Official name Holly Farms 400 | ||
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Date September 21, 1980 (1980-September-21) Course Permanent racing facility0.625 mi (1.005 km) Distance 400 laps, 250 mi (402 km) Weather Temperatures between 68 °F (20 °C) and 89.1 °F (31.7 °C); average wind speeds of 3.5 miles per hour (5.6 km/h) | ||
The 1980 Holly Farms 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on September 21, 1980, at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Its total prize purse was finalized as $105,515 ($306,700.91 when adjusted for inflation); with the winner taking home $17,725 ($51,521.33 when adjusted for inflation).
By 1980, NASCAR had completely stopped tracking the year model of all the vehicles and most teams did not take stock cars to the track under their own power anymore.
Summary
Just months prior to the race, a new kind of asphalt was placed but did not get a chance to completely solve the disintegration problem. The racetrack developed a slick surface; that made qualifying speeds 2 miles per hour (3.2 km/h) slower and the cars more likely to spin and crash with each other.
Richard Childress, the current owner of Richard Childress Racing, would compete as a driver. There were 30 American-born drivers on the racing grid; no foreigners or women competed in this race. Bobby Allison managed to defeat Darrell Waltrip by half a second after more than three hours of racing. Cale Yarborough would acquire the pole position through driving his qualifying session at an incredible top speed of almost 112 miles per hour (180 km/h). Another Ford vehicle would not win another race until the 1990 Tyson Holly Farms 400. D.K. Ulrich received credit for the last-place finish due to an oil pressure problem on the second lap of this 400-lap race. Nine drivers failed to complete the race; including legends such as J.D. McDuffie, Lake Speed and Lennie Pond. Bub Strickler would retire from NASCAR after this race. Dale Earnhardt would maintain his championship points lead after this event.
Two months after the race, the track was treated again. The disintegration issue managed to solve itself throughout the harsh winter months and was completely prepared for the 1981 season.