1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

American motorsport season February 2025 November 2025 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Series 1977 1979 The 1978 NASCAR Grand National Winston Cup Series was the 30th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 7th modern era NASCAR Cup series. The season began on Sunday, January 22 and ended on Sunday, November 19. Cale Yarborough driving the Junior Johnson #11 First National City Travelers Checks Oldsmobile won his then-record third consecutive NASCAR Grand National Winston Cup championship. Ronnie Thomas was crowned NASCAR Rookie of the Year in a tight battle with Roger Hamby. Teams and drivers Complete schedule MakeTeamNo. Car numberDriverCrew Chief Chevrolet DiGard Racing 88 Darrell Waltrip Buddy Parrott McDuffie Racing 70 J.D. McDuffie Ford Bud Moore Engineering 15 Bobby Allison Bud Moore Langley Racing 64 Dick Brooks 3 1, 13-14 Tommy Gale 26 2-12, 15-16, 18-30 Elmo Langley 1 17 Oldsmobile Junior Johnson & Associates 11 Cale Yarborough Tim Brewer Chevrolet Dodge Petty Enterprises 43 Richard Petty Dale Inman Chevrolet Dodge Oldsmobile Jim Stacy Racing16 1–15, 20 Rod Osterlund Racing14 16-19, 21-30 5 Neil Bonnett Harry Hyde Chevrolet Oldsmobile Ballard Racing 30 Tighe Scott DeWitt Racing 72 Benny Parsons Jake Elder Richard Childress Racing 3 Richard Childress Rod Osterlund Racing 2 Dave Marcis Dodge Ford Arrington Racing 67 Buddy Arrington Limited schedule MakeTeamNo. Car numberDriverCrew ChiefRounds Buick A. J. Foyt Enterprises 51 A. J. Foyt2 2, 10Emerson Racing 66 Harry Gant1 2 Chevrolet Adcox Racing 41 Grant Adcox George White14 2, 4-5, 7, 10, 12-13, 15-17, 19, 22, 27, 29 Gordon Racing 24 Cecil Gordon25 1-11, 13-18, 20-21, 23-25, 28-30 Junior Miller1 26 Hylton Racing 18 James Hylton Kirk Shelmerdine2 18, 24 Jimmy Means Racing 52 Jimmy Means26 2-9, 11-13, 15-26, 28-30 Kennie Childers Racing 12 Harry Gant4 12, 25, 27, 29 Miller Racing 95 Junior Miller1 28 Robertson Racing 25 Ronnie Thomas (R)28 1, 3-23, 25-26, 28-30 81 Jabe Thomas1 24 Price Racing 45 Baxter Price (R)25 2-4, 6-13, 15-26, 28, 30 Richard Childress Racing 31 Bobby Wawak1 28 Wawak Racing 74 9 2, 6, 9, 11-13, 21-22, 30 Dick May2 3-4 Joe Booher2 8, 15 Tommy Gale1 29 Chrysler Negre Racing 1 Ed Negre Norman Negre1 23 181 30 812 27, 29 61 Ferrel Harris1 24 Dodge Jim Stacy Racing 6 Harry Hyde2 2, 10 Arrington Racing 7 Ed Negre1 21 Joey Arrington1 20 191 24 Warren Racing Frank Warren 1 12 7929 1-11, 13-30 Ford Champion Racing 10 Jimmy Means1 10Cronkrite Racing96 Dale Earnhardt4 12, 16, 19, 22 Baxter Price (R)1 27 Mercury Makar Racing 84 Morgan Shepherd2 2, 12 Wangerin Racing 39 Blackie Wangerin (R)10 2, 5, 7, 10, 15-16, 18-20, 22 84 Skip Manning1 29 Wood Brothers Racing 21 David Pearson22 1-2, 4-5, 7, 9-12, 14-16, 18-20, 22, 24-25, 27-30 Oldsmobile Clary Racing 05 Bruce Hill16 2, 5, 10-13, 15-20, 22, 27, 29-30 Buick Chevrolet Gray Racing 10 Elmo Langley1 11 19 1 28 Woody Fisher4 2-5 Dick May18 6-11, 13-17, 19-21, 25-26, 29-30 Joe Booher1 18 Bob Burcham1 22 Joey Arrington1 23 Bill Dennis1 27 Rod Osterlund Racing 98 Roland Wlodyka7 1-6, 12 Dale Earnhardt1 29 Jimmy Insolo1 30 Rudd Racing Enterprises 12 James Hylton1 19 22 Ricky Rudd13 2, 7, 10, 12, 15-16, 18-20, 22, 27-30 Ulrich Racing 40 D.K. Ulrich23 1-22, 30 Buick Chevrolet OldsmobileHagan Racing 92 Skip Manning15 1-12, 15-16, 19 Mel Larson1 20 Terry Labonte5 22-23, 25, 27, 29 Dick May2 24, 28 Chevrolet Oldsmobile Craker Racing 01 Jimmy Insolo Leon Ruther3 1, 14, 30 Ellington Racing 1 Donnie Allison17 2, 4-5, 7, 10, 12, 15-16, 18-20, 22, 24, 27-30 Hamby Motorsports 17 Roger Hamby (R)27 1-11, 13, 15, 17-30 Hylton Racing 48 Al Holbert (R) Kirk Shelmerdine12 1-2, 5, 7, 11-12, 15-16, 18-19, 24, 29 James Hylton16 3-4, 6, 8-10, 13, 20-23, 25-28, 30 Walter Ballard1 17 M. C. Anderson Racing 27 Buddy Baker19 2, 4-5, 7, 10-12, 15-16, 18-20, 22, 24-25, 27-30 Ranier Racing 54 Lennie Pond29 1-17, 19-30 Chevrolet Pontiac Myers Racing 4 Gary Myers20 2, 8-9, 11-13, 15, 17-26, 28-30 Chrysler Dodge Negre Racing 8 Ed Negre Norman Negre18 1-6, 8-11, 13, 15, 20, 22, 24-26, 28 Dick May1 23 Ford Mercury Donlavey Racing 90 Dick Brooks27 2-12, 15-30 Mercury Oldsmobile Elliott Racing 9 Bill Elliott10 2, 5, 7, 10, 12, 16, 19, 22, 27, 29 Season recap No Date Event Circuit Winner1January 22 Winston Western 500 Riverside International Raceway Cale YarboroughFebruary 16125 Mile Qualifying RacesDaytona International SpeedwayA. J. FoytDarrell Waltrip2February 19 Daytona 500 Bobby Allison3February 26 Richmond 400 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway Benny Parsons4March 5 Carolina 500 North Carolina Speedway David Pearson5March 19 Atlanta 500 Atlanta International Raceway Bobby Allison6April 2 Southeastern 400 Bristol International Raceway Darrell Waltrip7April 9 Rebel 500 Darlington Raceway Benny Parsons8April 16 Gwyn Staley 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway Darrell Waltrip9April 23 Virginia 500 Martinsville Speedway Darrell Waltrip10May 14 Winston 500 Alabama International Motor Speedway Cale Yarborough11May 21 Mason-Dixon 500 Dover Downs International Speedway David Pearson12May 28 World 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway Darrell Waltrip13June 3 Music City USA 420 Nashville Speedway Cale Yarborough14June 11 NAPA 400 Riverside International Raceway Benny Parsons15June 18 Cam 2 Motor Oil 400 Michigan International Speedway Cale Yarborough16July 4 Firecracker 400 Daytona International Speedway David Pearson17July 15 Nashville 420 Nashville Speedway Cale Yarborough18July 30 Coca-Cola 500 Pocono Raceway Darrell Waltrip19August 6 Talladega 500 Alabama International Motor Speedway Lennie Pond20August 20 Champion Spark Plug 400 Michigan International Speedway David Pearson21August 26 Volunteer 400 Bristol International Raceway Cale Yarborough22September 4 Southern 500 Darlington Raceway Cale Yarborough23September 10 Capital City 400 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway Darrell Waltrip24September 17 Delaware 500 Dover Downs International Speedway Bobby Allison25September 24 Old Dominion 500 Martinsville Speedway Cale Yarborough26October 1 Wilkes 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway Cale Yarborough27October 8 National 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway Bobby Allison28October 22 American 500 North Carolina Speedway Cale Yarborough29November 5 Dixie 500 Atlanta International Raceway Donnie Allison30November 19 Los Angeles Times 500 Ontario Motor Speedway Bobby Allison Notable races Winston Western 500 - NASCAR banned the Chevrolet Laguna S3 racecar but also allowed Chevrolet engines to be used in other General Motors brands; as a result teams were fielding Monte Carlos, Chevrolet Malibus, Buick Centuries, and Oldsmobile Cutlasses. The Oldsmobile brand reached its first win since 1959 as Cale Yarborough drove Junior Johnson's Olds to the win. Bobby Allison, making his debut in Bud Moore's Ford, fell out after 40 laps, while Richard Petty finished 16th after rearend failure; Petty was driving the 1974 Dodge Charger for the final time as the car's Winston Cup Grand National eligibility ended after this race. 11 - Cale Yarborough 72 - Benny Parsons 21 - David Pearson 5 - Neil Bonnett 2 - Dave Marcis 95 - Hershel McGriff 01 - Jimmy Insolo 48 - Al Holbert 29 - Roy Smith 40 - D.K. Ulrich Daytona 125s - The two qualifying races for the Daytona 500 were the first superspeedway test of the new 1977-78 model racecars now eligible for NASCAR competition. Preseason testing had exposed serious stability issues with the cars, particularly the Olds Cutlass with its shorter rear deck and open rear side windows; Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison were pointed in their concerns about the instability of the Olds (said Donnie, "I can't drive the Olds, it moves around too much"); Richard Petty was similarly critical of the Dodge Magnum ("The Magnum is undriveable at 190 MPH") he now was fielding. Cale won the pole for the 500 while Ron Hutcherson timed second. In the 125s the lead changed a combined 25 times. Bobby Allison and Buddy Baker crashed out of the first 125 while A. J. Foyt drove a superspeedway Buick to win it. Darrell Waltrip drove a Monte Carlo, edging Richard Petty's Magnum in the second; Waltrip said after the win, "Richard Petty has the fastest car here." Race 1 results: 51 - A.J. Foyt 21 - David Pearson 1 - Donnie Allison 11 - Cale Yarborough 9 - Bill Elliott 30 - Tighe Scott 41 - Grant Adcox 98 - Roland Wlodyka 67 - Buddy Arrington 3 - Richard Childress Race 2 results: 88 - Darrell Waltrip 43 - Richard Petty 72 - Benny Parsons 53 - Ron Hutcherson 2 - Dave Marcis 5 - Neil Bonnett 48 - Al Holbert 14 - Coo Coo Marlin 92 - Skip Manning 66 - Harry Gant Daytona 500 - Richard Petty led 26 laps in his 125, and his Magnum was pronounced the fastest car in Daytona by Waltrip after the Twins. Petty raced to the lead with Waltrip and David Pearson drafting him. By Lap 61 they had put all but Bobby Allison and Buddy Baker a lap down, but in Turn Four Petty blew a tire and all three hit the wall, then slid into the inside wall. Following the restart Benny Parsons spun out after blowing a tire while A. J. Foyt was drop-kicked by Lennie Pond and tumbled through the infield grass; he was cut from the car and hospitalized. Allison took the lead with ten to go and Buddy Baker blew his engine, leaving Allison uncontested for his first Cup win since 1975. 15 - Bobby Allison 11 - Cale Yarborough 72 - Benny Parsons 53 - Ron Hutcherson 90 - Dick Brooks 2 - Dave Marcis 27 - Buddy Baker 9 - Bill Elliott 6 - Ferrel Harris 54 - Lennie Pond Richmond 400 - Lennie Pond took the lead after Cale Yarborough led 69 laps and by the final 100 laps seemed in control of the race, but a blown tire put Benny Parsons into the lead and Parsons won by nearly three seconds over Pond. The 142 laps led were the most Pond had led in a race to date, surpassing the 113 laps led at the 1976 American 500. 72 - Benny Parsons 54 - Lennie Pond 11 - Cale Yarborough 88 - Darrell Waltrip 90 - Dick Brooks 15 - Bobby Allison 2 - Dave Marcis 3 - Richard Childress 5 - Neil Bonnett 30 - Tighe Scott Carolina 500 - Pearson reached a NASCAR milestone with his 100th Grand National win, running down Benny Parsons on a frigid raceday. 21 - David Pearson 15 - Bobby Allison 72 - Benny Parsons 43 - Richard Petty 54 - Lennie Pond 5 - Neil Bonnett 92 - Skip Manning 3 - Richard Childress 67 - Buddy Arrington 52 - Jimmy Means Atlanta 500 - NASCAR mandated larger spoiler sizes to combat the instability of the new racecars beginning with the Atlanta 500. Bobby Allison led 261 laps and put the entire field a lap down en route to the win. Darrell Waltrip blew his engine after 146 laps then publicly called out his pit crew; "Every time I pitted, I fell further behind." 15 - Bobby Allison 2 - Dave Marcis 1 - Donnie Allison 11 - Cale Yarborough 54 - Lennie Pond 90 - Dick Brooks 41 - Grant Adcox 49 - Connie Saylor 05 - Bruce Hill 68 - Janet Guthrie Southeastern 500 - After his crew repaired damage in an early crash, Darrell Waltrip drove to victory at Bristol and praised his crew for their work. It was the first of his record 12 Cup Series wins at the circuit. 88 - Darrell Waltrip 72 - Benny Parsons 2 - Dave Marcis 11 - Cale Yarborough 54 - Lennie Pond 3 - Richard Childress 48 - James Hylton 67 - Buddy Arrington 30 - Tighe Scott 8 - Ed Negre Rebel 500 - Benny Parsons grabbed his second win of the season, leading 83 laps after his team had to change engines before the race. "This one was a stick of dynamite," Parsons said of the new engine. 72 - Benny Parsons 88 - Darrell Waltrip 54 - Lennie Pond 2 - Dave Marcis 43 - Richard Petty 27 - Buddy Baker 48 - Al Holbert 92 - Skip Manning 9 - Bill Elliott 22 - Ricky Rudd Winston 500 - Rain delayed the Winston 500 from May 7 to Mother's Day May 14 - and also pushed back the scheduled Music City 420 at Nashville as well. The Talladega race saw 44 official lead changes as Cale Yarborough battled Darrell Waltrip, Richard Petty, and others; Benny Parsons and Dick Brooks stormed to the lead on the opening lap and Parsons led it, but fell out with clutch failure 121 laps in. Petty battled for the lead but on a late caution (for Lennie Pond's spin) his transmission acted up, and he lost five laps getting it fixed (he finished 11th). Yarborough drafted past Buddy Baker on the final lap for only his second win of the year. 11 - Cale Yarborough 27 - Buddy Baker 51 - A.J. Foyt 92 - Skip Manning 41 - Grant Adcox 9 - Bill Elliott 6 - Ferrel Harris 2 - Dave Marcis 3 - Richard Childress 48 - James Hylton World 600 - Darrell Waltrip, Donnie Allison, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson, and Benny Parsons dominated the 600 as the lead changed 43 times between them, the most competitive Charlotte race to that point. A last-lap crash knocked out Pearson and Parsons as Waltrip took the first of five 600s. Richard Petty finished a distant eighth and was more and more frustrated by the Dodge Magnum; it took several trips through the inspection line before he was cleared to race. Willy T. Ribbs, noted road racer, was slated to drive an ex-Bud Moore Torino purchased by Will Cronkite in the 600 but did not attend two scheduled test sessions then was arrested for driving the wrong way up a one-way street; Cronkite hired local racer Dale Earnhardt to drive the car.thumb|upright|300px|Darrell Waltrip at the 1978 World 600. 88 - Darrell Waltrip 1 - Donnie Allison 15 - Bobby Allison 11 - Cale Yarborough 21 - David Pearson 72 - Benny Parsons 27 - Buddy Baker 43 - Richard Petty 14 - Sterling Marlin 05 - Bruce Hill Music City 420 - Yarborough stormed past pole-sitter Lennie Pond and led all 420 laps, putting the entire field two laps or more down. It was the last wire-to-wire win in a Cup race until 2000. Cale also took the point lead from Benny Parsons. 11 - Cale Yarborough 54 - Lennie Pond 43 - Richard Petty 2 - Dave Marcis 5 - Neil Bonnett 41 - Grant Adcox 30 - Tighe Scott 3 - Richard Childress 67 - Buddy Arrington 40 - D.K. Ulrich Gabriel 400 - Cale's domination of the season continued as he made up a lap on the race's only yellow (at Lap 108) and led the last 59 laps to an easy win. "Surely he must have a big engine," Pearson said after the race, while Glen Wood said, "He's made up some laps in mysterious fashion." 11 - Cale Yarborough 21 - David Pearson 72 - Benny Parsons 2 - Dave Marcis 1 - Donnie Allison 43 - Richard Petty 90 - Dick Brooks 27 - Buddy Baker 22 - Ricky Rudd 3 - Richard Childress Firecracker 400 - Cale Yarborough spun out while drafting David Pearson (who himself lost a lap with a flat tire earlier in the race) with some 33 laps to go; he recovered and his last-lap attempt was foiled when Pearson boxed him behind Baxter Price and grabbed a three-length win, his record fifth in the event. 21 - David Pearson 11 - Cale Yarborough 88 - Darrell Waltrip 43 - Richard Petty 54 - Lennie Pond 2 - Dave Marcis 96 - Dale Earnhardt 81 - Ferrel Harris 9 - Bill Elliott 30 - Tighe Scott Nashville 420 - Yarborough's domination of the season continued as he led 411 laps and finished two laps ahead of Waltrip. 11 - Cale Yarborough 88 - Darrell Waltrip 3 - Richard Childress 2 - Dave Marcis 70 - J.D. McDuffie 72 - Benny Parsons 15 - Bobby Allison 90 - Dick Brooks 81 - Ferrel Harris 25 - Ronnie Thomas Coca-Cola 500 - Darrell Waltrip grabbed his second big-track win of the season, beating David Pearson by nearly a second. Richard Petty led briefly but fell out with engine failure following announcement that he would park the Dodge Magnum after the Talladega 500 in favor of a Chevrolet he'd purchased from Cecil Gordon. 88 - Darrell Waltrip 21 - David Pearson 15 - Bobby Allison 2 - Dave Marcis 27 - Buddy Baker 22 - Ricky Rudd 90 - Dick Brooks 30 - Tighe Scott 47 - Satch Worley 70 - J.D. McDuffie Talladega 500 - Cale and Buddy Baker fought it out as the lead changed 67 times (a motorsports record until 1984) overall. Baker's engine failure left Yarborough seemingly alone but the final eleven laps became a showdown between Lennie Pond and Donnie Allison; on the final lap Bill Elliott's blown tire slowed Allison enough for Pond to storm to his only career Winston Cup win. Richard Petty fought for the lead but ran out of fuel past halfway and finished two laps down in seventh in his final race in a Dodge. 54 - Lennie Pond 1 - Donnie Allison 72 - Benny Parsons 11 - Cale Yarborough 21 - David Pearson 15 - Bobby Allison 43 - Richard Petty 5 - Neil Bonnett 90 - Dick Brooks 30 - Tighe Scott Champion Spark Plug 400 - Petty debuted a Chevrolet he'd purchased from Cecil Gordon and ran strong in the 400 before a blown tire sent him hard into the guardrail with ten laps to go. Darrell Waltrip pitted under the yellow; Dave Marcis ran dry and had to be pushed by D.K. Ulrich; Pearson got four tires under the yellow and when the green and white flags flew he blew past Waltrip; Cale Yarborough grabbed second while Marcis finished fourth. 21 - David Pearson 11 - Cale Yarborough 88 - Darrell Waltrip 2 - Dave Marcis 15 - Bobby Allison 90 - Dick Brooks 70 - J.D. McDuffie 54 - Lennie Pond 5 - Neil Bonnett 8 - Ferrel Harris Volunteer 500 - Cale led 327 laps en route to the win, but the story of the race was an ugly set-to between pole-sitter Lennie Pond and Darrell Waltrip; Waltrip had declared before the race that he would drive the Ranier Racing car Pond presently drove in 1979 and would buy out his contract (running through 1982) with DiGard; on Lap 104 Waltrip sideswiped Pond's Chevy, and three laps later a tire blew, sending Pond hard into Waltrip; Pond was later eliminated when he collided with Cecil Gordon and climbed the frontstretch wall ("It was just an accident," Pond said of the crash with Gordon, "Cecil didn't see me"). The race was scheduled to Saturday night by new track promoter Gary Baker. 11 - Cale Yarborough 72 - Benny Parsons 88 - Darrell Waltrip 90 - Dick Brooks 43 - Richard Petty 2 - Dave Marcis 3 - Richard Childress 70 - J.D. McDuffie 40 - D.K. Ulrich 17 - Roger Hamby Southern 500 - Cale led 203 laps en route to his fourth Southern 500 win, while finishing a distant fourth was Terry Labonte, hired to drive Billy Hagan's car after Skip Manning, citing lack of sponsorship, left the team. 11 - Cale Yarborough 88 - Darrell Waltrip 43 - Richard Petty 92 - Terry Labonte 15 - Bobby Allison 9 - Bill Elliott 48 - James Hylton 67 - Buddy Arrington 25 - Ronnie Thomas 72 - Benny Parsons Capital City 400 - Darrell Waltrip's controversial career took a major popularity hit after winning at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. He spun out winless Neil Bonnett, the race's defending champion, and was booed loudly by the crowd. 88 - Darrell Waltrip 15 - Bobby Allison 5 - Neil Bonnett 11 - Cale Yarborough 90 - Dick Brooks 72 - Benny Parsons 92 - Terry Labonte 70 - J.D. McDuffie 2 - Dave Marcis 17 - Roger Hamby Delaware 500 - Bobby Allison grabbed his first win since March, but his postrace interview centered on a trip to the Mayo Clinic days before the race. J.D. McDuffie won his only career pole, doing so on McCreary tires, a first for the tire company. 15 - Bobby Allison 11 - Cale Yarborough 27 - Buddy Baker 21 - David Pearson 88 - Darrell Waltrip 90 - Dick Brooks 54 - Lennie Pond 2 - Dave Marcis 1 - Donnie Allison 92 - Dick May Wilkes 400 - Unaided by yellows, Cale Yarborough erased a two-lap deficit and led the final 19 laps for his ninth win of the season. 11 - Cale Yarborough 88 - Darrell Waltrip 15 - Bobby Allison 43 - Richard Petty 5 - Neil Bonnett 72 - Benny Parsons 54 - Lennie Pond 2 - Dave Marcis 90 - Dick Brooks 30 - Tighe Scott National 500 - Richard Petty raced to the lead and battled Bobby Allison and company, looking for his first win of the season; Petty's Chevrolet led 102 laps but fell out when the ignition failed after 220 laps. Allison won by nearly a lap over Darrell Waltrip. David Pearson led 35 laps after winning his 11th straight Charlotte pole but fell out of contention late, finishing fifth. The lead changed 40 times among nine drivers. 15 - Bobby Allison 88 - Darrell Waltrip 2 - Dave Marcis 1 - Donnie Allison 21 - David Pearson 54 - Lennie Pond 14 - Coo Coo Marlin 57 - Dick May 3 - Richard Childress 90 - Dick Brooks American 500 - By winning this race, Cale Yarborough clinches his third straight championship with two races remaining in the season, even with second place in the title hunt Bobby Allison finishing a strong second in the race. 11 - Cale Yarborough 15 - Bobby Allison 88 - Darrell Waltrip 72 - Benny Parsons 90 - Dick Brooks 43 - Richard Petty 54 - Lennie Pond 2 - Dave Marcis 67 - Buddy Arrington 3 - Richard Childress Dixie 500 - NASCAR suffered an embarrassing scoring breakdown as Donnie Allison made up a lap and stormed past Richard Petty and Dave Marcis with three laps to go. Allison was flagged the winner, but NASCAR announced scoring showed Petty beating Marcis by a wheel for the win. Scorer Earl Sappenfield, however, thought something still wasn't right; chief scorer Morris Metcalfe was told by one of his scorers - 16-year-old Brian France2012 Richmond 400 Story With NASCAR Scoring Controversies from Mike Mulhern - that Donnie had in fact run a lap that hadn't been properly scored, and was thus the winner. When the announcement was made that Allison indeed had won, Bill France Jr. said, "First we need to wipe the egg off our face." Finishing fourth - following a strong second to Bobby Allison in a 300-mile Late Model Sportsman race at Charlotte the previous month - was Dale Earnhardt in a second Rod Osterlund car. 1 - Donnie Allison 43 - Richard Petty 2 - Dave Marcis 98 - Dale Earnhardt 72 - Benny Parsons 15 - Bobby Allison 12 - Harry Gant 11 - Cale Yarborough 22 - Ricky Rudd 14 - Coo Coo Marlin Los Angeles Times 500 - Cale Yarborough had to pit on the pace lap to correct ignition problems; he joined the field as the leaders were on the backstretch of the opening lap. The lead officially changed 11 times in the opening 21 laps and twice a lap several times; ultimately the lead changed 30 official times. Bobby Allison led 134 laps while Richard Petty was his strongest challenger, leading 30 laps before his engine failed. Allison took the win with Yarborough second. Dave Marcis finished 27th; his team owner Rod Osterlund entered two cars as he'd done at Atlanta; to preserve the rookie of the year status for 1979 for Dale Earnhardt, West Coast ace Jimmy Insolo started the race in the second Osterlund car and Earnhardt drove in relief, finishing seventh. The hiring of Earnhardt upset Marcis, who was already upset with team manager Roland Wlodyka; Marcis disliked the rookie's attitude coming into the series and left Osterlund's team; Osterlund thus named Earnhardt full-time driver. This was the last race without Terry Labonte in the field until the 2000 Brickyard 400. 15 - Bobby Allison 11 - Cale Yarborough 1 - Donnie Allison 27 - Buddy Baker 88 - Darrell Waltrip 54 - Lennie Pond 98 - Jimmy Insolo 72 - Benny Parsons 90 - Dick Brooks 51 - Jim Thirkettle 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. ** – All laps led. Pos. Position Driver RIV DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT NSV RIV MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT Pts Points scored 1 Cale Yarborough 1* 2 3 18 4 4 15* 26 16 1* 2 4 1** 5* 1 2 1* 26 4* 2* 1* 1* 4 2 1* 1 22 1* 8 2 4841 2 Bobby Allison 30 1 6 2 1* 21 14 6 6 38 8 3 21 3 24 27 7 3 6 5 22 5 2 1* 7 3 1* 2 6 1* 4367 3 Darrell Waltrip 23 28 4 21 35 1 2 1* 1* 22 6* 1* 26 16 28* 3 2 1* 34 3 3 2 1 5 2 2* 2 3 28 5 4362 4 Benny Parsons 2 3 1 3 13 2* 1 3 15 31 4 6 20 1 3 26 6 29 3 13 2 10 6 26 3 6 28 4 5 8 4350 5 Dave Marcis 5 6 7 11 2 3 4 5 4 8 15 32 4 4 4 6 4 4 14 4 6 35 9 8 8 8 3 8 3 27 4335 6 Richard Petty 16 33 22 4 26 25 5 2 3 11 7 8 3 2 6 4 23 30 7 14 5 3 20 27 6 4 27 6 2 34 3949 7 Lennie Pond DNQ 10 2* 5 5 5 3 4 18 21 3 33 2 7 25 5 26 1 8 26 26 12 7 5 7 6 7 39 6 3794 8 Dick Brooks 15 5 5 28 6 19 35 8 27 15 9 19 14 26 7 36 8 7 9 6 4 25 5 6 13 9 10 5 12 9 3769 9 Buddy Arrington 11 16 15 9 14 8 18 11 5 12 13 15 9 18 12 34 12 14 15 12 12 8 16 22 10 13 14 9 16 35 3626 10 Richard Childress 20 13 8 8 15 6 28 10 8 9 33 20 8 15 20 24 3 24 25 31 7 27 11 12 12 14 9 10 30 11 3566 11 J. D. McDuffie 28 30 27 25 16 28 11 7 26 40 34 22 12 24 13 12 5 10 17 7 8 20 8 33 22 11 11 12 14 26 3255 12 Neil Bonnett 4 27 9 6 33 26 32 24 2 39 5 35 5 10 36 23 28 36 8 9 20 34 3* 29 4 5 30 31 34 37 3129 13 Tighe Scott 18 11 10 34 34 9 34 25 25 13 11 31 7 11 11 10 22 8 10 19 23 23 27 25 29 10 12 21 22 DNQ 3110 14 Frank Warren 13 24 14 12 19 13 17 22 22 29 27 23 16 29 20 17 13 18 33 24 15 12 23 21 21 24 25 16 33 23 3036 15 Dick May 18 29 17 12 36 18 28 23 21 13 18 21 19 16 18 11 16 11 25 38 15 10 17 25 8 11 19 31 2936 16 Jimmy Means 35 12 10 32 23 12 14 10 26 17 37 30 15 13 24 13 32 15 19 11 13 32 23 23 13 23 22 2756 17 David Pearson 3 34 1* 21 29 21 35 1 5 27 2 1* 2 5 1 28 4 25 5 24 32 38 2756 18 Ronnie Thomas (R) DNQ 18 13 24 20 31 21 20 14 32 30 15 25 18 25 10 33 24 26 11 9 14 11 16 19 33 15 30 2733 19 Cecil Gordon 25 21 17 22 17 18 33 17 9 25 25 19 12 17 32 19 40 17 13 17 14 30 26 15 18 15 2641 20 Tommy Gale 25 23 14 22 22 21 27 17 16 18 24 21 15 16 20 16 21 13 24 17 27 17 31 18 31 17 2639 21 Roger Hamby (R) DNQ 15 25 27 37 17 13 23 14 19 31 23 27 17 27 36 30 10 19 10 18 24 12 18 26 11 12 2617 22 D. K. Ulrich 10 17 16 26 11 11 20 13 13 17 16 29 10 14 14 19 20 25 19 23 9 29 DNQ 2452 23 Baxter Price (R) DNQ 20 23 16 16 19 11 20 22 25 17 26 20 27 28 23 21 16 15 22 23 19 21 29 19 DNQ 2418 24 Buddy Baker 7* 33 27 6 2 23 7 8 37 5 28 36 32 3 26 34 22 21* 4 2130 25 Donnie Allison 39 31 3 23 24 2 5 33 35 2 29 24 9 4 20 1 3 1993 26 James Hylton 11 15 7 12 7 10 11 39 41 35 17 7 18 34 11 16 15 14 16 1965 27 Gary Myers Wth 20 30 26 18 28 23 15 19 21 20 14 14 21 20 15 22 17 27 24 1915 28 Ed Negre DNQ DNQ 21 29 25 10 15 19 28 35 27 35 18 29 21 30 15 18 20 21 35 26 21 1857 29 Skip Manning 21 12 13 7 23 15 8 9 23 4 12 26 16 39 38 38 25 1802 30 Grant Adcox 14 30 7 25 5 11 6 22 22 11 22 31 33 38 1467 31 Ricky Rudd 37 10 27 28 9 21 6 39 28 36 23 25 9 DNQ 1260 32 Bruce Hill DNQ 9 36 19 10 25 29 40 14 17 35 34 40 13 36 DNQ 1214 33 Bill Elliott 8 38 9 6 14 9 13 6 17 37 1176 34 Al Holbert (R) 8 29 31 7 10 38 31 30 12 30 QL 13 35 1142 35 Ferrel Harris 9 7 8 9 20 11 10 18 28 36 20 34 20 19 1066 36 Coo Coo Marlin 26 39 41 22 38 26 30 7 10 765 37 Blackie Wangerin (R) 36 29 19 30 32 31 15 40 25 33 760 38 Bobby Wawak DNQ 29 12 28 DNQ 13 34 28 37 27 DNQ 680 39 Terry Labonte 4 7 9 24 13 659 40 Ralph Jones Wth 20 24 21 27 18 30 29 634 41 Janet Guthrie DNQ 10 11 31 29 27 35 13 592 42 Earle Canavan DNQ 24 24 22 20 33 31 32 39 16 DNQ 559 43 Dale Earnhardt 17 7 12 16 4 558 44 Roland Wlodyka DNQ 19 26 32 18 27 21 549 45 Joe Frasson DNQ 16 24 14 17 23 533 46 Nelson Oswald DNQ 30 38 DNQ 24 25 24 18 501 47 Joe Mihalic 31 19 24 26 30 DNQ 32 419 48 Jim Thirkettle 17 9 10 389 49 Jimmy Insolo 7 32 7 369 50 Satch Worley 14 DNQ 18 9 14 368 51 John Kennedy DNQ Wth 29 29 DNQ 30 27 40 350 52 Bill Schmitt 32 8 14 350 53 Harry Gant 41 36 28 19 7 325 54 Connie Saylor 8 34 16 318 55 Richard White 24 19 18 308 56 Chuck Bown 30 30 24 33 301 57 Nestor Peles DNQ 24 21 19 297 58 Rick McCray 12 13 39 297 59 John Utsman DNQ 40 32 16 32 292 60 Joey Arrington 22 19 31 273 61 Joe Booher 18 34 22 273 62 John Borneman 27 23 25 264 63 Rocky Moran 26 30 20 261 64 Jimmy Lee Capps 23 19 35 258 65 Dave Dion 40 38 26 28 256 66 Ray Elder 34 6 40 254 67 Elmo Langley 37 16 29 243 68 Woody Fisher DNQ 28 36 20 237 69 Sterling Marlin 9 25 226 70 Ron Hutcherson 4 34 39 221 71 Jerry Jolly 20 40 36 201 72 Junior Miller 15 28 197 73 Bill Hollar Wth 28 36 36 189 74 Norm Palmer 14 35 DNQ 179 75 Ernie Stierly 19 31 DNQ 176 76 Morgan Shepherd 40 12 170 77 Harry Goularte DNQ 20 33 167 78 Mel Larson 33 29 140 79 Roy Smith 9 DNQ 138 80 Chuck Wahl DNQ 28 36 134 81 Jim Vandiver 38 27 131 82 Sam Sommers DNQ 12 27 127 83 Wayne Morgan DNQ 39 29 122 84 Hershel McGriff 6 17 112 85 Marty Robbins 18 109 86 Glenn Jarrett 20 103 87 Bob Burcham 22 97 88 Don Graham 22 DNQ 97 89 Jack Simpson 22 DNQ 97 90 Butch Mock 26 24 85 91 Steve Moore 27 82 92 Don Noel 33 28 79 93 Billy McGinnis 28 79 94 Vince Giaformaggio 29 QL 76 95 Richard Waters 29 76 96 Raymond Williams 29 76 97 Bill Green 30 73 98 Johnny Halford 30 73 99 Don Puskarich 31 DNQ 70 100 Steve Pfeifer DNQ DNQ 32 67 101 Eddie Bradshaw 33 64 102 Bill Baker DNQ 34 61 103 Louis Gatto DNQ 35 58 104 Gary Johnson 35 DNQ 58 105 Butch Hartman Wth 36 55 106 Bill Dennis 37 52 107 Jocko Maggiacomo DNQ Wth 37 52 108 Jabe Thomas 37 52 109 Dick Trickle 39 46 110 Bobby Fisher 29 40 43 111 Claude Ballot-Léna 22 18 35 37 112 A. J. Foyt 32 3 113 Lynn Carroll 14 114 Dave Watson 17 DNQ 115 Kenny Brightbill 23 116 Paul Fess 28 117 Greg Heller 29 118 Charlie Blanton 32 119 Frank Hill 37 120 Pappy Pryor DNQ 121 John Soares DNQ 122 Evan Noyes Jr. DNQ 123 Glenn Francis DNQ 124 Bob Switzer DNQ 125 Mike Kempton DNQ 126 Bob Brown DNQ 127 Mike Brockman DNQ DNQ 128 John Dineen DNQ Wth DNQ 129 Dick Whalen DNQ DNQ DNQ 130 Ron McGee DNQ DNQ 131 Dick Kranzler DNQ DNQ 132 Bennie Vaught DNQ DNQ 133 Steve Stolarek DNQ 134 Tommy Robbs DNQ 135 Tom Frank DNQ 136 Claude Aubin DNQ 137 Earl Ross DNQ 138 Terry Link DNQ 139 Robin Schildknecht DNQ 140 Keith Nebern DNQ 141 Hal Callentine DNQ 142 Mike Roche DNQ 143 Ross Kusah DNQ 144 John Krebs DNQ 145 Billy Hagan DNQ 146 Chris Monoleos DNQ 147 Johnny Kieper DNQ 148 Fred Lovell Wth 149 A. J. Reno Wth 150 Larry LaMay Wth 151 Paul Dean Holt Wth 152 Travis Tiller Wth 153 Jim Bray Wth 154 Keith Davis Wth 155 Hoss Ellington QL 156 Walter Ballard QL 30 Pos. Position Driver RIV DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT NSV RIV MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT Pts Points scored 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Central - The Third Turn https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/1978_NASCAR_Winston_Cup_Series_Central 2021-04-29 www.thethirdturn.com en See also 1978 NASCAR Winston West Series References External links Winston Cup Standings and Statistics for 1978 * Category:NASCAR Cup Series seasons