Sunday 1st April 1979

Dale Earnhardt scored his first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Bristol Motor Speedway in the Southeastern 500. It was his first of two consecutive victories in the spring race, and nine overall, at the half-mile track. Earnhardt, who went on to win Rookie of the year in 1979, led 163 laps in the No. 2 Chevrolet for Rod Osterlund that day at Bristol.