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