1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

Last updated

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.

Contents

Season recap

NoDateEventCircuitWinner
1January 16 Winston Western 500 Riverside International Raceway David Pearson
February 17 125 Mile Qualifying Races Daytona International Speedway Richard Petty
Cale Yarborough
2February 20 Daytona 500 Cale Yarborough
3February 27 Richmond 400 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway Cale Yarborough
4March 13 Carolina 500 North Carolina Motor Speedway Richard Petty
5March 20 Atlanta 500 Atlanta International Raceway Richard Petty
6March 27 Gwyn Staley 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway Cale Yarborough
7April 3 Rebel 500 Darlington Raceway Darrell Waltrip
8April 17 Southeastern 500 Bristol International Speedway Cale Yarborough
9April 24 Virginia 500 Martinsville Speedway Cale Yarborough
10May 1 Winston 500 Alabama International Motor Speedway Darrell Waltrip
11May 7 Music City USA 420 Nashville Speedway Benny Parsons
12May 15 Mason-Dixon 500 Dover Downs International Speedway Cale Yarborough
13May 29 World 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway Richard Petty
14June 12 Riverside 400 Riverside International Raceway Richard Petty
15June 19 Cam 2 Motor Oil 400 Michigan International Speedway Cale Yarborough
16July 4 Firecracker 400 Daytona International Speedway Richard Petty
17July 16 Nashville 420 Nashville Speedway Darrell Waltrip
18July 31 Coca-Cola 500 Pocono Raceway Benny Parsons
19August 7 Talladega 500 Alabama International Motor Speedway Donnie Allison*
20August 22 Champion Spark Plug 400 Michigan International Speedway Darrell Waltrip
21August 28 Volunteer 400 Bristol International Speedway Cale Yarborough
22September 5 Southern 500 Darlington Raceway David Pearson
23September 11 Capital City 400 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway Neil Bonnett
24September 18 Delaware 500 Dover Downs International Speedway Benny Parsons
25September 25 Old Dominion 500 Martinsville Speedway Cale Yarborough
26October 2 Wilkes 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway Darrell Waltrip
27October 9 National 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway Benny Parsons
28October 23 American 500 North Carolina Motor Speedway Donnie Allison
29November 6 Dixie 500 Atlanta International Raceway Darrell Waltrip
30November 20 Los Angeles Times 500 Ontario Motor Speedway Neil Bonnett

Donnie Allison is credited with the win but Darrell Waltrip finished the race for an over-heated Donnie Allison after Darrell Waltrip dropped out of the race after 106 laps. Points are always scored by the driver who starts the race.

Race Summaries

Round 1: Winston Western 500

The Winston Western 500 was held January 17 at Riverside International Raceway. Cale Yarborough won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #21 - David Pearson
  2. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  3. #43 - Richard Petty
  4. #2 - Dave Marcis
  5. #67 - Sonny Easley
  6. #3 - Richard Childress
  7. #69 - Hershel McGriff
  8. #76 - Hugh Pearson
  9. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  10. #09 - Eddie Bradshaw
  • David Pearson pounced when Cale Yarborough spun and seized his eleventh race in his last 23 starts, and fourth straight win on a California speedway.

Round 2: Daytona 500

The 19th annual Daytona 500 was held February 20 at the Daytona International Speedway. Donnie Allison won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  2. #72 - Benny Parsons
  3. #15 - Buddy Baker
  4. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
  5. #90 - Dick Brooks
  6. #51 - A.J. Foyt
  7. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  8. #52 - Jimmy Means
  9. #19 - Bob Burcham
  10. #48 - James Hylton
  • Cale Yarborough became only the second driver to win the Daytona 500 more than once, edging Benny Parsons.
  • Richard Petty nearly lost a lap on the start due to an emergency stop on the pace lap; Bobby Wawak's car caught fire on Lap Four and the yellow allowed Petty to get a lap back; he roared through the field and led but fell out with engine failure, his eleventh engine-related failure in the last 37 races.

Round 3: Richmond 400

The Richmond 400 was held February 27 at the Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Neil Bonnett won the pole

Top Ten

  1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  2. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  3. #72 - Benny Parsons
  4. #2 - Dave Marcis
  5. #12 - Bobby Allison
  6. #43 - Richard Petty
  7. #71 - Neil Bonnett
  8. #48 - James Hylton
  9. #15 - Buddy Baker
  10. #3 - Richard Childress
  • Yarborough led 161 laps as rain cut the event short at 245 laps; it was Cale's twelfth win in the last 37 races.

Round 4: Carolina 500

The Carolina 500 was held March 13 at the North Carolina Motor Speedway. Donnie Allison won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #43 - Richard Petty
  2. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  3. #1 - Donnie Allison
  4. #15 - Buddy Baker
  5. #71 - Neil Bonnett
  6. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  7. #27 - Sam Sommers
  8. #92 - Skip Manning
  9. #48 - James Hylton
  10. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  • North Carolina Motor Speedway was repaved in the off-season and the surface proved slick; the lead changed 30 times amid numerous crashes.
  • Richard Petty pounced after halfway and won handily for the first superspeedway race to finish with an average speed under 100 MPH since 1961.

Round 5: Atlanta 500

The Atlanta 500 was held March 20 at the Atlanta International Raceway. Richard Petty won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #43 - Richard Petty
  2. #21 - David Pearson
  3. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  4. #1 - Donnie Allison
  5. #15 - Buddy Baker
  6. #2 - Dave Marcis
  7. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  8. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
  9. #54 - Lennie Pond
  10. #47 - Bruce Hill
  • Petty, Pearson, and Cale had the entire race to themselves and finished 1-2-3 as only two cautions interrupted the 500-miler.

Round 6: Gwyn Staley 400

The Gwyn Staley 400 was held March 27 at the North Wilkesboro Speedway. Neil Bonnett won his second pole of the season in Harry Hyde's Dodge.

Top Ten

  1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #72 - Benny Parsons
  4. #15 - Buddy Baker
  5. #12 - Bobby Allison
  6. #90 - Dick Brooks
  7. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  8. #3 - Richard Childress
  9. #48 - James Hylton
  10. #67 - Buddy Arrington
  • On his 38th birthday, Yarborough led 320 laps en route to victory.

Round 7: Rebel 500

The Rebel 500 was held April 3 at Darlington Raceway. David Pearson won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  2. #1 - Donnie Allison
  3. #43 - Richard Petty
  4. #21 - David Pearson
  5. #72 - Benny Parsons
  6. #2 - Dave Marcis
  7. #15 - Buddy Baker
  8. #49 - G.C. Spencer
  9. #90 - Dick Brooks
  10. #47 - Bruce Hill
  • Darrell Waltrip first served notice for the season as a two-car crash with six laps to go brought out the yellow; Waltrip surged as Bobby Allison (subbing for his brother Donnie in Hoss Ellington's Chevy) and Petty were racing to the line; all three hit the line abreast and Waltrip was declared the winner by inches as the race ended under yellow.

Round 8: Southeastern 500

The Southeastern 500 was held April 17 at Bristol International Speedway. Cale Yarborough won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  2. #90 - Dick Brooks
  3. #43 - Richard Petty
  4. #71 - Neil Bonnett
  5. #72 - Benny Parsons
  6. #12 - Bobby Allison
  7. #48 - James Hylton
  8. #3 - Richard Childress
  9. #52 - Jimmy Means
  10. #22 - Ricky Rudd

Round 9: Virginia 500

The Virginia 500 was held April 24 at Martinsville Speedway. Neil Bonnett won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  2. #72 - Benny Parsons
  3. #43 - Richard Petty
  4. #54 - Lennie Pond
  5. #21 - David Pearson
  6. #90 - Dick Brooks
  7. #47 - Bruce Hill
  8. #52 - Jimmy Means
  9. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
  10. #3 - Richard Childress
  • Darrell Waltrip led 51 laps in challenging Cale and also Benny Parsons but fell out with brake failure.
  • Parsons led 83 laps but was no match for Cale; the win was Yarborough's fifth of the season and 15th of the last 43 races.

Round 10: Winston 500

The 8th annual Winston 500 was held May 1 at the Alabama International Motor Speedway. Soon to be four time Indy 500 winner A.J. Foyt won the pole

Top Ten

  1. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  2. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  3. #72 - Benny Parsons
  4. #1 - Donnie Allison
  5. #2 - Dave Marcis
  6. #36 - Ron Hutcherson
  7. #90 - Dick Brooks
  8. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
  9. #80 - Terry Bivins
  10. #27 - Sam Sommers
  • The race lead changed 63 times among 11 drivers as Donnie Allison led over 70 laps.
  • Richard Petty exploded from ninth to the lead on Lap Six but fell out on Lap 153 with engine failure.
  • On the final lap Darrell Waltrip led with Allison second, Cale Yarborough third, and Benny Parsons fourth; Waltrip swung low in Turn Two to break the draft, and a mad scramble ensued where Cale rocketed to the high side in Three but was sideswiped by Waltrip and Parsons tried to shoot the gap; Cale edged Parsons for second as Waltrip broke away to the win.

Round 11: Music City 420

The Music City 420 was held May 7 at Nashville Speedway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #72 - Benny Parsons
  2. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  3. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  4. #2 - Dave Marcis
  5. #43 - Richard Petty
  6. #15 - Buddy Baker
  7. #12 - Bobby Allison
  8. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
  9. #52 - Jimmy Means
  10. #22 - Ricky Rudd
  • Benny Parsons ended Yarborough's streak of short track wins when he grabbed the lead with 38 laps to go after Cale had led 275 straight laps; it was the first win for Parsons in the season.

Round 12: Mason-Dixon 500

The Mason-Dixon 500 was held May 15 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Richard Petty won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  2. #21 - David Pearson
  3. #43 - Richard Petty
  4. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  5. #90 - Dick Brooks
  6. #72 - Benny Parsons
  7. #54 - Lennie Pond
  8. #12 - Bobby Allison
  9. #15 - Buddy Baker
  10. #84 - Morgan Shepherd
  • For the second straight Dover race Cale Yarborough lost multiple laps, this time getting his damaged rear bumper repaired; Junior Johnson tore it off by hand and sent Cale back out; Cale erased his deficit and after a lap-after-lap battle with David Pearson broke away to the win, his sixth of the season, increasing his point lead to 202 over third-place finisher Richard Petty.

Round 13: World 600

The 18th annual World 600 was held May 29 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. David Pearson won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #43 - Richard Petty
  2. #21 - David Pearson
  3. #72 - Benny Parsons
  4. #54 - Lennie Pond
  5. #15 - Buddy Baker
  6. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  7. #71 - Neil Bonnett
  8. #90 - Dick Brooks
  9. #27 - Sam Sommers
  10. #92 - Skip Manning
  • Before Petty Enterprises left for the Charlotte Motor Speedway engine builder Maurice Petty created a race motor that had the same horsepower as their qualifying motor; Richard unleashed that horsepower leading 311 laps and winning by over half a lap; he broke away from early battles with Pearson and Donnie Allison and past halfway executed a risky three-abreast pass in the trioval around Pearson and Bobby Allison driving Benny Parsons' Chevrolet in relief with Coo Coo Marlin's lapped car involved.
  • Cale Yarborough broke a water pump and lost 50 laps getting repairs; his point lead was thus sliced nearly in half, to 108 points.

Round 14: NAPA 400

The NAPA 400 was held June 12 at Riverside International Raceway. Richard Petty won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #43 - Richard Petty
  2. #21 - David Pearson
  3. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  4. #51 - Jimmy Insolo
  5. #15 - Buddy Baker
  6. #93 - Norm Palmer
  7. #68 - Sonny Easley
  8. #3 - Richard Childress
  9. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  10. #92 - Skip Manning
  • Petty broke away from the field for the final 63 laps and beat Pearson and Cale for his fourth win of the year; Petty and Pearson finished together in the top two for the 63rd and final time.

Round 15: CAM 2 Motor Oil 400

The CAM 2 Motor Oil 400 was held June 19 at Michigan International Speedway. David Pearson won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #72 - Benny Parsons
  4. #2 - Dave Marcis
  5. #21 - David Pearson
  6. #15 - Buddy Baker
  7. #90 - Dick Brooks
  8. #27 - Sam Sommers
  9. #75 - Butch Hartman
  10. #12 - Bobby Allison
  • Cale Yarborough got back on track with a dominant win at Michigan International Speedway, his first there since 1970. He was critical of the track's surface, which had buckled in spots due to a hard winter: "My car jumped out of gear three times."

Round 16: Firecracker 400

The Firecracker 400 was held Monday July 4 at the Daytona International Speedway. Neil Bonnett won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #43 - Richard Petty
  2. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  3. #72 - Benny Parsons
  4. #21 - David Pearson
  5. #51 - A.J. Foyt
  6. #1 - Donnie Allison
  7. #15 - Buddy Baker
  8. #5 - Neil Bonnett
  9. #90 - Dick Brooks
  10. #27 - Sam Sommers
  • Neil Bonnett's team wrenched by Harry Hyde was purchased by mysterious coal-miner J.D. Stacy; the former K&K Insurance #71 was renumbered and painted white with red lettering; a cylinder faltered on the start and Bonnett limped home eighth.
  • After Cale and Bobby Allison fought for the lead in the first 49 laps with A. J. Foyt and Darrell Waltrip (the lead changed 28 times in that span) Richard Petty took over, leading 92 of the last 111 laps.
  • Waltrip who finished second would say: "I wish people would stop complaining about the Chevrolets. A Dodge won the pole here and Petty's Dodge blew my doors off."
  • Cale's transmission broke and after replacing the transmission he finished 14 laps down in 23rd, saying, "When Old Blue (Petty) wanted to go, he went." Petty cut Cale's point lead to 17.

Round 17: Nashville 420

The Nashville 420 was held July 16 at Nashville Speedway. Benny Parsons won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  2. #12 - Bobby Allison
  3. #43 - Richard Petty
  4. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  5. #90 - Dick Brooks
  6. #15 - Buddy Baker
  7. #92 - Skip Manning
  8. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
  9. #67 - Buddy Arrington
  10. #22 - Ricky Rudd
  • Darrell Waltrip led the last 251 laps for an easy win, but scoring headaches (due to pit road being the track's infield quarter-mile oval) left second and third place in dispute; Bobby Allison finished a lap down in second and Richard Petty finished third.

Round 18: Coca-Cola 500

The Coca-Cola 500 was held July 31 at Pocono International Raceway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole, his first on a superspeedway.

Top Ten

  1. #72 - Benny Parsons
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  4. #12 - Bobby Allison
  5. #90 - Dick Brooks
  6. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  7. #22 - Ricky Rudd
  8. #92 - Skip Manning
  9. #75 - Butch Hartman
  10. #48 - James Hylton
  • NASCAR mandated cylinder changes for Ford/Mercury engines that gave them some 20 extra horsepower, though David Pearson believed "we need 40" to battle the Chevrolets.
  • The race lead changed hands 47 times officially as Benny Parsons flexed the most muscle he'd shown in the season to that point.
  • Darrell Waltrip won his first superspeedway pole, and photos from this Pocono race were used in an October story on Waltrip in Sports Illustrated.
  • Richard Petty rallied from a flat tire in the first twenty laps; he closed on Parsons in the final laps but finished a close second.
  • Parsons led 118 laps for his second win of the year, while Cale Yarborough finished sixth with damage from a crash with Buddy Baker at lap 120; Petty thus took the point lead by eight points over Cale and Junior Johnson stated the car simply wasn't strong enough.

Round 19: Talladega 500

The Talladega 500 was held August 7 at the Alabama International Motor Speedway. Benny Parsons won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #1 - Donnie Allison/Darrell Waltrip*
  2. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  3. #92 - Skip Manning
  4. #22 - Ricky Rudd
  5. #54 - Lennie Pond
  6. #15 - Buddy Baker
  7. #12 - Bobby Allison
  8. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
  9. #48 - James Hylton
  10. #79 - Frank Warren
  • Once again Alabama International Motor Speedway witnessed one of the most bizarre weekends in NASCAR history. Following qualifying (Benny Parsons and Donnie Allison swept the front row while Chevrolets swept the top ten; Petty's Dodge in 11th was best of the non-Chevrolets) NASCAR confiscated the fuel cell (a Banjo Matthews product that was expandable) of one of the race's entrants (the identity of the team was not revealed) and Bill Gazaway announced he was cracking down on illegal fuel cells following this plus several bouts of unusually good mileage at Pocono; he stationed an official near the garage pay phones and the names of crewmen frantically telephoning to order new fuel cells were taken down. Thus were Junior Johnson, Hoss Ellington, Bud Moore, M.C. Anderson, and DiGard Racing caught with illegal fuel cells and fined.
  • Donnie Allison fought for the lead as it changed 49 times on a brutally hot day; he fell ill after drinking a bottle of soda and needed a relief driver; Darrell Waltrip arrived in the Hoss Ellington pit and drove the final 40 laps, beating Cale Yarborough and Skip Manning for the win, the final time entering the 2025 season a relief driver got the win.
  • Cale was second despite complaining afterward that his car was stuck in fourth gear and was "the sorriest Chevrolet on the track"; with Petty finishing 11th with a burned valve, Cale retook the point lead and would never look back.

Round 20: Champion Spark Plug 400

The Champion Spark Plug 400 was originally scheduled to be held on Sunday August 21 at the Michigan International Speedway but following heavy rain, it was postponed and run on Monday August 22. David Pearson won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  2. #21 - David Pearson
  3. #72 - Benny Parsons
  4. #27 - Sam Sommers
  5. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  6. #90 - Dick Brooks
  7. #22 - Ricky Rudd
  8. #43 - Richard Petty
  9. #81 - Terry Ryan
  10. #68 - Janet Guthrie
  • This was the first Grand National race run following the passing of 1970 champion Bobby Isaac.
  • With just ten races remaining in the season, Yarborough held a 50 point lead over Richard Petty.

Round 21: Volunteer 500

The Volunteer 500 was held August 28 at Bristol International Speedway. Cale Yarborough won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  2. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  3. #72 - Benny Parsons
  4. #90 - Dick Brooks
  5. #30 - Tighe Scott
  6. #68 - Janet Guthrie
  7. #92 - Skip Manning
  8. #3 - Richard Childress
  9. #48 - James Hylton
  10. #67 - Buddy Arrington
  • Yarborough grabbed his eighth win of the season, edging Darrell Waltrip under caution.
  • Yarborough with 9 races left in the season now held a 133 point lead over Richard Petty who crashed out of the race after completing 118 laps of 500 finishing 22nd.

Round 22: Southern 500

The 28th annual Southern 500 was scheduled and held Monday September 5 at Darlington Raceway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #21 - David Pearson
  2. #1 - Donnie Allison
  3. #15 - Buddy Baker
  4. #43 - Richard Petty
  5. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  6. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  7. #22 - Ricky Rudd
  8. #3 - Richard Childress
  9. #47 - Bruce Hill
  10. #52 - Bill Elliott
  • The surging seasons of Yarborough and Waltrip collided hard in the Southern 500. Waltrip won the pole and Cale started fourth, and the two battled hard for first; the lead had changed hands 28 times by Lap 236 when the leaders came into lapped traffic; Waltrip slammed into Yarborough and the wreck wiped out Janet Guthrie, D.K. Ulrich, and Terry Bivins. Waltrip limped home sixth and Yarborugh salvaged fourth as David Pearson pounced to the win, only his second of the season. Following the race Ulrich confronted Yarborough about the wreck, and Cale responded, "I didn't hit you, Jaws did. Jaws Waltrip." Ulrich started laughing upon recognizing the reference and it became a catchphrase for fans about Waltrip.
  • With just 8 races remaining in the season, Yarborough held a 128 point lead over Richard Petty.

Round 23: Capital City 400

The Capital City 400 was held September 11 at the Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Benny Parsons won the pole

Top Ten

  1. #5 - Neil Bonnett
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #72 - Benny Parsons
  4. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  5. #54 - Lennie Pond
  6. #12 - Bobby Allison
  7. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  8. #90 - Dick Brooks
  9. #48 - James Hylton
  10. #52 - Jimmy Means

Round 24: Delaware 500

The Delaware 500 was held September 18 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Neil Bonnett won the pole.

  1. #72 - Benny Parsons
  2. #21 - David Pearson
  3. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  4. #1 - Donnie Allison
  5. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  6. #15 - Buddy Baker
  7. #3 - Richard Childress
  8. #90 - Dick Brooks
  9. #12 - Bobby Allison
  10. #27 - Sam Sommers

Round 25: Old Dominion 500

The Old Dominion 500 was held September 25 at Martinsville Speedway. Neil Bonnett won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  2. #72 - Benny Parsons
  3. #21 - David Pearson/Donnie Allison
  4. #43 - Richard Petty/Bobby Allison
  5. #27 - Sam Sommers
  6. #63 - Jimmy Hensley
  7. #67 - Buddy Arrington
  8. #48 - James Hylton
  9. #52 - Jimmy Means
  10. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  • Yarborough grabbed his ninth win of the season on a very hot day, so hot an exhausted Yarborough in a post race interview with the Motor Racing Network's reporter Ned Jarrett, called for the track to shorten the distance of its races, which earned an angry rebuke from H. Clay Earles.
  • The Allison brothers after falling out early relief drove for the 21 (Donnie) & 43 (Bobby).
  • Yarborough now led Petty by 219 points with just 5 races left in the season.

Round 26: Wilkes 400

The Wilkes 400 was held October 2 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Richard Petty won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  2. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  3. #5 - Neil Bonnett
  4. #12 - Bobby Allison
  5. #72 - Benny Parsons
  6. #3 - Richard Childress
  7. #22 - Ricky Rudd
  8. #90 - Dick Brooks
  9. #15 - Buddy Baker
  10. #67 - Buddy Arrington
  • Richard Petty's fading title hopes took another blow at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Petty led 199 laps from the pole but crashed after being sideswiped by the lapped car of Bobby Allison.
  • Darrell Waltrip took the win and in postrace interviews said the race was easy according to what he called "The Cale Scale," a mocking reference to Yarborough's complaint about fatigue the week earlier.
  • Yarborough now led Petty by 293 points with 4 races remaining.

Round 27: NAPA National 500

The NAPA National 500 was held October 9 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. David Pearson won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #72 - Benny Parsons
  2. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  3. #21 - David Pearson
  4. #15 - Buddy Baker
  5. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  6. #90 - Dick Brooks
  7. #51 - A.J. Foyt
  8. #5 - Neil Bonnett
  9. #68 - Janet Guthrie
  10. #9 - Bill Elliott
  • Benny Parsons authored his most dominant run of the season as he led 250 laps and wasn't slowed despite running out of gas and losing a lap; he easily rebounded and ran down Yarborough for the win.
  • Richard Petty led 25 laps but the suspension collapsed while leading; Petty's Dodge slowed off of turn four and David Pearson and Bobby Allison spun behind him. The DNF effectively ended Petty's title hopes.
  • Dave Marcis finished 23rd in Penske Racing's Chevrolet, and following the race the Chevy equipment was sold to businessman Rod Osterlund and Marcis was tabbed as the new team's driver; the Mercury racecars of the Penske team meanwhile were sold to Georgia youngster Bill Elliott.
  • With 3 races left to run, Yarborough now held a 378 point lead over Benny Parsons, Petty fell to third now 396 points behind Cale.

Round 28: American 500

The American 500 was held October 23 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Donnie Allison won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #1 - Donnie Allison
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  4. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  5. #90 - Dick Brooks
  6. #12 - Bobby Allison
  7. #72 - Benny Parsons
  8. #92 - Skip Manning
  9. #68 - Janet Guthrie
  10. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
  • Donnie Allison dominated the weekend for his second win of the year and ninth career Winston Cup Grand National win.
  • Cale Yarborough clinched the championship despite a runner-up finish by Petty. Cale clinched the title with Petty working his way back up to 2nd in points but 386 points behind Cale. Benny Parsons fell back to 3rd in points but only 9 points behind Petty so Benny still had a chance for 2nd in points with 2 races remaining.
  • Darrell Waltrip raced despite incurring injuries at Riverside International Raceway and also after being kicked by a mule during a parade days before the race. "I ran into a wall and got stepped on by a mule," Waltrip said afterward.

Round 29: Dixie 500

The Dixie 500 was held November 6 at Atlanta International Raceway. Sam Sommers won his first and only pole.

Top Ten

  1. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  2. #21 - David Pearson
  3. #72 - Benny Parsons
  4. #1 - Donnie Allison
  5. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  6. #43 - Richard Petty
  7. #15 - Buddy Baker
  8. #22 - Ricky Rudd
  9. #12 - Bobby Allison
  10. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
  • Rain delayed the race to the doorstep of darkness and cut its distance from 328 laps to 268 laps.
  • On the final lap with darkness close to enveloping the track, Darrell Waltrip, using the lapped car of James Hylton as a pick, stormed past Donnie Allison and stole the win; Donnie crashed with Cale Yarborough at the stripe, finishing fourth.
  • With one race left to run, Cale Yarborough had already clinched the championship with a total of 4830 points, and had a real chance to score 5000 points over the whole season. The battle for 2nd in points however was far from decided with it now being a three way fight between [[Richard Petty (4439), Benny Parsons (4438), and a resurgent Darrell Waltrip (4417). Petty held a 1 point advantage over Parsons, and a 22 point advantage over Waltrip.

Round 30: Los Angeles Times 500

The Los Angeles Times 500 was held November 20 at the Ontario Motor Speedway. Richard Petty won the pole.

Top Ten

  1. #5 - Neil Bonnett
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  4. #15 - Buddy Baker
  5. #21 - David Pearson
  6. #90 - Dick Brooks
  7. #12 - Bobby Allison
  8. #22 - Ricky Rudd
  9. #48 - James Hylton
  10. #3 - Richard Childress
  • 1974 Dodge Chargers swept the front row and Petty and Neil Bonnett battled for the lead all 500 miles; the lead changed 37 official times and numerous additional times, particularly in the opening laps as Petty and Bonnett battled Pearson, A. J. Foyt, and Waltrip.
  • Waltrip fell out and Pearson lost a lap late as Petty came up short of Bonnett at the stripe despite skidding through Turn Four to try to catch him. The win was Bonnett's first on a superspeedway and the 45th Winston Cup Grand National win for crew chief Harry Hyde.
  • Cale Yarborough recovered from a late spin to finish third; his winning point total was 5,000, the highest point total recorded under the point system developed by Bob Latford.
  • Dave Marcis finished 14th in his first race with Rod Osterlund.
  • For 5 laps under caution Janet Guthrie led laps which was the first time a woman led laps in NASCAR, and would not be done by a woman in the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series until the 2013 Daytona 500 when Danica Patrick would lead laps.
  • The three way fight for second in points was decided with Petty taking it by 44 points over Parsons, and 116 over Waltrip.

Full Drivers’ Championship

(key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by owner's points. * – Most laps led.

Pos.Driver RIV DAY RCH CAR ATL NWS DAR BRI MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RIV MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT Pts
1 Cale Yarborough 2*1*1*63*1*161*1*22*12431*234625*1*5431*224535000
2 Richard Petty 32661*1233320531*1*21*32118224223424*322624614
3 Benny Parsons 21231226355231632733181*24332531*251*73124570
4 Darrell Waltrip 972277119211346263521*322126*75101531294498
5 Buddy Baker 12394547292433695567627630153276219429743961
6 Dick Brooks 527222369267225812795539643488268653763742
7 James Hylton 1410893893271718113328141139191091691391681214132693476
8 Bobby Allison 35155274152961940783917101724726283969234266973467
9 Richard Childress 62310171981781021262114834192717203388267156161821103463
10 Cecil Gordon 111713101613121713161312229211120211619291917211815372320323294
11 Buddy Arrington 3824141110141419151118191922915121410142513710171217193247
12 J. D. McDuffie 2913161531221920926241325332024814820181213121723151027203236
13 David Pearson 1213224*5222*225428372123327253227
14 Skip Manning 36188282623122723211710102716783127381519131335813DNQ3120
15 D. K. Ulrich 1514282329203426153114203411164114341818112714311222193318212901
16 Frank Warren 25113035271627131329262615302112191023131720221121333523162876
17 Ricky Rudd (R)22261922102810271728361074716711322772425882810
18 Neil Bonnett 17377512213341229782125171*17223828381*2649
19 Jimmy Means 82928202720983492919142029203617271014911282240DNQ2640
20 Tighe Scott (R)DNQ1611332523262814171416312713132711532182420253419172628
21 Sam Sommers (R)317131315281098102432264202910514341728382517
22 Ed Negre 2729151339282425254115351631121116152417222435272214
23 Janet Guthrie (R)121230113226401511341061612119916242037
24 Donnie Allison 30342264*332461*24*28361*4*421970
25 Dave Marcis 428424612621205436422233136141931
26 Tommy Gale (R)DNQ2122212315183723382514321824262115221689
27 Dick May DNQ162124172431192014201314321324
28 Henley Gray 32QL191633142823183925323822171214
29 Bruce Hill 2536101072735313230351394126151213
30 Lennie Pond 34931474335285302530361193
31 Butch Hartman DNQ112523918929253531121116
32 Ferrel Harris 18181614201936143322251088
33 Baxter Price 2425162234262121373018161086
34 Coo Coo Marlin 4888121311402612101004
35 Bill Elliott DNQ30321515352329101011926
36 Gary Myers (R)11111529122226301534888
37 David Sisco DNQQL19223019303225342228847
38 Terry Bivins QL142624173011924841
39 G. C. Spencer DNQ218201431371825785
40 Terry Ryan 1835272917129702
41 Joe Mihalic DNQ2925183224401821683
42 Elmo Langley 20162331283516634
43 Dean Dalton DNQ3735303421232919DNQ620
44 Earl Brooks DNQ252525172525552
45 Bobby Wawak 1842301815221129522
46Harold Miller172728132830470
47 Junior Miller 1731182426467
48 Rick Newsom 2329271628DNQ2827446
49 Ramo Stott 2715114032440
50 Grant Adcox 343726251522413
51 Sonny Easley 5726386
52 Ralph Jones DNQ18231930382
53 Ronnie Thomas 33251930331
54 Morgan Shepherd DNQ101333322
55 Walter Ballard 192216318
56Norm Palmer23634305
57 Earle Canavan 3623353623DNQ301
58Jimmy Lee Capps331818282
59 Jim Hurtubise 35421539259
60 Chuck Bown 132539258
61 Jimmy Hensley 226247
62 Travis Tiller 212932DNQ243
63 Roy Smith 223923237
64 Roland Wlodyka 2931363915219
65 Bill Schmitt 193041219
66 Ron Hutcherson 3261129Wth11DNQ217
67 Hershel McGriff 7DNQ34207
68Jim Thirkettle1624206
69 Elliott Forbes-Robinson 402036201
70 Bob Burcham 934199
71Chuck Wahl2618194
72 Bill Seifert 1233191
73Eddie Bradshaw10DNQ37186
74Richard WhiteDNQ2225185
75Gary Johnson2029DNQ179
76Mike Kempton3020176
77 Marty Robbins 1338173
78 Kenny Brightbill 1240170
79Peter Knab123320167
80Larry LaMay2430164
81 Jocko Maggiacomo 262728DNQ164
82Ernie StierlyDNQ2035161
83Don Puskarich3028DNQ152
84Hugh Pearson8142
85John DineenDNQ13DNQ124
86 Joe Ruttman 13124
87 Jody Ridley 14121
88Robin SchildknechtDNQ2115DNQ118
89 Harry Jefferson 18109
90 Jim Vandiver 20103
91Harry Goularte21DNQ100
92 Marv Acton 233894
93 Joe Frasson DNQ2491
94Gary Matthews24DNQ91
95Jim RaptisDNQ30403989
96 Bill Baker 2816DNQ79
97 John Borneman 2879
98 Paul Dean Holt 2879
99Greg Heller2976
100 Dick Trickle 2976
101 Harry Gant 3073
102Don GrahamDNQ3073
103Carl Joiner3170
104Ron McGee3170
105Summer McKnightDNQ3170
106 Ray Elder 32DNQ67
107Glenn Francis33DNQ64
108Vince Giaformaggio3364
109 John Kennedy 3364
110 Jimmy Insolo 34461
111Nestor Peles233558
112Phil FinneyDNQ3558
113Don NoelDNQ35DNQ58
114Johnny Kieper3655
115 Dick Skillen DNQ3655
116Steve Stolarek36DNQ55
117Raymond Williams3655
118 Dale Earnhardt 3849
119 A. J. Foyt 634385711
120 Johnny Rutherford 414021
121 Roger Hamby 1931
122Billy McGinnisDNQ14
123 Steve Moore 19
124Randy Myers20
125Bill Osborne23
126 Salt Walther 24
127 Blackie Wangerin DNQ24
128 Tom Sneva 27
129 Lella Lombardi 31
130 Christine Beckers 37
131 Roger McCluskey 40
132Ivan BaldwinDNQ
133Nick deCourvilleDNQ
134 J. C. Danielson DNQ
135Steve BehrDNQ
136John Soares Jr.DNQ
137 Ron Esau DNQ
138Dennis WilsonDNQ
139Bryce MannDNQ
140Chris MonoleosDNQ
141 Mike Hiss DNQ
142John HamsonDNQDNQ
143Jack SimpsonDNQDNQDNQ
144Steve PfeiferDNQDNQ
145Johnny BarnesDNQ
146 Joe Booher DNQ
147 Charlie Blanton DNQ
148A. J. RenoDNQ
149 Jabe Thomas DNQDNQ
150 Bruce Jacobi DNQ
151Joseph SchultzDNQ
152Bennie VaughtDNQ
153Mike BrockmanDNQ
154 Rocky Moran DNQ
Pos.Driver RIV DAY RCH CAR ATL NWS DAR BRI MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RIV MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT Pts

[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Central - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
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