leave the track. In victory lane, an elated Baker said that he felt that after the bad early run of luck that he and Crew Chief Waddell Wilson finally felt like they'd hit a groove. Along with Petty, the top five featured a strong contenders list. Darrell Waltrip, who was now the points leader, Bobby Allison, and Joe Millikan.

 

[drcynic]

1979 WINSTON 500

An Unlikely Winner At Talladega
​

Few victories in NASCAR have ever been as unlikely as the winner of the 1979 Winston 500. Clifton "Coo Coo" Marlin, in only his third start of the year, previously winless in 157 career starts, and only occasionally competitive, took home the checkered flag at Talladega. The story of Marlin's win began on lap 4 when the big one hit several of the leaders knocking them out of contention: Harry Gant, Lennie Pond, Dale Earnhardt, Dick Brooks, Benny Parsons, Tighe Scott, Cale Yarborough, and Buddy Baker. Especially disappointing was the ending of Scott's day as he had spent much of the year in the middle of the pack, but here he had managed to start fifth and was running third when the wreck began. Engine trouble also ended the day for much of the starting grid: J.D. McDuffie, Blackie Wangerin, who got terrifyingly loose as the car quit on him and he nearly was sent flying into pit lane. Wangerin, a snarky Minnesotan, later told Ned Jarrett that it was a "real thrill" when asked about his ride through the infield. Ricky Rudd, Baxter Price, Donnie Allison, Dick May, and even the King, Richard Petty, all had their days ended due to engine trouble. The day seemed like it would belong to Neil Bonnett, who led the race most of the way, but with 40 laps to go, Bonnett's Wood Brothers car began overheating. Marlin had a strong car and held off Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison to win. Rounding out the top five were Joe Millikan and Terry Labonte.

1979 SUN DROP MUSIC CITY 420

Benny Parsons Finds Victory Lane For First Time in '79
​

Although he'd been having a good 1979, Benny Parsons had yet to win a race coming into Nashville. When the day was over, Benny had driven his M.C. Andersen number 27 into victory lane after holding off hard charging runs by Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, and second place finisher J.D. McDuffie, who was having the run of his life. The day turned out disappointing for the pole winner, Joe Millikan, though. Millikan came into the race sitting fourth in points and after leading the first thirty laps, car trouble forced him to pit frequently and he slowly fell out of contention until calling it a day on lap 124. The top five was rounded out by Buddy Baker and Terry Labonte.

1979 MASON-DIXON 500

Neil Bonnett wins at Dover
​

Bonnett and the Wood Brothers as a whole had definitely had a disappointing 1979. Bad luck and equipment failures had marred good runs for Bonnett and David Pearson several times, including at Talladega where Bonnett's dominating performance came to naught and Coo Coo Marlin found himself in victory lane. At Dover though, it finally came together. Bonnett's car was not dominant in the early going as it seemed that Cale Yarborough had the car to beat, but as the day went on, Bonnett and Yarborough began trading the lead back and forth multiple times, Bonnett finally getting ahead with three laps to go. The top five finishers were rounded out by Buddy Baker, Bobby Allison, and Dale Earnhardt.

1979 TOP TEN STANDINGS (AFTER 12 RACES)

1. Darrell Waltrip
2. Bobby Allison
3. Cale Yarborough
4. Benny Parsons
5. Joe Millikan
6. Richard Petty
7. Dale Earnhardt
8. Buddy Baker
9. Terry Labonte
10. J.D. McDuffie​

 

[stratonapba]

Off And Running in a Alternate Universe NASCAR Storyline in 1979, I Can't Wait how it will play out as NASCAR will be different ITTL when we get to the 1980's.

 

[drcynic]

Off And Running in a Alternate Universe NASCAR Storyline in 1979, I Can't Wait how it will play out as NASCAR will be different ITTL when we get to the 1980's.

Yeah. So far 1979 has largely minor changes. The 80s (and beyond) will be seriously changed.

 

[drcynic]

1979 WORLD 600

Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough race off pit road​

Darrell Waltrip picked up another victory in the grueling World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in a race that featured over 50 different lead changes among 10 different drivers. Of that group, five of those drivers (Donnie Allison, Buddy Baker, James Hylton, Joe Millikan, and Neil Bonnett) did not finish the race due to mechanical or engine issues and no one lead more than 20 laps at a time until a 49 lap run by Dale Earnhardt beginning at lap 205. Despite a valiant effort by Earnhardt, though, Waltrip dominated much of the late race and led the final 90 laps to take the checkered flag and extend his points lead over Bobby Allison, who had a poor day. The top five was rounded out by Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, and Ricky Rudd.

1979 TEXAS 400

Waltrip Wins Again
​

Dale Earnhardt's late race crash allowed DW to head to victory lane in back to back weeks as he held off a challenge by Buddy Baker, who finished a strong second. Earnhardt's crash on lap 189 was about the only notable event in the race that was mostly dominated by the 88. Apart from second place finisher Baker, the top five consisted of Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, and Terry Labonte.

1979 NAPA RIVERSIDE 400

Bobby Allison kept Waltrip from winning 3 in a row
​

Although the race was largely dominated by Cale Yarborough who led 57 of the 95 laps, when it mattered most, Bobby Allison kept himself within distance of points leader Darrell Waltrip by taking the victory at Riverside over Waltrip, who finished second. The top five was rounded out with Richard Petty, Yarborough, and Benny Parsons. Creditable top ten finishes also came from road course ringer Hal Callentine and independent runner Cecil Gordon.

1979 TOP TEN STANDINGS (AFTER 15 RACES):

1. Darrell Waltrip
2. Bobby Allison
3. Cale Yarborough
4. Richard Petty
5. Joe Millikan
6. Benny Parsons
7. Dale Earnhardt
8. Terry Labonte
9. Buddy Baker
10. J.D. McDuffie
​

 

[drcynic]

1979 GABRIEL 400

Buddy Baker leading Donnie Allison, Cale Yarborough and Neil Bonnett during a caution
​

Buddy Baker dominated at Michigan to take home the victory ahead of Donnie Allison, Cale Yarborough, Neil Bonnett, and Richard Petty. Unfortunately for championship contenders Joe Millikan and Benny Parsons, they were both plagued with engine failures and had to settle for finishing 30th and 31st. Points leader Waltrip also ended his day with engine failure, although because it came with only 3 laps remaining in the race, he managed to place 13th. Creditable top ten finishes came from Tighe Scott and Dick Brooks.

1979 FIRECRACKER 400

Joe Millikan leading at Daytona
​

The Rookie of the Year contest of 1979 between Joe Millikan and Dale Earnhardt has been back and forth all year, and it continued to heat up as Millikan found victory lane for the second time in the season, finishing just ahead of Earnhardt and Benny Parsons to win the summer race at Daytona. Millikan led 70 of the 160 laps and finished a second ahead of Earnhardt, who spent much of the race dueling him for the lead. Also finishing in the top five were Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty.

​

 

[drcynic]

1979 BUSCH NASHVILLE 420

Darrell Waltrip dominates!
​

Darrell Waltrip led over 405 of the 420 laps at Nashville to claim his fifth win of the season and extend his Championship points lead. The only other leader in the race happened to be Sterling Marlin, driving in the number 14 Cunningham-Kelley car that was normally run by his father Coo Coo. The younger Marlin finished an excellent third behind Waltrip and Cale Yarborough. The top five was rounded out by Richard Petty and Benny Parsons.

COCA-COLA 500

Cale Yarborough laps J.D. McDuffie at Pocono​

Cale Yarborough continued chasing down point leader Waltrip with a win at Pocono, which featured him battling it out with Richard Petty, who finished second, and Buddy Baker, who came in third. The race ended under caution after rookie Dale Earnhardt blew a tire and crashed horrifically, breaking several ribs and putting him out of action for the next four races (and dashing his hopes at winning Rookie of the Year over Millikan). The top five was rounded out by Benny Parsons and Ricky Rudd.

1979 TALLADEGA 500

David Pearson took over for Earnhardt and finished second at Talladega
​

Car owner Rod Osterlund tapped former champion and 100 time visitor to victory lane David Pearson to sub for the injured Dale Earnhardt at Talladega and the Silver Fox more than proved his worth with a fantastic second place finish behind eventual winner Darrell Waltrip, who continues to dominate the season overall. Pearson pressured Waltrip hard at the white flag, but Waltrip held on to win his fifth race of the year. The top five was rounded out by Richard Petty, Ricky Rudd (who was coming on strong in the Junie Donlavey car), and surprisingly Tighe Scott. Yarborough blew his engine early on and ended up dropping to third in the standings. Also faltering in the standings was Bobby Allison with several out of the top ten finishes in the last five races.

1979 TOP TEN STANDINGS (AFTER 20 RACES):

1. Darrell Waltrip
2. Richard Petty
3. Cale Yarborough
4. Joe Millikan
5. Benny Parsons
6. Bobby Allison
7. Dale Earnhardt
8. Buddy Baker
9. Terry Labonte
10. J.D. McDuffie​

 

[drcynic]

1979 CHAMPION SPARK PLUG 400

Richard Petty and Buddy Baker compete
​

Richard Petty took the checkered flag again, finishing a second ahead of Buddy Baker, although Baker did lead the majority of the race, Petty ended up a full second ahead of The Gray Ghost at the finish. David Pearson, still subbing for the injured Earnhardt, collected the pole and a strong fourth place finish while the rest of the top five was rounded out by Benny Parsons and Joe Millikan.

1979 VOLUNTEER 500

Waltrip wins at Bristol
​

Although Benny Parsons largely dominated the day, it was points leader Darrell Waltrip who won the second stop at Bristol ahead of Richard Petty and Bobby Allison while Parsons finished fourth. Cale Yarborough, who had largely been a nonfactor for several weeks, ended up finishing fifth.

1979 SOUTHERN 500

David Pearson picks up another win subbing for Dale Earnhardt
​

David Pearson, although only running a partial schedule, proved he was still a tough driver to beat when he led 74 laps and picked up win number 104 at Darlington. Pearson finished ahead of young gun Bill Elliott, also running only a partial schedule this year. Points leader Darrell Waltrip, who led the most laps, ended up falling to 11th when the car began handling poorly. The top five was rounded out by Buddy Baker, Terry Labonte, and Benny Parsons.

1979 TOP TEN STANDINGS (AFTER 23 RACES)

1. Darrell Waltrip
2. Richard Petty
3. Benny Parsons
4. Joe Millikan
5. Cale Yarborough
6. Bobby Allison
7. Buddy Baker
8. Dale Earnhardt
9. Terry Labonte
10. Ricky Rudd​

 

[drcynic]

1979 CAPITAL CITY 400

Bobby Allison ends slump
​

While Dale Earnhardt made his return in the number 2, starting on the pole, it was Bobby Allison who dominated at the Richmond Fairgrounds to end a recent slump that had seen him tumble in the championship points standings. Allison took home the checkered flag, but unfortunately for him (and every other championship competitor), points leader Waltrip finished second. The top five was rounded out by Ricky Rudd, coming on strong lately and putting in a good run in the Junie Donleavy car, Earnhardt, and Cale Yarborough.

1979 CRC CHEMICALS 500

Old Hickory bests The King at Dover
​

At Dover, a three way duel between Yarborough, Richard Petty, and Donnie Allison ended up with Cale taking the victory in a near photo-finish ahead of Petty. Darrell Waltrip crashed out on lap 187, severely denting his lead over a few of his closest rivals, including Petty, who sat at second in the standings. The top five was rounded out by Buddy Baker and Joe Millikan.

1979 OLD DOMINION 500

Buddy Baker (center) beat Joe Millikan (left) at Martinsville for the win. Dale Earnhardt (right) crashed out early
​

Another victory for NASCAR's Gentle Giant at Martinsville as Buddy Baker took home the checkered flag, dominating in the late stages of the race and finishing nearly a lap ahead of second place Joe Millikan and Richard Petty, a lap down. The top five was rounded out by Bobby Allison and Ricky Rudd. Darrell Waltrip finished poorly and going into race 27, The King trailed him by less than 50 points.

1979 TOP TEN STANDINGS (AFTER 26 RACES)

1. Darrell Waltrip
2. Richard Petty
3. Joe Millikan
4. Cale Yarborough
5. Bobby Allison
6. Buddy Baker
7. Benny Parsons
8. Dale Earnhardt
9. Ricky Rudd
10. Terry Labonte​

 

[drcynic]

Any questions? Comments? I'm happy to go over individual drivers' seasons in more detail if you'd like to hear that.

 

[drcynic]

1979 NAPA NATIONAL 500

Yarborough with a late rally​

Cale Yarborough took victory at Charlotte to improve his points position back ahead of rookie Joe Millikan, whose day ended early with steering problems. Yarborough performed a late race rally, overtaking leader Buddy Baker on lap 320 and held on the rest of the way to take the checkered flag. The rest of the top five consisted of Bobby Allison finishing second, Darrell Waltrip, Richard Petty, and Benny Parsons.

1979 HOLLY FARMS 400

Benny Parsons capped off his second win of the year
​

Although only 29 cars made the day at North Wilkesboro, Benny Parsons held off a hard charge by Bobby Allison to take the victory. Points leader Waltrip had a rough day as he got tangled up with independent runner H.B. Bailey and ended up finishing 43 laps off the pace. The rest of the top five consisted of Dale Earnhardt, Terry Labonte, and Joe Millikan.

 

[Inferno60]

Are you going to do this every year until today?

 

[drcynic]

Are you going to do this every year until today?

I’ve got the TL planned to end around 2006. I had also planned more detail in the narrative as results and and stuff like that changed from our timeline. So far there have only been minor changes compared to the actual 79 season and I’ve sort of treated it like a prologue for the future.

 

[drcynic]

1979 AMERICAN 500

Petty edges out Parsons at The Rock
​

Finally passing Waltrip for the points lead late in the season, Richard Petty edged out Benny Parsons at Rockingham by .17 seconds. Parsons, who had won the previous week, and had run a very good season, expressed some disappointment that Petty had overtaken him with less than six laps to go to win, even though he'd had the dominant car in the race. The top five was rounded out by Cale Yarborough, Donnie Allison, and Dale Earnhardt. Waltrip finished sixth.

1979 DIXIE 500

Bonnett held off Millikan at Atlanta
​

An exciting race at Atlanta featured a photo finish between Neil Bonnett in the Wood Brothers Mercury and Joe Millikan in the LG DeWitt Chevy. Bonnett edged out Millikan by inches to pick up his second win of the year (and prevent Millikan's third) and cap off what had been a mostly disappointing part time season for Bonnett with a bit of positivity. The top five was rounded out by Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, and Darrell Waltrip, who just slipped back into the points lead, two ahead of King Richard.

1979 LA TIMES 500

Richard Petty celebrates his 7th Championship
​

While Benny Parsons edged out Buddy Baker, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough and Petty to win the final race of the season at Ontario, it was Richard Petty who had the best day as the King celebrated his seventh Winston Cup championship, just besting Waltrip who finished sixth on the day, by eight points, one of the closest championship races in history. Waltrip, bitterly disappointed, could not hide his frustration after the race when exiting the DiGard car while Parsons celebrated his third win of the year and Petty his title victory.

"I just feel so damn disappointed," Waltrip stated afterward. "For the team, for myself. I mean, congratulations to Richard, but we led the points most of the year, and to just come up short here, it's just a crying shame."

1979 FINAL STANDINGS (TOP 20)

1. Richard Petty
2. Darrell Waltrip
3. Joe Millikan
4. Cale Yarborough
5. Benny Parsons
6. Bobby Allison
7. Buddy Baker
8. Dale Earnhardt
9. Ricky Rudd
10. Terry Labonte
11. J.D. McDuffie
12. Buddy Arrington
13. Dave Marcis
14. Tommy Gale
15. Dick Brooks
16. Harry Gant
17. Donnie Allison
18. Coo Coo Marlin
19. James Hylton
20. Cecil Gordon​

 

[drcynic]

NEWS​

- Bob Rahilly and Butch Mock (RahMoc Enterprises) announce they will be attempting a full 1980 schedule fielding a Chevrolet driven by 36 year old John Anderson.

- Ricky Rudd leaves Junie Donlavey's team. Donlavey signs journeyman driver Sam Sommers to replace him. Sommers had a good 1977 rookie campaign (including a pole win), but was replaced in the M.C. Anderson car by Benny Parsons and had trouble hooking up with a new ride. He made no starts in 1979.

- Owner/driver Richard Childress decides to focus exclusively on ownership and hires Rudd to drive his car.

- Owner L.G. DeWitt announces that he is retiring leaving Rookie of the Year Joe Millikan without a ride.

- Donnie Allison leaves Hoss Ellington's team in favor of new owner Nelson Malloch who promises Allison he will field a car in at least 25 races (Allison ran only 17 races last year and won the Daytona 500). Ellington hires Sterling Marlin to replace Allison in the Bull's Eye BBQ Sauce car on a 20 race contract.

- Neil Bonnett leaves Wood Brothers to drive for D.K. Ulrich.

- The Wood Brothers sign Joe Millikan to replace Bonnett.

- Jack Beebe commits to a full schedule as an owner, retaining Harry Gant as his driver.

- Harry Ranier commits to run every race with Buddy Baker in order to compete for a championship. Baker would've been a title contender last year, but he missed 5 races.

- Petty Enterprises announces that Richard's son Kyle Petty will compete in 15 races in 1980 in a second car.