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| {{NSFL|discussion of a fatal 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 Sportsman 300</center>
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| |image=1979sportsman3001.jpg
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| |imagecaption=Program for the 1979 Daytona 500, also promoting the 1979 Sportsman 300.
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| |status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1979 Sportsman 300''''' (also known as the '''''1979 Permatex 300''''') was the inaugural race of the 1979 NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Series. Occurring on 17th February 1979, the rain-shortened race would ultimately be won by Darrell Waltrip in a Chevrolet. However, the event is overshadowed by a fiery multicar crash that left Don Williams in a semi-comatose state until his death a decade later.
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| ==Background==
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| The ''1979 Sportsman 300'' was the 21st running of the event, with the annual event typically lasting 300 miles.<ref name="results">[http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=3828 ''Ultimate Racing History'' detailing the qualifying and race results of the event.] Retrieved 21 Apr '22</ref> The only 1983 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race to take place at Daytona International Speedway,<ref>[http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist3.php?trackid=81 ''Ultimate Racing History'' listing races at Daytona International Speedway.] Retrieved 21 Apr '22</ref> the race has ties to the modern Xfinity race Beef. It's What's for Dinner. 300, having dropped the Goody's title from 1997 onwards.<ref>[https://nytimes.stats.com/racing/index.asp?page=track&series=Xfinity&track=1 ''The New York Times Stats'' detailing the history of Sportsman races at Daytona International Speedway.] Retrieved 21 Apr '22</ref>
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| Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Donnie Allison winning the pole position in a Chevrolet with a speed of 47.104 seconds.<ref name="results"/> Directly behind him was Ford's Jack Ingram, with Darrell Waltrip lining up third.<ref name="results"/> Don Williams qualified 38th out of 40 competitors in a Chevrolet.<ref name="results"/>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the starting order decided, the 1979 Sportsman 300 commenced on 17th February.<ref name="results"/> While some drivers, including Chevrolet's J.D. McDuffie, and the Pontiacs of Harry Gant and Brad Teague briefly led at times, the race would primarily be between Waltrip and the Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt.<ref name="rome">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uestAAAAIBAJ&pg=4818%2C2276659 ''The Rome News-Tribune'' reporting on Waltrip winning the race and the crash.] Retrieved 21 Apr '22</ref> Earnhardt led from laps 39 to 57, with Waltrip briefly passing him, only for Earnhardt to regain it on lap 60.<ref name="rome"/> After 64 laps, it looked as if Earnhardt was going to win, until a tyre on his Chevrolet blew on lap 67, forcing him to pit and causing him to finish seventh.<ref name="rome"/><ref name="results"/> Waltrip regained the first position and held on to in a race that was shortened because of rain to only 69 laps or about 172.5 miles.<ref name="rome"/><ref name="results"/> Fellow Chevrolet drivers Sterling Marlin and Ray Hendrick finished second and third respectively.<ref name="results"/><ref name="rome"/>
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| Post-race, Waltrip was satisfied that he could have won even without Earnhardt's tyre blowing, stating "We're not complaining about the way we won the race. You can fight anything but the elements. I would have to tell you we would have won the race anyway."<ref name="rome"/> Waltrip also won the second Twin 125s race, and only just missed out on a triple crown by losing the Daytona 500 to Richard Petty by a car length.<ref name="post">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1979/02/18/driver-critical-in-daytona-crackup/34158fc5-5613-44dd-b359-3d4c07252a9a/ ''The Washington Post'' reporting on the accident.] Retrieved 21 Apr '22</ref>
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| ==Death of Don Williams==
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| On lap 4, Ingram was exiting Turn 2 when his Ford's engine failed.<ref name="crash">[http://www.the-fastlane.co.uk/cpdb/crashphotos_view.php?page=view&editid1=544 ''The Crash Photos Database'' summarising the accident and providing photos of it.] Retrieved 21 Apr '22</ref><ref name="memorial">[https://web.archive.org/web/20191212025625/http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=41 Archived ''Motorsport Memorial'' page for Don Williams.] Retrieved 21 Apr '22</ref><ref name="results"/> As it did, it leaked oil onto the track, causing Chevrolet's Freddie Smith to spin, where he was hit by Mercury's Joe Frasson, causing it to burst in flames.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="memorial"/><ref name="post"/><ref name="results"/> Delma Cowart then smashed into Frasson at top speed, the impact from the Chevrolet causing the Mercury's fuel tank to rupture and explode.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="post"/><ref name="memorial"/><ref name="results"/> Pontiac's Dennis Bennett, Chevrolet's Red Farmer, and Buddy Byles' Mercury were also involved in the accident.<ref name="memorial"/><ref name="crash"/><ref name="results"/> The resulting crash caused Frasson to suffer a contusion to his right knee, as well as a minor facial burn, although he ultimately escaped his burning car.<ref name="post"/><ref name="crash"/><ref name="rome"/><ref name="memorial"/> "The fire melted my helmet and singed my fire suit," said Frasson. "Twenty-two gallons of fuel burning in a car can get pretty hot. That's about as near to panic as I've ever gotten."<ref name="rome"/><ref name="post"/> Meanwhile, Farmer suffered an ankle abrasion and a minor leg burn, while two other drivers suffered minor injuries.<ref name="rome"/><ref name="post"/><ref name="memorial"/> Smith meanwhile claimed his windshield failed but was unable to remember anything following that.<ref name="rome"/><ref name="post"/>
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| Meanwhile, conflicting reports arose regarding what happened to Don Williams.<ref name="memorial"/><ref name="crash"/><ref name="results"/> As he approached the carnage, ''The Sarasota Herald-Tribune'' claimed he stopped in the middle of the track only to be hit by another car that failed to slow.<ref name="memorial"/> Other accounts, including from ''The Miami News'' believe Williams was forced to swing high into the wall to avoid the wrecks.<ref name="memorial"/><ref name="crash"/> However, the sudden impact at high speed into the wall, combined with flying debris, caused him to suffer severe head and chest injuries, including a hairline skull fracture, in addition to a fractured right arm and a right eye aneurysm.<ref name="memorial"/><ref name="crash"/><ref name="rome"/><ref name="post"/> While he was not killed immediately following the accident, he never fully recovered from it, remaining in a semi-comatose state for the rest of his life.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="memorial"/> On 21st May 1989, Williams passed away from his injuries aged 42.<ref name="memorial"/><ref name="crash"/> A hardware salesman for a ball-bearing company, Williams had been racing for seven years, with ambitions to compete in the Sportsman Series.<ref name="memorial"/> The 1979 Sportsman 300 was to be his first instance of racing on a 2.5 mile superspeedway.<ref name="memorial"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| According to nascarman History's ''Top 10 LOST NASCAR TV Broadcasts'', the race received coverage from CBS, albeit in August 1979. The full broadcast has yet to resurface, although clips and photos of the accident are viewable.<ref name="crash"/> Additionally, the intro of the race that was shown as part of the 1979 NHRA Springnationals has also resurfaced.
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| ==Gallery==
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| ===Videos===
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| {{Video|perrow =3
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| |service1 =youtube
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| |id1 =ZjJiMJ7eDag
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| |description1 =Intro of the race
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| |service2 =youtube
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| |id2 =2fZkDncsKW8
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| |description2 =''Top 10 LOST NASCAR TV Broadcasts'' detailing the CBS broadcast of the race (1:43-2:15).
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| |service3 =youtube
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| |id3 =7mRdSQ87xoU
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| |description3 =IanPerez48 documenting Don Williams and his fatal accident.
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| }}
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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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| *[[1964 World 600 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1965 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1965)]]
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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 Late Model Sportsman race; 1969)]]
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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)]]
| |
| *[[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)]]
| |
| *[[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 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 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1979)]]
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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 Gabriel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 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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| *[[1988 Miller High Life 500 (partially lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1988)]]
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| *[[1989 Busch Clash (lost footage of pre-season NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1989)]]
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| *[[1990 Daytona ARCA 200 (partially found footage of ARCA Racing Series race; 1990)]]
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| *[[1992 Atlanta 300 (lost footage of NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race; 1992)]]
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| *[[1995 Winston 100/1995 Duron Paints And Wallcoverings 100 (partially found footage of NASCAR Sportsman Division Series doubleheader; 1995)]]
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| *[[1996 DeVilbiss SuperFinish 200 (partially found televised footage of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race; 1996)]]
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| *[[2002 K&N Filters 150 (lost footage of NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour race; 2002)]]
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| *[[Jason Leffler (lost footage of fatal 410 Sprint Car accident; 2013)]]
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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 real incidents]]
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| [[Category:Lost TV]]
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| [[Category:Partially found media]]
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