The Numbers that Made Daytona
2/11/2008It's the 50th anniversary of "The Great American Race" and numbers help us understand why the Daytona 500 has become No. 1 on the U.S. motorsports scene.
In particular, I'm thinking 3 and 43; '76 and '79.
That means Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty; David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Bobby and Donnie Allison.
It would take a man far more brave than I to suggest anyone other than Petty as the single-most important driver in 500 history. But Earnhardt's triumph in 1998 - after 20 years of trying - remains the event's most enduring moment.
Petty did as much to build Daytona as Bill France on his bulldozer. It wasn't just his record seven wins. It was how he won -- and lost, like the 1988 barrel-rolls on the front straight. The smiles. The autographs. The photos. The interviews. All the "just one more, Richard . . ." times that crowned him as stock car racing's "King" and a bet-the-house member of the first class to go into NASCAR's Hall of Fame.
Classic sporting contests become that because of special people who perform in a special way. A.J. Foyt at the Indy 500. Willie Mays in the World Series. Joe Montana in the Super Bowl. That's what Petty and his No. 43 meant to Daytona.
Earnhardt's legend is 500 times more significant than that one unforgettable visit to victory lane.
It was his "Intimidator's" style. His domination in the No. 3 Chevrolet when it came to all things NASCAR, and Daytona, except race day in February. The qualifying race, IROC and Busch Series wins. The "how did he NOT win?" moments - especially 1990.
All of which, of course, only served to inflate the emotional bubble that so joyously burst in '98. The signature image of 50 Daytonas is the receiving line that awaited Earnhardt on pit road after the checkered flag.
And then there were the smash hits - 1976 and 1979.
Petty's Dodge exited turn four of that Bicentennial last lap millimeters ahead of Pearson's Mercury. At over 180 mph, Pearson looked high, and Petty responded by steering slightly to the right. Richard's car broke loose, hit David, and forced him into the concrete wall.
Pearson's 21 bounced off the wall, touched the 43, and began a wild slide down across the banked straightaway. He had no control. There was contact with the passing Chevy of Joe Frasson. The Mercury stopped on the grass separating the pits from the track, 100 yards from the checkered flag. The Dodge danced with the wall then halted in the grass 30 yards from the finish line.
"As soon as I hit the wall, I put the clutch in to keep the engine going," explained Pearson. "I didn't know where he (Petty) was, so I asked the crew. All I knew was that I had to get over the line."
He did, 19 seconds ahead of Petty, who received a push from his crew and thus officials didn't score his last lap. "When I got sideways I locked the brakes and the engine stalled," he recalled.
The next day, France ordered construction of more grandstands.
Three years later, Yarborough turned left going down the backstretch for the last time, attempting to pull his Oldsmobile alongside leader Donnie Allison. Donnie's reaction was to do exactly the same thing. Allison continued to move over and Yarborough continued to come at him.
Cale's wheels were on the edge of the infield turf, made slick by an all-night and early-morning rain. Finally, as they approached turn three at 205 mph, Yarborough ran out of track. His right-front hit Allison's left-rear. Burly Cale muscled his steering wheel hard to the right, in a struggle for control, but it was too late.
The cars separated, Yarborough got onto the grass, and then they collided again. They crashed into the wall at 180 mph and then bounced back into the infield. The cars stopped, throwing mud into the air.
Bobby Allison had been 50 yards ahead of the incident. He took the checkers then drove to the scene of the grime. Cale and Donnie were screaming and gesturing at each other when Bobby came along. Yarborough kicked at Bobby, who punched back. It was CBS' first flag-to-flag live telecast of the 500, and the network replayed the bizarre scene dozens of times. The East Coast was snowed-in, making for a huge audience, which many believe helped launch NASCAR toward prime time.
Petty, riding a 45-race winless streak, held off Darrell Waltrip for his sixth winner's circle visit. The previous December, he had had surgery intended to remove scar tissue from a healed ulcer, but surgeons removed 40 percent of his stomach.
A week earlier, 18-year-old Kyle Petty had won his first-ever race. "I asked him where victory lane was," Richard deadpanned. "He said, 'I'll show you.' "
Only at Daytona. Happy 50th.
[ Next column: February 25 ]
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(I.N. Sider is the pen name for an independent motorsports business-person who has a quarter-century of professional experience working in almost every major North American racing series. The writer is not an employee of Valvoline or Ashland Inc. The column is intended to inform, entertain, and stimulate thought on the contemporary motorsports scene. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Valvoline or Ashland Inc.)
BackAbout I.N. Sider
I.N. Sider is the pen name for an independent motorsports business-person who has a quarter-century of professional experience working in almost every major North American racing series. The writer is not an employee of Valvoline or Ashland Inc. The column is intended to inform, entertain, and stimulate thought on the contemporary motorsports scene. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Valvoline or Ashland Inc.