1978 IROC Series

To keep things fair with actual IROC rules, the starting lineup for the fourth race will be the point standings but inverted.

Here is how the field will line up for the fourth and final race of the season at the Daytona International Speedway.

1.7-Jacky Ickx
2.2-Gordon Johncock
3.1-Benny Parsons
4.10-Johnny Rutherford
5.6-Mario Andretti
6.4-Cale Yarborough
7.5-Richard Petty
8.12-Darrell Waltrip
9.8-Al Unser

Race 4

The IROC Series made their 4th and final stop of 1978 at the Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Florida.

FIA star Jacky Ickx led the field to the green flag as points leader Gunnar Nilsson was unable to compete as he was in a London hospital battling testicular cancer. With all nine drivers wearing armbands in support of Nilsson, they were determined to put on a show that would put a smile on Nilsson's face. Much like every other Daytona event, a "big one" would strike early and damage several cars to the point it came down to a three car race between Richard Petty, Al Unser and defending race winner Johnny Rutherford.

One year prior, Rutherford scored the closest margin of victory in the history of the IROC Series, with that in mind Rutherford allowed himself to be passed with one to go as he used the push from Richard Petty in Turns 3 and 4, battling side-by-side down to the line in a perfect photo finish, one that couldn't be decided by the naked eye. Photos of the finish and scoring sided with the defending race winner Rutherford, winning by the new shortest margin of victory; 0.006 seconds. However it would be Al Unser who would win the war, scoring enough points to become the 1978 IROC Series Champion.

Other Noticeables:
Johnny Rutherford scored his 1st win of the year,
Rutherford led 10 times for 20 laps, including the final lap,
It was the 2nd win of his career in the IROC Series and his first since 1977 also at Daytona; 5 races ago,
Al Unser, who finished 2nd, is the 1978 IROC Series Champion, winning the title by 14 points over Gunnar Nilsson and Richard Petty

1.10-Johnny Rutherford (20 laps led)
2.8-Al Unser (16 laps led)
3.5-Richard Petty (1 lap led)
4.7-Jacky Ickx (1 lap led)
5.2-Gordon Johncock (1 lap led)
6.4-Cale Yarborough-1 lap
7.6-Mario Andretti-1 lap
8.12-Darrell Waltrip-2 laps (1 lap led)
9.1-Benny Parsons-2 laps

Jacky Ickx-1
Johnny Rutherford-2
Richard Petty-3
Darrell Waltrip-4
Gordon Johncock-5
Johnny Rutherford-6-13
Al Unser-14-15
Johnny Rutherford-16
Al Unser-17-19
Johnny Rutherford-20-21
Al Unser-22-25
Johnny Rutherford-26-27
Al Unser-28
Johnny Rutherford-29
Al Unser-30-31
Johnny Rutherford-32
Al Unser-33-34
Johnny Rutherford-35
Al Unser-36
Johnny Rutherford-37-38
Al Unser-39
Johnny Rutherford-40

21 Lead Changes among 6 drivers

Caution Flags: 1 for 4 laps
Lap 6 (Cars #2, 4, 6, 7, 12, 1 and 5 Accident Backstretch)

Margin of Victory: 0.006 Seconds

Time of Race: 46 Minutes and 6 Seconds