1978 Delaware 500
Encyclopedia
The 1978 Delaware 500 was a NASCAR
Winston Cup Series (now Sprint Cup Series) racing event that took place on September 17, 1978 at Dover Downs International Speedway (now Dover International Speedway
) in the American
community of Dover
, Delaware
.
Bobby Allison
(sponsored by Norris Industries) defeated Cale Yarborough
(sponsored by 1st National City Travelers Checks - which is now a part of Citibank) by 11½ seconds. Notable speeds were: 119.323 mi/h for the average speed and 135.48 mi/h for the pole position speed (accomplished by J.D. McDuffie
). Thirty thousand stock car racing fans attended this live event. Other notable names in the event included: Darrell Waltrip
(now a NASCAR on Fox
broadcaster), Richard Childress
(now the owner of Richard Childress Racing
), Richard Petty
, and J.D. McDuffie.
J.D. McDuffie established the pole position while using tires manufactured by the McCreary Tire Company. This pole position start also got him a guaranteed ride in the first running of what is now called the Budweiser Shootout
; Buddy Baker would ultimately win that race on February 1979. The Budweiser Shootout rules at the time were: The race consisted of a single twenty-lap (50-mile) green flag sprint with no pit stops required. Jabe Thomas
would retire from NASCAR after this race. Bobby Allison
would gain his 50th career Winston Cup Series victory from this race.
* Driver failed to finish race
† signifies that the driver is known to be deceased
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Winston Cup Series (now Sprint Cup Series) racing event that took place on September 17, 1978 at Dover Downs International Speedway (now Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
) in the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
community of Dover
Dover, Delaware
The city of Dover is the capital and second largest city in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is also the county seat of Kent County, and the principal city of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Kent County. It is located on the St. Jones River in the Delaware...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
.
Summary
Five hundred laps were completed on a paved oval track spanning 1 miles (1.6 km). The race took four hours, eleven minutes, and twenty seconds to complete. Three cautions were given out by NASCAR for eighteen laps.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....
(sponsored by Norris Industries) defeated Cale Yarborough
Cale Yarborough
William Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships...
(sponsored by 1st National City Travelers Checks - which is now a part of Citibank) by 11½ seconds. Notable speeds were: 119.323 mi/h for the average speed and 135.48 mi/h for the pole position speed (accomplished by J.D. McDuffie
J.D. McDuffie
John Delphus McDuffie was a NASCAR Winston Cup driver. He raced in the top division of NASCAR from 1963 to 1991. McDuffie had 106 top-tens in his Cup Series career...
). Thirty thousand stock car racing fans attended this live event. Other notable names in the event included: Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Lee Waltrip is a 3-time NASCAR Cup Series champion , 3-time runner-up , winner of the 1989 Daytona 500 and 5-time winner of the prestigeous Coca-Cola 600 ,...
(now a NASCAR on Fox
NASCAR on Fox
NASCAR on Fox is the Emmy-winning branding used for Fox Sports's broadcasts of NASCAR races airing on the Fox network since 2001. The production has been in high-definition since 2005.-Background:...
broadcaster), Richard Childress
Richard Childress
Richard Childress is a former NASCAR driver and the current team owner of Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. As a business entrepreneur, Childress became one of the wealthiest men in North Carolina...
(now the owner of Richard Childress Racing
Richard Childress Racing
RCR Enterprises, LLC, doing business as Richard Childress Racing, is a NASCAR team based in Welcome, North Carolina, and is owned and operated by former driver Richard Childress...
), Richard Petty
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...
, and J.D. McDuffie.
J.D. McDuffie established the pole position while using tires manufactured by the McCreary Tire Company. This pole position start also got him a guaranteed ride in the first running of what is now called the Budweiser Shootout
Budweiser Shootout
Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, generally referred to as the Bud Shootout, is an annual invitation-only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series exhibition event held at Daytona International Speedway in February, the weekend before the Daytona 500. It is the first competitive event of the season and serves as a...
; Buddy Baker would ultimately win that race on February 1979. The Budweiser Shootout rules at the time were: The race consisted of a single twenty-lap (50-mile) green flag sprint with no pit stops required. Jabe Thomas
Jabe Thomas
Cerry Ezra "Jabe" Thomas is a retired NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver who competed from the mid 1960s through the late 1970s. His son Ronnie was also a NASCAR Cup Series driver; competing from 1977 to 1989.-Career:Thomas drove 75243 laps of racing and earned $295,497 in total...
would retire from NASCAR after this race. 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....
would gain his 50th career Winston Cup Series victory from this race.
Finishing order
- Bobby Allison (defeated Ned Jarrett by one car length)
- Cale Yarborough
- Buddy BakerBuddy BakerElzie Wylie Baker, Jr. , nicknamed "Leadfoot" or more famously Buddy, is a former American NASCAR racecar driver.-Early life:...
(highest finishing Chevrolet vehicle) - David Pearson
- Darrell Waltrip
- Dick BrooksDick BrooksRichard "Dick" Brooks was an American NASCAR driver. Born in Porterville, California, he was the 1969 NASCAR Rookie of the Year, and went on to win the 1973 Talladega 500...
† - Lennie PondLennie PondLennie Pond is a former NASCAR driver. He won NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year honors in 1973, and won his only race at Talladega Superspeedway in 1978 for Ronnie Elder and Harry Ranier....
- Dave MarcisDave MarcisDave Marcis is a retired driver on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit whose career spanned five decades. Marcis won five times over this tenure, twice at Richmond, including his final win in 1982...
- Donnie AllisonDonnie AllisonDunkiny "Donnie" Allison is a former driver on the NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup circuit, who won ten times during his racing career, which spanned the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. He was part of the "Alabama Gang," and is the brother of 1983 champion Bobby Allison and uncle of Davey Allison...
- Dick MayDick MayDick May was a NASCAR driver who competed in 185 races in the NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup between 1967 and 1985....
† - Ronnie Thomas
- Richard Childress
- Al HolbertAl HolbertAlvah Robert "Al" Holbert was an American automobile racing driver who was a five-time champion of the IMSA Camel GT series.- Life and career :...
† - Cecil GordonCecil GordonCecil Gordon was a NASCAR driver. He is not related to Sprint Cup driver Jeff Gordon although the two drivers drove in car number 24....
- Ed NegreEd NegreEd Negre is a retired NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver who raced from 1955 to 1979....
(highest finishing Dodge vehicle) - Earle CanavanEarle CanavanEarle Samuel Canavan is an American racing driver from Fort Johnson, New York.Canavan participated in NASCAR Winston Cup part-time from 1969 to 1986. His best points result came in 1975 when he drove in 12 of the 30 races and finished 32nd in points...
- Tommy GaleTommy GaleThomas "Tommy" Gale was an English footballer who played for Sheffield Wednesday and York City in the Football League.-Career:...
- Roger Hamby
- Nestor Peles
- Gary Myers*
- Frank WarrenFrank Warren (NASCAR driver)Frank Warren is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver who raced from 1963 to 1980.Out of 88863 laps finished in his career, Warren had led 72 of them. Warren's total career earnings were $625,886 and while his average finish was 20th place in his entire career. The total amount of miles...
- Buddy ArringtonBuddy ArringtonBuddy Arrington is a retired NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup driver.- Biography :...
- Baxter PriceBaxter PriceBaxter Price is an American racing driver from Monroe, North Carolina who competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.Price made 90 Winston Cup starts beginning in 1973, often as an owner-driver. He competed nearly full-time in 1978, when he finished a career-best 23rd in points, and 1979 when he...
- Nelson Oswald*
- Tighe ScottTighe ScottTighe Scott is a retired American racecar driver from Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania. He competed in dirt modified racing before moving up into the NASCAR Winston Cup...
* - Benny ParsonsBenny ParsonsBenjamin Stewart Parsons was an American NASCAR driver, and later an announcer/analyst on TBS, ESPN, NBC and TNT...
*† - Richard Petty*
- Dave Dion*
- Neil BonnettNeil BonnettLawrence Neil Bonnett was a NASCAR driver who compiled 18 victories and 20 poles over his 18-year career. The Alabama native currently ranks 35th in all-time NASCAR Cup victories. He appeared in the 1983 film Stroker Ace and the 1990 film Days of Thunder...
*† - Ralph JonesRalph JonesRalph Robert Jones was an American football and basketball coach in the United States. He served as the head coach for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League from 1930 to 1932.-Indiana:...
* - Joey ArringtonJoey ArringtonJoey Arrington is an American NASCAR driver from Rocky Mount, Virginia. He made nine Winston Cup starts with a best finish of 12th. He made his first start in 1974 as a 17 year old and raced until 1980....
* - Jimmy MeansJimmy MeansJames "Jimmy" Means is a former Winston Cup/Nextel Cup owner/driver. Currently, he is an adviser for Front Row Motorsports and owns his own team, Means Racing. He competed in NASCAR for eighteen years in mostly his own equipment, posting seventeen career top-tens...
* - J.D. McDuffie*†
- James HyltonJames HyltonJames Harvey Hylton is a part-time race car driver. He is a two-time winner in NASCAR and competes in the ARCA RE/MAX Series,finishing 16th in points in 2006. He made headlines while attempting to qualify for the 2007 Daytona 500 at age 72...
* - Louis Gatto*
- Ferrel HarrisFerrel HarrisFerrel Harris was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver whose career spanned from 1975 to 1982 .-Summary:...
*† (only Chrysler entry of the entire race) - Jabe ThomasJabe ThomasCerry Ezra "Jabe" Thomas is a retired NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver who competed from the mid 1960s through the late 1970s. His son Ronnie was also a NASCAR Cup Series driver; competing from 1977 to 1989.-Career:Thomas drove 75243 laps of racing and earned $295,497 in total...
*
* Driver failed to finish race
† signifies that the driver is known to be deceased