Petty's Sixth Daytona Win Changes NASCAR Forever

# February 18, 1979: Richard Petty Wins His Sixth Daytona 500

On February 18, 1979, something extraordinary happened in American motorsports that would change NASCAR forever. Richard Petty, already a legend known as "The King," captured his sixth Daytona 500 victory, but it wasn't just the win that made this date historic—it was HOW the race unfolded and who was watching.

This was the first time in history that a 500-mile NASCAR race was broadcast flag-to-flag on national television. CBS took the gamble of showing the entire race live, and Mother Nature conspired to make it the perfect television event. A massive snowstorm had blanketed much of the Eastern United States, trapping millions of viewers indoors with nothing to do but watch TV. The Nielsen ratings would eventually show that this race attracted the largest television audience ever to watch a NASCAR event up to that point.

The race itself was absolutely riveting. Petty, driving his iconic #43 Oldsmobile with its unmistakable "Petty Blue" paint scheme and STP sponsorship, spent most of the day running in the lead pack. But as the laps wound down, it looked like this might not be Petty's day. With just laps remaining, leaders Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough were running nose-to-tail, battling fiercely for the win while Petty ran a distant third.

Then came the moment that sealed this race in sports history. On the backstretch of the final lap, Yarborough attempted to pass Allison for the lead. The two made contact, lost control, and crashed spectacularly into the infield grass, taking each other out of contention. While they sat in the infield, Petty cruised past the wreckage to take the checkered flag.

But wait—there's more! As the television cameras rushed to the accident scene (in perhaps the first example of NASCAR understanding the entertainment value of conflict), viewers watched Donnie Allison, his brother Bobby Allison (who had stopped to check on his brother), and Cale Yarborough get into a physical altercation right there in the infield. Fists flew, helmets were swung, and America watched the whole thing unfold live on national television.

Richard Petty, meanwhile, rolled into Victory Lane for his record sixth Daytona 500 win (he would eventually win seven). At 41 years old, The King had added another crown jewel to his unmatched collection of 200 career NASCAR victories.

The significance of February 18, 1979, cannot be overstated. This race is widely credited as the moment NASCAR went mainstream in American sports culture. The combination of weather-driven viewership, the dramatic last-lap crash, the subsequent fight, and Petty's legendary status created the perfect storm that introduced millions of Americans to stock car racing. NASCAR's popularity exploded in the following years, transforming from a primarily regional Southern sport into a national phenomenon.

For Richard Petty personally, this victory added to his mythical status in the sport. Already a seven-time Winston Cup champion, this win came at the perfect moment on the perfect stage, cementing his legacy not just as a great driver, but as the face of NASCAR during its most important growth period.

The 1979 Daytona 500 remains one of the most significant single events in NASCAR history—a perfect convergence of drama, luck, and timing that changed motorsports forever.

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI