CUP Series North Carolina Speedway

NASCAR CUP Series

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Results

The 1981 American 500 NASCAR CUP Series race results showcase the full finishing order, including race winner and key performance stats from the North Carolina Speedway race.

American 500

Sunday, November 1st, 1981

North Carolina Speedway, Rockingham, NC

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  • 6 Ford
  • 20 Buick
  • 2 Chevrolet
  • 1 Dodge
  • 7 Pontiac
  • 1 Oldsmobile

  • Drivers Entered: 37
  • Laps Scheduled: 500
  • Laps Actual: 492 - Race Shortened
  • Margin of Victory: N/A Seconds
  • Time of Race: N/A
  • Average Speed: 107.399
  • Cautions: 12 for 97 laps
  • Lead Changes: 33
  • 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
Entry List
American 500 at North Carolina Speedway results
FIN ST # DRIVER MAKE TOT PTS FIN PTS LAPS LED X LED STATUS
8 22 9 Bill Elliott Ford 147 142 490 17 0 running
37 6 42 Kyle Petty Buick 52 52 19 0 0 engine
27 15 96 Morgan Shepherd Buick 87 82 205 25 0 crash
18 3 88 Ricky Rudd Chevrolet 114 109 434 16 0 running
7 10 44 Terry Labonte Buick 146 146 490 0 0 running
6 24 15 Benny Parsons Ford 150 150 491 0 0 running
2 14 28 Bobby Allison Buick 175 170 492 31 0 running
14 31 67 Buddy Arrington Dodge 121 121 470 0 0 running
16 4 1 Buddy Baker Buick 120 115 445 2 0 rear end
25 8 27 Cale Yarborough Buick 88 88 214 0 0 crash
15 34 24 Cecil Gordon Buick 118 118 457 0 0 running
28 28 16 Chuck Bown Buick 79 79 193 0 0 engine
17 32 99 DK Ulrich Buick 112 112 435 0 0 engine
9 5 3 Dale Earnhardt Pontiac 143 138 489 16 0 running
1 1 11 Darrell Waltrip Buick 185 175 492 163 0 running
12 26 71 Dave Marcis Chevrolet 132 127 483 2 0 running
34 7 77 Dean Combs Buick 61 61 89 0 0 crash
21 23 13 Dick Brooks Ford 100 100 379 0 0 valve
33 33 40 Don Hume Buick 64 64 101 0 0 crash
32 21 75 Gary Balough Buick 67 67 117 0 0 crash
3 2 33 Harry Gant Pontiac 170 165 492 125 0 running
30 30 70 JD McDuffie Pontiac 73 73 165 0 0 engine
26 25 48 James Hylton Pontiac 85 85 214 0 0 push rod
20 36 52 Jimmy Means Pontiac 103 103 404 0 0 running
10 19 90 Jody Ridley Ford 134 134 487 0 0 running
23 35 92 Joe Fields Buick 94 94 262 0 0 crash
19 17 5 Joe Millikan Pontiac 106 106 425 0 0 running
5 16 2 Joe Ruttman Pontiac 160 155 492 3 0 running
24 29 17 John Anderson Buick 91 91 226 0 0 suspension
29 11 98 Johnny Rutherford Buick 76 76 172 0 0 crash
31 18 66 Lake Speed Oldsmobile 70 70 162 0 0 engine
36 20 68 Lennie Pond Buick 55 55 54 0 0 crash
35 9 21 Neil Bonnett Ford 58 58 55 0 0 crash
4 12 43 Richard Petty Buick 165 160 492 92 0 running
11 37 47 Ron Bouchard Buick 130 130 485 0 0 running
22 13 37 Tim Richmond Buick 97 97 334 0 0 crash
13 27 64 Tommy Gale Ford 124 124 475 0 0 running

Race Infractions

Penalties imposed prior to or during the race.