Racing History Minute - Daytona 500 - 1983
Stock Car Racing History
Great additions to these Minutes, Dave. Thank you for sharing.
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Stock Car Racing History
Racing History Minute - Daytona 500 - 1983
Stock Car Racing History
Once more, in the 125 mile qualifying races, a driver would before a fatality. This time, however, that driver would survive in a coma for four years before passing. Setting up the details, Bruce Jacobi, from Indianapolis, having run 20 previous Grand National races, flipped violently on the sixth lap, suffering the injuries that would keep him lingering for four years.
Also involved in crashes in the first 125 were Delma Cowart, Mike Potter and David Simko. Even so, there were only 2 caution flags for a total of 12 laps.
The race came down to a duel between A. J. Foyt driving his own Chevrolet and Dale Earnhardt driving the Bud Moore Ford. Unlike the Intimidator, Dale waiting until just the right time to draft by A.J., bringing with him the cars of Buddy Baker and Kyle Petty. As the field roared under the checkers, Dale had Buddy by less than a car length with Kyle Petty in third and A.J. coming home fourth.
Top five finishers:
1. Dale Earnhardt, Bud Moore Ford
2. Buddy Baker, Wood Brothers Ford
3. Kyle Petty, Petty Enterprises Pontiac
4. A. J. Foyt, Foyt Chevrolet
5. Joe Ruttman, Ron Benfield Chevrolet
The second 125 had another of the violent crashes involving a car getting airborne and flipping several times. This time it was Rusty Wallace on lap 26. Rusty flipped several times and was transported to the hospital with a concussion. Doctors also had to remove mud from Rusty's eyes.
The race came down to a last lap pass by Neil Bonnett as the stormed around leader Richard Petty. Petty had a chance to get back by Bonnett heading for the flag, but slower traffic had him boxed in.
A crowd of 50,000 fans saw the race to the line become almost a photo finish as Petty lost to Bonnett by less than half a car length.
Top five finishers:
1. Neil Bonnettt, Raymoc-Hodgdon Chevrolet
2. Richard Petty, Petty Enterprises Pontiac
3. Cale Yarborough, Ranier Racing Pontiac
4. Dick Brooks, Junie Donlavey Ford
5. Mark Martin, J.D. Stacy Buick
The 1983 Daytona 500 was, from the incidents in the 125 milers and the pole qualifying earlier that week, a race of freaky circumstances. For instance, Cale Yarborough, driving his Chevrolet Monte Carlo sponsored by Hardee's had just qualified with a lap of 200.503 on his first lap and was going for more on lap two when the car went into a complete flip coming off turn four resulting in a violent crash into the wall. Cale was ok, but the car was junk. Ranier Racing had to pull out the back up Pontiac for Cale. Even then, going to a back up cost Cale the Pole which went instead to Ricky Rudd with a speed of 198.864. Rules were that if a car was entered, qualified, then withdrawn, the qualifying speed was disallowed. Ranier had no choice but to withdrawn the crashed Chevrolet.
The race got underway with what would become an absolute dog fight for first place with the lead changing hands almost every lap, and sometimes two or three times a lap. Leaders included Ricky Rudd, Geoff Bodine, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Kyle Petty, Joe Ruttman, Dick Brooks, Bill Elliott, Cale Yarborough, Neil Bonnett, and Buddy Baker. It would be Joe Ruttman, however, who would lead the most laps but was unable to pull off the win. Joe said "I'd have to say I've done poorly on the last lap. I had a car that was capable of winning". The loss in the 500 backed up Joe's last lap losses in the 125 mile qualified and the Sportsman Race run the day before the 500.
Darrell Waltrip, defending Grand National Champion was taken to the hospital by ambulance after crashing on lap 53. Dale Earnhardt had blown an engine to bring out the caution flag. Waltrip, who was a lap behind, tried to race back to the flag to get his lap back when he ran up on Dick Brooks, who had backed off for the yellow, and Waltrip swerved to miss Brooks. Waltrip lost control and slammed into the wall. Waltrip was removed from the car unconscious, and spent the night in the hospital.
As the cars went under the white flag, Buddy Baker was leading, but Cale was tucked right under the rear bumper of Buddy's Wood Brothers Ford. As the cars raced down the back straight, Cale used the famous "slingshot" move and went around Baker and left a three car duel to fight it out to the line. As the three fighting for second came off turn four, Bill Elliott took the high side and took second in an almost photo finish with third place Baker and fourth place Ruttman.
Finishing order:
1. Cale Yarborough, Ranier Racing Pontiac, winning $119,600.00
2. Bill Elliott, Melling Racing Ford, winning $66,425.00 (5 car lengths back)
3. Buddy Baker, Wood Brothers Ford, winning $59,650.00
4. Joe Ruttman, Ron Benfield Chevrolet, winning $55,980.00
5. Dick Brooks, Junie Donlavey Ford, winning $44,545.00 (1 lap down)
6. Terry Labonte
7. Tom Sneva
8. David Pearson
9. Bobby Allison
10. Jody Ridley
11. A. J. Foyt
12. Lennie Pond
13. Phil Parsons
14. Jimmy Means
15. Dean Roper
16. Buddy Arrington
17. Ronnie Thomas
18. Jim Sauter
19. Ronnie Hopkins
20. Rick Baldwin
21. Clark Dwyer
22. Neil Bonnett
23. James Hylton
24. Ricky Rudd
25. Lake Speed
26. Ron Bouchard
27. Tommy Gale
28. Mark Martin
29. J. D. McDuffie
30. Geoff Bodine
31. Delma Cowart
32. Dave Marcis
33. Kyle Petty
34. Sterling Marlin
35. Dale Earnhardt
36. Darrell Waltrip
37. Harry Gant
38. Richard Petty
39. Bosco Lowe
40. Elliott Forbes-Robinson
41. Tim Richmond
42. Benny Parsons
PERSONAL MEMORIES: Frankly, the only real memory I have of this race is worrying about D. W. Yes, I know that I have never been a fan of D.W., even when he was a driver and most definitely not these days from the television booth, but when they removed him from the car and took him out in an ambulance, I was concerned that he was dead and I didn't want anyone to die in a race car.
I have a vague recollection of the last lap fight between Cale and Buddy as I watched from the top of the motorhome. I remember going into the pits after the race to find Richard, which I never did, although I did see a few drivers. Things are Daytona were changing as the sport was beginning (in my opinion) to experience that level of recognition that was making it difficult for low level press such as myself to have access to many places. My press credentials at Daytona that year limited me to pit access only before the race. That was the first race where I noticed a distinct change in the way minor press outlets, such as my radio station, were shuffled to the sidelines in favor of CBS and major newspapers. It was, fittingly, the last Daytona 500 I would attend, to date, as I was getting married in April, 1983, and taking on a wife and two teenage children would not leave much time, or money, to be making trips to Florida in February.
Well, folks, we have reached the end of February and the end of our Daytona 500 series. I hope that you all have enjoyed the series as much as I have enjoyed writing about them. I can't speak for TMC Chase and Dave Fulton, but I'm guessing they have enjoyed providing all the pictures and videos to really make this series come to life. It is a team effort all the way and I am quite proud of what RacersReunion accomplishes with these History Minutes.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
updated by @tim-leeming: 01/22/21 04:55:19PM
I regret to inform you...
General
Certainly sorry to hear this. Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends, and to you too Eric.
Racing HIstory Minute - Daytona 500 - 1982
Stock Car Racing History
That's a good one Mitch. Most don't remember Dale in that Ford. Great to see you on site. Thanks, again, for the opportunity to appear on your show with Bill Blair. Even if Bill is "pokey", he's a great guy.
Racing HIstory Minute - Daytona 500 - 1982
Stock Car Racing History
She is a very, very sweet lady Janice. She reminds me so much of my Mama the way she looks, acts and talks. She is a huge race fan now I think. She actually asked me if I could give her an autographed "hero card". I told her I'll have it for her Sunday. Thanks for the nice comment. Good to hear from you again.
Racing HIstory Minute - Daytona 500 - 1982
Stock Car Racing History
The first 125 mile qualifying race for the 1982 Daytona 500 contained the classic slingshot pass, although it wasn't coming out of turn four. Bobby Allison was leading coming off turn two on the last lap when Cale Yarborough was able to draft around him on the back straight. Cale made the run with Terry Labonte glued to his rear bumper as both moved around Cale. Bobby said afterwards that he "got ganged up on" and there simply was nothing he could have done to prevent the combined draft passing him. Cale said "I knew I had to be in second place on the last lap. The competition is so keen here this year you have to use your head as much as your foot".
A crowd of 75,000 watched Cale take a 2 car length victory over Terry Labonte at an average speed of 135.298 mph after 5 caution flags slowed the pace for 17of the 50 laps.
Top five finishers:
1. Cale Yarborough, M. C. Anderson Buick
2.Terry Labonte, Billy Hagan Buick
3.Bobby Allison, DiGard Buick
4.Benny Parsons, Harry Ranier Pontiac
5.A. J. Foyt, Foyt Enterprises Oldsmobile
The second 125 miler started with Harry Gant and Darrell Waltrip on the front row. It would be fifth place starter, Kyle Petty, however, who would lead the first three laps before Gant would take over. Gant, Ricky Rudd, Kyle Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Neal Bonnett and Buddy Baker would fight for the lead throughout the race.
With 11 laps to go, big man Buddy Baker, stormed into the lead and was leading when hard rain came down three laps later. The caution was thrown but not before Darrell Waltrip pulled a risky move and literally forced his way into a second place finish, forcing Neal Bonnett into a scrape with Ron Bouchard. After the race, Bonnett said "He (D.W.) saw he was going from second to about sixth so he turned right into Earnhardt to get back in line. I think some people are going to have to show a little more road courtesy out there before somebody gets hurt". If D.W. had a response, it was not quoted in my source.
Top five finishers:
1. Buddy Baker, Hoss Ellington Buick
2. Darrell Waltrip, Junior Johnson Buick
3. Joe Ruttman, J. D. Stacy Buick
4. Dale Earnhardt, Bud Moore Ford
5. Kyle Petty, Petty Enterprises Pontiac
The 1982 Daytona 500 could more easily be referred to as "Bumpergate" than the "Great American Race". Bobby Allison started from the pole in his DiGard Buickbut on the fourth lap lost the rear bumper to the Buick. As the bumper lay on the track, Joe Millikan ran over it and blew a tire which started a five car mishap that took out Joe, Billie Harvey, Lake Speed and Geoff Bodine.
The bumperless Buick was not hampered in the least by the loss of the rear bumper. If anything, it appeared to enhance the performance by improved aerodynamics and certainly caused a problem for anyone trying to tuck in a close draft with Allison. After the race, Cale Yarborough, second place finisher, said "Allison cut me off. Suddenly his bumper came off. It didn't take much of a lick to tear it off".
Tim Brewer, crew chief for Yarborough said "I wasn't born this morning. We tested here over the winter and found the car would run much better with the bumper off". Allison, when told of Brewer's statement retorted "his statements are not the most sensible comments I've ever heard. Actually my car ran looser after it came off. People always grumble when they get beat."
Meanwhile, Gary Nelson (have you heard of him before folks?) crew chief for Allison said "rigging a bumper to fall off is absurd. There is no way in the world I would take a chance like that. When I start thinking of risking a man's life to win a race then I'll get out of racing".
Eight more cars were taken out by wrecks, including those of pole winner Benny Parsons, Neil Bonnett and Richard Petty. Petty suffered torn ligaments and a fractured foot. In a separate incident, Tighe Scott suffered a concussion when he slammed into the wall on lap
Mechanical problems forced such names as Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, Tom Sneva, Mark Martin and Donnie Allison behind the wall to become spectators. Waltrip was actually leading when his car destroyed the engine on lap 151.
There were 120,000 fans on hand to see Allison win by 22.87 second over Cale Yarborough. A total of 34 laps were run under caution keeping the average speed for the event to 153.991 mph.
Finishing order:
1. Bobby Allison, DiGard Buick, winning $120,630.00
2. Cale Yarborough, M. C. Anderson Buick, winning $70,725.00 (22.87 seconds back)
3. Joe Ruttman, J.D. Stacy Buick, winning $54,820.00
4. Terry Labonte, Billy Hagan Buick, winning $51,975.00 (1 lap down)
5. Bill Elliott, Melling Racing Ford, winning $36,125.00 (2 laps down)
6. Ron Bouchard
7. Harry Gant
8. Buddy Baker
9. Jody Ridley
10. Roy Smith
11. Gary Balough
12. Jim Sauter
13. J. D. McDuffie
14. Lowell Cowell
15. Buddy Arrington
16. Tommy Gale
17. Jimmy Means
18. Rick Wilson
19. Morgan Shepherd
20. Darrell Waltrip
21. A. J. Foyt
22. Tom Sneva
23. Kyle Petty
24. Dave Marcis
25. Neil Bonnett
26. Benny Parsons
27. Richard Petty
28. Elliott Forbes-Robinson
29. Tighe Scott
30. Mark Martin
31. Stan Barrett
32. Bobby Wawak
33. Delma Cowart
34. Donnie Allison
35. Ricky Rudd
36. Dale Earnhardt
37. Rusty Wallace
38. Dick Brooks
39. Billie Harvey
40. Joe Millikan
41. Lake Speed
42. Geoff Bodine
PERSONAL MEMORIES: What I do remember about this race was sitting on top of the motor home and seeing something fly high into the air on lap four. At the time, I had no idea what it could have been as we were parked too far away, but could see something fly up. Within a few seconds, the radio crew reported it was Allison's bumper. We all expected Allison to pit with huge problems but that didn't happen. When the race went green again it didn't take Bobby long to get to the front and he appeared to have an advantage.
I don't recall which one of our crew was first to mention that loss of the bumper would give Allison a huge advantage aero dynamically as well as making it more difficult to draft on the car without the bumper. I'm not every sure if all of that made any sense, but to all of us, who being the Petty fans we were had a healthy dislike of Bobby Allison, we were sure all that was rigged. We felt justified after the race with Cale and Tim Brewer seemed to back up our suspicions.
We all got excited because Kyle Petty was running a fairly decent race. He actually led a couple laps but on lap 131 he was out with a blown engine. Richard was already out. So we were left to watch Allison (remember we didn't like him) and Cale (we didn't like him too much either) fight it out but, frankly, I don't remember it as being much of a fight. Seemed Allison had the race in his pocket from lap 4 on.
Of course, with the passage of years and being around Bobby so much over the recent years, the dislike has been replaced with huge respect from all of his accomplishments. I have found him to be a very fun person with whom to hang out when I have that opportunity. As for Cale, the last time I saw him in person was several years ago in his Honda dealership in Florence. I was there on legal business and Cale came walking in. We talked for maybe 20 minutes but it was very obvious to me that talking racing was not a priority for Cale. I guess he was more into business and I interrupted his afternoon so I guess I owe him an apology for that. But, you, it seems I talk racing with just about anyone. If you ever meet me and want to discuss the weather or politics, don't leave me an opening or we'll be into talking racing.
As a side note that that last statement, there is an 89 year old lady at our church, as sweet as anyone could ever be, who always sits at our table for Wednesday night suppers. At supper a few weeks ago, someone asked me if I was going to Daytona to which I responded "no". She asked a couple questions and learned that someone went to Daytona in February for stock car racing. Now, obviously, this lady didn't know one thing about stock car racing, but we started talking about it. Last night, at supper, she asked me how I liked the 500 and I told her I thought it was a great race. She said "I did too". I looked at her and asked "you watched the race?". She replied in the affirmative and went on to tell me everything she had seen. She even stayed up until it was over to see who won. There was much she didn't understand but she did say it was a fun thing to watch. She is planning on watching as many as she can this year.
So, folks, I am a dangerous man. I have an 89 year old widow discover racing by accident through me. Can't count the number of times in my life that has happened, but then since that is about all I ever talk about, it is understandable. You know what? It's fun and even with all the complaints I have about NASCAR at times, it still gives me a good feeling that I have brought a new fan into the sport.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
Ricky Rudd Wins Richmond on 2/26/84 Wearing Flak Jacket After Daytona Barrel Roll
Stock Car Racing History
That was a great race! Ricky Rudd was always very nice to me in every encounter. When my son and I went to the Richmond race on September 8, 2001, Harvick banged Rudd around and I told my son then, Harvick has messed with the wrong guy. Sure enough, Ricky caught him and it was quite the payback.