# 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. ($4,743.82 when adjusted for inflation). His race ended on lap 83 of 160 with engine problems.
Forty-five thousand fans were in attendance. The average speed was a record 172.89 miles per hour (278.24 km/h). The green flag waved at 10 a.m. Buddy Baker earned the pole position during qualifying with a speed of 193.196 miles per hour (310.919 km/h). 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 ($12.59 when adjusted for inflation). 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

Buddy Baker would score the pole, averaging 193.196 miles per hour (310.919 km/h), a new track record at the time.
| Grid | No. | Driver | Manufacturer | Team/Owner | Time | Avg. Speed (mph) |
| 1 | 28 | Buddy Baker | Oldsmobile | Ranier-Lundy Racing | 46.585 | 193.196 |
| 2 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | Mercury | Wood Brothers Racing | 46.730 | 192.596 |
| 3 | 27 | Benny Parsons | Oldsmobile | M. C. Anderson Racing | 46.803 | 192.296 |
| 4 | 41 | Grant Adcox | Oldsmobile | Adcox Racing | 46.864 | 192.046 |
| 5 | 11 | Cale Yarborough | Oldsmobile | Junior Johnson & Associates | 46.889 | 191.943 |
| 6 | 88 | Darrell Waltrip | Oldsmobile | DiGard Motorsports | 47.067 | 191.205 |
| 7 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Dodge | Arrington Racing | 47.091 | 191.120 |
| 8 | 51 | A.J. Foyt | Oldsmobile | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | 47.147 | 190.893 |
| 9 | 30 | Tighe Scott | Buick | Ballard Racing | 47.154 | 190.864 |
| 10 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Buick | Hagan Racing | 47.255 | 190.457 |
| 11 | 43 | Richard Petty | Oldsmobile | Petty Enterprises | 47.324 | 190.179 |
| 12 | 68 | Chuck Bown | Buick | Testa Racing | 47.392 | 189.906 |
| 13 | 12 | Lennie Pond | Oldsmobile | Kennie Childers Racing | 47.578 | 189.164 |
| 14 | 79 | Frank Warren | Dodge | Frank Warren | 47.713 | 188.628 |
| 15 | 47 | Harry Gant | Oldsmobile | Race Hill Farm Team | 47.765 | 188.423 |
| 16 | 3 | Richard Childress | Oldsmobile | Richard Childress Racing | 47.930 | 187.774 |
| 17 | 17 | Roger Hamby | Oldsmobile | Hamby Racing | 47.960 | 187.657 |
| 18 | 7 | Al Holbert | Chevrolet | Al Holbert | 47.988 | 187.547 |
| 19 | 90 | Ricky Rudd | Mercury | Donlavey Racing | 48.036 | 187.360 |
| 20 | 15 | Bobby Allison | Ford | Bud Moore Engineering | 48.046 | 187.321 |
| 21 | 2 | Dale Earnhardt | Oldsmobile | Osterlund Racing | 47.881 | 187.966 |
| 22 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Chevrolet | Marcis Auto Racing | 48.022 | 187.415 |
| 23 | 1 | Donnie Allison | Chevrolet | Ellington Racing | 48.116 | 187.048 |
| 24 | 72 | Joe Millikan | Oldsmobile | DeWitt Racing | 48.144 | 186.940 |
| 25 | 50 | Bruce Hill | Buick | Ballard Racing | 48.206 | 186.699 |
| 26 | 87 | Gary Balough | Oldsmobile | Billie Harvey | 48.300 | 186.336 |
| 27 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Mercury | Elliott Racing | 48.398 | 185.959 |
| 28 | 14 | Coo Coo Marlin | Chevrolet | Cunningham-Kelley Racing | 48.603 | 185.174 |
| 29 | 38 | Sandy Satullo | Buick | Sandy Satullo | 48.793 | 184.453 |
| 30 | 48 | James Hylton | Chevrolet | James Hylton Motorsports | 48.860 | 184.200 |
| 31 | 6 | Claude Ballot-Lena | Oldsmobile | G. C. Spencer Racing | 48.479 | 185.648 |
| 32 | 70 | J.D. McDuffie | Chevrolet | McDuffie Racing | 48.574 | 185.285 |
| 33 | 39 | Blackie Wangerin | Mercury | Blackie Wangerin | 48.981 | 183.745 |
| 34 | 32 | Jimmy Finger | Buick | Don Bierschwale | 48.987 | 183.723 |
| 35 | 40 | D.K. Ulrich | Buick | Ulrich Racing | 49.125 | 183.207 |
| 36 | 64 | Tommy Gale | Ford | Langley Racing | 49.156 | 183.091 |
| 37 | 05 | Dick Brooks | Oldsmobile | Nelson Malloch Racing | 49.255 | 182.723 |
| 38 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Chevrolet | Jimmy Means Racing | 49.350 | 182.371 |
| 39 | 46 | Travis Tiller | Dodge | Travis Tiller | 49.351 | 182.368 |
| 40 | 20 | Rick Newsom | Oldsmobile | Rick Newsom | 49.411 | 182.146 |
| 41 (FIA) | 24 | Cecil Gordon | Oldsmobile | Gordon Racing | 50.654 | 177.676 |
| Withdrew |||||||
| WD | 42 | Kyle Petty | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | 0.000 | 0.000 |

## Finishing order

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Make | Team/Owner | Sponsor | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 2 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | Mercury | Wood Brothers Racing | Purolator | 160 | 77 | running | 185 | $21,705 |
| 2 | 3 | 27 | Benny Parsons | Oldsmobile | M. C. Anderson Racing | Griffin Marine | 160 | 6 | running | 175 | $16,875 |
| 3 | 21 | 2 | Dale Earnhardt | Oldsmobile | Osterlund Racing | Rod Osterlund | 160 | 1 | running | 170 | $14,980 |
| 4 | 6 | 88 | Darrell Waltrip | Oldsmobile | DiGard Motorsports | Gatorade | 159 | 54 | running | 165 | $12,280 |
| 5 | 11 | 43 | Richard Petty | Oldsmobile | Petty Enterprises | STP | 158 | 2 | running | 160 | $9,480 |
| 6 | 12 | 68 | Chuck Bown | Buick | Testa Racing | Kings Mountain Truck Plaza | 157 | 0 | running | 150 | $4,990 |
| 7 | 15 | 47 | Harry Gant | Oldsmobile | Race Hill Farm Team | Race Hill Farm | 157 | 0 | running | 146 | $4,240 |
| 8 | 24 | 72 | Joe Millikan | Oldsmobile | DeWitt Racing | Appliance Wheels | 156 | 0 | running | 142 | $7,540 |
| 9 | 37 | 05 | Dick Brooks | Oldsmobile | Nelson Malloch Racing | Sub-Tropic | 156 | 0 | running | 138 | $5,575 |
| 10 | 8 | 51 | A.J. Foyt | Oldsmobile | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Valvoline | 156 | 3 | running | | $3,140 |
| 11 | 27 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Mercury | Elliott Racing | Yandle, Thermol King, Dahlonega Ford Sales | 156 | 0 | running | 130 | $2,960 |
| 12 | 23 | 1 | Donnie Allison | Chevrolet | Ellington Racing | Hawaiian Tropic | 155 | 0 | running | 127 | $2,935 |
| 13 | 19 | 90 | Ricky Rudd | Mercury | Donlavey Racing | Truxmore | 155 | 0 | running | 124 | $5,075 |
| 14 | 9 | 30 | Tighe Scott | Buick | Ballard Racing | Russ Togs | 154 | 0 | running | 121 | $4,865 |
| 15 | 7 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Dodge | Arrington Racing | Rossmeyer | 154 | 0 | running | 118 | $4,555 |
| 16 | 26 | 87 | Gary Balough | Oldsmobile | Billie Harvey | Fast Lane Ltd. | 154 | 0 | running | | $1,750 |
| 17 | 22 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Chevrolet | Marcis Auto Racing | Shoney's | 151 | 0 | running | 112 | $3,635 |
| 18 | 35 | 40 | D.K. Ulrich | Buick | Ulrich Racing | U.S. Army | 151 | 0 | running | 109 | $3,775 |
| 19 | 30 | 48 | James Hylton | Chevrolet | James Hylton Motorsports | Palatine Automotive Parts | 151 | 1 | running | 111 | $3,415 |
| 20 | 5 | 11 | Cale Yarborough | Oldsmobile | Junior Johnson & Associates | Busch Beer | 149 | 0 | running | 103 | $6,960 |
| 21 | 32 | 70 | J.D. McDuffie | Chevrolet | McDuffie Racing | Bailey Excavating | 146 | 0 | running | 100 | $2,855 |
| 22 | 38 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Chevrolet | Jimmy Means Racing | Mr. Transmission | 146 | 0 | running | 97 | $2,645 |
| 23 | 40 | 20 | Rick Newsom | Oldsmobile | Rick Newsom | MARS Inc. | 145 | 0 | running | 94 | $1,410 |
| 24 | 33 | 39 | Blackie Wangerin | Mercury | Blackie Wangerin | Wangerin Inc. | 144 | 0 | blew tire | 91 | $1,385 |
| 25 | 28 | 14 | Coo Coo Marlin | Chevrolet | Cunningham-Kelley Racing | Cunningham-Kelley | 138 | 0 | engine | 88 | $1,360 |
| 26 | 17 | 17 | Roger Hamby | Oldsmobile | Hamby Racing | Kings Inn | 137 | 0 | running | 85 | $2,260 |
| 27 | 36 | 64 | Tommy Gale | Ford | Langley Racing | Sunny King Ford & Honda | 121 | 0 | rear end | 82 | $2,225 |
| 28 | 13 | 12 | Lennie Pond | Oldsmobile | Kennie Childers Racing | Burger King | 105 | 0 | engine | 79 | $1,285 |
| 29 | 10 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Buick | Hagan Racing | Stratagraph | 89 | 0 | crash | 76 | $2,165 |
| 30 | 20 | 15 | Bobby Allison | Ford | Bud Moore Engineering | Hodgdon, Moore | 89 | 0 | crash | 73 | $4,925 |
| 31 | 31 | 6 | Claude Ballot-Lena | Oldsmobile | G. C. Spencer Racing | Lady & Son Auction | 83 | 0 | engine | | $1,130 |
| 32 | 18 | 7 | Al Holbert | Chevrolet | Al Holbert | Holbert Porsche-Audi | 82 | 0 | spindle | | $895 |
| 33 | 4 | 41 | Grant Adcox | Oldsmobile | Adcox Racing | Adcox-Kirby | 81 | 0 | engine | 64 | $1,180 |
| 34 | 1 | 28 | Buddy Baker | Oldsmobile | Ranier-Lundy Racing | W.I.N. | 57 | 16 | ignition | 66 | $4,225 |
| 35 | 41 | 24 | Cecil Gordon | Oldsmobile | Gordon Racing | Gordon Barnical Racing | 50 | 0 | engine | 58 | $1,915 |
| 36 | 39 | 46 | Travis Tiller | Dodge | Travis Tiller | Ring Enterprises | 46 | 0 | engine | 55 | $1,025 |
| 37 | 16 | 3 | Richard Childress | Oldsmobile | Richard Childress Racing | CRC Chemicals | 28 | 0 | engine | 52 | $1,520 |
| 38 | 29 | 38 | Sandy Satullo | Buick | Sandy Satullo | Copper Kettle Marina | 18 | 0 | crash | 49 | $1,015 |
| 39 | 34 | 32 | Jimmy Finger | Buick | Don Bierschwale | Vita Fresh, Pharis Chevy | 17 | 0 | crash | 46 | $1,010 |
| 40 | 14 | 79 | Frank Warren | Dodge | Frank Warren | Native Tan | 7 | 0 | engine | 43 | $1,505 |
| 41 | 25 | 50 | Bruce Hill | Buick | Ballard Racing | Global Heat Exchanger | 1 | 0 | engine | 40 | $1,035 |
| Withdrew ||||||||||||
| WD | | 42 | Kyle Petty | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | STP | | | | | |

## Standings after the race

| Pos | Driver | Points | Differential |
| 1 | Darrell Waltrip | 2720 | 0 |
| 2 | Bobby Allison | 2587 | -133 |
| 3 | Richard Petty | 2522 | -198 |
| 4 | Cale Yarborough | 2500 | -220 |
| 5 | Dale Earnhardt | 2342 | -378 |
| 6 | Benny Parsons | 2237 | -483 |
| 7 | Joe Millikan | 2221 | -499 |
| 8 | Terry Labonte | 2009 | -711 |
| 9 | J.D. McDuffie | 1997 | -723 |
| 10 | Richard Childress | 1983 | -737 |