1979 Firecracker 400


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.

Race report

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. Fifteen drivers would fail to finish the race with problems varying from engine trouble, blown tires, and crashes. Claude Ballot-Léna from France would make his final NASCAR Cup Series appearance here; winning $1,130.. His race ended on lap 83 of 160 with engine problems.
Forty-five thousand fans were in attendance. The average speed was a record. The green flag waved at 10 a.m. Buddy Baker earned the pole position during qualifying with a speed of. Darrell Waltrip would become a frequent contender for the first-place position along with Buddy Baker and Neil Bonnett. Bonnett would go on to defeat Benny Parsons by a single second.
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. 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.
A souvenir program was sold for $3 USD. 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

Finishing order

  1. Neil Bonnett
  2. Benny Parsons
  3. Dale Earnhardt
  4. Darrell Waltrip
  5. Richard Petty
  6. Chuck Bown
  7. Harry Gant
  8. Joe Millikan
  9. Dick Brooks
  10. A. J. Foyt
  11. Bill Elliott
  12. Donnie Allison
  13. Ricky Rudd
  14. Tighe Scott
  15. Buddy Arrington
  16. Gary Balough
  17. Dave Marcis
  18. D.K. Ulrich
  19. James Hylton
  20. Cale Yarborough
  21. J.D. McDuffie
  22. Jimmy Means
  23. Rick Newsom
  24. Blackie Wangerin
  25. Coo Coo Marlin
  26. Roger Hamby
  27. Tommy Gale
  28. Lennie Pond
  29. Terry Labonte
  30. Bobby Allison
  31. Claude Ballot-Lena
  32. Al Holbert
  33. Grant Adcox
  34. Buddy Baker
  35. Cecil Gordon
  36. Travis Tiller
  37. Richard Childress
  38. Sandy Satullo, II
  39. Jimmy Finger
  40. Frank Warren
  41. Bruce Hill

    Standings after the race