Results

The 1981 Coca-Cola 500 NASCAR CUP Series race results showcase the full finishing order, including race winner and key performance stats from the Atlanta Motor Speedway race.

Coca-Cola 500

Sunday, March 15th, 1981

Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, GA

  • 5 Ford
  • 17 Buick
  • 11 Pontiac
  • 5 Oldsmobile
  • 1 Dodge
  • 3 Chevrolet

  • Drivers Entered: 42 (2 drivers will not make the race)
  • Laps Scheduled: 328
  • Margin of Victory: N/A Seconds
  • Time of Race: N/A
  • Average Speed: 133.619
  • Cautions: 5 for 39 laps
  • Lead Changes: 23
  • Green Flag Passes: N/A
The NASCAR Garage 56 car during the Rolex 24
Daytona Beach, Florida - January 29, 2023 : The NASCAR Garage 56 car is seen on display during the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.
James GilbertGetty Images
Coca-Cola 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway results
FIN ST # DRIVER MAKE TOT PTS FIN PTS LAPS LED X LED STATUS
9 10 9 Bill Elliott Ford 138 138 323 0 0 running
41 9 42 Kyle Petty Buick 40 40 17 0 0 engine
8 20 5 Morgan Shepherd Pontiac 142 142 325 0 0 running
22 16 88 Ricky Rudd Buick 97 97 280 0 0 running
19 1 44 Terry Labonte Buick 106 106 308 0 0 running
7 15 51 AJ Foyt Oldsmobile 146 146 325 0 0 running
5 13 15 Benny Parsons Ford 160 155 326 4 0 running
13 35 57 Bill Elswick Buick 124 124 317 0 0 running
4 30 28 Bobby Allison Pontiac 165 160 327 4 0 running
42 38 94 Bobby Wawak Pontiac 37 37 10 0 0 piston
23 36 7 Bruce Hill Buick 94 94 275 0 0 running
14 26 67 Buddy Arrington Dodge 121 121 316 0 0 running
40 3 1 Buddy Baker Oldsmobile 43 43 86 0 0 engine
1 17 27 Cale Yarborough Buick 180 175 328 71 0 running
37 37 24 Cecil Gordon Buick 52 52 124 0 0 engine
3 5 2 Dale Earnhardt Pontiac 165 165 327 0 0 running
36 11 11 Darrell Waltrip Buick 60 55 131 32 0 engine
27 28 71 Dave Marcis Oldsmobile 82 82 238 0 0 crash
32 6 16 David Pearson Chevrolet 72 67 153 4 0 engine
24 34 79 Dick May Oldsmobile 91 91 267 0 0 oil pump
29 23 12 Donnie Allison Oldsmobile 76 76 189 0 0 engine
39 24 86 Elliott Forbes-Robinson Buick 46 46 97 0 0 crash
2 2 47 Harry Gant Buick 180 170 328 94 0 running
11 31 70 JD McDuffie Pontiac 130 130 321 0 0 running
25 22 48 James Hylton Pontiac 88 88 254 0 0 engine
21 41 52 Jimmy Means Pontiac 100 100 282 0 0 running
6 7 90 Jody Ridley Ford 150 150 326 0 0 running
15 12 75 Joe Millikan Buick 118 118 315 0 0 fuel pump
10 25 6 Joe Ruttman Buick 134 134 322 0 0 running
12 33 98 Johnny Rutherford Pontiac 127 127 321 0 0 running
35 21 66 Lake Speed Buick 58 58 133 0 0 oil pump
33 18 37 Mike Alexander Buick 64 64 139 0 0 engine
28 4 21 Neil Bonnett Ford 84 79 234 84 0 water pump
17 8 3 Richard Childress Pontiac 117 112 311 1 0 running
38 14 43 Richard Petty Buick 54 49 113 34 0 engine
20 39 20 Rick Newsom Chevrolet 103 103 294 0 0 running
31 42 25 Ronnie Thomas Pontiac 70 70 159 0 0 clutch
34 29 53 Slick Johnson Chevrolet 61 61 138 0 0 cam
16 27 22 Stan Barrett Pontiac 115 115 315 0 0 running
30 40 17 Steve Spencer Buick 73 73 170 0 0 oil pump
26 19 99 Tim Richmond Buick 85 85 241 0 0 crash
18 32 64 Tommy Gale Ford 109 109 310 0 0 running

Race Infractions

Penalties imposed prior to or during the race.