1980 Daytona 500
Encyclopedia
Buddy Baker
started the decade by winning the fastest Daytona 500
in history, at 177.602 mph (285.809 km/h), it was Baker's only 500 win and did so in his 18th start, the longest until Dale Earnhardt
in 1998
. The race was also marked by the death of Ricky Knotts
who was killed on the 15th lap of the Gatorade 125's
qualifying race. There were 42 cars in the field, after planning to only run 40 cars.
Buddy Baker
Elzie Wylie Baker, Jr. , nicknamed "Leadfoot" or more famously Buddy, is a former American NASCAR racecar driver.-Early life:...
started the decade by winning the fastest 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....
in history, at 177.602 mph (285.809 km/h), it was Baker's only 500 win and did so in his 18th start, the longest until Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt
Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
in 1998
1998 Daytona 500
The 1998 Daytona 500 was run on February 15, 1998. It is memorable in that it marked Dale Earnhardt's only Daytona 500 victory after 19 previous attempts and many heartbreaking finishes. Not only was it Earnhardt's 20th 500 start, but also CBS's 20th consecutive live broadcast of the Daytona 500...
. The race was also marked by the death of Ricky Knotts
Ricky Knotts
Benny Richard Knotts , was an American ASA and NASCAR Winston Cup driver. The Paw Paw, Michigan driver began his career in 1974 and raced in various stock car series for 6 years before dying in a crash at Daytona in 1980....
who was killed on the 15th lap of the Gatorade 125's
Gatorade Duel
The Gatorade Duel is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. It consists of two races, and serves as a qualifying race for the Daytona 500...
qualifying race. There were 42 cars in the field, after planning to only run 40 cars.