1961 Cup Series Race Schedule
NASCAR Cup Series
| # | Race Date | TV | Time | Race Track | Race Name/Results | Pole | Cars | Laps | LDRS | CTN | DRTN | Winner | STRT | Make | MRGN VCTRY | RCE SPD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunday, November 6th | - | 12:00 am ET | Southern States Fairgrounds | 100 Miles at Souther… | - | 20 | 200 | 4 | 4 | - | Joe Weatherly | 11 | Ford | Under Caution | 59.435 mph |
| 3 | Friday, February 24th | - | 12:00 am ET | Daytona International Speedway | Daytona 500 Qualifie… | - | 34 | 39 | 0 | 5 | - | Fireball Roberts | 1 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 129.711 mph |
| 4 | Friday, February 24th | - | 12:00 am ET | Daytona International Speedway | Daytona 500 Qualifie… | - | 33 | 40 | 8 | 0 | - | Joe Weatherly | 1 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 152.671 mph |
| 5 | Sunday, February 26th | - | 12:00 am ET | Daytona International Speedway | Daytona 500 | - | 58 | 200 | 9 | 0 | - | Marvin Panch | 4 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 149.601 mph |
| 6 | Saturday, March 4th | - | 12:00 am ET | Piedmont Interstate Fairground… | 1961-06 | - | 18 | 200 | 4 | 3 | - | Cotton Owens | 4 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 59.152 mph |
| 7 | Sunday, March 5th | - | 12:00 am ET | Asheville Weaverville Speedway | 1961-07 | - | 15 | 200 | 0 | 2 | - | Rex White | 1 | Chevrolet | Under Caution | 72.492 mph |
| 8 | Sunday, March 12th | - | 12:00 am ET | Marchbanks Speedway | 1961-08 | - | 36 | 178 | 1 | 0 | - | Fireball Roberts | 2 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 95.621 mph |
| 9 | Sunday, March 26th | - | 12:00 am ET | Atlanta Motor Speedway | Atlanta 500 | - | 46 | 334 | 0 | 2 | - | Bob Burdick | 7 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 124.172 mph |
| 10 | Saturday, April 1st | - | 12:00 am ET | Greenville Pickens Speedway | Greenville 200 | - | 21 | 200 | 2 | 4 | - | Emanuel Zervakis | 2 | Chevrolet | Under Caution | 52.189 mph |
| 11 | Sunday, April 2nd | - | 12:00 am ET | Occoneechee Speedway | 1961-11 | - | 20 | 110 | 3 | 0 | - | Cotton Owens | 3 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 84.695 mph |
| 12 | Monday, April 3rd | - | 12:00 am ET | Bowman Gray Stadium | 1961-12 | - | 18 | 150 | 0 | 0 | - | Rex White | 2 | Chevrolet | Under Caution | 45.500 mph |
| 13 | Sunday, April 9th | - | 12:00 am ET | Martinsville Speedway | Virginia 500 | - | 27 | 149 | 1 | 2 | - | Fred Lorenzen | 2 | Ford | Under Caution | 68.366 mph |
| 14 | Sunday, April 16th | - | 12:00 am ET | North Wilkesboro Speedway | Gwyn Staley 400 | - | 25 | 400 | 4 | 6 | - | Rex White | 2 | Chevrolet | Under Caution | 83.248 mph |
| 15 | Thursday, April 20th | - | 12:00 am ET | Columbia Speedway | 1961-15 | - | 22 | 200 | 1 | 0 | - | Cotton Owens | 2 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 51.940 mph |
| 16 | Saturday, April 22nd | - | 12:00 am ET | Hickory Speedway | Hickory 250 | - | 23 | 250 | 4 | 4 | - | Junior Johnson | 1 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 66.654 mph |
| 17 | Sunday, April 23rd | - | 12:00 am ET | Richmond Raceway | Richmond 200 | - | 12 | 200 | 2 | 0 | - | Richard Petty | 1 | Plymouth | Under Caution | 62.456 mph |
| 18 | Sunday, April 30th | - | 12:00 am ET | Martinsville Speedway | Virginia 500 Sweepst… | - | 30 | 500 | 2 | 1 | - | Junior Johnson | 17 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 66.278 mph |
| 19 | Saturday, May 6th | - | 12:00 am ET | Darlington Raceway | Rebel 300 | - | 32 | 219 | 16 | 1 | - | Fred Lorenzen | 1 | Ford | Under Caution | 119.520 mph |
| 21 | Sunday, May 21st | - | 12:00 am ET | Charlotte Motor Speedway | World 600 Qualifier … | - | 19 | 67 | 3 | 2 | - | Joe Weatherly | 3 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 115.591 mph |
| 20 | Sunday, May 21st | - | 12:00 am ET | Charlotte Motor Speedway | World 600 Qualifier … | - | 19 | 67 | 2 | 0 | - | Richard Petty | 7 | Plymouth | Under Caution | 133.554 mph |
| 22 | Sunday, May 21st | - | 12:00 am ET | Riverside International Racewa… | 1961-22 | - | 27 | 39 | 0 | 0 | - | Lloyd Dane | 2 | Chevrolet | Under Caution | 82.512 mph |
| 23 | Saturday, May 27th | - | 12:00 am ET | Ascot Stadium | 1961-23 | - | 22 | 200 | 0 | 0 | - | Eddie Gray | 2 | Ford | Under Caution | 68.833 mph |
| 24 | Sunday, May 28th | - | 12:00 am ET | Charlotte Motor Speedway | World 600 | - | 55 | 400 | 17 | 7 | - | David Pearson | 3 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 111.633 mph |
| 25 | Friday, June 2nd | - | 12:00 am ET | Piedmont Interstate Fairground… | 1961-25 | - | 21 | 200 | 0 | 0 | - | Jim Paschal | 11 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 55.495 mph |
| 26 | Sunday, June 4th | - | 12:00 am ET | Birmingham International Racew… | 1961-26 | - | 13 | 200 | 0 | 0 | - | Ned Jarrett | 4 | Chevrolet | Under Caution | 61.068 mph |
| 27 | Thursday, June 8th | - | 12:00 am ET | Greenville Pickens Speedway | Pickens 200 | - | 26 | 200 | 1 | 0 | - | Jack Smith | 7 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 58.441 mph |
| 28 | Saturday, June 10th | - | 12:00 am ET | Bowman Gray Stadium | Myers Brothers 200 | - | 22 | 200 | 0 | 1 | - | Rex White | 4 | Chevrolet | Under Caution | 42.714 mph |
| 29 | Saturday, June 17th | - | 12:00 am ET | Norwood Arena | Yankee 500 | - | 18 | 500 | 3 | 1 | - | Emanuel Zervakis | 3 | Chevrolet | Under Caution | 53.827 mph |
| 30 | Friday, June 23rd | - | 12:00 am ET | Hartsville Speedway | 1961-30 | - | 18 | 150 | 0 | 0 | - | Buck Baker | 3 | Chrysler | Under Caution | 46.234 mph |
| 31 | Saturday, June 24th | - | 12:00 am ET | Starkey Speedway | 1961-31 | - | 20 | 150 | 0 | 0 | - | Junior Johnson | 2 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 49.907 mph |
| 32 | Tuesday, July 4th | - | 12:00 am ET | Daytona International Speedway | Firecracker 250 | - | 30 | 100 | 12 | 0 | - | David Pearson | 2 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 154.294 mph |
| 33 | Sunday, July 9th | - | 12:00 am ET | Atlanta Motor Speedway | Festival 250 | - | 42 | 167 | 0 | 1 | - | Fred Lorenzen | 5 | Ford | Under Caution | 118.067 mph |
| 34 | Thursday, July 20th | - | 12:00 am ET | Columbia Speedway | 1961-34 | - | 21 | 200 | 3 | 0 | - | Cotton Owens | 1 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 62.198 mph |
| 35 | Saturday, July 22nd | - | 12:00 am ET | Rambi Race Track | 1961-35 | - | 22 | 200 | 0 | 0 | - | Joe Weatherly | 1 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 57.655 mph |
| 36 | Sunday, July 30th | - | 12:00 am ET | Bristol Motor Speedway | Volunteer 500 | - | 42 | 500 | 7 | 8 | - | Jack Smith | 12 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 68.373 mph |
| 37 | Sunday, August 6th | - | 12:00 am ET | Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville | Nashville 500 | - | 24 | 403 | 2 | 3 | - | Jim Paschal | 10 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 56.455 mph |
| 38 | Wednesday, August 9th | - | 12:00 am ET | Bowman Gray Stadium | 1961-38 | - | 23 | 150 | 2 | 0 | - | Rex White | 3 | Chevrolet | Under Caution | 42.452 mph |
| 39 | Sunday, August 13th | - | 12:00 am ET | Asheville Weaverville Speedway | Western North Caroli… | - | 38 | 258 | 1 | 0 | - | Junior Johnson | 2 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 65.704 mph |
| 40 | Friday, August 18th | - | 12:00 am ET | Southside Speedway | 1961-40 | - | 19 | 150 | 0 | 1 | - | Junior Johnson | 1 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 51.605 mph |
| 41 | Sunday, August 27th | - | 12:00 am ET | South Boston Speedway | 1961-41 | - | 21 | 200 | 2 | 0 | - | Junior Johnson | 3 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 48.348 mph |
| 42 | Monday, September 4th | - | 12:00 am ET | Darlington Raceway | Southern 500 | - | 43 | 364 | 19 | 6 | - | Nelson Stacy | 3 | Ford | Under Caution | 117.787 mph |
| 43 | Friday, September 8th | - | 12:00 am ET | Hickory Speedway | Buddy Shuman 250 | - | 20 | 250 | 6 | 2 | - | Rex White | 1 | Chevrolet | Under Caution | 67.529 mph |
| 45 | Sunday, September 10th | - | 12:00 am ET | California State Fairgrounds | 1961-45 | - | 32 | 100 | 1 | 0 | - | Eddie Gray | 0 | Ford | Under Caution | 0.000 mph |
| 44 | Sunday, September 10th | - | 12:00 am ET | Richmond Raceway | Capital City 200 | - | 25 | 250 | 0 | 0 | - | Joe Weatherly | 7 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 61.677 mph |
| 46 | Sunday, September 17th | - | 12:00 am ET | Atlanta Motor Speedway | Dixie 400 | - | 42 | 267 | 7 | 0 | - | David Pearson | 5 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 125.384 mph |
| 47 | Sunday, September 24th | - | 12:00 am ET | Martinsville Speedway | Old Dominion 500 | - | 29 | 500 | 9 | 7 | - | Joe Weatherly | 4 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 62.586 mph |
| 48 | Sunday, October 1st | - | 12:00 am ET | North Wilkesboro Speedway | Wilkes 200 | - | 30 | 320 | 3 | 4 | - | Rex White | 3 | Chevrolet | Under Caution | 84.675 mph |
| 49 | Sunday, October 15th | - | 12:00 am ET | Charlotte Motor Speedway | National 400 | - | 43 | 267 | 13 | 3 | - | Joe Weatherly | 6 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 119.950 mph |
| 50 | Sunday, October 22nd | - | 12:00 am ET | Bristol Motor Speedway | Southeastern 500 | - | 38 | 500 | 6 | 3 | - | Joe Weatherly | 2 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 72.452 mph |
| 51 | Saturday, October 28th | - | 12:00 am ET | Greenville Pickens Speedway | 1961-51 | - | 18 | 200 | 3 | 0 | - | Junior Johnson | 3 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 63.346 mph |
| 52 | Sunday, October 29th | - | 12:00 am ET | Occoneechee Speedway | 1961-52 | - | 20 | 165 | 2 | 0 | - | Joe Weatherly | 1 | Pontiac | Under Caution | 85.249 mph |
| 2 | Monday, November 20th | - | 12:00 am ET | Speedway Park | 1961-02 | - | 22 | 200 | 4 | 0 | - | Lee Petty | 13 | Plymouth | Under Caution | 64.400 mph |