The NASCAR community has seen some close contests between the race cars on the track. However, there was a time when the drivers took the fight outside the cars. In the 1979 Daytona 500, three drivers by the name of Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, and Donnie Allison got into an accident early into the race. What happened later led to Dale Earnhardt Jr calling Yarborough “Hardheaded.”
The accident at the beginning of the race ended up taking the three to the back of the standings. This led to an ugly scene as the three drivers started throwing punches and kicks at each other.
Dale Earnhardt Jr deduces the fight at the 1979 Daytona 500
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Dale Earnhardt Jr, in his recent podcast, recalled what occurred between the two Allison brothers and Cale Yarborough. Shortly after they all went spinning out of the track after hitting the slick part of the track, caution was announced, and Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough went 2 laps behind the lead. Whereas, Donnie Allison went back a lap.
Junior said, “Cale, Bobby, and Donnie had an accident early in the race, and that got the embers burning right. That set the stage.”
Bobby who suffered significant damage was pretty much out of winning the race. Whereas, the other two started making their way back to the lead. Donnie took the lead of the race while Yarborough was still making his way through the field. By lap 178 out of 200, both the drivers were in 1st and 2nd position.
On the last lap, they were very close to each other when Yarborough tried to go through inside of Donnie. Donnie closed the door and the two crashed on the final lap. This was followed by a strong exchange between the two. When Bobby reached the scene in his car, Yarborough started yelling at him. The conversation heated up to such an extent that the drivers started throwing punches at each other.
In his podcast, Junior said, “It’s so funny. Those guys are so hardheaded that they run another 400 miles and they’re still pissed about what happened you know 50 miles into the race. They are arguing over that and end up fighting at the end of the race after crashing out.”
Watch This Story: “Going to beer school was cool” – Ross Chastain enters Dale Earnhardt Jr’s good books after making a change in lifestyle
Junior appreciates the dynamic nature of the drivers
Trending
NASCAR Rumor: 66-YO Surprise Daytona 500 Winner Could Make a Return to NASCAR in 2025
1 Year After Heartbreak, Shane van Gisbergen Dominates Rivals in Dirt Track Return
Amid Sleepless Nights, Tony Stewart’s Wife Leah Reveals Their 1-Month-Old Son’s 4 ‘Responsibilities’
Shane Van Gisbergen Discloses a Major Problem in NASCAR After Leaving Supercars
Historic NASCAR Track Shutting Its Door After Final Run Has Racing Community Heartbroken
Despite himself calling the situation to be funny, Dale Jr admitted that these three had dynamic personalities. They were passionate about racing and winning, so much so that having a full-on fight after the race didn’t seem ridiculous. After the race, Yarborough even said that “The only thing I’ve regretted was not winning the race.”
View this post on Instagram
Junior continued, “They were all so dramatic. Racing those cars was their entire world, you know what I mean? And everything mattered. And they were all dynamic in their personalities and all of those dynamic personalities clashed.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
With all the adrenaline rushing through their bodies, these drivers had to find some way to let go of the steam. Unfortunately for them, it ended up being a physical brawl. Nevertheless, it was one of the moments that will always be remembered in the history of NASCAR.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad