Worms Disrupt NASCAR: 1979 Holly Farms 400 Postponed – Speedway Digest

Editors Note: This is a multi-part series looking back on historical events at North Wilkesboro Speedway as the 2025 NASCAR All Star Race approaches

NORTH WILKESBORO, NC – The North Wilkesboro Speedway was poised to host the 1979 Holly Farms 400, a key event in NASCAR’s Winston Cup Series, but an unusual natural phenomenon brought the weekend to a halt. Heavy rainfall soaked the track, canceling qualifying and threatening the race. Yet, it wasn’t just the rain that stopped the show—millions of earthworms and nightcrawlers invaded the speedway, creating a slippery, chaotic scene that delayed the event.

The newly sponsored Holly Farms 400, set for the 0.625-mile oval in Wilkes County, drew thousands of fans eager to watch stars like Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, and Cale Yarborough compete. Persistent downpours left the infield waterlogged, driving countless worms to the surface as they fled flooded soil. The worms blanketed pit road, clogged drainpipes, and littered the racing surface, making it treacherous for drivers. During practice runs, tires lost grip on the worm-covered asphalt, raising safety concerns.

Crews worked tirelessly to clear the track, but the sheer number of worms overwhelmed their efforts. With qualifying already scrapped and conditions deemed unsafe, NASCAR officials postponed the race to October 14, a rare decision that disappointed teams and spectators but prioritized safety.

Two weeks later, under clear skies, the race went off without a hitch. Benny Parsons dominated, leading 167 of the 400 laps to secure his 19th career victory, edging out Cale Yarborough by half a second in a dramatic finish. Richard Petty took third, as over 20,000 fans filled the stands, undaunted by the earlier setback.

The 1979 Holly Farms 400, forever dubbed “The Worm Race,” stands as a bizarre chapter in NASCAR history, where tiny creatures upstaged high-powered machines and reminded everyone that nature can still call the shots.