1977 Daytona 500

NASCAR Winston Cup Series
Daytona International Speedway
February 20th, 1977

[@XBOXShawn12thman]

I really wish NASCAR was still like this

[@Thunder_6278]

When NASCAR was a bunch of good 'ol boys, running as fast as possible.

[@JoeBilello1969]

The 77 GM cars were the last big beauties that were made, i loved them and owned a few, i still have my softest spot for them, i may buy another one😊

[@Thunder_6278]

I was told many years ago, having the fastest car doesn't automatically win races. Strategy makes the difference.

[@mhggggg]

Fun Fact: There was only 17 cars that finished

[@samichopthechimrea8477]

All of the Daytona 500's we're all documentary based and sometimes they only show half of the 🏁 race. Until the 1979 Daytona 500.

[@bvincesf]

Love those 77 Chevy Monte Carlos and Grand Nationals.

[@topmech71]

Me too, love that body style.

[@kurbydreamland180]

Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Got a thing for the boats.

[@mattfulmer4243]

I think most of those Chevy's were Laguna's (?).

[@bvincesf]

@@mattfulmer4243 Could be they made the Laguna in the mid 70s. Nice eye!

[@mattfulmer4243]

@@bvincesf I saw an interview with Yarborough and he said the Junior Johnson built the Laguna's for the super speedways, but used the Monte Carlos for the road courses and smaller tracks.

[@cjs83172]

Too bad the ABC broadcast of this race may not exist, because one of the biggest storylines of that race was, of course, Janet Guthrie becoming the first woman ever to qualify for the Daytona 500. Though she barely squeaked in, she proved she belonged, bringing her car from 38th starting position all the way up to eighth (and maybe even a shot at seventh) before dropping two cylinders in the late stages, which resulted in her finishing 12th. Never once is Guthrie's historic effort mentioned in this film. Also, while it didn't start that way, this race had an near-record amount of attrition. While 17 cars were running at the finish, that doesn't tell the whole story. J.D. McDuffie, who finished seventh in the previous year's Daytona 500, appeared headed for another top ten finish before his engine let go near the finish. He finished 16 laps behind, completing 184 laps, and wound up 14th. The next finisher, James Hylton, was another 16 laps behind McDuffie, or 32 laps, or a staggering 80 miles behind the winner. Another note about this race is that a year after his near-fatal crash in the '76 Daytona 500, John Ray was back at Daytona, fielding a car for reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Johnny Rutherford. Rutherford, who barely made the field, was the second driver (after Bobby Wawak) out of the race. Incidentally, Rutherford is the only driver to appear in the Daytona 500 as the reigning Indianapolis 500 champion three different times (1975, '77, and '81).

[@Musicman81Indy]

Thank you so much for the details. I absolutely agree. This video has a lot to be desired in the area of historical events.

[@anonymousme2159]

Didn't somebody have to have their car pushed over the Finish Line in this race?

[@beeemm2578]

@@anonymousme2159 that was Petty in '76, I believe. Best finish ever.

[@anonymousme2159]

@@beeemm2578 I do believe you're right thanks for refreshing my memory

[@cjs83172]

@@Musicman81Indy NASCAR now has the ABC broadcast of this race on it's channel devoted to classic races. It begins just after the Baker-Walther-Marcis incident on lap 122 had taken place. And unlike this presentation, which made no mention at all of Janet Guthrie's history-making appearance as the first woman ever to qualify for and run in the Daytona 500, ABC gave numerous updates on how she was faring, though the standings they had at the end of the race was incorrect, because ABC's graphic of the 6th-10th place finishers had her as finishing 9th, when in fact, she finished 12th.

[@ivanr5436]

Back when NASCAR was great 👍

[@davidrose2704]

I was 6 yrs old and there that day

[@invisiblepuppet3437]

2:53

[@demcanes9488]

Guys was it just easier to pass back then cuz it seems like there is 100x more lead changes from like 66-86.

[@STP43FAN1]

The draft was far more effective and consistent then. The tire was much more raceable than the tire run 2001-21. The cars also weighed 400 pounds more

[@makaylahtheunicornrupcic4051]

Gg to the winner in the 1977 nascar race

[@hemihead001]

The start of boring GM vs. GM racing .