Results

The 1979 Southern 500 NASCAR CUP Series race results showcase the full finishing order, including race winner and key performance stats from the Darlington Raceway race.

Southern 500

Monday, September 3rd, 1979

Darlington Raceway, Darlington, SC

  • 3 Mercury
  • 21 Chevrolet
  • 6 Ford
  • 3 Dodge
  • 2 Oldsmobile
  • 3 Buick
  • 1 Chrysler
  • 1 Pontiac

  • Drivers Entered: 40
  • Laps Scheduled: 367
  • Margin of Victory: N/A Seconds
  • Time of Race: N/A
  • Average Speed: 126.259
  • Cautions: 9 for 52 laps
  • Lead Changes: 18
  • Green Flag Passes: N/A
The NASCAR Garage 56 car during the Rolex 24
Daytona Beach, Florida - January 29, 2023 : The NASCAR Garage 56 car is seen on display during the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.
James GilbertGetty Images
Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway results
FIN ST # DRIVER MAKE TOT PTS FIN PTS LAPS LED X LED STATUS
2 6 17 Bill Elliott Mercury 175 170 365 6 0 running
8 14 90 Ricky Rudd Mercury 142 142 361 0 0 running
3 16 44 Terry Labonte Chevrolet 165 165 365 0 0 running
23 35 45 Baxter Price Chevrolet 94 94 324 0 0 running
5 13 27 Benny Parsons Chevrolet 155 155 364 0 0 running
33 39 10 Billy Smith Ford 64 64 179 0 0 driveshaft
10 1 15 Bobby Allison Ford 139 134 356 37 0 running
14 22 67 Buddy Arrington Dodge 121 121 347 0 0 running
4 10 28 Buddy Baker Chevrolet 165 160 365 1 0 running
19 11 11 Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 106 106 336 0 0 running
26 31 24 Cecil Gordon Oldsmobile 85 85 246 0 0 running
17 21 68 Chuck Bown Buick 112 112 342 0 0 running
36 18 14 Coo Coo Marlin Chevrolet 55 55 112 0 0 engine
13 17 40 DK Ulrich Buick 124 124 350 0 0 running
11 3 88 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet 140 130 355 165 0 running
6 19 71 Dave Marcis Chevrolet 150 150 362 0 0 running
1 5 2 David Pearson Chevrolet 180 175 367 74 0 running
7 8 05 Dick Brooks Chevrolet 146 146 361 0 0 running
34 23 65 Dick May Ford 61 61 148 0 0 crash
31 2 1 Donnie Allison Chevrolet 75 70 195 82 0 engine
39 37 01 Earle Canavan Dodge 46 46 17 0 0 oil leak
20 33 8 Ed Negre Chrysler 103 103 333 0 0 running
40 34 96 Ferrel Harris Ford 43 43 2 0 0 flagged
22 32 79 Frank Warren Dodge 97 97 331 0 0 running
27 36 36 HB Bailey Pontiac 82 82 244 0 0 overheating
12 7 47 Harry Gant Chevrolet 127 127 352 0 0 running
18 38 70 JD McDuffie Chevrolet 109 109 341 0 0 running
30 20 12 Jack Ingram Oldsmobile 73 73 206 0 0 engine
38 27 48 James Hylton Chevrolet 49 49 46 0 0 engine
28 26 9 Jim Vandiver Chevrolet 79 79 240 0 0 running
16 24 52 Jimmy Means Chevrolet 115 115 345 0 0 running
15 12 72 Joe Millikan Chevrolet 118 118 347 0 0 running
25 15 19 Lennie Pond Chevrolet 88 88 281 0 0 running
32 9 21 Neil Bonnett Mercury 72 67 185 2 0 steering
37 40 98 Ralph Jones Ford 52 52 83 0 0 engine
29 25 3 Richard Childress Chevrolet 76 76 224 0 0 engine
9 4 43 Richard Petty Chevrolet 138 138 361 0 0 running
24 28 25 Ronnie Thomas Chevrolet 91 91 310 0 0 running
35 29 30 Tighe Scott Buick 58 58 133 0 0 crash
21 30 64 Tommy Gale Ford 100 100 332 0 0 running

Race Infractions

Penalties imposed prior to or during the race.