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| {{NSFL|discussion of a fatal motor racing accident}}
| | #REDIRECT [[NASCAR (partially found footage of NASCAR races featuring fatal and/or serious accidents; 1964-2002)]] |
| {{InfoboxLost
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| |title=<center>1979 Atlanta 500</center>
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| |image=1979atlanta5001.jpg
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| |imagecaption=Program for the race.
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| |status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1979 Atlanta 500''''' was the 5th race of the 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 18th March at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by pole sitter Buddy Baker in an Oldsmobile. However, the event is overshadowed by the death of Dennis Wade, a crewman that was fatally struck by Dave Watson's Chevrolet as it went out of control on the pit road.
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| ==Background==
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| The ''1979 Atlanta 500'' was the 20th 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 7 Mar '22</ref> It was one of two 1979 Winston Cup Series races conducted at Atlanta Motor Speedway,<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1979/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series calendar.] Retrieved 7 Mar '22</ref> the other being the Dixie 500,<ref name="circuit"/> which in 1979 occurred on 7th November and was won by Neil Bonnett in a Mercury.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1979_Dixie_500/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the results of the 1979 Dixie 500.] Retrieved 7 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 7 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 7 Mar '22</ref>
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| Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Buddy Baker winning the pole position with a speed of 165.951 mph.<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1979_Atlanta_500/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing qualifying and race results of the event.] Retrieved 7 Mar '22</ref> Directly behind him was Bobby Allison in a Ford, with Chevrolet driver Benny Parsons occupying the third position.<ref name="results"/> Dave Watson qualified 18th out of the 40 race competitors.<ref name="results"/>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the starting order decided, the 1979 Atlanta 500 occurred on 18th March.<ref name="results"/> Baker led the first two laps,<ref name="results"/> though it became clear Allison would be his biggest rival, as they led the majority of the first 114 laps,<ref name="results"/> with them especially being competitive in the first 47 laps.<ref name="nyt">[https://www.nytimes.com/1979/03/19/archives/baker-first-at-atlanta-crewman-is-killed-crowd-of-62000-a-record.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Baker winning the race and the death of Wade.] Retrieved 7 Mar '22</ref> This was disrupted as Oldsmobile driver Richard Petty spun out, forcing a caution.<ref name="nyt"/> The first pitstops began, and Watson elected to stay out, thus giving him the lead for six laps.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> Following the fatal accident of Dennis Wade, Cale Yarborough in an Oldsmobile took over as leader,<ref name="results"/> although ultimately the race would be between Baker and Allison for the final stretch.<ref name="nyt"/> Mercury driver David Pearson also remained in contention until lap 299 where he retired due to an engine failure.<ref name="results"/>
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| On lap 305, Baker passed Allison to move into the first position, and remained there for the final 23 laps.<ref name="results"/> He built a sizeable gap over his opponents, finishing 28 seconds ahead of Allison to claim his first victory since May 1976, and $30,525 in prize money.<ref name="nyt"/> Allison nevertheless received a consolation $10,000 in addition to the $30,525, after having led the most laps at 166.<ref name="nyt"/> In third was Darrell Waltrip in a Chevrolet.<ref name="results"/><ref name="nyt"/> Post-race, Allison stated that his Ford Thunderbird lost a cylinder following the final pit stop, which he claims was why he could not keep up with Baker.<ref name="nyt"/>
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| ==Death of Dennis Wade==
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| On lap 124,<ref name="results"/> Watson, who had managed to lead six laps after staying out, elected to pit as the car ran out of fuel.<ref name="cpdb">[http://the-fastlane.co.uk/cpdb/crashphotos_view.php?editid1=533 ''The Crash Photos Database'' detailing the death of Wade.] Retrieved 7 Mar '22</ref><ref name="nyt"/> As the car was approaching, crewman Dennis Wade jumped over the pit wall carrying a heavy hydraulic jack, so that he and others could prepare to service the car.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="cpdb"/> Watson began to approach his pit stall when suddenly the rear wheels locked.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="cpdb"/> Because it had no power, the car had virtually no control, resulting in the car locking up and spinning as Watson attempted to gear down.<ref name="nyt"/> As the car spun towards him, Wade froze, and according to NASCAR official Ray Hill, "had nowhere to go".<ref name="nyt"/> The out of control Chevrolet Monte Carlo then proceeded to plough into Wade at around 50 mph, knocking him 100 feet through the air.<ref name="cpdb"/><ref name="nyt"/>
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| Wade was immediately taken to the local hospital, with a distraught Watson immediately retiring from the race and electing to travel with his crew to the hospital.<ref name="cpdb"/><ref name="nyt"/> Ultimately, Wade passed away from his injuries aged 18, becoming the first racing-related death at the raceway.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="cpdb"/> Following the death of his crewman, Watson made the decision to never race in the Cup Series again, although he would later compete in other categories.<ref name="cpdb"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| According to ''NASCAR on TV'', ABC televised 30 minutes of highlights on 24th March 1979 as part of its ''Wide World of Sports'' alongside the World Target Diving Championships and World Championship Motorcycles.<ref name="nascar">[https://sites.google.com/site/nascarracingontv/home/the-races/monster-energy-cup-series/1979-nascar-winston-cup-series/1979-atlanta-500 ''NASCAR on TV'' detailing the ABC broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 7 Mar '22</ref> It is unknown whether any of the televised contained the fatal accident, though it would become the first Atlanta 500 since 1969 to be broadcast on tape-delay.<ref name="nascar"/> As of the present day, the ABC coverage has yet to resurface, and no footage of the race is currently publicly accessible. Nevertheless, a few photographs, including of the fatal accident, have resurfaced.
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| ==Gallery==
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| ===Images===
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| <gallery mode=packed heights=300px>
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| 1979atlanta5002.jpg|Baker during the race.
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| 1979atlanta5003.jpg|Baker celebrating his win.
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| </gallery>
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| ==See Also==
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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 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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| *[[1964 Atlanta 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1964 World 600 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1967 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
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| *[[1969 Permatex 300 at Daytona (partially found footage of NASCAR Sportsman race; 1969)]]
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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 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 Firecracker 400 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Twin 125s (partially found footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1972)]]
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| *[[1973 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1973)]]
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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 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1974)]]
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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 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1975)]]
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| *[[1976 Atlanta 500 (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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| *[[1979 Southeastern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1979)]]
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| *[[1982 Twin 125s race 1 (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]]
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| *[[1984 Delaware 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup 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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| *[[1996 DeVilbiss SuperFinish 200 (partially found televised footage of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race; 1996)]]
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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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