Earnhardt Senior Had a Female Daytona 500 Teammate in 1980

A lot of folks forget that the 11th place finish Janet Guthrie posted in the 1980 Daytona 500 came as a teammate to Dale Earnhardt, Senior.

Janet was in the Rod Osterlund #82 Chevy for her 11th place effort.

Earnhardt was in the # 2 Rod Osterlund Oldsmobile and finished 4th.

Janet was sponsored by TEXACO... you remember.... "You can trust your car to the GAL who wears the Star....!"

A little pre-Danica Daytona distaff trivia.

Billy Hagan's #44 Stratagraph mount driven by Terry Labonte leads the two Rod Osterlund cars of Dale Earnhardt (#2 with yellow helmet leaning into safety net) and Janet Guthrie (#82) in the 1980 Daytona 500.

Now THAT"s some quality trivia. If given the opportunity to rattle off Dale Sr's career teammates, many may get Mike Skinner .. perhaps Neil Bonnett at Talladega ... and maybe even Dave Marcis in the beginning. But I bet you could lift a Jackson from someone easily with Janet Guthrie as answer.

80+ cars tried to make that 1980 Daytona 500 field, a far cry from the 49 cars this year and a sign of the changing times.

Thanks, Dave. I really like Janet.

Lost for me in this trivia is that I WAS THERE. My 1st Daytona as a young teen. Watched it from atop a camper in the infield - one that belonged to my uncle's father-in-law. Was so cold that day. But I didn't waver from up top. My uncles retired to inside the warm confines of the camper where they then warmed themselves a bit with some sour mash from Lynchburg, TN.

• I remember them bringing us in from the backside of the track - turn 2 I think - to head us towards our parking spot.
• I remember the stiff winds and cold temps of the day.
• I remember buying my program, t-shirt, and track patch (the program and patch I still have).
• I remember Buddy Baker finally nabbing his one and only 500.
• I remember the disappointment of the King not going the distance after having won it the year before.
• I remember seeing a roadster car shaped like a Busch beer can.
• I remember hot tubs brought to the track - with race honeys in them.
• I remember my eyes drifting from the race at stare like a stupid teenage boy at those honeys.

But honestly, I have zero recollection of Janet being in the race.