1981 Daytona 500

NASCAR Winston Cup Series
Daytona International Speedway
February 15th, 1981

[@anthonynelson9136]

No stage racing, no pit road speed limit, cars actually passing other cars without having to have 8 other cars help to make the pass. This is Nascar, not the crap they serve up today and call Nascar.

[@randyjohnson6845]

Got to have pit speed limits.this race you might think they dont need them.but the other tracks they need them.they killed a pit crewman before they changed the rules

[@anthonynelson9136]

@@randyjohnson6845 Yea, they injured a few and killed one in the multiple thousands of pit stops before the rule change which in the overall picture wasn't that bad of an average. That being said, these days you definitely need pit road speed limits because of the lack of talent today's drivers have compared to the drivers of yesterday. Even with pit road having a speed limit these clowns continue to slide through their pit stalls on a regular basis hurting pit crew members. Maybe in this new world of Nascar pit stops no one should be able to advance their position on pit road. If you came in 4th you go out 4th no matter how fast your crew did the work, then there would be no reason to come in too fast running over crewmen or having missing or loose lug nuts.

[@brianmaricle9646]

Tell Jenie I said hi major Nelson 😂

[@anthonynelson9136]

@@brianmaricle9646 I told her you said hi, and she asked me to thank you for the shout-out, and to say hi back. She also wanted me to show the correct spelling of her name. Jeannie.

[@kramnull8962]

@@randyjohnson6845 Do you want to do a casket count of people killed in racing in general from 1900-2022? We won't even mention on the streets. Bring in the motorcycles as well and then let's take roll call of caskets. Now DWI induced kills. Kinda makes NASCAR's record not so bad after all. Let's just give a hats off to Covid and its creators that tried to kill hundreds of millions of people for the largest property grab in the history of the world. Yet I'm sure you're not appalled by that.....

[@aspiceronni4462]

There are so many legends in this race. I would rather watch these old races and know who the winner is than watch a race today.

[@josue24]

Nothing like living in the past

[@drmarioprojectm1510]

@@josue24 Brings back nostalgia, eh?

[@brettcarmer9232]

I agree! I love any race with AJ Foyt in it

[@OldBiker54]

Bet you Watch...

[@paxhumana2015]

@A Spiceronni, et al, and idiots like you lot are just as bad as the morons that only care for modern races.

[@ragingbull154]

Nascar needs a throwback series. Old body styles and engines with today's safety.

[@robertadams9699]

Before its dies. They will. , i believe I heard it's been talked about , Gordon , Wallace , Stewart, the pettys all have discussed it for a while now

[@ZLProductionsOfficial]

Great Idea

[@bigbline405]

I agree full power too no plates

[@robertadams9699]

@@bigbline405 well ONLY IF nessasssry , they did that for a reason !

[@soloolo671]

full power and less safty I hate that huge hulk buster looking sht that covers the drivers entire body

[@Sammydx1]

I'm listening to this as I put my son's crib together, just how I imagined my Father listening to it live in 81 while putting my crib together.

[@ihavefallenandicantreachmy2113]

If your Son is a Kenny Wallace fan, you could name him "Square D", just for fun. It would help, if his Crib is Square shaped and/or D shaped. If your Son has a Beer Belly, then, i guess it would be D shaped.

[@renohuskerdu4592]

A good crib should last 100 years

[@robertcubinelli4961]

When Penske ruled the speedways !

[@billymanilli]

Thats Awesome! TBH, I was just coming down here to write that this race took place just 2 months before I was born! LOVE these late 70's and early 80's superspeedway races! :D

[@jackgtx440]

I was born two weeks before this race.

[@lifelongbachelor3651]

even replays of old stuff is more interesting than today...

[@crisgayle2581]

One's heart breaks to see what this series has become today.

[@johngates450]

I watch the 500 only because of the history of the track. When I was growing up many drivers goal was to run Winston Cup. A lot of Sprint Car Drivers made it I knew. Today there is no real feasible chance of anyone of of the top 12 winning a race..Back in the day a driver could get hooked up and come from the back and win. Now if any of the elite are put in the back within 10 Laps there in the top 5. The drivers in the back simply let the elite through..Back in the day you had to work to pass anyone. Nascar puts there $$ drivers in positions to win! ..Jimmy Johnson 5 champ in a row..Love to here w King Richard thinks about today's racing..

[@arthurlull8681]

So true

[@edwardbocan4298]

And you got these old nascar drivers still spewing the sport is evolving and strong as ever. 🤔

[@thegreenbird795]

@@edwardbocan4298 THEY GET PAID FOR THAT....

[@armybeef68]

@@johngates450 I was 12, but just wondering, did you ever make it past Kindergarten?

[@casualobserver2305]

The sound of those engines back then is PURE dope.

[@DanYeLL2003]

I grew up about 3 miles from this track and it used to be soooo loud during speed weeks. All week, it was only awesome like the first 2 days.

[@brianmaricle9646]

That's because it was pure horsepower the engines weren't being choked by a Cadillac converter

[@arnosquellati567]

I think the engines were pre-restrictor plate back then...maximum horsepower!

[@beeemm2578]

Right! ...like a fckn hog ass race car..lol. Sounds so sweet

[@MartenFerret]

Do you think you could make the car go?

[@DidntSay]

I watched this race live with my dad 40 years ago. I was 11, and of course we cheered for ‘The King, Sir Richard’!

[@MAGGOT_VOMIT]

I was 12 when I watched this one, but after that exciting "Old Man Fight" in the '79 500, I would watch the race then ride the hell outa my Huffy "WildFire" around the house like I was King Richard. xD

[@brianmaricle9646]

@@MAGGOT_VOMIT I was 11 years old at the time of this race didn't have a bicycle of my own me and my brothers and sisters used to run around the house pretending to be our favorite race car driver the wrecks back then really sucked especially when you didn't clear the picnic table 🤣😂

[@coachrobwille4176]

I was also 11 in 1981 I watched this with my Dad when we play pool in our rec room. Great memories

[@ChristopherF_1971]

I did as well. I'm same age or close. Born 71' . Remember I was always dads beer runner. Lol. Oh how I miss those days.

[@MAGGOT_VOMIT]

@@ChristopherF_1971 I don't care what anyone says, after 20yrs of rotten egg exhaust, that smell of rich Leaded Exhaust in the 70's was awesome!!

[@trentfollmer1462]

It was way more interesting to watch these races when all the manufactures and cars were different...The true golden era of the sport.

[@DanYeLL2003]

I seriously LOVED all the times the announcer would stop to explain certain things like the wind speed, the weather and how it affects the driving, and all the other scientific reasons why things happen. And they didn’t explain it with confusing terminology and big words.

[@hoppes9658]

Old school common sense.

[@kylereese4822]

Where`s the Tesla Model S Plaid.... sorry had too :):)

[@Slinger43]

LOL! Yes, I agree, but the Great Ken Squire & Gentleman Ned would be the first to tell you that they don't know any "big word's" and as for Hobbs, he know's some, but doesn't know what they mean! 😂 Btw, I started to hit your like button, but didn't want to mess up that beautiful number you have now, 43! 😉

[@DavidVanmeterDutch]

This is an example of why You Tube is a great thing! Here I am in 2021 enjoying this full race and loving it!!

[@dtmjax5612]

Yep. I love watching these races compared to that manufactured crap they put on today.

[@DavidVanmeterDutch]

I love that about modern tech!!

[@Andrew-13579]

I think I watched this race on CBS when it was live back in '81. I don't remember any of it for sure. It's still exciting to watch it again, 41 years later. So many drivers in it who were legends even back then. They keep showing race average speed, but one camera shot showed a chart with lap times. They were about 45.9 to 47 seconds on full-speed laps. That's a 2.5-mile track, so that's 191 to 197 mph lap average speed during green flag racing. They were pushing the edge of technology. It's just not the same these days...different cars, different class of drivers. Although, it's still racing. I wonder when they'll make 'em race electric cars? No more gasoline racing. But actually, hybrids might make a pretty interesting race.

[@valkman761]

As an European I actually didn't understand the "thing" about NASCAR until recently... and what a culture goes into it! Makes me also understand why ordinary people in the 90's talked about "racing" with a 80's bulky Monte Carlo... it's not about the low or high tech, it's about speed, sound, smell and sense of community. Everyone in the team look like they milked the cows in the morning, went to the race to win and came home for dinner... love it!

[@loganallen868]

I’m only 13 and I’m a fan of nascar I never knew the racing back in the day was better. I really enjoyed this

[@DinsDetailin]

@Logan Allen - watch this beautiful piece of History... A Legend named Dale Earnhardt coming from 17th spot to the lead and takes the win. In a race that had 47 lead changes among 21 drivers, now that was racing! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGm7p6p7rst7a8U Let me know what you thought of it -enjoy

[@bradthomas3087]

This what speedway racing used to be

[@thedistractedcanadian4355]

Everything went down hill feb 18 2001😔

[@dandelly4269]

Hey Logan...I was 13 years old the day this race took place. I watched it live and my hero Richard Petty won !!! I wish today's Nascar fans could have seen the racing I saw in the mid 70's to mid 80's.....some of the greatest racing ever in NASCAR !!

[@elconquistador932]

@@dandelly4269 👍yeah I was 15. And stock car racing was awesome, wild and a little crazy through the 70s 80s and 90s. Loved every race.

[@lukepace8546]

Ford, Chevy, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Buick, and even a Chrysler Imperial that all look like the cars driven on the streets! Bring back real stock car racing!

[@sludge4125]

I guess you forgot the decades of “real” men whining like unpaid hos because the competition was a little better than they were.

[@truckinchihuahuaalvieschre2494]

@@sludge4125 that's their problem. The body should be bought at the dealer. The cars now days are not even the size you can buy they are basically a midget of the production car. And NASCAR changes the arrow package so a Chevy can run with a Ford and they can all run with a Toyota and so forth. BS! The stock is gone in stock car racing.

[@caseyplooy1696]

Luke Pace Well that excludes toyota automatically because everyone knows a v8 camry doesn’t exist.......and that’s just fine with me. Replace them with Dodge.

[@zcam1969]

nascar has been that way ever since 1979.the current France family tends to cater to Toyota and other Corp. sponsorship .Stage racing is BS .500 mile endurence is the roots of this sport !

[@jimjonrs3932]

You want a bunch of front wheel drives racing?

[@elconquistador932]

Allisons in the 28. Damn I miss those days. And the grandstands absolutely packed.

[@EricCox4848]

Harry Ranier's car. Davey would drive the same car by 1987-1988 later bought by Robert Yates. The year before, Buddy Baker won in that car. Cale Yarborough would drive it to a Daytona win in '83 and '84. The cars back then looked pretty neat.

[@Jamespennington71]

Holy damn....some of those headshots at the 11:00 mark are killing me lol. They range from "drunk uncle at a party" to "awkward yearbook photo" to "guy that sold you shoes last week". Way better to see drivers looking like real people and not airbrushed promo photos,

[@llg3pe]

They were real men who worried about their cars and their racing ability rather than vanity and public image nonsense,

[@MrErnie43]

THIS is Nascar Racing! I miss it so much. I've watched Nascar races from the time i was little and now i'm looking at age 50 so these vids bring back so many memories.....thanks for them.

[@2014cwajts71]

Ernie Scheel: I think it was even better before the cars were downsized in '81. The '79 Daytona 500 will never be beat.

[@seththomas9105]

Me too. I'm 49 and watched racing up until the late 1990's and then it was done for me. Haven't watched a whole race since before Earnhardt died. STOCK car racing as we know it can't happen anymore with the front drivers and unless RWD makes a big comeback to the big 3 it never will. Too bad.

[@badmonkey2222]

@@2014cwajts71 i actually loved the 81 to about 87 style cars my fav era

[@unknown0508]

@@2014cwajts71 the 2007 Daytona 500 is A WAY better than 1979 Daytona 500

[@unknown0508]

@@seththomas9105 NASCAR was good only in 1998 to 2003, 2005 to 2010 and 2013

[@bobdonovan34]

Early 80's had such a great mix of drivers. Young guys like Ricky Rudd and Terry Labonte on the same track as Cale Yarborough and Buddy Baker and Johnny Rutherford. Earnhardt was driving the #2 car. Even though it was a bad year for cars, It was a great year for the sport.

[@jackgtx440]

💯

[@goldsmith1210]

Ned’s call on The King’s last pit stop is so classic. Love it!!

[@michaeltidaback1275]

Still sends chills down my spine...the kings last Daytona 500 win I was there great memories

[@robtans5042]

Long live the KING

[@Deadbuck73]

Oh man you just gave it away! I Had recorded this on my Beta VCR and just now got to watching it… all these years and I never looked up the winner… dang it! My bad for reading the comments… 😂

[@bb-gc2tx]

1981 when dallas and jr ewing ruled tv burt reynolds ruled the box office van halen and billy squier ruled the airwaves and nascar was real racing with real men behind the wheel as the stars and bars flew proudly over every track someone get me a time machine

[@raymondmauck2913]

The thing I notice the most is they don't have fox's scoring ticker taking up the whole side of the screen. These races are about the racing not the networks.

[@chrisf8855]

The golden age of NASCAR. I was at the '84 and '86 Daytona 500. Also met Richard Petty at a charity event.

[@HawaiiJetboat]

There is just a special something that these cars have that todays cars don't. They just looked real, like the ones in the parking lot of the grocery store or maybe sitting your driveway. Simple painted on numbers and maybe a little color scheme. Todays cars with "skins" and graphic packages disguise the shapes of the cars and blind you so it's hard to see where one car ends and another begins. Love watching these re-runs!

[@bloqk16]

I'm old enough to remember the model slot car racers where they'd race at 'slot car racing centers.' Today's NASCAR Cup series cars have a remarkable resemblance to those model slot car racers. There's a resemblance to production cars, but, they lack an organic aura of what Cup cars were back in the 1980s.

[@JesusTapdancingChristOnaCross]

600 + wins and 21 NASCAR Cup championships in the first 5 rows alone.

[@lordflashheart3706]

@ArianOriginal21 I'm pretty confident you can't do what they're doing, so, at the very least, more talent, guts, and skill than you have.

[@T.R.R.Jolkien]

ArianOriginal21 it’s like parallel parking at 200 miles per hour. Endorphins pumping. You’d probably soil yourself... 😉

[@rumplestiltskin3814]

@ArianOriginal21 you left out the *at 200 mph+ for 2 hrs solid, with that antiquated (by today's standards) equipment*

[@mannyfox8089]

' this is great - I love when the pit reporter has to explain at 35:15 to the viewers that a car getting "squirrelly" means they're moving around a lot - thanks for posting this. if NASCAR was still like this id watch every race

[@Secretarian]

Love it! Ned Jarrett's reaction when he realizes that Petty is taking fuel only on final stop is priceless.

[@frankdawe5156]

This was when NASCAR was actually exciting to watch. You know, passing for the lead instead of three hours of watching one long train of cars circle the track.

[@mr.mikemike49ers4life4]

R.I.P to all the true legends in this sport 🙏🏻

[@oonojoe]

Amen Brother.

[@switchhitter08]

Richard and Bobby are still here. Cale and Darrell, too.

[@richardblackwell4082]

NASCAR needs to go back to their roots!!! Look at those stands....they are packed, with a nationwide TV audience.

[@midsouth2strokes185]

Man those 81 trans am pace cars are beautiful!

[@yournightmareracing1754]

Row 4: Dale Earnhardt - Richard Petty It doesn't get more iconic than that. You can seen them pre-race between the 8 and 9 minute mark.

[@kevinjohnston1957]

I'm watching this today instead of the 2022 race.

[@georgeneher7690]

Always enjoyed watching Daytona as a teenager with my father in the 70's....We always cheered for Richard Petty

[@robtans5042]

The best

[@m42037]

🥁🚀

[@jorgejefferson8251]

that's when a camera in a car meant a camera in a car!

[@rogerduchesneau4455]

Cheveux aux vent !

[@jamesfarmer3759]

The stands are packed!!!!

[@reno145]

My God, those things were actually considered the safest of the safe back then! I think today's drivers would be scared to death to wheel one of these around for 500 miles.

[@NotSteveCook]

They weren't even the safest of the 1980s. NASCAR has always had quite an insulated view of themselves. They were not even in the conversation for being the leader in motorsports safety until the last 5 or 6 years.

[@vollste]

I grew up 5 miles from MIS in the ‘80’s and remember how awesome races were back then. Back then we could literally lay on the fence and watch the cars speed by literally a couple feet from you. I did this with CART cars too and boy that was a rush, feeling the speed, dirt, rubber pieces and exhaust.

[@TS-ef2gv]

Literally!

[@jacoballen3267]

I’m pretty sure, knowing my dad, that this was the first race I ever watched. I was born in December 1980, and I could see myself in dad’s lap as he’s in the recliner watching the 500 in the living room :) Talk about retro! Concrete walls, fence not all around the track, no pit speed limits, open faced helmets, glass windshields, no restrictor plates, beer and chewing tobacco advertising, those were indeed the days! lol

[@RickinBaltimore]

I really liked the explanation of drafting with the wind tunnel. Simple yet effective

[@jodymann5993]

I miss watching this old nascar a whole whole lot

[@mikeoleksa]

I just wanted to say thank you for all the work you do converting these into a digital format and uploading them. As someone that has experience with this kind of thing, I know it's time consuming, to say the least. I've watched a bunch of your IROC races and these old classics and even saved most to a personal watch list.

[@scottcol23]

I need to go through our old races some day. My father and I used to record all the big ones. from about 1983 to 98'ish... WE recorded a lot of football from the same era also. My father likes converting stuff. He recently did all his old 8mm family movies from his childhood in the early 50's.

[@Hoosierdaddyjones812]

Watching these legends like Dale and Richard is levels above today's races.

[@stclairstclair]

I let this play in the background while i was working and it felt so right.

[@Sammydx1]

110% truth

[@wvusmc]

I enjoyed this. The most NASCAR I've watched since 2004.

[@harryodonovan4999]

This is the first NASCAR race I’ve seen and what a place to start

[@reginaldhall6871]

Its not in the Guiness Book of World Records but I'd bet Richard Petty has signed over 2 million autographs in his lifetime. Always polite & never said no to a fan

[@m42037]

Who is? Don't forget old school NHRA driver's like Big Daddy and Connie Kalitta 🚀

[@rootsmanuva82]

So much cooler when the cars actually looked like cars.

[@AZTRAROTH666]

those were the best years ..... middle school friends meeting at someones house on the weekend to see those amazing cars.

[@vanPoll]

Richard Petty looked death in the eye three times in his life and always he said: "I'm not scared." What a guy. What a character.

[@robtans5042]

The 👑

[@5FWS5]

God I miss REAL Stock Car racing.

[@nickelcrackmemes]

Yeah with cars built off the actual engines and body's of the car not just a V8 tuned like the rest on a Camry sticker

[@SwigerQ86]

Ehh, all the old races ive watched the guy wins by 4 laps lol. Cool personalities, no competition

[@therealtrucker7564]

@@SwigerQ86 precisely. Great personalities in the old days the actual racing product 🤷🏻‍♂️ Today nascar needs to pull back on the handling a little bit and loosen up the cars and let the drivers express themselves a little bit more.

[@daltonbedore8396]

@@nickelcrackmemes these cars only used the hood of the street car. they are tubeframe "silohuette" fabricated race cars

[@gennaro13]

Hasn't been real stock since 1966.

[@one4allall4one91]

This was like 3rd year the Daytona 500 was televised live. About that year I began watching. Historic piece.

[@mpaulm]

NASCAR: Let's make the cars all the same to be more competitive. Jimmie Johnson: Hold my beer.

[@acegibson9533]

I remember watching this on our new color TV.

[@fritzcolburn]

Didn't know it was in color until now.

[@jimijakjones99]

You didn't get a color TV until 1981 ?

[@fritzcolburn]

@@jimijakjones99 I'm sure we had them but I always got stuck watching TV on the old black n whites

[@jimijakjones99]

@@fritzcolburn Lol. I hear ya .

[@sokiel6663]

@@jimijakjones99 81, huh.. I hadn't had a color TV in my house until 1998 =D And five years later I threw out all the TVs for good and have never regretted doing that =D

[@billlee923]

Love this. Reminds me of the feeling I get when watching a 70's Lynyrd Skynyrd concert,and Ronnie says,'we gone do a new one for yall' , That sounds great,but a bit crazy because I been listening to that new one 40something yrs. Also my dad died in'80, ,, One of the last races we watched together was either the'79 or'80 Daytona 500, and I remember him saying,' you see that Earnhardt ? He's gonna be your next Bobby Allison'. My dad was a big Bobby Allison and Alabama gang fan. Especially Bobby. Wish my dad could have seen how right he was about Earnhardt.

[@m42037]

But never be as good as King Richard period 🚀

[@xLuiKangx007]

I miss this Nascar

[@williambowen1771]

The 1st year downsized stock car was a unreal handful and nearly undriveable

[@darrellludlow]

I am always amazed at how informal some of the race boundaries appears. Spectators can get so close and also you see cars parked precariously close to the edges.

[@kennethelliott9092]

The date was February 15, 1981. I'm sitting in my Cadillac ambulance there at the base of the turn 4 tunnel when Geof Bodine comes flying in behind me and hits the WFTV Channel 9 news wagon (which was a 1981 Chevy station wagon that was brand new) and knocks it into a ditch. Luckily the news crew was not in it. When I approached Bodine's car, I expected to see arms and legs sticking out from under it because the tunnel was a popular spot for photographers. Back then the tunnel was not protected by any kind of barrier. Supposedly Bodine lost control when he hit an oil slick left by Terry Labonte's blown engine. I provided ambulances to the Speedway from 1978 to 1997. I agree that this era was when NASCAR was worth watching. Those were the days never to be seen again.

[@robtman9199]

Good old days, beautiful cars and some of the best drivers ever.

[@RickaramaTrama-lc1ys]

AH THE GLORY DAYS OF NASCAR~!!! Lord how I miss them.

[@tragedi25]

NASCAR needs to go back to some of this in my opinion, there's absolutely no difference in the shapes of the cars. They've turned NASCAR into IROC with a touch of IMSA as far as the cars go. What happened to guys building their own motors and cars like Bobby Allison did with his Buicks in the mid and late 80's? I haven't kept up with NASCAR since the 1989 and 1990 seasons. MONEY, and the amount of it that ya need to get started in the sport has wrecked it. You'll never have the next Dale Earnhardt, Tim Richmond. Bill Elliott, Bobby and Davey Allison, or anyone even close because the men that could do that will never be able to get started because they'll never be able to afford it. And all these guys weren't near as scared as people are in general today. Now days safety rules. Back in the day ya had to be willing to hang it on the edge and pray to the Lord that ya made it though, that kinda thing shapes people and makes them harder, better people.

[@jimijakjones99]

I started watching Nascar in 1990. Ernie Irvan was who I picked out of the pack to root for . I knew

[@simvids1461]

I'm sure many forget David Hobbs, British GP driver, did color with Economaki and they were actually pretty good back and forth. NASCAR has always had decent commentary.

[@MrMakemyday3]

bobby built his own cars, motors chassis, everything back in the 60s

[@black-hw7zg]

yea i watched tim richmond win at the glen this 81' season. 20$ to get in 😁

[@ToIsleOfView]

I like the idea for less expensive cars but the biggest cost is the number of races in a championship season. TV coverage is the key to profits and sponsors. Fans want to see their driver racing no matter where they are on the track. Back when TBS, TNN, and TNT televised races, there was constant racing action visible because of the wide angle camera. Until we go back to wide angle the fans will not watch. Today, Nascar is making bad exclusive deals for all TV coverage and the Tracks can't get their own deal. Nascar needs to encourage innovation by allowing the teams and the tracks to try new things. The body template & spoiler limits are bad for innovation. Stock factory engines with fuel injected superchargers could lower costs and still keep the speed. The 2 stage race rule has gone too far. Let them race to the end! The backstretch is boring! A short inside dogleg with a right turn would be perfect for the larger tracks.

[@alkennedy1124]

Nice see the old days , I have done old skhool racing and now I do all of the mater towing at my local 1/4paved oval, at willow springs international raceway/speedway, so yes I love old skhool, thanks for putting these old videos back out on the airwaves thanks BigAl California.

[@muffs55mercury61]

I remember this race like yesterday. Petty risking it all by not having his tires changed to get the extra step ahead and win it. Great job. Some of drivers were legends as well as Ned Jarrett who's on Pit Row. Real time warp feeling seeing a 29 year old Dale Earnhardt who would have to wait 17 years for his 500 win. Relatively free of crashes and an exciting finish!!

[@EdwardWLTV]

Camera angle 19:48 is the coolest NASCAR has ever had.

[@Jangocat]

I remember this race, I was 15. This was the glory days of Nascar, so many hall of famers in this race. It's crazy how slow the pit stops were then. I was an A.J. Foyt fan back in the day. I would rather watch this 40 year old race then any current Nascar race. I find modern Nascar to be unwatchable do to rules changes and spec cars. Been about 5-10 years since I watched every race in the season.

[@brandond5209]

Real men driving real production based cars. NASCAR racing was so much better back then.

[@ChuckHickl]

Fun race to watch, thanks for the upload. NASCAR will never be able to return to this era in time, thie was smack in the middle of the glory years and it was nice to see/hear them again. Young people these days see cars like refrigerators or washing machine, just an implement to get them from point A to point B. They could care less about putting a high lift cam and a Holley 650 double pumper in an L82 Z28, dropping the clutch at 4500 rpm and getting a big smokey burnout out in your first 2 gears and that chirp in third that told you she was tuned right. Their biggest concern is just please let me not lose cell phone service. Being 53 now, I've straddled many generations, and couldn't wish for being raised in any other than the generation I was. Thanks again for the upload.

Yeah.why won't myiPad sync with my Ford sync? Damn! Whoa! Was that a red light? Oh shit,where was that cop? NASCAR when us men could have fun.Building,testing and driving some wild unsafe stuff at 180 mph on peanuts Fastest I ever went was 160 in a Porsche V8 and never again. Thanks to the uploader I've got some real racing to watch. Darryl!

[@ronjones-6977]

Don Sprouse(37) just passed away a few months ago. I turned 18 the day after this race; I turned 57 today. I miss the good ole days. Long live The King.

[@dlbarney2]

I miss those days too. I'm 55

[@robtans5042]

My hero I watched him win from 10 laps down watched him in numerous races since 1964. He didnt get in trouble friendly to his fans

[@solardisk3]

The only thing that has 'improved' in NASCAR is camera technology.

[@carlosb1]

Haha you are right. I researched the fastest pole in 2018 at daytona and it was 195 mph, these guys in 1981 are just as fast! In 1987 one reached 210mph. WTF..... are we not suppose to be at the 290+ mph after 30+ years? lol

[@Tuppoo94]

@@carlosb1 195 MPH with restrictor plates, mind you. I bet these things wouldn't be able to do that. And the drivers will survive the most terrible crashes in the new ones, do the same in these and you're dead. The old cars looked cooler though.

[@carlosb1]

@@Tuppoo94 I guess racing is stuck then with all these restrictions, the only thing that racing series are focusing on is just making it more entertaining.

[@mje80x]

@@carlosb1 and not taking off from the tarmac like an airplane and ending up 15 rows into the seats

[@spankthemonkey3437]

carlosb1 yea fighting and arguing yelling in the pits and garage is next.

[@TheyreDeadDave]

55:00 LaBonte blows an engine, Bodine spins out in Turn 4 and goes into the crowd, and Allison nearly crashes into a speeding car on pit road. There was more action in that five minutes of the '81 Daytona 500 than most of all NASCAR racing generates today!

[@scotthanback4530]

I agree

[@truthof7382]

Love the top of the outside wall rusted, like the tracks I remember growing up. Love those helmets.

[@JLange642]

I sit here watching this in 2020 and I think how exciting this racing was. I was only 20 then, and loved NASCAR! Still watch it some, but as others have said-these were real cars driven by real men, most of who are now Legends! And the pit crews-OMG! No helmets. No fire suits. A totally different time!

[@zcam1969]

Bobby Allison late in his career always ran strong .especially at the fast tracks Talladega 87 211.602 mph quailifing

[@brianbooher7318]

Yep I believe that to be the third fstestet lap in NASCAR history behind Elliott at 212,809 87 Winston 500 an Elliott at 212.229 at 86 Winston 500

[@rubynance3508]

My Love for this sport will never die . This was racing at its Best !

[@charlesblake3370]

Great Race I can't believe I watched the whole race

[@willie0704]

Those grand prix's were great looking cars

[@carwhiz90]

Jeff Wilson and the regals weren't bad looking either. Then 1988 rolls around and the g body cars became ugly fwd models.

[@Meddawg799]

Those cars bring back some memories.

[@teague10plays70]

It's insane to me that CBS's coverage in 1981 is so much better than Fox's in 2023.

[@turbo1438]

36:04 when was the last time you saw the team owner over the wall fixing his own car? Love that 180° header sound!!

[@brianschaffer9220]

Not owner, but crew chief Ray evernham did tired changes in the last race of one of his championship seasons, when he had already clinched.

[@rondee]

I love Nascar, but now races have so many commercials that it's impossible to watch.

[@terryscott2007]

Back when NASCAR was really good 👍

[@nautiquecowboynautiquecowb5317]

When I was child my dad and my uncles would sit on a picnic table with a radio sitting in the middle of it listening to the race. I grew up on Tobaccoville Road. I quit watching NASCAR racing a few years ago watching this video reminds me of why I love racing for so long. Maurice Petty was a engine builder. I remember him the shop that I work at we did work for petty Enterprises. Maurice was a trip and I have to say.

[@TheVCRTimeMachine]

Another thing I love about this race is the infield grass looks like every lawn in the midwest during a summer drought. Today they fertilize it and keep it green and paint logos all over it.

[@chrislawson7983]

Thanks for sharing.7 with 200 wins. Can't touch that. Pettytime.

[@robtans5042]

The 👑

[@OoogaBoog]

LOVE these classic races

[@thewarwagon5649]

Oh to be a kid again watching the King win at Daytona - I was 14 & thrilled to watch this at the time

[@casualobserver2305]

No restrictor plates…..listen to those engines….holy hell that’s awesome

[@pmimagery1295]

The drafting illustration used the Trans-Am body shape which was lightyears ahead of the cars racing! Ha ha! Still loved it!

[@pmimagery1295]

Just great to see the whole race! Thank-you SMIFF TV, who ever you are! Ha ha!

[@pmimagery1295]

David Hobbs, a legend!

[@ZLProductionsOfficial]

Who loves Richard Petty

[@dergenmusic2081]

CoDKid300 / Zachery Lord I’m 43rd like? Lol

[@topmech71]

I still can't believe they didn't catch Richard in those last 25 laps.

[@freddymarcel-marcum6831]

The King!

[@dirtracing1939]

Dale sr was way better then petty he was a mans man

[@robtans5042]

The big man is in the house! None better The 👑

[@jcline1976]

I was there at Daytona 500 in 79’ 80’ and 81’. Good to see videos of NASCAR races when races were real races!

[@philiphatfield5666]

This was my favorite Richard Petty moment. Do yourself a favor, and go back and watch the classic stock car races available to enjoy on KZbin, and you will be spellbound at just how great NASCAR was during this time----especially when you enjoy Richard Petty---IN HIS PRIME! Petty was simply AWESOME in the 1960's----the 1970's----and all the way to the mid-1980's. Petty took on one legendary driver after another in races so thrilling that I can't even believe they happened. He scored some unbelievable victories, but he had more than his share of heartbreaking defeats as well. Petty beat the best, but he got beat by the best as well, and that is what helped make him 'THE KING'. Seven Daytona 500 wins! He was a master on the short tracks, and he was a master on the roadcourses as well. He won in every kind of car. He won SEVEN championships! Richard Petty was AWESOME!

[@casualobserver2305]

Wow...the whole field is famous racers. NASCAR has really fallen from these days

[@Eibarwoman]

Many of the bad drivers had shorter careers and lots of one offs like Wangerin, Rutherford, Elswick, Barrett, Forbes-Robinson who only ran a few Cup races a year as the ASA for Wangerin was snow covered, Sebring was a month away for Forbes-Robinson etc.

[@eltonspurlock]

Best years of NASCAR

[@robtans5042]

It started dying when the king retired it is stonegraveyard dead now

[@freddymarcel-marcum6831]

I've done 145mph in a Skoda Superb, six speed manual transmission and a rental car built for speed, it wasn't cheap, on the German Autobahn between Dresden and the Czech border and it just about sent me flying into the trees every five seconds. I couldn't imagine 200+ miles an hour, I'd just shit myself after 160, hats off to anyone who can handle speeds like that, I mean that, and I'm a great driver with great nerves. I was keeping up with and passing Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Fuck 200, no thanks, I don't have it.

[@animalyze7120]

I watched this live at 9 years old exactly 1 month before turning 10. I had 2 kits from Monogram siting on the desk, Petty's was the opened one (If I remember correctly) and I watched this race while sanding and getting everything in primer. Great times and great to revisit if only for a short time.

[@jimsachtjen119]

That was my first of many races at Daytona and one of the best.

[@mokeimusic]

I really like how its hard to hear the announcers over the engine sounds. Makes everything sound more exciting. These days all you hear is the announcers talking and a brief motor sound here and there.

[@thetreblerebel]

OMG Neil Bonnet. One of my heroes!

[@boblinda1738]

Glad this race popped up. It was a couple years later before I got to attend my first Daytona 500. Many of these drivers were still racing. Fun to watch how the sport has developed/changed over the years. EX: Bobby Allison flying down the pits at what looked to be 100 mph. For many years now it has been 55 mph.

[@wiigamer024]

When I was little, circa the early 00s, I used to have that #11 Mountain Dew as a little matchbox car! I knew nothing about Nascar aside from what was current at the time (Dale Jr. in his #8, Jeff Gordon's #24, Sterling Marlin's #40 and so on) so to actually see that car in real, moving time brings me this odd sense of misplaced nostalgia...