The 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 24th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 1st modern-era NASCAR Cup series season. The season began on Sunday January 23 and ended on Sunday November 12. Richard Petty won his second consecutive Winston Cup Championship and fourth overall. Larry Smith was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year.
This season is considered to be the first of NASCAR's "modern era". The number of races was reduced from 48 to 31, all dirt tracks were removed from the schedule, and a minimum race distance of 250 miles (402 km) was established for oval tracks. (The shortest scheduled race in the modern era was the 2021-2023 Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway of 133.25 miles, on dirt; the shortest Cup Series race since the rule change was the 1992 Watkins Glen race, which was 125.127 miles (51 laps) because of rain in an era before NASCAR began racing in rain.)
Notes:
Petty won the Grand National title over Allison by 128 points.
Finish | Driver | Points | Starts | Wins | Top 5s | Top 10s | Poles |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Richard Petty | 8701.40 | 31 | 8 | 25 | 28 | 3 |
2 | Bobby Allison | 8573.50 | 31 | 10 | 25 | 27 | 11 |
3 | James Hylton | 8158.70 | 31 | 1 | 9 | 23 | 0 |
4 | Cecil Gordon | 7326.05 | 31 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 0 |
5 | Benny Parsons | 6844.15 | 31 | 0 | 10 | 19 | 0 |
6 | Walter Ballard | 6781.45 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
7 | Elmo Langley | 6656.25 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
8 | John Sears | 6298.50 | 28 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
9 | Dean Dalton | 6295.05 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
10 | Ben Arnold | 6179.00 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
11 | Frank Warren | 5788.60 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
12 | Jabe Thomas | 5772.55 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
13 | Bill Champion | 5470.70 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
14 | Raymond Williams | 5712.65 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
15 | Dave Marcis | 5459.65 | 27 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 0 |
16 | Charlie Roberts | 5354.45 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
17 | Henley Gray | 5093.64 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
18 | J.D. McDuffie | 5075.85 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
19 | Bobby Isaac | 5050.85 | 27 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
20 | David Pearson | 4718.00 | 17 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 4 |
21 | Ed Negre | 4696.89 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
22 | Buddy Arrington | 4555.89 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
23 | Larry Smith | 4173.70 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
24 | Buddy Baker | 3936.70 | 17 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 1 |
25 | Coo Coo Marlin | 3852.90 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
26 | David Ray Boggs | 3739.00 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
27 | Ron Keselowski | 3475.60 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
28 | Joe Frasson | 3152.80 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
29 | Richard D. Brown | 2939.00 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
30 | Neil Castles | 2789.60 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
31 | Jim Vandiver | 2514.35 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
32 | Clarence Lovell | 2630.30 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
33 | David Sisco | 2310.75 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
34 | LeeRoy Yarbrough | 2157.50 | 18 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0 |
35 | George Altheide | 1916.75 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
36 | Donnie Allison | 1849.15 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
37 | Richard Childress | 1521.25 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
38 | Bill Shirey | 1468.50 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
39 | Fred Lorenzen | 1333.55 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
40 | Wendell Scott | 1317.50 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
41 | Tommy Gale | 1298.00 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
42 | Bill Dennis | 1279.25 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
43 | G.C. Spencer | 1238.25 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
44 | Dick May | 1229.25 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
45 | Hershel McGriff | 1199.75 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
46 | Les Covey | 1128.00 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
47 | Johnny Halford | 1103.75 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
48 | Pete Hamilton | 1083.25 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
49 | Dick Brooks | 1023.50 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
50 | Eddie Yarboro | 1007.65 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
51 | Cale Yarborough | 949.50 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
52 | Ray Elder | 902.25 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
53 | Paul Tyler | 893.75 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
54 | Marty Robbins | 860.80 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
55 | Bobby Mausgrover | 833.05 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
56 | Darrell Waltrip | 827.00 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
57 | Jim Whitt | 813.50 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
58 | H.B. Bailey | 792.20 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
59 | Dick Bown | 791.75 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
60 | Kevin Terris | 783.50 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
61 | Doc Faustina | 770.50 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
62 | Earle Canavan | 755.50 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
63 | Red Farmer | 749.50 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
64 | D.K. Ulrich | 749.00 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
65 | Charlie Glotzbach | 739.00 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
66 | Ramo Stott | 675.25 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
67 | Johnny Anderson | 672.25 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
68 | Dick Kranzler | 642.75 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
69 | Chuck Bown | 636.75 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
70 | John Soares, Jr. | 609.25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
71 | Harry Schilling | 599.50 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
72 | Paul Jett | 581.75 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
73 | Earl Brooks | 568.25 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
74 | Bill Seifert | 551.25 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
75 | Carl Adams | 530.00 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
76 | Bill Butts | 525.25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
77 | Carl Joiner | 523.75 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
78 | Dub Simpson | 507.50 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
79 | Frank James | 459.75 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
80 | J.C. Danielsen | 458.50 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
81 | Wayne Smith | 439.50 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
82 | Jack McCoy | 419.00 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
83 | Jimmy Finger | 387.50 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
84 | Paul Dorrity | 362.00 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
85 | Ronnie Daniel | 344.75 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
86 | Roy Mayne | 338.25 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
87 | Ron Gautsche | 332.75 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
88 | Markey James | 301.00 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
89 | Jimmy Crawford | 296.25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
90 | Bob Kauf | 290.50 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
91 | Rick Newsom | 289.00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
92 | Don Noel | 274.75 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
93 | Friday Hassler | 255.25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
94 | Ronnie Chumley | 252.00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
95 | Mel Larson | 251.00 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
96 | Les Loeser | 239.00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
97 | Jimmy Insolo | 226.50 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
98 | Ivan Baldwin | 215.75 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
99 | Jimmy Hensley | 215.25 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
100 | Bob Greeley | 212.50 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
101 | Jerry Oliver | 210.50 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
102 | Larry Esau | 201.50 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
103 | Robert Brown | 201.00 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
104 | Tiny Lund | 191.00 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
105 | James Cox | 165.50 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
106 | Gene Romero | 155.25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
107 | Phil Finney | 150.25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
108 | G.T. Tallas | 132.00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
109 | Ray Johnstone | 127.50 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
110 | John Hren | 100.25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
111 | Clem Proctor | 88.25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
112 | Bill Hollar | 86.00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
113 | Sonny Easley | 83.75 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
114 | Ed Hessert | 83.50 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
115 | Dick Guldstrand | 73.00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
116 | Sam Stanley | 55.25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
117 | Bill Osborne | 55.00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
118 | Robert Wales | 25.50 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
119 | Bill Ward | 16.50 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
120 | George Follmer | 9.00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ray Hendrick | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Jim Hurtubise | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
Ron Hutcherson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Gordon Johncock | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Roger McCluskey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Jackie Oliver | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
Vic Parsons | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
Jim Paschal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Ken Rush | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Johnny Rutherford | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Bobby Unser | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Butch Hartman | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
Ron Grana | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Cliff Garner | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Buck Baker | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Max Berrier | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Lem Blankenship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Tru Cheek | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
A. J. Cox | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Larry Dickson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Mark Donohue | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Fred Drake | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Vic Elford | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
Paul Feldner | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
A. J. Foyt | 6 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 | ||
Don White | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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