1979 World 600

1979 World 600
Race details
Race 13 of 31 in the 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
	Layout of Charlotte Motor Speedway
Date	May 27, 1979
Official name	World 600
Location	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina
Course	Permanent racing facility; 1.500 mi (2.414 km)
Distance	400 laps, 600 mi (965 km)
Weather	Mild with temperatures of 75.9 °F (24.4 °C); wind speeds of 18.1 miles per hour (29.1 km/h)
Average speed	136.674 miles per hour (219.955 km/h)
Attendance	135,000
Pole position
Driver	Neil Bonnett;
Most laps led
Driver	Darrell Waltrip
Laps	175
Winner
No. 88	Darrell Waltrip
Television in the United States
Network	CBS
Announcers	Ken Squier ; David Hobbs

The 1979 World 600, the 20th running of the event, was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that was held on May 27, 1979, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.

Before the performance, a skydiver was brought in to bring thrills to the audience; he would parachute into one of the turns. There was also an invocation service followed by the national anthem.

Race report

Darrell Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt would fight it out on the closing laps of this race; Richard Petty would make a comeback and lose to Darrell Waltrip by six seconds.^[2]

Dick Brooks had terminal damage to his vehicle on lap 10. Blackie Wangerin would spin his vehicle out on lap 29 but would ultimately finish the race. Bill Elliott blew his engine on lap 36. Connie Saylor ended up crashing his vehicle on lap 114 while Bobby Fisher's race would end on lap 136. Glenn Jarrett spun his vehicle out on lap 167. Bobby Allison's had engine problems on lap 186 but he would finish the race.^[2]

While Earnhardt led 122 laps, Waltrip would mount an incredible racing strategy; leading at the most opportune times in the race. While Bobby Allison had engine problems, Tighe Scott had a tie rod issue on lap 372. Ron Hutcherson and Chuck Bown would fail to start the race due to various issues with their vehicle. There were 41 drivers on the starting grid. The duration of this race was 263 minutes with an audience of 136,000 in attendance for what would become a race loaded with lead changes. Chevrolet vehicles dominated the starting grid.^[2]

Winnings for this event ranged from the winner's portion of $55,400 ($232,573 when adjusted for inflation) to the last-place of $1,165 ($4,891 when adjusted for inflation). from a grand total of $321,780 ($1,350,856 when adjusted for inflation).^[3]

On May 16, 18-year-old Kyle Petty crashed twice during private tests. Two Dodges were badly damaged and his father Richard withdrew him from the race because he was not ready.^[4]

Qualifying

Grid^[2]	No.	Driver	Manufacturer
1	21	Neil Bonnett	Mercury
2	43	Richard Petty	Chevrolet
3	88	Darrell Waltrip	Chevrolet
4	27	Benny Parsons	Chevrolet
5	11	Cale Yarborough	Oldsmobile
6	1	Donnie Allison	Chevrolet
7	15	Bobby Allison	Ford
8	28	Buddy Baker	Chevrolet
9	9	Bill Elliott	Mercury
10	90	Ricky Rudd	Mercury
11	72	Joe Millikan	Chevrolet
12	14	Coo Coo Marlin	Chevrolet
13	71	Dave Marcis	Chevrolet
14	44	Terry Labonte	Chevrolet
15	2	Dale Earnhardt	Chevrolet

Withdrew from race: Kyle Petty^[4]

Finishing order

Standings after the race

Pos	Driver	Points^[2]	Differential
1	Darrell Waltrip	2066	0
2	Bobby Allison	2013	-53
3	Cale Yarborough	1897	-169
4	Richard Petty	1887	-179
5	Dale Earnhardt	1756	-310
6	Benny Parsons	1749	-317
7	Joe Millikan	1730	-336
8	D.K. Ulrich	1582	-484
9	Terry Labonte	1576	-490
10	Richard Childress	1541	-525