|
|
| (2 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| {{InfoboxLost
| | #REDIRECT [[1980-present NASCAR Cup Series (partially found footage of NASCAR races; 1980-present)]] |
| |title=<center>1981 CRC Chemicals 500</center>
| |
| |image=1981crcchemicals5001.jpg
| |
| |imagecaption=Program for the race.
| |
| |status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
| |
| }}
| |
| The '''''1981 CRC Chemicals 500''''' was the 25th race of the 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 20th September at the Dover Downs International Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by Neil Bonnett in a Ford, having lapped the entire field prior to the finish.
| |
| | |
| ==Background==
| |
| The ''1981 CRC Chemicals 500'' was the 11th 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/1981_CRC_Chemicals_500/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing qualifying and race results for the event.] Retrieved 16 Apr '22</ref> It was one of two 1981 Winston Cup races at Dover Downs International Speedway, the other being the Mason-Dixon 500,<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1981/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup calendar.] Retrieved 16 Apr '22</ref> which occurred on 17th May and was won by Jody Ridley in a Ford.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1981_Mason-Dixon_500/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the results of the 1981 Mason-Dixon 500.] Retrieved 16 Apr '22</ref> It was the third instance of the event displaying title sponsor CRC Chemicals, which lasted until 1982.<ref name="stats">[https://nytimes.stats.com/racing/index.asp?page=track&series=NASCAR&track=5 ''The New York Times Stats'' detailing the history of Dover International Speedway's Cup Series races.] Retrieved 16 Apr '22</ref> The CRC Chemicals 500 also has ties to the Drydene 311, having been reduced in milage since 1997 and having not been held since 2020.<ref name="stats"/>
| |
| | |
| Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Ricky Rudd winning the pole position in a Chevrolet with a speed of 136.757 mph.<ref name="results"/> Directly behind him was Buick's Darrel Waltrip, with Neil Bonnett lining up third.<ref name="results"/>
| |
| | |
| ==The Race==
| |
| With the starting order decided, the 1981 CRC Chemicals 500 commenced on 20th September.<ref name="results"/> Rudd maintained the lead from the start, and remained there for the first 54 laps before being overtaken by Buick's Richard Petty. Petty would then drop the first position to fellow Buick driver Bobby Allison, and aside from a brief lead change from Rudd, began to dominated the early stages, including leading from lap 62 to 122 uninterrupted.<ref name="results"/> Chevrolet's Dave Marcis briefly led on lap 123 before Allison led for the next eight laps.<ref name="results"/> However, Bonnett began to enter the race for the lead, and after brief leads from Petty, Waltrip, and Terry Labonte in a Buick, started controlling the race, leading 88 consecutive laps starting from lap 147.<ref name="results"/>
| |
| | |
| Pontiac driver Joe Ruttman then briefly led on lap 235 before Bonnett took over for the next 13.<ref name="results"/> Suddenly, Pontiac's Harry Gant began to challenge for the lead, succeeding in the overtake on lap 249.<ref name="results"/> He proved dominant for the next stage of the race, leading 160 consecutive laps.<ref name="results"/> Bonnett was determined to win however, and moved back into the first position on lap 409.<ref name="results"/> Gant nevertheless retook the lead on lap 420, and was defending the first position until his engine failed after 437 laps, putting him out of the running and giving Bonnett back the lead.<ref name="results"/> From there, Bonnett faced no further competition; in fact, for the remaining 63 laps, he would lap the entire field, eventually crossing the line a lap and 15 seconds ahead to claim victory and $19,000 in prize money.<ref name="results"/> Waltrip finished second, with Allison taking third.<ref name="results"/>
| |
| | |
| ==Availability==
| |
| According to ''NASCAR on TV'', ESPN reportedly televised highlights of the event.<ref name="nascar">[https://sites.google.com/site/nascarracingontv/home/the-races/unconfirmed-broadcasts/1981-crc-chemicals-500 ''NASCAR on TV'' detailing the possibility of an ESPN broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 16 Apr '22</ref> However, no broadcast has resurfaced, with ''NASCAR on TV'' also stating that official confirmation that a broadcast occurred has not yet been achieved.<ref name="nascar"/> Nevertheless, it does note the existence of a news feature that credited ESPN for providing footage, indicating the possibility an ESPN airing did occur.<ref name="nascar"/> According to ''Racing-Reference'', said news clip was uploaded to YouTube by MotorsportsHistoryTV, with Wayback Machine analysis revealing the video was uploaded on 22nd March 2015.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/video-links/?id=1981-25&series=W ''Racing-Reference'' noting the existence of race footage thanks to a MotorsportsHistoryTV upload.] Retrieved 16 Apr '22</ref><ref name="wayback">[http://web.archive.org/web/20170709211217/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7brinxCZwiY Wayback Machine providing information of the now-deleted news video from MotorsportsHistoryTV.] Retrieved 16 Apr '22</ref> However, the video has since been taken down, with Wayback Machine having not archived it.<ref name="wayback"/> Thus, no race footage is currently publicly available.
| |
| | |
| ==Gallery==
| |
| ===Image===
| |
| <gallery mode=packed heights=300px>
| |
| 1981crcchemicals5002.jpg|Bonnett celebrating his win in Victory Lane.
| |
| </gallery>
| |
| | |
| ==See Also==
| |
| *[[1960 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1960)]]
| |
| *[[1960 Daytona Races (lost CBS and NBC televised footage of NASCAR prelude events to Daytona 500; 1960)]]
| |
| *[[1961 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1961)]]
| |
| *[[1962 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1962)]]
| |
| *[[1962 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1962)]]
| |
| *[[1963 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1963)]]
| |
| *[[1964 Atlanta 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
| |
| *[[1964 National 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
| |
| *[[1965 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1965)]]
| |
| *[[1965 Rebel 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1965)]]
| |
| *[[1966 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1966)]]
| |
| *[[1966 Southern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1966)]]
| |
| *[[1967 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
| |
| *[[1967 Rebel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
| |
| *[[1970 Alabama 500 (found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]
| |
| *[[1970 National 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]
| |
| *[[1970 Wilkes 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]
| |
| *[[1970 World 600 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]
| |
| *[[1971 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[1971 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[1971 Myers Brothers 250 (lost footage and official documents of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[1971 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[1971 Rebel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[1971 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[1972 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
| |
| *[[1972 Carolina 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
| |
| *[[1972 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
| |
| *[[1972 Firecracker 400 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
| |
| *[[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)]]
| |
| *[[1973 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1973)]]
| |
| *[[1973 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1973)]]
| |
| *[[1974 Mason-Dixon 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1974)]]
| |
| *[[1974 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1974)]]
| |
| *[[1974 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1974)]]
| |
| *[[1975 Champion Spark Plug 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
| |
| *[[1975 Dixie 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
| |
| *[[1975 Firecracker 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
| |
| *[[1975 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
| |
| *[[1975 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1975)]]
| |
| *[[1975 World 600 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
| |
| *[[1976 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
| |
| *[[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)]]
| |
| *[[1976 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
| |
| *[[1976 Rebel 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
| |
| *[[1976 Riverside 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
| |
| *[[1976 Talladega 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
| |
| *[[1976 Winston 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
| |
| *[[1976 World 600 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
| |
| *[[1978 NAPA National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1978)]]
| |
| *[[1979 Dixie 500 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1979)]]
| |
| *[[1979 Southeastern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1979)]]
| |
| *[[1981 Coca-Cola 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1981)]]
| |
| *[[1982 Twin 125s race 1 (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]]
| |
| *[[1984 Delaware 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1984)]]
| |
| *[[1984 Warner W. Hodgdon Carolina 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1984)]]
| |
| *[[1985 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1985)]]
| |
| *[[1986 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1986)]]
| |
| *[[1996 DeVilbiss SuperFinish 200 (partially found televised footage of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race; 1996)]]
| |
| | |
| ==References==
| |
| {{reflist}}
| |
| | |
| [[Category:Lost recordings of real incidents]]
| |
| [[Category:Lost TV]]
| |
| [[Category:Completely lost media]]
| |