1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The 1976 NASCAR Grand National Winston Cup Series was the 28th season of professional stock car racing in the United States, the 5th modern era season of the Grand National series and sixth under R. J. Reynolds sponsorship through its Winston cigarette brand. The season began on Sunday, January 18 and ended on Sunday, November 21. Cale Yarborough, driving the #11 Junior Johnson Holly Farms Chevrolet scored his first of three consecutive NASCAR Grand National Series Winston Cup Championships. Skip Manning was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year.

Season recap

No Date Event Circuit Winner
1 January 18 Winston Western 500 Riverside International Raceway David Pearson
February 12 125 Mile Qualifying Races Daytona International Speedway Dave Marcis
Darrell Waltrip
2 February 15 Daytona 500 David Pearson
3 February 29 Carolina 500 North Carolina Speedway Richard Petty
4 March 7 Richmond 400 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway Dave Marcis
5 March 14 Southeastern 400 Bristol International Speedway Cale Yarborough
6 March 21 Atlanta 500 Atlanta International Raceway David Pearson
7 April 4 Gwyn Staley 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway Cale Yarborough
8 April 11 Rebel 500 Darlington Raceway David Pearson
9 April 25 Virginia 500 Martinsville Speedway Darrell Waltrip
10 May 2 Winston 500 Alabama International Motor Speedway Buddy Baker
11 May 8 Music City USA 420 Nashville Speedway Cale Yarborough
12 May 16 Mason-Dixon 500 Dover Downs International Speedway Benny Parsons
13 May 30 World 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway David Pearson
14 June 13 Riverside 400 Riverside International Raceway David Pearson
15 June 20 Cam 2 Motor Oil 400 Michigan International Speedway David Pearson
16 July 4 Firecracker 400 Daytona International Speedway Cale Yarborough
17 July 17 Nashville 420 Nashville Speedway Benny Parsons
18 August 1 Purolator 500 Pocono Raceway Richard Petty
19 August 8 Talladega 500 Alabama International Motor Speedway Dave Marcis
20 August 22 Champion Spark Plug 400 Michigan International Speedway David Pearson
21 August 29 Volunteer 400 Bristol International Speedway Cale Yarborough
22 September 6 Southern 500 Darlington Raceway David Pearson
23 September 12 Capital City 400 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway Cale Yarborough
24 September 19 Delaware 500 Dover Downs International Speedway Cale Yarborough
25 September 26 Old Dominion 500 Martinsville Speedway Cale Yarborough
26 October 3 Wilkes 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway Cale Yarborough
27 October 10 National 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway Donnie Allison
28 October 24 American 500 North Carolina Speedway Richard Petty
29 November 7 Dixie 500 Atlanta International Raceway Dave Marcis
30 November 21 Los Angeles Times 500 Ontario Motor Speedway David Pearson

Bold denotes a NASCAR Crown Jewel race.

Race Summaries

Winston Western 500

The Winston Western 500 was run on January 18 at Riverside International Raceway. Bobby Allison won the pole.

Top-10 results:

  1. #21 - David Pearson*
  2. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  3. #38 - Jimmy Insolo
  4. #96 - Ray Elder
  5. #72 - Benny Parsons
  6. #54 - Lennie Pond
  7. #3 - Richard Childress
  8. #71 - Dave Marcis
  9. #48 - James Hylton
  10. #73 - Bill Schmitt
  • This was Pearson's first road course victory since 1966, and the first Riverside victory for the Wood Brothers Racing team since 1968. Pearson led 124 of 191 laps.
  • Richard Petty started 27th and stormed through the field to lead 15 laps, but fell out with engine failure.
  • On lap 18, Darrell Waltrip suffered a brake failure in turn eight, which sent his car plowing over the fencing and landing near a spectator area. Waltrip drove back to the pits and ultimately finished 21st.[1]
  • This was Roger Penske's final race fielding an AMC Matador. Penske and driver Bobby Allison would race for Mercury for the rest of the year.

Daytona 500

Main article: 1976 Daytona 500

The 18th running of the Daytona 500 was run on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway. A. J. Foyt, Dave Marcis, and Darrell Waltrip qualified out front, but had their times disallowed after failing inspection. This resulted in Ramo Stott starting on the pole. This race is famous for the intense final lap battle between Richard Petty and David Pearson. Both cars made contact in turn 4, resulting in them crashing into the wall and spinning into the infield. Petty's Dodge stopped in the grass in front of the finish line, but stalled. This allowed Pearson, who managed to get his Mercury moving, to pass Petty and cross the line first to score his only Daytona 500 victory.

Top-10 results:

  1. #21 - David Pearson*
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #72 - Benny Parsons
  4. #54 - Lennie Pond
  5. #12 - Neil Bonnett
  6. #81 - Terry Ryan
  7. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
  8. #63 - Terry Bivins
  9. #3 - Richard Childress
  10. #79 - Frank Warren
  • This was the forth Daytona 500 victory for the Wood Brothers, and their last until 2011.
  • This race was very nearly marred by tragedy on lap 118, when Johnny Ray spun in oil dropped by Ramo Stott, and was then rammed at high-speed in the driver-side door by Skip Manning. Ray was initially declared dead at the hospital, but managed to be revived by resuscitation.

Carolina 500

The Carolina 500 was run on February 29 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Dave Marcis won the pole. Richard Petty won in dominant fashion, leading 362 of 492 laps, and finishing two laps ahead of 2nd-place finisher Darrell Waltrip.

Top-10 results:

  1. #43 - Richard Petty
  2. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  3. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  4. #15 - Buddy Baker
  5. #72 - Benny Parsons
  6. #6 - Bobby Isaac
  7. #41 - Grant Adcox
  8. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
  9. #8 - Ed Negre
  10. #70 - J.D. McDuffie

Richmond 400

The Richmond 400 was run on March 7 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Bobby Allison won the pole.

Top-10 results:

  1. #71 - Dave Marcis
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #2 - Bobby Allison
  4. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  5. #63 - Terry Bivins
  6. #3 - Richard Childress
  7. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  8. #05 - David Sisco
  9. #72 - Benny Parsons
  10. #64 - Elmo Langley

Southeastern 400

The Southeastern 400 was run on March 14 at Bristol International Speedway. Buddy Baker won the pole. Cale Yarborough led 285 of 400 laps and scored his first of 9 race victories in 1976.

Top-10 results:

  1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  2. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  3. #72 - Benny Parsons*
  4. #71 - Dave Marcis
  5. #2 - Bobby Allison
  6. #90 - Dick Brooks
  7. #48 - James Hylton
  8. #8 - Ed Negre
  9. #67 - Buddy Arrington
  10. #70 - J.D. McDuffie

Atlanta 500

The Atlanta 500 was run on March 21 at Atlanta International Raceway. Dave Marcis won the pole. NASCAR mandated smaller carburetors beginning with this race. David Pearson won after falling off the lead lap early, and spending the next 225 laps fighting to get back into contention. Cale Yarborough finished third, a lap down after making up three laps of a four-lap deficit.

Top-10 results:

  1. #21 - David Pearson
  2. #72 - Benny Parsons
  3. #11 - Cale Yarborough*
  4. #54 - Lennie Pond
  5. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  6. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
  7. #90 - Dick Brooks
  8. #12 - Neil Bonnett
  9. #05 - David Sisco
  10. #60 - Jackie Rogers

Gwyn Staley 400

Main article: 1976 Gwyn Staley 400

The Gwyn Staley 400 was run on April 4 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Dave Marcis won the pole. Cale Yarborough dominated en route to victory at Junior Johnson's home track, leading 364 laps.

Top-10 results:

  1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #2 - Bobby Allison
  4. #72 - Benny Parsons
  5. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
  6. #54 - Lennie Pond
  7. #90 - Dick Brooks
  8. #71 - Dave Marcis
  9. #3 - Richard Childress
  10. #30 - Walter Ballard

Rebel 500

The Rebel 500 was run on April 11 at Darlington Raceway. David Pearson won the pole. Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip crashed out on Lap 80, while Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough fell out with engine failures.

Top-10 results:

  1. #21 - David Pearson
  2. #15 - Buddy Baker
  3. #72 - Benny Parsons
  4. #54 - Lennie Pond
  5. #71 - Dave Marcis
  6. #93 - Buck Baker
  7. #41 - Grant Adcox
  8. #18 - Joe Frasson
  9. #3 - Richard Childress
  10. #30 - Bruce Hill

Virginia 500

The Virginia 500 was run on April 25 at Martinsville Speedway. Dave Marcis won the pole.

Top-10 results:

  1. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  2. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  3. #21 - David Pearson
  4. #43 - Richard Petty
  5. #90 - Dick Brooks
  6. #2 - Bobby Allison
  7. #47 - Bruce Hill
  8. #3 - Richard Childress
  9. #30 - Walter Ballard
  10. #24 - Cecil Gordon

Winston 500

The Winston 500 was run on May 2 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. Dave Marcis won the pole. This was the first 500-mile race in Winston Cup history to be completed in under 3 hours, finishing in 2 hours and 56 minutes.

Top-10 results:

  1. #15 - Buddy Baker*
  2. #11 - Cale Yarborough*
  3. #2 - Bobby Allison
  4. #43 - Richard Petty*
  5. #81 - Terry Ryan
  6. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  7. #28 - Donnie Allison
  8. #47 - Bruce Hill
  9. #71 - Dave Marcis
  10. #79 - Frank Warren
  • Buddy Baker qualified twelfth, a run so disappointing, the Bud Moore team drove back to their Spartanburg, SC shop, over four hours away, to overhaul the engine before returning to Talladega for the race.
  • Cale Yarborough took the points lead for the first time all season in this race, as points leader Benny Parsons had issues that resulted in a 26th-place finish.
  • Richard Petty finished fourth after stalling the car on an early pitstop and lost a lap.

Music City USA 420

The Music City USA 420 was run on May 8 at Nashville Speedway. Benny Parsons won the pole. Yarborough led all but 22 of 420 laps en route to his third victory of the season.

Top-10 results:

  1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #72 - Benny Parsons
  4. #15 - Buddy Baker
  5. #2 - Bobby Allison
  6. #54 - Lennie Pond
  7. #71 - Dave Marcis
  8. #30 - Walter Ballard
  9. #05 - David Sisco
  10. #79 - Frank Warren

Mason-Dixon 500

The Mason-Dixon 500 was run on May 16 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Dave Marcis won the pole. Benny Parsons suffered nose damage in a mid-race incident, but recovered to lead 161 of the last 169 laps and beat David Pearson by 25 seconds.

Top-10 results:

  1. #72 - Benny Parsons
  2. #21 - David Pearson
  3. #71 - Dave Marcis
  4. #2 - Bobby Allison
  5. #15 - Buddy Baker
  6. #43 - Richard Petty
  7. #90 - Dick Brooks
  8. #54 - Lennie Pond
  9. #50 - Darrell Bryant
  10. #3 - Richard Childress
  • Points leader Cale Yarborough led 243 laps but was penalized a lap on a pitstop, then fell out with an engine failure and finished 27th, losing the points lead to Parsons.

World 600

Main article: 1976 World 600

The World 600 was run on May 30 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. David Pearson won the pole. Pearson and Cale Yarborough fought for the lead and combined to lead 243 of the first 251 laps, but Yarborough lost a lap with a cut tire and finished third.

Top-10 results:

  1. #21 - David Pearson
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  4. #2 - Bobby Allison
  5. #72 - Benny Parsons
  6. #28 - Donnie Allison
  7. #90 - Dick Brooks
  8. #54 - Lennie Pond
  9. #18 - Harry Gant
  10. #05 - David Sisco
  • Janet Guthrie made her NASCAR debut in this race, starting 27th and finishing 15th.
  • Bruton Smith made his official return to Charlotte Motor Speedway in this race. Among his first acts was posting $18,000 in lap leader bonuses payable to whoever led the most laps per 100 miles.

Riverside 400

The Riverside 400 was run on June 13 at Riverside International Raceway. David Pearson won the pole. Pearson completed a season sweep at Riverside after a race-long battle with Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough.

Top-10 results:

  1. #21 - David Pearson
  2. #2 - Bobby Allison
  3. #72 - Benny Parsons
  4. #96 - Ray Elder
  5. #15 - Buddy Baker
  6. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  7. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  8. #38 - Jimmy Insolo
  9. #43 - Richard Petty
  10. #71 - Dave Marcis

CAM2 Motor Oil 400

The CAM2 Motor Oil 400 was run on June 20 at Michigan International Speedway. Richard Petty won the pole.

Top-10 results:

  1. #21 - David Pearson
  2. #11 - Cale Yarborough*
  3. #2 - Bobby Allison
  4. #43 - Richard Petty
  5. #15 - Buddy Baker
  6. #90 - Dick Brooks
  7. #54 - Lennie Pond
  8. #05 - David Sisco
  9. #60 - Jackie Rogers
  10. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  • Cale Yarborough dominated before losing power due to a blown head gasket, but managed to recover and finish 2nd.
  • Yarborough's runner-up finish helped him regain the points lead, as Benny Parsons lost 21 laps and finished 19th.

Firecracker 400

Main article: 1976 Firecracker 400

The Firecracker 400 was run on July 4 at Daytona International Speedway. A. J. Foyt won the pole.

Top-10 results:

  1. #11 - Cale Yarborough*
  2. #21 - David Pearson
  3. #2 - Bobby Allison
  4. #28 - A.J. Foyt
  5. #71 - Dave Marcis
  6. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
  7. #72 - Benny Parsons
  8. #90 - Dick Brooks
  9. #05 - David Sisco
  10. #22 - Ricky Rudd
  • This was Yarborough's first victory at Daytona since 1968.

Nashville 420

The Nashville 420 was run on July 17 at Nashville Speedway. Bobby Allison won the pole. Buddy Baker led 220 laps but fell out while leading with 90 laps to go; Benny Parsons took over and beat Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip.

Top-10 results:

  1. #72 - Benny Parsons
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #88 - Darrell Waltrip*
  4. #54 - Lennie Pond
  5. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  6. #71 - Dave Marcis
  7. #2 - Bobby Allison*
  8. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
  9. #92 - Skip Manning
  10. #36 - Bobby Wawak
  • Neil Bonnett served as a relief driver for Bobby Allison, as Allison was injured in a bad crash at a local race in Elko, MN. Allison started the race, then pitted after the opening lap to allow Bonnett to take over.
  • Darrell Waltrip finished 3rd following the hiring of engine builder Marion "Ducky" Newman by DiGard, after Newman left Bud Moore's team in a salary dispute.

Purolator 500

The Purolator 500 was run on August 1 at Pocono International Raceway. Cale Yarborough won the pole. NASCAR allowed teams to use larger carburetors again beginning with this race. David Pearson was leading the race late, but suffered a blown tire coming to the white flag and ultimately finished 4th. This race had 47 lead changes.

Top-10 results:

  1. #43 - Richard Petty
  2. #15 - Buddy Baker
  3. #72 - Benny Parsons
  4. #21 - David Pearson
  5. #54 - Lennie Pond
  6. #24 - Cecil Gordon
  7. #67 - Buddy Arrington
  8. #60 - Jackie Rogers
  9. #3 - Richard Childress
  10. #05 - David Sisco
  • Championship leader Cale Yarborough blew his engine halfway through the race, but the Junior Johnson team managed to change engines in the garage in 33 minutes, allowing Yarborough to return to the race. Yarborough finished 25th, losing the points lead to Benny Parsons in the process.

Talladega 500

The Talladega 500 was run on August 8 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. Dave Marcis won the pole. Several championship front-runners suffered mechanical failures in this race, including points leader Benny Parsons, Richard Petty, and 2nd in points Cale Yarborough. This race had 57 lead changes, the most all season.

Top-10 results:

  1. #71 - Dave Marcis
  2. #15 - Buddy Baker
  3. #90 - Dick Brooks
  4. #48 - James Hylton
  5. #54 - Lennie Pond
  6. #30 - Tighe Scott
  7. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
  8. #3 - Richard Childress
  9. #92 - Skip Manning
  10. #26 - Jimmy Lee Capps
  • After Yarborough blew his engine, Junior Johnson's team changed engines mid-race for the second consecutive week. Yarborough finished 51 laps down in 26th.
  • Darrell Waltrip blew his engine, and following the race, DiGard fired team manager Mario Rossi and engine builders Carroll "Stump" Davis and Keith Harlan. The team hired Robert Yates to assist Marion Newman.
  • Benny Parsons' 39th place finish allowed Yarborough to retake the points lead, and would hold on to it for the rest of the season.

Champion Spark Plug 400

The Champion Spark Plug 400 was run on August 22 at Michigan International Speedway. David Pearson won the pole.

Top-10 results:

  1. #21 - David Pearson
  2. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  3. #43 - Richard Petty
  4. #2 - Bobby Allison
  5. #71 - Dave Marcis
  6. #12 - Neil Bonnett
  7. #40 - D.K. Ulrich
  8. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
  9. #72 - Benny Parsons
  10. #36 - Bobby Wawak
  • Junior Johnson hired a security guard to watch over Yarborough's engines, suspecting sabotage after back-to-back engine failures.

Volunteer 400

The Volunteer 400 was run on August 29 at Bristol International Speedway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.

Top-10 results:

  1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  4. #72 - Benny Parsons
  5. #15 - Buddy Baker
  6. #2 - Bobby Allison
  7. #90 - Dick Brooks
  8. #54 - Lennie Pond
  9. #36 - Bobby Wawak
  10. #3 - Richard Childress

Southern 500

The Southern 500 was run on September 6 at Darlington Raceway. David Pearson won the pole.

Top-10 results:

  1. #21 - David Pearson*
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  4. #71 - Dave Marcis
  5. #54 - Lennie Pond
  6. #90 - Dick Brooks
  7. #72 - Benny Parsons
  8. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
  9. #2 - Bobby Allison
  10. #36 - Bobby Wawak
  • This was David Pearson's first Southern 500 victory, having previously won the Rebel 400 six times.
  • Cale Yarborough hit a guardrail post on pit road, which bent the rear-end assembly. Which assistance from Richard Childress, the Junior Johnson crew replaced the assembly and Cale finished 23rd. These issues, coupled with Richard Petty's 2nd-place finish, reduced Yarborough's championship lead to 29 points.
  • A scary accident occurred when Skip Manning spun in oil, and was slammed into by Joe Frasson, severely caving-in the driver-side door, and pinning Manning in the car. Both the door and roof had to be sawed off to extract Manning from the wreck. Despite the severity of the incident, Manning was not seriously injured.

Capital City 400

The Capital City 400 was run on September 12 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Benny Parsons won the pole. Bobby Allison made his most determined bid for a win of the season, chasing Cale Yarborough and finished one length back at the finish. Yarborough's victory increased his points lead over Richard Petty to 44 points.

Top-10 results:

  1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  2. #2 - Bobby Allison
  3. #43 - Richard Petty
  4. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  5. #15 - Buddy Baker
  6. #54 - Lennie Pond
  7. #71 - Dave Marcis
  8. #90 - Dick Brooks
  9. #30 - Terry Bivins
  10. #36 - Bobby Wawak

Delaware 500

The Delaware 500 was run on September 19 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Cale Yarborough won the pole. Cale Yarborough made up two laps on two separate occasions and won his second straight race.

Top-10 results:

  1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  2. #43 - Richard Petty
  3. #21 - David Pearson
  4. #2 - Bobby Allison
  5. #15 - Buddy Baker
  6. #90 - Dick Brooks
  7. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
  8. #40 - D.K. Ulrich
  9. #48 - James Hylton
  10. #67 - Buddy Arrington

Old Dominion 500

The Old Dominion 500 was run on September 26 at Martinsville Speedway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole. This race ended after 340 of 500 laps due to rain.

Top-10 results:

  1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  2. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  3. #15 - Buddy Baker
  4. #43 - Richard Petty
  5. #72 - Benny Parsons
  6. #90 - Dick Brooks
  7. #63 - Jimmy Hensley
  8. #30 - Terry Bivins
  9. #55 - Sonny Easley
  10. #3 - Richard Childress

Wilkes 400

The Wilkes 400 was run on October 3 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole. Cale Yarborough scored his fourth consecutive race victory, and his ninth of the season.

Top-10 results:

  1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  2. #72 - Benny Parsons
  3. #43 - Richard Petty
  4. #15 - Buddy Baker
  5. #54 - Lennie Pond
  6. #90 - Dick Brooks
  7. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
  8. #36 - Bobby Wawak
  9. #30 - Terry Bivins
  10. #92 - Sonny Easley

National 500

The National 500 was run on October 10 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. David Pearson won the pole. Donnie Allison scored a surprise victory in a backup Hoss Ellington Monte Carlo.

Top-10 results:

  1. #1 - Donnie Allison*
  2. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  3. #2 - Bobby Allison
  4. #15 - Buddy Baker
  5. #72 - Benny Parsons
  6. #21 - David Pearson*
  7. #54 - Lennie Pond
  8. #43 - Richard Petty
  9. #90 - Dick Brooks
  10. #36 - Bobby Wawak
  • This was Donnie Allison's first Winston Cup victory since 1971.
  • In post-race inspection, Donnie Allison's engine measured a tick over the legal displacement, but after cooling down, the engine was within limits. Team owner Hoss Ellington stated, "This one's legal. We left all the cheater stuff at Darlington."
  • 57-year old veteran Buck Baker competed in his final Winston Cup race. The two-time Series champion started 38th and finished 24th.
  • Neil Bonnett served as a relief driver for David Pearson in this race, after Pearson started experiencing back pain the previous day.

American 500

The American 500 was run on October 24 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. David Pearson won the pole. Green flag pit stops became frequent, as Richard Petty spent a total of 125 seconds on pit road, while 2nd-place finisher Lennie Pond spent 54 seconds.

Top-10 results:

  1. #43 - Richard Petty
  2. #54 - Lennie Pond
  3. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  4. #2 - Bobby Allison
  5. #11 - Cale Yarborough
  6. #21 - David Pearson
  7. #1 - Donnie Allison
  8. #90 - Dick Brooks
  9. #92 - Skip Manning
  10. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin

Dixie 500

Main article: 1976 Dixie 500

The Dixie 500 was run on November 7 at Atlanta International Raceway. Buddy Baker won the pole.

Top-10 results:

  1. #71 - Dave Marcis*
  2. #21 - David Pearson
  3. #1 - Donnie Allison
  4. #11 - Cale Yarborough*
  5. #15 - Buddy Baker
  6. #72 - Benny Parsons
  7. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
  8. #12 - Neil Bonnett
  9. #27 - Sam Sommers
  10. #36 - Bobby Wawak
  • This was Dave Marcis' last career non-short track victory, and his last victory until 1982. This was also the last victory for the K&K Insurance racing team.
  • Dale Earnhardt made his third career Cup start in this race and survived a vicious tumble after colliding with Dick Brooks.
  • Richard Petty's engine failure all but clinched the season championship for Cale Yarborough, as Yarborough's 4th-place finish extended his points lead to 183 points, nearly a full race ahead of Petty.

Los Angeles Times 500

Main article: 1976 Los Angeles Times 500

The LA Times 500 was run on November 21 at Ontario Motor Speedway. Cale Yarborough clinched the season championship by taking the green flag, only to fall out with transmission trouble after leading 68 laps.

Top-10 results:

  1. #21 - David Pearson
  2. #54 - Lennie Pond
  3. #72 - Benny Parsons
  4. #90 - Dick Brooks
  5. #48 - James Hylton
  6. #36 - Bobby Wawak
  7. #50 - Terry Bivins
  8. #92 - Skip Manning
  9. #81 - Terry Ryan
  10. #47 - Bruce Hill
  • Bobby Allison blew his engine simultaneously with his brother Donnie, and after the race, told Roger Penske he was leaving the team. This comes just one week after Penske announced that Allison was returning to the team for 1977.

Full Drivers’ Championship

Further information: 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. Driver RIV DAY CAR RCH BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RIV MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT Pts
1 Cale Yarborough 2 42 3 4 1* 3* 1* 25 2 2 1* 27* 3 7 2* 1* 5 25 26 2* 1* 23 1* 1* 1* 1* 2 5 4 23 4644
2 Richard Petty 25 2 1* 2 27 28 2 23 4 4 2 6 2 9 4 22 2 1 20 3 2 2 3 2 4 3 8 1* 28 27 4449
3 Benny Parsons 5 3 5 9 3 2 4 3 20 26 3 1 5 3 19 7 1 3 39 9 4 7 29 26 5 2 5 31 6 3 4304
4 Bobby Allison 15 25 21 3 5 29 3 18 6 3 5 4 4 2 3 3 7 24 23 4 6 9 2 4 27 29 3 4 26 33 4097
5 Lennie Pond 6 4 30 23 22 4 6 4 22 11 6 8 6 25 7 32 4 5 5 25 8 5 6 34 29 5 7 2 24 2 3930
6 Dave Marcis 8 27 26 1* 4 32 8 5 21 9 7 3 29 10 30 5 6 22 1 5 22 4 7 14 12 17 29 25 1* 24 3875
7 Buddy Baker 28 33 4 29 21 25 26 2* 27 1* 4 5 28 5 5 35 23* 2 2* 31 5 31 5 5 3 4 4* 28 5 39 3745
8 Darrell Waltrip 21 32 2 24 2 5 22 31 1* 33 12 30 11 6 29 39 3 26 37 27 3 3 4 31 2 24 11 3 7 40 3505
9 David Pearson 1* 1 29 1 1 3 37 2 1* 1 1 2 2 4* 1 1* 3 19 6 6 2 1* 3483
10 Dick Brooks 33 41 24 26 6 7 7 35 5 12 7 7 6 8 29 31 3 29 7 6 8 6 6 6 9 8 29 4 3447
11 Richard Childress 7 9 23 6 20 11 9 9 8 24 17 10 17 11 18 12 28 9 8 13 10 36 25 20 10 23 15 27 25 36 3428
12 J. D. McDuffie 19 7 10 21 10 27 5 27 23 27 20 15 25 14 16 24 13 21 7 8 23 25 11 7 21 7 23 26 13 11 3400
13 James Hylton 9 23 19 15 7 31 13 32 12 28 18 17 13 16 35 26 11 17 4 21 13 20 16 9 18 11 18 29 12 5 3380
14 D. K. Ulrich 12 19 17 20 25 21 19 16 16 20 11 12 16 26 12 16 17 38 21 7 11 16 17 8 13 26 30 14 18 25 3280
15 Cecil Gordon 23 18 34 7 28 16 12 11 10 6 14 36 20 12 10 34 15 6 29 26 21 12 13 35 15 13 28 15 23 16 3247
16 Frank Warren 11 10 28 19 14 15 20 17 29 10 10 13 18 20 24 13 12 16 12 23 20 19 26 23 14 22 26 22 27 18 3240
17 David Sisco 29 20 8 23 9 27 13 24 14 9 22 10 8 9 16 10 31 32 14 39 23 11 16 14 19 20 33 30 2994
18 Skip Manning (R) 30 35 30 12 17 11 14 17 16 22 11 33 20 31 9 12 9 14 18 32 12 23 21 13 9 14 8 2931
19 Ed Negre 13 9 13 8 13 17 28 30 32 19 34 27 24 17 37 25 11 27 30 29 26 27 15 22 25 37 13 12 2709
20 Buddy Arrington 11 31 11 9 30 18 24 28 22 26 31 14 11 40 26 7 33 17 35 18 10 11 12 12 16 DNQ 2573
21 Terry Bivins (R) 8 13 5 24 26 22 19 15 12 14 9 32 8 9 25 17 22 7 2099
22 Bobby Wawak DNQ 29 26 26 26 14 10 14 24 10 9 10 10 22 25 8 10 33 10 6 2062
23 Bruce Hill 36 22 18 10 7 8 23 39 37 25 25 27 29 32 19 22 36 30 34 35 11 10 1995
24 Jimmy Means (R) 40 34 31 15 39 23 11 24 23 11 24 19 18 24 27 20 27 23 17 DNQ 1752
25 Dick May 38 16 15 21 14 27 21 18 19 16 16 28 19 17 17 20 30 32 1719
26 Walter Ballard 25 14 19 24 10 QL 9 8 16 22 31 37 26 22 16 DNQ 1554
27 Henley Gray 36 30 23 29 25 33 20 17 11 15 21 12 13 19 36 37 1425
28 Coo Coo Marlin 21 8 6 13 6 8 34 12 8 32 10 30 DNQ 1412
29 Gary Myers DNQ 11 35 27 25 30 27 19 27 27 27 21 29 26 18 34 1296
30 Jackie Rogers 15 12 10 36 9 38 8 15 35 15 19 1173
31 Grant Adcox DNQ 7 12 7 19 12 30 18 13 14 12 20 1163
32 Neil Bonnett (R) 5 8 30 19 39 29 33 38 6 24 28 35 8 1130
33 Tommy Gale DNQ 15 35 22 18 37 21 29 34 40 25 24 17 1005
34 Donnie Allison 34 7 35 6 33 1 7 3 34 988
35 Joe Mihalic 17 12 26 DNQ 18 23 13 13 22 18 981
36 Elmo Langley 10 15 15 13 13 25 15 QL 824
37 Travis Tiller DNQ 18 17 18 26 23 22 33 28 32 DNQ 816
38 Sonny Easley 32 9 10 33 11 15 14 772
39 Joe Frasson 14 8 36 36 30 40 28 30 34 707
40 Jabe Thomas DNQ 27 13 21 14 21 14 648
41 Bill Elliott (R) 33 36 38 23 28 19 14 32 635
42 Dean Dalton 29 15 18 28 11 14 DNQ 633
43 Earle Canavan DNQ 18 17 19 34 36 29 24 DNQ 610
44 Rick Newsom 18 30 20 38 30 24 18 607
45 Tighe Scott 35 17 15 30 6 36 566
46 Terry Ryan 6 5 40 32 9 558
47 Darrell Bryant DNQ 11 20 36 40 9 19 35 40 546
48 Buck Baker 6 34 16 28 36 16 17 24 513
49 Chuck Bown 16 19 28 31 19 481
50 Baxter Price DNQ 16 23 24 21 20 28 479
51 Dick Skillen 31 21 21 17 30 455
52 Sam Sommers 24 DNQ 36 30 36 9 412
53 Ricky Rudd DNQ 23 33 10 DNQ 16 407
54 Jimmy Lee Capps 24 33 21 10 389
55 Bob Burcham DNQ 14 33 30 35 35 374
56 John Utsman (R) DNQ 14 19 12 15 345
57 Harold Miller DNQ DNQ 18 14 20 333
58 Ray Elder 4 4 DNQ 320
59 G. C. Spencer 25 34 17 35 319
60 Jerry Sisco 11 22 26 312
61 Jimmy Insolo 3 8 21 307
62 Don Puskarich 27 21 15 300
63 Earl Brooks 20 32 20 20 273
64 Bill Champion DNQ 28 29 16 270
65 Jack Donohue 19 21 36 261
66 Richard D. Brown 22 24 30 261
67 Junior Miller 14 15 239
68 Jimmy Hensley 25 7 234
69 Roy Smith 20 27 38 234
70 Eddie Bradshaw 18 15 DNQ 227
71 Chuck Wahl 22 13 DNQ 226
72 Bill Schmitt 10 26 219
73 Bruce Jacobi DNQ 37 28 27 DNQ 213
74 Gary Matthews 17 23 206
75 Bill Polich 26 DNQ 17 197
76 Larry LaMay 30 16 188
77 Walter Wallace 28 18 188
78 Ron Esau 14 35 DNQ 179
79 Gary Johnson 29 DNQ 176
80 Carl Joiner 20 31 173
81 Ferrel Harris QL 25 28 167
82 Hugh Pearson 24 30 DNQ 164
83 Johnny Ray (R) 31 28 149
84 Harry Gant 9 138
85 Jim Thirkettle 34 29 137
86 Larry Esau 13 124
87 Jim Vandiver 13 124
88 Gene Felton 16 115
89 Jim Hurtubise 16 115
90 Don Reynolds 18 DNQ 109
91 Budd Hagelin 19 37 106
92 Bill Dennis 21 100
93 Tommy Ellis 21 100
94 Richie Panch 21 100
95 John Dineen 22 DNQ 97
96 Doc Faustina DNQ 24 DNQ 91
97 Clyde Lynn 24 91
98 Glen McDuffie 27 82
99 J. C. Danielson 28 79
100 Glenn Francis 28 79
101 Sterling Marlin 29 76
102 Hershel McGriff 30 32 73
103 Dale Earnhardt 31 19 70
104 Rusty Sanders 31 70
105 John Hamson 32 DNQ 67
106 Dick Trickle 32 67
107 John Haver 33 64
108 Ernie Stierly 33 DNQ 64
109 Sam Beler 34 61
110 Charlie Glotzbach 34 61
111 Harry Jefferson 35 DNQ 58
112 Johnny Kieper 35 58
113 Tom Williams 37 DNQ 52
114 Bobby Isaac 6 38 49
115 Bill Hollar DNQ 39 46
116 Earl Ross 39 46
117 Janet Guthrie 15 15 33 22 20
118 A. J. Foyt 22* 32 4 22 38
119 Neil Castles 25 25 38
120 David Hobbs 34 17
121 Johnny Rutherford 20 31
122 Salt Walther 12
123 Larry Phillips 13
124 Bruce Blodgett 15
125 Ernie Shaw 16
126 Mike Hiss 22
127 Ramo Stott 26
128 Jeff Handy 28
129 Billy McGinnis 34
130 Gordon Johncock 39
131 Al Holbert 40
132 Elliott Forbes-Robinson DNQ
133 Dave Decker DNQ
134 Bill Seifert DNQ
135 Darel Dieringer DNQ
136 Blackie Wangerin DNQ
137 John Banks DNQ
138 Terry Link DNQ
139 Jim Fleming DNQ
140 Jerry Mabie DNQ
141 Jerry Hansen DNQ
142 Earl Ressler DNQ
143 Steve Pfeifer DNQ
144 Richard White DNQ
145 Ross Kusah DNQ
146 Leon Fox DNQ
147 Dennis Wilson DNQ
148 Bryce Mann DNQ
149 Sue Williams DNQ
150 Arlene Hiss DNQ
151 Terry Wood DNQ
152 Don Graham DNQ
153 Jack Simpson DNQ
154 John Weibel DNQ
155 Summer McKnight DNQ
156 Dick Whalen DNQ
157 Chris Monoleos DNQ
158 Norm Palmer DNQ
159 Bill Osborne DNQ
160 Jerry Barnett DNQ
161 Perry Cottingham DNQ
162 Marty Robbins Wth DNQ
Pos. Driver RIV DAY CAR RCH BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RIV MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT Pts

[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Stock Car Racing Magazine, June 1976, p. 25
  2. ^ "1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Central - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_NASCAR_Winston_Cup_Series