Race details [1] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Race 28 of 30 in the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season | |||
![]() Layout of Rockingham Speedway | |||
Date | October 24, 1976 | ||
Official name | American 500 | ||
Location | North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham, North Carolina | ||
Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
Course length | 1.636 km (1.017 miles) | ||
Distance | 492 laps, 500 mi (804 km) | ||
Weather | Mild with temperatures of 72 °F (22 °C); wind speeds of 4.9 miles per hour (7.9 km/h) | ||
Average speed | 117.718 miles per hour (189.449 km/h) | ||
Attendance | 32,500 [2] | ||
Pole position | |||
Driver | Wood Brothers | ||
Most laps led | |||
Driver | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | |
Laps | 193 | ||
Winner | |||
No. 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | |
Television in the United States | |||
Network | untelevised | ||
Announcers | none |
The 1976 American 500 was the 28th official race (out of 30) in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. [2]
This race took place on October 24, 1976, at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina. [2] The race took four hours, fifteen minutes, and one second. [2] Six cautions slowed the race for 35 laps. [2] [3]
Richard Petty would end up lapping the field as he scored the season sweep at Rockingham. [2] [4] Thirty-two thousand and five hundred spectators attended this event. [2] David Pearson gained the pole position qualifying at a speed of 139.117 miles per hour (223.887 km/h) but eventually finished in sixth place. [2] Henley Gray was the last-place finisher due to an engine issue on the first lap. [2]
Notable crew chiefs in the race were Junie Donlavey, Jake Elder, Harry Hyde, Dale Inman, Bud Moore, Tim Brewer among others. [5]
Richard Petty's teenage son Kyle would attend his father's victory celebrations; getting ready for his NASCAR career. [6] The average speed of the race was 117.718 miles per hour (189.449 km/h). [2] Jack Donohue was the only Canadian competitor out of the 36-car grid. [2]
Grid [2] | No. | Driver | Manufacturer |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 21 | David Pearson | Mercury |
2 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Dodge |
3 | 15 | Buddy Baker | Ford |
4 | 43 | Richard Petty | Dodge |
5 | 1 | Donnie Allison | Chevrolet |
6 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Chevrolet |
7 | 2 | Bobby Allison | Mercury |
8 | 88 | Darrell Waltrip | Chevrolet |
9 | 11 | Cale Yarborough | Chevrolet |
10 | 40 | D.K. Ulrich | Chevrolet |
11 | 54 | Lennie Pond | Chevrolet |
12 | 90 | Dick Brooks | Ford |
13 | 60 | Jackie Rogers | Chevrolet |
14 | 36 | Bobby Wawak | Chevrolet |
15 | 92 | Skip Manning | Chevrolet |
16 | 3 | Richard Childress | Chevrolet |
17 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Dodge |
18 | 55 | Sonny Easley | Ford |
19 | 49 | Henley Gray | Dodge |
20 | 5 | James Hylton | Dodge |
21 | 41 | Grant Adcox | Chevrolet |
22 | 14 | Coo Coo Marlin | Chevrolet |
23 | 24 | Cecil Gordon | Chevrolet |
24 | 05 | David Sisco | Chevrolet |
25 | 30 | Terry Bivins | Chevrolet |
Section reference: [2]
Section reference: [2]
Pos | Driver | Points [2] | Differential |
---|---|---|---|
1 ![]() | Cale Yarborough | 4380 | 0 |
2 ![]() | Richard Petty | 4283 | -97 |
3 ![]() | Benny Parsons | 3984 | -396 |
4 ![]() | Bobby Allison | 3948 | -432 |
5 ![]() | Lennie Pond | 3669 | -711 |
6 ![]() | Dave Marcis | 3599 | -781 |
7 ![]() | Buddy Baker | 3539 | -841 |
8 ![]() | Darrell Waltrip | 3316 | -1064 |
9 ![]() | Richard Childress | 3285 | -1095 |
10 ![]() | Dick Brooks | 3211 | -1169 |