“Most Important Race in the History of the Sport” – Dale Earnhardt Jr Digs Deep into the Race which Put NASCAR on the Map With The Man Himself

There are many contenders for the most important race in NASCAR history. Different factions have different opinions, but there could be a few we could shortlist. Daytona 500 would feature the most number of times in the list. Although many would vouch for the tragic Daytona race in 2001, and the one from 1979 would find suitors as well. Often referred to as the ’79 Great American Race, the event was the ideal description of a perfect NASCAR race.

The race holds major significance in bringing a new dawn to the sport. It was the first-ever live superspeedway event to be televised by a huge media house, which happened to be CBS. But another reason why it produced “The Fight” has come to light by none other than the driver involved in the fight. Dale Earnhardt Jr brings us the story of NASCAR’s most important race in history with Donnie Allison, who fought his heart out to protect his brother.

Dale Earnhardt Jr recalls the most important race in NASCAR history

A snowstorm in February prior to the race made sure that most of the Eastern side racing community was in their couches and tuned in to watch America’s biggest stock car race. Running it back, Dale Earnhardt Jr reminisced about the event. Donnie, being a participant in the quarrel, has the most knowledge about it and says that the question is not even up for discussion. The race should have an undisputed status in history.

In the ‘Dale Jr Download’ podcast, Dale said, “People say and I agree with this, that, that race is probably the most important race in the history of the sport because it’s the race where we’ve got flag-to-flag coverage, which was unique, we never really had a full 4-hour TV window… you know the story, you lived it. And I’m sure, how many times do you think you’ve told the story about going down the back straightaway with Cale?”

“Ended up in the grass and your brother coming along and everything else. How many times do you believe you’ve relived that story?” asks Dale.

Allison added, “It’s one thing that I say every time it’s brought up just like you said, one of the most important races… It is The most important race in NASCAR.”

The international motorsports Hall of Famer reiterates his declaration as he said, “It is the most talked about race in NASCAR. I don’t care about Richard Petty David Pearson.. I don’t care about none of that. And they were very important, but in 79 at Daytona it’s the most important and most talked about race in NASCAR history.”

When Junior tries to get Donnie to recall and recreate the moment in their conversation, Donnie accepts the request going down the annals of history.

“I remember every bit of it,” said Allison. “You know, on the 29th lap of that race, I was leading, I spun out I don’t know about Bobbie, I don’t know which one of them did what… I don’t know. I just know we went down the field in the mud, bent my front end up, now imma tow out. Bobby actually held me straightened out, kept coming back in and tow back and everything like that. And the last restart, Haas comes on the radio and said to me don’t worry about Cale, NASCAR says he’s atleast five laps down. Okay well, we come to the next caution, and he almost wrecked me.”

What followed could best be described as a dogfight with tempers flaring across the iconic venue.

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How “The Fight” unfolded

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Donnie and three-time consecutive Cup winner Cale Yarborough competed for the race’s lead on the final lap. When they collided, as they approached the last few turns, both cars spun out and hit the outer wall. Richard Petty, who was also vying for the lead, steered clear of the debris and eventually won the race.

“And I said, oh you don’t wreck somebody five laps down. So anyway, we restart the race and I’m leading, Cale runs second and that time is different than now. A guy could drive by somebody, not necessarily could outrun him. You know he might drive by and get past right back or whatever. My car after that wreck, was the best racecar we’ve had at Daytona Beach.”

Live television coverage of the incident made it one of the most popular moments in NASCAR history, garnering a lot of media attention and helping to further popularize the sport. In the years that followed, NASCAR’s popularity grew as a result, which helped the sport get prominence in the national scene.

“Five laps to go in the race, I said to Haas on the radio, Haas don’t talk to me. I know where I’m at and what’s going on because I was on the radio and he was asking about having chicken for dinner or something. I knew and I was prepared.” says Donnie, who could be seen seething with anger.

But talking about his contrasting experience that followed owing to his complete focus on his race.

“Where am I, where I’m coming off turn 4, I was not prepared for what I was coming off turn 2. I don’t know if Dale did, I never looked at anybody in my mirror and never cornered on Daytona Beach. I never looked up to see where anybody was. For some reason I was going into turn one and I glance up and I see him going down and I said, no way buddy.” said Allison.

“When we were coming around to turn two, you ran into the back of me. We did meet in the sideways and that’s when he hit me in the door, when I got side by side.”

Cale managed to force Donnie’s hand with multiple incidents of contact in the race. As it all came down to venting out his frustration, the rage spilled out onto the track.

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“I’d probably kill him”: Donnie reveals his feelings about Yarborough that day

The podcast takes an extreme turn as the 83-year-old gets into the more violent side of things. His anger can be felt in his words as he dissects into the turning point of the race.

“I can’t answer why that day I didn’t whoop his a**.”

“I was in seven fights at the race track in my lifetime. Bobby started five of them. I have no idea, except for the fact that Dale was so hurt. This I can say to your dad. Any time that he had a race won at the end, he was a man, he was hurt. I mean, deep hurt. Here I am, third, maybe fourth time I should have won the Daytona 500. I’m in the damn grass, three-quarters of a mile from the finish line. And I’m not gonna win it again,” said Donnie, mentioning the things at stake in the race for him. He was also a great friend of the legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr.

“And Bobby shows up, Cale and I we had some words we were gonna have, and Cale goes over to Bobby and I think if Bobby was helmet through, I don’t know what the hell is this about. So I go run and grab Cale by the arm. I spun him around and said, You wanna fight, I’m the a** you’ll be fighting with buddy. And how fast Bobby got out I have no clue. You don’t get out of a racecar, strapped in with radios, its fastened, Bobby got out there that day. I think I’ve seen that thing before, cause that’s my brother.” 

Donnie then says that at that sight of Yarborough, he felt like his temper knew no bounds. “I never touched the man and he never touched me. If he touched me, I’d probably kill him. I didn’t think about fans, I didn’t think about no one at that time.“

Well, Dale Earnhardt Jr certainly managed to bring back some youthful days of Donnie back here.