 Richmond 's father bought an Eagle <unk> Car chassis and an <unk> engine for the 1979 race at Michigan International <unk> . Richmond qualified 21st fastest with a 175 @.@ <unk> mph ( <unk> @.@ <unk> km / h ) lap , significantly slower than Bobby <unk> 's 203 @.@ <unk> mph ( <unk> @.@ 111 km / h ) pole position speed . The race ended for him when his motor blew up on the fourth lap , and he finished last ( 23rd ) . <unk> Pat <unk> was looking for a driver to replace Larry Rice for his <unk> team at the following race at Watkins Glen International , so he gave Richmond a test at <unk> Spring where he had previously set the student record . <unk> hired Richmond , who then qualified 15th fastest for the event and finished in eighth place , the best of his <unk> career . Richmond raced in three more events that season . 
