1980 Talladega 500

The 1980 Talladega 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on August 3, 1980 at Alabama International Motor Speedway in the American community of Talladega, Alabama.^[1][2]

Summary

188 laps were done on a paved oval track spanning 2.660 miles (4.281 km) for a grand total of 500.1 miles (804.8 km).^[1][2] This race took two hours and fifty-nine minutes in order to resolve itself.^[1][3] Neil Bonnett managed to defeat Cale Yarborough by six car lengths in front of 70000 live spectators.^[1] Five cautions were given out by NASCAR officials for 25 laps while the average racing speed was 166.894 miles per hour (268.590 km/h).^[1][2][3] Buddy Baker would qualify for the pole position with the speed of 198.545 miles per hour (319.527 km/h).^[1] Bruce Hill would finish the race in last place due to an engine issue on lap 12.^[1] He would only make $1,050 in race winnings ($2,798.58 in today's money) while Bonnett would earn the lion's share of the prize money with $35,675 ($95,085.15 in today's money).^[4]

Mercury would make its last ever victory in this race. Coo Coo Marlin would retire from NASCAR after this race while Tennessee's Harry Dinwiddle would make his only NASCAR Cup Series appearance here. Country music singing legend and NASCAR Cup Series driver Marty Robbins would start the race in 37th and finish the race in 13th while driving a 1978 Dodge Magnum using the racing number 6.^[5]

References