Becoming Earnhardt Vol. 8 - The Race To The Finish
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In a year that has seen upset victories driver swaps and in my dad's case painful injury
it's all come down to four races to decide two cup crowns, the overall points champion
and the rookie of the year. The latter of the two was all but a lock during the first half of the
year. Dad had won at Bristol and had epic battles with the best. But his time away to heal from a
vicious Pocono crash has given Joe Millican the chance to get back into the conversation.
Joe chipped away at dad's lead with quiet consistency and strong performances in the
second half of the schedule. Meanwhile a massive points lead by Daryl Waltrip in the overall
championship vanished. With four races to go his lead over Richard Petty was just 53 points
and the Petty Enterprises crew was firing on all cylinders. King Richard had his eyes fixated
on an unprecedented seventh cup championship crown. I'm Dillon Hart Jr and on this episode
of Becoming Earnhardt we conclude the dramatic 1979 NASCAR Cup season. We travel to North Wilkes
Burl, Rockingham, Atlanta and Ontario and when the dust settles in Southern California we will
have crowned two new NASCAR champions representing the present and the future of stock car racing.
This episode of Becoming Earnhardt is presented by Chevrolet. To keep up with all of team
Chevy's winning racing programs in NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA and IMSA visit chevrolet.com
slash motorsports or follow team Chevy on all social media platforms. Coming up later we'll
talk more about Chevrolet but for now let's get on with volume eight of Becoming Earnhardt.
Good afternoon sports fans and a beautiful afternoon it is and greetings from Wilkes
County, North Carolina. I'm Dick Jones with the Universal Racing Network team at North Wilkes
Frost Beachland. We're here to bring you the Holly Farms 400 the 28th event of this exciting major
exact car racing season. We design the crucial late stages of the very close championship battle.
All right welcome back to Becoming Earnhardt episode eight and we just got done racing at Charlotte
and now we're going to race number 28 on the season just four races remaining in the year
and it's the Holly Farms 400 at North Wilkesboro. Now this race weekend was rain delayed from
September 30th and it's going to happen on October 14th but before the rains actually flooded
the properties parking lots back in September teams did complete qualifying sessions and of
course the young man on pole position for the big one the Holly Farms 400 a new track record
they'll earn hard. Janapolis, North Carolina the Australian Chevrolet at 112.783 miles per hour
and that sees dad win his fourth pole of the season. Man he is a rocket in qualifying here
late in the year. A new coat of asphalt on the short oval helped dad turn the first lap in the
track's history under 20 seconds. Obviously with the new track record dad was in rare form with the
media. Let me tell you something if it was like politics or making peace then Jake Elder wouldn't
be worth a damn but when it comes to racing things like springs and gears and how to get into and
out of the corners he can say it all in just a few sentences. Relatively he can tell you more in a
minute than a politician can in an hour. Daryl Walterp and his crew are going to show up again
with that Caprice named Dolly after he had shown solid speed in Martinsville weeks ago.
He's going to qualify third and Richard Petty who's battling Walterp tooth and nail for the
championship struggled to an 11th place qualifying effort. Things are looking promising for Walterp
to possibly extend his points lead with a solid race here in North Wiltsboro.
In a strange set of circumstances a Chevrolet that was entered with driver and short track legend
Butch Lindley crashed during practice with driver Dean Combs at the wheel. Lindley himself
was unavailable for practice due to a commitment to erase that same day at another track. David
Pearson was actually scheduled to practice the car for Lindley but Pearson was delayed by storms.
Pearson was actually sitting in his streetcar at the infield gate waiting to be led in the track
when Combs with a stuck throttle crashes Lindley's car right in front of Pearson. Man that must have
been something. As we get to the race we're going to drop the green flag and dad's going to lead the
first 12 laps before being passed by Daryl Walterp driving old Dolly. Dad's never going to lead again
for the remainder of the event. Daryl Walterp and Bobby Allison take command of the race for
the next 250 laps. Bobby was really strong but DW was able to keep him close and the two hard
chargers had a lively exchange on lap 308 which began when Walterp tapped Allison in turn three
and caused them both to get sideways. Walterp's going to complete the pass but Allison returns
the favor down the front straightaway giving Daryl a bump and sends Walterp right into the wall.
Bobby Allison shoots the Jews to it and look out. He and now Walterp Tangle are coming out of another
floor. They use what's down Walterp's end of the wall. He smacks the wall and slides out
its sideways and Bobby Allison holds over and hikes it forward and keeps it under him and he
is going to come around to the side finish line. Daryl Walterp hits the wall right on the front
stretch, puts it against the wall, bounces it off, pins it against the wall and slides down
backwards coming to rest and the start of turn one. The crash causes Walterp to pit for repairs
and he's going to return to the race 20 laps down. Bobby looking for some passing room he wants to
get around there and do battle with Benny Parsons but he is having his problem. Dick they're giving
the passing flag to Daryl Walterp. He is moving out a little as Bobby tries to get by and they're
giving him the passing flag and they're talking NASCAR officials are talking Bobby Allison now
back on the back bumper of Daryl Walterp and he'll try to move around him on the outside and they're
giving the passing flag out. During the next caution period Walterp attempted to position
himself between leader Benny Parsons and Bobby Allison who is running second at the time but he
gets black flag by official Pete Dunbar instructing him to stay out of the battle for the lead.
And NASCAR has an official down in the Daryl Walterp talking to his crew chief and I think
they're probably telling him you better tell your lawyer on the radio to move over and quit
blocking that far. Well they just walked down and the flagman has the black flag in his hand.
After the black flag Walterp will return to the track and as leader Parsons laps him he's going
to position his car in front of Allison's again. This time attracting the ire of NASCAR competition
director Bill Gazeway. Back at Don'ts Wilkes Brawl the green is not going to come out they're
going to hold them they're going to hold them and NASCAR director Bill Gazeway is pointing to
number 88 Daryl Walterp and saying you get down on the bottom of the racetrack he's going to hold
the race up. Dick apparently they're going to do more than just make Daryl Walterp move down on
track they're telling the flagman to give him the black flag and make him come to the pit
for a little consultation. He's going to walk down to the track surface and Bill Gazeway is
going to personally black flag Walterp. He's brought in for a two-lap discussion and eventually
allowed to return to the race to finish 13th. Gazeway would explain for a driver who is 24 laps
down Walterp is not giving the leaders any racing room. One of these days he will be the one in
the same position and will expect the same considerations. We cannot tolerate that style
of driving. All year long we fixed our car and got it back in the race. It didn't matter where it
was or what was wrong with it. If it was wrecked we fixed it where I could drive it. If it blew up
we put another engine in it. That's the name of the game. I think NASCAR was a little bit out of
line by black flagging us the two times they did. I was observing the layover flag. I was running in
the lower half of the racetrack. I was leaving the outside lane for the faster cars and they
you know they were trying to analyze me. They were like a bunch of psychiatrists up there trying
to figure out what I was thinking and that's not their job. Their job is to run the race
to do what they think is right in the same way with me on the racetrack.
Walterp's comments were, Bobby intentionally wrecked me and I won't forget that. I can't
believe he'd do something like that knowing the points race I'm in. Why in the hell would he do
this? Allison insisted his innocence saying that it started when he hit me three times trying to
pass me. He has to learn that when you want to pass somebody you go around them, not through them.
I passed a lot of cars during the race but I had no trouble with anybody except for Walterp.
Walterp counters. This cost me the race, maybe the points championship and a good friend.
Going into turn three, Bobby dives down low on the inside. He's up touching the back bumper of
Benny Parsons. He's there coming in. Benny closes the door, crosses the start finish line
and your winner of the Holly Farms 400, Benny Parsons of Elevenoff Carolina in the MC Anderson
Chevrolet. Bobby Allison finished second. Benny Parsons will go on to lead the final 92 laps
and he's going to beat Bobby Allison by less than a car length to win the fall race at North
Wilkesboro. It would be car owner MC Anderson's first cup victory and Parsons first win of the
season. This win also put the new team on the Winter Circle program. We talked about how that was
really helpful to any new team like dads and Bristol earlier in the season. And this win,
in being on the Winter Circle program, is credited with keeping the team on the full schedule for
the following 1980 season. Had they gone winless in 1979? They were planning to scale back to 20
races the following year in 1980. And Dick, the finished position of Daryl Walterp is not figured
exactly but it was down around 15th NASCAR scoring things and that was going to make it very close
possibly just a few points difference one way or another as to who is leading the grand national
standings. When all the dust settles, Richard Petty's going to finish third and now he's going to
move within 17 points of Daryl Walterp for the championship. And when asked his opinion about
the confrontation between Daryl Walterp and Bobby Allison in the race, Richard Petty replied,
I'm here to race, not be a referee. But if those guys want to get into it, let them.
Dad's going to go ahead and finish a solid fourth place at Wilkesboro and the Ricky
Rudd's going to round out the top five. Before we head to the next race, let's take a quick break
to hear from our sponsors. Hey everybody, Dale Jr. here. Let's take a minute to talk about Chevrolet.
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hiring, do it the right way with Indeed. Greetings sports fans and from Rockingham,
North Carolina, welcome to Universal Racing Network's broadcast of the American 500 stock car race
at North Carolina Mother Speedway. The next race on the schedule is Race 29 and it's the American 500
at Rockingham. One interesting thing about a car that entered that race, it's driven by Larry
Pearson. That's David Pearson's oldest son. He's going to attempt to qualify for his very first
Grand National event in a car owned by Junie Donlevy, but he crashed in practice. His father David
had just got done chewing his butt about trying too hard during his first laps around the track
and Larry didn't heed the warning and he hits the turn two wall in his second time out causing
serious damage to the car. Late Saturday night before the race a fan snuck into the banking
of the Speedway high up in the turns and spray painted Kale and Dale are still Hale. I guess it
rhymes so that's good. Buddy Baker, Charlotte, North Carolina is on the pole and the wind
Chevrolet has speed with 141.3. Baker won the pole for the race extending his lead in the Bush
pole award standings to a total of six. Dad's going to qualify tenth?
It's been pretty tough. It's hard to believe that we won more poles than anybody else did last
year and they can't win more this year, but it just happened that way. I guess we've been trying
just as hard. Things just haven't happened, but we still got two more shots at it and we're going
to give it our best effort to win one of those poles for that Bush Clash Daytona. When I hear
you brought a special qualifying engine and a practice engine and a race engine, but what happened?
Well the qualifying engine ran one lap and blew up so we had to put our race engine in to qualify
with and we didn't get an opportunity to scuff our tires in to qualify on so we had to qualify on
old tires and you know it's just been that kind of year all year long so I'll just be glad when
this one's over and we can start a brand new and I think it'll be a whole lot better.
Kale Yarbrough who still has not won a Bush pole award all season came with a special hand
grenade engine that was built to haul ass for at least one lap. Well yeah, it did. The motor
exploded in practice. Kale's team would have to stuff a practice motor in the car for qualifying
and only manage a ninth place starting position. Neil Bond is going to lead early in this race
from his fourth place starting position once the race gets underway.
What a battle going on the race track between Richard Petty and Daryl Waltsup. The men battling
for the point champion, Tim. They are going at it on the track. We've had reports
Daryl Waltsup car number 88 is smoking. Daryl Waltsup is being black flagged because of his
smoking car. Officials have determined that it's putting some oil on the track he just
chopped the black flag. Championship hopeful Daryl Waltsup is going to split an oil pan
which is going to put him eight laps down after repairs. More trouble for Daryl and the
die guard team in the championship battle. Neil Bond it's actually going to spin out
from a blown engine on lap 238 and he's knocked unconscious by the impact with the retaining
wall. He had a short visit to the infield care center before being released.
Bobby Allison and Ricky Rudd have a horrendous crash. This starts when the two cars get locked
up in the third turn. They crash into the wall and Allison's car erupted into flames. Allison was
reportedly undoing his seat belts as he slid down the banking trying to escape the fire.
Rudd would get out and collapse on the track and Allison raced to his aid. Both drivers
would be uninjured but badly shaken. Richard Petty and Benny Parsons would begin an entertaining
battle during the final 25 miles and Richard Petty is going to lead the final nine laps to
win at Rockingham just a tenth of a second ahead of Parsons. Another great run for Benny.
Kale Yarborough was close in third place. Donnie Allison and Dad will round out the top five.
Dad never led at any point in the race and he was actually four laps behind the winner.
He suffered a bit of damage to the nose of his car avoiding one of the 12 cautions.
Daryl Waltrupp is going to nurse his sick Monte Carlo home to a sixth place finish.
But the finish would leave Petty with now an eight point lead for the first time in the 79 season.
Miraculously, Richard Petty has made up 229 points in just two months.
As Dad headed to Atlanta for the next to last race of the season,
you have to wonder how excited he may have been to return to a track that saw him compete for
Australin in the Cup Series for the very first time just one year ago. A lot's changed for him
in 12 months and a solid run here again would almost surely lock up the rookie of the year battle.
Atlanta as we know would become an incredible track for Dad in his career. At one time they
used to give away ski nautique boats to the winners and Dad's warehouse on the farm currently
stores a half a dozen of those boats. But his success at Atlanta began early with a fourth
place run in this race last year. For Neil Bonnet the weekend started off with an incredible
bit of news. The Wood Brothers had decided that keeping Bonnet behind the wheel for 1980 was in
their best interest and they shook hands on an extension with Neil. Donnie Allison and owner
14 races were on the schedule for 1980. Hoss had sponsorship issues that made
any more of a commitment difficult. Allison seemed pleased with the deal.
Petty and STP were set for 1980 and also announced 10 STP sponsored events for
Kyle Petty next season. Darrell Walsh and Richard Petty are in a tight battle for the championship.
Darrell enjoyed that 229 point lead after a victory at Talladega but Richard has won three
races and finished no worse than ninth in the last nine races and now has an eight point lead
with two races remaining. In a much has been said and written about the pressure which might be on
Darrell Walsh and Richard Petty in their battle for the Grand National Championship. So we asked
up Walsh if he felt the pressure. If somebody asked me that one more time as I'm getting sick
and tired of hearing that uh no it's not getting to us we've never said anything about pressure it's
everybody around us that talks about pressure. Every time you talk to Richard Petty or anybody
else they say the pressure is getting to us. We don't we're not under any pressure we don't have
anything to prove we want more races than anybody and more money than anybody and if we win the
championship then we're going to be absolutely thrilled that that that caps off a great season.
We just had uh you know go talk to JD McDuffie he's wrecked in about three or four the last race
he said he hadn't even caused any of me just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It happens in this business and uh everybody going around and dramatizing the whole situation
has really gotten on my nerves. All I hear is it's getting to you the pressure is getting to you.
I'm not under any pressure I'm a race driver. I take a win I'll take a lose I can't predict
what's going to happen I can't project what's going to happen we're here to do what we know how
to do best and that's win the race we build our team on racing and winning and that's the way we're
going to continue. Buddy Baker and his linear team would win another poll and this is their seventh
on the year and that wraps up the bush poll award money for the season. Unfortunately during the
race a broken cam would put them out at lap 88 but between the money for each poll position
throughout the year and the $50,000 from winning the February bush clash and the $25,000 for the
most polls Baker has taken $100,000 from the bush beer marketing funds in 1979. We asked buddy
what has made him a good qualifier this season? A good race car that's 90% of it I've got uh
Waddell Wilson building engines and boomer and all the guys that work on the car just doing a super
job for us this year and I'm real I'm just pleased with everything right now. Kelly Arboral who is
sponsored by the beer brand is still yet to win a poll this season a fact his competitors have not
let him forget. During the race both of our championship contenders would find multiple
problems. Darrell Walterp was leading the race trying to come in for a pit stop
over shot his area and NASCAR official would not let him back up, sent him around the racetrack
once again and that right that right front tire Dave is flat. Walterp pitted once with two flat
tires after a misunderstanding on pit road with Dave Marcus. Both Petty and Walterp would be
black flagged at one point for passing the leader during one of the five cautions. Back at
we got Richard Petty sideways I've been turned for traffic able to get around and then Petty would
go for a spin after contact with Ty Scott but escape undamaged. These incidents left them both
a lap down from the leaders at the end. Kelly's on the high side Dale Earnhardt right behind him
Neil Bynett on the bottom of the racetrack able to get around Dale and now Neil Bynett is up side
by side with Kelly Arboral coming down the front chute and they're side by side across the finish
line dead even in the turn one. You can put the proverbial blanket over those first three automobiles
as they really... During the last 50 miles of the race the lead changed hands multiple times
in a fascinating battle between dad Neil Bynett and Kelly Arboral. Dale Earnhardt moves to the
outside he's up equal with Dale and with Neil Bynett. Neil Bynett and Dale Earnhardt are side by
side coming out of turn four the end of trophy that's for the start finish line and it's going to be
Neil Bynett the winner of the 6500 by half by Carlin, a half by Carlin over Dale Earnhardt.
Neil Bynett made a pass on dad in the final four laps and he's going to hang on and win the race
by just one car length. Kelly Arboral, Bobby Allison and Darryl Waldrop are going to round
out the top five. Richard Petty is going to come home in sixth place that one position difference
along with Waldrop's ability to lead a lap in the race allows him to return to the points lead by
just two points man. I really miss those bonus points for leading a lap in the race. Waldrop said
of the points battle, when we go to California I'll be racing one car the number 43 will be the
only car on the track. Petty responded to the two-point deficit by saying that means I gotta
beat Darryl by just one position. With dad's runner-up finish in the race he gained 17 points
on Joe Millican in the rookie of the year battle. His season performance including his win at Bristol
assures he has the on-track portion of the rookie of the year award locked up but there's still that
panel of judges with the final decision at the conclusion of the year. Dad had this to say after
his second place finish in Atlanta. Neil was simply too good off the turns for me. I felt it
could come down to the last lap Neil was running so good low I figured I would try him high. My only
chance was to get back to the gas real fast and I just couldn't do it. I hope the outside challenge
might rattle Neil but it didn't. He was just as determined as I was. I just got beat. I do think
this will help a lot towards the rookie of the year that's what we've been shooting for all season.
It's been so close. Me and Joe haven't had much breathing room. Bonnet's check for the win was
$20,000. Dad got $16,700 for second place and Kale Yarborough got $13,000 for third but he got an
additional $10,000 for leading the most laps so Kale takes home the most money of the three drivers.
More becoming Earnhardt coming right up.
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because it does. As the teams loaded up to begin a western hall to California for the
season's final race, talking the garage wasn't about the championship battle between Walter
Pimpetti. It was about Bill France's public announcement of rule changes coming in the
1981 season. For 1980, the current cars would still be eligible, but beginning in 1981,
multiple changes would occur. The maximum wheelbase would shrink from 115 to 110 inches.
The engine size would reduce from 358 to 315 cubic inches. Overall car weight would reduce
several hundred pounds from the current rule of 3700. Change was coming, but the teams were
really relieved. They would have just over a year for such a monumental adjustment.
Speaking of manufacturers, Chevy has the Manufacture Championship wrapped up. With one race to go in
the season, they've won 17 races. Ford has won only five. Oldsmobile also has five wins. Mercury
has three. Buick and Dodge are winless. Good morning everyone from Ontario Motor Speedway in Southern
California. Well, the curtain comes down today on the 1979 Winston Cup Racing season here at
Ontario Motor Speedway. All right, so here we are. Race 31, the final race of the season.
It's been a long year, but we're headed to Ontario for the Los Angeles Times 500. Ontario Track GM
Race Marts is advising the press about rumors on the sale of the facility. Foreclosure had been
filed against the track. Racing in 1980 was very much in doubt for the track. Several groups wanted
to purchase the property and not all of them wanted racing to continue. The crowd for arguably the
most important race of the season was underwhelming. This really speaks to the challenges in 1979 to
expand the footprint of the sport beyond the southeastern routes. The race wasn't even televised,
leaving fans only the radio broadcast to keep up with the championship battle.
And today, Richard Petty and Daryl Waldrop will decide among themselves
which one becomes the nation's number one stock car driver for 1979. Richard Petty said it best
yesterday talking to the riders here in Ontario, California for himself and Waldrop. It's the seventh
game of the World Series and today we'll decide it all. How will these two run today's race? Well,
I guess millions of people around the world would like to know their strategy for finishing ahead
of each other here this afternoon. We'll just have to wait and see. After a fierce points battle
that saw possession of the points lead swapped several times in the waning weeks of the schedule,
Daryl Waldrop's going to enter the year's final race with a two-point lead over Richard Petty.
Petty was quoted as saying that he was going to Ontario to
win the race. We're going to run hard all day. We are not going to play it safe.
Waldrop reported that the DiGar team made a unanimous decision to play it safe
and just finished the race, despite Richard's declaration of chasing victory.
Petty's going to qualify fourth, Daryl qualifying tenth.
Qualifying on the bush beer poll for the final race of the season for the very first time this
year is the bush beer sponsored car of Cale Yarborough. Finally, Cale is going to avoid the
humiliation of going the entire year failing to win the award marketed by his own sponsor.
I wonder how legal that engine was. So we're going to get the race underway and after
Benny Parsons and Buddy Baker swapped the lead early in the contest,
Richard Petty's going to take over the lead on lap six, all right, so that awards him
five bonus points and it sends him into a mid-race points lead.
Disaster is going to strike for Waldrop though on lap 38. He's going to spin out trying to
avoid a stalled John Rezik. Waldrop retreats to the pits immediately, but since the pace car had
not yet caught the field, the leaders are going to race around and put him a lap down.
He is never able to make up that lost lap the entire race. This seals his fate in the points
championship. That would lead a handful of laps past the 50 lap mark, but he too
would lose a lap to the leaders at some point. Some articles state that he lost
all but fourth gear in his transmission with around 65 miles to go. Here's the leader right now
heading across the stark finish line, Cale Yarborough, a very healthy margin over second
place Richard Petty. Now with 15 laps to go, Cale Yarborough is in a commanding lead and
looked to be on his way to victory when James Hilton blows an engine. This caution allows
Benny Parsons and Bobby Allison to close the gap. When the green comes out with 10 laps left,
the race resumes. Benny and Bobby easily pass Cale and Benny is going to go on to win the race
over Bobby Allison by half a second. Now Benny and his MC Anderson team have been on a tear. In
the final four events, they've won two and finished second once. That's how you finish a season strong.
Richard Petty is going to go on to finish fifth and earn 160 points. Darrell Walter
comes home in eighth place, one lap down, only netting 147 points. Richard will finish fifth,
but it will clinch his seventh Winston Cup driving title for Richard Petty and give Petty all the
credit in the world, Mike Joy, because all he had to do was just ease it around the speedway
and he's just not that kind of a race driver. He tried as hard as it's possible to win this
afternoon. This would award King Richard his seventh and final cup championship. He's going to win
by 11 points and it's the closest margin of victory to date. After going winless in 1978
and experiencing the lowest point of his NASCAR Cup career, Richard Petty said,
from that standpoint, winning the title again is satisfying. But really to me, seven is just a
number one higher than six. Now if I'd have won the race, I'd be sky high. I wanted to take the
title by winning. Now that's how it should be done. I'd imagine that the King is real happy
these days because winning that final race is usually what it takes to win the title. Darrell
was quoted as saying, it's hard to swallow. I ain't never going to figure it out. Never,
never, never, never. I came here with all my hopes and I'm leaving with a broken heart.
It's very depressing, very, very depressing. Dad's final result in the last race of the year
will be ninth place. His closest challenger in the rookie of the year, Joe Millican, came home in
12th. After the completion of the event, NASCAR is going to announce that dad had indeed won the
1979 rookie of the year. The voting panel of three NASCAR officials along with last year's
champion, Kel Yarborough, met before the race, but they produced no change to the actual standings.
Any details of the panel's meeting were not disclosed. Dad would win the 1979 first city
traveler's checks rookie of the year award over Joe Millican by 17 points. Joe would finish sixth
in the final point standings. Dad would finish seventh, but the rookie of the year was based
off of a driver's best 15 results. Millican and dad had traded the rookie of the year lead multiple
times during the year. Millican claims the lead during dad's absence due to his injuries and dad's
going to reclaim the lead after a top five run at Wilkesboro late in the season and he never looked
back. Well you talk about rookie records come during the month of December and first part of
January. They got to rewrite the record book because Dale Earnhardt has set so many records.
He won at Bristol on April 1st. He's won four pole positions. He's won more money than any rookie
ever, $215,675 and you could just go on and on and on naming the new records now established by
Dale Earnhardt. And you have to think about something else too, a shoulder injury sustained
in a wreck at Pocono put him out of action during the late summer. So he had a great deal of catching
up to do to latch on to that rookie lead. Dad's going to finish the year with one win, 11 top fives
and 17 top 10 finishes, winning a total of $274,000. Millican was winless and he only captured
five top five finishes during the year but he made the rookie of the year battle a compelling one
all season long with his consistency. Texas Terri Labani is going to finish third in the
rookie of the year standings. Now during each of the 1979 races the top finishing rookie was awarded
$500 and in claiming the overall title dad was given a check for $10,000 from First City
Travelers Checks. And going further, this is really interesting to me, First City Travelers Checks
would give dad an additional $1,000 for every race he enters during the 1980 cup season so he's
guaranteed some money if he continues to race next year and even with dad missing four races
he set a record for money won by a rookie in NASCAR's history.
And with that the 1979 NASCAR cup season has come to a close. Standing on top of the mountain
of stock car racing is once again King Richard Petty but this time he will share the spotlight
with his successor this scrappy 28-year-old rookie from Kenapolis Dale Earnhardt.
But before we conclude our story we'll take some time to ponder the impact of the year
and why it truly is the greatest NASCAR season in history. To help bring our season to a conclusion
we'll sit down with some of our guests from past episodes and deep dive into all that we've learned
on our journey through the historic 1979 NASCAR Cup year. Join us next time for the conclusion
of Becoming Earnhardt. Becoming Earnhardt is a podcast series by Dirty Mo Media. It is written
and produced by myself, Dale Earnhardt Jr., with Bobby Marcos and Mike Davis. Sound designed by
Ben Potts. Production assistance by Tiff Powers, Michael Caldwell, Dustin Lee, James Brosan,
Andrew Curlin and Alex Thims. This project is in partnership with NASCAR, NASCAR Productions,
and the Motor Racing Network. For full replays of classic races visit the Motor Racing Network's
website at mrn.com. Race broadcast audio for this episode was from Universal Racing Network
and provided to us by the Hank Schoolfield Universal Racing Network Collection, now part of the
stock car collection at Appalachian State University. Special thanks to Kenapolis 13 and Silver Tribe
Media. For additional content on Becoming Earnhardt, including exclusive videos visit Dirty Mo Media's
YouTube page and follow us on all major social media platforms.
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About this episode
The season finale of 1979 NASCAR Cup gets wrapped up, starting with the rain-delayed Holly Farms 400 at North Wilkesboro. Daryl Waltrip’s points charge turns chaotic—crashes, black flags, and a heated clash with Bobby Allison—while Benny Parsons wins and keeps the title fight razor-thin. The story then shifts to Rockingham and Atlanta, where Richard Petty and Waltrip trade the points lead amid mechanical failures and big wrecks. Ontario crowns Petty’s seventh championship by 11 points, while Dale Earnhardt Jr. secures Rookie of the Year after a late-season surge despite injury setbacks.
Original notes
After 27 grueling weeks, it comes down to the final four races. Somehow, after all the roster changes, crashes, fights and calamity, there are two tight points races to be decided. As the NASCAR Cup contingent prepares for the last stretch, the season points championship and the Rookie of the Year battles have never been closer.
Dale Earnhardt surely had the rookie crown locked up after his stunning victory at Bristol in April, but the trusty DeWitt team and their unproven chauffeur Joe Millikan have kept him in sight. After Dale’s disastrous crash and time on the sideline, Millikan took full advantage and strung together a series of top-10 finishes to take over the top spot in the standings.
In the Grand National points race, Darrell Waltrip jumped out to an early lead and never looked back for most of the season. But after a catastrophic sequence of engine failures and crashes, the DiGard team seems to have begun to crumble under the pressure of winning their first season championship. Even worse, the King Richard Petty has been steadily getting closer in the rearview mirror, and he has his sights set on an unprecedented seventh Cup crown.
Join us as we go down to the wire in the greatest NASCAR Cup season in history. We’ll unpack the final four events: North Wilkesboro, Rockingham, Atlanta and Ontario. By the end of it, we will have decided two incredible points contests, with winners who represent NASCAR’s past and future.
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