Race: Northwestern Bank 400
NASCAR Winston Cup Series: Race 7 of 31
Date: April 5, 1981
Track: North Wilkesboro Speedway
← Valleydale 500 | 1981 Season Results | CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 →
Northwestern Bank 400 Race Information
| Winner | Richard Petty | Car | No. 43 Buick |
| Team / Owner | Petty Enterprises | Sponsor | STP |
| Winner Start | 13th | Winner Laps Led | 89 |
| Started First | Dave Marcis | Most Laps Led | Bobby Allison (186) |
| Race Distance | 250 miles (400 laps) | Track Length | 0.625 miles |
| Track Type | Paved oval | Starters | 31 |
| Total Purse | $115,945 | Winner Earnings | $18,850 |
| Different Leaders | 4 | Lead-Lap Finishers | 5 |
| Points Leader After Race | Bobby Allison | Season Race | 7 of 31 |
Northwestern Bank 400 Race Results
| Fin | Start | No. | Driver | Sponsor | Team / Owner | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Points | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | 43 | Richard Petty | STP | Petty Enterprises | Buick | 400 | 89 | running | 180 | $18,850 |
| 2 | 3 | 28 | Bobby Allison | Tuf-Lon | Harry Ranier | Pontiac | 400 | 186 | running | 180 | $12,350 |
| 3 | 7 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Mountain Dew | Junior Johnson | Buick | 400 | 2 | running | 170 | $9,875 |
| 4 | 1 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Hudson | Dave Marcis | Chevrolet | 400 | 123 | running | 165 | $10,470 |
| 5 | 8 | 12 | Harry Gant | The 5 Racers | Kennie Childers | Oldsmobile | 400 | 0 | running | 155 | $2,550 |
| 6 | 4 | 88 | Ricky Rudd | Gatorade | DiGard Racing | Buick | 399 | 0 | running | 150 | $6,550 |
| 7 | 16 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Stratagraph | Billy Hagan | Buick | 399 | 0 | running | 146 | $6,200 |
| 8 | 10 | 47 | Ron Bouchard | Race Hill Farm | Jack Beebe | Buick | 399 | 0 | running | 142 | $3,820 |
| 9 | 9 | 5 | Morgan Shepherd | Performance Connection | Cliff Stewart | Pontiac | 399 | 0 | running | 138 | $1,350 |
| 10 | 2 | 2 | Dale Earnhardt | Wrangler | Rod Osterlund | Pontiac | 395 | 0 | running | 134 | $8,800 |
| 11 | 11 | 37 | Mike Alexander | Rogers Auto Leasing | Bob Rogers | Oldsmobile | 395 | 0 | running | 130 | $1,150 |
| 12 | 15 | 25 | Ronnie Thomas | Thomas Racing | Ronnie Thomas | Pontiac | 394 | 0 | running | 127 | $2,800 |
| 13 | 23 | 40 | D.K. Ulrich | Mastin Pool | D.K. Ulrich | Buick | 393 | 0 | running | 124 | $1,000 |
| 14 | 28 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Broadway Motors | Jimmy Means | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 121 | $2,590 |
| 15 | 17 | 48 | James Hylton | Palatine Auto Parts | James Hylton | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 118 | $2,590 |
| 16 | 29 | 70 | J.D. McDuffie | Bailey Excavating | J.D. McDuffie | Pontiac | 389 | 0 | running | 115 | $2,545 |
| 17 | 19 | 3 | Richard Childress | Childress Racing | Richard Childress | Pontiac | 381 | 0 | running | 112 | $2,250 |
| 18 | 22 | 99 | Tim Richmond | UNO | D.K. Ulrich | Buick | 342 | 0 | running | 109 | $2,065 |
| 19 | 30 | 64 | Tommy Gale | Sunny King Ford & Honda | Elmo Langley | Ford | 339 | 0 | running | 106 | $1,930 |
| 20 | 24 | 17 | Tommy Houston | Lowe's | Roger Hamby | Buick | 339 | 0 | running | 103 | $1,820 |
| 21 | 6 | 15 | Benny Parsons | Melling Tool | Bud Moore | Ford | 324 | 0 | engine | 100 | $5,200 |
| 22 | 20 | 42 | Kyle Petty | STP | Petty Enterprises | Buick | 319 | 0 | crash | 97 | $635 |
| 23 | 18 | 66 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Lake Speed | Oldsmobile | 290 | 0 | crash | 94 | $1,560 |
| 24 | 12 | 26 | Butch Lindley | Lindley Racing | Butch Lindley | Chevrolet | 278 | 0 | engine | 91 | $645 |
| 25 | 25 | 92 | Joe Fields | The Shop | Joe Fields | Buick | 191 | 0 | engine | 88 | $635 |
| 26 | 21 | 75 | Joe Millikan | — | Rahmoc Enterprises | Chevrolet | 174 | 0 | oil pressure | 85 | $1,410 |
| 27 | 5 | 2 | Mark Martin | Prototype / Ams Oil | Bud Reeder | Pontiac | 166 | 0 | rear end | 82 | $625 |
| 28 | 14 | 90 | Jody Ridley | Truxmore / Sunny King | Junie Donlavey | Ford | 126 | 0 | rear end | 79 | $1,820 |
| 29 | 31 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Hills Racing | Buddy Arrington | Dodge | 111 | 0 | engine | 76 | $760 |
| 30 | 26 | 94 | Bobby Wawak | Louise Smith | Bobby Wawak | Buick | 67 | 0 | engine | 73 | $550 |
| 31 | 27 | 53 | Cecil Gordon | Broadway Motors | Jimmy Means | Buick | 8 | 0 | rear end | 70 | $550 |
Season Navigation
1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results
← Valleydale 500 | 1981 Season Results | CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 →