CUP Series Darlington Raceway

NASCAR CUP Series

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Results

The 1981 Southern 500 NASCAR CUP Series race results showcase the full finishing order, including race winner and key performance stats from the Darlington Raceway race.

Southern 500

Monday, September 7th, 1981

Darlington Raceway, Darlington, SC

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  • 6 Ford
  • 18 Buick
  • 2 Chevrolet
  • 2 Dodge
  • 2 Oldsmobile
  • 10 Pontiac

  • Drivers Entered: 40
  • Laps Scheduled: 367
  • Margin of Victory: N/A Seconds
  • Time of Race: N/A
  • Average Speed: 126.410
  • Cautions: 8 for 45 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
Entry List
Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway results
FIN ST # DRIVER MAKE TOT PTS FIN PTS LAPS LED X LED STATUS
1 3 21 Neil Bonnett Ford 185 175 367 216 0 running
2 11 11 Darrell Waltrip Buick 175 170 367 2 0 running
3 4 71 Dave Marcis Buick 170 165 367 9 0 running
4 6 44 Terry Labonte Buick 165 160 367 3 0 running
5 9 1 Buddy Baker Buick 160 155 367 3 0 running
6 10 3 Dale Earnhardt Pontiac 150 150 366 0 0 running
7 14 9 Bill Elliott Ford 146 146 366 0 0 running
8 13 01 David Pearson Buick 142 142 365 0 0 running
9 17 28 Bobby Allison Chevrolet 143 138 365 1 0 running
10 2 27 Cale Yarborough Buick 139 134 363 24 0 running
11 5 47 Ron Bouchard Buick 130 130 363 0 0 running
12 23 90 Jody Ridley Ford 127 127 362 0 0 running
13 22 66 Lake Speed Buick 124 124 362 0 0 running
14 1 33 Harry Gant Pontiac 126 121 360 78 0 running
15 16 2 Joe Ruttman Pontiac 118 118 358 0 0 running
16 12 24 Morgan Shepherd Buick 115 115 358 0 0 running
17 21 68 Lennie Pond Buick 112 112 356 0 0 running
18 19 5 Joe Millikan Pontiac 109 109 353 0 0 running
19 33 8 Dick May Dodge 106 106 353 0 0 running
20 29 37 Mike Alexander Oldsmobile 103 103 352 0 0 running
21 34 70 JD McDuffie Pontiac 100 100 351 0 0 running
22 27 12 Tim Richmond Buick 97 97 349 0 0 running
23 7 88 Ricky Rudd Chevrolet 94 94 343 0 0 crash
24 40 94 Bobby Wawak Buick 91 91 334 0 0 running
25 20 75 Gary Balough Buick 88 88 333 0 0 engine
26 38 48 James Hylton Pontiac 85 85 331 0 0 running
27 37 25 Ronnie Thomas Pontiac 82 82 311 0 0 running
28 36 17 Mike Potter Buick 79 79 309 0 0 running
29 30 64 Tommy Gale Ford 76 76 294 0 0 running
30 8 43 Richard Petty Buick 78 73 278 31 0 engine
31 26 99 DK Ulrich Buick 70 70 269 0 0 engine
32 32 13 Jack Ingram Ford 67 67 253 0 0 engine
33 25 98 Johnny Rutherford Pontiac 64 64 190 0 0 water pump
34 18 42 Kyle Petty Buick 61 61 130 0 0 engine
35 24 40 Slick Johnson Buick 58 58 110 0 0 engine
36 39 36 HB Bailey Pontiac 55 55 93 0 0 crash
37 28 67 Buddy Arrington Dodge 52 52 85 0 0 lug bolt
38 35 52 Jimmy Means Pontiac 49 49 64 0 0 engine
39 15 15 Benny Parsons Ford 46 46 62 0 0 valve
40 31 4 Connie Saylor Oldsmobile 43 43 6 0 0 engine

Race Infractions

Penalties imposed prior to or during the race.