@nascarcasm scores legendary fight at the 1979 Daytona 500

By @nascarcasm | Published: February 9, 2023 11

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Who won this legendary brawl? Let’s try to score this thing to determine the real victor between Cale Yarborough and the Allison brothers.

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The Allison Bros. vs. Cale Yarborough fight after the 1979 Daytona 500 played a major role in the growth of NASCAR. It’s our Undertaker vs. Mick Foley in Hell In A Cell. It captivated a nation and helped send NASCAR on a meteoric rise. But has it ever been scored to determine a winner?

It hasn’t. Until now.

But first, some background for those unfamiliar with these famous fisticuffs.

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BUILDUP TO THE BATTLE, PART 1: It was February 18, 1979. The following two factors were in place:

1. The Daytona 500 was being broadcast wire-to-wire for the first time on CBS.

2. A massive snowstorm had hit much of the East Coast, trapping millions of entertainment-starved Americans in their homes. There were only like three channels or something. Streaming services did not exist. Phones still had a long, coiled cord. Imagine this dark, primitive and churlish time, millennials. (Photo By ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

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BUILDUP TO THE BATTLE, PART 2: On the final lap of the race, Donnie Allison had the lead, with Cale Yarborough right on his bumper. Allison was very aware that at any moment, Yarborough would make his move to the front. This would set off a chain of events that would change motorsports forever.

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BUILDUP TO THE BATTLE, PART 3: What happened next is still disputed to this day. If you’re Cale Yarborough, you were attempting a slingshot move and Donnie Allison ran you down the track. If you’re Donnie Allison, you were protecting the inside lane and Cale dumped you. Either way, what happened next was a Donnie-brook that lived in lore. Good pun there. Anyways, here’s where the fight begins.

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Cale’s spider sense kicks in, ducking just in time to avoid a helmet-wielding Donnie. WHIFF. Don’t know how you miss that close. That’s like missing an extra point. Tony Stewart was able to hit a moving object with his helmet from like 15 feet away at Bristol that one time. Another point for Cale and his “Matrix”-like ability to evade incoming projectiles.

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Donnie’s brother Bobby stops on the back stretch to assess the situation. He charges Cale with lava-hot “YOU GOTTA GET THROUGH ME FIRST” energy. He swings at Cale then just collapses like Woody in “Toy Story” when he hears Andy coming. Cale seizes this opportunity to turn his helmet into the hammer of Thor on Bobby. That’s why we always want drivers to remove their helmets before fights. Not for the honor, but because they make tremendous weapons in a pinch. One point to Cale for the takedown, and another for landing the hit. Also kudos to all the track workers here for just walking away, especially that guy on the left who is like the kid who doesn’t break up the fight but runs to tell his mom about it and maybe she’ll do something.

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THE TURNTABLES TURN. While this is happening, Bobby Allison grabs hold of Yarborough’s leg. This is the best moment of the fight, not only because the advantage pendulum swings to the Allisons, but also because Bobby may have been biting Cale’s ankle right here. Probably not, but imagine if he had. We’d have called him “Piranha Bob” for the rest of his career. Anyways, finally the Allisons are on the board with one point as Bobby may or may not be picking pieces of Cale’s sock from his teeth.

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Five seconds ago, Cale had Bobby Allison on the ground. Now Bobby has Cale’s leg. The Daytona 500 is our Super Bowl, and Cale, like the Atlanta Falcons, has blown a 28-3 lead here. Bobby can do whatever he wants now – figure-four leg lock, tickle Cale’s foot – the advantage is his. I’m not sure but it appears Donnie is now trying to hand Cale his own helmet in a “Hey man can you sign this so I can eBay it?” sort of way. His role in this fracas remains nebulous and confusing. One point to the Allisons.

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GROUND AND POUND like a seasoned UFC fighter. Two points for the Allisons – one for the epic takedown and one for the haymakers Bobby threw after. Is Bobby Allison a master gardener because looks like he just PLANTED SOME CALE.

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So after a thorough review, we declare the winner of this fight to be the Allison Brothers by a single point. Cale Yarborough held his own, however, and put up a valiant effort against two enraged Alabama residents. It set the standards for all future punch fests. What could have made this fight better? Maybe it could have been longer. Maybe Donnie could have made a shocking heel turn on his brother and he and Cale form an alliance. Regardless, this 44-year-old fracas marked a huge moment for the sport as we know it. Cale, Bobby, and sort of Donnie – we thank you for so intensely throwing down when the viewership was way up. OH YEAH, Richard Petty wound up winning the race.