1977 NAPA National 500

Race report

41 drivers competed at this event. Benny Parsons defeated Cale Yarborough by 19.2 seconds in front of 79,400 spectators. Parsons scored a dominant Winston Cup victory, in terms of percentage of laps led. There were 18 lead changes and four cautions; the race lasted three hours and thirty minutes. Bruce Hill received the last-place finish due to engine problems on lap 15 of this 334-lap race. David Pearson would win the pole position with a qualifying speed of 160.982 mph while the average race speed was 142.780 mph. By all evidence, this would be the last win for a Chevrolet Laguna in NASCAR Cup Series history.

His next pole position would come at the 1978 World 600 where he would get his 10th consecutive pole position start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Pearson's final pole position at Charlotte Motor Speedway would come at the 1978 NAPA National 500 - setting a record. Other notable drivers at this event included: Bill Elliott, Janet Guthrie, Neil Bonnett, A. J. Foyt, Dick Brooks, Darrell Waltrip, and Buddy Baker. Tom Sneva would make his NASCAR debut at this racing event. Dale Earnhardt would start his only race in 1977 driving for Henley Gray.

Individual earnings for each driver ranged from the winner's share of $41,075 ($ when adjusted for inflation) to the last-place finisher's share of $820 ($ when adjusted for inflation). The total prize purse for this event was $223,530 ($ when adjusted for inflation).

Qualifying

Finishing order

Section reference:

1. Benny Parsons†
2. Cale Yarborough†
3. David Pearson†
4. Buddy Baker†
5. Darrell Waltrip
6. Dick Brooks†
7. A.J. Foyt
8. Neil Bonnett†
9. Janet Guthrie
10. Bill Elliott
11. Ron Hutcherson
12. Coo Coo Marlin†
13. Dick May†
14. James Hylton†
15. J.D. McDuffie†
16. Richard Childress
17. Buddy Arrington†
18. G.C. Spencer†
19. D.K. Ulrich
20. Peter Knab
21. Tommy Gale†
22. Ed Negre†
23. Dave Marcis*
24. Ricky Rudd
25. Tighe Scott*
26. Bobby Allison*
27. Tom Sneva*
28. Jimmy Means*
29. Dick Trickle*
30. Lennie Pond*
31. Butch Hartman*†
32. Richard Petty*
33. Frank Warren*
34. Sam Sommers*
35. Skip Manning*
36. Donnie Allison*
37. Cecil Gordon*†
38. Dale Earnhardt*†
39. Roland Wlodyka*
40. Jim Raptis*
41. Bruce Hill*† ** Driver failed to finish race*

† signifies that the driver is known to be deceased

Standings after the race

References

before = 1977 Wilkes 400 | after = 1977 American 500| title = NASCAR Winston Cup Season| years = 1977 |

References

1. "Weather information for the ''1977 NAPA National 500''". The Old Farmers' Almanac.
2. "''1977 NAPA National 500'' racing information". Racing Reference.
3. "David Pearson's pole position accomplishment". Scene Daily.
4. "''1977 NAPA National 500'' racing information". Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet.
5. "''1977 NAPA National 500'' qualifying information". Racing Reference.