1980 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

The race consisted of 188 laps for a total of 500.1 mi. The race took two hours and fifty-nine minutes in complete. Neil Bonnett defeated Cale Yarborough by six car lengths in front of 70000 spectators. Five cautions slowed the field for 25 laps while the average speed was 166.894 mph.

Buddy Baker would qualify for the pole with a speed of 198.545 mph. Bruce Hill would finish last due to an engine issue on lap 12. There were a lot of failures in the race as seven of the top ten starters all blew engines; the last top ten starting driver would end his day on lap 174.

Hill would make $1,050 in race winnings ($ when adjusted for inflation) while Bonnett would earn $35,675 ($ when adjusted for inflation).

Mercury would score its last NASCAR Cup victory in this race. Coo Coo Marlin would retire from NASCAR after this race while Tennessee's Harry Dinwiddle would make his only NASCAR Cup Series appearance here. Country music singing legend and NASCAR Cup Series driver Marty Robbins would start 37th and finish the race in 13th while driving his 1978 Dodge Magnum number 6.

Qualifying

Finishing order

Section reference:

1. Neil Bonnett†
2. Cale Yarborough
3. Dale Earnhardt†
4. Benny Parsons†
5. Harry Gant
6. Richard Childress
7. Bill Elliott
8. Lake Speed
9. Kyle Petty
10. Dick May†
11. Darrell Waltrip*
12. Hary Dinwiddle
13. Marty Robbins†
14. James Hylton†
15. Jimmy Means
16. Billie Harvey*†
17. David Pearson*†
18. Richard Petty*
19. Slick Johnson†
20. Ricky Rudd
21. Ronnie Thomas*
22. Roger Hamby
23. Cecil Gordon†
24. Bobby Wawak†
25. J.D. McDuffie*†
26. Donnie Allison*
27. Baxter Price
28. Lennie Pond*†
29. Tommy Gale*†
30. Jody Ridley*
31. Terry Labonte*
32. Buddy Baker*†
33. Frank Warren*
34. Tighe Scott*
35. Bobby Allison*
36. Rick Wilson*
37. Coo Coo Marlin*†
38. Buddy Arrington*
39. Dave Marcis*
40. Ferrel Harris*†
41. Bruce Hill* † signifies that the driver is known to be deceased

** Driver failed to finish race*

Standings after the race

References

before = 1980 Coca-Cola 500| after = 1980 Champion Spark Plug 400| title = NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season| years = 1980 | before = 1979| after = 1981| title = Talladega 500 races | years = 1980 |

References

1. [http://www.almanac.com/weather/history/AL/Talladega/1980-08-03 Weather information for the ''1980 Talladega 500''] at The Old Farmer's Almanac
2. [http://www.databaseracing.com/races/raceinfo.htm?rid=1303 ''1980 Talladega 500''] race information at Database Racing
3. [http://www.racing-reference.info/race/1980_Talladega_500/W ''1980 Talladega 500''] race information at Racing Reference
4. (November 1, 2012). "Track Facts". Talladega Superspeedway.
5. [http://www.decadesofracing.net/80Talladega500.htm ''1980 Talladega 500''] information at Decades of Racing
6. [http://www.everythingstockcar.com/1789r-1980-talladega-500-nascar-race.html ''1980 Talladega 500''] information at Everything Stock Car
7. [http://www.martyrobbins.net/racing.htm ''1980 Talladega 500''] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-03-16 information at MartyRobbins.net)