1980 Coca-Cola 500

Last updated
1980 Coca-Cola 500
Race details [1]
Race 19 of 31 in the 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
1980CocaCola500NeilBonnett.jpg
Neil Bonnett in the winner's circle after winning the 1980 Coca-Cola 500
Date July 27, 1980 (1980-July-27)
Official name Coca-Cola 500
Location Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania
Course Permanent racing facility
2.500 mi (3.400 km)
Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (804 km)
Weather Warm with temperatures of 79 °F (26 °C); wind speeds of 6.6 miles per hour (10.6 km/h)
Average speed 124.395 miles per hour (200.194 km/h)
Attendance 75,000 [2]
Pole position
Driver
 Junior Johnson & Associates
Time less than 60.000 seconds
Most laps led
Driver Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing
Laps 59
Winner
No. 21Neil BonnettWood Brothers Racing
Television in the United States
Network ABC
Announcers Chris Economaki
Jackie Stewart

The 1980 Coca-Cola 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on July 27, 1980, at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. [2]

Contents

Background

Pocono Raceway is one of six superspeedways to hold NASCAR races; the others are Daytona International Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. [3] The standard track at Pocono Raceway is a three-turn superspeedway that is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long. [4] The track's turns are banked differently; the first is banked at 14°, the second turn at 8° and the final turn with 6°. However, each of the three straightaways are banked at 2°. [4]

Summary

It took four hours and one minute to complete 200 laps; Neil Bonnett defeated Buddy Baker by six-tenths of a second. [2] [5] This was the only NASCAR oval where typical lap times for the race were over a minute, although qualifying times for this track were less than 60 seconds.

There were 19 lead changes in the final 56 laps, with nearly all the lead changes occurring between Baker and Bonnett. The two drivers exchanged the lead nine times in the last 22 laps before Bonnett took the lead for good with four laps remaining. [6]

Bonnett's victory would mark both his first victory of the 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the penultimate one for Mercury as a brand in NASCAR Cup competition. [2]

There were forty American born drivers in the race. [2] Travis Tiller achieved the last-place finish of the race due to a problem in the ignition system during the pace laps of the race. [2] Five cautions slowed the race for 26 laps while 49 lead changes took place from the green flag to the checkered flag. [2] [5] The other drivers who finished in the top ten were: Cale Yarborough, Dale Earnhardt, Harry Gant, Terry Labonte, Kyle Petty, Dave Marcis, Richard Childress (now the owner of Richard Childress Racing), and Ricky Rudd. [2] [5] Most of the drivers competed with the Chevrolets. [2] Kenny Hemphill, Tim Richmond (12th-place finish), and Bob Riley would start their NASCAR Cup Series careers at this race while Janet Guthrie and Nelson Oswald would make this races. [5]

Richard Petty broke his neck as a result of a crash on lap 57. [2] [7]

He managed to successfully rehab from this injury. Guthrie would race fast and furiously with the male competitors until her engine failed after 134 laps. [8]

Notable crew chiefs in this race were Junie Donlavey, Joey Arrington, Darel Dieringer, Dale Inman, Darrell Bryant, D.K. Ulrich, Harry Hyde, Waddell Wilson, and Kirk Shelmerdine. [9]

Standings after the race

PosDriverPoints [2]
1 1rightarrow.png Dale Earnhardt 2902
2 1rightarrow.png Richard Petty 2758
3 1rightarrow.png Cale Yarborough 2724
4 1rightarrow.png Benny Parsons 2627
5 Increase2.svg Darrell Waltrip 2574
6 Decrease2.svg Bobby Allison 2570
7 1rightarrow.png Jody Ridley 2455
8 1rightarrow.png Richard Childress 2330
9 1rightarrow.png Harry Gant 2291
10 Increase2.svg Terry Labonte 2237

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coca-Cola 600</span> Auto race held in Charlotte, United States

The Coca-Cola 600, originally the World 600, is an annual 600-mile (970 km) NASCAR Cup Series points race held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, on a Sunday during Memorial Day weekend. The first race, held in 1960, was also the first one held at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is the longest race on NASCAR's schedule at 600 miles (970 km). It is unique for having track conditions that change throughout the race due to the race having a day to night transition,. The race starts around 6:20 p.m. when the track is bathed in sunlight for about the first third of the race. Roughly the second third happens at dusk, and about the final third of the race occurs at night under the lights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M&M's Fan Appreciation 400</span> NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway

The Pocono 400 is a NASCAR Cup Series stock car race held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Starting in 2022, it is the only Cup Series race at the track after the other Cup Series race at Pocono, the Pocono Organics CBD 325, was removed from the Cup Series schedule in favor of a race at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. The race has been held sometime in mid-to-late July or early August each year except for 1971 when it was held in September, 1974 when it was held in April, and 2020 and 2021 when it was held in June a doubleheader with the other Cup Series race at Pocono. Chase Elliott is the defending winner of the event.

The 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 41st season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 18th modern-era Cup season. It began February 12 and ended November 19. Rusty Wallace of Blue Max Racing won the championship. This was the first year that every Winston Cup race had flag to flag coverage, with almost all of them being televised live.

The 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 40th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 17th modern-era Cup series. The season began on February 7 at Daytona International Speedway and ended on November 20 at the Atlanta International Speedway. Bill Elliott of Melling Racing won the championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series</span> 37th season of NASCAR stock-car racing

The 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 37th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 14th modern-era Cup series season. The season began on Sunday, February 10 and ended on Sunday, November 17. Darrell Waltrip, driving for Junior Johnson, was crowned champion at the end of the season. Bill Elliott, driving for Harry Melling, had won 11 races in 1985, but lost the title by 101 points to three-time race winner Waltrip. This was the first season where all races were televised in some form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1995 Daytona 500</span> Auto race held at Daytona International Speedway in 1995

The 1995 Daytona 500, the 37th running of the event, was held on February 19 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Dale Jarrett won his first career Winston Cup pole. Sterling Marlin won the race for the second straight year, his second Daytona 500 win, after leading 105 laps, including the final 20.

The 1977 NASCAR Grand National Winston Cup Series was the 29th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 6th modern era NASCAR Cup series. The season began on Sunday, January 16 and ended on Sunday, November 20. Cale Yarborough driving the Junior Johnson #11 Holly Farms Chevrolet won his second consecutive NASCAR Grand National Series Winston Cup Championship. Ricky Rudd was crowned NASCAR Rookie of the Year.

The 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 31st season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 8th modern-era Cup series. It began on Sunday, January 14, and ended on Sunday, November 18. Richard Petty won his seventh and final Winston Cup championship, winning by 11 points over Darrell Waltrip. Dale Earnhardt was crowned NASCAR Rookie of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1988 Goodyear NASCAR 500</span> NASCAR event in Melbourne, Australia


The Goodyear NASCAR 500 race was run at the then new A$54 million Calder Park Thunderdome in Melbourne on 28 February 1988. The race was the first ever NASCAR event held outside North America. Unlike Winston Cup races in the United States, the 500 was actually 500 kilometres which is only 310 miles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Series</span> 32nd season of NASCAR stock-car racing

The 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 32nd season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 9th modern-era NASCAR Cup season. It was the final year with the Gen 2 car. The season began on Sunday, January 13 and ended on Sunday, November 15. Dale Earnhardt won his first Winston Cup championship, winning by 19 points over Cale Yarborough. Jody Ridley was crowned NASCAR Rookie of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1985 Van Scoy Diamond Mine 500</span> Auto race held at Pocono Raceway in 1985

The 1985 Van Scoy Diamond Mine 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on June 9, 1985, at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1979 Coca-Cola 500</span> Auto race held at Pocono International Raceway in 1979

The 1979 Coca-Cola 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on July 30, 1979, at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 Talladega 500</span> Auto race held at Alabama International Motor Speedway in 1980

The 1980 Talladega 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on August 3, 1980, at Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega, Alabama, USA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1981 Mason-Dixon 500</span> Auto race held at Dover Downs International Speedway in 1981

The 1981 Mason-Dixon 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on May 17, 1981, at Dover Downs International Speedway in Dover, Delaware.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1985 Summer 500</span> Auto race held at Pocono Raceway in 1985

The 1985 Summer 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on July 21, 1985, at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1978 Talladega 500</span> Auto race held at Alabama International Motor Speedway in 1978

The 1978 Talladega 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on August 6, 1978, at Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega, Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1981 Talladega 500</span> Auto race held at Alabama International Motor Speedway in 1981

The 1981 Talladega 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on August 2, 1981, at Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega, Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1979 Talladega 500</span> Auto race held at Alabama International Motor Speedway in 1979

The 1979 Talladega 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on August 5, 1979, at Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega, Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1984 Talladega 500</span> Auto race held at Talladega Superspeedway in 1984

The 1984 Talladega 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race held at Talladega Superspeedway on July 29, 1984.

References

  1. ↑ "1980 Coca-Cola 500 weather information". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "1980 Coca-Cola 500 racing information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2012-03-09.
  3. ↑ "NASCAR Race Tracks". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  4. 1 2 "Pocono Raceway". NASCAR. Turner Sports. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "1980 Coca-Cola 500 racing information". Race Database. Retrieved 2012-03-09.
  6. ↑ "Bonnett Weaved His Way to a 1980 Win at Pocono". Wood Brothers Racing. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  7. ↑ "1980 Coca-Cola 500 - Richard Petty Crash". YouTube . Retrieved 2012-03-09.
  8. ↑ "POCONO LOOK BACK: 1980 Coca-Cola 500". The Times-Tribune. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  9. ↑ "1980 Coca-Cola 500 crew chiefs information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
Preceded by NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season
1980		Succeeded by
Preceded by Coca-Cola 500 races
1980		Succeeded by
none
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.