1981 National 500 Results
Darrell Waltrip won the 1981 National 500 at Charlotte on October 11, 1981, leading 127 of 334 laps. Full Cup Series results: finish, start, laps led and status for all 41 drivers.
Results
| Finish | Car | Driver | Start | Laps | Laps led | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | 1 | 334 | 127 | Running |
| 2 | 28 | Bobby Allison | 17 | 334 | 17 | Running |
| 3 | 88 | Ricky Rudd | 8 | 334 | 0 | Running |
| 4 | 55 | Tommy Ellis | 22 | 333 | 1 | Running |
| 5 | 47 | Ron Bouchard | 30 | 332 | 0 | Running |
| 6 | 72 | Rusty Wallace | 19 | 331 | 0 | Running |
| 7 | 01 | Geoffrey Bodine | 14 | 331 | 11 | Running |
| 8 | 24 | Morgan Shepherd | 34 | 331 | 0 | Running |
| 9 | 13 | Jack Ingram | 18 | 329 | 0 | Running |
| 10 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | 33 | 328 | 0 | Running |
| 11 | 4 | Connie Saylor | 21 | 328 | 0 | Running |
| 12 | 8 | Jimmy Means | 37 | 327 | 0 | Running |
| 13 | 62 | Rick Wilson | 25 | 326 | 0 | Running |
| 14 | 99 | D.K. Ulrich | 41 | 326 | 0 | Running |
| 15 | 90 | Jody Ridley | 13 | 326 | 1 | Running |
| 16 | 36 | H.B. Bailey | 36 | 324 | 0 | Running |
| 17 | 70 | J.D. McDuffie | 40 | 322 | 0 | Running |
| 18 | 37 | Tim Richmond | 5 | 317 | 10 | Engine |
| 19 | 2 | Joe Ruttman | 10 | 276 | 0 | Engine |
| 20 | 42 | Kyle Petty | 15 | 259 | 6 | Crash |
| 21 | 6 | Bob Senneker | 23 | 256 | 0 | Crash |
| 22 | 64 | Tommy Gale | 28 | 246 | 0 | Clutch |
| 23 | 44 | Terry Labonte | 6 | 234 | 6 | Engine |
| 24 | 75 | Gary Balough | 11 | 226 | 0 | Crash |
| 25 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | 24 | 220 | 2 | Ignition |
| 26 | 23 | Charlie Glotzbach | 26 | 218 | 0 | Handling |
| 27 | 98 | Johnny Rutherford | 27 | 216 | 0 | Engine |
| 28 | 14 | Sterling Marlin | 29 | 193 | 0 | Clutch |
| 29 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | 7 | 190 | 135 | Engine |
| 30 | 43 | Richard Petty | 9 | 180 | 15 | Engine |
| 31 | 27 | Cale Yarborough | 3 | 153 | 2 | Engine |
| 32 | 40 | Ronnie Thomas | 32 | 137 | 0 | Ignition |
| 33 | 9 | Bill Elliott | 16 | 130 | 0 | Timing chain |
| 34 | 66 | Lake Speed | 38 | 118 | 0 | Engine |
| 35 | 5 | Joe Millikan | 31 | 98 | 0 | Crash |
| 36 | 94 | Bobby Wawak | 35 | 66 | 0 | Valve |
| 37 | 1 | Buddy Baker | 4 | 63 | 0 | Tie rod |
| 38 | 15 | Benny Parsons | 12 | 50 | 0 | Clutch |
| 39 | 38 | John Anderson | 39 | 41 | 0 | Engine |
| 40 | 71 | Dave Marcis | 20 | 19 | 0 | Engine |
| 41 | 33 | Harry Gant | 2 | 4 | 1 | Crank |
Race facts
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | October 11, 1981 |
| Track | Charlotte |
| Laps | 334 |