1976 Winston 500

Background

Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a Tri-oval and was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in the 1960s. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line - located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the Sprint Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and the Camping World Truck Series. Talladega Superspeedway is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66 mi, and the track at its peak had a seating capacity of 175,000 spectators.

Race report

Dave Marcis won the pole position for the race with a lap of 189.197 mph. 40 cars started the race. Buddy Baker defeated Cale Yarborough by 35 seconds, in an average speed of 167.887 mph. His record of winning three races in a row at Talladega would not be broken until 2002 when Dale Earnhardt Jr. recorded his fourth consecutive victory at that track. There were 24 different leaders and three cautions for 14 laps. Attendance was 80,000. This apparently was the first time that a 500 mile race had been completed in under three hours; roughly comparable to a two-and-a-half hour National Basketball Association game or a two-hour Major League Soccer game that is quickly-paced and is based mostly on skill.

Baker had qualified 12th, and two days before the race Bud Moore's team transported the engine for the team's 1976 Ford Torino back to their shop in Spartanburg, SC for examination. The engine was brought back to Talladega the day before the race.

Through his second-place finish, Yarborough managed to take the lead in championship points over Benny Parsons; who finished in 26th place during this event. Parsons was eliminated when Dick Brooks spun out of the lead group and was hit by David Pearson, Marcis, and Parsons. Petty finished fourth after losing a lap when he stalled out his car on pit road. Terry Ryan scores his best career finish with a fifth in just his second career start.

Prize winnings for this race varied from $25,285 for the winner ($ when considering inflation) all the way to $1,205 for last-place finisher Darrell Bryant ($ when considering inflation).

Qualifying

Top 10 finishers

Section reference:

1. Buddy Baker (No. 15), with an official time of 2:56:37
2. Cale Yarborough (No. 11), 35 seconds down
3. Bobby Allison (No. 2), 1 lap down
4. Richard Petty (No. 43), 2 laps down
5. Terry Ryan (No. 81), 4 laps down
6. Cecil Gordon (No. 24), 4 laps down
7. Donnie Allison (No. 28), 4 laps down
8. Bruce Hill (No. 47), 6 laps down
9. Dave Marcis (No. 71), 6 laps down
10. Frank Warren (No. 79), 8 laps down

Standings after the race

References

References

1. [http://www.almanac.com/weather/history/AL/Talladega/1976-05-02 1976 Winston 500] weather information at The Old Farmers' Almanac
2. [http://www.racing-reference.info/race/1976_Winston_500/W ''1976 Winston 500'' racing information] at Racing Reference
3. (November 1, 2012). "Track Facts". Talladega Superspeedway.
4. [http://www.race-database.com/results/results.php?year=1976&race=10&series_id=2 ''1976 Winston 500'' racing information] at Race Database
5. link. (2012-05-12 racing information at Driver Averages)