The 1979 Coca-Cola 500, the 19th race of the NASCAR Winston Cup season, was held on July 30 at Pocono Raceway (postponed one day by rain) before about 40,000 fans. A 39-car field contested 200 laps on the 2.5-mile triangular track. Harry Gant won his first Grand National pole driving the #47 Race Hill Farms Chevrolet on McCreary tires with a speed of 148.711 mph.
Cale Yarborough started second in the #11 Junior Johnson Busch Chevrolet and won under caution over Richard Petty, with Buddy Baker third, Benny Parsons fourth, and Ricky Rudd fifth. Yarborough led 61 laps and averaged 115.207 mph through seven cautions for 46 laps, earning $21,465. The race featured a track-record 56 lead changes. Dale Earnhardt was leading on lap 98 when he blew a right-rear tire and slammed the Turn 2 wall, fracturing both collarbones and sidelining him for several races.










