Race: American 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series: Race 29 of 31
Date: November 1, 1981
Track: North Carolina Speedway
← National 500 | 1981 Season Results | Atlanta Journal 500 →
American 500 Race Information
| Winner | Darrell Waltrip | Car | No. 11 Buick |
| Team / Owner | Junior Johnson | Sponsor | Mountain Dew |
| Winner Start | 1st | Winner Laps Led | 163 |
| Started First | Darrell Waltrip | Most Laps Led | Darrell Waltrip (163) |
| Race Distance | 500.364 miles (492 laps) | Track Length | 1.017 miles |
| Track Type | Paved oval | Starters | 37 |
| Total Purse | $164,610 | Winner Earnings | $23,410 |
| Different Leaders | 11 | Lead-Lap Finishers | 5 |
| Points Leader After Race | Darrell Waltrip | Season Race | 29 of 31 |
American 500 Race Results
| Fin | Start | No. | Driver | Sponsor | Team / Owner | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Points | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Mountain Dew | Junior Johnson | Buick | 492 | 163 | running | 185 | $23,410 |
| 2 | 14 | 28 | Bobby Allison | Hardee's | Harry Ranier | Buick | 492 | 31 | running | 175 | $17,100 |
| 3 | 2 | 33 | Harry Gant | Skoal Bandit | Hal Needham | Pontiac | 492 | 125 | running | 170 | $10,150 |
| 4 | 12 | 43 | Richard Petty | STP | Petty Enterprises | Buick | 492 | 92 | running | 165 | $10,400 |
| 5 | 16 | 2 | Joe Ruttman | J.D. Stacy | Jim Stacy | Pontiac | 492 | 3 | running | 160 | $9,700 |
| 6 | 24 | 15 | Benny Parsons | Melling Tool | Bud Moore | Ford | 491 | 0 | running | 150 | $8,750 |
| 7 | 10 | 44 | Terry Labonte | J.D. Stacy | Billy Hagan | Buick | 490 | 0 | running | 146 | $8,350 |
| 8 | 22 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Mell-Gear | George Elliott | Ford | 490 | 17 | running | 147 | $3,000 |
| 9 | 5 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Wrangler | Richard Childress | Pontiac | 489 | 16 | running | 143 | $7,360 |
| 10 | 19 | 90 | Jody Ridley | Truxmore / Sunny King | Junie Donlavey | Ford | 487 | 0 | running | 134 | $6,190 |
| 11 | 37 | 47 | Ron Bouchard | J.D. Stacy | Jack Beebe | Buick | 485 | 0 | running | 130 | $4,730 |
| 12 | 26 | 71 | Dave Marcis | J.D. Stacy | Dave Marcis | Chevrolet | 483 | 2 | running | 132 | $4,270 |
| 13 | 27 | 64 | Tommy Gale | Sunny King Ford & Honda | Elmo Langley | Ford | 475 | 0 | running | 124 | $3,980 |
| 14 | 31 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Kyle Petty's Boot Barn | Buddy Arrington | Dodge | 470 | 0 | running | 121 | $3,740 |
| 15 | 34 | 24 | Cecil Gordon | Washington Freightliner | Cecil Gordon | Buick | 457 | 0 | running | 118 | $3,530 |
| 16 | 4 | 1 | Buddy Baker | UNO | Hoss Ellington | Buick | 445 | 2 | rear end | 120 | $1,425 |
| 17 | 32 | 99 | D.K. Ulrich | Ulrich Racing | D.K. Ulrich | Buick | 435 | 0 | engine | 112 | $3,220 |
| 18 | 3 | 88 | Ricky Rudd | Gatorade | DiGard Racing | Chevrolet | 434 | 16 | running | 114 | $7,000 |
| 19 | 17 | 5 | Joe Millikan | Performance Connection | Cliff Stewart | Pontiac | 425 | 0 | running | 106 | $6,100 |
| 20 | 36 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Broadway Motors | Jimmy Means | Pontiac | 404 | 0 | running | 103 | $2,760 |
| 21 | 23 | 13 | Dick Brooks | Carolina Tool | Bobby Hawkins | Ford | 379 | 0 | valve | 100 | $825 |
| 22 | 13 | 37 | Tim Richmond | Rogers Auto Leasing | Bob Rogers | Buick | 334 | 0 | crash | 97 | $800 |
| 23 | 35 | 92 | Joe Fields | Richmond Printing | Joe Fields | Buick | 262 | 0 | crash | 94 | $775 |
| 24 | 29 | 17 | John Anderson | Kings Inn Daytona | Roger Hamby | Buick | 226 | 0 | suspension | 91 | $2,290 |
| 25 | 8 | 27 | Cale Yarborough | Valvoline | M.C. Anderson | Buick | 214 | 0 | crash | 88 | $1,225 |
| 26 | 25 | 48 | James Hylton | Palatine Auto Parts | James Hylton | Pontiac | 214 | 0 | push rod | 85 | $2,230 |
| 27 | 15 | 96 | Morgan Shepherd | Levi Garrett | Ron Benfield | Buick | 205 | 25 | crash | 87 | $675 |
| 28 | 28 | 16 | Chuck Bown | Rose Auto Wrecking | Dick Bown | Buick | 193 | 0 | engine | 79 | $650 |
| 29 | 11 | 98 | Johnny Rutherford | Levi Garrett | Ron Benfield | Buick | 172 | 0 | crash | 76 | $625 |
| 30 | 30 | 70 | J.D. McDuffie | Bailey Excavating | J.D. McDuffie | Pontiac | 165 | 0 | engine | 73 | $2,130 |
| 31 | 18 | 66 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Lake Speed | Oldsmobile | 162 | 0 | engine | 70 | $2,125 |
| 32 | 21 | 75 | Gary Balough | Ferrailuolo & Sons Excavating | Rahmoc Enterprises | Buick | 117 | 0 | crash | 67 | $1,395 |
| 33 | 33 | 40 | Don Hume | Newton Oil & Gas | D.K. Ulrich | Buick | 101 | 0 | crash | 64 | $590 |
| 34 | 7 | 77 | Dean Combs | Captains Table | Irv Sanderson | Buick | 89 | 0 | crash | 61 | $585 |
| 35 | 9 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | Warner Hodgdon / National Eng. | Wood Brothers | Ford | 55 | 0 | crash | 58 | $1,080 |
| 36 | 20 | 68 | Lennie Pond | J.D. Stacy | Lennie Pond | Buick | 54 | 0 | crash | 55 | $575 |
| 37 | 6 | 42 | Kyle Petty | STP | Petty Enterprises | Buick | 19 | 0 | engine | 52 | $870 |
Season Navigation
1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results
← National 500 | 1981 Season Results | Atlanta Journal 500 →