The 1977 Daytona 500, held on February 20, 1977, at Daytona International Speedway, was won by Cale Yarborough in the No. 11 Junior Johnson Chevrolet, marking his second career victory in the Great American Race (his first was in 1968). Yarborough dominated the event, leading a race-high 137 of 200 laps and holding off Benny Parsons by 1.39 seconds at the finish, with Buddy Baker finishing third. Donnie Allison, who started from pole position, led only briefly before retiring due to mechanical problems. The race was slowed by six caution periods for 37 laps, featured 30 lead changes among 10 drivers, and saw only 17 of the 40 starters running at the finish. The event drew a crowd of approximately 135,000 spectators, reflecting its status as the premier NASCAR race of the season.
Qualifying included the Twin 125-mile races (the Duels), which set the rest of the field behind the front row. Richard Petty won one Duel and Cale Yarborough won the other, while Donnie Allison’s time-trial speed secured him the pole position. The race kicked off the 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup season and helped set the stage for Yarborough’s dominant championship campaign later that year.
Pages 76-77
Pages 106-107
