Race: Champion Spark Plug 400
NASCAR Winston Cup Series: Race 20 of 30
Date: August 20, 1978
Track: Michigan International Speedway
← Talladega 500 | 1978 Season Results | Volunteer 500 →
Champion Spark Plug 400 Race Information
| Winner | David Pearson | Car | No. 21 Mercury |
| Team / Owner | Wood Brothers | Sponsor | Purolator |
| Winner Start | 1st | Winner Laps Led | 56 |
| Started First | David Pearson | Most Laps Led | Cale Yarborough (72) |
| Race Distance | 400 miles (200 laps) | Track Length | 2 miles |
| Track Type | Paved oval | Starters | 36 |
| Total Purse | $126,885 | Winner Earnings | $16,025 |
| Different Leaders | 10 | Lead-Lap Finishers | 4 |
| Points Leader After Race | Cale Yarborough | Season Race | 20 of 30 |
Champion Spark Plug 400 Race Results
| Fin | Start | No. | Driver | Sponsor | Team / Owner | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Points | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 21 | David Pearson | Purolator | Wood Brothers | Mercury | 200 | 56 | running | 180 | $16,025 |
| 2 | 3 | 11 | Cale Yarborough | 1st National City Travelers Checks | Junior Johnson | Oldsmobile | 200 | 72 | running | 180 | $14,275 |
| 3 | 4 | 88 | Darrell Waltrip | Gatorade | DiGard Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 43 | running | 170 | $10,950 |
| 4 | 7 | 2 | Dave Marcis | — | Rod Osterlund | Chevrolet | 200 | 12 | running | 165 | $6,500 |
| 5 | 2 | 15 | Bobby Allison | Norris Industries | Bud Moore | Ford | 198 | 4 | running | 160 | $7,550 |
| 6 | 12 | 90 | Dick Brooks | Truxmore | Junie Donlavey | Mercury | 198 | 0 | running | 150 | $4,950 |
| 7 | 9 | 70 | J.D. McDuffie | Bailey Excavating | J.D. McDuffie | Chevrolet | 197 | 3 | running | 151 | $4,330 |
| 8 | 15 | 54 | Lennie Pond | W.I.N., Inc. | Harry Ranier | Oldsmobile | 196 | 0 | running | 142 | $5,400 |
| 9 | 17 | 5 | Neil Bonnett | Armor All | Jim Stacy | Oldsmobile | 195 | 0 | running | 138 | $5,300 |
| 10 | 11 | 8 | Ferrel Harris | Autowize | Robert Gee | Chevrolet | 194 | 0 | running | 134 | $3,820 |
| 11 | 28 | 19 | Dick May | Belden Asphalt | Henley Gray | Chevrolet | 194 | 0 | running | 130 | $3,610 |
| 12 | 26 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Falls Radiator | Buddy Arrington | Dodge | 193 | 0 | running | 127 | $3,390 |
| 13 | 5 | 72 | Benny Parsons | 1st National City Travelers Checks | L.G. DeWitt | Oldsmobile | 191 | 7 | running | 129 | $5,550 |
| 14 | 14 | 43 | Richard Petty | STP | Petty Enterprises | Chevrolet | 190 | 0 | crash | 121 | $5,075 |
| 15 | 31 | 52 | Jimmy Means | WIXC | Jimmy Means | Chevrolet | 190 | 0 | running | 118 | $2,810 |
| 16 | 24 | 64 | Tommy Gale | Sunny King Ford & Honda | Elmo Langley | Ford | 190 | 0 | running | 115 | $2,370 |
| 17 | 33 | 24 | Cecil Gordon | Transmissions Unlimited | Cecil Gordon | Chevrolet | 189 | 0 | running | 112 | $2,135 |
| 18 | 36 | 8 | Ed Negre | — | Ed Negre | Dodge | 189 | 0 | running | 109 | $1,050 |
| 19 | 27 | 30 | Tighe Scott | Russ Togs | Walter Ballard | Chevrolet | 187 | 0 | running | 106 | $1,925 |
| 20 | 34 | 4 | Gary Myers | Spencer's Baby Wear | Gary Myers | Chevrolet | 185 | 0 | running | 103 | $1,000 |
| 21 | 30 | 45 | Baxter Price | — | Baxter Price | Chevrolet | 183 | 0 | running | 100 | $1,610 |
| 22 | 29 | 7 | Joey Arrington | Sam Dell | Buddy Arrington | Dodge | 183 | 0 | running | 97 | $950 |
| 23 | 10 | 40 | D.K. Ulrich | Midwestern Farm Lines | D.K. Ulrich | Chevrolet | 181 | 1 | running | 99 | $1,555 |
| 24 | 35 | 79 | Frank Warren | Native Tan | Frank Warren | Dodge | 170 | 0 | running | 91 | $1,520 |
| 25 | 23 | 39 | Blackie Wangerin | — | Blackie Wangerin | Mercury | 143 | 0 | engine | 88 | $1,330 |
| 26 | 25 | 25 | Ronnie Thomas | Louise Smith | Don Robertson | Chevrolet | 139 | 0 | engine | 85 | $1,405 |
| 27 | 18 | 68 | Janet Guthrie | Kelly Girl | Lynda Ferreri | Buick | 128 | 0 | engine | — | $780 |
| 28 | 21 | 22 | Ricky Rudd | 1st National City Travelers Checks | Al Rudd | Chevrolet | 113 | 1 | engine | 84 | $2,255 |
| 29 | 19 | 1 | Donnie Allison | Grog Pond | Pee Wee Griffin | Oldsmobile | 96 | 0 | engine | 76 | $740 |
| 30 | 16 | 17 | Roger Hamby | Hamby-Ellis | Roger Hamby | Chevrolet | 88 | 0 | overheating | 73 | $720 |
| 31 | 8 | 3 | Richard Childress | Kansas Jack | Richard Childress | Oldsmobile | 68 | 1 | engine | 75 | $1,195 |
| 32 | 32 | 1 | Earle Canavan | Pepsi | Earle Canavan | Dodge | 59 | 0 | transmission | 67 | $685 |
| 33 | 20 | 92 | Mel Larson | ThermaSol | Billy Hagan | Oldsmobile | 31 | 0 | electrical | 64 | $1,175 |
| 34 | 13 | 5 | Bruce Hill | Bearfinder | Harry Clary | Oldsmobile | 23 | 0 | engine | 61 | $665 |
| 35 | 22 | 48 | James Hylton | Palatine Automotive Parts | James Hylton | Chevrolet | 17 | 0 | engine | 58 | $1,155 |
| 36 | 6 | 27 | Buddy Baker | M.C. Anderson Racing | M.C. Anderson | Oldsmobile | 9 | 0 | engine | 55 | $1,130 |
Season Navigation
1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results