1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

American motorsport season November 2025 February 2025 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Series 1979 1981 thumb|Dale Earnhardt, the 1980 champion thumb|Cale Yarborough finished second in the standings thumb|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 TeamMakeNo.DriverCar OwnerCrew ChiefA. J. Foyt EnterprisesOldsmobile Cutlass51A. J. FoytA. J. FoytDon WhittingtonArrington RacingDodge Magnum 67Buddy ArringtonBuddy ArringtonJoey Arrington77Dick MayEddie Dickerson97B&B RacingBuick Century03Jimmy FingerDon Bierschwale Ballard Racing Oldsmobile Cutlass 30 Tighe Scott Walter Ballard Harry HydeBillie Harvey RacingChevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass87Billie HarveyBillie HarveyGary BaloughBilly Matthews RacingChevrolet Monte Carlo41Dick BrooksBilly MatthewsBorneman MotorsportsChevrolet Monte Carlo81John BornemanJohn BornemanBud Moore EngineeringFord Thunderbird 15Bobby AllisonBud MooreBud Moore DiGard Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo 88 Darrell Waltrip Bill Gardner Buddy ParrottJake 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 Elliott11 2, 5, 10, 13, 16-17, 20-21, 23, 28, 30 George Elliott Ernie ElliottG. C. Spencer RacingChevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass 1 24Gary Baker 2 2, 10G. C. SpencerConnie Saylor 5 13, 17, 23, 28, 30 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 BryantHalpern EnterprisesOldsmobile Cutlass Chevrolet Monte Carlo02Donnie AllisonJoel HalpernChuck BownHarold 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 HyltonJohn KieperDodge Magnum93Chuck BownJohn KieperChevrolet Monte Carlo98Hershel 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 RacingFord Thunderbird64 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 RuddLake Speed Osterlund Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo 2 Dale Earnhardt Rod Osterlund Jake ElderDoug Richert Petty Enterprises Chevrolet Monte Carlo 42 Kyle Petty 16 2, 4-5, 8-9, 12-13, 16, 19-21, 25, 27-29, 31 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 2-4, 6-10, 12-13, 24, 29 Bob Rahilly Butch Mock Joe Millikan 3 29-31 John Anderson 7 11, 17-18, 21-22, 27-28 Chuck Bown 1 23 Harry Gant 3 1, 14-15 Kyle Petty 1 25 Lennie Pond 2 2, 5 Jim Sauter 1 28 Ranier-Lundy Racing Oldsmobile Cutlass 28 Buddy Baker Harry Ranier Waddell WilsonBuddy 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 RacingChevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass68Chuck Bown 1 2Jim TestaRon KellyLennie Pond 14 7, 10, 20, 22-31John Greenwood 2 13, 17 Ulrich Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century 40Bill Whittington 2 1-2 D. K. UlrichJoe Booher 1 3Ricky Rudd 3 4-5, 7D. K. UlrichDick May 2 6, 12D. K. Ulrich 10 8-9, 14-15, 21-24, 26, 31Dick Skillen 1 10Mike Alexander 1 11J. D. McDuffie 1 13Tommy Gale1 16Lennie Pond 1 17Sterling Marlin 1 18Tim Richmond 5 19, 25, 27-28, 30D. K. UlrichHarry Dinwiddle 1 20Stan Barrett 3 29-31Warren RacingDodge Magnum Chevrolet Monte Carlo79Dick May 2 1, 4Frank WarrenJim Hurlbert 1 2Joey Arrington 1 3Frank Warren 7 5, 10, 14, 2-21, 23, 25Travis Tiller 1 6Junior Miller 5 9, 12, 16, 18-19Joe Booher 2 15, 31Marty Robbins 1 17Wawak RacingChevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Century74Joe Booher 2 2, 25Bobby WawakBobby Wawak 19 3-4, 6-16, 18, 20-21, 23-24, 26Bob Riley 1 19Stuart Hoffman 1 22Henry Jones 1 31 Wood Brothers Racing Mercury Cougar 21 Neil Bonnett Glen Wood Leonard Wood Season recap No.DateRace titleTrackWinning driver 1 January 13January 19 Winston Western 500 Riverside International Raceway Darrell Waltrip February 10 Busch Clash Daytona International Speedway Dale EarnhardtFebruary 14125 Mile Qualifying RacesNeil BonnettDonnie 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 #88 - Darrell Waltrip #2 - Dale Earnhardt #43 - Richard Petty #72 - Joe Millikan #73 - Bill Schmitt #3 - Richard Childress #44 - Terry Labonte #40 - Bill Whittington #55 - Don Whittington #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 #28 - Buddy Baker #15 - Bobby Allison #21 - Neil Bonnett #2 - Dale Earnhardt #27 - Benny Parsons #44 - Terry Labonte #1 - Donnie Allison #14 - Sterling Marlin #75 - Lennie Pond #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 #88 - Darrell Waltrip #15 - Bobby Allison #43 - Richard Petty #71 - Dave Marcis #2 - Dale Earnhardt #67 - Buddy Arrington #48 - James Hylton #24 - Cecil Gordon #70 - J.D. McDuffie #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 #11 - Cale Yarborough #43 - Richard Petty #2 - Dale Earnhardt #88 - Darrell Waltrip #1 - Donnie Allison #21 - Neil Bonnett #15 - Bobby Allison #47 - Harry Gant #71 - Dave Marcis #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 #2 - Dale Earnhardt #16 - Rusty Wallace #15 - Bobby Allison #71 - Dave Marcis #7 - Dick Brooks #90 - Jody Ridley #28 - Buddy Baker #11 - Cale Yarborough #70 - J.D. McDuffie #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 #2 - Dale Earnhardt #88 - Darrell Waltrip #15 - Bobby Allison #27 - Benny Parsons #11 - Cale Yarborough #72 - Joe Millikan #47 - Harry Gant #43 - Richard Petty #71 - Dave Marcis #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 - David Pearson #27 - Benny Parsons #47 - Harry Gant #88 - Darrell Waltrip #7 - Dick Brooks #68 - Lennie Pond #72 - Joe Millikan #66 - Lake Speed #43 - Richard Petty #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 #43 - Richard Petty #47 - Harry Gant #15 - Bobby Allison #11 - Cale Yarborough #27 - Benny Parsons #2 - Dale Earnhardt #90 - Jody Ridley #42 - Kyle Petty #53 - Slick Johnson #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 #88 - Darrell Waltrip #27 - Benny Parsons #43 - Richard Petty #11 - Cale Yarborough #72 - Joe Millikan #21 - Neil Bonnett #90 - Jody Ridley #71 - Dave Marcis #53 - Slick Johnson #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 #28 - Buddy Baker #2 - Dale Earnhardt #1 - David Pearson #68 - Lennie Pond #30 - Tighe Scott #11 - Cale Yarborough #66 - Lake Speed #27 - Benny Parsons #7 - Dick Brooks #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 #43 - Richard Petty #27 - Benny Parsons #11 - Cale Yarborough #88 - Darrell Waltrip #15 - Bobby Allison #2 - Dale Earnhardt #44 - Terry Labonte #90 - Jody Ridley #47 - Harry Gant #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 #15 - Bobby Allison #43 - Richard Petty #28 - Buddy Baker #47 - Harry Gant #44 - Terry Labonte #90 - Jody Ridley #40 - Dick May #3 - Richard Childress #24 - Cecil Gordon #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 cannot do that.....I had no authority to get the people I need.")NASCAR in 1980 from National Speed Sport News http://speedsport.com/nascar/nascar75/nascar-in-1980-the-75-years-edition Top ten results #27 - Benny Parsons #88 - Darrell Waltrip #44 - Terry Labonte #43 - Richard Petty #21 - Neil Bonnett #1 - David Pearson #42 - Kyle Petty #89 - Jim Vandiver #22 - Ricky Rudd #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 #11 - Cale Yarborough #43 - Richard Petty #15 - Bobby Allison #88 - Darrell Waltrip #44 - Terry Labonte #3 - Richard Childress #71 - Dave Marcis #75 - Harry Gant #2 - Dale Earnhardt #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 #88 - Darrell Waltrip #21 - Neil Bonnett #27 - Benny Parsons #11 - Cale Yarborough #2 - Dale Earnhardt #71 - Dave Marcis #75 - Harry Gant #43 - Richard Petty #70 - J.D. McDuffie #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 #27 - Benny Parsons #11 - Cale Yarborough #28 - Buddy Baker #21 - Neil Bonnett #43 - Richard Petty #90 - Jody Ridley #42 - Kyle Petty #15 - Bobby Allison #9 - Bill Elliott #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 #15 - Bobby Allison #1 - David Pearson #2 - Dale Earnhardt #28 - Buddy Baker #43 - Richard Petty #27 - Benny Parsons #90 - Jody Ridley #3 - Richard Childress #75 - John Anderson #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 #2 - Dale Earnhardt #11 - Cale Yarborough #27 - Benny Parsons #88 - Darrell Waltrip #43 - Richard Petty #15 - Bobby Allison #40 - Sterling Marlin #90 - Jody Ridley #3 - Richard Childress #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 #21 - Neil Bonnett #28 - Buddy Baker #11 - Cale Yarborough #2 - Dale Earnhardt #47 - Harry Gant #44 - Terry Labonte #42 - Kyle Petty #71 - Dave Marcis #3 - Richard Childress #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 #21 - Neil Bonnett #11 - Cale Yarborough #2 - Dale Earnhardt #27 - Benny Parsons #47 - Harry Gant #3 - Richard Childress #9 - Bill Elliott #66 - Lake Speed #42 - Kyle Petty #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 #11 - Cale Yarborough #21 - Neil Bonnett #12 - Donnie Allison #02 - Darrell Waltrip #43 - Richard Petty #28 - Buddy Baker #15 - Bobby Allison #27 - Benny Parsons #9 - Bill Elliott #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 #11 - Cale Yarborough #2 - Dale Earnhardt #88 - Darrell Waltrip #43 - Richard Petty #27 - Benny Parsons #15 - Bobby Allison #71 - Dave Marcis #68 - Lennie Pond #3 - Richard Childress #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 #44 - Terry Labonte #1 - David Pearson #47 - Harry Gant #27 - Benny Parsons #21 - Neil Bonnett #15 - Bobby Allison #2 - Dale Earnhardt #71 - Dave Marcis #43 - Richard Petty #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 #15 - Bobby Allison #43 - Richard Petty #68 - Lennie Pond #2 - Dale Earnhardt #90 - Jody Ridley #88 - Darrell Waltrip #71 - Dave Marcis #44 - Terry Labonte #29 - Dave Dion #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 #88 - Darrell Waltrip #47 - Harry Gant #28 - Buddy Baker #11 - Cale Yarborough #27 - Benny Parsons #21 - Neil Bonnett #12 - Donnie Allison #68 - Lennie Pond #90 - Jody Ridley #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 #15 - Bobby Allison #88 - Darrell Waltrip #71 - Dave Marcis #47 - Harry Gant #2 - Dale Earnhardt #27 - Benny Parsons #44 - Terry Labonte #53 - Slick Johnson #90 - Jody Ridley #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 #2 - Dale Earnhardt #28 - Buddy Baker #11 - Cale Yarborough #27 - Benny Parsons #71 - Dave Marcis #12 - Donnie Allison #44 - Terry Labonte #67 - Buddy Arrington #90 - Jody Ridley #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 #2 - Dale Earnhardt #11 - Cale Yarborough #28 - Buddy Baker #22 - Ricky Rudd #12 - Donnie Allison #9 - Bill Elliott #7 - Lake Speed #90 - Jody Ridley #42 - Kyle Petty #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, whose 18th-place finish reduced his point lead to just 44 with two races to go. Top ten results #11 - Cale Yarborough #47 - Harry Gant #88 - Darrell Waltrip #44 - Terry Labonte #90 - Jody Ridley #71 - Dave Marcis #3 - Richard Childress #53 - Slick Johnson #48 - James Hylton #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 #11 - Cale Yarborough #21 - Neil Bonnett #2 - Dale Earnhardt #28 - Buddy Baker #44 - Terry Labonte #90 - Jody Ridley #68 - Lennie Pond #25 - Ronnie Thomas #3 - Richard Childress #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 #27 - Benny Parsons #21 - Neil Bonnett #11 - Cale Yarborough #15 - Bobby Allison #2 - Dale Earnhardt #7 - Lake Speed #75 - Joe Millikan #44 - Terry Labonte #77 - John Anderson #67 - Buddy Arrington Full Drivers' Championship 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. Position 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 Points scored 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. Position 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 Points scored 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Central - The Third Turn https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/1980_NASCAR_Winston_Cup_Series_Central 2021-04-29 www.thethirdturn.com en See also 1980 NASCAR Winston West Series References External links Winston Cup Standings and Statistics for 1980 * Category:NASCAR Cup Series seasons