By Steve Waid
Lake Speed came to the 1980 ARCA race at Daytona International Speedway cocked and loaded.
He came with a Monte Carlo that was bigger than cars utilized by most of the other competitors. But he knew it would be more effective in the draft.
Sure enough, he qualified fifth and tore right through the field and into the lead. It wasn’t long before he had lapped every car but one. And, as Lake said, “I was dragging him through the draft.”
A few laps before the end of the race, there was a huge crash. Cars were scattered on the track and into the infield down the frontstretch. Debris was everywhere. Lake went through the fourth turn and saw the white and yellow flags waving. He would win the race under caution.
Or would he?
Lake had run over some of the heavy debris and cut a right rear tire. His car was limping as he covered the final lap en route to the checkered flag.
But as he came through the fourth turn, there suddenly appeared the green and checkered flags. The finish would be a short drag race.
With his cut rear tire, Lake didn’t stand a chance. John Rezek – the driver who had followed him for the most the race – easily took the victory.
Lake had never seen a green flag fly at any time after the field had taken the white-yellow combo had signaled the end of a race.
For the matter, no one else had seen it either.
For more than 32 years, Grand National/Winston Cup/NASCAR Scene writers and photographers were there to record NASCAR history as it was being made. Join hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid each week on The Scene Vault Podcast Presented by Q Ware as they take a look back at the extraordinary people, places and events woven into the rich tapestry that is our sport.
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