1977 NAPA National 500

Last updated
1977 NAPA National 500
Race details [1] [2]
Race 27 of 30 in the 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
Lowe's Motor Speedway.svg
Layout of Charlotte Motor Speedway
Date October 9, 1977 (1977-October-09)
Official name NAPA National 600
Location Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina
Course Permanent racing facility
1.500 mi (2.414 km)
Distance 334 laps, 500 mi (865 km)
Weather Mild with temperatures of 78.1 °F (25.6 °C); wind speeds of 14 miles per hour (23 km/h)
Average speed 142.780 miles per hour (229.782 km/h)
Attendance 79,400 [2]
Pole position
Driver
 Wood Brothers Racing
Most laps led
Driver Benny Parsons DeWitt Racing
Laps 250
Winner
No. 72Benny ParsonsDeWitt Racing
Television in the United States
Network ABC
Announcers Al Michaels
Chris Economaki

The 1977 NAPA National 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that was held on October 9, 1977, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.

Contents

Race report

41 drivers competed at this event. Benny Parsons defeated Cale Yarborough by 19.2 seconds in front of 79,400 spectators. [2] Parsons scored a dominant Winston Cup victory, in terms of percentage of laps led. [2] There were 18 lead changes and four cautions; the race lasted three hours and thirty minutes. [2] Bruce Hill received the last-place finish due to engine problems on lap 15 of this 334-lap race. [2] David Pearson would win the pole position with a qualifying speed of 160.982 miles per hour (259.075 km/h) while the average race speed was 142.780 miles per hour (229.782 km/h). [2] By all evidence, this would be the last win for a Chevrolet Laguna in NASCAR Cup Series history. [2]

His next pole position would come at the 1978 World 600 where he would get his 10th consecutive pole position start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. [3] Pearson's final pole position at Charlotte Motor Speedway would come at the 1978 NAPA National 500 - setting a record. [3] Other notable drivers at this event included: Bill Elliott, Janet Guthrie, Neil Bonnett, A. J. Foyt, Dick Brooks, Darrell Waltrip, and Buddy Baker. [2] Tom Sneva would make his NASCAR debut at this racing event. Dale Earnhardt would start his only race in 1977 driving for Henley Gray.

Individual earnings for each driver ranged from the winner's share of $41,075 ($173,300 when adjusted for inflation) to the last-place finisher's share of $820 ($3,460 when adjusted for inflation). The total prize purse for this event was $223,530 ($943,098 when adjusted for inflation). [4]

Qualifying

GridNo.DriverManufacturerSpeed [5] Qualifying time [5] Owner
121David PearsonMercury160.98233.544Wood Brothers
211Cale YarboroughChevrolet159.84833.782Junior Johnson
31Donnie AllisonChevrolet159.84833.782Hoss Ellington
415Buddy BakerFord159.77333.798Bud Moore
543Richard PettyDodge159.36333.885Petty Enterprises
688Darrell WaltripChevrolet158.81034.003DiGard Racing
75Neil BonnettDodge158.75334.015Jim Stacy
872Benny ParsonsChevrolet158.73534.019L.G. DeWitt
951A.J. FoytChevrolet158.15834.143A.J. Foyt
1092Skip ManningChevrolet158.09434.157Billy Hagan

Finishing order

Section reference: [2]

  1. Benny Parsons†
  2. Cale Yarborough
  3. David Pearson
  4. Buddy Baker
  5. Darrell Waltrip
  6. Dick Brooks†
  7. A.J. Foyt
  8. Neil Bonnett†
  9. Janet Guthrie
  10. Bill Elliott
  11. Ron Hutcherson
  12. Coo Coo Marlin†
  13. Dick May†
  14. James Hylton†
  15. J.D. McDuffie†
  16. Richard Childress
  17. Buddy Arrington
  18. G.C. Spencer†
  19. D.K. Ulrich
  20. Peter Knab
  21. Tommy Gale†
  22. Ed Negre†
  23. Dave Marcis*
  24. Ricky Rudd
  25. Tighe Scott*
  26. Bobby Allison*
  27. Tom Sneva*
  28. Jimmy Means*
  29. Dick Trickle*
  30. Lennie Pond*
  31. Butch Hartman*†
  32. Richard Petty*
  33. Frank Warren*
  34. Sam Sommers*
  35. Skip Manning*
  36. Donnie Allison*
  37. Cecil Gordon*†
  38. Dale Earnhardt*†
  39. Roland Wlodyka*
  40. Jim Raptis*
  41. Bruce Hill*

* Driver failed to finish race
† signifies that the driver is known to be deceased

Standings after the race

PosDriverPoints [2] Differential
1 1rightarrow.png Cale Yarborough 45050
2 Increase2.svg Benny Parsons 4127-378
3 Decrease2.svg Richard Petty 4109-396
4 1rightarrow.png Darrell Waltrip 4067-438
5 1rightarrow.png Buddy Baker 3579-926
6 1rightarrow.png Dick Brooks 3380-1125
7 Increase2.svg James Hylton 3124-1381
8 Decrease2.svg Richard Childress 3120-1385
9 1rightarrow.png Cecil Gordon 3030-1475
10 1rightarrow.png Bobby Allison 3028-1477

Related Research Articles

The 1976 NASCAR Grand National Winston Cup Series was the 28th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 5th modern era NASCAR Cup series. The season began on Sunday, January 18 and ended on Sunday, November 21. Cale Yarborough, driving the #11 Junior Johnson Holly Farms Chevrolet scored his first of three consecutive NASCAR Grand National Series Winston Cup Championships. Skip Manning was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year.

The 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 40th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 17th modern-era Cup series. The season began on February 7 at Daytona International Speedway and ended on November 20 at the Atlanta International Speedway. Bill Elliott of Melling Racing won the championship.

The 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 39th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 16th modern-era cup series. The season began on February 8 and ended on November 22. Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing won the championship for the third time.

The 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 38th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 15th modern-era Cup series season. The season began on February 16 and ended November 16. Dale Earnhardt of RCR Enterprises won his second championship this year.

1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series 37th season of NASCAR stock-car racing

The 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 37th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 14th modern-era Cup series season. The season began on Sunday, February 10 and ended on Sunday, November 17. Darrell Waltrip, driving for Junior Johnson, was crowned champion at the end of the season. Bill Elliott, driving for Harry Melling, had won 11 races in 1985, but lost the title by 101 points to three-time race winner Waltrip. This was the first season where all races were televised in some form.

The 1977 NASCAR Grand National Winston Cup Series was the 29th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 6th modern era NASCAR Cup series. The season began on Sunday, January 16 and ended on Sunday, November 20. Cale Yarborough driving the Junior Johnson #11 Holly Farms Chevrolet won his second consecutive NASCAR Grand National Series Winston Cup Championship. Ricky Rudd was crowned NASCAR Rookie of the Year.

The 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 31st season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 8th modern-era Cup series. It began on Sunday, January 14, and ended on Sunday, November 18. Richard Petty won his seventh and final Winston Cup championship, winning by 11 points over Darrell Waltrip. Dale Earnhardt was crowned NASCAR Rookie of the Year.

The 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 34th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 11th modern-era Cup series. The season began on February 14 at the Daytona International Speedway and concluded on November 21 at Riverside International Raceway. Darrell Waltrip took his second straight championship driving for Junior Johnson by 72 points over Bobby Allison.

1978 Old Dominion 500 Auto race held at Martinsville Speedway in 1978

The 1978 Old Dominion 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on September 24, 1978, at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. This race was the 28th to be held as a part of what is now known as the First Data 500.

1983 World 600

The 1983 World 600, the 24th running of the event, was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on May 29, 1983, at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The 1975 NASCAR Grand National Winston Cup Series was the 27th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 4th modern era NASCAR Cup series. The season began on Sunday, January 19 and ended on Sunday, November 12. Richard Petty, driving the #43 Petty Enterprises STP Dodge scored his sixth NASCAR Grand National Series Winston Cup Championship. Bruce Hill was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year. NASCAR introduced a new points system for 1975, a system designed by statistician Bob Latford. For the first time, each race on the NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National schedule carried an equal point value, a system that would be used for 36 seasons, from 1975 to 2010. The original points system ran for the first 29 seasons, from 1975 to 2003.

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. 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.

The 1978 NASCAR Grand National Winston Cup Series was the 30th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 7th modern era NASCAR Cup series. The season began on Sunday, January 22 and ended on Sunday, November 19. Cale Yarborough driving the Junior Johnson #11 First National City Travelers Checks Oldsmobile won his then record third consecutive NASCAR Grand National Winston Cup Winston Cup. Ronnie Thomas was crowned NASCAR Rookie of the Year in a tight battle with Roger Hamby.

1977 Old Dominion 500 Auto race held at Martinsville Speedway in 1977

The 1977 Old Dominion 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on September 25, 1977, at the historic Martinsville Speedway; a race track that has enjoyed the presence of NASCAR since its first sanctioned race on July 4, 1948.

1980 Talladega 500 Auto race held at Alabama International Motor Speedway in 1980

The 1980 Talladega 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on August 3, 1980, at Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega, Alabama, USA.

1981 Mason-Dixon 500 Auto race held at Dover Downs International Speedway in 1981

The 1981 Mason-Dixon 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on May 17, 1981, at Dover Downs International Speedway in Dover, Delaware.

1979 Firecracker 400 Auto race held at Daytona International Speedway in 1979

The 1979 Firecracker 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on July 4, 1979, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

1978 World 600 Auto race held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1978

The 1978 World 600, the 19th running of the event, was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that was held on May 28, 1978, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.

1980 CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 Auto race held at Darlington Raceway in 1980

The 1980 CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that was held on April 13, 1980, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.

1988 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 Auto race held at Atlanta International Raceway in 1988

The 1988 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event held on March 20, 1988, at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia.

References

  1. ↑ "Weather information for the 1977 NAPA National 500". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "1977 NAPA National 500 racing information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  3. 1 2 "David Pearson's pole position accomplishment". Scene Daily. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
  4. ↑ "1977 NAPA National 500 racing information". Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  5. 1 2 "1977 NAPA National 500 qualifying information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
Preceded by
1977 Wilkes 400 		NASCAR Winston Cup Season
1977		Succeeded by
1977 American 500
Preceded by
1976 		National 500/NAPA National 500 races
1977		Succeeded by
1978
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.