Daytona '79... NASCAR's Greatest Day?

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Today marks the 51st running of the Daytona 500.

But for most Americans, NASCAR's green flag really dropped 30 years ago in the 1979 Daytona 500 when television carried flag-to-flag coverage of the sport's biggest race for the first time.

It was a dramatic finish -- Richard Petty edging Darrell Waltrip with the great Indy car champion A.J. Foyt keeping them honest. But it was "The Fight" going on in the infield after the race that captured the country's attention.

Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough were settling an on-track dispute next to their crumpled race cars when Bobby Allison stopped by to defend his younger brother's honor and give him a ride back to the garage.

"Cale said something about my family heritage and then hit my fist with his face,'' as Bobby Allison likes to explain.

The photos are classic -- showing the three men wrestling while officials tried to separate them, legs and fists flying, fire in their eyes. And there's great footage of the whole afternoon in the just released Paramount Pictures DVD, "The Ride of Their Lives", a NASCAR documentary narrated by actor Kevin Costner that sets up the historic nature of the whole day, not just the last lap.

"The race itself was an incredible finish,'' said current Sprint Cup Series driver Jeff Burton, "but I don't remember much about the race other than that last lap."

Most people forget it was Dale Earnhardt's first Daytona 500 and Petty's sixth victory. Even today, Foyt feels he could have won if not for slowing too soon when the caution flag flew for the Allison-Yarborough accident.

The drama and passion could not even have been scripted that well. And thanks to a snowstorm in the Eastern U.S., it all played out for a captive audience.

"Basically all the planets lined up,'' said Ken Squier, who anchored the ABC broadcast that day.

And NASCAR did not disappoint.

"That single event could possibly be credited as the No. 1 thing that got this sport to where it is today,'' said four-time champ Jeff Gordon.

For sure, that single Sunday afternoon introduced millions of potential converts to the drama and the danger of NASCAR's brand of racing and proved the sport wasn't just a regional phenomena but a compelling weekly story for all.

"I think that was one of the most important times for our sport,'' said NASCAR champ-turned ESPN race analyst Dale Jarrett.

"We're in a good time right now. And even though it's very difficult for a lot of people, we have the opportunity. .. to kind of bring some good things to people. We can bring some pretty good stories. .. at least for three and a half, four hours, help people get away from the bad things.''