Backstory Leading Every Lap

That was a two-day trip in those days, which was in the late 1950s, to see our other grandparents.

I would say then, “I want to race at Daytona against my hero Richard Petty.” That was my dream as a kid. I have eightmillimeter film shot while standing on the tailgate of our station wagon of races there in 1959 and 1960, of Lee Petty and Junior Johnson winning there. I was 10 or 11 years old.

YOU WON 18 CUP SERIES RACES BETWEEN 1984 AND 2011. OF THOSE, WHICH WAS THE MOST REWARDING?

I had some incredible wins during my career, but I have to say that first Cup Series win at Martinsville Speedway with Rick Hendrick (April 29, 1984) was the most special. The reason it’s the most special is because it was a huge win for me and a huge win for Rick, because had we not won, he was going to close the doors at Hendrick Motorsports.

There wasn’t going to be a Hendrick Motorsports. He was going to shut the doors. That has turned out to be the most important win for me for a lot of reasons, for NASCAR and for all the drivers that have driven for Rick. At that time, we didn’t know how important that win was, but it turned out to be huge.

YOU DROVE FOR MANY OF THE TOP TEAM OWNERS IN THE BUSINESS. IS THERE ONE WHO STANDS OUT ABOVE THE REST?

Oh, there were many greats for sure. There was Cliff Stewart, Junior Johnson, Bud Moore, Junior Johnson and myself, and a few after I closed my team. (Laughter) I’m going to say I enjoyed driving for myself.

I agree there were some great owners and great crew chiefs at my side for all of those races and all those wins, but I really enjoyed owning my team. It came under some not so pleasant circumstances after Alan Kulwicki lost his life in the airplane crash on April 1, 1993, while flying to Bristol, Tennessee.

WHAT DID YOU ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT BEING PART OF THE NASCAR CUP SERIES FOR SO MANY YEARS?

I came into the sport at a great time. I did race against my hero, Richard Petty. There was also David Pearson, Bobby and Donnie Allison. Here comes Harry Gant, Terry Labonte and later Bobby Labonte and Ricky Rudd. I just keep naming names, such as Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin.

I don’t think you could race any better guys than the guys I raced. That’s the best part. I think I raced during some of the best times in NASCAR. It’s really great now, but it was also great in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

WAS IT DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO STEP AWAY FROM DRIVING IN THE CUP SERIES, OR DID YOU FEEL IT WAS TIME?

Yes, it was tough. My career became part time after my crash at Daytona (in the Truck Series) in 2000. I almost won the Daytona 500 with James Finch in 2002 and finished third, which was great, but it was so hard to get racing out of my system.

I prayed for many years and finally God helped me to come to terms with all of that. I’m fine with all of it now. I don’t need it now. I don’t want to race anymore.

So yeah, it took a while. It was hard to get over it because I was around the sport all my life. I help test a car for a friend at New Smyrna Speedway here in Florida, so I still enjoy a little bit of racing these days. That’s really all the driving I’m doing now. I’m OK with that.

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LEADING EVERY LAP

IT’S ONLY HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE CUP SERIES

BY BEN WHITE

• Not once, but twice, NASCAR legend Cale Yarborough led every lap en route to Victory Lane. O nly three times in NASCAR Cup Series competition has a driver led every lap en route to Victory Lane.

The first was in March 1973 when Cale Yarborough, driving the No. 11 Chevrolet owned by Richard Howard and prepared in Junior Johnson’s shop, started from the pole and led all 500 laps at Bristol Motor Speedway.

On Sunday, March 11, Yarborough led 52 laps before rain sent everyone running for shelter. When drivers and teams returned to Bristol on March 25 to complete the remaining 448 laps, they did so under sunny skies and Yarborough quickly lapped the field.

Fans in the grandstands and teams in the infield could do nothing but watch as the driver from Timmonsville, South Carolina, blistered the field throughout the afternoon. His Chevrolet went high and low at will, slicing through traffic with ease.

There were seven caution periods that slowed the race for 56 laps and only delayed the inevitable.

“I’ve never had an easier ride. Not ever,” Yarborough said following that victory.

No one believed Yarborough’s amazing feat would be duplicated.

But just five years later, on June 3, 1978, Yarborough once again turned the trick, leading all 420 laps on his way to winning at Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville.

“I’ve been fortunate to have driven some fine race cars down through the years.” Yarborough noted. “It’s really incredible for anyone to lead every lap in any race in this league. But we have the best team, despite what anybody says.”

On Sept. 17, 2000, Jeff Burton, driving the No. 99 Ford owned by Jack Roush, led all 300 laps in the NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The native of South Boston, Virginia, started second and never lost the point after taking the green flag.

Dale Earnhardt rubbed Burton’s Ford three times while Burton attempted to put him a lap down. Finally, Burton made the pass on lap 259 to send Earnhardt out of contention.

“I don’t blame him a bit for that,” Burton said of “The Intimidator” in post-race interviews. “That’s what he’s supposed to do.”

With the intense level of competition in today’s NASCAR Cup Series, a driver may never again lead from flag to flag. But then again, no one thought it was possible in 1973, 1978 or 2000.