1979 Southern 500 Results
David Pearson won the 1979 Southern 500 at Darlington on September 3, 1979, leading 74 of 367 laps. Full Cup Series results: finish, start, laps led and status for all 40 drivers.
Results
| Finish | Car | Driver | Start | Laps | Laps led | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | David Pearson | 5 | 367 | 74 | Running |
| 2 | 17 | Bill Elliott | 6 | 365 | 6 | Running |
| 3 | 44 | Terry Labonte | 16 | 365 | 0 | Running |
| 4 | 28 | Buddy Baker | 10 | 365 | 1 | Running |
| 5 | 27 | Benny Parsons | 13 | 364 | 0 | Running |
| 6 | 71 | Dave Marcis | 19 | 362 | 0 | Running |
| 7 | 05 | Dick Brooks | 8 | 361 | 0 | Running |
| 8 | 90 | Ricky Rudd | 14 | 361 | 0 | Running |
| 9 | 43 | Richard Petty | 4 | 361 | 0 | Running |
| 10 | 15 | Bobby Allison | 1 | 356 | 37 | Running |
| 11 | 88 | Darrell Waltrip | 3 | 355 | 165 | Running |
| 12 | 47 | Harry Gant | 7 | 352 | 0 | Running |
| 13 | 40 | D.K. Ulrich | 17 | 350 | 0 | Running |
| 14 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | 22 | 347 | 0 | Running |
| 15 | 72 | Joe Millikan | 12 | 347 | 0 | Running |
| 16 | 52 | Jimmy Means | 24 | 345 | 0 | Running |
| 17 | 68 | Chuck Bown | 21 | 342 | 0 | Running |
| 18 | 70 | J.D. McDuffie | 38 | 341 | 0 | Running |
| 19 | 11 | Cale Yarborough | 11 | 336 | 0 | Running |
| 20 | 8 | Ed Negre | 33 | 333 | 0 | Running |
| 21 | 64 | Tommy Gale | 30 | 332 | 0 | Running |
| 22 | 79 | Frank Warren | 32 | 331 | 0 | Running |
| 23 | 45 | Baxter Price | 35 | 324 | 0 | Running |
| 24 | 25 | Ronnie Thomas | 28 | 310 | 0 | Running |
| 25 | 19 | Lennie Pond | 15 | 281 | 0 | Running |
| 26 | 24 | Cecil Gordon | 31 | 246 | 0 | Running |
| 27 | 36 | H.B. Bailey | 36 | 244 | 0 | Overheating |
| 28 | 9 | Jim Vandiver | 26 | 240 | 0 | Running |
| 29 | 3 | Richard Childress | 25 | 224 | 0 | Engine |
| 30 | 12 | Jack Ingram | 20 | 206 | 0 | Engine |
| 31 | 1 | Donnie Allison | 2 | 195 | 82 | Engine |
| 32 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | 9 | 185 | 2 | Steering |
| 33 | 10 | Billy Smith | 39 | 179 | 0 | Driveshaft |
| 34 | 65 | Dick May | 23 | 148 | 0 | Crash |
| 35 | 30 | Tighe Scott | 29 | 133 | 0 | Crash |
| 36 | 14 | Coo Coo Marlin | 18 | 112 | 0 | Engine |
| 37 | 98 | Ralph Jones | 40 | 83 | 0 | Engine |
| 38 | 48 | James Hylton | 27 | 46 | 0 | Engine |
| 39 | 01 | Earle Canavan | 37 | 17 | 0 | Oil leak |
| 40 | 96 | Ferrel Harris | 34 | 2 | 0 | Flagged |
Race facts
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | September 3, 1979 |
| Track | Darlington |
| Laps | 367 |