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May 12, 1984 - 250 Miles -
Purse $183,150 |
TBS announcer Ken Squier
interviews apparent winner Neil Bonnett in Victory Lane.
Bonnett continued at speed on the final lap and passed
Waltrip in the final lap. He was thus declared the
winner.
Darrell Waltrip and his teammates
are on their way to plead their case to NASCAR officials. |
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The 1984 Coors 420 would go down as one of the most
controversial finishes in Fairgrounds Speedway history.
Junior Johnson driver Neil Bonnett passed his teammate Darrell
Waltrip on the last lap of the race while the yellow flag was
out. Bonnett was initially given credit for the win by
NASCAR race control.
Winston Cup Grand National director
Dick Beaty stated "Neil Bonnett's last lap pass while running
in a no-pass situation would be upheld." Waltrip was livid
as he heard Beaty's remarks and claimed the NASCAR Rule Book
clearly states that there can be no passing while the yellow flag
is out.
"The caution was out when we go to the finish
line for the next to last lap," stated as visibly agitated
Waltrip. " I had beaten Neil back to the line. I won
the race at that moment. He can't pass me while the yellow
flag is out."
The misinterpretation of the rule book
steamed from the word "during." The rule states "...when the
yellow flag is displayed during the white flag lap, all cars
will be scored on the basis of the position in which the cars
cross the start - finish line after receiving the checkered flag."
The caution flag came out during the 418th lap after a three
car wreck occurred on the backstretch. The caution flag was
out when Waltrip crossed the start - finish line to complete lap
419 and thus the race was ended. A somewhat confused Beaty
declared Bonnett the winner
Forty-eight hours later
NASCAR moved Waltrip to first and dropped Bonnett to second.
The $183,150 pursed was a NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National
track record
The race was broadcast live on TBS with Ken Squier and Benny
Parsons as commentators.
Dale Earnhardt battles the Ford of Dick Brooks
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Richard Petty and Bobby Allison race into turn
three. (Photo: Ricky Rogers The Tennessean)
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The Chevy Monte Carlo of Clark Dwyer in the pits
for service |
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Neil Bonnett leads teammate Darrell Waltrip into
turn four. (Photo: Russ Thompson) |
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Average Speed:
85.702 mph
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Time of Race: 2:55:15 |
Margin:
Caution |
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Pole Winner: Darrell Waltrip
/ 104.439 mph |
Attendance:
22,500 |
Cautions: 7 for 24
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Lap Leaders:
Darrell Waltrip 1 - 43, Rusty Wallace 44, Ronnie Thomas 45 - 46, Darrell
Waltrip 47 - 69, Richard Petty 70 -86,
Neil Bonnett 87 - 165, Rusty
Wallace 166, Neil Bonnett 167 - 235, Rusty Wallace 236, Neil Bonnett 237
- 374,
Darrell Waltrip 375 - 376, Neil Bonnett 377 -410, Geoff Bodine
411 -413, Darrell Waltrip 414 - 420 (13 Lead Changes) |
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|
Driver |
Fin |
Str |
Car |
Team / Owner |
Car |
Laps |
Money |
Status |
Led |
 |
Darrell Waltrip |
1 |
1 |
11 |
Budweiser
Junior Johnson & Asoc |
Chevrolet |
420 |
29,300 |
Running |
75 |
 |
Neil Bonnett |
2 |
15 |
12 |
Budweiser
Junior Johnson & Asoc |
Chevrolet |
420 |
13,500 |
Running |
320 |
 |
Geoffrey Bodine |
3 |
3 |
5 |
Rick Hendrick |
Chevrolet |
420 |
12,025 |
Running |
3 |
 |
Ricky Rudd |
4 |
2 |
15 |
Wrangler Jeans
Bud Moore |
Ford |
420 |
10,450 |
Running |
0 |
 |
Ron Bouchard |
5 |
4 |
47 |
Jim Testa
Jack Bebee |
Buick |
420 |
6,785 |
Running |
0 |
 |
Rusty Wallace |
6 |
10 |
88 |
Gatorade
Cliff Stewart |
Pontiac |
420 |
6,335 |
Running |
3 |
 |
Richard Petty |
7 |
12 |
43 |
STP
Mike Curb |
Pontiac |
420 |
5,225 |
Running |
17 |
 |
Terry Labonte |
8 |
9 |
44 |
Piedmont Airlines
Billy Hagan |
Chevrolet |
419 |
4,835 |
Running |
0 |
 |
Dick Brooks |
9 |
11 |
90 |
Chameleon Sunglasses
Junie Donlavey |
Ford |
419 |
4,555 |
Running |
0 |
 |
Dave Marcis |
10 |
8 |
75 |
RahMoc Enterprises |
Pontiac |
418 |
9,690 |
Running |
0 |
 |
Kyle Petty |
11 |
16 |
7 |
7-Eleven
Petty Enterprises |
Ford |
418 |
8,155 |
Running |
0 |
 |
Bobby Allison |
12 |
14 |
22 |
Miller High Life
DiGard Racing |
Buick |
417 |
10,545 |
Running |
0 |
 |
Mike Alexander |
13 |
18 |
71 |
Action Vans
Dave Marcis |
Oldsmobile |
416 |
4,005 |
Running |
0 |
 |
Tommy Ellis |
14 |
19 |
4 |
Morgan-McClure |
Chevrolet |
416 |
1,425 |
Running |
0 |
 |
Joe Ruttman |
15 |
13 |
98 |
Levi Garrett
Ron Benfield |
Buick |
415 |
4,150 |
Running |
0 |
 |
Harry Gant |
16 |
7 |
33 |
Skoal Bandit
Hal Needham |
Chevrolet |
414 |
3,605 |
Running |
0 |
 |
Trevor Boys |
17 |
26 |
48 |
Hylton-McCaig
James Hylton |
Chevrolet |
413 |
3,455 |
Running |
0 |
 |
Sterling Marlin |
18 |
27 |
95 |
Walker Cullum
Sadler Brothers |
Chevrolet |
413 |
2,285 |
Running |
0 |
 |
Dale Earnhardt |
19 |
5 |
3 |
Wrangler Jeans
Richard Childress |
Chevrolet |
410 |
7,250 |
Running |
0 |
 |
Bill Elliott |
20 |
6 |
9 |
Coors
Harry Melling |
Ford |
410 |
7,220 |
Running |
0 |
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Buddy Arrington |
21 |
20 |
67 |
Buddy Arrington |
Dodge |
410 |
3,170 |
Running |
0 |
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Jimmy Means |
22 |
28 |
52 |
Broadway Motors
Jimmy Means |
Chevrolet |
409 |
2,855 |
Running |
0 |
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Ronnie Thomas |
23 |
23 |
41 |
R.L. Monroe
Ronnie Thomas |
Chevrolet |
401 |
2,900 |
Running |
2 |
 |
D.K. Ulrich |
24 |
24 |
6 |
U.S. Racing
D.K. Ulrich |
Chevrolet |
383 |
2,760 |
Rear end |
0 |
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Clark Dwyer |
25 |
21 |
17 |
Hesco Exhaust
Roger Hamby |
Pontiac |
353 |
2,720 |
Oil leak |
0 |
 |
J.D. McDuffie |
26 |
29 |
70 |
Wilder's
J.D. McDuffie |
Pontiac |
347 |
2,050 |
Running |
0 |
 |
Tommy Gale |
27 |
25 |
64 |
Sunny King Ford
Elmo Langley |
Ford |
233 |
2,040 |
Radiator |
0 |
 |
Tim Richmond |
28 |
17 |
27 |
Old Milwaukee
Raymond Beadle |
Pontiac |
161 |
7,030 |
Over
Heating |
0 |
 |
Greg Sacks |
29 |
22 |
51 |
Sacks & Sons |
Chevrolet |
55 |
1,820 |
Fuel pump |
0 |
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Maurice Randall |
30 |
30 |
93 |
Randall Racing
Maurice Randall |
Chrysler |
50 |
1,010 |
Engine |
0 |
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