1978 Talladega 500

Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a Tri-oval and was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in the 1960s. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line - located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the Sprint Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and the Camping World Truck Series. Talladega Superspeedway is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66 miles (4.28 km), and the track at its peak had a seating capacity of 175,000 spectators.^[3]

Four cautions were waved for 17 laps; making the race last almost three hours in length,^[2] with 67 lead changes the race.^[2] James Hylton finished last due to a transmission issue on the first lap of 188 laps.^[2] Lennie Pond became the third driver whose only career victory was at the summer Talladega race (Richard Brickhouse in 1969 and Dick Brooks in 1973).^[2] He would defeat Donnie Allison by two car lengths in front of 60,000 spectators.^[2][4] Yarborough lost half a lap near the end of the race, losing the leaders because he missed the pit entry and made his stop on lap 181.^[2]

There was 1 foreigner in the 41-car lineup: Claude Ballot-Léna from Paris, France.^[2] Cale Yarborough would earn the pole position with a speed of 192.717 miles per hour (310.148 km/h) while the average speed of the race was 174.7 miles per hour (281.2 km/h).^[2] It was a 500 mile world's record in 1978.^[5] Bill Elliott would break that record at the 1985 Winston 500 with an average of 186.288 miles per hour (299.801 km/h).^[6] Female driver Janet Guthrie was also a part of the grid; finishing in 29th place due to a crash on lap 129.^[2] Country music star and part-time NASCAR driver Marty Robbins made his only start of the season and came home 18th driving his Dodge Magnum.^[7]

Richard Petty would stop racing in Chrysler cars after this race. Only the 1984 Winston 500 would see more lead changes than this event.

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