1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

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1979

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1981

Dale Earnhardt, the 1980 champion

Cale Yarborough finished second in the standings

Benny Parsons finished third in the standings

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. It was the final year with the Gen 2 car. The season began on Sunday, January 13 and ended on Sunday, November 15. Dale Earnhardt won his first Winston Cup championship in his first full-season after missing couple races in 1979, winning by 19 points over Cale Yarborough. Jody Ridley was crowned NASCAR Rookie of the Year.

Teams and drivers

Team	Make	No.	Driver	Car Owner	Crew Chief
A. J. Foyt Enterprises	Oldsmobile Cutlass	51	A. J. Foyt	A. J. Foyt
			Don Whittington
Arrington Racing	Dodge Magnum	67	Buddy Arrington	Buddy Arrington	Joey Arrington
		77	Dick May
			Eddie Dickerson
		97
B&B Racing	Buick Century	03	Jimmy Finger	Don Bierschwale
Ballard Racing	Oldsmobile Cutlass	30	Tighe Scott	Walter Ballard	Harry Hyde
Billie Harvey Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass	87	Billie Harvey	Billie Harvey
			Gary Balough
Billy Matthews Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	41	Dick Brooks	Billy Matthews
Borneman Motorsports	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	81	John Borneman	John Borneman
Bud Moore Engineering	Ford Thunderbird	15	Bobby Allison	Bud Moore	Bud Moore
DiGard Motorsports	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	88	Darrell Waltrip	Bill Gardner	Buddy Parrott Jake Elder
Donlavey Racing	Ford Thunderbird	90	Jody Ridley	Junie Donlavey
Ellington Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass	1	David Pearson	Hoss Ellington	Runt Pittman
Elliott Racing	Mercury Cougar	9	Bill Elliott 11	George Elliott	Ernie Elliott
G. C. Spencer Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass 1	4	Gary Baker 2	G. C. Spencer
			Connie Saylor 5
Gordon Racing	Oldsmobile Cutlass	24	Cecil Gordon	Cecil Gordon
Gray Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	19	John Anderson (R)	Henley Gray
Hagan Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	44	Terry Labonte	Billy Hagan	Darrell Bryant
Halpern Enterprises	Oldsmobile Cutlass Chevrolet Monte Carlo	02	Donnie Allison	Joel Halpern
			Chuck Bown		Harold Fagan
Hamby Motorsports	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	17	Roger Hamby	Roger Hamby
Hollar Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	99	Dick May	Bill Hollar
Hylton Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	48	James Hylton	James Hylton
John Kieper	Dodge Magnum	93	Chuck Bown	John Kieper
	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	98	Hershel McGriff
Johnson Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	53	Slick Johnson	J. D. Johnson
Junior Johnson & Associates	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	11	Cale Yarborough	Junior Johnson	Tim Brewer
Junior Miller Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	79	Junior Miller	Junior Miller
Kennie Childers Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	12	Donnie Allison	Kennie Childers
Langley Racing	Ford Thunderbird	64	Tommy Gale	Elmo Xey
M. C. Anderson Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	27	Benny Parsons	M. C. Anderson	David Ifft
Marcis Auto Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	71	Dave Marcis	Dave Marcis
McDuffie Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	70	J. D. McDuffie	J. D. McDuffie
Means Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	52	Jimmy Means	Jimmy Means
Nelson Malloch Racing	Ford Thunderbird	7	Dick Brooks	Nelson Malloch
			Ricky Rudd
			Lake Speed
Osterlund Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	2	Dale Earnhardt	Rod Osterlund	Jake Elder Doug Richert
Petty Enterprises	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	42	Kyle Petty 16	Richard Petty	Maurice Petty
		43	Richard Petty		Dale Inman
Price Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	45	Baxter Price	Baxter Price	Robert Beadle
			Charlie Chamblee
			Jimmy Means
			Roy Smith
			Joel Stowe
Race Hill Farm Team	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	47	Harry Gant	Jack Beebe	Bob Johnson
RahMoc Enterprises	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	75	Bill Elswick 12	Bob Rahilly	Butch Mock
			Joe Millikan 3
			John Anderson 7
			Chuck Bown 1
			Harry Gant 3
			Kyle Petty 1
			Lennie Pond 2
			Jim Sauter 1
Ranier-Lundy Racing	Oldsmobile Cutlass	28	Buddy Baker	Harry Ranier	Waddell Wilson Buddy Parrott
Richard Childress Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	3	Richard Childress	Richard Childress
Robertson Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	25	Ronnie Thomas	Don Robertson
Speed Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	66	Lake Speed (R)	Lake Speed
Testa Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass	68	Chuck Bown 1	Jim Testa	Ron Kelly
			Lennie Pond 14
			John Greenwood 2
Ulrich Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century	40	Bill Whittington 2	D. K. Ulrich
			Joe Booher 1
			Ricky Rudd 3		D. K. Ulrich
			Dick May 2
			D. K. Ulrich 10
			Dick Skillen 1
			Mike Alexander 1
			J. D. McDuffie 1
			Tommy Gale 1
			Lennie Pond 1
			Sterling Marlin 1
			Tim Richmond 5		D. K. Ulrich
			Harry Dinwiddle 1
			Stan Barrett 3
Warren Racing	Dodge Magnum Chevrolet Monte Carlo	79	Dick May 2	Frank Warren
			Jim Hurlbert 1
			Joey Arrington 1
			Frank Warren 7
			Travis Tiller 1
			Junior Miller 5
			Joe Booher 2
			Marty Robbins 1
Wawak Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century	74	Joe Booher 2	Bobby Wawak
			Bobby Wawak 19
			Bob Riley 1
			Stuart Hoffman 1
			Henry Jones 1
Wood Brothers Racing	Mercury Cougar	21	Neil Bonnett	Glen Wood	Leonard Wood

Season recap

No.	Date	Race title	Track	Winning driver
1	January 13 January 19	Winston Western 500	Riverside International Raceway	Darrell Waltrip
	February 10	Busch Clash	Daytona International Speedway	Dale Earnhardt
	February 14	125 Mile Qualifying Races		Neil Bonnett
				Donnie Allison
2	February 17	Daytona 500		Buddy Baker
3	February 24	Richmond 400	Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway	Darrell Waltrip
4	March 9	Carolina 500	North Carolina Motor Speedway	Cale Yarborough
5	March 16	Atlanta 500	Atlanta International Raceway	Dale Earnhardt
6	March 30	Valleydale Southeastern 400	Bristol International Raceway	Dale Earnhardt
7	April 13	CRC Rebel 500	Darlington International Raceway	David Pearson
8	April 20	Northwestern Bank 400	North Wilkesboro Speedway	Richard Petty
9	April 27	Virginia 500	Martinsville Speedway	Darrell Waltrip
10	May 4	Winston 500	Alabama International Motor Speedway	Buddy Baker
11	May 10	Music City 420	Nashville Speedway	Richard Petty
12	May 18	Mason-Dixon 500	Dover Downs International Speedway	Bobby Allison
13	May 25	World 600	Charlotte Motor Speedway	Benny Parsons
14	June 1	NASCAR 400	Texas World Speedway	Cale Yarborough
15	June 8	Warner W. Hodgdon 400	Riverside International Raceway	Darrell Waltrip
16	June 15	Gabriel 400	Michigan International Speedway	Benny Parsons
17	July 4	Firecracker 400	Daytona International Speedway	Bobby Allison
18	July 12	Busch Nashville 420	Nashville Speedway	Dale Earnhardt
19	July 27	Coca-Cola 500	Pocono Raceway	Neil Bonnett
20	August 3	Talladega 500	Alabama International Motor Speedway	Neil Bonnett
21	August 17	Champion Spark Plug 400	Michigan International Speedway	Cale Yarborough
22	August 23	Busch Volunteer 500	Bristol International Raceway	Cale Yarborough
23	September 1	Southern 500	Darlington International Raceway	Terry Labonte
24	September 7	Capital City 400	Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway	Bobby Allison
25	September 14	CRC Chemicals 500	Dover Downs International Speedway	Darrell Waltrip
26	September 21	Holly Farms 400	North Wilkesboro Speedway	Bobby Allison
27	September 28	Old Dominion 500	Martinsville Speedway	Dale Earnhardt
28	October 5	National 500	Charlotte Motor Speedway	Dale Earnhardt
29	October 19	American 500	North Carolina Motor Speedway	Cale Yarborough
30	November 2	Atlanta Journal 500	Atlanta International Raceway	Cale Yarborough
31	November 15	Los Angeles Times 500	Ontario Motor Speedway	Benny Parsons

Races

Winston Western 500

The Winston Western 500 was held on January 13 at Riverside International Raceway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole, and would claim his second straight win in Riverside's NASCAR season-opener. He took the win with crew chief Buddy Parrott, who had been fired from DiGard Racing immediately following the Los Angeles Times 500 the previous November but rehired at the start of January.

Top ten results

1. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
2. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
3. #43 - Richard Petty
4. #72 - Joe Millikan
5. #73 - Bill Schmitt
6. #3 - Richard Childress
7. #44 - Terry Labonte
8. #40 - Bill Whittington
9. #55 - Don Whittington
10. #25 - Ronnie Thomas

Daytona 500

The 22nd Daytona 500 was held on February 17 at Daytona International Speedway. Buddy Baker won the pole. Baker ended a career-long drought in the 500 as he dominated, winning in his 18th attempt. Darrell Waltrip blew his engine early and angrily ripped the DiGard Racing team in postrace interviews. With an average speed of 177.602 mph, the 1980 race remains the fastest Daytona 500 in history.

Top ten results

1. #28 - Buddy Baker
2. #15 - Bobby Allison
3. #21 - Neil Bonnett
4. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
5. #27 - Benny Parsons
6. #44 - Terry Labonte
7. #1 - Donnie Allison
8. #14 - Sterling Marlin
9. #75 - Lennie Pond
10. #90 - Jody Ridley

Richmond 400

The Richmond 400 was held on February 24 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole. Waltrip, Bobby Allison, and Richard Petty combined to lead 345 laps. Petty rallied from a mid-race spin to lead until Waltrip grabbed the lead for the final nineteen laps.

Top ten results

1. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
2. #15 - Bobby Allison
3. #43 - Richard Petty
4. #71 - Dave Marcis
5. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
6. #67 - Buddy Arrington
7. #48 - James Hylton
8. #24 - Cecil Gordon
9. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
10. #74 - Bobby Wawak

Carolina 500

The Carolina 500 was held on March 9 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole. Cale Yarborough drove a backup Oldsmobile to the win, while Benny Parsons survived a hard crash in Turn One.

Top ten results

1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
2. #43 - Richard Petty
3. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
4. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
5. #1 - Donnie Allison
6. #21 - Neil Bonnett
7. #15 - Bobby Allison
8. #47 - Harry Gant
9. #71 - Dave Marcis
10. #44 - Terry Labonte

Atlanta 500

The Atlanta 500 was held on March 16 at Atlanta International Raceway. Buddy Baker won the pole. Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, and Donnie Allison dominated the first 300 miles of the race as sophomore Dale Earnhardt clawed from 31st into contention; Allison and Earnhardt were side by side for the lead when Donnie was hit by Terry Labonte and hit the wall in Turn Three. Cale broke in the final 60 laps as Earnhardt took the win; finishing second was rookie Rusty Wallace in his first career race.

Top ten results

1. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
2. #16 - Rusty Wallace
3. #15 - Bobby Allison
4. #71 - Dave Marcis
5. #7 - Dick Brooks
6. #90 - Jody Ridley
7. #28 - Buddy Baker
8. #11 - Cale Yarborough
9. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
10. #53 - Slick Johnson

Valleydale Southeastern 500

The Southeastern 500 was held on March 30 at Bristol International Speedway. Cale Yarborough won the pole. Earnhardt passed Yarborough and led the final 135 laps for his second straight win.

Top ten results

1. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
2. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
3. #15 - Bobby Allison
4. #27 - Benny Parsons
5. #11 - Cale Yarborough
6. #72 - Joe Millikan
7. #47 - Harry Gant
8. #43 - Richard Petty
9. #71 - Dave Marcis
10. #44 - Terry Labonte

CRC Chemicals Rebel 500

The Rebel 500 was held on April 13 at Darlington Raceway. Benny Parsons won the pole. Rain shortened the race after halfway as David Pearson, replacing Donnie Allison in Hoss Ellington's car, took his 105th and final career win. Neil Bonnett crashed out on the opening lap and Dale Earnhardt led fifteen laps but fell out with engine failure.

Top ten results

1. #1 - David Pearson
2. #27 - Benny Parsons
3. #47 - Harry Gant
4. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
5. #7 - Dick Brooks
6. #68 - Lennie Pond
7. #72 - Joe Millikan
8. #66 - Lake Speed
9. #43 - Richard Petty
10. #90 - Jody Ridley

Northwestern Bank 400

The Northwestern Bank 400 was held on April 10 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Bobby Allison won the pole.

Top ten results

1. #43 - Richard Petty
2. #47 - Harry Gant
3. #15 - Bobby Allison
4. #11 - Cale Yarborough
5. #27 - Benny Parsons
6. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
7. #90 - Jody Ridley
8. #42 - Kyle Petty
9. #53 - Slick Johnson
10. #72 - Joe Millikan

Virginia 500

The Virginia 500 was held on April 27 at Martinsville Speedway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole. In an effort to save money for race teams, NASCAR banned tire changes under caution on short tracks. Waltrip led 303 laps from the pole to the win.

Top ten results

1. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
2. #27 - Benny Parsons
3. #43 - Richard Petty
4. #11 - Cale Yarborough
5. #72 - Joe Millikan
6. #21 - Neil Bonnett
7. #90 - Jody Ridley
8. #71 - Dave Marcis
9. #53 - Slick Johnson
10. #67 - Buddy Arrington

Winston 500

The Winston 500 was held on May 4 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. David Pearson won the pole. On a newly repaved surface, Buddy Baker ran down Dale Earnhardt with two laps to go for the win, but was informed on his way to postrace interviews he would be replaced in the Ranier Racing car in 1981.

Top ten results

1. #28 - Buddy Baker
2. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
3. #1 - David Pearson
4. #68 - Lennie Pond
5. #30 - Tighe Scott
6. #11 - Cale Yarborough
7. #66 - Lake Speed
8. #27 - Benny Parsons
9. #7 - Dick Brooks
10. #90 - Jody Ridley

Music City USA 420

The Music City 420 was held on May 10 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. Cale Yarborough won the pole. Yarborough cut a tire but could not pit under yellow to change it; as a result Richard Petty took his eighth win at the Nashville Fairgrounds. Petty and Cale were critical of NASCAR's new rule for short tracks banning tire changes under yellow. Petty's win was also Chevrolet's 100th manufacturer win in NASCAR.

Top ten results

1. #43 - Richard Petty
2. #27 - Benny Parsons
3. #11 - Cale Yarborough
4. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
5. #15 - Bobby Allison
6. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
7. #44 - Terry Labonte
8. #90 - Jody Ridley
9. #47 - Harry Gant
10. #40 - Mike Alexander

Mason-Dixon 500

The Mason-Dixon 500 was held on May 18 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Cale Yarborough won the pole. Bobby Allison won after leading 126 laps, edging Richard Petty for his first win of the season. Allison was critical of the Ford racecars he was running, saying "We still need a Chevy for the other tracks."

Top ten results

1. #15 - Bobby Allison
2. #43 - Richard Petty
3. #28 - Buddy Baker
4. #47 - Harry Gant
5. #44 - Terry Labonte
6. #90 - Jody Ridley
7. #40 - Dick May
8. #3 - Richard Childress
9. #24 - Cecil Gordon
10. #2 - Dale Earnhardt

World 600

The World 600 was held on May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Cale Yarborough won the pole. The race ran over seven hours thanks to fourteen yellows for crashes on the newly paved surface and two rain delays lasting two hours. The lead changed 47 times as Benny Parsons out-dueled Darrell Waltrip; they swapped the lead eight times in the final twenty laps. Dale Earnhardt's crash at Lap 275 with David Pearson and Cale Yarborough combined with Richard Petty's fourth cut Earnhardt's point lead to under 50; crew chief Jake Elder quit the team after the race, citing an attitude change with Earnhardt and also conflict with Rod Osterlund and team manager Roland Wlodyka ("Rod tells me one thing and Roland another. I tell Roland what we need and he says we can't do that.....I had no authority to get the people I need.") ^[1]

Top ten results

1. #27 - Benny Parsons
2. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
3. #44 - Terry Labonte
4. #43 - Richard Petty
5. #21 - Neil Bonnett
6. #1 - David Pearson
7. #42 - Kyle Petty
8. #89 - Jim Vandiver
9. #22 - Ricky Rudd
10. #67 - Buddy Arrington

NASCAR 400

The NASCAR 400 was held on June 1 at Texas World Speedway. Cale Yarborough won the pole. Yarborough led 110 laps from the pole and edged Richard Petty, while point leader Dale Earnhardt led 54 laps but finished a distant ninth in his first race with Doug Richert as crew chief. Benny Parsons led 30 laps but overheated and fell out.

Top ten results

1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
2. #43 - Richard Petty
3. #15 - Bobby Allison
4. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
5. #44 - Terry Labonte
6. #3 - Richard Childress
7. #71 - Dave Marcis
8. #75 - Harry Gant
9. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
10. #48 - James Hylton

Warner W. Hodgdon 400

The Warner W. Hodgdon 400 was held on June 8 at Riverside International Raceway. Cale Yarborough won the pole for the fifth consecutive race.

Top ten results

1. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
2. #21 - Neil Bonnett
3. #27 - Benny Parsons
4. #11 - Cale Yarborough
5. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
6. #71 - Dave Marcis
7. #75 - Harry Gant
8. #43 - Richard Petty
9. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
10. #24 - Cecil Gordon

Gabriel 400

The Gabriel 400 was held on June 15 at Michigan International Speedway. Benny Parsons won the pole. Parsons, who grew up in the Detroit area, won at Michigan for the only time in his career. Darrell Waltrip fell out with engine failure, and following the race crew chief Buddy Parrott was fired; a fight ensued between Parrott and Robert Yates at the DiGard shop when the team returned home. Parrott publicly blamed Waltrip for his firing, saying "I'll die before I ever turn another wrench on a Darrell Waltrip car." Parrott was promptly hired to Ranier Racing.

Top ten results

1. #27 - Benny Parsons
2. #11 - Cale Yarborough
3. #28 - Buddy Baker
4. #21 - Neil Bonnett
5. #43 - Richard Petty
6. #90 - Jody Ridley
7. #42 - Kyle Petty
8. #15 - Bobby Allison
9. #9 - Bill Elliott
10. #30 - Tighe Scott

Firecracker 400

The Firecracker 400 was held on July 4 at Daytona International Speedway. Cale Yarborough won the pole. Bobby Allison edged Earnhardt and Pearson before a scary crash erupted off Turn Four as Phil Finney plowed into an earthen bank and flew twenty feet into the air before landing at the pit road entrance. The lead changed 41 times.

Top ten results

1. #15 - Bobby Allison
2. #1 - David Pearson
3. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
4. #28 - Buddy Baker
5. #43 - Richard Petty
6. #27 - Benny Parsons
7. #90 - Jody Ridley
8. #3 - Richard Childress
9. #75 - John Anderson
10. #67 - Buddy Arrington

Busch Nashville 420

The Busch Nashville 420 was held on July 12 at Nashville Speedway. Cale Yarborough won the pole.

Top ten results

1. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
2. #11 - Cale Yarborough
3. #27 - Benny Parsons
4. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
5. #43 - Richard Petty
6. #15 - Bobby Allison
7. #40 - Sterling Marlin
8. #90 - Jody Ridley
9. #3 - Richard Childress
10. #67 - Buddy Arrington

Coca-Cola 500

The Coca-Cola 500 was held on July 27 at Pocono Raceway. Cale Yarborough won the pole, his eighth pole in the last nine races. Neil Bonnett survived a physical last lap with Buddy Baker and Yarborough. The lead changed 50 times, but the story of the race was a bad wreck on Lap 57 as Richard Petty, holding the lead, broke a wheel entering the track's Tunnel Turn, shot into the wall, and bounced into the path of traffic, where he was hit in the driver's side door by Darrell Waltrip. Petty suffered a broken neck and his title chances effectively ended.

Top ten results

1. #21 - Neil Bonnett
2. #28 - Buddy Baker
3. #11 - Cale Yarborough
4. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
5. #47 - Harry Gant
6. #44 - Terry Labonte
7. #42 - Kyle Petty
8. #71 - Dave Marcis
9. #3 - Richard Childress
10. #7 - Ricky Rudd

Talladega 500

The Talladega 500 was held on August 3 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. Buddy Baker won the pole. Neil Bonnett fought off a last-lap challenge from Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough, and Benny Parsons for the win, the second in a row for Wood Brothers Racing and the final win for the Mercury automobile brand.

Top ten results

1. #21 - Neil Bonnett
2. #11 - Cale Yarborough
3. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
4. #27 - Benny Parsons
5. #47 - Harry Gant
6. #3 - Richard Childress
7. #9 - Bill Elliott
8. #66 - Lake Speed
9. #42 - Kyle Petty
10. #19 - Dick May

Champion Spark Plug 400

The Champion Spark Plug 400 was held on August 17 at Michigan International Speedway. Buddy Baker won the pole. Darrell Waltrip crashed during practice and had to purchase the Joel Halpern Chevrolet to run the 400 at Michigan International Speedway; it was the second time in two seasons Waltrip had to drive another car after his primary DiGard entry was knocked out before the race; Waltrip led 67 laps but a late caution allowed Cale Yarborough to catch up and storm to the win. Following the race Waltrip stated he was "fed up" with the DiGard situation, saying "I fight the same battles every day." Richard Petty ran the entire race despite his broken neck and finished fifth.

Top ten results

1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
2. #21 - Neil Bonnett
3. #12 - Donnie Allison
4. #02 - Darrell Waltrip
5. #43 - Richard Petty
6. #28 - Buddy Baker
7. #15 - Bobby Allison
8. #27 - Benny Parsons
9. #9 - Bill Elliott
10. #77 - Kenny Hamphill

Busch Volunteer 500

The Busch Volunteer 500 was held on August 23 at Bristol International Speedway. Cale Yarborough won the pole.

Top ten results

1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
2. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
3. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
4. #43 - Richard Petty
5. #27 - Benny Parsons
6. #15 - Bobby Allison
7. #71 - Dave Marcis
8. #68 - Lennie Pond
9. #3 - Richard Childress
10. #40 - D.K. Ulrich

Southern 500

The 31st Southern 500 was held on September 1 at Darlington Raceway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole. In a wild final five laps David Pearson rocketed from midpack into the lead and held off Dale Earnhardt and Benny Parsons, then with two to go all three crashed in Turn Two in oil from a blown engine; Pearson limped to the race-deciding yellow, but Terry Labonte edged Pearson by a bumper to score his first career victory.

Top ten results

1. #44 - Terry Labonte
2. #1 - David Pearson
3. #47 - Harry Gant
4. #27 - Benny Parsons
5. #21 - Neil Bonnett
6. #15 - Bobby Allison
7. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
8. #71 - Dave Marcis
9. #43 - Richard Petty
10. #41 - Dick Brooks

Capital City 400

The Capital City 400 was held on September 7 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Cale Yarborough won the pole.

Top ten results

1. #15 - Bobby Allison
2. #43 - Richard Petty
3. #68 - Lennie Pond
4. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
5. #90 - Jody Ridley
6. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
7. #71 - Dave Marcis
8. #44 - Terry Labonte
9. #29 - Dave Dion
10. #27 - Benny Parsons

CRC Chemicals 500

The CRC Chemicals 500 was held on September 14 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Cale Yarborough won the pole.

Top ten results

1. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
2. #47 - Harry Gant
3. #28 - Buddy Baker
4. #11 - Cale Yarborough
5. #27 - Benny Parsons
6. #21 - Neil Bonnett
7. #12 - Donnie Allison
8. #68 - Lennie Pond
9. #90 - Jody Ridley
10. #25 - Ronnie Thomas

Holly Farms 400

The Holly Farms 400 was held on September 21 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Cale Yarborough won the pole.

Top ten results

1. #15 - Bobby Allison
2. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
3. #71 - Dave Marcis
4. #47 - Harry Gant
5. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
6. #27 - Benny Parsons
7. #44 - Terry Labonte
8. #53 - Slick Johnson
9. #90 - Jody Ridley
10. #11 - Cale Yarborough

Old Dominion 500

The Old Dominion 500 was held on September 28 at Martinsville Speedway. Buddy Baker won the pole.

Top ten results

1. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
2. #28 - Buddy Baker
3. #11 - Cale Yarborough
4. #27 - Benny Parsons
5. #71 - Dave Marcis
6. #12 - Donnie Allison
7. #44 - Terry Labonte
8. #67 - Buddy Arrington
9. #90 - Jody Ridley
10. #48 - James Hylton

National 500

The National 500 was held on October 5 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Buddy Baker won the pole. Dale Earnhardt edged Cale Yarborough and Baker amid an increasingly bitter public contract battle between Darrell Waltrip and his team owner, Bill Gardner, a battle that also involved Junior Johnson, who asserted DiGard had attempted to hire several of Johnson's crewmen out from under him. Waltrip fought for the lead in the first 100 laps but lost a lap when a sway bar bolt broke off an A arm; he kept battling to get his lap back but crashed with Benny Parsons, who was eligible for a $100,000 bonus for winning the race.

Top ten results

1. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
2. #11 - Cale Yarborough
3. #28 - Buddy Baker
4. #22 - Ricky Rudd
5. #12 - Donnie Allison
6. #9 - Bill Elliott
7. #7 - Lake Speed
8. #90 - Jody Ridley
9. #42 - Kyle Petty
10. #41 - Dick Brooks

American 500

The American 500 was held on October 19 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Donnie Allison won the pole. Cale Yarborough led 167 laps en route to his fifth win of the season, but the key development of the race was Dale Earnhardt, who's 18th place finish reduced his point lead to just 44 with two races to go.

Top ten results

1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
2. #47 - Harry Gant
3. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
4. #44 - Terry Labonte
5. #90 - Jody Ridley
6. #71 - Dave Marcis
7. #3 - Richard Childress
8. #53 - Slick Johnson
9. #48 - James Hylton
10. #25 - Ronnie Thomas

Atlanta Journal 500

The Atlanta Journal 500 was held on November 2 at Atlanta International Raceway. Bobby Allison won the pole. An early accident eliminated the Allison brothers and Cale Yarborough dominated to the win. Dale Earnhardt lost a lap and crowded Cale for a prolonged stretch; his point lead over Yarborough was now just 29 points.

Top ten results

1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
2. #21 - Neil Bonnett
3. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
4. #28 - Buddy Baker
5. #44 - Terry Labonte
6. #90 - Jody Ridley
7. #68 - Lennie Pond
8. #25 - Ronnie Thomas
9. #3 - Richard Childress
10. #40 - Stan Barrett

Los Angeles Times 500

The Los Angeles Times 500 was held on November 15 at Ontario Motor Speedway. Cale Yarborough won his 14th pole of the season, the most in NASCAR's modern era. Earnhardt lost a lap but made it up and despite taking off from a late green-flag stop with unsecured lug nuts on his tires finished fifth with Yarborough third and Benny Parsons the race winner. The race was switched from Sunday to Saturday to accommodate live CBS Sports coverage. Earnhardt's 5th-place finish allowed him to win the championship by 19 points over Yarborough. Following the race Waltrip succeeded in buying out his contract with DiGard Racing while Yarborough announced he would not run the full season in 1981, taking over the M. C. Anderson #27 team driven by race winner Parsons; Waltrip was then hired by Junior Johnson.

Top ten results

1. #27 - Benny Parsons
2. #21 - Neil Bonnett
3. #11 - Cale Yarborough
4. #15 - Bobby Allison
5. #2 - Dale Earnhardt
6. #7 - Lake Speed
7. #75 - Joe Millikan
8. #44 - Terry Labonte
9. #77 - John Anderson
10. #67 - Buddy Arrington

Full Drivers' Championship

Further information: List of NASCAR points scoring systems

(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	BRI	DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	TWS	RIV	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	NWS	MAR	CLT	CAR	ATL	ONT	Pts
1	Dale Earnhardt	2	4	5	3	1	1*	29	6	13	2	6	10	20	9	5	12	3	1	4	3	35	2	7	4	34	5	1*	1*	18	3	5	4661
2	Cale Yarborough	23	19	25	1*	8*	5	12	4	4	6	3*	16*	17	1*	4	2	40	2*	3	2	1	1*	29	26	4	10	3	2	1*	1*	3	4642
3	Benny Parsons	33	5	28	21	30	4	2	5	2	8	2	22	1	23	3	1*	6	3	20	4	8	5	4	10	5	6	4	33	23	32	1	4278
4	Richard Petty	3	25	3	2	33	8	9	1*	3	31	1	2	4	2	8	5	5	5	33	18	5	4	9	2	17	18	15	27	14	21	30	4255
5	Darrell Waltrip	1*	40	1*	4	28	2	4	12	1*	42	4	20	2*	4	1*	26	31	4	26	11	4*	3	25*	6	1*	2	21	18	3	26	25*	4239
6	Bobby Allison	18	2	2	7	3	3	30	3	25	40	5	1	26	3	15*	8	1*	6	34	35	7	6	6	1*	30	1*	22	29	26	38	4	4019
7	Jody Ridley (R)	16	10	18	29	6	11	10	7	7	10	8	6	12	26	11	6	7	8	18	30	18	12	30	5	9	9	9	8	5	6	18	3972
8	Terry Labonte	7	6	24	10	15	10	32	22	23	32	7	5	3	5	33	11	32	22	6	31	11	23	1	8	28	7	7	31	4	5	8	3766
9	Dave Marcis	17	22	4	9	4	9	23	21	8	29	11	25	29	7	6	35	33	14	8	39	26	7	8	7	12	3	5	19	6	22	15	3745
10	Richard Childress	6	13	22	14	13	29	21	11	11	12	29	8	11	6	18	14	8	9	9	6	27	9	12	11	37	19	25	11	7	9	21	3742
11	Harry Gant	12	42	12	8	16	7	3	2	21	37	9	4	28	8	7	28	16	29	5	5	37	14	3	20	2	4	29	16	2	36	41	3703
12	Buddy Arrington	14	41	6	25	19	21	14	13	10	18	27	26	10	28	14	23	10	10	13	38	13	20	17	12	13	26	8	13	12	11	10	3461
13	James Hylton	11	26	7	13	39	14	18	17	18	13	13	19	23	10	12	24	24	17	15	14	25	17	21	17	19	15	10	21	9	14	24	3449
14	Ronnie Thomas	10	29	26	11	22	12	26	23	22	20	21	11	22	11	16	30	17	26	23	21	29	29	22	22	10	25	18		10	8	38	3066
15	Cecil Gordon		21	8	33	24	22	34		17	23	19	9	37	14	10	20	29	21	16	23	21	19	19	18	15	14	13	24	15	25	17	2993
16	J. D. McDuffie	15	27	9	32	9	13	22	30	30	41	20	33	30	29	9	15	23	11	36	25	20	11	18	29	38	24	26	20	21	17	14	2968
17	Jimmy Means	21	15	30	20	12	24	28	14	12		12	27	14	19		22	26	16	14	15	14	22	16	13	27	12	30		13	20	31	2947
18	Tommy Gale		20	21	26	18	17	15	29	29	16	15	12	33	25		19	28	18	19	29	22	13	31	19	36	20	11	22	20	15	16	2885
19	Neil Bonnett	34	3		6	41		36		6	27		18	5		2	4	34		1*	1	2		5		6		19	30	25	2	2	2865
20	Roger Hamby		QL	16	18	34	18	16	25		17	23	13		22	23	21	27	15	24	22	30	16	35	16	20	22	14	28	17	12		2606
21	Buddy Baker		1*		15	7		35		24	1*		3	39			3	4		2	32*	6		26		3		2	3	27	4		2603
22	Lake Speed (R)	29	DNQ			11		8			7			DNQ	12	26	17	38		30	8	16		27		11	21	20	7	28	24	6	1853
23	Slick Johnson (R)		14		30	10	26	25	9	9		25		32	30				13	31	19			15			8	24	40	8		DNQ	1851
24	John Anderson		18		24			17	28		26	24		18			13	9	12			36	15	36		32	27	16	35	32	33	9	1805
25	Bobby Wawak			10	17		31	13	16	31	30	18	29	25	24	22	29		23		24	33		39	27		11						1742
26	Donnie Allison		7		5	26					25			31		30	36	19	27		26	3		32		7		6	5	22	37	39	1730
27	Dick Brooks	22	36	29	16	5	27	5	27	26	9	30	17	15	27	31	33							10					10	31			1698
28	Kyle Petty (R)		DNQ		31	14			8	15			21	7			7			7	9	12				23		27	9	35		33	1690
29	Baxter Price		DNQ	31	27	21	23	31	19	19		22	14	21	18		27		19	22	27	32	18		24								1689
30	Lennie Pond		9			23		6			4			41				11			28		8	40	3	8	28	28	34	29	7	29	1558
31	Junior Miller				38		25			14		16	31				34		20	21			27		23	29	13	17	26	33	35		1402
32	Dick May	32	DNQ	20	19		16	24	15	20	15	17	7		16				30	29	10	19	26	28		24	29		17	16			1323
33	Joe Millikan	4	34	27	28	37	6	7	10	5																				24	23	7	1274
34	Bill Elliott		12			29					21			42			9	12			7	9		33					6		18		1232
35	Ricky Rudd				12	31		19						9			32	13	28	10	20	34	28	34					4				1213
36	Bill Elswick		24	15	23		19	20	24	27	35		30	34											14					36			1053
37	David Pearson							1*			3			6			25	2			17			2					38		31		1004
38	D. K. Ulrich								26	28			34		15	36						15	10	13	25		30					37	935
39	Tighe Scott		39		37	32					5		23	36			10	36		32	34												791
40	Frank Warren		QL			20					19				17						33	31		23		25							559
41	Tim Richmond																			12						31		12	12		29		527
42	Bill Schmitt	5	23													13																11	503
43	Buck Simmons		DNQ		22	40	32	27		16	24																						495
44	Rick Newsom		DNQ	19		36			20	32		26	32																				483
45	Dave Dion																			17					9	14		31					441
46	Don Whittington	9	16			38					34					35		22						38									429
47	Steve Moore										14			35				18			QL										13		412
48	Tommy Houston			17			15		31					24																			396
49	Sterling Marlin		8					11						16					7										36				387
50	Bruce Hill		33			27					36			38				35			41												348
51	Chuck Bown	36	35														31	37		35				11					25			27	329
52	Jim Vandiver		37								39			8				25															328
53	Jeff McDuffie								18																		17			19			327
54	Coo Coo Marlin		QL								11							14			37												303
55	Don Sprouse											14							24						15			23					303
56	Joe Booher		17	11		35										19										16						34	294
57	Rusty Wallace					2																							14				291
58	Jim Robinson	24														20																28	273
59	Hershel McGriff	26														24																23	270
60	Roy Smith	13														28																36	263
61	Don Puskarich	19														17																42	255
62	Kenny Hemphill																			25		10		41		33			15				252
63	Blackie Wangerin		DNQ											13										37							34		237
64	Mike Potter				36		30										18																237
65	Travis Tiller						28													40						26					30		237
66	Rick McCray	35														32																19	231
67	Connie Saylor													19				39						14					23		27		227
68	Rick Wilson																	15			36								37				225
69	Janet Guthrie		11																	28													209
70	Wayne Watercutter		DNQ														16					24											206
71	Marty Robbins										33							30			13								32				204
72	Randy Ogden	30	Wth		34										31																		204
73	Eddie Dickerson																								21	22							197
74	Don Waterman															25																20	191
75	Kevin Housby		30			17					DNQ																					26	185
76	John Utsman		28				20																										182
77	Steve Pfeifer	27														21																	182
78	Phil Finney		DNQ								38							20															152
79	Nelson Oswald										DNQ				20					38													152
80	Jocko Maggiacomo		DNQ										24							39													137
81	John Borneman	31														34																	131
82	Harry Dinwiddie																				12												127
83	Mike Miller																												39		28		125
84	Joey Arrington			13																													124
85	Jimmy Finger														13																		124
86	Jimmy Ingram												15											DNQ						DNQ			118
87	Billie Harvey													27						11	16	17										DNQ	115
88	Bill Osborne	37			35																												110
89	Joel Stowe																									18	16						109
90	Vince Giamformaggio	20																															103
91	John Callis																									21					40	DNQ	100
92	Bill Hollar			23																													94
93	Bruce Jacobi																					23											94
94	Ralph Jones		DNQ			25																		24									88
95	Jim Hopkinson															27																	82
96	Stuart Huffman																					28	24										79
97	Nestor Peles												28																				79
98	Dick Skillen										28																						79
99	Ed Hale															29																	76
100	Bobby Sands																						30										73
101	A. J. Foyt		31																														70
102	Bill Whittington	8	32																														67
103	Glenn Francis																															32	67
104	Melvin Revis							33																									64
105	Glen Ward																															35	58
106	Henry Jones														21		37			37												22	52
107	Jim Hurlbert		38																														49
108	Gary Balough																														39	DNQ	46
109	Jim Sauter																												41				40
110	Bub Strickler		DNQ	14																			21		28	35	23
111	Stan Barrett																													11	10	13
112	Steve Spencer											28							25				25
113	Glenn Jarrett																													34		12
114	Ferrel Harris																				40			20
115	John Greenwood													40				21
116	Bob Riley		DNQ																	27						39
117	Mike Alexander											10
118	Charlie Chamblee																														16
119	Clay Young																														19
120	Gary Baker		DNQ								22
121	Chuck Wahl	25
122	Dan Gurney	28
123	Ernie Cline																													30
124	Steve Gray																									40
125	Joe Ruttman																															40
126	Gary Matthews	DNQ
127	Dick Whalen	DNQ
128	Gene Thoneson	DNQ														DNQ
129	St. James Davis	DNQ																														DNQ
130	Jim Hurtubise		DNQ
131	Ricky Knotts		DNQ
132	Steve Peles		DNQ
133	Ricky Otts		DNQ
134	Bill Green
135	Bob Switzer		DNQ
136	Terry Ryan		DNQ
137	Jerry Hansen		DNQ
138	Frank Freda		DNQ																													DNQ
139	Dick Kranzler																															DNQ
140	Harry Goularte																															DNQ
141	Don Stanley																															DNQ
142	Ron O'Dell																															DNQ
143	Tim McMillan																															DNQ
144	Tim Williamson	Wth
145	Bill Dennis		QL
Pos.	Driver	RIV	DAY	RCH	CAR	ATL	BRI	DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	TWS	RIV	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	ATL	ONT	Pts

^[2]

See also

• 1980 NASCAR Winston West Series

References

1. "NASCAR in 1980 from National Speed Sport News".
2. "1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Central - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved April 29, 2021.

External links

• Winston Cup Standings and Statistics for 1980