1981 Southern 500 Results
Neil Bonnett won the 1981 Southern 500 at Darlington on September 7, 1981, leading 216 of 367 laps. Full Cup Series results: finish, start, laps led and status for all 40 drivers.
Results
| Finish | Car | Driver | Start | Laps | Laps led | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | 3 | 367 | 216 | Running |
| 2 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | 11 | 367 | 2 | Running |
| 3 | 71 | Dave Marcis | 4 | 367 | 9 | Running |
| 4 | 44 | Terry Labonte | 6 | 367 | 3 | Running |
| 5 | 1 | Buddy Baker | 9 | 367 | 3 | Running |
| 6 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | 10 | 366 | 0 | Running |
| 7 | 9 | Bill Elliott | 14 | 366 | 0 | Running |
| 8 | 01 | David Pearson | 13 | 365 | 0 | Running |
| 9 | 28 | Bobby Allison | 17 | 365 | 1 | Running |
| 10 | 27 | Cale Yarborough | 2 | 363 | 24 | Running |
| 11 | 47 | Ron Bouchard | 5 | 363 | 0 | Running |
| 12 | 90 | Jody Ridley | 23 | 362 | 0 | Running |
| 13 | 66 | Lake Speed | 22 | 362 | 0 | Running |
| 14 | 33 | Harry Gant | 1 | 360 | 78 | Running |
| 15 | 2 | Joe Ruttman | 16 | 358 | 0 | Running |
| 16 | 24 | Morgan Shepherd | 12 | 358 | 0 | Running |
| 17 | 68 | Lennie Pond | 21 | 356 | 0 | Running |
| 18 | 5 | Joe Millikan | 19 | 353 | 0 | Running |
| 19 | 8 | Dick May | 33 | 353 | 0 | Running |
| 20 | 37 | Mike Alexander | 29 | 352 | 0 | Running |
| 21 | 70 | J.D. McDuffie | 34 | 351 | 0 | Running |
| 22 | 12 | Tim Richmond | 27 | 349 | 0 | Running |
| 23 | 88 | Ricky Rudd | 7 | 343 | 0 | Crash |
| 24 | 94 | Bobby Wawak | 40 | 334 | 0 | Running |
| 25 | 75 | Gary Balough | 20 | 333 | 0 | Engine |
| 26 | 48 | James Hylton | 38 | 331 | 0 | Running |
| 27 | 25 | Ronnie Thomas | 37 | 311 | 0 | Running |
| 28 | 17 | Mike Potter | 36 | 309 | 0 | Running |
| 29 | 64 | Tommy Gale | 30 | 294 | 0 | Running |
| 30 | 43 | Richard Petty | 8 | 278 | 31 | Engine |
| 31 | 99 | D.K. Ulrich | 26 | 269 | 0 | Engine |
| 32 | 13 | Jack Ingram | 32 | 253 | 0 | Engine |
| 33 | 98 | Johnny Rutherford | 25 | 190 | 0 | Water pump |
| 34 | 42 | Kyle Petty | 18 | 130 | 0 | Engine |
| 35 | 40 | Slick Johnson | 24 | 110 | 0 | Engine |
| 36 | 36 | H.B. Bailey | 39 | 93 | 0 | Crash |
| 37 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | 28 | 85 | 0 | Lug bolt |
| 38 | 52 | Jimmy Means | 35 | 64 | 0 | Engine |
| 39 | 15 | Benny Parsons | 15 | 62 | 0 | Valve |
| 40 | 4 | Connie Saylor | 31 | 6 | 0 | Engine |
Race facts
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | September 7, 1981 |
| Track | Darlington |
| Laps | 367 |