The 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup season was one for the record books. Over the course of the 31-race series, fans witnessed 772 lead changes -- a mark that still stands today, despite the fact that five races have been added to the annual schedule. A record five races were also determined by a last-lap pass, another 1981 NASCAR mark that still stands. In the chart below, you will find the results for all of the 31 races that comprised the 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National Series Season.
 Buddy Baker, in the #1 Oldsmobile, leads #33 Harry
Gant, #11 Darrell Waltrip, #50 Bruce Hill, and #27 Cale Yarborough during the May 24 World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Gant became one of the most popular pilots in NASCAR, but sour luck hounded him throughout the season. See more pictures of NASCAR. |
| Number | Date
|
Site
|
Race Winner
|
Car
|
Speed
|
| 1 | 1/11/81 | Riverside, CA
|
Bobby Allison | Chevrolet
|
95.263
|
| 2
|
2/15/81
|
Daytona Beach, FL
|
Richard Petty
|
Buick
|
169.651
|
| 3 | 2/22/81 | Richmond, VA | Darrell Waltrip | Buick | 76.570 |
| 4
|
3/01/81
|
Rockingham, NC
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
Buick
|
114.594
|
| 5
|
3/15/81
|
Atlanta, GA
|
Cale Yarborough
|
Buick
|
133.619
|
| 6
|
3/29/81
|
Bristol, TN
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
Buick
|
89.530
|
| 7
|
4/05/81
|
N.Wilkesboro, NC
|
Richard Petty
|
Buick
|
85.381
|
| 8
|
4/12/81
|
Darlington, SC
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
Buick
|
126.703
|
| 9
|
4/26/81
|
Martinsville, VA
|
Morgan Shepherd
|
Pontiac
|
75.019
|
| 10
|
5/03/81
|
Talladega, AL
|
Bobby Allison
|
Buick
|
149.376
|
| 11
|
5/09/81
|
Nashville, TN
|
Benny Parsons
|
Ford | 89.756 |
| 12
|
5/17/81
|
Dover, DE
|
Jody Ridley
|
Ford | 116.595
|
| 13
|
5/24/81
|
Charlotte, NC
|
Bobby Allison
|
Buick
|
129.326
|
| 14
|
6/07/81
|
College Station, TX
|
Benny Parsons
|
Ford | 132.475 |
| 15
|
6/14/81
|
Riverside, CA
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
Buick | 93.597 |
| 16
|
6/21/81
|
Brooklyn, MI
|
Bobby Allison
|
Buick
|
130.589
|
| 17
|
7/04/81
|
Daytona Beach, FL
|
Cale Yarborough
|
Buick
|
142.588 |
| 18
|
7/11/81
|
Nashville, TN
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
Buick | 90.052 |
| 19
|
7/26/81
|
Pocono, PA
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
Buick | 119.111 |
| 20
|
8/02/81
|
Talladega, AL
|
Ron Bouchard
|
Buick | 156.737
|
| 21
|
8/16/81
|
Brooklyn, MI
|
Richard Petty
|
Buick | 123.457 |
| 22
|
8/22/81
|
Bristol, TN
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
Buick | 84.723 |
| 23
|
9/07/81
|
Darlington, SC
|
Neil Bonnett
|
Ford | 126.410 |
| 24
|
9/13/81
|
Richmond, VA
|
Benny Parsons
|
Ford | 69.998 |
| 25
|
9/20/81
|
Dover, DE
|
Neil Bonnett
|
Ford | 119.561 |
| 26
|
9/27/81
|
Martinsville, VA
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
Buick | 70.089 |
| 27
|
10/04/81
|
N.Wilkesboro, NC
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
Buick | 93.091 |
| 28
|
10/11/81
|
Charlotte, NC
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
Buick | 117.483 |
| 29
|
10/11/81
|
Charlotte, NC
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
Buick | 117.483 |
| 30
|
11/08/81
|
Atlanta, GA
|
Neil Bonnett
|
Ford
|
130.391 |
| 31 | 11/22/81
|
Ontario, CA
|
Bobby Allison
|
Buick
|
95.288 |
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