Busch 500
Bristol Motor Speedway — January 1, 1981
Darrell Waltrip
Winner
500
Laps
30
Entries
5
Leaders
Darrell Waltrip won the 1981 Busch 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on January 1, 1981, leading 251 of 500 laps. Ricky Rudd finished second; Terry Labonte rounded out the podium. The race featured 5 different leaders.
Race Details
Date
Thursday, January 1, 1981
Track
Season
1981
Winner
Leaders
5 drivers
| Pos | Start | +/- | Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | — | Darrell Waltrip |
| 2 | 3 | +1 | Ricky Rudd |
| 3 | 16 | +13 | Terry Labonte |
| 4 | 6 | +2 | Bobby Allison |
| 5 | 7 | +2 | Ron Bouchard |
| 6 | 8 | +2 | Benny Parsons |
| 7 | 15 | +8 | Lake Speed |
| 8 | 9 | +1 | Tim Richmond |
| 9 | 5 | -4 | Dave Marcis |
| 10 | 20 | +10 | Buddy Arrington |
| 11 | 2 | -9 | Harry Gant |
| 12 | 22 | +10 | Jimmy Means |
| 13 | 23 | +10 | J.D. McDuffie |
| 14 | 26 | +12 | Lennie Pond |
| 15 | 25 | +10 | Tommy Gale |
| 16 | 28 | +12 | James Hylton |
| 17 | 18 | +1 | Joe Millikan |
| 18 | 21 | +3 | Ronnie Thomas |
| 19 | 13 | -6 | Morgan Shepherd |
| 20 | 4 | -16 | Jody Ridley |
| 21 | 12 | -9 | Joe Ruttman |
| 22 | 29 | +7 | Rick Newsom |
| 23 | 24 | +1 | Elliott Forbes-Robinson |
| 24 | 10 | -14 | Richard Petty |
| 25 | 17 | -8 | Mike Alexander |
| 26 | 27 | +1 | Mike Potter |
| 27 | 14 | -13 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 28 | 11 | -17 | Kyle Petty |
| 29 | 30 | +1 | Joel Stowe |
| 30 | 19 | -11 | Cecil Gordon |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 1981 Busch 500?
Darrell Waltrip won the 1981 Busch 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway driving for Junior Johnson & Associates.
Where was the 1981 Busch 500 held?
The 1981 Busch 500 was held at Bristol Motor Speedway on January 1, 1981.