The race you are about to see appear as originally broadcast and may contain imagery that is offensive and doesn't align with NASCAR's values. NASCAR has since permanently banned the display of the confederate flag at all events.
If you are wondering why this was a half-hour length highlight video instead of multiple hours: Rarely did ABC-TV [US] televise races live. July 4th was on a Wednesday in 1984; whereupon the race was recorded on video, edited, and broadcast as part of the 'ABC Wide World of Sports' on that Saturday. There was a sense of the video, of the highlights broadcast on Saturday, having an element feeling of being "live," as news media outlets of that era were lackluster with reporting race results, save for the Indy 500; and possibly the Daytona 500. So the chances of the TV audience knowing whom won in advance to Saturday's telecast was relatively low. I speak from experience as witnessing that era first-hand.
**POINTS STANDINGS and WINS before the 1984 FIRECRACKER 400 (16 of 30):** #11 Darrell Waltrip (2067 with 3 wins, GM) #3 Dale Earnhardt (-25, GM) #9 Bill Elliott (-83 with 1 win, Ford) #44 Terry Labonte (-95 with 1 win, GM) #33 Harry Gant (-183, GM) #22 Bobby Allison (-192 with 2 wins, GM) #15 Ricky Rudd (-217 with 1 win, Ford) #12 Neil Bonnet (-275, GM) #43 Richard Petty (-341 with 1 win, GM) Geoff Bodine (GM #5 with 1 win) was 11th and Tim Richmond (GM #27 with 1 win) was 12th. Part-timer Cale Yarborough (GM #28) won the Daytona 500, the Alabama 500 and the Pennsylvania 500. Benny Parsons (GM #55), another part-timer, won the Dixie 500. Despite being the best rookie of 1983, Sterling Marlin couldn’t secure a ride and didn’t have a good sophomore season. Drivers listed are the season's current top8, last season's top8 plus the rookie of the year before and whatever race winner that doesn't fit any of those 2 descriptions. Yes, I’m using the unsponsored names of the races. In Daytona’s case, the season opener is the Daytona 500 while the Independence day one is the Firecracker 400.
Damn shame ABC had the coverage of this historic race. Couldn’t even get a flag to flag broadcast and had terrible announcers. Imagine CBS covering this race with Ken Squire, Ned Jarrett, and Chris Economaki.
UP UNTIL THE LATE 70s, NASCAR drivers held their positions whenever they were asked to race back to the flag. It wasn't until the ¿1979? Rebel 500 where a driver overtook multiple cars in such a situation and was caught on camera (DW went from 3rd to 1st). After that, a lot of drivers started ignoring the danger completely, specially late in the race, but I wouldn't be surprised if some were more gentleman-like in the bigger faster ovals of the schedule.
