1981 Daytona 500
NASCAR Cup Series Race 2 of 31
Race InformationTrack Information
Total Purse:$669,135Race Date:Apr 30, 2026Daytona International Speedway
Margin of Victory:3.500 SecondsRace Duration:2Hr 56Min 50Sec.Daytona Beach, Florida
Lead Changes:49Average Speed:169.651 MPH2.5 Mile Paved Banked Tri-Oval
No. of Cars:42No. of Cautions:4 For 49 Laps

Winner, Pole and Manufacturer Information
Winner InformationPole InformationManufacturer Points
Driver: Richard Petty R. PettyDriver: Bobby Allison B. AllisonBuick:9
Car No.:#43 BuickCar No.:#28 PontiacPontiac:0
Team:Petty EnterprisesTeam:Ranier Racing with MDMOldsmobile:0
Crew Chief:Dale InmanCrew Chief:Ford:0
Laps Led:26 of 200Pole Speed:194.624 MPH
Official 1981 Daytona 500 Results
FinishStartNumDriverSponsorStatusMfgPointsLapsLed
1843 Richard PettyRichard PettySTPRunning18020027
2128 Bobby AllisonBobby AllisonTuf-LonRunning180200117
3588 Ricky RuddRicky RuddGatoradeRunning1702008
461 Buddy BakerBuddy BakerUnoRunning16520010
572 Dale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtWrangler JeansRunning1602004
6169 Bill ElliottBill ElliottMell-Gear Tuning ComponentsRunning1551994
72790 Jody RidleyJody RidleyTruxmore Industries / Sunny King FordRunning1461980
82927 Cale YarboroughCale YarboroughValvolineRunning1421970
93475 Joe MillikanJoe MillikanRahmoc RacingRunning1381970
103598 Johnny Rutherford (R)Johnny RutherfordLevi GarrettRunning1341950
112157 Bill ElswickBill ElswickPerformer BoatsRunning1301950
123312 Donnie AllisonDonnie AllisonThe 5 Racers CorporationRunning1271950
132222 Stan Barrett (R)Stan BarrettSkoal BanditRunning1241950
141393 Don WhittingtonDon WhittingtonSmith RacingRunning1211940
151571 Dave MarcisDave MarcisBuck Stove / Hudson ChevroletRunning1181940
163841 Dick BrooksDick BrooksBilly Mathews RacingRunning01931
172864 Tommy GaleTommy GaleSunny King Ford & HondaRunning1121920
181719 Ronnie SandersRonnie SandersHome Trend RealtyRunning1091910
192317 Glenn JarrettGlenn JarrettTuf-Lon of FloridaRunning1061860
203937 Don SprouseDon SprouseRogers Auto LeasingRunning1031810
212652 Jimmy MeansJimmy MeansBroadway MotorsRunning1001790
221423 Geoffrey BodineGeoffrey BodineBahre RacingRunning971780
233147 Harry GantHarry GantRace Hill FarmRunning941750
244170 J.D. McDuffieJ.D. McDuffieBailey ExcavatingRunning911690
253786 Elliott Forbes-Robinson (R)Elliott Forbes-RobinsonHoward & Egerton RacingValves881670
262067 Buddy ArringtonBuddy ArringtonHills RacingRunning851590
273268 Lennie PondLennie PondBurger KingOil Pump821550
281925 Ronnie ThomasRonnie ThomasThomas RacingClutch791510
29916 David PearsonDavid PearsonHalpern EnterprisesEngine811443
304099 Tim Richmond (R)Tim RichmondUnoTransmission731440
31415 Benny ParsonsBenny ParsonsMelling Tool CompanyOverheating701350
321142 Kyle PettyKyle PettySTPEngine671280
33321 Neil BonnettNeil BonnettPurolatorClutch6912326
342548 James HyltonJames HyltonPalatine AutomotivePiston611230
351051 A.J. FoytA.J. FoytGilmore / ValvolineValve Spring581200
36211 Darrell WaltripDarrell WaltripMountain DewEngine551170
374224 Cecil GordonCecil GordonHome Craft HomesRunning521160
38183 Richard ChildressRichard ChildressWachovia CarpetValves491100
39247 Bruce HillBruce HillNative TanAccident46540
401244 Terry LabonteTerry LabonteStratagraph IncorporatedRunning43470
413631 Billie HarveyBillie HarveyGraf Lear JetsEngine40450
423039 Blackie WangerinBlackie WangerinWangerin / Clements AutoAccident37170

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