From The Vault: The last lap of the 1979 Daytona 500

Relive the last lap of the 1979 Daytona 500. A race that saw Richard Petty win his sixth Great American Race, and the fight that launched stock car racing to new heights.

[RedCard]

For 1979, this is great preservation audio/video. Great sound quality.

[saltab]

Ken was amazing. Call the wreck, helps the cameramen find third place Richard Petty, then calls the fight. This guy is a legend among all sportscasters.

[digi]

Rest in Peace Ken Squier and Cale Yarborough 🕊️ Two Legends of the sport lost in one Year 🙏

[CodyReplies]

Ken Squier’s call is just perfect.

“CALE HITS HIM, HE SLIDES”

[FireBall_Hamlin]

Came here after Cale’s passing today. 83 wins and will be remembered as one of the greatest to ever drive a stock car. RIP Cale Yarborough.

[nicholasclephas]

Ken Squier truly transforms this...."the tempers...overflowing. Theyre angry... they know they have lost... and what a bitter defeat." ...chills...unbelievable.

[cowlover]

Came here immediately as soon as I heard Ken passed away. One of the best calls in NASCAR history. You will be missed Ken RIP

[americangiant]

RIP to the “Voice” for over 40 plus years and probably forever of NASCAR Ken. I am far from a NASCAR fan myself but growing up as a Teenager/Young Adult in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, it was a great pleasure to listen to Ken every year in mid/late February do his brilliant commentary at Daytona.

[Sargebri]

The moment NASCAR went from regional to national.

[Frowny]

Oh look. Back in the day when NASCAR made sense.

[jmissle]

the things you would never see now....Fans right up against the fence and all the crew on the car

[islamicschoolofmemestudies]

It's poetic that a bitter rivalry ends up in the downfall of these two great racers giving the way of a much more senior racer to victory.

[braydenfletcher]

I always get goosebumps when Ken is trying to tell his director, producer and the camera operator "THE LEADERS ARE IN TURNS 3&4"

[mkl]

It didn't stop there. The next race at Richmond was postponed due to the weather, so the next stop was Rockingham. On the 10th lap, Donnie & Cale collided again, taking Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip with them. NASCAR deemed this a racing incident and gave no penalties, but Richard & Darrell were both PO'd and weren't hesitant to say so in the media. When the tour got to Richmond, reporters were everywhere, just knowing that there was going to be a Part 3 to this. Nothing happened, Cale won, and pretty much had some words for the media for fanning the flames. Sadly, Donnie never recovered from this.

[davidgrace]

I remember watching this live. Amazing finish.

[gnnascarfan]

Rest in Peace Ken Squier. This moment right here helped put NASCAR on the map, but without Ken as the commentator or brokering the deal with CBS in the first place, NASCAR isn't where it is today.

[demcanes]

"PETTY WINS IT!"
Crowd: *goes insane

[tandemaxle]

I miss these old days. Cale, Bobby and Donnie Allison, Petty, Waltrip and Foyt. NASCAR's golden era.

[ivanmay]

Richard Petty winning the 1979 Daytona 500 was just as memorable as the fight that occurred after the race.

[Jorge.Painkiller]

R.I.P. Ken Squier and Cale Yarborough.
Two legends that left us this 2023, a bitter end to this year.