The 1979 NAPA Riverside 400, the 15th race of the NASCAR Winston Cup season, was held on June 10 at Riverside International Raceway before about 30,000 fans. A 35-car field contested 95 laps on the 2.62-mile road course. Dale Earnhardt won his first career Cup pole in the #2 Osterlund Chevrolet with a speed of 113.089 mph.
Bobby Allison started fourth in the #15 Bud Moore Ford and won by 32.9 seconds over Darrell Waltrip, with Richard Petty third, Cale Yarborough fourth, and Benny Parsons fifth. Allison averaged 103.732 mph in a race slowed by just two cautions for six laps and collected the victory after leading the final 30 laps. Yarborough dominated much of the afternoon in 105-degree heat, leading 57 laps until a flat tire sent him to pit road on lap 65. Richard Petty received relief help from Jimmy Insolo. The race featured five lead changes and marked the first Ford victory at Riverside since 1970.
