This was the first NASCAR race that was broadcast "live" on national television (ABC). Cale Yarborough was right. The thrilling finish (and the fight) boosted the popularity of NASCAR racing like nothing else could. That popularity has only grown since then.
Other network sports variety shows either showed NASCAR races a week later edited or they were joined in progress. The 1976 Daytona 500 was. That was the one that came down between David Pearson & Richard Petty.
THE defining moment in NASCAR history, shown live on TV, the first Daytona 500 ever broadcast live. I was watching! Cale Yarborough sums it up beautifully- "I think it made a lot of fans for the sport. I think it's one of the biggest things to happen to the sport. It got people's attention." Those were the days! Thanks for posting!
I saw an interview during the 50th Anniversary of Daytona 500 and the two were in a room together talking about this fight. You could see they still were angry about it. It cracked me up.
I sent a video response to the owner....the two cars are in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC, and I took a quick video of them up close so you can see Donnie and Cale's cars in the shape they were in right at the end of the race. Awesome that they kept the cars instead of scrapping them....something you don't see today.
I don't remember like it was yesterday but this is my first memory of NASCAR racing. I remember my Dad rooting for 'The King' and how excited he got when Richard Petty came out on top in that race.
NASCAR has always been more of a spectator's sport than Formula or WRC, simply because it's both more exciting and easier to spectate. Formula and Touring car racing (or any form of racing with both LH and RH turns) is a fine art; more of an enthusiast's sport. It's about the feeling and finesse of car control on the limit. You hardly have time to think about where other cars are, let alone follow them. And it's not about the battles, it's about getting around the track as fast as possible
This was the first time since 1959 (and only the second time ever) the Daytona "500" aired live and in full on network TV (CBS). Thanks to heavy promotion of the telecast----and the last laps' duel which boosted the numbers as people called their neighbors to say "Turn On CBS! There's an amazing finish coming up in Daytona!"---the ratings were the largest ever for a NASCAR race (and maybe any kind of auto race) up to that time. Auto racing became a big-time TV sport thanks to this finish.
This was the first race I remember seeing (I was 7 years old) and I thought it was so cool, not because of the crash or the fight but the fact that my Dad's favorite driver, 'King' Richard Petty won. He was so excited.....brings back good memories. He'll be watching today for the 50th running of the Great American Race (Daytona 500)
Classic. This and the finish of the 1976 Daytona 500 (when David Pearson and Richard Petty crashed on the last lap) are among the most memorable finishes in Daytona 500 history.
In all honesty, Cale had position on Donnie, Bobby's brother should've given way but instead he ran Cale to the grass & caused both of them to wreck just like the assholes I play against on ps3 NASCAR 14...
Donnie did cut Cale off but you have to remember, this was the Daytona 500. A couple times Donnie had the race basically won, in earlier years, and lost due to bad luck (late flat tire in 1974 is one example), so Donnie wanted to win this race so bad he could taste it and of course, so did Cale. It was Donnie's fault but it was basically two fierce competitors determined to race as hard as they could.
I race stock cars on dirt, which is obviously a lot slower than this but the corners are tighter. I was so surprised at the amount of g-forces I felt going into the corner. Now I got used to it and really don't feel it at all. People who race at all levels really put their life into it. It costs so much money to race even at the local dirt track.
I like circuit racing (oval or road course) and rally... it's all fun to watch! Each kind's got its particular feel and thrill, but ALL of it boils down to men and women mastering their machines and making their way through close calls to get the checkers!
"I had no control over the car at the time" translated, "donnie u mfkr, im gonna put u in the wall just for that"..........."...i knew that he (cale) wasnt going to get under me before i got to turn 3" translated, "i knew that it just wasnt going to happen"....
I liked watching them all,more back then tan now.They were racing cars we could go and get at a dealership.So,it was more about the personalities back then.And this was a fine example of personality conflict.
Jennifer Sun You are dead wrong, Cale is and was the scrapper here, he took on two brothers at the same time and was holding his own. Donnie tried to cut Cale off and failed, period.
Donnie clearly ran Cale into the grass... I'll always remember this race, as others have mentioned this was the first Daytona 500 televised live. Ever after this I was huge Cale Yarbourough fan, and he's still a great guy!
Actually no. The next race that both Cale and Donnie ran was a couple weeks later at Rockingham. In the first 10 laps of the race, Cale took Donnie out as a payback and it was a multi car crash which involved another Hoss Ellington car driven by Neil Bonnett. Only people that really followed racing at the time remember that.
I'm not a big fan of either drivers, so after watching it several times, I have to take Cale's side. He definitely would have made the pass, but as Donnie eased him down the track, he took Cale's momentum away and ended up side by side. As he kept easing down the track, at first it didn't look like he pushed him off the track, but then I noticed his left rear wheel did catch the mud and it was on from there. I think Donnie refuses to look at it objectively.
still happens though, Harvick and Biffle at Bristol Fight night comes to mind : ) Kurt Busch and Jimmy Spencer were infamous too. i know there's more but I can't remember what they are
I heard all 3 got death threats after this. Someone threatened to throw a beer bottle through Donnie's windshield when they came to Atlanta. 1 year later, Donnie's affiliation with Hoss Ellington ended after the Atlanta race. The TropArtic team would stay out late partying and was not 100% focused come race time. Except for the 1980 Rebel 500 with David Pearson, I don't think Hoss Ellington's drivers won another race.
It's obvious Donnie threw the block which is legal as long as he is in front which he was since Cale tapped him in the back, went below the line and lost control came up and hit Donnie in the door...all good stuff though, that's when it was real racing, not this crap Nascar puts out there every Sunday now.
LOL I love the way the driver that does indeed squeeze him off states ' a lot of people think I ran him off the road but he hit the back me first!' Yeah mate, he hit you because he wouldve had to take to the grass!
cale made more sense, if your moving at 160+ MPH the car will shot up either back ontop the race track or into the infield. I think that donnie should went high and sling shot by cale in turn 3, however it was an exiting crash and race
It was a racing incident. If the front of your car meets the driver's door then he should give you room. In this case Cale was going a lot faster than Donnie but Donnie did a poor job blocking him. Cale was already underneath him and had all 4 wheels on the track when Donnie hit him. I
saw and interview with cale, and he insists bobby 'ran into his fist'. and there's a rumor floating that stewart punched kurt busch in the nascar hauler after they called them in for using their cars to fight on the track
They were both in the wrong. Donnie Allison forced him off the track and Yarborough reciprocated by playing bumper cars. Bobby Allison should've stayed out of the fray.
@critchley3819 If you listen closely you will hear the commentator who called Bathurst for US television last year as the back straight announcer. Mike Joy referenced this fight to Murph during the Ambrose phone conversation comparing this to the 2005 Bathurst squabble.
i am a fan of KUBICA(Robert) BMW Sauber .... he won at monaco last season but this season is a bad season for him! ,,, already 3 engines died! That's just f***ed up! He might join a different team! and good to see an F1 fan!
brandonsmail99 -- I was kidding, it''s what Cale supposedly said in the heat of the moment. I think it's hilarious. Bobby was nowhere near Donnie and Cale when the last lap deal happened. Anyway, I agree.....hell of a finish!
@altfactor The cold wave was definitely real, I don't know about the urban legend but like I said that was the day that I got married and we had 2 ft. of snow that day here in NC. Biggest snowstorm i ever saw!!!!!!
This was the first NASCAR race that was broadcast "live" on national television (ABC). Cale Yarborough was right. The thrilling finish (and the fight) boosted the popularity of NASCAR racing like nothing else could. That popularity has only grown since then.
It was CBS.
CBS
Other network sports variety shows either showed NASCAR races a week later edited or they were joined in progress. The 1976 Daytona 500 was. That was the one that came down between David Pearson & Richard Petty.
Lol yall gotta remember that racing was way better but lots more dangerous back then.
Who would thumb down this....? WTF..? This is real Nascar unlike the BS they call Nascar today...
NASCAR is still cool ... but not like this
This was NASCAR.
THE defining moment in NASCAR history, shown live on TV, the first Daytona 500 ever broadcast live. I was watching! Cale Yarborough sums it up beautifully- "I think it made a lot of fans for the sport. I think it's one of the biggest things to happen to the sport. It got people's attention." Those were the days! Thanks for posting!
great stuff, brought NASCAR to the masses
I saw an interview during the 50th Anniversary of Daytona 500 and the two were in a room together talking about this fight. You could see they still were angry about it. It cracked me up.
I sent a video response to the owner....the two cars are in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC, and I took a quick video of them up close so you can see Donnie and Cale's cars in the shape they were in right at the end of the race. Awesome that they kept the cars instead of scrapping them....something you don't see today.
Remember when sex was safe and racing was dangerous?
Haven't heard of anyone dying of sex lately.
ever heard of AIDS?
Eric Cardona ouu I member
Back when Nascar was fun and you could tell the various manufacturers apart.
What would the fine be if this happened today? The NASCAR office would drop dead of a heart attack.
Modern day liberalism constantly trickles into every arena of American life .
Donnie had every right to block Cale to force him to go outside. Cale chose to go into the grass instead, then into Donnie.
I don't remember like it was yesterday but this is my first memory of NASCAR racing. I remember my Dad rooting for 'The King' and how excited he got when Richard Petty came out on top in that race.
NASCAR has always been more of a spectator's sport than Formula or WRC, simply because it's both more exciting and easier to spectate.
Formula and Touring car racing (or any form of racing with both LH and RH turns) is a fine art; more of an enthusiast's sport. It's about the feeling and finesse of car control on the limit. You hardly have time to think about where other cars are, let alone follow them. And it's not about the battles, it's about getting around the track as fast as possible
I love the fact that these guys are still arguing over whose fault it was. It's been 30 years.
This was the first time since 1959 (and only the second time ever) the Daytona "500" aired live and in full on network TV (CBS).
Thanks to heavy promotion of the telecast----and the last laps' duel which boosted the numbers as people called their neighbors to say "Turn On CBS! There's an amazing finish coming up in Daytona!"---the ratings were the largest ever for a NASCAR race (and maybe any kind of auto race) up to that time.
Auto racing became a big-time TV sport thanks to this finish.
Ah, the good ole days. I miss those!
"The Alambama Gang" Haven't heard that in years.
Thanks for the video!
Quite easily, the greatest moment in NASCAR history. One Great Finish, one great fight, and one great moment.
This was the first race I remember seeing (I was 7 years old) and I thought it was so cool, not because of the crash or the fight but the fact that my Dad's favorite driver, 'King' Richard Petty won. He was so excited.....brings back good memories. He'll be watching today for the 50th running of the Great American Race (Daytona 500)
Notice Donnie was the smartest one...........he never took his helmet off. Years on the short tracks in the old days would teach you that. lol
This aired today (February 18) in 1979. And it put NASCAR on the map.
Cale hit him. He weren't gonna git shut out, and he hit Donnie. Like the preacher said, "They's some holes you just aren't gonna fit into".
you don't turn your wheel to the right at 200 mph. Cale did it twice in that segment.
Cale held his line. You can see that Donnie clearly came from the outside to the inside.
Classic. This and the finish of the 1976 Daytona 500 (when David Pearson and Richard Petty crashed on the last lap) are among the most memorable finishes in Daytona 500 history.
In all honesty, Cale had position on Donnie, Bobby's brother should've given way but instead he ran Cale to the grass & caused both of them to wreck just like the assholes I play against on ps3 NASCAR 14...
Donnie did cut Cale off but you have to remember, this was the Daytona 500. A couple times Donnie had the race basically won, in earlier years, and lost due to bad luck (late flat tire in 1974 is one example), so Donnie wanted to win this race so bad he could taste it and of course, so did Cale. It was Donnie's fault but it was basically two fierce competitors determined to race as hard as they could.
I wonder if the Yarboroughs & Allisons get along now? Probably not lol
I actually saw this on TV... Hard to believe it was 30 years ago!
This never gets old.
I race stock cars on dirt, which is obviously a lot slower than this but the corners are tighter. I was so surprised at the amount of g-forces I felt going into the corner. Now I got used to it and really don't feel it at all. People who race at all levels really put their life into it. It costs so much money to race even at the local dirt track.
i know! i had to mute my computer, it was getting on my nerves
Back when NASCAR was great, now it sucks.
I like circuit racing (oval or road course) and rally... it's all fun to watch! Each kind's got its particular feel and thrill, but ALL of it boils down to men and women mastering their machines and making their way through close calls to get the checkers!
"I had no control over the car at the time" translated, "donnie u mfkr, im gonna put u in the wall just for that"..........."...i knew that he (cale) wasnt going to get under me before i got to turn 3" translated, "i knew that it just wasnt going to happen"....
Those were the days when nascar WAS nascar.
I liked watching them all,more back then tan now.They were racing cars we could go and get at a dealership.So,it was more about the personalities back then.And this was a fine example of personality conflict.
Jennifer Sun You are dead wrong, Cale is and was the scrapper here, he took on two brothers at the same time and was holding his own. Donnie tried to cut Cale off and failed, period.
Donnie clearly ran Cale into the grass... I'll always remember this race, as others have mentioned this was the first Daytona 500 televised live. Ever after this I was huge Cale Yarbourough fan, and he's still a great guy!
his nose proceded to beat my fist
Cale was right, the last lap crash was Bobby's fault... (hahahaha!)
Wish we had the NASCAR at Germany.....
Donnie Allison, Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, AJ Foyt Jr., Bobby Allison.
Those are some drivers
Then one week later they all went fishin' together.
Actually no. The next race that both Cale and Donnie ran was a couple weeks later at Rockingham. In the first 10 laps of the race, Cale took Donnie out as a payback and it was a multi car crash which involved another Hoss Ellington car driven by Neil Bonnett. Only people that really followed racing at the time remember that.
Right Donnie, Cale had you pinned right against the wall!!!!
I'm not a big fan of either drivers, so after watching it several times, I have to take Cale's side. He definitely would have made the pass, but as Donnie eased him down the track, he took Cale's momentum away and ended up side by side. As he kept easing down the track, at first it didn't look like he pushed him off the track, but then I noticed his left rear wheel did catch the mud and it was on from there. I think Donnie refuses to look at it objectively.
Cale didn't tap him in the back, look closely. They made contact on Donnie's left rear. Personally, I'd say Donnie is at fault here.
i wish there would be more fist fights... maybe the announcers should disagree on something and just start throwing hay-makers!!
Donnie allison told one of the biggest lies ever!
Cale Yarbourgh was a tough little son of a gun. I miss seeing that guy race on Sunday's.
Cale was right, Bobby caused that wreck...LOL
I was a 9-year-old girl watching this race while the blizzard howled outside.
I'm pretty sure he's joking about the curb feelers.
All three should have recieved a percentage of the ticket sales for the next 30 years
still happens though, Harvick and Biffle at Bristol Fight night comes to mind : ) Kurt Busch and Jimmy Spencer were infamous too. i know there's more but I can't remember what they are
"It appears we may have a fist fight, we see driver's and helmets", LOL!!!!!!! That commentator at 0:10 sounds just like Mickey Mouse on PCP. Lol.
@RedroomStudios That is correct, you can see Donnie cross the white lines as Cale tries to pass him, it is clearly his fault.
great video,i enjoyed it.
My Dad Was There he was very Young at that time
Now THATS "Boys Have At It!" REAL AND UP CLOSE! WooHoo!
The man says "It's proven on the potato we showed..."
Absolutely it was.
I heard all 3 got death threats after this. Someone threatened to throw a beer bottle through Donnie's windshield when they came to Atlanta. 1 year later, Donnie's affiliation with Hoss Ellington ended after the Atlanta race. The TropArtic team would stay out late partying and was not 100% focused come race time. Except for the 1980 Rebel 500 with David Pearson, I don't think Hoss Ellington's drivers won another race.
Ok, you go out there and do it since it's so easy.
It's obvious Donnie threw the block which is legal as long as he is in front which he was since Cale tapped him in the back, went below the line and lost control came up and hit Donnie in the door...all good stuff though, that's when it was real racing, not this crap Nascar puts out there every Sunday now.
this is back when the cars were actually "stock" not the heavily modified bodys of today.
Cale was right, the wreck was Bobby Allison's fault, "Bobby was blocking all day"
Richard Petty's car was the brightest colored car. The Blue Streak.
Now we have Clint and Jeff.
Back in the day when they ACTUALLY looked like what was on the showroom floor...
...then again though, I somehow couldn't imagine a FWD NASCAR...
LOL I love the way the driver that does indeed squeeze him off states ' a lot of people think I ran him off the road but he hit the back me first!'
Yeah mate, he hit you because he wouldve had to take to the grass!
cale made more sense, if your moving at 160+ MPH the car will shot up either back ontop the race track or into the infield. I think that donnie should went high and sling shot by cale in turn 3, however it was an exiting crash and race
It was a racing incident. If the front of your car meets the driver's door then he should give you room. In this case Cale was going a lot faster than Donnie but Donnie did a poor job blocking him. Cale was already underneath him and had all 4 wheels on the track when Donnie hit him. I
"Petty almost put him off in the grass!"
What race are you watching? lol.
You gotta love those added on after the fact announcers.
@marimbaman89 This may not answer your question, but the radio commentary team (I believe Barney Hall and Eli Gold) is quite the mind trip.
that track looked like just random barren land and they built a racetrack around it.
I think the site was a cornfield before the actual track was built
The best thing about it was the gift to King Richard of yet another of his 200 wins! MoPAR EXPERIENCE
Now the only big fight we had was between Jeff (24) and Clint (15)
saw and interview with cale, and he insists bobby 'ran into his fist'. and there's a rumor floating that stewart punched kurt busch in the nascar hauler after they called them in for using their cars to fight on the track
They were both in the wrong. Donnie Allison forced him off the track and Yarborough reciprocated by playing bumper cars. Bobby Allison should've stayed out of the fray.
This is what racing looks like
I had both of the MatchBox cars and can assure you, they've seen way worse accidents than that lol
@critchley3819 If you listen closely you will hear the commentator who called Bathurst for US television last year as the back straight announcer. Mike Joy referenced this fight to Murph during the Ambrose phone conversation comparing this to the 2005 Bathurst squabble.
i am a fan of KUBICA(Robert) BMW Sauber .... he won at monaco last season but this season is a bad season for him! ,,, already 3 engines died! That's just f***ed up! He might join a different team! and good to see an F1 fan!
Eli Gold, Dr Jerry Punch, and Barney Hall! Who is the 4th guy?
My grandpa saw that crash and said it was an excitement
brandonsmail99 -- I was kidding, it''s what Cale supposedly said in the heat of the moment. I think it's hilarious. Bobby was nowhere near Donnie and Cale when the last lap deal happened. Anyway, I agree.....hell of a finish!
Ken Delco nailed it.
VrOOm1337 has it right too.
I dont mind Toyota being in NASCAR but atleast make the RWD Carbureted 2 door Camery available to me ffs!
Yeah and with a V8 engine rather than with the 2.4 litre 4 cylinder or 3 litre V6!
F1 is cool if you like to watch follow the leader for 2 hours.
Donnie was at blame for the wreck. But Cale started punching the guy who wasn't even involved in the wreck
Bobby should have stayed out of it. He wasn't too worried about Donnie when he spun him out off turn 2, earlier in the race.
the great age of nascar
I LOVED to watch yarborough race!
lol this+ Benny Hill theme= LMFAO
No one would accept to lose , gees what , they both lost. Hard lesson from history. Full of enjoyments thought ; )
Top 10 Anime Betrayals
the first race on the pavement that just got replaced at daytona
this is real STOCK car racing
@altfactor The cold wave was definitely real, I don't know about the urban legend but like I said that was the day that I got married and we had 2 ft. of snow that day here in NC. Biggest snowstorm i ever saw!!!!!!
Why are there reenactment broadcasters/
I haven't ever wayched NASCAR.
@agusfran12 Who doesn't?