1978 Daytona 500
Encyclopedia
The 1978 Daytona 500 began with what looked like a runaway victory for Richard Petty
who brought a brand new Dodge Magnum to the race.
Starting in sixth place, Petty quickly took the lead and would lead 32 out of the first 60 laps, all of which were run under green flag conditions, resulting in the first 60 laps being run at an average speed of nearly 180 MPH. But on the 61st lap, Petty cut a left rear tire, causing him to spin out, collecting him, as well as long-time rival David Pearson and Darrell Waltrip. Track conditions were problematic that day, due to heavy rains during the week. On the 70th lap, just after the restart, Benny Parsons suffered a blown left rear tire, causing him to spin out. Behind him, A.J. Foyt, the winner of the 1972 Daytona 500, was caught in the aftermath and flipped several times in the turn one infield. That left the race to three drivers, but Cale Yarborough, who sat on the pole, ran into minor engine problems and Buddy Baker was to have his typical late-race misfortunes. ref name="1978d500"/> Enter Bobby Allison
, for whom the Daytona 500
prior to the 1978 race was not kind to him, in fact he came to the race with a 67-race winless streak, which dated back to the 1975 Southern 500 at Darlington, but with 11 laps remaining, he pushed his boxy 1977 bodied Bud Moore
Ford Thunderbird
around Buddy Baker
to take the lead and never look back as he captured his first Daytona 500 win. It was the worst starting position that a driver has won the event, until 2007 when Kevin Harvick
started one spot back than Allison. Then again in 2009 with Matt Kenseth
as he was sent to the rear and started in 42nd because of it.
This Daytona 500 had the first race of a French NASCAR driver Claude Ballot-Léna
.
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
who brought a brand new Dodge Magnum to the race.
Starting in sixth place, Petty quickly took the lead and would lead 32 out of the first 60 laps, all of which were run under green flag conditions, resulting in the first 60 laps being run at an average speed of nearly 180 MPH. But on the 61st lap, Petty cut a left rear tire, causing him to spin out, collecting him, as well as long-time rival David Pearson and Darrell Waltrip. Track conditions were problematic that day, due to heavy rains during the week. On the 70th lap, just after the restart, Benny Parsons suffered a blown left rear tire, causing him to spin out. Behind him, A.J. Foyt, the winner of the 1972 Daytona 500, was caught in the aftermath and flipped several times in the turn one infield. That left the race to three drivers, but Cale Yarborough, who sat on the pole, ran into minor engine problems and Buddy Baker was to have his typical late-race misfortunes. ref name="1978d500"/> Enter Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
, for whom the Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
prior to the 1978 race was not kind to him, in fact he came to the race with a 67-race winless streak, which dated back to the 1975 Southern 500 at Darlington, but with 11 laps remaining, he pushed his boxy 1977 bodied Bud Moore
Bud Moore
Bud Moore may refer to:* Bud Moore , American football player and coach* Bud Moore , former NASCAR owner**Bud Moore Engineering, his team* Bud Moore , former NASCAR driver...
Ford Thunderbird
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
around Buddy Baker
Buddy Baker
Elzie Wylie Baker, Jr. , nicknamed "Leadfoot" or more famously Buddy, is a former American NASCAR racecar driver.-Early life:...
to take the lead and never look back as he captured his first Daytona 500 win. It was the worst starting position that a driver has won the event, until 2007 when Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Michael Harvick is an American stock car auto racing race car driver and car owner currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 29 Budweiser/Jimmy John's/Rheem/Okuma/Realtree Outdoors/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Impala...
started one spot back than Allison. Then again in 2009 with Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth
Matthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
as he was sent to the rear and started in 42nd because of it.
This Daytona 500 had the first race of a French NASCAR driver Claude Ballot-Léna
Claude Ballot-Léna
Claude Ballot-Léna was a French race driver born in Paris. He won the 1969 Spa 24 Hours in a Porsche 911 and the 1983 24 Hours of Daytona in a Porsche 935 Turbo owned by Preston Henn. He also entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans many times from 1966 until the 1980s...
.