The 1979 Firecracker 400, the 17th race of the NASCAR Winston Cup season, was held on July 4 at Daytona International Speedway before roughly 45,000 fans. A 41-car field contested 160 laps. Buddy Baker won the pole with a speed of 193.196 mph.
Neil Bonnett started second in the Wood Brothers Purolator Mercury and won by one second over Benny Parsons, with Dale Earnhardt third, Darrell Waltrip fourth, and Richard Petty fifth. Bonnett led a race-high 77 laps, including the final 28, averaged a then-record 172.890 mph through just two cautions for 11 laps, and earned $21,705. The race featured 28 lead changes among 10 drivers.
