The 1979 Daytona 500, the 21st annual event, was held on February 18, 1979. Many consider this race to be the most important race in stock car history. On the last lap, race leaders Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison collided with each other on the backstretch. Both drivers' races ended in Daytona's grass infield. The wreck allowed Richard Petty, then over one-half lap behind both, to claim his sixth Daytona 500 win.