Race
The race started under the yellow flag for 15 laps due to wet conditions after overnight rain the night before the race. Donnie Allison lost control of his car on lap 32 (of 200 laps) and forced Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison to take evasive action. All three cars spun through the backstretch infield which was slippery and muddy after a morning rain. Yarborough was forced to repair his car, and fell two laps behind the leader.
Following the yellow the race swelled into a huge 18-car battle. Neil Bonnett, driving an Oldsmobile, raced into the lead but was soon challenged by Bobby Allison trying to unlap himself and rookie Dale Earnhardt. A six-car crash eliminated David Pearson and others, then Donnie Allison raced to unlap himself, and did so when Bonnett blew a tire and spun in traffic. Past halfway Donnie assumed the lead but Cale Yarborough used more cautions to make up his laps.
Read more about this topic: 1979 Daytona 500
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