1981 American 500 Results
Darrell Waltrip won the 1981 American 500 at Rockingham on November 1, 1981, leading 163 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 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | 1 | 492 | 163 | Running |
| 2 | 28 | Bobby Allison | 14 | 492 | 31 | Running |
| 3 | 33 | Harry Gant | 2 | 492 | 125 | Running |
| 4 | 43 | Richard Petty | 12 | 492 | 92 | Running |
| 5 | 2 | Joe Ruttman | 16 | 492 | 3 | Running |
| 6 | 15 | Benny Parsons | 24 | 491 | 0 | Running |
| 7 | 44 | Terry Labonte | 10 | 490 | 0 | Running |
| 8 | 9 | Bill Elliott | 22 | 490 | 17 | Running |
| 9 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | 5 | 489 | 16 | Running |
| 10 | 90 | Jody Ridley | 19 | 487 | 0 | Running |
| 11 | 47 | Ron Bouchard | 37 | 485 | 0 | Running |
| 12 | 71 | Dave Marcis | 26 | 483 | 2 | Running |
| 13 | 64 | Tommy Gale | 27 | 475 | 0 | Running |
| 14 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | 31 | 470 | 0 | Running |
| 15 | 24 | Cecil Gordon | 34 | 457 | 0 | Running |
| 16 | 1 | Buddy Baker | 4 | 445 | 2 | Rear end |
| 17 | 99 | D.K. Ulrich | 32 | 435 | 0 | Engine |
| 18 | 88 | Ricky Rudd | 3 | 434 | 16 | Running |
| 19 | 5 | Joe Millikan | 17 | 425 | 0 | Running |
| 20 | 52 | Jimmy Means | 36 | 404 | 0 | Running |
| 21 | 13 | Dick Brooks | 23 | 379 | 0 | Valve |
| 22 | 37 | Tim Richmond | 13 | 334 | 0 | Crash |
| 23 | 92 | Joe Fields | 35 | 262 | 0 | Crash |
| 24 | 17 | John Anderson | 29 | 226 | 0 | Suspension |
| 25 | 27 | Cale Yarborough | 8 | 214 | 0 | Crash |
| 26 | 48 | James Hylton | 25 | 214 | 0 | Push rod |
| 27 | 96 | Morgan Shepherd | 15 | 205 | 25 | Crash |
| 28 | 16 | Chuck Bown | 28 | 193 | 0 | Engine |
| 29 | 98 | Johnny Rutherford | 11 | 172 | 0 | Crash |
| 30 | 70 | J.D. McDuffie | 30 | 165 | 0 | Engine |
| 31 | 66 | Lake Speed | 18 | 162 | 0 | Engine |
| 32 | 75 | Gary Balough | 21 | 117 | 0 | Crash |
| 33 | 40 | Don Hume | 33 | 101 | 0 | Crash |
| 34 | 77 | Dean Combs | 7 | 89 | 0 | Crash |
| 35 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | 9 | 55 | 0 | Crash |
| 36 | 68 | Lennie Pond | 20 | 54 | 0 | Crash |
| 37 | 42 | Kyle Petty | 6 | 19 | 0 | Engine |
Race facts
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | November 1, 1981 |
| Track | Rockingham |
| Laps | 492 |