1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series (partially found footage of NASCAR races; 1976)
The 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 28th season of NASCAR's top-level stock car series. After narrowly coming up short in prior seasons, Cale Yarborough finally win his first Championship, and would later go on to win the 1977 and 1978 Championships. Of the races televised that year, at least eight are confirmed to be missing.
1976 Atlanta 500 (FOUND)
The 1976 Atlanta 500 was the 6th race of the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 21st March at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, the race would be highly competitive and was ultimately won by David Pearson in a Mercury as other contenders suffered reliability issues.
It was the 17th running of the event, with the race traditionally being around 500 miles in length.[1] It was one of two 1976 Winston Cup Series races conducted at Atlanta Motor Speedway,[2] the other being the Dixie 500, which shall be discussed later in this article.[1] The Atlanta 500 also has ties to the modern Quaker State 400, which resumed the event at a 400 mile length in 2021 after not being held from 2011-2020.[3][4]
Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Dave Marcis winning the pole position with a speed of 160.709 mph.[5] Directly behind him was Pearson, with Dodge driver Richard Petty qualifying third.[5] The King was satisfied with his qualifying position, with his team also allowing Jackie Stewart, the three-time Formula One World Champion and ABC-TV race analyst, to have a go in Petty's car prior to the race.[6][7] With Petty himself providing instructions via radio, Stewart managed to reach a top speed of 139 mph, and returned the car in one piece, much to The King's relief.[7] Stewart later expressed regret for not competing in stock cars prior to his retirement from motorsport, stating it was a privilege to drive the Dodge and emphasising the differences between it and a grand prix car, including its far heavier steering.[7] Another discussion point was NASCAR's decision to enforce the restriction of the flow of air and gasoline to each vehicles' carburettor, which caused most to lose around 50 horsepower.[8] This was to dismay of some drivers, including Pearson.[8]
The Race
With the starting order decided, the 1976 Atlanta 500 occurred on 21st March.[5] Pearson shot into the lead on the first lap, but holding onto it proved difficult, with numerous lead changes between ten different drivers throughout the early stages.[6][5] However, contenders began to drop from the field, with four ending their sessions because of engine failures.[6] Among them included Marcis on lap 107, Chevrolet driver James Hylton on lap 155, Mercury driver Bobby Allison on lap 188, and Petty on lap 194.[6][8][5] Cale Yarborough in a Chevrolet and Buddy Baker in a Dodge were the only two racers to lead at least ten consecutive laps.[6] However, the latter retired on lap 238 due to a failed engine,[5] while Yarborough, deemed the quickest on track according to The New York Times, suffered a broken distributor rotor midway through the race.[9] He was able to continue, albeit being four laps down.[9][8]
As contenders dropped out, the race's final third centred between Pearson and the Chevrolet of Benny Parsons.[6] Pearson managed to recover after experiencing tyre troubles that caused him to be a lap down earlier in the race.[9] The race would ultimately be decided during the pit stops, when Parsons pitted with 100 miles to go and only changed two tyres.[9] In contrast, Pearson had all four tyres changed with 50 miles to go.[9] This enabled him to blast past Parsons on lap 298, and pulled away for the remaining laps to claim victory and between $16,000-$16,750 in prize money.[9][5][6] Parsons was 1.8 seconds behind in second,[9] with Yarborough having achieved a good recovery to finish a lap down in third.[5][9] Post-race, Pearson accepted Yarborough had the fastest car, and noted that the pit stop proved critical due to having superior handling as opposed to Parsons.[8] He also noted that another issue emerged when he experienced vibrations while leading on lap 265, although this would cease following the pit stops.[8]
1976 Rebel 500
The 1976 Rebel 500 was the 8th race of the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 11th April at the Darlington Raceway, the race would ultimately be won by polesitter David Pearson in a Mercury, following a duel with Ford's Buddy Baker. The event was also notable for its crashes, including an accident that nearly claimed the life of Chevrolet driver Jerry Sisco.
It was the 20th running of the event, with the annual race typically lasting around 500 miles in length since 1973.[10] Its name is a reference to the race typically being held near Confederate Memorial Day,[11] with Confederate flags often being featured on race programs and within the stands.[12] It was one of two 1976 Winston Cup Series races conducted at Darlington Raceway, the other being the Southern 500,[2] which in 1976 occurred on 6th September and was won by David Pearson.[13] After the two Darlington races were merged into one 400 mile race for 2005,[14] the Rebel 400's legacy would continue in 2020 under the current name of the Goodyear 400.[15]
Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Pearson winning the pole position with a speed of 154.171 mph.[16][17][10] Directly behind him was fellow Mercury driver Bobby Allison, with Ford's Dick Brooks lining up third.[10][17] Pearson's pole position was considered unsurprising, as this was his third consecutive pole at Darlington, as well as his fourth in the previous five Rebel events.[17]
The Race
With the starting order decided, the 1976 Rebel 500 commenced on 11th April.[10] Pearson held the lead until lap 2, when Allison briefly led, only for Pearson to again control things for the next 13 laps.[10][17] However, the early stages saw much competition for the lead, with 10 different drivers, including Baker, Dodge's Richard Petty, and Chevrolet's Darrell Waltrip, contributing towards 32 leader changes throughout the race.[10][17] Bench-Racing noted that the extent of lead changes is comparable to larger tracks like Daytona and Talladega.[17]
Starting from 24, several incidents occurred,[18][16] including Darrell Bryant crashing his Chevrolet after 23 laps, and Brooks retiring following a crash after 30.[16][10] On lap 82, James Hylton's Chevrolet was spun and would clip Baker's Ford, causing the car to swap ends.[16][17] Darrell Waltrip's Chevrolet then smashed directly into Hylton, resulting in his vehicle somewhat being launched into the air.[16][17] Both were eliminated,[10] with Hylton requiring x-ray examinations on his legs which ultimately showed no injuries.[16] Allison was also involved in the incident, with his vehicle experiencing a damaged oil cooler that took him out of lead contention.[16][17] Baker was able to continue and remain competitive, albeit having to contend with a damaged grill that would impact aerodynamics.[17][16] This would later be partially repaired by his team.[16]
Another serious crash occurred on lap 170,[10] when Jerry Sisco crashed into the outside wall along the front straightaway, before smashing into the inside concrete barrier.[17][16] The crashes caused the Chevrolet to suffer from a ruptured fuel tank, which ignited.[17][18][16] Sisco was motionless in the car, and most likely would have perished in the crash were it not for the actions Dale Inman and Barry Dodson, two of Petty's pit crew members, who pulled him free from the wrecked car.[18][16][17] Sisco was dazed, but ultimately recovered after a check-up at the trackside hospital.[16][17]
Despite the damage inflicted following the Hylton collision, Baker was still a contender for the win, leading 205 laps overall.[10][17][16] However, despite leading the most laps, Baker faced intense competition from Pearson, who managed to lead a few laps at a time during the end stages.[16][18][17][10] Pearson managed to close the gap after initially losing a lap following a cut right front tyre on lap 166.[16][18] Ultimately, Pearson capitalised following the final caution caused by a spin by Chevrolet's Benny Parsons with 20 laps remaining.[16][10][17] Three laps later, he performed the final lead change, holding it for the remaining laps to claim victory and $17,750 in prize money.[16][17][10] Baker finished two to five car lengths behind to achieve second place, with Parsons taking third despite his earlier spin, two laps down from the leaders.[18][16][10][17] Post-race, Pearson believed the caution was crucial for victory, The Silver Fox stating "I guess that caution flag did it for me. I felt I might could have caught up with Buddy but I doubt if I could have passed him. Time would have run out. It's open thing to pull up on a feller, it's another to get around him, 'especially if he doesn't want you to."[16] This was Pearson's sixth Darlington win, and his fourth within the previous five Rebel races.[17][16]
1976 Winston 500 (FOUND)
The 1976 Winston 500 was the 10th race of the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 2nd May at the Alabama International Motor Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by Buddy Baker in a Ford, achieving his third consecutive Cup Series victory at the superspeedway and his only win for the 1976 season. He also set the fastest 500-mile victory in NASCAR at the time.
It was the 7th running of the event, with the annual race typically lasting around 500 miles in length.[19] It was one of two 1976 Winston Cup Series races conducted at Alabama International Motor Speedway, the other being the Talladega 500, which shall be discussed later in the article.[2] The race also has ties to the modern GEICO 500, having dropped the Winston title from 2001.[20]
Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Marcis winning the pole position with a speed of 189.197 mph.[19] Directly behind him was fellow Dodge driver Richard Petty, with Chevrolet's Donnie Allison lining up third.[19] Buddy Baker qualified only 12th out of 40 competitors,[19] but was nevertheless motivated to win his third consecutive Cup Series race at Alabama, as well as his first of the season.[21][22][23][2] Actor Jackie Cooper was the grand marshal for the race.[23]
The Race
With the starting order decided, the 1976 Winston 500 commenced on 2nd May.[19] Marcis held the lead for the first 12 laps, before swapping it with a fast-charging Baker for a few laps.[19] The battle for the lead became an open competition, as James Hylton, David Sisco, Cecil Gordon, Cale Yarborough, and Bobby Allison all briefly led, but with none being able to lead more than five consecutive laps.[19] Baker became to first to lead more than ten consecutive laps, holding onto the first position from lap 36 to 52.[19]
From there, a pattern emerged, where contenders like the Chevrolets of Hylton and Yarborough would briefly take the first position, only for Baker to quickly gain it back and lead for over 20-30 laps.[19] By lap 155, Baker had two main challengers, with Richard Petty in a Dodge overtaking him for the first position, only for The King to drop it to Yarborough on lap 162.[19] Eventually, Baker moved back into first with the final lead change occurring on lap 165.[19] For the remaining 24 laps, Baker extended his lead over Yarborough to 35 seconds to win the race and claim $21,985 in prize money.[21][22][19] His win would make history, as his average 169.887 mph was the fastest in NASCAR history at the time, beating out the previous record of 167.247 mph and winning within three hours of the start time.[21] He would also become the first driver to win three consecutive times at Winston Cup Series races at Alabama, with this being his only victory for 1976.[21][22][23][2] Ironically, Yarborough had set the previous NASCAR speed record, ultimately finishing second in this race, with Allison's Mercury edging out Petty for third.[21][19]
1976 World 600
The 1976 World 600 was the 13th race of the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 30th May at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by pole sitter David Pearson in a Mercury, following a duel with Richard Petty's Dodge. The race also marked the Cup Series debut of Janet Guthrie, who would become the first woman to compete at a major NASCAR superspeedway event.
It was the 17th running of the event, with the race notable for being the longest in the NASCAR schedule at 600 miles.[24][25] It was one of two 1976 Winston Cup Series races conducted at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the other being the National 500, which shall be discussed later in the article.[2] The race also has ties to the modern Coca Cola 600, having dropped the World 600 name from 1986 onwards.[26][24]
Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with David Pearson winning the pole position with a speed of 159.132 mph.[25] This would be his sixth consecutive pole position for that Series, eventually achieving eleven.[27] Directly behind him was Richard Petty,[25] who was seeking to replicate his wins at the World 600 and National 500 the previous year.[27] In third was Chevrolet's Cale Yarborough.[25] Dale Earnhardt made his second Cup Series appearance, having competed at the previous year's event.[27] He would start 25th out of 40 competitors in a Chevrolet.[25]
Elsewhere, media coverage was centring on Janet Guthrie, who had qualified 27th,[25][27] becoming the first woman to qualify for a NASCAR superspeedway event and the 11th woman to compete in a major NASCAR race.[28][27] Originally, this piece of NASCAR history almost never happened, as Guthrie was busy attempting to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.[29] Ultimately, she was unsuccessful, mainly due to her car being uncompetitive.[29] However, Charlotte Motor Speedway's Chairman O. Bruton Smith felt that her presence at the World 600 would be greatly valued, including for boosting ticket sales, TV ratings and overall publicity[29]. He, alongside general manager H.A. Wheeler, convinced Lynda Ferreri, a First Union Bank executive and vice president of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, to buy a 1976 Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna and have Guthrie compete in it.[29] Ultimately, a deal was brokered, making NASCAR history in the process.[29]
The Race
With the starting order decided, the 1976 World 600 commenced on 30th May.[25] Yarborough shot into the lead on lap 1, but Pearson was able to recover it briefly on lap 2.[25] However, frequent leader changes between the two occurred throughout the race duration.[27] With the exception of a few laps led by Dave Marcis' Dodge, and Benny Parson's Chevrolet, the battle for the first position was primarily between Yarborough and Pearson, with Petty joining the fray later in the race.[27][25] On lap 39, Bobby Isaac, who was the 1970 Grand National champion and a 37-time race winner, retired after his Chevrolet's engine failed.[25] This would prove to be Isaac's final race in the Cup Series; a year later, he passed away following a heart attack while driving at the Hickory Motor Speedway, aged 45.[28]
For the first 250 laps, Pearson and Yarborough continually changed places, with neither holding onto the lead for more than 40 laps.[25][27] But with 150 laps to go, Petty began to close in, overtaking Pearson to assume the first position on lap 252, and successfully defending it for another 49.[27][25][28] However, Pearson re-took the lead on lap 301, leading another 63 laps before the King took over for another five.[27][25] Pearson would reassume the lead again on lap 369 following the final pit stops.[30][27][25] Petty continually challenged for the lead for the final stretch, but on lap 398, Dick Brooks, James Hylton and Grant Adcox crashed, resulting in a caution.[27][30][25] Pearson was about six or seven seconds ahead of Petty prior to the accident, suggesting he would have likely held on even if the crash not occurred.[27][30] Instead, Pearson cruised to victory under caution to claim victory and $49,990 in prize money, $11,000 of which for his pole position.[30][27] Petty held on to finish second, with Yarborough taking third.[25][27][30]
Meanwhile, Earnhardt retired after 156 laps because of an engine failure.[29][25] Guthrie would finish 15th, 21 laps down from Pearson.[29][30] She ranked behind the Dodge of Buddy Arrington but ahead of D.K. Ulrich's Chevrolet.[25] Despite allegedly facing grumblings from many of the male racers,[28] Guthrie's performance received acclaim from the media and fans, with the Herald-Journal dubbing her "Queen Guthrie".[31] Post-race, she discussed that the concerns of not being able to endure the race duration proved unfounded, stating that while she did have a relief driver present,[30] the only sign of fatigue she experienced being when she misinterpreted a radio message as stating there were only five laps to go, rather than 50.[31] Pearson would be one of a few drivers who praised Guthrie, stating "She got in my way a couple of times, but I think she did a pretty good job for a rookie."[28][31] Guthrie would also earn the Curtis Turner Achievement Award for working her way from 27th to 15th.[30][31][29]
1976 Riverside 400
The 1976 Riverside 400 was the 14th race of the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 13th June at the Riverside International Raceway, the race would ultimately be won by pole sitter David Pearson, defeating fellow Mercury driver Bobby Allison by 1.6 seconds at the end. It was also the first NASCAR race to utilise the metric system.
It was the the 8th running of the event. For this race, plans changed when the "400" race distance was measured in km instead of miles, following a request by CBS.[32][33][34] Thus, instead of being 400 miles, the race distance 400km, roughly just under 250 miles to the relief of some drivers.[35][32][33] It was one of two 1976 Winston Cup Series races conducted at Riverside International Raceway, the other being the Winston Western 500,[2] which in 1976 occurred on 18th January and was won by David Pearson.[36] The annual race ran until 1988 as the Budweiser 400,[37] before it was dropped off the Cup Series schedule a year later as the land the raceway was on was being sold off so that housing and a shopping mall could be established on it.[38]
Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Pearson winning the pole position with a speed of 111.437 mph.[35][33][32] Directly behind him was Bobby Allison, with Chevrolet's Benny Parsons lining up third.[35][33][32] Pearson was seeking to achieve the Riverside double for the season, after having won the Winston Western 500 earlier in the year.[32][36] The use of the metric system was a first for American stock car racing, with drivers like Pearson supporting the concept of having all future NASCAR events measure via metric distance.[32]
The Race
With the starting order decided, the 1976 Riverside 400 commenced on 13th June.[35] Pearson led until lap five, when Bobby Allison took over.[33][32][35] Allison would drop it to Chevrolet's Cale Yarborough on lap 7, only to briefly regain it on lap 8, then drop it immediately to Yarborough a lap later.[35] Yarborough then led for 22 consecutive laps, with his main challenger being Allison.[32][33][35] Pearson seemingly dropped back a few seconds with the intent to allow the two to duel.[32] However, Pearson admitted that the reason he was falling behind was simply because he was being outpaced, stating "I was runnin' hard all day. I couldn't do anything about it when they were pullin' away from me."[32]
Allison retook the lead from Yarborough on lap 31, over for the latter to regain it on lap 35, holding it for another 25 laps.[35][32] But in the final third of the race, Pearson began to charge back towards the leaders, overtaking Allison on lap 60.[32][33] Then, on the same lap, Yarborough began to slow considerably on the long back straightaway, enabling the Silver Fox to move into the first position.[32][35] Pearson ultimately extended his lead to Allison by six seconds at one point, but the latter was able to cut it down to 1.6 by the end.[32][35] However, it was not enough to stop Pearson, who claimed his second consecutive Riverside victory and $15,150 in prize money.[32][33][35] Allison held on to finish second, with Parsons taking third.[35][32] Yarborough ultimately continued to fall back, finishing two laps down in 7th.[35][32] Pearson meanwhile set a record average speed of 105.256 mph at the raceway.[32][35]
1976 Firecracker 400 (FOUND)
The 1976 Firecracker 400 was the 16th race of the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 4th July at the Daytona International Speedway, on the same day as the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence being enacted, the race would ultimately be won by Cale Yarborough in a Chevrolet.
It was the 18th running of the event, with its name a reference to the fact it was held on the United States' Independence Day.[39] The annual event was therefore extra special as it occurred on the 200th anniversary since America was founded after the Declaration of Independence was enacted.[40] It was also the second 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series event to be held at Daytona International Speedway,[2] after the Daytona 500, which in 1976 occurred on 15th February and was won by David Pearson in a Mercury.[41] The Firecracker 400 also has ties to the modern Coke Zero Sugar 400 race, having dropped the Firecracker name in 2019.[39]
Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with A.J. Foyt in a Chevrolet winning the pole position with a speed of 183.09 mph.[42] Yarborough qualified second, ahead of third-placed and previous year's winner Richard Petty in a Dodge.[42]
The Race
With the starting order decided, the 1976 Firecracker 400 occurred on 4th July.[42] The race is notable for its many lead changes, with the first 29 changes lasting fewer than ten laps.[42] Initially, the race was between Foyt, Yarborough, Buddy Baker in a Ford, and Bobby Allison in a Mercury.[42] Despite his strong start, Baker's race ended early following an engine failure on lap 32.[42] With Foyt also dropping out of contention after experiencing a shredded tyre and handling issues,[43] the race was between Yarborough, Allison and the fast-closing Mercury driver David Pearson. On lap 72, Allison assumed the lead, becoming the first to hold it for more than ten laps at 12 before dropping it to Yarborough.[42] They continually swapped places until on lap 135 when Pearson charged through to take the lead.[42]
This lead was short-lived though, as Yarborough passed Pearson on lap 136 to again hold the first position.[43][42] From then on, Yarborough was able to fend off both Pearson and Allison, leaving them behind to take victory ahead of Pearson by eight seconds and claim $22,215 in prize money.[42][43] Pearson was able to re-take second after overtaking Allison on the third turn of the final lap.[43][42] Post-race, Yarborough stated that his game plan was to get Pearson and Allison to duel amongst themselves, allowing him to build a significant gap between himself and them.[43] He exclaimed that he was "hot as a firecracker and mighty tired, but everything on the car worked perfectly."[43]
1976 Talladega 500
The 1976 Talladega 500 was the 19th race of the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 8th August at the Alabama International Motor Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by polesitter Dave Marcis in a Dodge after a duel with Ford's Buddy Baker, becoming the first polesitter at the speedway to go on to win the event.
It was the 8th running of the event, with the annual race typically lasting around 500 miles in length.[44] It was one of two 1976 Winston Cup Series races conducted at Alabama International Motor Speedway, the other being the aforementioned Winston 500.[2][19] The race also has ties to the modern YellaWood 500, having dropped the Talladega title from 2002.[45]
Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Marcis winning the pole position with a speed of 190.651 mph.[46][44] He was therefore aiming to break the curse of every pole winner at the Alabama International Motor Speedway being unable to win the subsequent race.[46] Directly behind him were the Chevrolets of Coo Coo Marlin and A.J. Foyt, who qualified second and third respectively.[44] Baker would line up 7th out of 40 runners.[44]
The Race
With the starting order decided, the 1976 Talladega 500 commenced on 8th August.[44] Mercury's Bobby Allison, who qualified fifth, shot into the lead on lap 1.[44] However, Chevrolet's Cale Yarborough moved passed him into the first position a lap later, defending it for ten laps.[44] This would be one of only five instances where a leader was able to hold position into the double figures.[44] Indeed, there would be 57 lead changes throughout the race, with Marcis, Baker, Foyt, Chevrolet's James Hylton, Dodge's Richard Petty, and Mercury's David Pearson all vying for the first position.[44] Several would not finish the race; Pearson suffered an ignition failure after 12 laps, Allison's engine blew after completing 152 laps, as did Foyt's after the 163 mark.[44] Yarborough would finish the race, albeit only completing 137 of the 188 laps.[44]
In the final 35 laps, Marcis passed Foyt for the lead, only to quickly drop it to Petty a lap later.[44] The King held the lead until lap 160 when Baker took over for the next seven.[44] Petty finally moved back into the first position on lap 167, but ultimately retired a lap later after his Dodge's engine failed.[44] Baker again led, but after a further six laps, he was again passed by Marcis on lap 174.[44] It seemed like the duel between Marcis and Baker, which began in the final 80 miles of the race, would end at the chequered flag.[46] However, Baker was forced to make a pitstop with fewer than three laps remaining, as his car ran out of fuel.[46] This enabled Marcis to take his first superspeedway victory of his career and $26,110 in prize money.[46][44] He therefore ended the pole sitter's curse at Alabama. Baker's refuel stop enabled him to finish second, still on the lead lap as Marcis, albeit 29.5 seconds behind.[46][44] Ford's Dick Brooks finished third, a lap down from the leaders.[46] Hylton meanwhile finished fourth, a further lap down from the leaders.[44][46] He almost failed to complete the event, when during a pit stop, two of his tyres blew as he entered the pit road.[46] Despite his car spinning out of control, it did not make contact with anything, although nearly did hit Brook's car as it was being serviced.[46]
1976 Champion Spark Plug 400
The 1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 was the 20th race of the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 22nd August at the Michigan International Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by polesitter David Pearson in a Mercury, after completing a comeback to edge out Chevrolet's Cale Yarborough.
It was the 7th running of the event, with the annual race typically lasting around 400 miles in length.[47] It was one of two 1976 Winston Cup Series races conducted at Michigan International Speedway, the other being the Cam 2 Motor Oil 400,[2] which in 1976 occurred on 20th June and was won by David Pearson.[48] The race also has ties to the modern FireKeepers Casino 400, having dropped the Champion Spark Plug title from 1994.[49]
Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Pearson winning the pole position with a speed of 140.078 mph.[47] Directly behind him was Buddy Baker in a Ford, with Yarborough lining up third.[47] Pearson was seeking to achieve the Michigan double for the season, after having won the Cam 2 Motor Oil 400 earlier in the year.[48]
The Race
With the starting order decided, the 1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 commenced on 22nd August.[47] Pearson maintained his lead until lap 10, when Chevrolet's Bruce Hill moved into the first position. The early stages of the race proved relatively an open competition, resulting in 34 lead changes throughout the event.[47] However, Yarborough appeared to be the favourite, being the only driver during the early-to-mid stages to lead consecutive laps in the double figures.[47] This included leading from lap 33 to 51, 71 to 88, 97 to 107, and 114 to 155.[47]
By lap 156,[47] Pearson was 32.9 seconds behind Yarborough, having generally trailed half a lap behind the leaders for most of the race.[50] However, following a spin by Chevrolet's Coo Coo Marlin, a caution period occurred.[50][47] This allowed Pearson to pit, where his Wood Brothers crew redistributed the car's weight.[50] This enhanced Pearson's performance when the race restarted on lap 171,[47] allowing him to get by Bobby Allison's Mercury for third, and Richard Petty's Dodge for second.[50] He eventually closed the gap to Yarborough, performing the final overtake for the first position on lap 183.[50][47] From there, he was able to successfully defend it from Yarborough, winning by 1.2 seconds and earning $16,700 in prize money.[50][47] Petty ultimately pipped Allison for third.[47][50]
1976 National 500
The 1976 National 500 was the 27th race of the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 10th October at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by Donnie Allison in a Chevrolet, his first win in the Cup Series in five years.
It was the 17th running of the event, with the annual race typically lasting 500 miles in length.[51] It was one of two 1976 Winston Cup Series races conducted at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the other being the aforementioned World 600.[2][25] The race also has ties to the modern Bank of America Roval 400, having dropped the National name from 1983 onwards and being reduced to 400 miles from 2018.[52][53]
Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Pearson winning the pole position with a speed of 161.223 mph.[51] He therefore was looking to replicate his success at the World 600 earlier that year. Directly behind him was Buddy Baker in a Ford, with Dodge driver Richard Petty lining up third.[51] Donnie Allison qualified only 15th,[51] but was still nevertheless aiming to win his first Cup Series race in five years.[54] Rain postponed the second day of time trials which would have determined who lined up in positions 21-40.[55] These ultimately did take place later on, with Chevrolet's Bill Dennis the fastest of the remaining competitors.[51]
The Race
With the starting order decided, the 1976 National 500 commenced on 6th October.[51] Pearson maintained his lead for seven laps, before Baker overtook him on lap 8, holding onto it until lap 25.[51] The initial stages would lead to an open competition for the first position however, with seven drivers battling it out in the early stages.[51] Baker would lead the most laps overall at 106, but Chevrolet's Cale Yarborough did dominate as the race entered its midpoint, leading for 74 consecutive laps before dropping the first position to Allison on lap 224.[51]
By lap 278, there appeared to be four main contenders in Allison, Baker, Yarborough, and Pearson, the latter leading briefly leading before Baker overtook him on lap 279.[51] Baker led for a further 19 laps, before Allison retook the lead on lap 298.[51] After a tussle with Yarborough, Allison would achieve the winning overtake on lap 308,[51] which was about 40 miles before the race ended.[54] He would generally extend his lead overtime to take victory 12.2 seconds ahead of Yarborough, and claim $22,435 in prize money, $2,000 of this in lap bonuses.[54][51] This would prove to be his first victory in the Series in five years.[54] Interestingly, Yarborough actually earned more than Allison in finishing second, primarily thanks to the $6,000 he earned in lap money, taking his total to $22,925.[54] Allison's brother Bobby duelled with Baker for third, eventually succeeding in taking the final podium spot in a Mercury by less than a hood-length.[54][51] Buddy Baker's father Buck finished 24th, with this being his retirement Cup Series race.[56][51]
1976 Dixie 500
The 1976 Dixie 500 was the 29th race of the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 7th November at the Atlanta International Raceway, the race would be won by Dave Marcis, and allowed Cale Yarborough to virtually win his first of three consecutive titles. The race is most famous for featuring a major crash involving Dale Earnhardt, whose Chevrolet flipped over three times after being hit by another car.
Background
The 1976 Dixie 500 was the penultimate race of that year's Winston Cup Series. Heading into the event, Cale Yarborough led the championship with 4,380 points, 97 ahead of closest rival Richard Petty, who was on 4,283.[57] Qualifying for the race resulted in Buddy Baker beating Dave Marcis to the pole position. Petty qualified fourth, while Yarborough was down in seventh.[58] A young Dale Earnhardt, in only his third Winston Cup start and his first in Atlanta, initially struggled in the first qualifying round, but after having a chat with Petty concerning tips about grooves and best turn approaches, ended up leading the second round qualifiers. He ultimately started the race in 16th.[59]
The Dale Earnhardt Archive stated that the race itself prior to Earnhardt's crash was fairly uneventful. Petty ultimately ended up losing ground to Yarborough in the championship, as he retired after 157 laps following his car experiencing oil pressure issues. The first 64 laps saw Marcis defending against David Pearson, Yarborough, and Donnie Allison, with lead changes occurring at four different areas of the oval according to Stock Car Racing Magazine writer Richard Benyo. By lap 301, the race was between Marcis and Pearson, with Pearson overtaking his opponent on this lap, only for Marcis to retake the lead on the 314th lap. A two-lap sprint, caused by a late yellow flag period, saw Marcis defend the lead from Pearson to claim the win and earn $20,165 from a $132,625 winnings pot, with Allison earning the final podium spot.[60] Yarborough finished in fourth, extending his lead in the championship to 183 points, which was enough to claim the title provided he simply started the final race of the Series,[61][62] which he ultimately did.
Dale Earnhardt crash
During the early stages of the race, Dick Brooks broke one of his Ford's wheel spindles, which resulted in him being several laps down from the leaders by the time the race had 50 laps to complete. Brooks communicated to Junie Donlavey, the Ford's owner, exclaiming "Man, this thing feels weird!”. Not long after this radio communication, the car suddenly turned towards and crashed into the turn 3 wall, which bounced back in the path of fellow racers. Among them was Earnhardt, who was on course to possibly earn a top ten finish. He was unable to avoid the stricken Ford and ended up being clipped by it. This caused his Chevrolet, owned by Johnny Ray, to barrel roll three times and catch fire on the last turn, before ending up resting on its wheels on the front straightaway. Despite the violent nature of the crash, Earnhardt ultimately only suffered a cut to one of his hands. Nevertheless, Earnhardt stated in a later interview that while he was feeling OK when Terry Bivins pulled him out of the crash, he certainly felt pain the day later, stating that he "felt like the winning horse of the Kentucky Derby had trampled me."[63]
When speaking to the media post-race, Earnhardt expressed regret that he wrecked Ray's car, claiming that he should have taken the high route of the turn instead of maintaining his course. Ray was understanding however, and was concerned more about Earnhardt following the accident, which Ray had first-hand experience of as he had to retire from racing following a similar accident in the 1976 Daytona 500. Earnhardt would be credited as finishing 19th, and earned $1,360. He and Robert Gee helped fix the car, in part by using the prize money for this race, and it would ultimately be ready for the 1977 Daytona 500, driven by Johnny Rutherford.
Availability
Television broadcasts of 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series races have been documented by sources like NASCAR on TV.[64] For instance, ABC televised the final 90 minutes of the race as part of its ABC Championship Auto Racing.[65] Bench-Racing also states that a condensed version was shown on ABC's Wide World of Sports, which included Stewart's run in the Dodge.[6] It is the former broadcast that was uploaded to NASCAR Classics as part of its launch on 16th August 2023.[66] Lasting just over 48 minutes, it is believed the removal of advertisements contributed to the reduced runtime. Additionally, Racing-Reference notes that home video footage was uploaded to YouTube by 8mmhistory on 17th March 2018.[67] However, the video has since been made private.
Meanwhile, 45 minutes of highlights for the 1976 Rebel 500 were televised by ABC on 10th April 1976 as part of its Wide World of Sports, alongside footage of bodybuilding.[68] However, the broadcast has yet to resurface, and no footage of the race is currently publicly available. Racing-Reference notes that home video footage was once uploaded to YouTube by 8mmhistory on 17th March 2018.[69] However, this video has since been made private. Nevertheless, photos and newspaper clippings of the event are publicly viewable.[17]
30 minutes of highlights from the 1976 Winston 500 were televised by CBS on 8th May 1976 as part of its CBS Sports Spectacular, billing it as the "Alabama 500".[70] This would be televised alongside the 1976 Spanish Grand Prix and Women's World Cup Surfing.[70] However, the broadcast has yet to resurface. According to Dale Earnhardt Jr., a 20-minute documentary called "World's Fastest Race" detailed Baker's record win at the event.[71] The documentary has since been uploaded to NASCAR Classics, though it makes the original CBS broadcast's status unclear. Photos and newspaper clippings of the event are also publicly viewable.[23]
NASCAR on TV claimed that the 1976 World 600 was possibly broadcast by CBS, although it stated this was never confirmed.[72] In actuality, the race was televised by ABC, with Guthrie's appearance being a key reason for this.[29] However, the broadcast has yet to resurface, and the only footage currently is contained within a documentary on Guthrie. Nevertheless, many photos of the race are viewable online. CBS also provided 30 minutes of highlights for the 1976 Riverside 400 were televised by CBS on 19th June 1976 as part of its CBS Sports Spectacular, alongside the 1976 Swedish Grand Prix and the Royal Ascot horse race.[34] However, the broadcast has yet to resurface, and currently no footage of the race is publicly available. Nevertheless, newspaper clippings and photos of the event, including how it was filmed, are publicly viewable.[33]
45 minutes of highlights from the 1976 Firecracker 400 were broadcast by ABC on 14th August 1976 as part of its Wide World of Sports alongside the AAU Swimming Championships.[73] The broadcast did not publicly resurface until it was uploaded to NASCAR Classics, lasting for just under 28 minutes upon the removal of television advertisements.
As for the 1976 Talladega 500, 30 minutes were televised by CBS on 14th August 1976, as part of its CBS Sports Spectacular, alongside a George Foreman boxing match.[74] However, this broadcast has yet to resurface, and no footage of the race is currently publicly available. Nevertheless, a few photos of the event are publicly viewable. CBS also provided 30 minutes of highlights 28th August 1976 of the 1976 Champion Spark Plug as part of its CBS Sports Spectacular, alongside the 1976 Austrian Grand Prix and a speedboat racing tournament.[75] However, this broadcast has yet to resurface. Additionally, Racing-Reference claims that footage of the race was originally uploaded to YouTube by racefan84 and 8mmhistory, both in 2018.[76] However, both videos are now inaccessible, with the racefan84 video being deleted, and 8mmhistory having privatised their footage. Thus, no clips of the race are currently publicly available, though photos and newspaper clippings remain viewable.
Meanwhile, ABC provided a 45-minute highlights package of the 1976 National 500 on 23rd October 1976 as part of its Wide World of Sports, alongside a feature on Evil Knievel.[77] However, the broadcast has yet to resurface, and no footage of the race is currently publicly available. Nevertheless, photos of the event can be viewed, including from within the J. Murrey Atkins Library.[56] Finally, despite the 1976 Dixie 500 being known for the crash and for virtually deciding the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion, no footage is known to be publicly available. According to Racing-Reference and nascarman History, footage of the race was shown on CBS, albeit on tape-delay as part of CBS Sports Spectacular a week after the race, but none of the CBS broadcast has resurfaced.[78] Said broadcast lasted 45 minutes according to NASCAR on TV, and aired on CBS Sports Spectacular alongside the 93rd National Horse Show.[79] Currently, the only available media concerning the race include a few photographs and a radio broadcast.
Gallery
Videos
See Also
- 1960-1961 NASCAR Grand National Series (partially found footage of NASCAR races; 1960-1961)
- 1962-1963 NASCAR Grand National Series (partially found footage of NASCAR qualifying sessions and races; 1962-1963)
- 1964 NASCAR Grand National Series (partially found footage of NASCAR races; 1964)
- 1965-1966 NASCAR Grand National Series (partially found footage of NASCAR races; 1965-1966)
- 1967-1968 NASCAR Grand National Series (partially found footage of NASCAR races; 1967-1968)
- 1970 NASCAR Grand National Series (partially found footage of NASCAR races; 1970)
- 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Series (partially found footage and official documents of NASCAR races; 1971)
- 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Series (partially found footage of NASCAR races; 1972)
- 1973-1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Series (partially found footage of NASCAR races; 1973-1974)
- 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Series (partially found footage of NASCAR races; 1975)
- 1978-1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series (partially found footage of NASCAR races; 1978-1979)
- 1980-present NASCAR Cup Series (partially found footage of NASCAR races; 1980-present)
- Jeff Gordon's 2008 UAW-Dodge 400 crash (lost on-board footage of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race crash; 2008)
- NASCAR (partially found uncut footage of stock car races; 1960-present)
External Links
- 1976 Atlanta 500 on NASCAR Classics.
- 1976 Winston 500 on NASCAR Classics.
- 1976 Firecracker 400 on NASCAR Classics.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Racing Circuits documenting the Atlanta 500 and the Dixie 500. Retrieved 7 Mar '22
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Racing-Reference detailing the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series calendar. Retrieved 7 Mar '22
- ↑ NASCAR linking the Atlanta 500 with the Quaker State 400. Retrieved 7 Mar '22
- ↑ Beyond the Flag noting Atlanta 500 being removed from the 2011 schedule. Retrieved 7 Mar '22
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Racing-Reference detailing qualifying and race results of the 1976 Atlanta 500. Retrieved 7 Mar '22
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Bench-Racing detailing the 1976 Atlanta 500 and Stewart's time in Petty's Dodge. Retrieved 7 Mar '22
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Atlanta Constitution reporting on Stewart driving Petty's Dodge prior to the 1976 Atlanta 500 (article found on Bench-Racing). Retrieved 7 Mar '22
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Atlanta Constitution reporting on the 1976 Atlanta 500 and Pearson's comments (article found on Bench-Racing). Retrieved 7 Mar '22
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 The New York Times reporting on Pearson winning the 1976 Atlanta 500. Retrieved 7 Mar '22
- ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 Racing-Reference detailing qualifying and race results for the 1976 Rebel 500. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ Yahoo! News noting the Rebel races were typically held near Confederate Memorial Day. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ SB Nation detailing the extent of Confederate flags and celebrations during the Rebel races. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ Racing-Reference detailing the results of the 1976 Southern 500. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet detailing the history of Darlington Raceway and how both races were merged into one from 2005. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ Jayski noting the race carries on as the Goodyear 400. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ 16.00 16.01 16.02 16.03 16.04 16.05 16.06 16.07 16.08 16.09 16.10 16.11 16.12 16.13 16.14 16.15 16.16 16.17 16.18 16.19 16.20 Charlotte Observer reporting on Pearson winning the 1976 Rebel 500, and the Hylton and Sisco crashes (report found on Bench-Racing). Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ 17.00 17.01 17.02 17.03 17.04 17.05 17.06 17.07 17.08 17.09 17.10 17.11 17.12 17.13 17.14 17.15 17.16 17.17 17.18 17.19 17.20 Bench-Racing detailing the 1976 Rebel 500 and the crashes. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 The New York Times reporting on Pearson winning the 1976 Rebel 500 and Sisco's crash. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ 19.00 19.01 19.02 19.03 19.04 19.05 19.06 19.07 19.08 19.09 19.10 19.11 19.12 19.13 Racing-Reference detailing qualifying and race results for the 1976 Winston 500. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ The New York Times Stats detailing the history of the Alabama International Motor Speedway/Talladega Superspeedway races. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 The New York Times reporting on Baker winning the 1976 Winston 500 and his record-breaking performance. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Metal Fuel + Rubber summarising the 1976 Winston 500 and noting this was Baker's only win for 1976. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 RacersReunion providing a detailed summary of events at the 1976 Winston 500, and providing photos and newspaper clippings of it. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Essentially Sports detailing the World 600, now the Coca Cola 600. Retrieved 28 Mar '22
- ↑ 25.00 25.01 25.02 25.03 25.04 25.05 25.06 25.07 25.08 25.09 25.10 25.11 25.12 25.13 25.14 25.15 25.16 25.17 25.18 Racing-Reference detailing qualifying and race results for the 1976 World 600. Retrieved 28 Mar '22
- ↑ The New York Times Stats detailing the history of the World 600. Retrieved 28 Mar '22
- ↑ 27.00 27.01 27.02 27.03 27.04 27.05 27.06 27.07 27.08 27.09 27.10 27.11 27.12 27.13 27.14 Bench-Racing detailing the 1976 World 600. Retrieved 28 Mar '22
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 Wood Brothers Racing detailing the duel between Pearson and Petty, Guthrie's appearance, and Isaac's final race at the 1976 World 600. Retrieved 28 Mar '22
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 29.7 29.8 NASCAR Hall of Fame detailing the story behind Guthrie's debut Cup Series race and how it contributed towards an ABC broadcast of the 1976 World 600. Retrieved 28 Mar '22
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 30.6 30.7 The New York Times reporting on Pearson winning the 1976 World 600 and Guthrie's performance. Retrieved 28 Mar '22
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 Herald-Journal reporting on the result of the 1976 World 600 and Guthrie's interview. Retrieved 28 Mar '22
- ↑ 32.00 32.01 32.02 32.03 32.04 32.05 32.06 32.07 32.08 32.09 32.10 32.11 32.12 32.13 32.14 32.15 32.16 32.17 Spartanburg Herald Journal reporting on Pearson winning the 1976 Riverside 400 and the usage of the metric system (article found on RacersReunion). Retrieved 7 Apr '22
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 33.4 33.5 33.6 33.7 33.8 RacersReunion detailing the 1976 Riverside 400 and providing photos of it. Retrieved 7 Apr '22
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 NASCAR on TV detailing the CBS broadcast of the 1976 Riverside 400. Retrieved 7 Apr '22
- ↑ 35.00 35.01 35.02 35.03 35.04 35.05 35.06 35.07 35.08 35.09 35.10 35.11 35.12 35.13 Racing-Reference detailing qualifying and race results for the 1976 Riverside 400. Retrieved 7 Apr '22
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 Racing-Reference detailing the results of the 1976 Winston Western 500. Retrieved 7 Apr '22
- ↑ DriverAverages listing the races at Riverside International Raceway. Retrieved 7 Apr '22
- ↑ Racing Circuits detailing the history and the end of the Riverside International Raceway. Retrieved 7 Apr '22
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 Forbes detailing the origin of the Firecracker 400, and its reporting on its 2019 name change. Retrieved 3 Mar '22
- ↑ The Inclusive Historian's Handbook detailing the US Bicentennial. Retrieved 3 Mar '22
- ↑ Racing-Reference detailing results for the 1976 Daytona 500. Retrieved 3 Mar '22
- ↑ 42.00 42.01 42.02 42.03 42.04 42.05 42.06 42.07 42.08 42.09 42.10 Racing-Reference detailing the qualifying and race results for the 1976 Firecracker 400. Retrieved 3 Mar '22
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 43.4 43.5 The New York Times reporting on Yarborough winning the 1976 Firecracker 400. Retrieved 3 Mar '22
- ↑ 44.00 44.01 44.02 44.03 44.04 44.05 44.06 44.07 44.08 44.09 44.10 44.11 44.12 44.13 44.14 44.15 44.16 44.17 Racing-Reference detailing qualifying and race results for the 1976 Talladega 500. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ The New York Times Stats detailing the history of the Alabama International Motor Speedway/Talladega Superspeedway races. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 46.3 46.4 46.5 46.6 46.7 46.8 46.9 The New York Times reporting on Marcis winning the 1976 Talladega 500 pole position and the race. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ 47.00 47.01 47.02 47.03 47.04 47.05 47.06 47.07 47.08 47.09 47.10 47.11 47.12 Racing-Reference detailing qualifying and race results for the 1976 Champion Spark Plug 400. Retrieved 5 Apr '22
- ↑ 48.0 48.1 Racing-Reference detailing the results of the 1976 Cam 2 Motor Oil 400. Retrieved 5 Apr '22
- ↑ The New York Times Stats detailing the history of the Michigan International Speedway races. Retrieved 5 Apr '22
- ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 50.3 50.4 50.5 50.6 The New York Times reporting on Pearson winning the 1976 Champion Spark Plug 400. Retrieved 5 Apr '22
- ↑ 51.00 51.01 51.02 51.03 51.04 51.05 51.06 51.07 51.08 51.09 51.10 51.11 51.12 51.13 51.14 Racing-Reference detailing qualifying and race results for the 1976 National 500. Retrieved 28 Mar '22
- ↑ The New York Times Stats detailing the history of the National 500. Retrieved 28 Mar '22
- ↑ Motorsport reporting on the Charlotte Roval being reduced to 400 miles. Retrieved 28 Mar '22
- ↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 54.3 54.4 54.5 The New York Times reporting on Allison winning the 1976 National 500. Retrieved 28 Mar '22
- ↑ The New York Times reporting on the second day of time trials for the 1976 National 500 being delayed because of rain. Retrieved 28 Mar '22
- ↑ 56.0 56.1 J. Murrey Atkins Library noting this was Buck Baker's last Cup Series race and providing photos of the 1976 National 500. Retrieved 28 Mar '22
- ↑ Racing-Reference providing championship points standings heading into the 1976 Dixie 500. Retrieved 19 Sep '21
- ↑ Spartanburg Herald Journal newspaper article concerning the first round of qualifying for the 1976 Dixie 500. Retrieved 19 Sep '21
- ↑ Spartanburg Herald Journal newspaper article concerning the second round of qualifying for the 1976 Dixie 500. Retrieved 19 Sep '21
- ↑ Racers Reunion providing newspaper clippings, a race report and results of the 1976 Dixie 500. Retrieved 19 Sep '21
- ↑ Spartanburg Herald Journal newspaper article concerning Dave Marcis winning the 1976 Dixie 500, and Cale Yarborough virtually winning the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Retrieved 19 Sep '21
- ↑ Tuscaloosa News newspaper article concerning the 1976 Dixie 500 results and providing photos of Dale Earnhardt's fiery crash. Retrieved 19 Sep '21
- ↑ The Dale Earnhardt Archive providing detail of the 1976 Dixie 500, and the accident itself. Retrieved 19 Sep '21
- ↑ NASCAR on TV listing 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series broadcasts. Retrieved 23 May '23
- ↑ NASCAR on TV detailing the ABC broadcast of the 1976 Atlanta 500. Retrieved 7 Mar '22
- ↑ NASCAR announcing NASCAR Classics. Retrieved 16th Aug '23
- ↑ Racing-Reference noting 8mmhistory uploaded home video footage of the 1976 Atlanta 500, which has since been made private. Retrieved 7 Mar '22
- ↑ NASCAR on TV detailing the ABC broadcast of the 1976 Rebel 500. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ Racing-Reference noting an 8mmhistory home video of the 1976 Rebel 500 that has since been made private. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ 70.0 70.1 NASCAR on TV detailing the CBS broadcast of the 1976 Winston 500. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ Twitter post by Dale Earnhardt Jr. regarding "World's Fastest Race", a documentary about the 1976 Winston 500. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ NASCAR on TV claiming CBS broadcast the 1976 World 600, which was later disproven. Retrieved 28 Mar '22
- ↑ NASCAR on TV detailing ABC's broadcast of the 1976 Firecracker 400. Retrieved 3 Mar '22
- ↑ NASCAR on TV detailing the CBS broadcast of the 1976 Talladega 500. Retrieved 3 Apr '22
- ↑ NASCAR on TV detailing the CBS broadcast of the 1976 Champion Spark Plug. Retrieved 5 Apr '22
- ↑ Racing-Reference noting footage of the 1976 Champion Spark Plug was uploaded to YouTube by racefan84 and 8mmhistory, with both videos having since been made inaccessible. Retrieved 5 Apr '22
- ↑ NASCAR on TV detailing the ABC broadcast of the 1976 National 500. Retrieved 28 Mar '22
- ↑ Racing-Reference list of lost NASCAR races, stating that the 1976 Dixie 500 was broadcast on tape-delay by CBS. Retrieved 19 Sep '21
- ↑ NASCAR on TV detailing the CBS broadcast of the 1976 Dixie 500. Retrieved 23 May '23