As you see from these videos, the Ontario Motor Speedway was a carbon copy of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, only wider. Had NASCAR raced at IMS during the 1970s and early '80s, the people there would have seen the greatest racing they would have ever seen, due to drafting.
By the way, Roger Hamby owned cars for, among others, Sterling Marlin, Skip Manning, and Don Whittington in future years.
#98 Jimmy Insolo started in that car - Rod Osterlund's backup car - so Dale Earnhardt, already tabbed to take over the #2, could drive in the race in relief.
i read an old article about this track closing. NASCAR's official reasoning for taking it off the schedule at the time was "lack of competition." But after watching this race, that's hard to believe.
@erasetoimprove Ontario was purchased by Chevron during the 1981 season and Chevron announced it would tear the track down - NASCAR had already scheduled the season finale there and had to reschedule it to Riverside.
@Leonefan No, Pearson's final race with the Wood Brothers was the 1979 Rebel 500 at Darlington...same track, wrong race. A pit miscommunication cost Pearson any chance of wining that race, so he quit the team. Pearson did win the 1979 Southern 500 for his next-to-last NASCAR win, but he was driving an Osterlund car in a fill-in role because Dale Earnhardt Sr. was injured.
Not quite, but very close. Pearson won the 1979 Southern 500 subbing for an injured Dale Earnhardt in the Rod Osterlund #2. His final race in the #21 was the Rebel 500 at Darlington earlier that spring; an ignominious departure after Pearson left pit road without his lug nuts fastened.
You're welcome Joe. Agreed, the old Ontario speedway never failed to put on a heck of a show. So far, all the races I've seen there in the stock cars have been amazingly close all the way.
Sandeep, you are being my hero. Nice video. Never seen actual TV coverage of a race at Ontario before, just the old Car & Track shows and a handful of old filmstrips.
As you see from these videos, the Ontario Motor Speedway was a carbon copy of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, only wider. Had NASCAR raced at IMS during the 1970s and early '80s, the people there would have seen the greatest racing they would have ever seen, due to drafting.
By the way, Roger Hamby owned cars for, among others, Sterling Marlin, Skip Manning, and Don Whittington in future years.
cjs3872 4 months ago
Its incredible how low tech we once were
blackjack21211 5 months ago
Datsun The official car of ontario motor speedway @2:08
vegasjinx 11 months ago
8:17 four abreast for the lead?!?
STP43FAN1 1 year ago
#98 Jimmy Insolo started in that car - Rod Osterlund's backup car - so Dale Earnhardt, already tabbed to take over the #2, could drive in the race in relief.
lol - Paul Frees selling Schlitz.
STP43FAN1 1 year ago
i read an old article about this track closing. NASCAR's official reasoning for taking it off the schedule at the time was "lack of competition." But after watching this race, that's hard to believe.
erasetoimprove 1 year ago
@erasetoimprove Ontario was purchased by Chevron during the 1981 season and Chevron announced it would tear the track down - NASCAR had already scheduled the season finale there and had to reschedule it to Riverside.
STP43FAN1 1 year ago
commercials were so much less annoying back then
erasetoimprove 1 year ago
Those advertisements are awesome!
IndyMeister 1 year ago
Glad someone found a better quality version of this race, up til now the best version I've seen was pretty rough.
Radar19792006 1 year ago
This was David Pearson's final race with the Wood Brothers. Thinking he was planning to retire, the Woods hired Neil Bonnett for 1979.
WSBT960 1 year ago
@WSBT960 Actually, Pearson's final race with the Wood Brothers was the 1979 Southern 500.
Leonefan 1 year ago
@Leonefan No, Pearson's final race with the Wood Brothers was the 1979 Rebel 500 at Darlington...same track, wrong race. A pit miscommunication cost Pearson any chance of wining that race, so he quit the team. Pearson did win the 1979 Southern 500 for his next-to-last NASCAR win, but he was driving an Osterlund car in a fill-in role because Dale Earnhardt Sr. was injured.
UsonianAC 1 year ago
@Leonefan
Not quite, but very close. Pearson won the 1979 Southern 500 subbing for an injured Dale Earnhardt in the Rod Osterlund #2. His final race in the #21 was the Rebel 500 at Darlington earlier that spring; an ignominious departure after Pearson left pit road without his lug nuts fastened.
BTW: James Coburn is the man!!
Coburn
erik1127 1 year ago
@erik1127 Aha, so it was the Rebel 500, thanks for the info!
Leonefan 1 year ago
@Leonefan
Yessir...the 'Ol Stars & Bars. A memorable battle between Waltrip & Petty in the closing laps with Waltrip squeezing out a victory.
Great vids btw......please keep 'em comin'!!
erik1127 1 year ago
Awesome stuff Sandeep.
gameover325 2 years ago
You're welcome Joe. Agreed, the old Ontario speedway never failed to put on a heck of a show. So far, all the races I've seen there in the stock cars have been amazingly close all the way.
Leonefan 2 years ago
Sandeep, you are being my hero. Nice video. Never seen actual TV coverage of a race at Ontario before, just the old Car & Track shows and a handful of old filmstrips.
JoeytheHDK 2 years ago