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| {{InfoboxLost
| | #REDIRECT [[1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series (partially found footage of NASCAR races; 1976)]] |
| |title=<center>1976 Winston 500</center>
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| |image=1976winston5001.png
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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 Winston 500''''' was the 10th race of the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 2nd May at the Alabama International Motor Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by Buddy Baker in a Ford, achieving his third consecutive Cup Series victory at the superspeedway and his only win for the 1976 season. He also set the fastest 500 mile victory in NASCAR at the time.
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| ==Background==
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| The ''1976 Winston 500'' was the 7th running of the event, with the annual race typically lasting around 500 miles in length.<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1976_Winston_500/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing qualifying and race results for the event.] Retrieved 3 Apr '22</ref> It was one of two 1976 Winston Cup Series races conducted at Alabama International Motor Speedway, the other being the Talladega 500,<ref name="calendar">[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1976/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series calendar.] Retrieved 3 Apr '22</ref> which in 1976 occurred on 8th August and was won by Dodge's Dave Marcis.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1976_Talladega_500/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the results of the 1976 Talladega 500.] Retrieved 3 Apr '22</ref> The race also has ties to the modern GEICO 500, having dropped the Winston title from 2001.<ref>[https://nytimes.stats.com/racing/index.asp?page=track&series=cupseries&track=15 ''The New York Times Stats'' detailing the history of the Alabama International Motor Speedway/Talladega Superspeedway races.] Retrieved 3 Apr '22</ref>
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| Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Marcis winning the pole position with a speed of 189.197 mph.<ref name="results"/> Directly behind him was fellow Dodge driver Richard Petty, with Chevrolet's Donnie Allison lining up third.<ref name="results"/> Buddy Baker qualified only 12th out of 40 competitors,<ref name="results"/> but was nevertheless motivated to win his third consecutive Cup Series race at Alabama, as well as his first of the season.<ref name="nyt">[https://www.nytimes.com/1976/05/03/archives/hunt-set-down-lauda-wins-race-baker-sets-speed-record.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Baker winning the race and his record-breaking performance.] Retrieved 3 Apr '22</ref><ref name="metal">[https://metalfuelandrubber.com/2018/05/02/on-this-day-may-2-1976-winston-500/ ''Metal Fuel + Rubber'' summarising the race and noting this was Baker's only win for 1976.] Retrieved 3 Apr '22</ref><ref name="reunion">[http://racersreunion.com/community/forum/stock-car-racing-history/32071/1st-5-talladega-ford-wins-in-bud-moore-cars-may-2nd-38th-anniversary-of-buddy-bakers-3rd-in-row ''RacersReunion'' providing a detailed summary of events at the race, and providing photos and newspaper clippings of it.] Retrieved 3 Apr '22</ref><ref name="calendar"/> Actor Jackie Cooper was the grand marshal for the race.<ref name="reunion"/>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the starting order decided, the 1976 Winston 500 commenced on 2nd May.<ref name="results"/> Marcis held the lead for the first 12 laps, before swapping it with a fast-charging Baker for a few laps.<ref name="results"/> The battle for the lead became an open competition, as James Hylton, David Sisco, Cecil Gordon, Cale Yarborough, and Bobby Allison all briefly led, but with none being able to lead more than five consecutive laps.<ref name="results"/> Baker became to first to lead more than ten consecutive laps, holding onto the first position from lap 36 to 52.<ref name="results"/>
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| From there, a pattern emerged, where contenders like the Chevrolets of Hylton and Yarborough would briefly take the first position, only for Baker to quickly gain it back and lead for over 20-30 laps.<ref name="results"/> By lap 155, Baker had two main challengers, with Richard Petty in a Dodge overtaking him for the first position, only for The King to drop it to Yarborough on lap 162.<ref name="results"/> Eventually, Baker moved back into first with the final lead change occurring on lap 165.<ref name="results"/> For the remaining 24 laps, Baker extended his lead over Yarborough to 35 seconds to win the race and claim $21,985 in prize money.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="metal"/><ref name="results"/> His win would make history, as his average 169.887 mph was the fastest in NASCAR history at the time, beating out the previous record of 167.247 mph and winning within three hours of the start time.<ref name="nyt"/> He would also become the first driver to win three consecutive times at Winston Cup Series races at Alabama, with this being his only victory for 1976.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="metal"/><ref name="reunion"/><ref name="calendar"/> Ironically, Yarborough had set the previous NASCAR speed record, ultimately finishing second in this race, with Allison's Mercury edging out Petty for third.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| According to ''NASCAR on TV'', 30 minutes of highlights were televised by CBS on 8th May 1976 as part of its ''CBS Sports Spectacular'', billing it as the "Alabama 500".<ref name="tv">[https://sites.google.com/site/nascarracingontv/home/the-races/monster-energy-cup-series/1976-nascar-winston-cup-series/1976-winston-500 ''NASCAR on TV'' detailing the CBS broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 3 Apr '22</ref> This would be televised alongside the 1976 Spanish Grand Prix and Women's World Cup Surfing.<ref name="tv"/> However, the broadcast has yet to resurface, and no footage of the race is currently publicly available. According to Dale Earnhardt Jr., a 20 minute documentary called "World's Fastest Race" detailed Baker's record win at the event,<ref>[https://twitter.com/DaleJr/status/1252273401688883200 Twitter post by Dale Earnhardt Jr. regarding "World's Fastest Race".] Retrieved 3 Apr '22</ref> although this too currently remains missing. Photos and newspaper clippings of the event are however publicly viewable.<ref name="reunion"/>
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| ==Gallery==
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| ===Images===
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| <gallery mode=packed heights=300px>
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| 1976winston5002.jpg|Baker receives a kiss in Victory Lane.
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| 1976winston5003.jpg|Baker wasn't seemingly too appreciative of the champagne.
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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 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
| |
| *[[1976 Dixie 500 (lost CBS footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
| |
| *[[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 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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| [[Category:Historic]]
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