1981 Winston Western 500 (January)
Encyclopedia
The 1981 Winston Western 500 was a NASCAR
Winston Cup Series race that took place on January 11, 1981 at Riverside International Raceway
in Riverside
, California
, U.S.A..
-born except for Roy Smith
who was born in Canada. The last place finisher was Cecil Gordon
in his Chevrolet
due to engine
problems on lap 2 out of 119. Bobby Allison
defeated Terry Labonte
in front of 35,000 loyal NASCAR spectators. There were 15 lead changes and six cautions for 31 laps; making the race last three hours and sixteen minutes in length. Darrell Waltrip
would qualify for the pole position
with a top speed of 114.711 miles per hour (184.6 km/h) while the average race speed was only 95.263 miles per hour (153.3 km/h). The other drivers with a top ten finish were: Dale Earnhardt
, Richard Childress
, Richard Petty
, Jim Robinson
, Jody Ridley
, Elliott Forbes-Robinson
, Buddy Arrington
, and Don Waterman
.
Ricky Rudd
would start his "Ironman" streak of being in the NASCAR Cup Series for 24 seasons without missing a single race. The next race after this one would see cars become boxier and smaller; like the compact cars that were trendy in America during the 1980s. West Coast racer John Borneman would end his career at this race with a respectable 12th place finish. This was the final time in NASCAR history that a race would take place prior to the Daytona 500
.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Winston Cup Series race that took place on January 11, 1981 at Riverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway was a race track or road course in Riverside, California. The track was in operation from September 22, 1957, to July 2, 1989...
in Riverside
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, U.S.A..
Summary
There were 36 drivers on the grid; all of them were AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born except for Roy Smith
Roy Smith (racecar driver)
Roy Smith is a former NASCAR driver and part of a Victoria-era racing family—brother Al and son Gary have raced.-Career:...
who was born in Canada. The last place finisher was Cecil Gordon
Cecil Gordon
Cecil Gordon was a NASCAR driver. He is not related to Sprint Cup driver Jeff Gordon although the two drivers drove in car number 24....
in his Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
due to engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
problems on lap 2 out of 119. Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
defeated Terry Labonte
Terry Labonte
Terrance Lee Labonte is a semi-retired NASCAR driver who occasionally drives in the Sprint Cup Series when called upon and is a two-time Winston Cup and IROC champion. He currently drives the #32 U.S. Chrome Ford for FAS Lane Racing. Labonte was introduced to the sport through his father, who had...
in front of 35,000 loyal NASCAR spectators. There were 15 lead changes and six cautions for 31 laps; making the race last three hours and sixteen minutes in length. Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Lee Waltrip is a 3-time NASCAR Cup Series champion , 3-time runner-up , winner of the 1989 Daytona 500 and 5-time winner of the prestigeous Coca-Cola 600 ,...
would qualify for the pole position
Pole position
The term "pole position", as used in motorsports, comes from the horse racing term where the number one starter starts on the inside next to the inside pole. The term made its way, along with several other customs, to auto racing. In circuit motorsports, a driver has pole position when he or she...
with a top speed of 114.711 miles per hour (184.6 km/h) while the average race speed was only 95.263 miles per hour (153.3 km/h). The other drivers with a top ten finish were: Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt
Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
, Richard Childress
Richard Childress
Richard Childress is a former NASCAR driver and the current team owner of Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. As a business entrepreneur, Childress became one of the wealthiest men in North Carolina...
, Richard Petty
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
, Jim Robinson
James Robinson (racer)
James "Jim" Robinson was a NASCAR driver from 1979-1987.- Career :In 1978, he began competing with the NASCAR Winston West Series. He soon began to enjoy success with the series winning the NASCAR Winston West Series Championship in 1983, 1984, and 1985 - finishing no worse than fifth in the...
, Jody Ridley
Jody Ridley
Jody Ridley is a former NASCAR driver. He won the 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year award and one race at Dover International Speedway the next year, the only Cup victory for Donlavey Racing....
, Elliott Forbes-Robinson
Elliott Forbes-Robinson
Elliott Forbes-Robinson is a road racing racecar driver. He is known for his race wins and championships in many different series, including the American Le Mans Series , Super Vee, Trans-Am Series, CanAm, IMSA GTU, and the World Challenge. He is known in NASCAR circles as a road course ringer...
, Buddy Arrington
Buddy Arrington
Buddy Arrington is a retired NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup driver.- Biography :...
, and Don Waterman
Don Waterman
Don Waterman is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup Series race car driver whose career spanned from 1980 to 1983.The primary vehicle for this driver was the self-owned #38 St. John's Auto Parts Buick. Only three races were spent inside an Oldsmobile machine. His only "top ten" finish came at the January...
.
Ricky Rudd
Ricky Rudd
Ricky Rudd is a former American NASCAR driver. He is the uncle of actor Skeet Ulrich and Nationwide Series driver Jason Rudd. Rudd is known as the "Iron Man" of NASCAR; holding the record for most consecutive starts in NASCAR racing. At the conclusion of the 2005 season, Rudd had made 788...
would start his "Ironman" streak of being in the NASCAR Cup Series for 24 seasons without missing a single race. The next race after this one would see cars become boxier and smaller; like the compact cars that were trendy in America during the 1980s. West Coast racer John Borneman would end his career at this race with a respectable 12th place finish. This was the final time in NASCAR history that a race would take place prior to the Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
.