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Legend [16766]
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Cale Yarborough Won The Daytona 500 In A Show Car Borrowed From A Local Hardee's
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Jan 3, 2024, 6:44 AM
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When racin was racin. Today NASCAR is so lame.
https://autos.yahoo.com/cale-yarborough-won-daytona-500-150400725.html?guccounter=1
Qualifying for the 1983 Daytona 500 was a story of highs and lows for NASCAR driver Cale Yarborough. He became the first driver in history to run a qualifying lap faster than 200 miles per hour, but on his second pass of the Daytona International Speedway, Yarborough lost control of his No. 28 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The car was destroyed, and his Ranier-Lundy team didn’t have a backup. But Yarborough still won the race — behind the wheel of a Pontiac LeMans that had been serving as as static display car outside of a local Hardee’s restaurant.
Having crested 200.5 miles per hour on his first quali lap, Yarborough felt he had more in him. He had just moved to the Ranier-Lundy team for the ‘83 season, and it was clear that the partnership was going to be a fruitful one. That meant Ranier-Lundy had to get creative. As it scrambled to find a vehicle for its driver, the team cast a wide net. Ultimately, it landed on a most unlikely candidate. Yarborough was sponsored by the Hardee’s fast food chain for the 1983 Daytona 500, and one of the local restaurants actually had a static show car out front to promote the big race. While Ranier-Lundy had showed up with a Chevy Monte Carlo, it would have to settle for a manufacturer swap, as the show car was a Pontiac LeMans. Anything was possible, so long as it meant getting Yarborough back behind the wheel.
So, the team commandeered the show car, it stuck a powerplant into the empty engine bay and it sent Yarborough off to race.
And on race day, Yarborough won his third Daytona 500 under what should have been impossible conditions. On the very final lap, Buddy Baker led a tight pack of cars that included Yarborough, Joe Ruttman, and Bill Elliott and looked set to win — until Yarborough slipstreamed by Baker on the backstretch. Ruttman drafted into second while Baker attempted to sneak under Ruttman, just in time for Elliott to catch up and stick his nose ahead. It was a three-wide finish for second place — but up front, it was Yarborough who took the checkered flag.
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CU Medallion [55373]
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Re: Cale Yarborough Won The Daytona 500 In A Show Car Borrowed From A Local Hardee's
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Jan 3, 2024, 7:17 AM
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Can't decide which I miss most.....real NASCAR or real NCAA football.
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CU Medallion [68893]
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Re: Cale Yarborough Won The Daytona 500 In A Show Car Borrowed From A Local Hardee's
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Jan 3, 2024, 7:36 AM
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Amazing. I used to follow NASCAR somewhat and I did not recall this
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110%er [7224]
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Re: Cale Yarborough Won The Daytona 500 In A Show Car Borrowed From A Local Hardee's
Jan 3, 2024, 4:28 PM
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I remember it well, it is what I always think of when the Daytona 500 comes up in conversation.
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CU Medallion [68061]
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That was back when Nascar did any and everything they could to make sure their
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Jan 3, 2024, 8:05 AM
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stars got into the big races. And stock cars were actually STOCK CARS, at least mostly bodywise. "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" was a real thing, which is why the major automakers were heavily involved with the sport.
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110%er [6588]
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Re: Cale Yarborough Won The Daytona 500 In A Show Car Borrowed From A Local Hardee's
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Jan 3, 2024, 8:43 AM
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Thanks for sharing. I grew up not far from the Darlington/Florence area. The man was a NASCAR legend.
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All-TigerNet [13105]
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Is this where I leave my favorite NASCAR video of all-time?
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Jan 3, 2024, 8:47 AM
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Dedicated to Cale, and all my old school racing and old school college football fans. Thanks for helping me remember this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEqLhhI5BWU
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Legend [16766]
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Re: Is this where I leave my favorite NASCAR video of all-time?
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Jan 3, 2024, 7:25 PM
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Great video! Heck nascar drivers today dont even had a southern accent. Even if they are from the south.
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110%er [7955]
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Re: Cale Yarborough Won The Daytona 500 In A Show Car Borrowed From A Local Hardee's
Jan 3, 2024, 8:50 AM
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I still have 2 Cale - Hardees matchbox cars from my youth. They are played with but still decent shape.
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Orange Blooded [3911]
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I knew Cale Yarborough & family
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Jan 3, 2024, 9:11 AM
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RIP Cale and may the prayer of friends lift up Julie and family
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All-TigerNet [10995]
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Re: Cale Yarborough Won The Daytona 500 In A Show Car Borrowed From A Local Hardee's
Jan 3, 2024, 12:14 PM
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I guess that everyone knows that Cale could have come to Clemson on a football scholarship.
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All-In [27830]
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Re: Cale Yarborough Won The Daytona 500 In A Show Car Borrowed From A Local Hardee's
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Jan 3, 2024, 12:57 PM
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What a great story that only a NASCAR legend could do. Cale was a very popular driver. One of the best. That Era had some great race car drivers. They were tough as nails, knew how to build a car and drive the wheels off of it.
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110%er [5291]
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Re: Cale Yarborough Won The Daytona 500 In A Show Car Borrowed From A Local Hardee's
Jan 3, 2024, 4:39 PM
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Awesome story.
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Oculus Spirit [94460]
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Nascar is rasslin on rubber these days.***
Jan 4, 2024, 12:09 AM
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Orange Blooded [3369]
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Re: Cale Yarborough Won The Daytona 500 In A Show Car Borrowed From A Local Hardee's
Jan 4, 2024, 6:47 AM
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Thanks. I didn't remember it was a Pontiac he got as a replacement. I grew up 20 miles from Darlington and followed NASCAR. I was a Chevy and Richard Petty fan so Cale driving for the Wood Brothers was the friendly enemy. I always said if he lasted past lap 30 he could win the race. In '71-'72 iirc, Cale switched to Indy cars and also I saw him race at Road Atlanta in the CanAm circuit race against the McLaurin and Gulf Porche teams. After he came back to NASCAR he was a much better driver! He went on to win 3 Championships in a row and total of 4 Daytona 500s.
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