More than 75,000 race fans filed into Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on a typically hot and humid Labor Day Monday to witness the 1980 edition of the Southern 500.
At noon, flagman Chip Warren waved the green flag over the 41 starters on the 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval, with polesitter Darrell Waltrip, driving the DiGard Racing Chevrolet, and three-time Cup Series champion Cale Yarborough, wheeling Junior Johnson’s Chevrolet, setting the pace.
David Pearson, aboard Hoss Ellington’s Chevy, was the heavy favorite to win the 367-lap race at the track where had enjoyed incredible success. Pearson had won there for Ellington in April 1980 and was the defending Southern 500 winner, having filled in for an injured Dale Earnhardt in Rod Osterlund’s Chevrolet the previous September.
Pearson’s quest for an 11th Darlington triumph got off to a rocky start when he tagged the second-turn wall on lap two and damaged the right side of his car. Repairs cost the three-time Cup Series champion two laps, but fans of the “Silver Fox” knew he had plenty of time to make up lost ground.
On lap 83, Yarborough tagged the outside wall, causing heavy damage to his car and leaving him 29th in the finishing order.
Then, a rainstorm brought out the red flag for nearly two hours while officials worked to dry the racing surface.
When racing resumed, Waltrip was the class of the field. The native of Owensboro, Ky., was in front for 196 laps before a broken timing chain ended his afternoon 38 laps shy of the checkered flag.
The roster of lap leaders also included Benny Parsons, Richard Childress, Bobby Allison, Richard Petty, Buddy Baker, Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt and Harry Gant.
Attrition took its toll on many of the top contenders. Elliott exited with a broken fuel pump. Baker was sidelined with a broken connecting rod and Donnie Allison’s engine overheated. Petty was relieved by Joe Millikan due to a neck injury suffered in a crash at Pocono Raceway on July 27.
A final restart with five laps remaining provided a dramatic finish.
Pearson, who had fought his way back onto the lead lap, took control when the green flag reappeared. The field gathered behind him with Parsons second in M.C. Anderson’s Chevrolet. Earnhardt was third in Osterlund’s Chevrolet and Terry Labonte was fourth aboard Billy Hagan’s Chevrolet.
In only his third season, Labonte was still a relative unknown who had found his stride at NASCAR’s toughest track. He had surprised the Cup Series fraternity by finishing fourth there in 1978 at age 21. He also finished third behind Pearson and Elliott in the 1979 Southern 500.
A year later, Labonte was in contention for the victory.
On lap 363, Parsons made a quick move to pull alongside Pearson, but had to back off in turn two, giving Earnhardt the outside momentum to get by Parsons. On lap 365, Earnhardt dove to the inside and took the lead for about 400 yards. Pearson regained the point by staying high and moving back around Earnhardt with relative ease.
Pearson looked to be on his way to victory when the engine in Frank Warren’s No. 79 Dodge expired as he entered turn one, leaving a sheet of oil in the track’s high groove.
The leaders were crossing the start-finish line to begin lap 365. Pearson, Earnhardt and Parsons lost control, sliding in the oil in unison and crashing into the wall.
With a wrecked race car, Pearson continued toward the caution flag at the start-finish line with smoke filling the cockpit.