I finished watching ESPN Classic’s re-running of the 1992 Hooters 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Watching this race was a time warp. Names like Kulwicki, Allison, Gant, Earnhardt & Petty. I’m amazed how much has changed in the television broadcast. Today’s slick presentation is light years beyond that just 14 years ago. Cheesy graphics like those used on a “260-piece cannister set for only $9.99″ commercial were the norm.
Tight Points Battle
What a great race! It was the closest NASCAR Winston Cup championship determining points race ever. I knew who was gonna win and was still on the edge of my seat. Six drivers still had a shot at winning the NASCAR Winston Cup championship. It all came down to Kulwicki leading one more lap than Elliott. Alan Kulwicki beats out Bill Elliott by 10 points.
NASCAR Drama
There were more story lines than just the points championship in this race. It was ‘King’ Richard Petty’s last race and ‘Wonder Boy’ Jeff Gordon’s first.
Gordon lucked into getting a money clip from the King with Gordon’s name and the ‘Hooters 500′ race name engraved on it. It was Petty’s farewell token to each of the race drivers that day. Petty’s day didn’t go that well and he finished 35th. He did go out in a blaze though when his oil pump got knocked off and the engine erupted in flames. Petty rolled the car through the grass and right up to a fire truck.
I laughed hard and reached for the camera when I saw him get in his ‘Pepsi Chug Points’ after his interview.
Another odd thing happened during pit stops. On four tire changes, the crew left one of the right-side tires next to the car at the outside of the pit box. Whole pit lane was lined with these lone tires once the pit stops were complete.
Allison Fans Heartbreaker
On lap 251, Swervin’ Irvan gets sideways. He turns left and then right, collecting Davey Allison in the process. Just 3 car lengths before the start/finish line, the rest of the field continued to race past them. It was a frantic no-holds-barred race back around to the start/finish line. Meanwhile, Allison desperately tries to get his car going and stay on the lead lap. No luck. The field blows by them at break neck speed. Yikes!
A tough break for Davey, as he was the points leader going into this final race. Despite having a broken tie-rod, front-end damage and being towed off the track, crew chief, Larry McReynolds, rallied his crew and Allison completed 34 more laps. Allison finished the season with the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup season high of 5 wins, 15 top 5′s and 17 top 10′s.
Check out the picture of Davey being interviewed. That’s a younger Mike Helton looking all ‘secret-service’ behind him.
NASCAR Legends
The coolest thing about being able to watch this race was seeing 3 of NASCAR’s tragic legends race.
- Alan Kulwicki died at age 38 in a plane crash after leaving Bristol Motor Speedway on April 1, 1993.
- Davey Allison died at age 32 from a helicopter crash at Talladega Superspeedway on July 13, 1993 .
- Dale Earnhardt died at age 49 from a wreck during the Daytona 500 on February 18, 2001.
Next Classic NASCAR Race
The next NASCAR Winston Cup race airing on ESPN Classic is the April 17, 1988 First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The air date for me is January 18th, 2007 at 4:00 CTS. ESPN Classic. Check it out!”