1979 American 500 Results
Richard Petty won the 1979 American 500 at Rockingham on October 21, 1979, leading 139 of 492 laps. Full Cup Series results: finish, start, laps led and status for all 37 drivers.
Results
| Finish | Car | Driver | Start | Laps | Laps led | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 43 | Richard Petty | 7 | 492 | 139 | Running |
| 2 | 27 | Benny Parsons | 2 | 492 | 168 | Running |
| 3 | 11 | Cale Yarborough | 9 | 492 | 50 | Running |
| 4 | 1 | Donnie Allison | 6 | 490 | 6 | Running |
| 5 | 2 | Dale Earnhardt | 10 | 488 | 0 | Running |
| 6 | 88 | Darrell Waltrip | 3 | 484 | 29 | Running |
| 7 | 3 | Richard Childress | 15 | 476 | 0 | Running |
| 8 | 25 | Ronnie Thomas | 20 | 476 | 0 | Running |
| 9 | 71 | Dave Marcis | 16 | 475 | 0 | Running |
| 10 | 51 | Slick Johnson | 30 | 474 | 0 | Running |
| 11 | 48 | James Hylton | 22 | 470 | 0 | Running |
| 12 | 64 | Tommy Gale | 32 | 456 | 0 | Running |
| 13 | 24 | Cecil Gordon | 29 | 456 | 0 | Running |
| 14 | 75 | Bill Elswick | 36 | 453 | 0 | Running |
| 15 | 05 | Dick Brooks | 11 | 452 | 0 | Engine |
| 16 | 00 | Freddy Smith | 34 | 452 | 0 | Running |
| 17 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | 25 | 434 | 0 | Running |
| 18 | 72 | Joe Millikan | 5 | 426 | 0 | Running |
| 19 | 15 | Bobby Allison | 8 | 422 | 0 | Crash |
| 20 | 90 | Ricky Rudd | 13 | 420 | 0 | Crash |
| 21 | 47 | Harry Gant | 12 | 416 | 0 | Running |
| 22 | 45 | Baxter Price | 28 | 412 | 0 | Crash |
| 23 | 17 | Bill Elliott | 19 | 391 | 0 | Running |
| 24 | 79 | Frank Warren | 33 | 376 | 0 | Overheating |
| 25 | 70 | J.D. McDuffie | 37 | 354 | 0 | Rear end |
| 26 | 99 | Dick May | 31 | 267 | 0 | Overheating |
| 27 | 44 | Terry Labonte | 14 | 259 | 1 | Engine |
| 28 | 40 | D.K. Ulrich | 21 | 253 | 0 | Running |
| 29 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | 4 | 233 | 95 | Crash |
| 30 | 18 | Randy Ogden | 27 | 227 | 0 | Fatigue |
| 31 | 52 | Jimmy Means | 23 | 227 | 0 | Overheating |
| 32 | 19 | Glenn Jarrett | 18 | 164 | 0 | Oil pressure |
| 33 | 28 | Buddy Baker | 1 | 141 | 4 | Rear end |
| 34 | 46 | Travis Tiller | 24 | 76 | 0 | Rotor |
| 35 | 76 | Mike Potter | 35 | 73 | 0 | Engine |
| 36 | 61 | Bub Strickler | 26 | 67 | 0 | Crash |
| 37 | 30 | Tighe Scott | 17 | 17 | 0 | Oil cooler |
Race facts
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | October 21, 1979 |
| Track | Rockingham |
| Laps | 492 |