View source for 1982 Goody's Sportsman 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1982)

{{InfoboxLost 
|title=<center>1982 Goody's Sportsman 300</center>        
|image=1982goodys3001.png
|imagecaption=Dale Earnhardt edges out Jody Ridley to win.
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>        
}}
The '''''1982 Goody's Sportsman 300''''' was the inaugural race of the NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series, now known as the Xfinity Series. Occurring on 13th February at the Daytona International Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by Dale Earnhardt, edging out fellow Pontiac driver Jody Ridley. 

==Background==
The ''1982 Goody's Sportsman 300'' kickstarted the NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series.<ref name="reunion">[http://racersreunion.com/community/forum/stock-car-racing-history/30956/racing-history-minute-daytona-500-1982 ''RacersReunion'' detailing the race and providing photos and newspaper clippings of it.] Retrieved 19 Apr '22</ref> The Series was formed when Anheuser-Busch struck a deal with NASCAR to sponsor a series.<ref name="biggest">[https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Biggest_NASCAR_Races/BsRgEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA16&printsec=frontcover ''The Biggest NASCAR Races'' detailing how the NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series was created.] Retrieved 19 Apr '22</ref> NASCAR in turn decided to merge the regional Sportsman series into a national touring series.<ref name="biggest"/> In modern times, it is known as the Xfinity Series,<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20141009015056/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2014/9/3/nascar-names-xfinity-series-2015-10-year-agreement-technology-partner.html Archived ''NASCAR'' announcing the series being renamed to the Xfinity Series.] Retrieved 19 Apr '22</ref> providing a proving ground for up and comping drivers seeking to compete in the Cup Series, as well as feeder races for it.<ref name="biggest"/> The race itself, which lasted 300 miles,<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1982_Goody%27s_300/B/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the qualifying and race results of the event.] Retrieved 19 Apr '22</ref> has ties to the modern Beef. It's What's for Dinner. 300, having dropped the Goody's title from 1997 onwards.<ref>[https://nytimes.stats.com/racing/index.asp?page=track&series=Xfinity&track=1 ''The New York Times Stats'' detailing the history of Sportsman races at Daytona International Speedway.] Retrieved 19 Apr '22</ref>

Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Mike Porter winning the pole position in a Pontiac with a speed of 184.569 mph.<ref name="results"/> Directly behind him were fellow Pontiac drivers Geoffrey Bodine and Jody Ridley, in second and third respectively.<ref name="results"/> Dale Earnhardt qualified fifth out of 34 competitors,<ref name="results"/> having come off an unsuccessful 1980 Winston Cup Series campaign where he won no races or pole positions.<ref name="dale">[https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Dale_Earnhardt/ldNYIIt4I4AC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA35&printsec=frontcover ''Dale Earnhardt: Rear View Mirror'' containing a quote from Earnhardt about his concerns prior to the race.] Retrieved 19 Apr '22</ref><ref name="ap">[http://racersreunion.com/community/forum/stock-car-racing-history/30956/racing-history-minute-daytona-500-1982 ''Associated Press'' reporting on Earnhardt winning the race (report found on ''RacersReunion''.] Retrieved 19 Apr '22</ref> This may have impacted his confidence before the event, stating during preparations for the race, "I don't care who it is. When you've been accustomed to winning-winning big-and suddenly you're not anymore, it's going to make you feel down. That's human nature. It worries you and bothers you and gnaws at you inside."<ref name="dale"/>

==The Race==
With the starting order decided, the 1982 Goody's Sportsman 300 commenced on 13th February.<ref name="results"/> Of this 120-lap, Earnhardt led the most at 52, with his main competition late in the race being Ridley.<ref name="ap"/><ref name="reunion"/><ref name="results"/> For the final 15 laps, Earnhardt and Ridley duelled for the first position, with The Intimidator remaining in front.<ref name="ap"/><ref name="reunion"/> On the final lap, Ridley made a few attempts to pass Earnhardt, but was thwarted because slower cars blocked the lower portion of the speedway, preventing him from making a substantial move.<ref name="ap"/><ref name="reunion"/> Earnhardt therefore claimed victory and $14,740 in prize money.<ref name="ap"/><ref name="reunion"/><ref name="results"/> Sam Ard finished third in an Oldsmobile;<ref name="results"/> he was reported as having a highlight-filled race, including missing his pit stop three times, and bashing into Mark Beard's Pontiac in the fourth attempt.<ref name="ap"/><ref name="reunion"/> 

Post-race, Earnhardt explained that the traffic was actually part of his game plan, stating "With about five laps to go, I started thinking about the last lap and what Jody would try to do. I realized I could probably use the traffic if I could time it right." This ultimately paid off for Earnhardt, with him noting "And I was backing off, trying to time the traffic. So we were both backing off. But the traffic did come in handy; Jody just didn't have anywhere to go to get around me."<ref name="ap"/> 

==Availability==
As noted in nascarman History's ''Top 10 LOST NASCAR TV Broadcasts'', 2-and-a-half hours of highlights were televised by the USA Network on 27th March 1982, under the title of "Auto Racing: Sportsman 300". Interestingly, this was not the first Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series to be televised, as ''NASCAR on TV''  claims that the subsequent 1982 Eastern 150 was broadcast on ESPN on 3rd March 1982.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/nascarracingontv/home/the-races/xfinity-series/1982-nascar-late-model-sportsman-series/1982-eastern-150 ''NASCAR on TV'' detailing the ESPN broadcast of the 1982 Eastern 150, which notably came before the USA Network airing of the Goody's Sportsman 300.] Retrieved 19 Apr '22</ref> The USA Network broadcast has yet to resurface, but a clip of the last lap was included as part of a January 1983 interview with Jack Ingram, which was uploaded to YouTube on 13th December 2020 by Calhoun98. Photos and newspaper clippings of the race are also publicly viewable.<ref name="reunion"/>

==Gallery==
===Videos===
{{Video|perrow  =2
  |service1     =youtube  
  |id1          =jLddOxdReTg
  |description1 =Footage of the last lap of the race.
  |service2     =youtube  
  |id2          =2fZkDncsKW8
  |description2 =''Top 10 LOST NASCAR TV Broadcasts'' detailing the USA Network broadcast of the race (3:53-4:28).
}}

===Images===
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px>
1982goodys3002.jpg|Jody Ridley (98) ahead of Sam Ard (00).
1982goodys3003.jpg|Harry Gant's Pontiac during the race. Gant would ultimately finish sixth.
1982goodys3004.jpg|Ridley's Pontiac at the event.
1982goodys3005.png|Dennis Bennett crashes his Pontiac after 51 laps.
1982goodys3006.jpg|Earnhardt celebrating his win in Victory Lane.
1982goodys3007.png|Listing of the USA Network airing of the race.
</gallery>
 
==See Also==    
*[[1960 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1960)]]           
*[[1960 Daytona Races (lost CBS and NBC televised footage of NASCAR prelude events to Daytona 500; 1960)]]           
*[[1961 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1961)]]     
*[[1962 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1962)]]           
*[[1962 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1962)]]           
*[[1963 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1963)]] 
*[[1963 Richmond 250 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series qualifying session and race; 1963)]]           
*[[1964 Atlanta 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]           
*[[1964 National 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]] 
*[[1964 Richmond 250 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series qualifying session; 1964)]]     
*[[1965 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1965)]]           
*[[1965 Rebel 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1965)]]           
*[[1966 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1966)]]           
*[[1966 Southern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1966)]]           
*[[1967 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]           
*[[1967 Rebel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]    
*[[1970 Alabama 500 (found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]           
*[[1970 National 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]           
*[[1970 Wilkes 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]           
*[[1970 World 600 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]           
*[[1971 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]           
*[[1971 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]        
*[[1971 Myers Brothers 250 (lost footage and official documents of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]           
*[[1971 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]           
*[[1971 Rebel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]           
*[[1971 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1971)]]           
*[[1972 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]] 
*[[1972 Bowman-Gray 100 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand American Series race; 1972)]]       
*[[1972 Carolina 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]     
*[[1972 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]           
*[[1972 Firecracker 400 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]           
*[[1972 National 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]           
*[[1972 Rebel 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]           
*[[1973 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1973)]]           
*[[1973 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1973)]]           
*[[1974 Mason-Dixon 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1974)]]          
*[[1974 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1974)]]           
*[[1974 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1974)]]         
*[[1975 Champion Spark Plug 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]          
*[[1975 Dixie 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]           
*[[1975 Firecracker 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]           
*[[1975 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]           
*[[1975 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1975)]]           
*[[1975 World 600 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]           
*[[1976 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]         
*[[1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]           
*[[1976 Dixie 500 (lost CBS footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]           
*[[1976 Firecracker 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]           
*[[1976 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]          
*[[1976 Rebel 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]         
*[[1976 Riverside 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]          
*[[1976 Talladega 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]          
*[[1976 Winston 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]           
*[[1976 World 600 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]           
*[[1978 NAPA National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1978)]] 
*[[1979 Daytona ARCA 200 (lost footage of ARCA Racing Series race; 1979)]]           
*[[1979 Dixie 500 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1979)]]           
*[[1979 Southeastern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1979)]]    
*[[1981 Coca-Cola 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1981)]]    
*[[1981 CRC Chemicals 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1981)]]   
*[[1982 CRC Chemicals 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1982)]] 
*[[1982 Eastern 150 (lost footage of NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1982)]]          
*[[1982 Twin 125s race 1 (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]]   
*[[1982 Winston Western 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]] 
*[[1983 Goody's Sportsman 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1983)]]  
*[[1983 Mason-Dixon 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1983)]]  
*[[1983 Southern 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1983)]]           
*[[1984 Delaware 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1984)]] 
*[[1984 Goody's Sportsman 300 (lost footage of NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race; 1984)]]           
*[[1984 Warner W. Hodgdon Carolina 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1984)‎]]           
*[[1985 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1985)]]           
*[[1986 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1986)]]  
*[[1989 Busch Clash (lost footage of pre-season NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1989)]]
*[[1992 Atlanta 300 (lost footage of NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race; 1992)]]           
*[[1996 DeVilbiss SuperFinish 200 (partially found televised footage of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race; 1996)]]
*[[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)]]

==References==          
{{reflist}}   

[[Category:Lost recordings of sports events]]      
[[Category:Partially found media]]
[[Category:Historic]]