1984 Coors 420

Network: WTBS

Date and time: May 12, 1984, 7:00 PM

Format: Live

Length: 3 and a half hours (scheduled for 3 hours)

The race was broadcast live and in full on WTBS, billed as the "Nashville 420".

The race was marked by a very controversial finish. Coming to the white flag, a four-car crash involving Richard Petty, Kyle Petty, Rusty Wallace, and Bobby Allison brought out the yellow flag, with Darrell Waltrip leading. However, while under the caution on the last lap, second-place Neil Bonnett passed Waltrip, even though under the yellow you are supposed to maintain your position. Despite that, NASCAR stated that Bonnett the winner of the race as drivers are able to race back to the line when the caution comes out, though 3 days after the race, NASCAR determined that the caution was already out when the white flag flew, and thus the positions at the time held and Waltrip was the winner.

This situation led to significant confusion on the broadcast. Darrell Waltrip was initially reported as the winner by WTBS, but after Neil Bonnett was shown at the top of the scoreboard, and Waltrip didn't drive to victory lane, they declared Bonnett must have been the winner. Then, Bonnett's #12 was taken off the top of the scoreboard and replaced with Waltrip's #11. Benny Parsons stated that he believed Waltrip had won this race, but then Bonnett was placed at the top again, and went to victory lane. The announcers reaffirmed that Neil Bonnett had won, with Parsons stating that it "seemed official", but Ken Squier and Parsons both agreed that the caution was already out when Bonnett made the pass, so Waltrip should've won. However, Dick Beatty gave the official NASCAR rule-book to Ken Squier and Benny Parsons, where it stated that if the caution comes out on the last lap, the drivers race back to the checkered flag. Like NASCAR themselves, the commentators thought that the caution came out after the white, and accepted that Bonnett had won the race. In addition, they initially stated that Richard Petty had finished third, with Geoff Bodine in fourth, but then they instead announced that Geoff Bodine was third, due to Petty's last lap crash (Richard Petty was eventually credited with a 7tn place finish). The broadcast signed off stating Neil Bonnett had won, which was the ruling at that time.

Due to the controversial finish of the race, the coverage went significantly over it's timeslot, signing off at 10:30 PM instead of the planned 10:00 PM.

Personnel:

Host: Dave Despain

Announcers: Ken Squier, Benny Parsons

Pit reporters: Jerry Garrett, Charlie Roberts

Executive producers: Fred Rheinstein, Ken Squier

Producers: Fred Rheinstein, Mike Price, Bud Wendling

Associate producers: Ben Estavillo, Richie Panch, Jim Roller, Joel Westbrook

Director: William J. Imboden

Associate director: Jim Sowards

Technical director: Tom Courtney

Production manager: John W. Potts III

Engineer in charge: Mark Brooks

Crew chief: Vincent Ziegenbein

Audio: Jack Stocker, Travis Turk, Paul Cohen

Video: Roy Otake, Wes Catlett, Bill Belt, Jim Brewer

Tape editing: Arie Landrum, Lanny Grubbs, Chuck Scoggins

Graphics: Ann Montgomery, Linda Shiple

Production coordinator: Barbara J. Burns

Cameras: Louis Hocevar, George Flanigen, James Bass, Ric Reale, Gary Caudell, Mike Breece, Jorge Jacosta, David Roche

Microwave: R.E. Lanier, Cefus McRae

Utility: John Miska, Chuck Lyons, Rick Landers, Mike Martin, Les Goldberg

Maintenance: Ken Gardner

Statistics: Bob Latford

Scorers: Doug Kelso, Ethra Board

Stage booth coordinator: Lynne Lowry-Potter

Lighting: John Derck, Karl Smith, Stuart Watson

Spotters: Larry Dye, Len Thatcher, John Thoni, Jimmy Valentine, Kip McCord, Stan Hardcastle

Production associates: Nancy Johnson, Pat Perrin, Rosemary Pardus, Jennifer Wells

Produced by MotorWeek Productions and Turner Program Services