1978 Talladega 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

Four cautions were waved for 17 laps; making the race last almost three hours in length, with 67 lead changes the race. James Hylton finished last due to a transmission issue on the first lap of 188 laps. Lennie Pond became the third driver whose only career victory was at the summer Talladega race (Richard Brickhouse in 1969 and Dick Brooks in 1973). He would defeat Donnie Allison by two car lengths in front of 60,000 spectators. Yarborough lost half a lap near the end of the race, losing the leaders because he missed the pit entry and made his stop on lap 181.

There was 1 foreigner in the 41-car lineup: Claude Ballot-Léna from Paris, France. Cale Yarborough would earn the pole position with a speed of 192.717 mph while the average speed of the race was 174.7 mph. It was a 500 mile world's record in 1978. Bill Elliott would break that record at the 1985 Winston 500 with an average of 186.288 mph. Female driver Janet Guthrie was also a part of the grid; finishing in 29th place due to a crash on lap 129. Country music star and part-time NASCAR driver Marty Robbins made his only start of the season and came home 18th driving his Dodge Magnum.

Richard Petty would stop racing in Chrysler cars after this race. Only the 1984 Winston 500 would see more lead changes than this event.

Qualifying

Finishing order

Section reference:

1. Lennie Pond
2. Donnie Allison
3. Benny Parsons
4. Cale Yarborough
5. David Pearson
6. Bobby Allison
7. Richard Petty
8. Neil Bonnett
9. Dick Brooks
10. Tighe Scott
11. Ferrell Harris
12. Dale Earnhardt
13. Bill Elliott
14. Dave Marcis
15. Buddy Arrington
16. Dick May
17. J.D. McDuffie
18. Marty Robbins
19. D.K. Ulrich
20. Tommy Gale
21. Gary Myers
22. Grant Adcox
23. Baxter Price
24. Ronnie Thomas
25. Richard Childress
26. Coo Coo Marlin
27. Steve Moore
28. Buddy Baker
29. Janet Guthrie
30. Al Holbert
31. Earle Canavan
32. Jimmy Means
33. Frank Warren
34. Darrell Waltrip
35. Bruce Hill
36. Roger Hamby
37. Claude Ballot-Lena
38. Skip Manning
39. Ricky Rudd
40. Blackie Wangerin
41. James Hylton

Timeline

Section reference:

• Start: Cale Yarborough was leading the starting grid as the cars were approaching the start/finish line.
• Lap 9: Blackie Wangerin had some engine issues that forced him out of the event.
• Lap 22: Ricky Rudd had some engine issues that forced him out of the event.
• Lap 46: Skip Manning had some engine issues that forced him out of the event.
• Lap 48: Claude Ballot-Lena had some engine issues that forced him out of the event.
• Lap 94: Roger Hamby's vehicle had a clutch that went bad which caused him to exit the race.
• Lap 96: The axle on Bruce Hill's vehicle became unsafe for further racing.
• Lap 105: Darrell Waltrip had some engine issues that forced him out of the event.
• Lap 118: Jimmy Means had a terminal crash.
• Lap 124: Al Holbert had some engine issues that forced him out of the event.
• Lap 129: Janet Guthrie had a terminal crash.
• Lap 149: Buddy Baker had some engine issues that forced him out of the event.
• Lap 158: Coo Coo Marlin had some engine issues that forced him out of the event.
• Finish: Lennie Pond was officially declared the winner of the event.

Standings after the race

References

before = 1978 Coca-Cola 500| after = 1978 Champion Spark Plug 400| title = NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season| years = 1978 | before = 1977| after = 1979| title = Talladega 500 races | years = 1978 |

References

1. [http://www.almanac.com/weather/history/AL/Talladega/1978-08-06 ''1978 Talladega 500''] weather information at The Old Farmers' Almanac
2. [http://www.racing-reference.info/race/1978_Talladega_500/W ''1978 Talladega 500''] at Racing Reference
3. (November 1, 2012). "Track Facts". Talladega Superspeedway.
4. [http://www.race-database.com/results/results.php?year=1978&race=19&series_id=2 ''1978 Talladega 500''] racing information at Race Database
5. [http://www.decadesofracing.net/LennyPond.htm Profile of ''Lenny Pond''] at Decades of Racing
6. [http://www.racing-reference.info/race/1985_Winston_500/W Bill Elliott's Record Breaking Run] at Racing Reference
7. [http://www.martyrobbins.net/racing.htm Finishing position of ''Marty Robbins''] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-03-16 at MartyRobbins.net)
8. [http://www.racing-reference.info/getqualify/1978-19/W Qualifying information] at Racing Reference