Richard Petty had a remarkable comeback season in 1979. After going winless for 1-1/2 seasons, he endured off-season abdominal surgery, recovered to win his 6th Daytona 500 in February, knocked down 4 more victories, logged his final career pole position, and out dueled Darrell Waltrip's Gatorade/DiGard team for his 7th Winston Cup Grand National championship.
Rather than head directly back to Level Cross after the season-ending Cup race at Ontario, the Petty team took a detour along with some other Winston Cup regulars to participate in the Winston West series race at Phoenix International Raceway - the Arizona NAPA 250.
Race program from Motor Racing Programme Covers
Petty won the previous year's race to send a long losing streak. Although it wasn't a Cup race, the win did help soothe the rough times and steady the waters as the King underwent the surgeon's knife and the team readied for 1979.
Other Cup regulars entering the race included Neil Bonnett, Bobby Allison and Ronnie Thomas. Kyle Petty who won in his debut start in the 1979 ARCA 200 at Daytona and started 5 Cup races also entered the Phoenix Winston West event. Winston West regular Jim Bown was already entered in car #42. So the Petty team removed the "2" from Kyle's car, and he raced a #4 STP Chevrolet.
Joe Ruttman who would later join the Cup circuit was also entered as was Mississippi go-karter and rising stock car racer Lake Speed.
Richard laid down the fastest lap in qualifying and took the pole just as he did in the 1978 race - and as he'd do again in 1980. West regular Bill Schmitt flanked the King in his Old Milwaukee Oldsmobile. West regulars Roy Smith and Tim Williamson made up the 2nd row. Kyle was the next highest Cup qualifier in 5th. Allison started 7th in his Matador, and Bonnett started 11th in an Old Milwaukee Pontiac.
I don't have any details on individual lap leaders, but King Richard dominated all but 20 laps of the race. He led 136 of the race's 156-lap, 100-kilometer distance. But trophies are presented, checks are paid and cheeks are kissed only when the race is won. With a comfortable lead and only 15 laps to go, Richard cut a tire. Rather than make a pit stop that would likely bury him deep in the field, he chose to stay on the track and run the remaining laps on the inner liner!
The Alabama Gang swept by Richard to take the top 2 spots. Neil Bonnett won, and Allison finished 2nd. Even with only 3 good shoes, the 43 limped home safely in 3rd - and the final car on the lead lap.
Race report from The Vancouver Sun
I've not seen any photos or videos or heard any personal stories from this race. I'm hoping this post will surface some folks who have some info from the race they could add in the comments section.
| Fin | Driver | Sponsor / Owner | Car |
| 1 | Neil Bonnett | Old Milwaukee | Pontiac |
| 2 | Bobby Allison | Hodgdon | Matador |
| 3 | Richard Petty | STP | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Tim Williamson | Palmer Glass (Charles Williamson) | Oldsmobile |
| 5 | Dave Watson | Ams/Oil | Buick |
| 6 | Roy Smith | Aircraft Standards (Robert Beadle) | Pontiac |
| 7 | Joe Ruttman | Pomona Truck Electric | Oldsmobile |
| 8 | Kyle Petty | STP (Petty Enterprises) | Chevrolet |
| 9 | John Kieper | Wholesale Truck Parts (John Kieper) | Pontiac |
| 10 | Richard White | Boulevard Automotive (Mike White) | Pontiac |
| 11 | Bill Schmitt | Old Milwaukee (Jim Schmitt) | Oldsmobile |
| 12 | Ron Esau | Hefco Fiberglass (Ron Esau) | Pontiac |
| 13 | Hal Callentine | Cal-Four | Oldsmobile |
| 14 | Marc Vogel | V&W Diversified | Dodge |
| 15 | Dick Whalen | Whalen Service Center (Dick Whalen) | Chevrolet |
| 16 | Buck Simmons | Kencoal Mining | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Lake Speed | Speed Investments | Chevrolet |
| 18 | Pat Mintey | Stick Only (Pat Mintey) | Chevrolet |
| 19 | Sharon Bishop | Chehalis Auto Electric (Bruce Bishop) | Pontiac |
| 20 | Steve Pfeifer | Freeway Motor Sales (Roger Hamby) | Chevrolet |
| 21 | Earle Canavan | Arizona Highways | Dodge |
| 22 | Rick McCray | McCray Racing (Ken McCray) | Pontiac |
| 23 | Jim Bown | Goulet Farms | Chevrolet |
| 24 | Mark Walbridge | Walbridge Investment Co. | Chevrolet |
| 25 | Ronnie Thomas | Stone's Cafeteria | Chevrolet |
| 26 | John Borneman | Borneman Plastering (Arthur Godfrey) | Pontiac |
| 27 | Norm Palmer | Herborn's Alignment | Dodge |
| 28 | Jim Robinson | San-Val Supply (A.J. Kurten) | Chevrolet |
| 29 | Bill Osborne | Baldwin | Chevrolet |
| 30 | Jimmy Insolo | Allstate Building Materials (Gerald Craker) | Pontiac |
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Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
updated by @tmc-chase: 09/05/17 11:29:49AM
