1979 Winston Western 500
Encyclopedia
The 1979 Winston Western 500 is a NASCAR
Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on January 14, 1979 at Riverside International Raceway
in Riverside
, California
, U.S.A.. Buying a souvenir magazine at this race was relatively inexpensive for the era at $2 USD per copy ($ in today's money).
-born male drivers on the grid; Terry Labonte
received the last-place finish due to an engine
issue on lap 7 out of 119. Darrell Waltrip
defeated David Pearson by 3.27 seconds in front of 68,000 live audience members. Although there were no cautions in this "perfect game," there were still 13 lead changes and the race lasted two hours and fifty-three minutes. While Pearson would clinch the pole position
with an average speed of 113.659 miles per hour (182.9 km/h), the average speed of the race was 107.82 miles per hour (173.5 km/h). The other drivers in the top ten were: Cale Yarborough
, Bill Schmitt, Donnie Allison
, Joe Millikan
, Buddy Baker
, Jim Thirkettle, Tim Williamson
, and Harry Gant
.
This race would serve as Williamson's Cup Series debut. Tragically, he would lose his life in a racing accident the following year during the running of a Grand American series race. This race was the final caution-free race in NASCAR road course history.
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 racing event that took place on January 14, 1979 at Riverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway was a race track or road course in Riverside, California. The track was in operation from September 22, 1957, to July 2, 1989...
in Riverside
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, U.S.A.. Buying a souvenir magazine at this race was relatively inexpensive for the era at $2 USD per copy ($ in today's money).
Summary
There were 35 AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born male drivers on the grid; Terry Labonte
Terry Labonte
Terrance Lee Labonte is a semi-retired NASCAR driver who occasionally drives in the Sprint Cup Series when called upon and is a two-time Winston Cup and IROC champion. He currently drives the #32 U.S. Chrome Ford for FAS Lane Racing. Labonte was introduced to the sport through his father, who had...
received the last-place finish due to an engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
issue on lap 7 out of 119. 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 ,...
defeated David Pearson by 3.27 seconds in front of 68,000 live audience members. Although there were no cautions in this "perfect game," there were still 13 lead changes and the race lasted two hours and fifty-three minutes. While Pearson would clinch the pole position
Pole position
The term "pole position", as used in motorsports, comes from the horse racing term where the number one starter starts on the inside next to the inside pole. The term made its way, along with several other customs, to auto racing. In circuit motorsports, a driver has pole position when he or she...
with an average speed of 113.659 miles per hour (182.9 km/h), the average speed of the race was 107.82 miles per hour (173.5 km/h). The other drivers in the top ten were: 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...
, Bill Schmitt, Donnie Allison
Donnie Allison
Dunkiny "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...
, Joe Millikan
Joe Millikan
Joseph "Joe" Milikan was a NASCAR Winston Cup race car driver who competed from the 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season to the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season along with Terry Labonte, Dale Earnhardt, and Darrell Waltrip.He retired prior to 1993 and has never raced during the NEXTEL Cup or...
, Buddy Baker
Buddy Baker
Elzie Wylie Baker, Jr. , nicknamed "Leadfoot" or more famously Buddy, is a former American NASCAR racecar driver.-Early life:...
, Jim Thirkettle, Tim Williamson
Tim Williamson
Reginald Garnet "Tim" Williamson was an English football player who made 602 appearances as a goalkeeper for Middlesbrough, scoring two goals, as well as 7 appearances for England....
, and Harry Gant
Harry Gant
Harry Phil Gant is a retired American racecar driver best known for driving the #33 Skoal Bandit car on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit during the 1980s and 1990s.-Nicknames:...
.
This race would serve as Williamson's Cup Series debut. Tragically, he would lose his life in a racing accident the following year during the running of a Grand American series race. This race was the final caution-free race in NASCAR road course history.