# 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 32nd season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 9th modern-era NASCAR Cup season. It was the final year with the Gen 2 car. The season began on Sunday, January 13 and ended on Sunday, November 15. Dale Earnhardt won his first Winston Cup championship, winning by 19 points over Cale Yarborough. Jody Ridley was crowned NASCAR Rookie of the Year.

## Teams and drivers

| Team | Make | No. | Driver | Car Owner | Crew Chief |
| A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Oldsmobile Cutlass | 51 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt | |
| A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Oldsmobile Cutlass | 51 | Don Whittington | A. J. Foyt | |
| Arrington Racing | Dodge Magnum | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Buddy Arrington | Joey Arrington |
| Arrington Racing | Dodge Magnum | 77 | Dick May | Buddy Arrington | |
| Arrington Racing | Dodge Magnum | 77 | Eddie Dickerson | Buddy Arrington | |
| Arrington Racing | Dodge Magnum | 97 | Eddie Dickerson | Buddy Arrington | |
| B&B Racing | Buick Century | 03 | Jimmy Finger | Don Bierschwale | |
| Ballard Racing | Oldsmobile Cutlass | 30 | Tighe Scott | Walter Ballard | Harry Hyde |
| Billie Harvey Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass | 87 | Billie Harvey | Billie Harvey | |
| Billie Harvey Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass | 87 | Gary Balough | Billie Harvey | |
| Billy Matthews Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 41 | Dick Brooks | Billy Matthews | |
| Borneman Motorsports | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 81 | John Borneman | John Borneman | |
| Bud Moore Engineering | Ford Thunderbird | 15 | Bobby Allison | Bud Moore | Bud Moore |
| DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 88 | Darrell Waltrip | Bill Gardner | Buddy Parrott Jake Elder |
| Donlavey Racing | Ford Thunderbird | 90 | Jody Ridley | Junie Donlavey | |
| Ellington Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass | 1 | David Pearson | Hoss Ellington | Runt Pittman |
| Elliott Racing | Mercury Cougar | 9 | Bill Elliott11 | George Elliott | Ernie Elliott |
| G. C. Spencer Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass 1 | 4 | Gary Baker 2 | G. C. Spencer | |
| G. C. Spencer Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass 1 | 4 | Connie Saylor 5 | G. C. Spencer | |
| Gordon Racing | Oldsmobile Cutlass | 24 | Cecil Gordon | Cecil Gordon | |
| Gray Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 19 | John Anderson (R) | Henley Gray | |
| Hagan Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 44 | Terry Labonte | Billy Hagan | Darrell Bryant |
| Halpern Enterprises | Oldsmobile Cutlass Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 02 | Donnie Allison | Joel Halpern | |
| Halpern Enterprises | Oldsmobile Cutlass Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 02 | Chuck Bown | Joel Halpern | Harold Fagan |
| Hamby Motorsports | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 17 | Roger Hamby | Roger Hamby | |
| Hollar Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 99 | Dick May | Bill Hollar | |
| Hylton Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 48 | James Hylton | James Hylton | |
| John Kieper | Dodge Magnum | 93 | Chuck Bown | John Kieper | |
| John Kieper | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 98 | Hershel McGriff | John Kieper | |
| Johnson Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 53 | Slick Johnson | J. D. Johnson | |
| Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 11 | Cale Yarborough | Junior Johnson | Tim Brewer |
| Junior Miller Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 79 | Junior Miller | Junior Miller | |
| Kennie Childers Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 12 | Donnie Allison | Kennie Childers | |
| Langley Racing | Ford Thunderbird | 64 | Tommy Gale | Elmo Xey | |
| M. C. Anderson Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 27 | Benny Parsons | M. C. Anderson | David Ifft |
| Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 71 | Dave Marcis | Dave Marcis | |
| McDuffie Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | J. D. McDuffie | |
| Means Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means | |
| Nelson Malloch Racing | Ford Thunderbird | 7 | Dick Brooks | Nelson Malloch | |
| Nelson Malloch Racing | Ford Thunderbird | 7 | Ricky Rudd | Nelson Malloch | |
| Nelson Malloch Racing | Ford Thunderbird | 7 | Lake Speed | Nelson Malloch | |
| Osterlund Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 2 | Dale Earnhardt | Rod Osterlund | Jake Elder Doug Richert |
| Petty Enterprises | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 42 | Kyle Petty 16 | Richard Petty | Maurice Petty |
| Petty Enterprises | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 43 | Richard Petty | Richard Petty | Dale Inman |
| Price Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 45 | Baxter Price | Baxter Price | Robert Beadle |
| Price Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 45 | Charlie Chamblee | Baxter Price | Robert Beadle |
| Price Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 45 | Jimmy Means | Baxter Price | Robert Beadle |
| Price Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 45 | Roy Smith | Baxter Price | Robert Beadle |
| Price Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 45 | Joel Stowe | Baxter Price | Robert Beadle |
| Race Hill Farm Team | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 47 | Harry Gant | Jack Beebe | Bob Johnson |
| RahMoc Enterprises | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 75 | Bill Elswick 12 | Bob Rahilly | Butch Mock |
| RahMoc Enterprises | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 75 | Joe Millikan 3 | Bob Rahilly | Butch Mock |
| RahMoc Enterprises | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 75 | John Anderson 7 | Bob Rahilly | Butch Mock |
| RahMoc Enterprises | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 75 | Chuck Bown 1 | Bob Rahilly | Butch Mock |
| RahMoc Enterprises | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 75 | Harry Gant 3 | Bob Rahilly | Butch Mock |
| RahMoc Enterprises | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 75 | Kyle Petty 1 | Bob Rahilly | Butch Mock |
| RahMoc Enterprises | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 75 | Lennie Pond 2 | Bob Rahilly | Butch Mock |
| RahMoc Enterprises | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 75 | Jim Sauter 1 | Bob Rahilly | Butch Mock |
| Ranier-Lundy Racing | Oldsmobile Cutlass | 28 | Buddy Baker | Harry Ranier | Waddell Wilson Buddy Parrott |
| Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 3 | Richard Childress | Richard Childress | |
| Robertson Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 25 | Ronnie Thomas | Don Robertson | |
| Speed Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 66 | Lake Speed (R) | Lake Speed | |
| Testa Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass | 68 | Chuck Bown 1 | Jim Testa | Ron Kelly |
| Testa Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass | 68 | Lennie Pond 14 | Jim Testa | Ron Kelly |
| Testa Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass | 68 | John Greenwood 2 | Jim Testa | Ron Kelly |
| Ulrich Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 40 | Bill Whittington 2 | D. K. Ulrich | |
| Ulrich Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 40 | Joe Booher 1 | D. K. Ulrich | |
| Ulrich Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 40 | Ricky Rudd 3 | D. K. Ulrich | D. K. Ulrich |
| Ulrich Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 40 | Dick May 2 | D. K. Ulrich | |
| Ulrich Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 40 | D. K. Ulrich 10 | D. K. Ulrich | |
| Ulrich Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 40 | Dick Skillen 1 | D. K. Ulrich | |
| Ulrich Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 40 | Mike Alexander 1 | D. K. Ulrich | |
| Ulrich Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 40 | J. D. McDuffie 1 | D. K. Ulrich | |
| Ulrich Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 40 | Tommy Gale1 | D. K. Ulrich | |
| Ulrich Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 40 | Lennie Pond 1 | D. K. Ulrich | |
| Ulrich Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 40 | Sterling Marlin 1 | D. K. Ulrich | |
| Ulrich Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 40 | Tim Richmond 5 | D. K. Ulrich | D. K. Ulrich |
| Ulrich Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 40 | Harry Dinwiddle 1 | D. K. Ulrich | |
| Ulrich Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 40 | Stan Barrett 3 | D. K. Ulrich | |
| Warren Racing | Dodge Magnum Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 79 | Dick May 2 | Frank Warren | |
| Warren Racing | Dodge Magnum Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 79 | Jim Hurlbert 1 | Frank Warren | |
| Warren Racing | Dodge Magnum Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 79 | Joey Arrington 1 | Frank Warren | |
| Warren Racing | Dodge Magnum Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 79 | Frank Warren 7 | Frank Warren | |
| Warren Racing | Dodge Magnum Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 79 | Travis Tiller 1 | Frank Warren | |
| Warren Racing | Dodge Magnum Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 79 | Junior Miller 5 | Frank Warren | |
| Warren Racing | Dodge Magnum Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 79 | Joe Booher 2 | Frank Warren | |
| Warren Racing | Dodge Magnum Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 79 | Marty Robbins 1 | Frank Warren | |
| Wawak Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 74 | Joe Booher 2 | Bobby Wawak | |
| Wawak Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 74 | Bobby Wawak 19 | Bobby Wawak | |
| Wawak Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 74 | Bob Riley 1 | Bobby Wawak | |
| Wawak Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 74 | Stuart Hoffman 1 | Bobby Wawak | |
| Wawak Racing | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century | 74 | Henry Jones 1 | Bobby Wawak | |
| Wood Brothers Racing | Mercury Cougar | 21 | Neil Bonnett | Glen Wood | Leonard Wood |

## Season recap

| No. | Date | Race title | Track | Winning driver |
| 1 | January 13 January 19 | Winston Western 500 | Riverside International Raceway | Darrell Waltrip |
| | February 10 | Busch Clash | Daytona International Speedway | Dale Earnhardt |
| | February 14 | 125 Mile Qualifying Races | Daytona International Speedway | Neil Bonnett |
| | February 14 | 125 Mile Qualifying Races | Daytona International Speedway | Donnie Allison |
| 2 | February 17 | Daytona 500 | Daytona International Speedway | Buddy Baker |
| 3 | February 24 | Richmond 400 | Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway | Darrell Waltrip |
| 4 | March 9 | Carolina 500 | North Carolina Motor Speedway | Cale Yarborough |
| 5 | March 16 | Atlanta 500 | Atlanta International Raceway | Dale Earnhardt |
| 6 | March 30 | Valleydale Southeastern 400 | Bristol International Raceway | Dale Earnhardt |
| 7 | April 13 | CRC Rebel 500 | Darlington International Raceway | David Pearson |
| 8 | April 20 | Northwestern Bank 400 | North Wilkesboro Speedway | Richard Petty |
| 9 | April 27 | Virginia 500 | Martinsville Speedway | Darrell Waltrip |
| 10 | May 4 | Winston 500 | Alabama International Motor Speedway | Buddy Baker |
| 11 | May 10 | Music City 420 | Nashville Speedway | Richard Petty |
| 12 | May 18 | Mason-Dixon 500 | Dover Downs International Speedway | Bobby Allison |
| 13 | May 25 | World 600 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Benny Parsons |
| 14 | June 1 | NASCAR 400 | Texas World Speedway | Cale Yarborough |
| 15 | June 8 | Warner W. Hodgdon 400 | Riverside International Raceway | Darrell Waltrip |
| 16 | June 15 | Gabriel 400 | Michigan International Speedway | Benny Parsons |
| 17 | July 4 | Firecracker 400 | Daytona International Speedway | Bobby Allison |
| 18 | July 12 | Busch Nashville 420 | Nashville Speedway | Dale Earnhardt |
| 19 | July 27 | Coca-Cola 500 | Pocono Raceway | Neil Bonnett |
| 20 | August 3 | Talladega 500 | Alabama International Motor Speedway | Neil Bonnett |
| 21 | August 17 | Champion Spark Plug 400 | Michigan International Speedway | Cale Yarborough |
| 22 | August 23 | Busch Volunteer 500 | Bristol International Raceway | Cale Yarborough |
| 23 | September 1 | Southern 500 | Darlington International Raceway | Terry Labonte |
| 24 | September 7 | Capital City 400 | Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway | Bobby Allison |
| 25 | September 14 | CRC Chemicals 500 | Dover Downs International Speedway | Darrell Waltrip |
| 26 | September 21 | Holly Farms 400 | North Wilkesboro Speedway | Bobby Allison |
| 27 | September 28 | Old Dominion 500 | Martinsville Speedway | Dale Earnhardt |
| 28 | October 5 | National 500 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Dale Earnhardt |
| 29 | October 19 | American 500 | North Carolina Motor Speedway | Cale Yarborough |
| 30 | November 2 | Atlanta Journal 500 | Atlanta International Raceway | Cale Yarborough |
| 31 | November 15 | Los Angeles Times 500 | Ontario Motor Speedway | Benny Parsons |

## Notable races

* Winston Western 500 – Darrell Waltrip claimed his second straight win in Riverside International Raceway's NASCAR season-opener. He took the win with crew chief Buddy Parrott; Parrott had been fired from DiGard Racing immediately following the Los Angeles Times 500 the previous November but rehired at the start of January.
* Daytona 500 – Buddy Baker ended a career-long drought in the 500 as he dominated. Darrell Waltrip blew his engine early and angrily ripped the DiGard Racing team in postrace interviews.
* Richmond 400 - Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison, and Richard Petty combined to lead 345 laps. Petty rallied from a mid-race spin to lead until Waltrip grabbed the lead for the final nineteen laps.
* Carolina 500 – Cale Yarborough drove a backup Oldsmobile to the win, while Benny Parsons survived a hard crash in Turn One.
* Atlanta 500 – Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, and Donnie Allison dominated the first 300 miles of the race as sophomore Dale Earnhardt clawed from 31st into contention; Donnie Allison and Earnhardt were side by side for the lead when Donnie was hit by Terry Labonte and hit the wall in Turn Three. Cale broke in the final 60 laps as Earnhardt took the win; finishing second was rookie Rusty Wallace in his first career race.
* Southeastern 500 - Earnhardt passed Yarborough and led the final 135 laps for his second straight win and second straight in Bristol's March–April 500-lapper.
* Rebel 500 – Rain shortened the race after halfway as David Pearson, replacing Donnie Allison in Hoss Ellington's car, took his 105th career win. Neil Bonnett crashed out on the opening lap and Dale Earnhardt led fifteen laps but fell out with engine failure.
* Virginia 500 – NASCAR banned tire changes under caution on short tracks in an effort to save money for race teams. Darrell Waltrip led 303 laps from the pole to the win.
* Winston 500 – On a newly repaved surface Buddy Baker ran down Dale Earnhardt with two laps to go for the win, but was informed on his way to postrace interviews he would be replaced in the Ranier Racing car in 1981.
* Music City 420 – Cale Yarborough cut a tire but could not pit under yellow to change it; as a result Richard Petty took his eighth win at the Nashville Fairgrounds. Petty and Cale were critical of NASCAR's new rule for short tracks banning tire changes under yellow. Petty's win was also Chevrolet's 100th manufacturer win in NASCAR.
* Mason-Dixon 500 – Bobby Allison won after leading 126 laps, edging Richard Petty for his first win of the season. Allison was critical of the Ford racecars he was running, saying "We still need a Chevy for the other tracks."
* World 600 – The race ran over seven hours thanks to fourteen yellows for crashes on the newly paved surface and two rain delays lasting two hours. The lead changed 47 times as Benny Parsons out-dueled Darrell Waltrip; they swapped the lead eight times in the final twenty laps. Dale Earnhardt's crash at Lap 275 with David Pearson and Cale Yarborough combined with Richard Petty's fourth cut Earnhardt's point lead to under 50; crew chief Jake Elder quit the team after the race, citing an attitude change with Earnhardt and also conflict with Rod Osterlund and team manager Roland Wlodyka ("Rod tells me one thing and Roland another. I tell Roland what we need and he says we can't do that.....I had no authority to get the people I need.")
* Texas 400 – Cale Yarborough led 110 laps from the pole and edged Richard Petty, while point leader Dale Earnhardt led 54 laps but finished a distant ninth in his first race with Doug Richert as crew chief. Benny Parsons led 30 laps but overheated and fell out.
* Gabriel 400 – Benny Parsons, who grew up in the Detroit area, won at Michigan International Speedway for the only time in his career. Darrell Waltrip fell out with engine failure, and following the race crew chief Buddy Parrott was fired; a fight ensued between Parrott and Robert Yates at the DiGard shop when the team returned home. Parrott publicly blamed Waltrip for his firing, saying "I'll die before I ever turn another wrench on a Darrell Waltrip car." Parrott was promptly hired to Ranier Racing.
* Firecracker 400 – Bobby Allison edged Earnhardt and Pearson before a scary crash erupted off Turn Four as Phil Finney plowed into an earthen bank and flew twenty feet into the air before landing at the pit road entrance. The lead changed 41 times.
* Coca-Cola 500 – At Pocono Raceway Neil Bonnett survived a physical last lap with Buddy Baker and Yarborough. The lead changed 50 times, but the story of the race was a bad wreck on Lap 57 as Richard Petty, holding the lead, broke a wheel entering the track's Tunnel Turn, shot into the wall, and bounced into the path of traffic; Petty suffered a broken neck and his title chances effectively ended.
* Talladega 500 – Bonnett fought off a last-lap challenge from Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough, and Benny Parsons for the win, the second in a row for Wood Brothers Racing and the final win for the Mercury automobile brand.
* Champion Spark Plug 400 – Darrell Waltrip crashed during practice and had to purchase the Joel Halpern Chevrolet to run the 400 at Michigan International Speedway; it was the second time in two seasons Waltrip had to drive another car after his primary DiGard entry was knocked out before the race; Waltrip led 67 laps but a late caution allowed Cale Yarborough to catch up and storm to the win. Following the race Waltrip stated he was "fed up" with the DiGard situation, saying "I fight the same battles every day." Richard Petty ran the entire race despite his broken neck and finished fifth.
* Southern 500 – In a wild final five laps David Pearson rocketed from midpack into the lead and held off Dale Earnhardt and Benny Parsons, then with two to go all three crashed in Turn Two in oil from a backmarker's blown engine; Pearson limped to the race-deciding yellow, but Terry Labonte raced from nowhere and edged Pearson by a bumper for the win, his first career win.
* National 500 – Dale Earnhardt edged Cale Yarborough and Buddy Baker amid an increasingly bitter public contract battle between Darrell Waltrip and his team owner, Bill Gardner, a battle that also involved Junior Johnson, who asserted DiGard had attempted to hire several of Johnson's crewmen out from under him. Waltrip fought for the lead in the first 100 laps but lost a lap when a sway bar bolt broke off an A arm; he kept battling to get his lap back but crashed with Benny Parsons, who was eligible for a $100,000 bonus for winning the race.
* American 500 – Cale Yarborough led 167 laps en route to his fifth win of the season, but the key development of the race was the 18th place for Dale Earnhardt; his point lead fell to just 44 with two races to go.
* Dixie 500 – An early accident eliminated the Allison brothers and Cale Yarborough dominated to the win. Dale Earnhardt lost a lap and crowded Cale for a prolonged stretch; his point lead over Yarborough was now just 29 points.
* Los Angeles Times 500 – Earnhardt lost a lap but made it up and despite taking off from a late green-flag stop with unsecured lug nuts on his tires finished fifth with Yarborough third and Benny Parsons the race winner. The race was switched from Sunday to Saturday to accommodate live CBS Sports coverage. Earnhardt's fifth allowed him to win the driving title by 19 points over Yarborough. Following the race Waltrip succeeded in buying out his contract with DiGard Racing while Yarborough announced he would not run the full season in 1981, taking over the M. C. Anderson #27 team driven by race winner Parsons; Waltrip was then hired by Junior Johnson.

## Full Drivers' Championship

(key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by owner's points. * – Most laps led.
| Pos. | Driver | RSD | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | TWS | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | NWS | MAR | CLT | CAR | ATL | ONT | Pts |
| 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1* | 29 | 6 | 13 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 35 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 34 | 5 | 1* | 1* | 18 | 3 | 5 | 4661 |
| 2 | Cale Yarborough | 23 | 19 | 25 | 1* | 8* | 5 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 3* | 16* | 17 | 1* | 4 | 2 | 40 | 2* | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1* | 29 | 26 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 1* | 1* | 3 | 4642 |
| 3 | Benny Parsons | 33 | 5 | 28 | 21 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 22 | 1 | 23 | 3 | 1* | 6 | 3 | 20 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 33 | 23 | 32 | 1 | 4278 |
| 4 | Richard Petty | 3 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 33 | 8 | 9 | 1* | 3 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 33 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 27 | 14 | 21 | 30 | 4255 |
| 5 | Darrell Waltrip | 1* | 40 | 1* | 4 | 28 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 1* | 42 | 4 | 20 | 2* | 4 | 1* | 26 | 31 | 4 | 26 | 11 | 4* | 3 | 25* | 6 | 1* | 2 | 21 | 18 | 3 | 26 | 25* | 4239 |
| 6 | Bobby Allison | 18 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 3 | 25 | 40 | 5 | 1 | 26 | 3 | 15* | 8 | 1* | 6 | 34 | 35 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 1* | 30 | 1* | 22 | 29 | 26 | 38 | 4 | 4019 |
| 7 | Jody Ridley (R) | 16 | 10 | 18 | 29 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 26 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 18 | 30 | 18 | 12 | 30 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 18 | 3972 |
| 8 | Terry Labonte | 7 | 6 | 24 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 32 | 22 | 23 | 32 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 33 | 11 | 32 | 22 | 6 | 31 | 11 | 23 | 1 | 8 | 28 | 7 | 7 | 31 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 3766 |
| 9 | Dave Marcis | 17 | 22 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 23 | 21 | 8 | 29 | 11 | 25 | 29 | 7 | 6 | 35 | 33 | 14 | 8 | 39 | 26 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 6 | 22 | 15 | 3745 |
| 10 | Richard Childress | 6 | 13 | 22 | 14 | 13 | 29 | 21 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 29 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 27 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 37 | 19 | 25 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 21 | 3742 |
| 11 | Harry Gant | 12 | 42 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 37 | 9 | 4 | 28 | 8 | 7 | 28 | 16 | 29 | 5 | 5 | 37 | 14 | 3 | 20 | 2 | 4 | 29 | 16 | 2 | 36 | 41 | 3703 |
| 12 | Buddy Arrington | 14 | 41 | 6 | 25 | 19 | 21 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 18 | 27 | 26 | 10 | 28 | 14 | 23 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 38 | 13 | 20 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 26 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 3461 |
| 13 | James Hylton | 11 | 26 | 7 | 13 | 39 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 19 | 23 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 24 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 25 | 17 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 9 | 14 | 24 | 3449 |
| 14 | Ronnie Thomas | 10 | 29 | 26 | 11 | 22 | 12 | 26 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 11 | 22 | 11 | 16 | 30 | 17 | 26 | 23 | 21 | 29 | 29 | 22 | 22 | 10 | 25 | 18 | | 10 | 8 | 38 | 3066 |
| 15 | Cecil Gordon | | 21 | 8 | 33 | 24 | 22 | 34 | | 17 | 23 | 19 | 9 | 37 | 14 | 10 | 20 | 29 | 21 | 16 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 24 | 15 | 25 | 17 | 2993 |
| 16 | J. D. McDuffie | 15 | 27 | 9 | 32 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 30 | 30 | 41 | 20 | 33 | 30 | 29 | 9 | 15 | 23 | 11 | 36 | 25 | 20 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 38 | 24 | 26 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 14 | 2968 |
| 17 | Jimmy Means | 21 | 15 | 30 | 20 | 12 | 24 | 28 | 14 | 12 | | 12 | 27 | 14 | 19 | | 22 | 26 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 22 | 16 | 13 | 27 | 12 | 30 | | 13 | 20 | 31 | 2947 |
| 18 | Tommy Gale | | 20 | 21 | 26 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 29 | 29 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 33 | 25 | | 19 | 28 | 18 | 19 | 29 | 22 | 13 | 31 | 19 | 36 | 20 | 11 | 22 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 2885 |
| 19 | Neil Bonnett | 34 | 3 | | 6 | 41 | | 36 | | 6 | 27 | | 18 | 5 | | 2 | 4 | 34 | | 1* | 1 | 2 | | 5 | | 6 | | 19 | 30 | 25 | 2 | 2 | 2865 |
| 20 | Roger Hamby | | QL | 16 | 18 | 34 | 18 | 16 | 25 | | 17 | 23 | 13 | | 22 | 23 | 21 | 27 | 15 | 24 | 22 | 30 | 16 | 35 | 16 | 20 | 22 | 14 | 28 | 17 | 12 | | 2606 |
| 21 | Buddy Baker | | 1* | | 15 | 7 | | 35 | | 24 | 1* | | 3 | 39 | | | 3 | 4 | | 2 | 32* | 6 | | 26 | | 3 | | 2 | 3 | 27 | 4 | | 2603 |
| 22 | Lake Speed (R) | 29 | DNQ | | | 11 | | 8 | | | 7 | | | DNQ | 12 | 26 | 17 | 38 | | 30 | 8 | 16 | | 27 | | 11 | 21 | 20 | 7 | 28 | 24 | 6 | 1853 |
| 23 | Slick Johnson (R) | | 14 | | 30 | 10 | 26 | 25 | 9 | 9 | | 25 | | 32 | 30 | | | | 13 | 31 | 19 | | | 15 | | | 8 | 24 | 40 | 8 | | DNQ | 1851 |
| 24 | John Anderson | | 18 | | 24 | | | 17 | 28 | | 26 | 24 | | 18 | | | 13 | 9 | 12 | | | 36 | 15 | 36 | | 32 | 27 | 16 | 35 | 32 | 33 | 9 | 1805 |
| 25 | Bobby Wawak | | | 10 | 17 | | 31 | 13 | 16 | 31 | 30 | 18 | 29 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 29 | | 23 | | 24 | 33 | | 39 | 27 | | 11 | | | | | | 1742 |
| 26 | Donnie Allison | | 7 | | 5 | 26 | | | | | 25 | | | 31 | | 30 | 36 | 19 | 27 | | 26 | 3 | | 32 | | 7 | | 6 | 5 | 22 | 37 | 39 | 1730 |
| 27 | Dick Brooks | 22 | 36 | 29 | 16 | 5 | 27 | 5 | 27 | 26 | 9 | 30 | 17 | 15 | 27 | 31 | 33 | | | | | | | 10 | | | | | 10 | 31 | | | 1698 |
| 28 | Kyle Petty (R) | | DNQ | | 31 | 14 | | | 8 | 15 | | | 21 | 7 | | | 7 | | | 7 | 9 | 12 | | | | 23 | | 27 | 9 | 35 | | 33 | 1690 |
| 29 | Baxter Price | | DNQ | 31 | 27 | 21 | 23 | 31 | 19 | 19 | | 22 | 14 | 21 | 18 | | 27 | | 19 | 22 | 27 | 32 | 18 | | 24 | | | | | | | | 1689 |
| 30 | Lennie Pond | | 9 | | | 23 | | 6 | | | 4 | | | 41 | | | | 11 | | | 28 | | 8 | 40 | 3 | 8 | 28 | 28 | 34 | 29 | 7 | 29 | 1558 |
| 31 | Junior Miller | | | | 38 | | 25 | | | 14 | | 16 | 31 | | | | 34 | | 20 | 21 | | | 27 | | 23 | 29 | 13 | 17 | 26 | 33 | 35 | | 1402 |
| 32 | Dick May | 32 | DNQ | 20 | 19 | | 16 | 24 | 15 | 20 | 15 | 17 | 7 | | 16 | | | | 30 | 29 | 10 | 19 | 26 | 28 | | 24 | 29 | | 17 | 16 | | | 1323 |
| 33 | Joe Millikan | 4 | 34 | 27 | 28 | 37 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24 | 23 | 7 | 1274 |
| 34 | Bill Elliott | | 12 | | | 29 | | | | | 21 | | | 42 | | | 9 | 12 | | | 7 | 9 | | 33 | | | | | 6 | | 18 | | 1232 |
| 35 | Ricky Rudd | | | | 12 | 31 | | 19 | | | | | | 9 | | | 32 | 13 | 28 | 10 | 20 | 34 | 28 | 34 | | | | | 4 | | | | 1213 |
| 36 | Bill Elswick | | 24 | 15 | 23 | | 19 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 35 | | 30 | 34 | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | | | | | 36 | | | 1053 |
| 37 | David Pearson | | | | | | | 1* | | | 3 | | | 6 | | | 25 | 2 | | | 17 | | | 2 | | | | | 38 | | 31 | | 1004 |
| 38 | D. K. Ulrich | | | | | | | | 26 | 28 | | | 34 | | 15 | 36 | | | | | | 15 | 10 | 13 | 25 | | 30 | | | | | 37 | 935 |
| 39 | Tighe Scott | | 39 | | 37 | 32 | | | | | 5 | | 23 | 36 | | | 10 | 36 | | 32 | 34 | | | | | | | | | | | | 791 |
| 40 | Frank Warren | | QL | | | 20 | | | | | 19 | | | | 17 | | | | | | 33 | 31 | | 23 | | 25 | | | | | | | 559 |
| 41 | Tim Richmond | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | | | | | | 31 | | 12 | 12 | | 29 | | 527 |
| 42 | Bill Schmitt | 5 | 23 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | 503 |
| 43 | Buck Simmons | | DNQ | | 22 | 40 | 32 | 27 | | 16 | 24 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 495 |
| 44 | Rick Newsom | | DNQ | 19 | | 36 | | | 20 | 32 | | 26 | 32 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 483 |
| 45 | Dave Dion | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17 | | | | | 9 | 14 | | 31 | | | | | 441 |
| 46 | Don Whittington | 9 | 16 | | | 38 | | | | | 34 | | | | | 35 | | 22 | | | | | | 38 | | | | | | | | | 429 |
| 47 | Steve Moore | | | | | | | | | | 14 | | | 35 | | | | 18 | | | QL | | | | | | | | | | 13 | | 412 |
| 48 | Tommy Houston | | | 17 | | | 15 | | 31 | | | | | 24 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 396 |
| 49 | Sterling Marlin | | 8 | | | | | 11 | | | | | | 16 | | | | | 7 | | | | | | | | | | 36 | | | | 387 |
| 50 | Bruce Hill | | 33 | | | 27 | | | | | 36 | | | 38 | | | | 35 | | | 41 | | | | | | | | | | | | 348 |
| 51 | Chuck Bown | 36 | 35 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 31 | 37 | | 35 | | | | 11 | | | | | 25 | | | 27 | 329 |
| 52 | Jim Vandiver | | 37 | | | | | | | | 39 | | | 8 | | | | 25 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 328 |
| 53 | Jeff McDuffie | | | | | | | | 18 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17 | | | 19 | | | 327 |
| 54 | Coo Coo Marlin | | QL | | | | | | | | 11 | | | | | | | 14 | | | 37 | | | | | | | | | | | | 303 |
| 55 | Don Sprouse | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | | | | | | | 24 | | | | | | 15 | | | 23 | | | | | 303 |
| 56 | Joe Booher | | 17 | 11 | | 35 | | | | | | | | | | 19 | | | | | | | | | | 16 | | | | | | 34 | 294 |
| 57 | Rusty Wallace | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | | | | 291 |
| 58 | Jim Robinson | 24 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 28 | 273 |
| 59 | Hershel McGriff | 26 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 23 | 270 |
| 60 | Roy Smith | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 28 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 36 | 263 |
| 61 | Don Puskarich | 19 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 42 | 255 |
| 62 | Kenny Hemphill | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 25 | | 10 | | 41 | | 33 | | | 15 | | | | 252 |
| 63 | Blackie Wangerin | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | | | | | | | | | | 37 | | | | | | | 34 | | 237 |
| 64 | Mike Potter | | | | 36 | | 30 | | | | | | | | | | 18 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 237 |
| 65 | Travis Tiller | | | | | | 28 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 40 | | | | | | 26 | | | | | 30 | | 237 |
| 66 | Rick McCray | 35 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 32 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19 | 231 |
| 67 | Connie Saylor | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19 | | | | 39 | | | | | | 14 | | | | | 23 | | 27 | | 227 |
| 68 | Rick Wilson | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | | | 36 | | | | | | | | 37 | | | | 225 |
| 69 | Janet Guthrie | | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 28 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 209 |
| 70 | Wayne Watercutter | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | | | | | 24 | | | | | | | | | | | 206 |
| 71 | Marty Robbins | | | | | | | | | | 33 | | | | | | | 30 | | | 13 | | | | | | | | 32 | | | | 204 |
| 72 | Randy Ogden | 30 | Wth | | 34 | | | | | | | | | | 31 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 204 |
| 73 | Eddie Dickerson | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 21 | 22 | | | | | | | 197 |
| 74 | Don Waterman | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 25 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 20 | 191 |
| 75 | Kevin Housby | | 30 | | | 17 | | | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 26 | 185 |
| 76 | John Utsman | | 28 | | | | 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 182 |
| 77 | Steve Pfeifer | 27 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 182 |
| 78 | Phil Finney | | DNQ | | | | | | | | 38 | | | | | | | 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 152 |
| 79 | Nelson Oswald | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | | | | 20 | | | | | 38 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 152 |
| 80 | Jocko Maggiacomo | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | 24 | | | | | | | 39 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 137 |
| 81 | John Borneman | 31 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 34 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 131 |
| 82 | Harry Dinwiddie | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | 127 |
| 83 | Mike Miller | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 39 | | 28 | | 125 |
| 84 | Joey Arrington | | | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 124 |
| 85 | Jimmy Finger | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 124 |
| 86 | Jimmy Ingram | | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | | | | | | DNQ | | | 118 |
| 87 | Billie Harvey | | | | | | | | | | | | | 27 | | | | | | 11 | 16 | 17 | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | 115 |
| 88 | Bill Osborne | 37 | | | 35 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 110 |
| 89 | Joel Stowe | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18 | 16 | | | | | | 109 |
| 90 | Vince Giamformaggio | 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 103 |
| 91 | John Callis | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 21 | | | | | 40 | DNQ | 100 |
| 92 | Bill Hollar | | | 23 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 94 |
| 93 | Bruce Jacobi | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 23 | | | | | | | | | | | 94 |
| 94 | Ralph Jones | | DNQ | | | 25 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24 | | | | | | | | | 88 |
| 95 | Jim Hopkinson | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 27 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 82 |
| 96 | Stuart Huffman | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 28 | 24 | | | | | | | | | | 79 |
| 97 | Nestor Peles | | | | | | | | | | | | 28 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 79 |
| 98 | Dick Skillen | | | | | | | | | | 28 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 79 |
| 99 | Ed Hale | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 29 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 76 |
| 100 | Bobby Sands | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 30 | | | | | | | | | | 73 |
| 101 | A. J. Foyt | | 31 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 70 |
| 102 | Bill Whittington | 8 | 32 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 67 |
| 103 | Glenn Francis | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 32 | 67 |
| 104 | Melvin Revis | | | | | | | 33 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 64 |
| 105 | Glen Ward | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 35 | 58 |
| 106 | Henry Jones | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 21 | | 37 | | | 37 | | | | | | | | | | | | 22 | 52 |
| 107 | Jim Hurlbert | | 38 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 49 |
| 108 | Gary Balough | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 39 | DNQ | 46 |
| 109 | Jim Sauter | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 41 | | | | 40 |
| 110 | Bub Strickler | | DNQ | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 21 | | 28 | 35 | 23 | | | | | | |
| 111 | Stan Barrett | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | 10 | 13 | |
| 112 | Steve Spencer | | | | | | | | | | | 28 | | | | | | | 25 | | | | 25 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 113 | Glenn Jarrett | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 34 | | 12 | |
| 114 | Ferrel Harris | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 40 | | | 20 | | | | | | | | | |
| 115 | John Greenwood | | | | | | | | | | | | | 40 | | | | 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 116 | Bob Riley | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 27 | | | | | | 39 | | | | | | | |
| 117 | Mike Alexander | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 118 | Charlie Chamblee | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | | |
| 119 | Clay Young | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19 | | |
| 120 | Gary Baker | | DNQ | | | | | | | | 22 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 121 | Chuck Wahl | 25 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 122 | Dan Gurney | 28 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 123 | Ernie Cline | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 30 | | | |
| 124 | Steve Gray | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 40 | | | | | | | |
| 125 | Joe Ruttman | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 40 | |
| 126 | Gary Matthews | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 127 | Dick Whalen | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 128 | Gene Thoneson | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 129 | St. James Davis | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | |
| 130 | Jim Hurtubise | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 131 | Ricky Knotts | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 132 | Steve Peles | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 133 | Ricky Otts | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 134 | Bill Green | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 135 | Bob Switzer | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 136 | Terry Ryan | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 137 | Jerry Hansen | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 138 | Frank Freda | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | |
| 139 | Dick Kranzler | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | |
| 140 | Harry Goularte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | |
| 141 | Don Stanley | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | |
| 142 | Ron O'Dell | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | |
| 143 | Tim McMillan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | |
| 144 | Tim Williamson | Wth | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 145 | Bill Dennis | | QL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Pos. | Driver | RSD | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | TWS | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | ONT | Pts |