1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

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Richard Petty, the 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion. This would be his 4th of his 7 championships. N 97 8 127 Richard Petty 1973 (cropped).jpg
Richard Petty, the 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion. This would be his 4th of his 7 championships.

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.

Contents

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.)

Schedule

No.Race Title Track Date
1 Winston Western 500 Riverside International Raceway, Riverside, California January 23
125 Mile Qualifying Races Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida February 17
2 Daytona 500 February 20
3 Richmond 500 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond, Virginia February 27
4 Miller High Life 500 Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California March 5
5 Carolina 500 North Carolina Speedway, Rockingham, North Carolina March 12
6 Atlanta 500 Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton, Georgia March 26
7 Southeastern 500 Bristol International Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee April 9
8 Rebel 400 Darlington Raceway, Darlington, South Carolina April 16
9 Gwyn Staley 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina April 23
10 Virginia 500 Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway, Virginia April 30
11 Winston 500 Alabama International Motor Speedway, Lincoln, Alabama May 7
12 World 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina May 28
13 Mason-Dixon 500 Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover, Delaware June 4
14 Motor State 400 Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan June 11
15 Golden State 400 Riverside International Raceway, Riverside, California June 18
16 Lone Star 500 Texas World Speedway, College Station, Texas June 25
17 Firecracker 400 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida July 4
18 Volunteer 500 Bristol International Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee July 9
19 Northern 300 Trenton Speedway, Trenton, New Jersey July 16
20 Dixie 500 Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton, Georgia July 23
21 Talladega 500 Alabama International Motor Speedway, Lincoln, Alabama August 6
22 Yankee 400 Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan August 20
23 Nashville 420 Nashville Speedway, Nashville, Tennessee August 27
24 Southern 500 Darlington Raceway, Darlington, South Carolina September 4
25 Capital City 500 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond, Virginia September 10
26 Delaware 500 Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover, Delaware September 17
27 Old Dominion 500 Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway, Virginia September 24
28 Wilkes 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina October 1
29 National 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina October 8
30 American 500 North Carolina Speedway, Rockingham, North Carolina October 22
31 Texas 500 Texas World Speedway, College Station, Texas November 12


Season recap

DateEventCircuitWinner
January 23 Winston Western 500 Riverside International Raceway Richard Petty
February 20 Daytona 500 Daytona International Speedway A. J. Foyt
February 27 Richmond 500 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway Richard Petty
March 5 Miller High Life 500 Ontario Motor Speedway A. J. Foyt
March 12 Carolina 500 North Carolina Speedway Bobby Isaac
March 26 Atlanta 500 Atlanta International Raceway Bobby Allison
April 9 Southeastern 500 Bristol International Speedway Bobby Allison
April 16 Rebel 500 Darlington Raceway David Pearson
April 23 Gwyn Staley 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway Richard Petty
April 30 Virginia 500 Martinsville Speedway Richard Petty
May 7 Winston 500 Alabama International Motor Speedway David Pearson
May 28 World 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway Buddy Baker
June 4 Mason-Dixon 500 Dover Downs International Speedway Bobby Allison
June 11 Motor State 400 Michigan International Speedway David Pearson
June 18 Golden State 400 Riverside International Raceway Ray Elder
June 25 Lone Star 500 Texas World Speedway Richard Petty
July 4 Firecracker 400 Daytona International Speedway David Pearson
July 9 Volunteer 500 Bristol International Speedway Bobby Allison
July 16 Northern 300 Trenton Speedway Bobby Allison
July 23 Dixie 500 Atlanta International Raceway Bobby Allison
August 6 Talladega 500 Alabama International Motor Speedway James Hylton
August 20 Yankee 400 Michigan International Speedway David Pearson
August 27 Nashville 420 Nashville Speedway Bobby Allison
September 4 Southern 500 Darlington Raceway Bobby Allison
September 10 Capital City 500 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway Richard Petty
September 17 Delaware 500 Dover Downs International Speedway David Pearson
September 24 Old Dominion 500 Martinsville Speedway Richard Petty
October 1 Wilkes 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway Richard Petty
October 8 National 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway Bobby Allison
October 22 American 500 North Carolina Speedway Bobby Allison
November 12 Texas 500 Texas World Speedway Buddy Baker

Notes:

Race summaries

Winston Western 500

The Winston Western 500 was held on January 23 at Riverside International Raceway. A.J. Foyt won the pole. Richard Petty and Bobby Allison made important debuts in their careers - Petty debuted under the sponsorship of STP while Allison was making his maiden voyage with the Richard Howard Chevrolet under Junior Johnson's control. Foyt fell out with transmission failure. Allison started 16th but stormed through the field and led 102 laps before falling to second at the end. Fog shortened the race to 149 laps as Petty led 37 of the final 39 laps, driving for the final time in an all-blue racecar.

Top ten results:

  1. #43 - Richard Petty
  2. #12 - Bobby Allison
  3. #71 - Bobby Isaac
  4. #96 - Ray Elder
  5. #04 - Hershel McGriff
  6. #32 - Kevin Tarris
  7. #48 - James Hylton
  8. #64 - Elmo Langley
  9. #39 - Friday Hassler
  10. #24 - Cecil Gordon


Daytona 500

The 14th Daytona 500 was held on February 20 at Daytona International Speedway. Bobby Isaac Won the pole. A.J. Foyt was unchallenged after Richard Petty fell out with engine failure 80 laps into the 500 and cruised to his only Daytona 500 win and first win at the track since 1965. Petty led 31 laps, Foyt 167, and Bobby Allison led two, indicative of the slump in competitive depth of the series with the withdrawal of the factories from participation. Isaac's engine soured on the start and he finished 33rd, while Buddy Baker crashed with Walter Ballard, who flipped in the trioval grass.

Top ten results:

  1. #21 - A.J. Foyt
  2. #6 - Charlie Glotzbach
  3. #31 - Jim Vandiver
  4. #72 - Benny Parsons
  5. #48 - James Hylton
  6. #3 - Cale Yarborough
  7. #05 - David Sisco
  8. #25 - Jabe Thomas
  9. #4 - John Sears
  10. #23 - Vic Elford


Richmond 500

The Richmond 500 was held on February 27 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Bobby Allison won the pole. Richard Petty, Allison, and Bobby Isaac led all 500 laps and finished 1-2-3; Isaac finished seven laps down while Dave Marcis and Bill Dennis finished in the top five, both at least twelve laps down.

Top ten results:

  1. #43 - Richard Petty
  2. #12 - Bobby Allison
  3. #71 - Bobby Isaac
  4. #2 - Dave Marcis
  5. #90 - Bill Dennis
  6. #48 - James Hylton
  7. #64 - Elmo Langley
  8. #72 - Benny Parsons
  9. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  10. #4 - John Sears


Miller 500

The Miller High Life 500 was held on March 5 at Ontario Motor Speedway. A.J. Foyt won the pole. The battle was between Foyt, Richard Petty, Buddy Baker, Bobby Allison, and Bobby Isaac, while West Coast ace Ray Elder and Benny Parsons also led. 51 cars started with over 30 additional entries sent home after qualifying. Isaac crashed with Mark Donohue 45 laps in ("it's a new car and it's totaled out," said the dejected Isaac) while Petty lost a lap on a botched pitstop; he push-drafted Baker and Allison to keep them challenging Foyt ("Foyt was ridiculously faster than my Chevy down the straights," Allison said), but Foyt took what would be his final NASCAR win.

Top ten results:

  1. #21 - A.J. Foyt
  2. #12 - Bobby Allison
  3. #11 - Buddy Baker
  4. #96 - Ray Elder
  5. #04 - Hershel McGriff
  6. #48 - James Hylton
  7. #42 - Marty Robbins
  8. #64 - Elmo Langley
  9. #9 - Ramo Stott


Carolina 500

The Carolina 500 was held on March 12 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Bobby Allison won the pole, but had to start 39th after changing tires following qualifying. He stormed through the field to lead 260 laps, but at Lap 345 his engine failed. Isaac led 210 laps for the win, only his third big-track Grand National win and what would be his final career Grand National win. The race occurred two days following the birth of future cup champion Matt Kenseth.

Top ten results:

  1. #71 - Bobby Isaac
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #31 - Jim Vandiver
  4. #45 - LeeRoy Yarbrough
  5. #2 - Dave Marcis
  6. #48 - James Hylton
  7. #72 - Benny Parsons
  8. #67 - Buddy Arrington
  9. #64 - Elmo Langley
  10. #06 - Neil Castles


Atlanta 500

The Atlanta 500 was held on March 26 at Atlanta International Raceway. Bobby Allison won the pole. Working to solve the engine issues plaguing the team, Junior Johnson began using Union aviation oil for Allison's engines. Allison engaged in a race-long duel with Bobby Isaac, escaping a hard crash with Ron Keselowski at one point. Late in the race A. J. Foyt stormed to the front but Allison grabbed the lead with four laps to go and edged Foyt and Isaac for the first superspeedway win for Chevrolet in some eight years.

Top ten results:

  1. #12 - Bobby Allison
  2. #21 - A.J. Foyt
  3. #71 - Bobby Isaac
  4. #15 - David Pearson
  5. #27 - Donnie Allison
  6. #43 - Richard Petty
  7. #72 - Benny Parsons
  8. #11 - Buddy Baker
  9. #45 - LeeRoy Yarbrough
  10. #48 - James Hylton


Southeastern 400

The Southeastern 400 was held on April 9 at Bristol International Speedway. Bobby Allison won the pole.

Top ten results:

  1. #12 - Bobby Allison
  2. #71 - Bobby Isaac
  3. #43 - Richard Petty
  4. #45 - LeeRoy Yarbrough
  5. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  6. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
  7. #64 - Elmo Langley
  8. #48 - James Hylton
  9. #49 - G.C. Spencer
  10. #25 - Jabe Thomas


Rebel 400

The Rebel 400 was held on April 16 at Darlington Raceway. With A. J. Foyt having to serve his Indycar commitments, Wood Brothers Racing hired David Pearson to drive their #21. Pearson responded by winning the pole, and leading 202 laps to score his first victory since March 1971. Richard Petty finished a lap down in second; the 1-2 finish began one of the most celebrated periods in NASCAR history. Bobby Allison led 29 laps but finished a very distant (15 laps down) seventh. Joe Frasson finished third.

Top ten results:

  1. #21 - David Pearson
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #18 - Joe Frasson
  4. #72 - Benny Parsons
  5. #48 - James Hylton
  6. #67 - Buddy Arrington
  7. #12 - Bobby Allison
  8. #4 - John Sears
  9. #25 - Jabe Thomas
  10. #24 - Cecil Gordon


Gwyn Staley 400

The Gwyn Staley 400 was held on April 23 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Bobby Isaac won the pole. Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, and Isaac dominated the race and finished 1-2-3. Petty led the last 25 laps after a late tire change where his team put on "gumballs" (softer compound tires). The racing between the three became heated during the day, Petty calling it "a wing-doolie" of a race.

Top ten results:

  1. #43 - Richard Petty
  2. #12 - Bobby Allison
  3. #71 - Bobby Isaac
  4. #48 - James Hylton
  5. #72 - Benny Parsons
  6. #45 - LeeRoy Yarbrough
  7. #2 - Dave Marcis
  8. #92 - Larry Smith
  9. #30 - Walter Ballard
  10. #4 - John Sears


Virginia 500

The Virginia 500 was held on April 30 at Martinsville Speedway. Bobby Allison won the pole. Wood Brothers Racing usually entered only at Martinsville for a short track effort and David Pearson led 102 laps but his transmission broke while leading and he was done with thirty laps to go; he still finished eighth. Allison led 27 laps to finish second; Bobby Isaac led 268 laps but blew his engine while leading and finished 19th. As a result Richard Petty, despite being on seven cylinders, had his fourth win of the season.

Top ten results:

  1. #43 - Richard Petty
  2. #12 - Bobby Allison
  3. #2 - Dave Marcis
  4. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  5. #91 - Richard D. Brown
  6. #10 - Bill Champion
  7. #48 - James Hylton
  8. #21 - David Pearson
  9. #30 - Walter Ballard
  10. #47 - Raymond Williams


Winston 500

The Winston 500 was held on May 7 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. Bobby Isaac won the pole. The lead changed 53 times as Isaac, David Pearson, Buddy Baker, and Richard Petty battled with Fred Lorenzen, driving a Hoss Ellington #28. Bobby Allison led early but fell out with engine failure. Petty cut a tire late and lost a lap, and coming to the white flag Isaac was sideslammed by lapped traffic, giving Pearson the lead for the win, his second in the Wood Brothers Mercury. Darrell Waltrip made his Winston Cup debut in this race, starting 25th and finishing 38th after a blown engine.

Top ten results:

  1. #21 - David Pearson
  2. #71 - Bobby Isaac
  3. #11 - Buddy Baker
  4. #28 - Fred Lorenzen
  5. #43 - Richard Petty
  6. #18 - Joe Frasson
  7. #45 - LeeRoy Yarbrough
  8. #98 - Dick Brooks
  9. #79 - Frank Warren
  10. #72 - Benny Parsons


World 600

The World 600 was held on May 28 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bobby Allison won the pole (the second straight 600 pole for the racecar owned by track promoter Richard Howard) and led 239 laps, but blew both right side tires with 30 laps to go and Buddy Baker took the win. Richard Petty and Bobby Isaac fell out with engine failures as did Wendell Scott, driving a second Chevrolet out of Junior Johnson's shop.

Top ten results:

  1. #11 - Buddy Baker
  2. #12 - Bobby Allison
  3. #6 - Charlie Glotzbach
  4. #72 - Benny Parsons
  5. #45 - LeeRoy Yarbrough
  6. #92 - Larry Smith
  7. #67 - Buddy Arrington
  8. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  9. #79 - Frank Warren
  10. #76 - Ben Arnold


Mason-Dixon 500

The Mason-Dixon 500 was held on June 4 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Bobby Isaac won the pole. Allison and Petty finished 1-2 after leading 492 of 500 laps; Benny Parsons and Dean Dalton were the only other leaders.

Top ten results:

  1. #12 - Bobby Allison
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #45 - LeeRoy Yarbrough
  4. #90 - Jackie Oliver
  5. #4 - John Sears
  6. #72 - Benny Parsons
  7. #48 - James Hylton
  8. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  9. #88 - Ron Keselowski
  10. #83 - Paul Tyler

Motor State 400

The Motor State 400 was held on June 11 at Michigan International Speedway. Bobby Isaac won the pole. David Pearson led 154 laps in an easy win, finishing sixteen seconds ahead of Bobby Allison and half a lap ahead of Richard Petty. Pete Hamilton drove a Jim Ruggles Plymouth and raced with the leaders before falling out in the final 50 laps.

Top ten results:

  1. #21 - David Pearson
  2. #12 - Bobby Allison
  3. #43 - Richard Petty
  4. #48 - James Hylton
  5. #88 - Ron Keselowski
  6. #92 - Larry Smith
  7. #76 - Ben Arnold
  8. #7 - Dean Dalton
  9. #67 - Buddy Arrington
  10. #10 - Bill Champion


Golden State 400

The Golden State 400 was held on June 18 at Riverside International Raceway. Richard Petty won the pole.

Top ten results:

  1. #96 - Ray Elder
  2. #72 - Benny Parsons
  3. #16 - Donnie Allison
  4. #48 - James Hylton
  5. #26 - Carl Joiner
  6. #12 - Bobby Allison
  7. #09 - Carl Adams
  8. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  9. #00 - Frank James
  10. #64 - Dick May


Lone Star 500

The Lone Star 500 was held on June 25 at Texas World Speedway. Richard Petty won the pole. Petty battled Bobby Isaac in 100-degree heat before Isaac faltered and Petty beat Bobby Allison by a full lap; Petty held a slender point lead over James Hylton, who had come under fire earlier in the season for leading the points race despite finishing behind Petty and Allison almost every race. Privateer Richard Childress was involved in a bizarre crash when he spun in Leonard Faustina's oil and flipped into a ditch.

Top ten results:

  1. #43 - Richard Petty
  2. #12 - Bobby Allison
  3. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
  4. #72 - Benny Parsons
  5. #71 - Bobby Isaac
  6. #48 - James Hylton
  7. #92 - Larry Smith
  8. #76 - Ben Arnold
  9. #7 - Dean Dalton
  10. #10 - Bill Champion


Firecracker 400

The Firecracker 400 was held on July 4 at Daytona International Speedway. Bobby Isaac won the pole. The finish turned into an exciting three-car shootout between David Pearson, Richard Petty, and Bobby Allison. Petty tried to muscle past Pearson up high on the homestretch but came six feet short, with Allison hard on Pearson's trunk at the stripe. Coo Coo Marlin finished fourth after being briefly detained by Daytona police three days prior when a bar brawl accidentally swept up Marlin's wife Eula Faye.

Top ten results:

  1. #21 - David Pearson
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #12 - Bobby Allison
  4. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
  5. #48 - James Hylton
  6. #45 - LeeRoy Yarbrough
  7. #88 - Ron Keselowski
  8. #15 - Donnie Allison
  9. #33 - Wayne Smith
  10. #32 - Johnny Halford


Volunteer 500

The Volunteer 500 was held on July 9 at Bristol International Speedway. Bobby Allison won the pole.

Top ten results:

  1. #12 - Bobby Allison
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #2 - Dave Marcis
  4. #72 - Benny Parsons
  5. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
  6. #4 - John Sears
  7. #47 - Raymond Williams
  8. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  9. #30 - Walter Ballard
  10. #76 - Ben Arnold


Northern 300

The Northern 300 was held on July 16 at Trenton Speedway. Bobby Isaac won the pole. Bobby Allison edged Isaac in what would be the last Winston Cup Grand National race at Trenton Speedway. Richard Petty stalled on pit road and lost a lap, while privateer Dave Marcis timed fifth and led one lap before hitting the wall.

Top ten results:

  1. #12 - Bobby Allison
  2. #71 - Bobby Isaac
  3. #43 - Richard Petty
  4. #90 - Fred Lorenzen
  5. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  6. #48 - James Hylton
  7. #92 - Larry Smith
  8. #72 - Benny Parsons
  9. #47 - Raymond Williams
  10. #30 - Walter Ballard


Dixie 500

The Dixie 500 was held on July 23 at Atlanta International Raceway. David Pearson won the pole. Bobby Allison and Pearson led 285 of 328 laps but Allison took his third big-track win of the season when Pearson slowed with a souring engine, with Richard Petty a distant second.

Top ten results:

  1. #12 - Bobby Allison
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #21 - David Pearson
  4. #72 - Benny Parsons
  5. #90 - LeeRoy Yarbrough
  6. #28 - Fred Lorenzen
  7. #2 - Dave Marcis
  8. #95 - Darrell Waltrip
  9. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  10. #30 - Walter Ballard


Talladega 500

The Talladega 500 was held on August 6 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. Bobby Isaac won the pole. James Hylton edged out Ramo Stott in the biggest upset of the season after 32 of 50 entries failed to finish the race. The top qualifiers crashed out on Lap 22 when Joe Frasson blew a tire while running second; he and the other top qualifiers were using a new Goodyear compound, and the angered Frasson said the new tires "weren't worth a damn." Hylton was using year-old rubber; "I was going with the old tire anyway," he said after his second career win and first on a superspeedway.

Top ten results:

  1. #48 - James Hylton
  2. #90 - Ramo Stott
  3. #12 - Bobby Allison
  4. #97 - Red Farmer
  5. #67 - Buddy Arrington
  6. #76 - Ben Arnold
  7. #43 - Richard Petty
  8. #19 - Henley Gray
  9. #47 - Raymond Williams
  10. #56 - Jim Hurtubise


Yankee 400

The Yankee 400 was held on August 20 at Michigan International Speedway. Richard Petty won the pole. The speedway held its final NASCAR race under its initial ownership, and David Pearson got into a late duel with Bobby Allison in the final 27 laps, edging Allison by one car length. Pearson won despite the alternator souring; "I was scared the final 40 laps ... I expected (the engine) to quit any lap."

Top ten results:

  1. #21 - David Pearson
  2. #12 - Bobby Allison
  3. #71 - Bobby Isaac
  4. #43 - Richard Petty
  5. #98 - Cale Yarborough
  6. #48 - James Hylton
  7. #72 - Benny Parsons
  8. #45 - Bill Seifert
  9. #2 - Dave Marcis
  10. #92 - Larry Smith


Nashville 420

The Nashville 420 was held on August 26 at Nashville Speedway. Bobby Allison won the pole.

Top ten results:

  1. #12 - Bobby Allison
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #95 - Darrell Waltrip
  4. #72 - Benny Parsons
  5. #64 - Elmo Langley
  6. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  7. #19 - Henley Gray
  8. #48 - James Hylton
  9. #30 - Walter Ballard
  10. #70 - J.D. McDuffie


Southern 500

The Southern 500 was held on September 4 at Darlington Raceway. Bobby Allison won the pole. Allison battled David Pearson for virtually the entire 500 miles; they led 352 laps between them and at one point Pearson grabbed the lead from Allison by diving five abreast under some seven lapped cars on the frontstretch. Allison took the win with six laps to go. Richard Petty finished seven laps down due to repeated blistered tires. Buddy Baker and Bobby Isaac were eliminated in separate crashes; Baker was tabbed to drive a second Harry Hyde Dodge as Petty Enterprises could not offer him more starts in their #11 Dodge; Isaac, who'd struggled in the primary Hyde Dodge #71 all season, quit the team, saying they were not up to preparing two cars given the constant problems preparing one.

Top ten results:

  1. #12 - Bobby Allison
  2. #21 - David Pearson
  3. #43 - Richard Petty
  4. #28 - Fred Lorenzen
  5. #66 - H.B. Bailey
  6. #67 - Buddy Arrington
  7. #16 - Dave Marcis
  8. #31 - Jim Vandiver
  9. #42 - Marty Robbins
  10. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin


Capital City 500

The Capital City 500 was held on September 10 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Bobby Allison won the pole. Buddy Baker was hired to replace Bobby Isaac in Harry Hyde's #71 and led one lap, but was eliminated in the crash that signaled the detonation of the Richard Petty-Bobby Allison feud that defined the season. Petty and Allison led 498 laps between them, but with nine to go Allison passed Petty; Petty stormed back ahead and sideswiped Allison entering Three; Allison hammered Petty and Petty shot hard into the guardrail coming out of Four, collecting Baker and getting off the ground atop the guardrail. Shockingly Petty slid back onto all four wheels still in the lead, holding on to win over half a lap.

Top ten results:

  1. #43 - Richard Petty
  2. #12 - Bobby Allison
  3. #17 - Bill Dennis
  4. #48 - James Hylton
  5. #2 - Dave Marcis
  6. #10 - Bill Champion
  7. #76 - Ben Arnold
  8. #7 - Dean Dalton
  9. #25 - Jabe Thomas
  10. #67 - Buddy Arrington


Delaware 500

The Delaware 500 was held on September 17 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Bobby Allison won the pole. David Pearson manhandled the field, leading 350 laps for his sixth win of the season, his highest win total for a season since 1969. Bobby Allison won the pole but after leading 34 laps fell out with engine failure; with Petty finishing second the points race was getting close to being clinched.

Top ten results:

  1. #21 - David Pearson
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #90 - Ramo Stott
  4. #48 - James Hylton
  5. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  6. #76 - Ben Arnold
  7. #64 - Elmo Langley
  8. #30 - Walter Ballard
  9. #7 - Dean Dalton
  10. #77 - Charlie Roberts

Old Dominion 500

The Old Dominion 500 was held on September 24 at Martinsville Speedway. Bobby Allison won the pole. Allison made a determined effort for a ninth win of 1972 as he started on the pole and led 432 laps. Petty cut a tire and had to pit under green, and when he came back out he was just ahead of Allison. NASCAR waved the blue "move over" flag but Petty raced Allison to stay on the lead lap. A yellow put Petty back on the lead lap and he stormed to challenge Allison for the lead. The two squared off and Petty wrestled away the win with 39 laps to go. Fred Lorenzen started 5th, and finished 27th, in what would be his final career NASCAR start.

Top ten results:

  1. #43 - Richard Petty
  2. #12 - Bobby Allison
  3. #21 - David Pearson
  4. #71 - Buddy Baker
  5. #90 - Jimmy Hensley
  6. #72 - Benny Parsons
  7. #67 - Buddy Arrington
  8. #48 - James Hylton
  9. #64 - Elmo Langley
  10. #24 - Cecil Gordon


Wilkes 400

The Wilkes 400 was held on October 1 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Buddy Baker won the pole. The Petty-Allison feud erupted into outright warfare over the final 30 laps. Allison led 203 laps until the race's lone yellow with 50 to go set off a hard fight between them; the lead changed nine times over the final 38 laps, but in the final three laps the race turned ugly when Allison, blocked off by the lapped car of Vic Parsons, plowed full bore into Petty and Parsons and all three hammered the wall, but kept going; Petty crashed into Allison on the final lap and stormed to the win. An intoxicated fan attacked Petty in victory lane and was clubbed viciously by Richard's brother Maurice using Richard's helmet.

Top ten results:

  1. #43 - Richard Petty
  2. #12 - Bobby Allison
  3. #71 - Buddy Baker
  4. #72 - Benny Parsons
  5. #28 - John Sears
  6. #06 - Dave Marcis
  7. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  8. #64 - Elmo Langley
  9. #45 - Vic Parsons
  10. #47 - Raymond Williams


National 500

The National 500 was held on October 8 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. David Pearson won the pole. With prerace chatter buzzing about North Wilkesboro the week before, Allison squared off with Buddy Baker in a frantic final eight laps; the lead bounced around between the two before Allison sideslammed past Baker with four to go. Wood Brothers Racing entered two cars, for Pearson and A. J. Foyt, finishing 3-4.

Top ten results:

  1. #12 - Bobby Allison
  2. #71 - Buddy Baker
  3. #21 - David Pearson
  4. #41 - A.J. Foyt
  5. #90 - Butch Hartman
  6. #95 - Darrell Waltrip
  7. #48 - James Hylton
  8. #67 - Buddy Arrington
  9. #18 - Joe Frasson
  10. #43 - Richard Petty


American 500

The American 500 was held on October 22 at North Carolina Speedway. David Pearson won the pole. Bobby Allison outlasted Richard Petty, Buddy Baker, and Pearson for his tenth win of the season. The four of them combined to lead 479 laps, while leading nine laps in Hoss Ellington's Chevrolet was Cale Yarborough, trying to return to Grand National racing after two fruitless seasons in USAC Indycars. The race was the 39th straight race where Allison led at least one lap.

Top ten results:

  1. #12 - Bobby Allison
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #71 - Buddy Baker
  4. #21 - David Pearson
  5. #9 - Pete Hamilton
  6. #28 - Cale Yarborough
  7. #16 - Dave Marcis
  8. #92 - Larry Smith
  9. #05 - David Sisco
  10. #67 - Buddy Arrington


Texas 500

The Texas 500 was held on November 12 at Texas World Speedway. A.J. Foyt won the pole. Buddy Baker, Foyt, and Richard Petty led all 250 laps between them as they dueled for the lead and Baker edged out a close win. Bobby Allison, his relationship with Junior Johnson deteriorating all season, finished a distant fourth and left the team to re-form his own team, bringing his Coca-Cola sponsorship with him. The Johnson-wrenched Richard Howard team announced that Cale Yarborough, ninth in the Ellington Chevrolet, would take over the seat for 1973.

Top ten results:

  1. #71 - Buddy Baker
  2. #21 - A.J. Foyt
  3. #43 - Richard Petty
  4. #12 - Bobby Allison
  5. #04 - Hershel McGriff
  6. #72 - Benny Parsons
  7. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
  8. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  9. #28 - Cale Yarborough
  10. #18 - Joe Frasson


Petty won the Grand National title over Allison by 128 points.

Final point standings

Driver's standings

FinishDriverPointsStartsWinsTop 5sTop 10sPoles
1 Richard Petty 8701.4031825283
2 Bobby Allison 8573.503110252711
3 James Hylton 8158.703119230
4 Cecil Gordon 7326.053104160
5 Benny Parsons 6844.1531010190
6 Walter Ballard 6781.45310070
7 Elmo Langley 6656.25300190
8 John Sears 6298.50280270
9 Dean Dalton 6295.05290040
10 Ben Arnold 6179.00260070
11 Frank Warren 5788.60300020
12 Jabe Thomas 5772.55280040
13 Bill Champion 5470.70290040
14 Raymond Williams 5712.65280050
15 Dave Marcis 5459.652705110
16 Charlie Roberts 5354.45260010
17 Henley Gray 5093.64280020
18 J.D. McDuffie 5075.85270120
19 Bobby Isaac 5050.8527110109
20 David Pearson 4718.0017612134
21 Ed Negre 4696.89260000
22 Buddy Arrington 4555.892001100
23 Larry Smith 4173.70230070
24 Buddy Baker 3936.70172891
25 Coo Coo Marlin 3852.90200250
26 David Ray Boggs 3739.00240000
27 Ron Keselowski 3475.60220130
28 Joe Frasson 3152.80160140
29 Richard D. Brown 2939.00160110
30 Neil Castles 2789.60210010
31 Jim Vandiver 2514.35160230
32 Clarence Lovell 2630.30120000
33 David Sisco 2310.75120020
34 LeeRoy Yarbrough 2157.50180590
35 George Altheide 1916.75110000
36 Donnie Allison 1849.15100230
37 Richard Childress 1521.25150000
38 Bill Shirey 1468.50130000
39 Fred Lorenzen 1333.5580340
40 Wendell Scott 1317.5060000
41 Tommy Gale 1298.0060000
42 Bill Dennis 1279.25110220
43 G.C. Spencer 1238.25100010
44 Dick May 1229.2560010
45 Hershel McGriff 1199.7540230
46 Les Covey 1128.0070000
47 Johnny Halford 1103.7550010
48 Pete Hamilton 1083.2550110
49 Dick Brooks 1023.50140010
50 Eddie Yarboro 1007.6560000
51 Cale Yarborough 949.5050140
52 Ray Elder 902.2531330
53 Paul Tyler 893.7540010
54 Marty Robbins 860.8050020
55 Bobby Mausgrover 833.0560000
56 Darrell Waltrip 827.0050130
57 Jim Whitt 813.5030000
58 H.B. Bailey 792.2050110
59 Dick Bown 791.7530000
60 Kevin Terris 783.5030010
61 Doc Faustina 770.5050000
62 Earle Canavan 755.5070000
63 Red Farmer 749.5050110
64 D.K. Ulrich 749.0040000
65 Charlie Glotzbach 739.0030220
66 Ramo Stott 675.2550230
67 Johnny Anderson 672.2540000
68 Dick Kranzler 642.7530000
69 Chuck Bown 636.7530000
70 John Soares, Jr. 609.2530000
71 Harry Schilling 599.5030000
72 Paul Jett 581.7510000
73 Earl Brooks 568.2560000
74 Bill Seifert 551.2560010
75 Carl Adams 530.0020010
76 Bill Butts 525.2520000
77 Carl Joiner 523.7520110
78 Dub Simpson 507.5050000
79 Frank James 459.7520010
80 J.C. Danielsen 458.5020000
81 Wayne Smith 439.5030010
82 Jack McCoy 419.0030000
83 Jimmy Finger 387.5020000
84 Paul Dorrity 362.0020000
85 Ronnie Daniel 344.7520000
86 Roy Mayne 338.2540000
87 Ron Gautsche 332.7520000
88 Markey James 301.0020000
89 Jimmy Crawford 296.2510000
90 Bob Kauf 290.5020000
91 Rick Newsom 289.0010000
92 Don Noel 274.7520000
93 Friday Hassler 255.2510010
94 Ronnie Chumley 252.0010000
95 Mel Larson 251.0040000
96 Les Loeser 239.0010000
97 Jimmy Insolo 226.5010000
98 Ivan Baldwin 215.7510000
99 Jimmy Hensley 215.2520110
100 Bob Greeley 212.5010000
101 Jerry Oliver 210.5010000
102 Larry Esau 201.5010000
103 Robert Brown 201.0020000
104 Tiny Lund 191.0040000
105 James Cox 165.5020000
106 Gene Romero 155.2510000
107 Phil Finney 150.2510000
108 G.T. Tallas 132.0010000
109 Ray Johnstone 127.5010000
110 John Hren 100.2510000
111 Clem Proctor 88.2510000
112 Bill Hollar 86.0010000
113 Sonny Easley 83.7510000
114 Ed Hessert 83.5020000
115 Dick Guldstrand 73.0010000
116 Sam Stanley 55.2510000
117 Bill Osborne 55.0010000
118 Robert Wales 25.5020000
119 Bill Ward 16.5010000
120 George Follmer 9.0010000
Ray Hendrick 10000
Jim Hurtubise 20010
Ron Hutcherson 10000
Gordon Johncock 20000
Roger McCluskey 10000
Jackie Oliver 70110
Vic Parsons 10010
Jim Paschal 10000
Ken Rush 10000
Johnny Rutherford 10000
Bobby Unser 10000
Butch Hartman 10110
Ron Grana 10000
Cliff Garner 10000
Buck Baker 50000
Max Berrier 10000
Lem Blankenship 10000
Tru Cheek 10000
A. J. Cox 10000
Larry Dickson 10000
Mark Donohue 40000
Fred Drake 10000
Vic Elford 10010
Paul Feldner 10000
A. J. Foyt 62553
Don White 10000

[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Central - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
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