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| {{InfoboxLost
| | #REDIRECT [[1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series (partially found footage of NASCAR races; 1976)]] |
| |title=<center>1976 Atlanta 500</center>
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| |image=1976atlanta5001.jpg
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| |imagecaption=Program for the race.
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| |status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1976 Atlanta 500''''' was the 6th race of the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 21st March at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, the race would be highly competitive and was ultimately won by David Pearson in a Mercury as other contenders suffered reliability issues.
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| ==Background==
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| The ''1976 Atlanta 500'' was the 17th running of the event, with the race traditionally being around 500 miles in length.<ref name="circuit">[https://www.racingcircuits.info/north-america/usa/atlanta-motor-speedway.html#.YiFGz-jP1hE ''Racing Circuits'' documenting the Atlanta 500 and the Dixie 500.] Retrieved 7 Mar '22</ref> It was one of two 1976 Winston Cup Series races conducted at Atlanta Motor Speedway,<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1976/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series calendar.] Retrieved 7 Mar '22</ref> the other being the Dixie 500,<ref name="circuit"/> which [[1976 Dixie 500 (lost CBS footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)|in 1976 occurred on 7th November and was won by Dave Marcis in a Dodge]].<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1976_Dixie_500/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the results of the 1976 Dixie 500.] Retrieved 7 Mar '22</ref> The Atlanta 500 also has ties to the modern Quaker State 400, which resumed the event at a 400 mile length in 2021 after not being held from 2011-2020.<ref>[https://www.nascar.com/2021/quaker-state-400-presented-by-walmart/ ''NASCAR'' linking the Atlanta 500 with the Quaker State 400.] Retrieved 7 Mar '22</ref><ref>[https://beyondtheflag.com/2015/02/24/sad-decline-atlanta-motor-speedway/ ''Beyond the Flag'' noting Atlanta 500 being removed from the 2011 schedule.] Retrieved 7 Mar '22</ref>
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| Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Dave Marcis winning the pole position with a speed of 160.709 mph.<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1976_Atlanta_500/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing qualifying and race results of the event.] Retrieved 7 Mar '22</ref> Directly behind him was Pearson, with Dodge driver Richard Petty qualifying third.<ref name="results"/> The King was satisfied with his qualifying position, with his team also allowing Jackie Stewart, the three-time Formula One World Champion and ABC-TV race analyst, to have a go in Petty's car prior to the race.<ref name="bench">[http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2020/04/march-21-1976-atlanta-500.html ''Bench-Racing'' detailing the race and Stewart's time in Petty's Dodge.] Retrieved 7 Mar '22</ref><ref name="ac">[http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2020/04/march-21-1976-atlanta-500.html ''Atlanta Constitution'' reporting on Stewart driving Petty's Dodge prior to the race (article found on ''Bench-Racing'').] Retrieved 7 Mar '22</ref> With Petty himself providing instructions via radio, Stewart managed to reach a top speed of 139 mph, and returned the car in one piece, much to The King's relief.<ref name="ac"/> Stewart later expressed regret for not competing in stock cars prior to his retirement from motorsport, stating it was a privilege to drive the Dodge and emphasising the differences between it and a grand prix car, including its far heavier steering.<ref name="ac"/> Another discussion point was NASCAR's decision to enforce the restriction of the flow of air and gasoline to each vehicles' carburettor, which caused most to lose around 50 horsepower.<ref name="ac2">[http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2020/04/march-21-1976-atlanta-500.html ''Atlanta Constitution'' reporting on the race result and Pearson's comments (article found on ''Bench-Racing'').] Retrieved 7 Mar '22</ref> This was to dismay of some drivers, including Pearson.<ref name="ac2"/>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the starting order decided, the 1976 Atlanta 500 occurred on 21st March.<ref name="results"/> Pearson shot into the lead on the first lap, but holding onto it proved difficult, with numerous lap leader changes and ten different leaders throughout the early stages.<ref name="bench"/><ref name="results"/> However, contenders began to drop from the field, with four ending their sessions because of engine failures.<ref name="bench"/> Among them included Marcis on lap 107, Chevrolet driver James Hylton on lap 155, Mercury driver Bobby Allison on lap 188, and Petty on lap 194.<ref name="bench"/><ref name="ac2"/><ref name="results"/> Cale Yarborough in a Chevrolet and Buddy Baker in a Dodge were the only two racers to lead at least ten consecutive laps.<ref name="bench"/> However, the latter retired on lap 238 due to a failed engine,<ref name="results"/> while Yarborough, deemed the quickest on track according to ''The New York Times'', suffered a broken distributor rotor midway through the race.<ref name="nyt">[https://www.nytimes.com/1976/03/22/archives/tire-change-helps-pearson-win-race.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Pearson winning the race.] Retrieved 7 Mar '22</ref> He was able to continue, albeit being four laps down.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="ac2"/>
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| As contenders dropped out, the race's final third centred between Pearson and the Chevrolet of Benny Parsons.<ref name="bench"/> Pearson managed to recover after experiencing tyre troubles that caused him to be a lap down earlier in the race.<ref name="nyt"/> The race would ultimately be decided during the pit stops, when Parsons pitted with 100 miles to go and only changed two tyres.<ref name="nyt"/> In contrast, Pearson had all four tyres changed with 50 miles to go.<ref name="nyt"/> This enabled him to blast past Parsons on lap 298, and pulled away for the remaining laps to claim victory and between $16,000-$16,750 in prize money.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/><ref name="bench"/> Parsons was 1.8 seconds behind in second,<ref name="nyt"/> with Yarborough having achieved a good recovery to finish a lap down in third.<ref name="results"/><ref name="nyt"/> Post-race, Pearson accepted Yarborough had the fastest car, and noted that the pit stop proved critical due to having superior handling as opposed to Parsons.<ref name="ac2"/> He also noted that another issue emerged when he experienced vibrations while leading on lap 265, although this would cease following the pit stops.<ref name="ac2"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| According to ''NASCAR on TV'', ABC televised the final 90 minutes of the race as part of its ''ABC Championship Auto Racing''.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/nascarracingontv/home/the-races/monster-energy-cup-series/1976-nascar-winston-cup-series/1976-atlanta-500 ''NASCAR on TV'' detailing the ABC broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 7 Mar '22</ref> ''Bench-Racing'' also states that a condensed version was shown on ABC's ''Wide World of Sports'', which included Stewart's run in the Dodge.<ref name="bench"/> However, neither broadcast has since resurfaced, and no footage of the race is currently publicly available. ''Racing-Reference'' notes that home video footage was uploaded to YouTube by 8mmhistory on 17th March 2018.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/video-links/?id=1976-06&series=W ''Racing-Reference'' noting 8mmhistory uploaded home video footage of the race, which has since been made private.] Retrieved 7 Mar '22</ref> However, the video has since been made private.
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| ==Gallery==
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| ===Images===
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| <gallery mode=packed heights=300px>
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| 1976atlanta5002.png|Pearson celebrating his win.
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| 1976atlanta5003.png|''Atlanta Constitution'' reporting on Pearson's win.
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| 1976atlanta5004.png|''Atlanta Constitution'' reporting on Stewart driving Petty's car.
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| </gallery>
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| ==See Also==
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| *[[1960 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1960)]]
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| *[[1960 Daytona Races (lost CBS and NBC televised footage of NASCAR prelude events to Daytona 500; 1960)]]
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| *[[1961 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1961)]]
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| *[[1962 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1962)]]
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| *[[1962 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1962)]]
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| *[[1963 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1963)]]
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| *[[1963 Richmond 250 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series qualifying session and race; 1963)]]
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| *[[1964 Atlanta 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1964 National 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1964 Richmond 250 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series qualifying session; 1964)]]
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| *[[1965 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1965)]]
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| *[[1965 Rebel 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1965)]]
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| *[[1966 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1966)]]
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| *[[1966 Southern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1966)]]
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| *[[1967 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
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| *[[1967 Rebel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
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| *[[1970 Alabama 500 (found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 National 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Wilkes 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 World 600 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1971 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Myers Brothers 250 (lost footage and official documents of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Rebel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1971)]]
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| *[[1972 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Bowman-Gray 100 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand American Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Carolina 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Firecracker 400 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 National 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Rebel 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1973 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1973)]]
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| *[[1973 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1973)]]
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| *[[1974 Mason-Dixon 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1974 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1974 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1974)]]
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| *[[1975 Champion Spark Plug 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 Dixie 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 Firecracker 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 World 600 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Dixie 500 (lost CBS footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Firecracker 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Rebel 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Riverside 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Talladega 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Winston 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 World 600 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1978 NAPA National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1979 Daytona ARCA 200 (lost footage of ARCA Racing Series race; 1979)]]
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| *[[1979 Dixie 500 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1979)]]
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| *[[1979 Southeastern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1979)]]
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| *[[1981 Coca-Cola 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1981)]]
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| *[[1981 CRC Chemicals 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1981)]]
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| *[[1982 CRC Chemicals 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1982)]]
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| *[[1982 Eastern 150 (lost footage of NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1982)]]
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| *[[1982 Goody's Sportsman 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1982)]]
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| *[[1982 Twin 125s race 1 (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]]
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| *[[1982 Winston Western 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]]
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| *[[1983 Goody's Sportsman 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1983)]]
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| *[[1983 Mason-Dixon 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1983)]]
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| *[[1983 Southern 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1983)]]
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| *[[1984 Delaware 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1984)]]
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| *[[1984 Goody's Sportsman 300 (lost footage of NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race; 1984)]]
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| *[[1984 Warner W. Hodgdon Carolina 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1984)]]
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| *[[1985 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1985)]]
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| *[[1986 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1986)]]
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| *[[1989 Busch Clash (lost footage of pre-season NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1989)]]
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| *[[1992 Atlanta 300 (lost footage of NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race; 1992)]]
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| *[[1996 DeVilbiss SuperFinish 200 (partially found televised footage of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race; 1996)]]
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| *[[Jeff Gordon's 2008 UAW-Dodge 400 crash (lost on-board footage of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race crash; 2008)]]
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| *[[NASCAR (partially found uncut footage of stock car races; 1960-present)]]
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| [[Category:Lost recordings of sports events]]
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| [[Category:Completely lost media]]
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