1981 Southern 500
NASCAR Cup Series Race 23 of 31
Race InformationTrack Information
Total Purse:$251,575Race Date:Apr 30, 2026Darlington Raceway
Margin of Victory:1 CL SecondsRace Duration:3Hr 57Min 57Sec.Darlington, South Carolina
Lead Changes:23Average Speed:126.410 MPH1.366 Mile Oval
No. of Cars:40No. of Cautions:8 For 45 Laps

Winner, Pole and Manufacturer Information
Winner InformationPole InformationManufacturer Points
Driver: Neil Bonnett N. BonnettDriver: Harry Gant H. GantFord:9
Car No.:#21 FordCar No.:#33 PontiacBuick:0
Team:Wood Brothers RacingTeam:Mach 1 RacingPontiac:0
Crew Chief:Leonard WoodCrew Chief:Chevrolet:0
Laps Led:216 of 367Pole Speed:152.693 MPH
Official 1981 Southern 500 Results
FinishStartNumDriverSponsorStatusMfgPointsLapsLed
1321 Neil BonnettNeil BonnettWarner W. HodgdonRunning185367216
21111 Darrell WaltripDarrell WaltripMountain DewRunning1753672
3471 Dave MarcisDave MarcisU.S. ArmyRunning1703679
4644 Terry LabonteTerry LabonteJ.D. Stacy RacingRunning1653673
591 Buddy BakerBuddy BakerUnoRunning1603673
6103 Dale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtWrangler JeansRunning1503660
7149 Bill ElliottBill ElliottMell-Gear Tuning ComponentsRunning1463660
8131 David PearsonDavid PearsonRonnie SteeleRunning1423650
91728 Bobby AllisonBobby AllisonHardee'sRunning1433651
10227 Cale YarboroughCale YarboroughValvolineRunning13936324
11547 Ron Bouchard (R)Ron BouchardJ.D. StacyRunning1303630
122390 Jody RidleyJody RidleyTruxmore Industries / Sunny King FordRunning1273620
132266 Lake SpeedLake SpeedLake Speed RacingRunning1243620
14133 Harry GantHarry GantSkoal BanditRunning12636078
15162 Joe Ruttman (R)Joe RuttmanNeo-LifeRunning1183580
161224 Morgan Shepherd (R)Morgan ShepherdGordon RacingRunning1153580
172168 Lennie PondLennie PondThe 5 Racers CorporationRunning1123560
18195 Joe MillikanJoe MillikanPerformance ConnectionRunning1093530
19338 Dick MayDick MayDick Brooks HondaRunning1063530
202937 Mike Alexander (R)Mike AlexanderRogers Auto LeasingRunning1033520
213470 J.D. McDuffieJ.D. McDuffieBailey ExcavatingRunning1003510
222712 Tim Richmond (R)Tim RichmondUnoRunning973490
23788 Ricky RuddRicky RuddGatoradeAccident943430
244094 Bobby WawakBobby WawakLouise Smith SpecialRunning913340
252075 Gary Balough (R)Gary BaloughChaparral TrailersEngine883330
263848 James HyltonJames HyltonPalatine AutomotiveRunning853310
273725 Ronnie ThomasRonnie ThomasThomas RacingRunning823110
283617 Mike PotterMike PotterKings Inn DaytonaRunning793090
293064 Tommy GaleTommy GaleSunny King FordRunning762940
30843 Richard PettyRichard PettySTPEngine7827831
312699 D.K. UlrichD.K. UlrichUlrich RacingEngine702690
323213 Jack IngramJack IngramCarolina Tool & EquipmentEngine672530
332598 Johnny Rutherford (R)Johnny RutherfordLevi GarrettWater Pump01900
341842 Kyle PettyKyle PettySTPEngine611300
352440 Slick JohnsonSlick JohnsonUlrich RacingEngine01100
363936 H.B. BaileyH.B. BaileyAlmeda Auto PartsAccident55930
372867 Buddy ArringtonBuddy ArringtonHill's RacingWheel Stud52850
383552 Jimmy MeansJimmy MeansBroadway MotorsEngine49640
391515 Benny ParsonsBenny ParsonsMelling Tool CompanyValves46620
40314 Connie Saylor (R)Connie SaylorSpencer RacingEngine4360

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