1985 IWCR Gardner Allison debate the R&D car

[@RandysRacingPlace633]

35 years ago. RIP Steve Byrnes.

[@jimbosc]

Bobby had plenty to be pissed about - the Gardner's were having financial difficulty - the team didn't survive long after Bobby left - and they never paid him all the money he was owed to drive their car. As far as the R&D effort.......not sure it made business or racing sense to run a 2nd car......but running Sacks in Cale's DOMINANT 1984 Monte Carlo - the exact chassis that won the 1984 Daytona 500 - in the Firecracker 400 - should not be surprised in won - Elliott had fueling issues or he would have won (still fastest car that day). Yes Sacks's car had some R&D stuff on it - but most of the speed was the fact it was a fast car to start with that Ranier sold because of their switch to Fords. Bobby seeing a car he was not told DiGard was going to run win a race while still being owed money - I would quit too.

[@nilla003]

With Gary Nelson running the show, who knows what that car had. They did, after all, put the fox in charge of the henhouse not too much later. But yes, Elliott had the dominant car. I've waited decades for someone to spill whether the 9 car was running the Endyn heads or not.

[@braddawson4496]

Sacks passed Elliot on the track, Elliot passed Sacks in the pits. You can watch the race right here on youtube and its plain who had the better car that day.

[@nilla003]

@@braddawson4496 Elliott was passed several times at the '85 Talladega race, too.

[@jimbosc]

@@braddawson4496 At times Sacks was faster - fair enough. Elliott knew they had fuel issues and ran pretty conservative as a result. After he got fuel the final time and knew he had enough to finish he was smoking the field including Sacks by over a second a lap - drove it all the way up to 2nd in a few laps.

[@braddawson4496]

@@jimbosc have you watched it lately? Elliott needed fuel but also had a vibration in his car... Could have been only a tire possibly, but he did not change his tires and only took a splash of fuel. Neil Bonnet was running second to sacks after Elliott pitted.. Then Bonnet also pitted.. So it is at least incorrect to say "he drove up to second" I don't know if the other two cars also pitted, but if I had to guess I would think they did as well.