1976 American 500

The 1976 American 500 was the 28th official race (out of 30) in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series season.[2]

1976 American 500
Race details[1]
Race 28 of 30 in the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
Layout of Rockingham Speedway
Layout of Rockingham Speedway
DateOctober 24, 1976 (1976-October-24)
Official nameAmerican 500
LocationNorth Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham, North Carolina
CoursePermanent racing facility
1.017 mi (1.636 km)
Distance492 laps, 500 mi (804 km)
WeatherMild with temperatures of 72 °F (22 °C); wind speeds of 4.9 miles per hour (7.9 km/h)
Average speed117.718 miles per hour (189.449 km/h)
Attendance32,500[2]
Pole position
DriverWood Brothers
Most laps led
DriverRichard PettyPetty Enterprises
Laps193
Winner
No. 43Richard PettyPetty Enterprises
Television in the United States
Networkuntelevised
Announcersnone

Race report

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This race took place on October 24, 1976, at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina.[2] The race took four hours, fifteen minutes, and one second.[2] Six cautions slowed the race for 35 laps.[2][3]

Richard Petty would end up lapping the field as he scored the season sweep at Rockingham.[2][4] Thirty-two thousand and five hundred spectators attended this event.[2] David Pearson gained the pole position qualifying at a speed of 139.117 miles per hour (223.887 km/h) but eventually finished in sixth place.[2] Henley Gray was the last-place finisher due to an engine issue on the first lap.[2]

Notable crew chiefs in the race were Junie Donlavey, Jake Elder, Harry Hyde, Dale Inman, Bud Moore, Tim Brewer among others.[5]

Richard Petty's teenage son Kyle would attend his father's victory celebrations; getting ready for his NASCAR career.[6] The average speed of the race was 117.718 miles per hour (189.449 km/h).[2] Jack Donohue was the only Canadian competitor out of the 36-car grid.[2]

Qualifying

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Grid[2]No.DriverManufacturer
121David PearsonMercury
271Dave MarcisDodge
315Buddy BakerFord
443Richard PettyDodge
51Donnie AllisonChevrolet
667Buddy ArringtonChevrolet
72Bobby AllisonMercury
888Darrell WaltripChevrolet
911Cale YarboroughChevrolet
1040D.K. UlrichChevrolet
1154Lennie PondChevrolet
1290Dick BrooksFord
1360Jackie RogersChevrolet
1436Bobby WawakChevrolet
1592Skip ManningChevrolet
163Richard ChildressChevrolet
1767Buddy ArringtonDodge
1855Sonny EasleyFord
1949Henley GrayDodge
205James HyltonDodge
2141Grant AdcoxChevrolet
2214Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
2324Cecil GordonChevrolet
2405David SiscoChevrolet
2530Terry BivinsChevrolet

Finishing order

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Section reference: [2]

Timeline

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Section reference: [2]

  • Start: David Pearson was leading the racing grid as the first official lap commenced.
  • Lap 2: Bruce Hill blew his engine while driving at high speeds.
  • Lap 5: Gary Myers blew his engine while driving at high speeds.
  • Lap 32: Dave Marcis took over the lead from David Pearson.
  • Lap 76: Bobby Wawak managed to overheat his vehicle.
  • Lap 85: Lennie Pond took over the lead from Dave Marcis.
  • Lap 88: Travis Tiller blew his engine while driving at high speeds.
  • Lap 96: Dave Marcis took over the lead from Lennie Pond.
  • Lap 117: Benny Parsons blew his engine while driving at high speeds.
  • Lap 127: Dick May blew his engine while driving at high speeds.
  • Lap 171: The rear end of James Hylton's vehicle came off in an unsafe manner.
  • Lap 180: Lennie Pond took over the lead from Dave Marcis.
  • Lap 191: Dave Marcis took over the lead from Lennie Pond.
  • Lap 208: Lennie Pond took over the lead from Dave Marcis.
  • Lap 216: Donnie Allison took over the lead from Lennie Pond.
  • Lap 217: Lennie Pond took over the lead from Donnie Allison.
  • Lap 227: Richard Petty took over the lead from Lennie Pond.
  • Lap 264: Lennie Pond took over the lead from Richard Petty.
  • Lap 299: The throttle on Buddy Baker's vehicle was acting badly enough to knock him out of the race.
  • Lap 322: Richard Petty took over the lead from Lennie Pond.
  • Lap 324: Lennie Pond took over the lead from Richard Petty.
  • Lap 329: Richard Petty took over the lead from Lennie Pond.
  • Lap 363: Richard Childress blew his engine while driving at high speeds.
  • Lap 389: J.D. McDuffie blew his engine while driving at high speeds.
  • Lap 413: Lennie Pond took over the lead from Richard Petty, Dave Marcis blew his engine while driving at high speeds.
  • Lap 423: Richard Petty took over the lead from Lennie Pond.
  • Lap 486: Donnie Allison's fuel pump was beginning to cause problems for him.
  • Finish: Richard Petty was officially declared the winner of the event.

Standings after the race

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PosDriverPoints[2]Differential
1 Cale Yarborough43800
2 Richard Petty4283-97
3 Benny Parsons3984-396
4 Bobby Allison3948-432
5 Lennie Pond3669-711
6 Dave Marcis3599-781
7 Buddy Baker3539-841
8 Darrell Waltrip3316-1064
9 Richard Childress3285-1095
10 Dick Brooks3211-1169

References

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  1. ^ "1976 American 500 weather information". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "1976 American 500 information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
  3. ^ "1976 American 500 drivers' sponsor information". Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
  4. ^ "1976 American 500 information (second reference)". Driver Averages. Archived from the original on 2011-10-05. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
  5. ^ "1976 American 500 crew chiefs information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2018-08-23.
  6. ^ Houston, Rick; Hallman, Bryan (2013). Kyle Petty at the 1976 American 500. ISBN 9780738599496. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
Preceded by NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season
1976
Succeeded by
Preceded by American 500 races
1976
Succeeded by