1979 Nascar Rebel "500" at Darlington last laps

[fvkristina]

This is the only NASCAR race I've attended. Just found this clip and have enjoyed watching it several times. At about 7:20 in the video you can see the crowd in the grandstands all standing and cheering. I distinctly remember about the last 30 laps everyone was standing and screaming. Waltrip has referenced this race as one that he remembers as a great win for him. This kind of racing and excitement I think is gone forever. At the end you couldn't hear the cars for the noise of the fans.

[STP43FAN1]

@FrodothePuppet other than double file restarts you're correct about the sport's lack of competitive depth. The sport has severed its ties with the wider audience because it's become a closed loop - it's no longer possible for local track racers to be able to get to the Cup level and despite the recent success of Tommy Baldwin's team it is the exception proving the rule - the money guy team owners have taken the sport away from the racers.

[joboots007]

@STP43FAN1 Yeah,and now the big boys such as Roush are feeling the heat from this

recession and who knows will they ever get it back? Also Brian France has made a mockery

out the organzation his dad and grandpa so carefully mantained until he took over,but does

he really know 'bout the mess he and Mike Helton helped caused????

[STP43FAN1]

Does anyone have the 1977 Rebel 500? I remember that finish as being a three-wide photo finish to the race-ending yellow.

[STP43FAN1]

I counted eight lead changes in the final five laps of this race. Making this battle all the more stunning is that even in 1979 Darlington was not a track where they could race side by side to any serious extent.

[bbigjohnson]

I've been waiting years for someone to post the complete ending of this race. Finally someone has. Would have liked to see Petty win it but still one of the best finishes ever. Easily in my top 5. Petty won the championship that year when "Jaws" tanked. Ironically, his tank job began here in the "Southern 500". When drivers talk about this race they all have a difference in how many passes were made on the last lap Waltrip 5 ,in his book he says 4, Gant 6 or 8, Petty at least 2 per lap. It's 3.

[FrodothePuppet]

Terrific racing! Why do people watch the crap seen in current NA$CAR? Sure, it's bigger now than then, but that's just the surface. It's hollow inside; no substance. Just crashes, "lucky dogs", double-file restrarts, green-white-crashers, and the dishonest CHA$E. And all the drama between drivers with rich daddies who bought them a go-kart at age 4 and paid for the driver development training. Who can relate to that?

And these cars even LOOK stock!

[Fania54]

All I can say is WOW!! One of the, if not, THE greatest last laps of a NASCAR race, ever. Ol' Darrell raced The King pretty clean too.

Thanks for posting this and all the great races!