Becoming Earnhardt 1980 Vol. 2 - Clash of the Iron Gladiators
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The following is a production of Dirty Moe Media.
This episode of Becoming Earnhardt is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops,
North America's premier outdoor and conservation company.
Playing your next adventure at a Bass Pro Shops near you or online at BassPro.com.
Later in the episode, my sister Kelly shares her unique perspective on life with Dad away from
the racetrack. Now buckle up, here's a brand new episode of Becoming Earnhardt presented by Bass Pro Shops.
It's hard to imagine Dad as an up and comer. I think most of us remember him as the larger
than life figure that he would become, the kind of guy who could change the feel of a room when
he walked into it. But at this point in our story, he's just a 30-year-old stock car
nipping at the heels of giants. Trying to make a name for himself in the big leagues
before he finds himself back in Carolina racing the short tracks.
On this episode of Becoming Earnhardt, Dad looks to start the 1980 season off with a bang,
proving he belongs in the NASCAR cup garage for years to come.
All right, it's time to start the 1980 season. Remember back then in 1980,
the season didn't start in Daytona like it does now. The teams are going to drive all the way out
to California to start the season at the famous Riverside International Raceway in January.
Now in the first episode, I mentioned there was an interesting tie between the Reagan campaign
and Dad and here is where all that comes into play. Mike Kerb, who to date is a very well-known
car owner in motorsports and record label executive, was at the time serving as the
lieutenant governor of California and in 1980 he also served as the co-chairman on Ronald Reagan's
presidential campaign. He was invited to serve as Grand Marshal at the Riverside event by Les
Richter. It's Les Richter, the president of Riverside International Raceway, unless you have to be
enjoying this one today. Either would represent our sport in a super way. In January of 1980,
Les Richter had been one of the co-chairmen of my campaign where I was elected the lieutenant
governor. Here's Mike Kerb explaining how it all went down. Bill Fran said, I want to talk to you.
We want you to get involved with the car. I said, who do you want? He said, Dale Earnhardt. Dale
wants to run the whole season and Australin is only committing a partial season at this point. Maybe
he'll run the full and we're wanting you to come in as essentially as a sponsor. So starting the
season at Riverside, Dad's car would carry Mike Kerb Productions as a sponsor and it'd be on the
car for most of the year. Dale Earnhardt, he's in the Mike Kerb Hodgdon Oldsmobile today.
The race began on January 13th, but it was stopped on lap 26 because of rain and wildly
postponed a whole week later on January 19th. Gotta wonder what did the teams do during that week?
I mean, obviously they probably all went back home. I wonder what they did with all their
equipment. I guess maybe it stayed at the track. Well, rain has washed away the concluding laps
of the Winston Western 500 here at Riverside International Raceway. An interesting tidbit
of history here is that Australin Racing is going to fill the car for the legendary Dan Gurney.
Dan's been retired for 10 years. There's a really cool picture of Dad and Dan chatting during the
weekend. I'd love to know what they talked about. I think Dad had a lot of respect for Dan and his
history and success and he was actually going to race all the way up to second place in that
Australin car, which was numbered 48 for this race, but he would retire with transmission problems on
lap 79. Mechanical problems for Dan Gurney. That'll end his day. Now, Dad and Darryl Waldtrip are
going to end up being the story here for this race. Strongest car in the field right now appears
to be the Gatorade car of Waldtrip. He is pulled away from Earnhardt, the second place machine by
about 15 car lanes. First, Darryl Waldtrip had a flat tire. And he took a backdoor shortcut
to get back to Pit Road. And this would result in a 30 second penalty from NASCAR.
Now, he'd eventually make up the lost time during a caution and resume the lead.
Meanwhile, Dad's going to charge from fifth and begin challenging Darryl as the laps wind down.
Earnhardt has really just suddenly run right up through the packs and run up to try to catch
Darryl Waldtrip. He ends up losing time when he goes off course into the dirt and has to
settle for a runner up finish. But considering this is only the third time on a road course,
this is a pretty impressive performance. And we aren't the only ones who noticed this improvement.
So did his boss, Rod Oswald. Why was Dale successful? Because he could run at every
track there was, right? And he had a natural talent for it. That's the voice of Doug Richard,
who in this race is just a tire changer and a mechanic on Dad's car. I really think he adapted
more than most people. I don't think he saw it as a challenge. He just
saw it as this is what I've got to do. You know, that's the only thing I can really explain it.
So with the team's full time sponsorship locked up through Mike Kerb and a strong start to the
1980 season, Rod Osterland signs Dad to a five year extension on his contract with a three year
option. This will extend him through the 1986 season.
At this time in NASCAR, long term contracts weren't really all that common.
Darrell Waldtrip with DieGuard was about the only other one in the garage. Driver deals had always
been done on handshakes. Again, Deb Williams. If anybody has seen the movie Stroker Ace,
Bert Reynolds has this huge contract that he's going through from, I think it was Clyde Torcal.
That's a spoof on the Darrell Waldtrip DieGuard contract. Dad was quoted as saying,
we're building a team and I think we'll reach 100% this year. When five years are up,
we'll probably sign another five year contract.
Another explosive rumor floated by the Greensboro Daily News in January of that year
was that Junior Johnson and Bush Beer may have interest in Dad taking over Kale Yarborough's
ride for the 1980 season.
Earnhardt, who has really become an overnight sensation, so to speak, the fans have adopted
him as the newest hero to come along in Winston Cup racing. Kale Yarborough.
Yeah, that was the most coveted ride at that particular time. You had the 11, you had the 43,
the 21. Everybody respected Bud Moore too. That Bud Moore was a coveted ride as well.
Here's a quote from that article.
Perhaps the best compliment Earnhardt received was after the season,
when feelers were extended, inquiring if he might be available to replace Kale Yarborough
in the Junior Johnson car this year. Earnhardt wouldn't confirm the rumors
that sprouted in early December that Johnson's sponsor, Bush, wanted him in the car.
So the teams have returned from the season opener at Riverside and Dad has a brand new
five-year contract, a full season sponsorship, and a runner-up finish to his name.
Now it's time to head to Daytona for Speed Weeks, starting off with the second running
of the Bush class. From Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, this is MRN,
the Motor Racing Network, with coverage of Daytona 500, full position quantifying,
and the Bush class of 1980. Remember at this time, the class was limited to poll winners of
the previous year. Dad had picked up four polls in 1979, and he's going to start fifth in the race,
trailing some heavy hitters like Bobby Allison, and the Hodgden Moore Mercury, and Buddy Baker,
Charlotte, North Carolina has the outside front row, and that NAPU, Daryl Waldrop,
and Neil Bonnet, the die guard Gatorade Oldsmobile in the Purelater Mercury. That makes up the
feel for the Bush class of 1980. Well, we're getting down to it, the Bush class with 12 of the
best Winston Cup stock car drivers in the world, over a million dollars worth of equipment moving
down the back straight. In just a moment, that safety car will dive on the pit road, and we will
be underway with probably the fastest race that has ever been run here at the Daytona International
Speedway. On the front row, Bobby Allison and Buddy Baker, Daryl Waldrop and Neil Bonnet back in
row two, and here they come. And they drop the green flag. Bobby Allison gets the jump,
as there was a little mix up on the start. Some of the drivers get caught back in the pack,
and Allison sets sail down in turn number one. Daryl Waldrop going fourth, fifth is Dale Earnhardt,
sixth Kale Yarbrough, Harry Gantt is seventh, going eighth as Joe Milligan running partial.
Single file, they come out of that fourth corner, and they are screaming as they come down to the
start. Let's keep a eye on Dale Earnhardt. They have a real tight draft with Waldrop Earnhardt and
Bonnet. Three cars have established a little bit of breathing room. They are Waldrop Earnhardt and
Bobby Allison. They have three car legs on fourth place Kale Yarbrough. The white flag is waving
their intern, one on the final lap. Earnhardt trying to draw in for the lead as they head to three.
They have turned a wick up, and here comes Earnhardt. He is flying. He has gone past
Waldrop on the outside. While they shuffle those positions around back there for second spot,
here comes the rookie driver. During the last lap of a turn two and down the back stretch,
Dad would lead a freight train in the outside line around Dale Waldrop to pick up the win.
They all could do anything with a car, but he would do things sometimes that would absolutely
make you tick you off. What the hell are you thinking? What the hell are you thinking?
That little grin that he always had, he said, well, you know, I was in my way.
Earnhardt will win the Bush Clash. Earnhardt has won the Bush Clash of 1980, collecting some $50,000.
Let's go back down to Victory Lane and Ned Jurrant.
They're still unhooking the safety paraphernalia on this beautiful yellow, blue,
host mobile that Dale Earnhardt. He is so happy, Mike Joy, that he just beside himself. He can't
even get his safety equipment unhooked. Dad said in Victory Lane, they say I'm inexperienced,
but I got some experience racing these guys last year. They would not only talk to me,
but I'd learn from them while we were on the track. Well, they'll Earnhardt, congratulations on a
super run there and what a run it was. Can't believe it, Ned. Something else. This team really
worked hard to come down here. Man, I just can't believe it. Well, we asked you yesterday if you
had the experience to pull it off here today and you seem to have a lot of confidence. I remember
what happened to Kelly and Donnie last year in the 500. When Darryl started to shut me off on the
inside, I just went to the outside and it paid off. This would be Dad's first of six Bush Clash wins
in his career. Now, next up would be the two twin qualifying races that are going to set the starting
lineup for that year's Daytona 500. Dad is going to be in the first twin race and he started third
and was running pretty well before blowing an engine on lap seven.
Dale Earnhardt down the back straightaway just exploding an engine as he works his way off the
corner. Number two, your leaders are now in turn four. Now smoke trailing from Earnhardt's machine,
what a tough break for him as he heads down the back stretch here. The rookie driver from last
year of the 1979 rookie of the year Earnhardt takes his car back to the garage area of the
Australian Oldsmobile. He's going to finish 31st and that engine failure in the twin 125s will have
him starting deep in the Daytona 500 in 32nd spot. Don't go anywhere. There's more becoming Earnhardt
presented by Bass Pro Shops coming up. But first, check out what my sister Kelly has to share about
our dad's love for the great outdoors. My dad picked up his love at the outdoors, I think,
from my pep all Ralph. I think just because my dad hunted so often that it, you know, was something
that I wanted to try and do. I mean, literally any opportunity that my dad got away from the racetrack
in seasons of hunting, he was hunting. So he would be gone weeks at a time, you know, he would go
hunting there in the week, hit the racetrack, wasn't anything for him to hunt the next week,
you know, and hit the racetrack. But that's the thing about hunting is like the seasons are short.
So you got to get it in there. And my dad did a lot of trips, you know, to New Mexico and Texas and
fair amount of far off places. It just was always something that we knew was available and he had
such a love for it that I think it made me want to want to do it too, you know, and make me find
out more about it and find out why he loved it so much. A lot of the times that dad and I spent
outdoors would be kind of on the farm when I was a little bit older, kind of in my teens and 20s.
We really looked for any opportunity that we could spend time with our dad and because he
enjoyed being out on the farm so much, we would do anything to kind of get on the farm with him.
So a lot of that was like belling hay in the spring and in the fall or, you know, doing something at
the barn when they were moving animals or cows or something like that or riding the property,
checking property lines, checking fence lines, things like that. So, you know, that was special
time in the truck, just the two of us on many occasions where, you know, you're just checking
on the farm and doing different things out in the farm like that. You can be camping, you can be
hiking, but if those places don't exist, then we have nowhere to do that. So, you know, I think
if you're an outdoorsman, you're a conservationist. I know my dad bought up lots of land here in
Airdale County and, you know, wasn't a fan of developing land and things like that. He wanted
to keep and create places, you know, so that you could have wildlife and all of those kinds of things
that you do outdoors. So he was very, very big into that and did a lot of different things with
people in that arena like Johnny from Bass Pro and Richard Childress and people like that.
The Earnhardt family has always relied on Bass Pro shops for our outdoor adventures and that
tradition continues with me today. I grew up shopping there and now it's a place I love
sharing with my own family. Gearing up together for everything from weekend getaways to fishing in
the pond. I'm also incredibly grateful for the support Johnny Morris and the entire Bass Pro team
have shown across our business ventures, from the race team to Dirty Mo Media. They believe in
what we're building and they've stood behind us every step of the way. They're not just great
partners, they're great people. I also admire Bass Pro's unwavering commitment to those who serve
our country. Their Legendary Salute program is one of the many ways they show support, offering a
10% everyday discount to active duty military, veterans and first responders. It's their way
of saying thank you to the heroes who protect our freedom and way of life. To learn more and see
full details visit BassPro.com backslash legendary salute.
Well good afternoon everyone. The most prestigious race in the world of motorsports. The Daytona
500 has 42 of the most talented drivers around ready to roll here in just a few minutes.
There's no driver in the world of motor racing who doesn't dream of winning this one,
but only a handful have chased that dream. Took David Pearson almost 20 years to win the 500 in
his long career and Bobby Allison chased his first 500 win for almost 20 years before he did it.
30 second starter, a driver who blew his engine while running the Thursday Qualifying
race. That's why he's so far back in the field. Dale Earnhardt. Some guys out there just rookies,
but it won't be too bad coming from back there. If I can just get up there for you know a couple
of them get away from the pack or so what. And the Daytona 500 dad wasted no time charging to
the front and he appeared to be the only car that had anything for Buddy Baker who's driving that
famous gray ghost. That was just one thing you knew that you were going to have to outrun him.
And Carter drops that green flag and the field is away at the 22nd annual day tone of 500.
195 miles per hour Baker stands on the hammer as they come off turn four into the tower.
Most we have smoke on Dale Walters car. Walters has definitely got severe problems.
190 miles an hour. Keep an eye on Dale Earnhardt. Buddy Baker now has command of the Daytona 500.
He's definitely doing everything he can to keep Dale Earnhardt at bay. Buddy Baker has
run away from everyone but Dale Earnhardt. Jake are you giving him any instructions now
in the closing stages? No, not right now. We won't make those moved into about the last pit stop.
Bad luck's going to strike on the last pit stop of the race. The Australian team leaves a lug
nut off a wheel. NASCAR forces them to bring dad back to pit road to correct it. This is going
to be a dramatic stop. Baker is already away after six seconds. Dale Earnhardt ran about 25
seconds on pit road. The crew, Austerland crew swarms over Earnhardt's car. This time they're
jacking up the left side. They continue to fill the car up.
This costly miss lug nut will be the first of many reminders of the Austerland team's youth
and inexperience. You know in 1980 there were only two crew members on the Austerland team
who were over the age of 32. You know they had a lot of people on that team that you'd never
heard of before other than suitcase Jake. You know with that young team it was like a hit or
miss thing. While they had the experience of Jake Elder at Crew Chief to work with, many of these
crew members were still learning to perform under the pressure of the Cup Series. They might make
it this time. They might not make it the next time. They might mess up on a pit stop. They might not
and there just wasn't the consistency there because of their youth. Had that last pit stop
not gone wrong it might have been interesting to see if dad had anything for the Grey Ghost
and Buddy Baker that day. I think the answer to that scenario might come later in the season
in Talladega. Here comes Earnhardt down to the bottom of the race track.
Now back to the race. May well be problems in Buddy Baker's pit. Now they're worrying about
whether they gave him enough gas or not. When it comes down we needed one can of gas. I knew
Buddy had zero patience. Here is the great Waddell Wilson who was Buddy Baker's crew chief
and the man behind what I believe was the greatest race car ever built. The Grey Ghost.
He's been told me he said I've been trying to win this race for 19 years and I have one a year.
Well after last year's wall banging finish today we've got a real cliffhanging finish.
Buddy Baker is in the lead but does he have enough fuel to go the distance?
I put my arm in the windshield and got a hold of the top of his uniform like I'm going to hold him
and hopefully he'll listen and not go. We've got a real battle going on also for that number four
and five position between Dale Earnhardt and Terry Labotti. The pit road miscue is going to trap dad
a lap down and he's going to have to settle for a fourth place finish. Buddy Baker would cruise
home to victory in one of the most dominating performances in Daytona 500 history.
Ideas going through his mind every little sound in the car sounds like a giant, giant problem
because he sees the... We hear the trainer coming. He's coming around the bend. Here comes Waddell
Wilson. He's passing us again. Caution is on the speedway with two laps to go. Ladies and gentlemen
Buddy Baker has to be choked with emotion after 20 years of trying to capture the Daytona 500
checkered flag for Buddy Baker as he comes across the... This win is going to be the crown jewel
of Buddy Baker's career. It was his 18th attempt at the Great American Race and he had lost a few
due to misfortune over the years. Take for example the previous year in 1979 when the Great Ghost
made its debut. They dominated speed weeks outclassing every car in the field.
We just noticed something on Buddy Baker's car. His windshield is completely covered in mud.
The car is sounding very sour and apparently it is a lost cylinder in that car.
Buddy's going to pull the Great Ghost onto Pit Road on lap 38 with engine failure.
There are two crews just jumping up and down on Pit Road. One is of course the Waddell Wilson
crew for Buddy Baker and they are holding aloft the other gas can. The one they did not get a chance
to put in the car. Marty, I don't know how he could see out the windshield. There's about 30 people
all climbed up on top of Harry Grenier's Oldsmobile.
The chance to win the 500 so early in Dad's career had him feeling pretty discouraged after the race.
And while this ended Buddy's streak of misfortunes, it's going to begin Dad's
many years of hardship in the Daytona 500.
The length of time that it took each one of them to win, the frustrations, the expectations,
it was one where they'd almost get it in their grasp and then suddenly it would fall out.
It seems like the more they tried the further the quest became.
How can you go down and be so successful in the clash in the 125s and if you ran the
Bush series race on Saturday and then things fall apart on Sunday in the Daytona 500.
Dad said after the race, everybody said Buddy was too fast but I wanted a chance to try him.
He was fast but so was I.
So Dad is starting the year off with a lot of speed but inexperience is keeping him from victory
lane. This is a storyline we are going to revisit several times throughout the season.
The Australian team's inexperience, the pressure of a new contract extension and mounting media
attention. They went around with the right front but they never did put it on. The Doug
Wright crew down there, you screw up, drop the jack wrong, do something wrong on a wheel,
whatever and it's all over. And you can bet if he has the horses, he'll go after the lead in a moment.
The road back to victory lane is going to be anything but easy.
Here comes Earnhardt down to the bottom of the race practice. They come across the line, he's there.
Becoming Earnhardt is a Dirty Mo Media original podcast series. It is written and produced by
me, Dylan Hart Jr., with Bobby Marcos and Colby Bass. Sound design by Alex Timbs, production
assistants, Tim Powers, Mike Davis, Micah Codwell and Evan Vecchia. This project is in partnership
with MRN, the Motor Racing Network and the Appalachian State University stock car collection.
Special thanks to SiriusXM, Silver Tribe Media, NASCARman and Bob Ellis. For additional Dirty
Mo Media content, visit our YouTube page and follow us on all major social media platforms.
Thank you to Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops for bringing us another episode of Becoming Earnhardt.
They are such a great friend and supporter of everything we do, so remember to gear up for
all your adventures at Bass Pro Shops, North America's premier outdoor and conservation company.
About this episode
Dale Earnhardt’s 1980 start gets a spotlight: a rain-stopped Riverside opener where he charges from fifth but finishes second after going off course, then a five-year contract extension tied to full sponsorship from Mike Kerb. The episode connects the politics and motorsports link behind the Riverside grand marshal. At Daytona Speed Weeks, Earnhardt wins the Bush Clash with bold outside passes, but engine failure ruins his Twin 125s. In the Daytona 500, a costly lug-nut mistake and young crew inexperience trap him a lap down, leaving Buddy Baker to dominate and finally win after years of heartbreak.
Original notes
With the scene set, it’s off to the races in 1980. The NASCAR Cup Series heads out to Riverside, California, to begin the season, and sophomore Dale Earnhardt is hoping to improve his road course performance. He will, in fact, finish runner-up to Darrell Waltrip, who, after a narrow loss in the 1979 points race, is regarded as a championship favorite for this year. Dale caps his successful West Coast trip off with a new season sponsor and a contract extension with Rod Osterlund, and he’s understandably feeling at the top of his game.
He rolls that confidence into Daytona Beach, where he shows his first glimpses of supernatural ability on the superspeedway high banks. He makes a last lap pass on the outside of Darrell Waltrip to pick up his first victory at the track, the Busch Clash. But when all the marbles are on the line in the Daytona 500, he has to go toe to toe with Buddy Baker and the fastest stock car in the country: Waddell Wilson’s Gray Ghost.
This episode of Becoming Earnhardt is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops. North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Plan your next adventure at a Bass Pro Shops near you, or online at BassPro.com.
This project is in partnership with MRN, the Motor Racing Network, and the Appalachian State University Stock Car Collection.
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