1979 Firecracker 400
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| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 17 of 31 in the 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season | |||
 The 1979 Firecracker 400 program cover. "We Are America Day" | |||
| Date | July 4, 1979 | ||
| Official name | Firecracker 400 | ||
| Location | Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 4.023 km (2.500 miles) | ||
| Distance | 160 laps, 400 mi (643 km) | ||
| Weather | Hot with temperatures of 93.9 °F (34.4 °C); wind speeds of 12 miles per hour (19 km/h) with 0.28 inches (7.1 mm) of rain reported within 24 hours of the racing event[1] | ||
| Average speed | 172.89 miles per hour (278.24 km/h) | ||
| Attendance | 45,000 | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Ranier Racing | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing | |
| Laps | 77 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 21 | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | ABC's Wide World Of Sports | ||
| Announcers | Bill Flemming & Sam Posey | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | Motor Racing Network | ||
| Booth announcers | Jack Arute & Barney Hall | ||
| Turn announcers |
Turns 1 & 2: Mike Joy Backstreatch: Hal Hamrick Turns 3 & 4: Eli Gold Pit Reporter: Ned Jarrett | ||
The 1979 Firecracker 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on July 4, 1979, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
There were 41 drivers on the starting grid of this race; Bruce Hill was credited with the last-place finish due to an engine problem on the first lap.[2] Fifteen drivers would fail to finish the race with problems varying from engine trouble, blown tires, and crashes.[2] Claude Ballot-Léna from France would make his final NASCAR Cup Series appearance here; winning $1,130. ($4,895.63 when adjusted for inflation).[2][3] His race ended on lap 83 of 160 with engine problems.[2]
Forty-five thousand fans were in attendance. The average speed was a record 172.89 miles per hour (278.24 km/h).[2] The green flag waved at 10 a.m. Buddy Baker earned the pole position during qualifying with a speed of 193.196 miles per hour (310.919 km/h).[2] Darrell Waltrip would become a frequent contender for the first-place position along with Buddy Baker and Neil Bonnett.[2] Bonnett would go on to defeat Benny Parsons by a single second.[2]
Terry Labonte went head on into the outside wall in one of the corners just past the halfway point and was sliding back down the track when Bobby Allison suddenly spun sideways and clobbered the #44 right in the door.[2] Neither driver was hurt but the heavy crash put both drivers out of the race.
Notable crew chiefs who participated in the race include Buddy Parrott, Joey Arrington, Kirk Shelmerdine, Darrell Bryant, Dale Inman, Harry Hyde, Waddell Wilson, Bud Moore, Tim Brewer, and Jake Elder.[4]
A souvenir program was sold for $3 USD ($13 when adjusted for inflation). Kyle Petty attempted to qualify for this race, but crashed during qualifying with the consequence of having to work on his father's pit crew. He would make his NASCAR debut at Talladega.
Qualifying
Buddy Baker would score the pole, averaging 193.196 miles per hour (310.919 km/h), a new track record at the time.
