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| {{NSFL|discussion of a serious motor racing accident}}
| | #REDIRECT [[NASCAR (partially found footage of NASCAR races featuring fatal and/or serious accidents; 1964-2002)]] |
| {{InfoboxLost
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| |title=<center>1979 Gabriel 400</center>
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| |image=1979gabriel4001.jpg
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| |imagecaption=Aftermath of Steve Pfeiffer's crash.
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| |status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1979 Gabriel 400''''' was the 16th race of the 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 17th June at the Michigan International Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by Buddy Baker, beating out fellow Chevrolet driver Donnie Allison. The race is also infamous for a crash involving Steve Pfeiffer, whose Chevrolet injured some spectators on the pit wall.
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| ==Background==
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| The ''1979 Gabriel 400'' was the 11th running of the event, with the annual race typically lasting around 400 miles in length.<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1979_Gabriel_400/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing qualifying and race results for the event.] Retrieved 6 Apr '22</ref> It was one of two 1979 Winston Cup Series races conducted at Michigan International Speedway, the other being the Champion Spark Plug 400,<ref name="calendar">[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1979/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series calendar.] Retrieved 6 Apr '22</ref> which in 1979 occurred on 19th August and was won by Richard Petty in a Chevrolet.<ref name="spark">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1979_Champion_Spark_Plug_400/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the results of the 1979 Champion Spark Plug 400.] Retrieved 6 Apr '22</ref> The race also has ties to the modern FireKeepers Casino 400, with both races having been merged into one since 2021.<ref>[http://nytimes.stats.com/racing/index.asp?page=track&series=NASCAR&track=7 ''The New York Times Stats'' detailing the history of the Michigan International Speedway races.] Retrieved 6 Apr '22</ref>
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| Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Neil Bonnett winning the pole position in a Mercury with a speed of 162.371 mph.<ref name="results"/> Directly behind him was Donnie Allison, with Buddy Baker lining up third.<ref name="results"/> Roger Hamby also entered the event with a Chevrolet,<ref name="hour">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1916&dat=19790618&id=QI80AAAAIBAJ&sjid=-G0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4884,3121885 ''The Hour'' reporting on Baker winning the race and Pfeiffer's crash.] Retrieved 6 Apr '22</ref> qualifying 18th out of 36 runners.<ref name="results"/> He selected Steve Pfeiffer to be his relief driver.<ref name="hour"/>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the starting order decided, the 1979 Gabriel 400 commenced on 17th June.<ref name="results"/> Bonnett was able to hold the lead until lap 3, when Baker briefly took over, only for Bonnett to recapture it on lap 4.<ref name="results"/> However, the race would quickly turn into an open competition for the lead, with Allison, Oldsmobile's Cale Yarborough, and Petty all contributing towards 46 lead changes throughout the event.<ref name="results"/> ''The Hour'' summarised the race as "a furious battle among 10 top contenders all day."<ref name="hour"/>
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| Near the race's end stages, Baker would lead for 22 consecutive laps.<ref name="results"/> His main competition would be Allison, with him overtaking Baker for the first position on lap 158.<ref name="results"/><ref name="hour"/> This triggered a further seven lead changes between the pair, with Baker achieving the final overtake for first on lap 182.<ref name="results"/> Nevertheless, he still faced intense competition from not only Allison, but also a late challenge from Yarborough.<ref name="hour"/> However, the latter would drop out of contention, because his performance dipped as his tyres heated up according to Baker.<ref name="hour"/> Baker would maintain the lead for the remaining laps, with the final few being run under a caution following incidents involving the Dodge of Frank Warren and Chevrolet's Darrell Waltrip.<ref name="results"/> This enabled Baker to win the race and claim $16,350 in prize money.<ref name="hour"/><ref name="results"/> Allison finished second, with Yarborough ending up third.<ref name="results"/><ref name="hour"/> Allison accepted Baker's victory post-race, stating "I felt the cars that won deserved to win and I thought the car that was second deserved to be second."<ref name="hour"/>
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| ==Steve Pfeiffer's Crash==
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| During the race, owner-driver Roger Hamby elected to be replaced by relief driver Steve Pfeiffer.<ref name="hour"/> After completing 122 laps,<ref name="results"/> Pfeiffer decided to make a pit stop, heading onto pit road.<ref name="crash">[http://the-fastlane.co.uk/cpdb/crashphotos_view.php?editid1=539 ''Crash Photos Database'' summarising the Pfeiffer accident and providing photos of it.] Retrieved 6 Apr '22</ref><ref name="hour"/> Suddenly, he lost control of the Chevrolet, slamming into a dirt embankment close to the pit entrance.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="hour"/> The impact was severe enough to cause the vehicle to climb the embankment, resulting in it mowing down a few spectators, including photographer Ray Cook.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="hour"/> Cook was hospitalised after suffering leg and ankle injuries, while some spectators suffered cuts and bruises.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="hour"/> Meanwhile, Pfeiffer resided in Foote West Hospital, ultimately recovering from cuts to his right knee and chest.<ref name="hour"/> Ultimately, despite the severity of the crash, there were no fatalities.<ref name="crash"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| According to ''NASCAR on TV'', 45 minutes of highlights were televised by ABC on 23rd June 1979 as part of its ''Wide World of Sports'', alongside the AAU Track and Field Championships.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/nascarracingontv/home/the-races/monster-energy-cup-series/1979-nascar-winston-cup-series/1979-gabriel-400 ''NASCAR on TV'' detailing the ABC broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 6 Apr '22</ref> However, the broadcast has yet to fully resurface, although clips of Pfeiffer's accident have been uploaded to YouTube. Additionally, ''Racing-Reference'' claims that at least three other YouTube videos contained footage of the race, but have all since been made inaccessible.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/video-links/?id=1979-16&series=W ''Racing-Reference'' listing three YouTube videos containing race footage, all of which have since been made inaccessible.] Retrieved 6 Apr '22</ref> Nevertheless, photos and newspaper clippings of the event are publicly viewable.
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| ==Galley==
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| ===Video===
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| {{Video|perrow =1
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| |service1 =youtube
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| |id1 =28Jkc3JHF5k
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| |description1 =Footage of Pfeiffer's crash.
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| }}
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| ===Images===
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| <gallery mode=packed heights=250px>
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| 1979gabriel4002.jpg|Program for the race.
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| 1979gabriel4003.jpg|Donnie Allison and Buddy Baker leading the pack.
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| 1979gabriel4004.jpg|Pfeiffer's Chevrolet goes out of control.
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| 1979gabriel4005.jpg|It hits the dirt embankment.
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| 1979gabriel4006.jpg|It knocks over photographer Ray Cook.
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| 1979gabriel4007.jpg|The car slides along the wall, knocking over other spectators.
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| 1979gabriel4008.jpg|It comes to rest over the pit wall.
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| 1979gabriel4009.jpg|Baker during the event.
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| 1979gabriel4010.jpg|Baker celebrating with his crew in Victory Lane.
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| </gallery>
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| ==See Also==
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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 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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| *[[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 World 600 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1965 National 400 (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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| *[[1969 Permatex 300 at Daytona (partially found footage of NASCAR Sportsman race; 1969)]]
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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 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 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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| *[[1972 Twin 125s (partially found footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 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)]]
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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 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 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup 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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| *[[1982 Twin 125s race 1 (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]]
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| *[[1984 Delaware 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup 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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| *[[1996 DeVilbiss SuperFinish 200 (partially found televised footage of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race; 1996)]]
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| [[Category:Lost recordings of real incidents]]
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| [[Category:Lost TV]]
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| [[Category:Partially found media]]
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