Results

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

Atlanta Journal 500

Sunday, November 8th, 1981

Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, GA

  • 6 Ford
  • 23 Buick
  • 1 Dodge
  • 2 Oldsmobile
  • 6 Pontiac
  • 2 Chevrolet

  • Drivers Entered: 40
  • Laps Scheduled: 328
  • Margin of Victory: N/A Seconds
  • Time of Race: N/A
  • Average Speed: 130.391
  • Cautions: 7 for 50 laps
  • Lead Changes: 36
  • 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
Atlanta Journal 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway results
FIN ST # DRIVER MAKE TOT PTS FIN PTS LAPS LED X LED STATUS
1 5 21 Neil Bonnett Ford 185 175 328 200 0 running
2 2 11 Darrell Waltrip Buick 175 170 328 11 0 running
3 21 27 Cale Yarborough Buick 170 165 328 14 0 running
4 6 28 Bobby Allison Buick 160 160 328 0 0 running
5 25 90 Jody Ridley Ford 160 155 328 1 0 running
6 4 9 Bill Elliott Ford 150 150 328 0 0 running
7 12 44 Terry Labonte Buick 151 146 328 12 0 running
8 19 42 Kyle Petty Buick 147 142 328 12 0 running
9 13 1 Buddy Baker Buick 143 138 328 1 0 running
10 15 5 Joe Millikan Pontiac 134 134 327 0 0 running
11 32 62 Rick Wilson Oldsmobile 135 130 327 1 0 running
12 33 4 Connie Saylor Oldsmobile 127 127 323 0 0 running
13 28 13 Dick Brooks Ford 124 124 323 0 0 running
14 18 66 Lake Speed Buick 121 121 321 0 0 running
15 26 16 Chuck Bown Buick 118 118 320 0 0 engine
16 39 17 John Anderson Buick 115 115 316 0 0 running
17 34 67 Buddy Arrington Dodge 112 112 315 0 0 running
18 40 0 Delma Cowart Buick 109 109 315 0 0 running
19 24 48 James Hylton Buick 106 106 303 0 0 running
20 1 33 Harry Gant Pontiac 108 103 291 25 0 engine
21 16 37 Tim Richmond Buick 100 100 287 0 0 engine
22 35 64 Tommy Gale Ford 97 97 277 0 0 running
23 37 70 JD McDuffie Pontiac 94 94 259 0 0 water pump
24 9 3 Dale Earnhardt Pontiac 91 91 222 0 0 engine
25 8 2 Joe Ruttman Buick 93 88 207 7 0 engine
26 3 43 Richard Petty Buick 90 85 207 44 0 engine
27 30 99 DK Ulrich Buick 82 82 198 0 0 engine
28 22 71 Dave Marcis Buick 79 79 174 0 0 valve
29 31 72 Rusty Wallace Buick 76 76 156 0 0 oil pressure
30 10 01 Geoff Bodine Buick 73 73 143 0 0 engine
31 20 96 Morgan Shepherd Buick 70 70 123 0 0 oil pump
32 38 46 Travis Tiller Chevrolet 67 67 111 0 0 engine
33 7 55 Tommy Ellis Chevrolet 64 64 97 0 0 engine
34 17 75 Gary Balough Buick 61 61 89 0 0 crash
35 36 52 Jimmy Means Pontiac 58 58 66 0 0 engine
36 11 15 Benny Parsons Ford 55 55 42 0 0 steering
37 27 98 Johnny Rutherford Buick 52 52 39 0 0 transmission
38 14 88 Ricky Rudd Buick 49 49 36 0 0 engine
39 23 47 Ron Bouchard Buick 46 46 23 0 0 engine
40 29 36 HB Bailey Pontiac 43 43 1 0 0 crash

Race Infractions

Penalties imposed prior to or during the race.