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| {{InfoboxLost
| | #REDIRECT [[1973-1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Series (partially found footage of NASCAR races; 1973-1974)]] |
| |title=<center>1973 Atlanta 500</center>
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| |image=1973atlanta5001.png
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| |imagecaption=Cale Yarborough (11) leads David Pearson (21).
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| |status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1973 Atlanta 500''''' was the 6th race of the 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 1st April at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by David Pearson in a 1971 Mercury, following a duel with the 1973 Chevrolet driver Cale Yarborough.
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| ==Background==
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| The ''1973 Atlanta 500'' was the 14th running of the event, with the race traditionally being around 500 miles in length.<ref name="circuit">[https://www.racingcircuits.info/north-america/usa/atlanta-motor-speedway.html#.YiFGz-jP1hE ''Racing Circuits'' documenting the Atlanta 500 and the Dixie 500.] Retrieved 6 Mar '22</ref> It was one of two 1973 Winston Cup Series races conducted at Atlanta Motor Speedway,<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1973/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Series calendar.] Retrieved 6 Mar '22</ref> the other being the Dixie 500,<ref name="circuit"/> which in 1973 occurred on 22nd July and was won by David Pearson.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1973_Dixie_500/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the results of the 1973 Dixie 500.] Retrieved 6 Mar '22</ref> 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.<ref>[https://www.nascar.com/2021/quaker-state-400-presented-by-walmart/ ''NASCAR'' linking the Atlanta 500 with the Quaker State 400.] Retrieved 6 Mar '22</ref><ref>[https://beyondtheflag.com/2015/02/24/sad-decline-atlanta-motor-speedway/ ''Beyond the Flag'' noting Atlanta 500 being removed from the 2011 schedule.] Retrieved 6 Mar '22</ref>
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| Under normal circumstances, qualifying would commence prior to the race. However, rain prevented this, forcing NASCAR officials to draw the starting order from two lots.<ref name="bench">[http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2020/04/april-1-1973-atlanta-500.html ''Bench-Racing'' detailing the race and its controversial means of deciding the line-up.] Retrieved 6 Mar '22</ref><ref name="lots">[https://www.nytimes.com/1973/04/01/archives/johncock-is-assigned-pole-for-the-atlanta-500-today.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on a draw being used to assign the starting order.] Retrieved 6 Mar '22</ref> The first lot contained the 17 drivers deemed the quickest, and were the only ones who could line up 1-17.<ref name="bench"/> This was subject to significant controversy with drivers in the second lot upset they were not considered for the first.<ref name="bench"/> Among those was Darrell Waltrip, who was initially given the 39th starting spot, but believed he should have been within the top 17.<ref name="bench"/> NASCAR official Lin Kuckler would later agree with this, but by then it was too late to change the lots.<ref name="bench"/> Waltrip would ultimately start 18th however, after exchanging spots with Charles Barrett.<ref name="bench"/><ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1973_Atlanta_500/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the results for the race.] Retrieved 6 Mar '22</ref> In contrast, some were upset Jim Vandiver was in the first lot, as he was neither a regular within the Cup Series, nor had a competitive car.<ref name="bench"/> Regardless, the draw was made, with Gordon Johncock in a 1972 Chevrolet starting first, with Bobby Isaac in a 1972 Ford in second, and Vandiver being assigned the third position.<ref name="lots"/><ref name="results"/><ref name="bench"/>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the draw decided and with good weather on the day, the 1973 Atlanta 500 commenced on 1st April.<ref name="results"/> Yarborough, who started fourth, took the lead immediately, and held onto to it for the first 41 laps.<ref name="results"/><ref name="nyt">[https://www.nytimes.com/1973/04/02/archives/pearson-winner-of-atlanta-500.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Pearson winning the race.] Retrieved 6 Mar '22</ref> Pearson, Isaac, and Richard Petty in a 1973 Dodge would provide challenges to Yarborough, but for the first 100 laps, he was in control.<ref name="results"/> His main rival was Pearson;<ref name="nyt"/> Petty had hoped to stay behind and capitalise as the duo battled, but The King was forced out on lap 140 following an engine failure.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="bench"/><ref name="results"/> This caused his Dodge to spin 180 degrees, resulting in his car slamming into the guardrail as other competitors like Waltrip and 1973 Dodge driver Buddy Baker spun to avoid him.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="bench"/> The vehicle nearly went over the fence during the crash, but Petty escaped unharmed.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="bench"/>
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| The race centred between Yarborough and Pearson, with the former seemingly having the upper hand after gaining the lead on lap 230.<ref name="bench"/><ref name="results"/><ref name="nyt"/> However, 44 laps later, his car began to overheat, causing him to drop down the field.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="bench"/> Pearson took over and held onto the first position for the remaining laps to clinch the victory and claim $16,625 in prize money.<ref name="results"/><ref name="nyt"/> Isaac finished two laps down in second, with Benny Parsons in a 1972 Chevrolet a further three laps down in third.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/><ref name="bench"/> Yarborough held on to finish fifth, albeit seven laps down from Pearson.<ref name="results"/><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="bench"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| According to ''NASCAR on TV'', ABC televised the final 90 minutes of the race live.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/nascarracingontv/home/the-races/monster-energy-cup-series/1973-nascar-winston-cup-series/1973-atlanta-500 ''NASCAR on TV'' detailing the ABC broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 6 Mar '22</ref> However, this broadcast has yet to resurface, and no footage of the race is currently publicly available. Nevertheless, a few photos can be publicly viewed.
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| ==Gallery==
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| ===Images===
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| <gallery mode=packed heights=250px>
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| 1973atlanta5002.jpg|The start of the race.
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| 1973atlanta5003.jpg|Photo of the event.
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| 1973atlanta5004.png|Richard Petty spins out, forcing Buddy Baker to take evasive action.
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| 1973atlanta5005.png|Program for the race.
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| 1973atlanta5006.png|''Atlanta Constitution'' reporting on Pearson winning the race.
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| 1973atlanta5007.png|''The Tennessean'' reporting on the starting order being decided via a draw.
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| </gallery>
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| ==See Also==
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| *[[1960 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1960)]]
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| *[[1960 Daytona Races (lost CBS and NBC televised footage of NASCAR prelude events to Daytona 500; 1960)]]
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| *[[1961 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1961)]]
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| *[[1962 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1962)]]
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| *[[1962 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1962)]]
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| *[[1963 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1963)]]
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| *[[1963 Richmond 250 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series qualifying session and race; 1963)]]
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| *[[1964 Atlanta 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1964 National 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1964 Richmond 250 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series qualifying session; 1964)]]
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| *[[1965 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1965)]]
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| *[[1965 Rebel 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1965)]]
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| *[[1966 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1966)]]
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| *[[1966 Southern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1966)]]
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| *[[1967 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
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| *[[1967 Rebel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
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| *[[1970 Alabama 500 (found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 National 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Wilkes 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 World 600 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1971 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Myers Brothers 250 (lost footage and official documents of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Rebel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1971)]]
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| *[[1972 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Bowman-Gray 100 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand American Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Carolina 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Firecracker 400 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 National 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Rebel 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1973 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1973)]]
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| *[[1974 Mason-Dixon 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1974 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1974 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1974)]]
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| *[[1975 Champion Spark Plug 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 Dixie 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 Firecracker 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 World 600 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1976 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Dixie 500 (lost CBS footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Firecracker 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Rebel 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Riverside 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Talladega 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Winston 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 World 600 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1978 NAPA National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1979 Daytona ARCA 200 (lost footage of ARCA Racing Series race; 1979)]]
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| *[[1979 Dixie 500 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1979)]]
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| *[[1979 Southeastern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1979)]]
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| *[[1981 Coca-Cola 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1981)]]
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| *[[1981 CRC Chemicals 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1981)]]
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| *[[1982 CRC Chemicals 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1982)]]
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| *[[1982 Eastern 150 (lost footage of NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1982)]]
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| *[[1982 Goody's Sportsman 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1982)]]
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| *[[1982 Twin 125s race 1 (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]]
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| *[[1982 Winston Western 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]]
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| *[[1983 Goody's Sportsman 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1983)]]
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| *[[1983 Mason-Dixon 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1983)]]
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| *[[1983 Southern 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1983)]]
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| *[[1984 Delaware 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1984)]]
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| *[[1984 Goody's Sportsman 300 (lost footage of NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race; 1984)]]
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| *[[1984 Warner W. Hodgdon Carolina 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1984)]]
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| *[[1985 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1985)]]
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| *[[1986 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1986)]]
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| *[[1989 Busch Clash (lost footage of pre-season NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1989)]]
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| *[[1992 Atlanta 300 (lost footage of NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race; 1992)]]
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| *[[1996 DeVilbiss SuperFinish 200 (partially found televised footage of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race; 1996)]]
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| *[[Jeff Gordon's 2008 UAW-Dodge 400 crash (lost on-board footage of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race crash; 2008)]]
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| *[[NASCAR (partially found uncut footage of stock car races; 1960-present)]]
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| [[Category:Lost recordings of real incidents]]
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| [[Category:Lost TV]]
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| [[Category:Completely lost media]]
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