Bobby Allison looks back at that iconic finish and fist fight at the 1979 Daytona 500

– So many great, memorable moments when it comes to the Daytona 500. And one red letter event came in 1979. Do you remember what happened in that Daytona 500?

– Kind of. Yes, I do. I had won the race the year before in Bob Moore’s car. And I was back in Bob Moore’s car and the car was pretty good, but it wasn’t as good as it had been the year before.

And my brother Darlene was winning the race and on the last lap he got wrecked by the guy trying to pass them. And then I went by the wreckage and Donnie was climbing out of his car, so I went on and finished the race.

I was a couple blocks down from an earlier spin out and so I was back in 11th. I wasn’t racing anybody. And I went around to the checkered flag and came back there and stopped near Donnie and yelled, do you want a ride to the garage area.

And he’s disgusted. He goes, nah, go on. Go ahead. I’m out of here. With that, this other guy starts saying the wreck was my fault. I caused the wreck.

While I was on the side of the racetrack when those guys were wrecking. And I think I questioned his ancestry. Probably shouldn’t have done.

And with that, he’s standing over there probably 7,500 feet away and about 75 probably. Had his helmet in his hand. And he yells some more. And he ran toward me and he got right out here out from the car and stopped and he yelled some more. I think I questioned his ancestry a little more.

Probably shouldn’t have done it. And he lunged at me and hit me in the face with his helmet, which really hurt. It really surprised me. I didn’t think that a, you know, professional competitor or whatever would you use a weapon to go after somebody and I felt like that’s what happened then.

And cut my nose and my lip. Blood’s dripping in my lap. And I said got to get out of the car and handle right now or run from him the rest of my life. So I got out of the car and the guy went to beating on my fist with his nose.

– And the rest is history, right?

– I’ve had to stick with that story for a long time. But it’s still true.

– You’ve told it the same every time.

– That’s right.

– I’m guessing you didn’t– I’m guessing you didn’t do any running any more.

– No.