| Race details[1] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 28 of 30 in the1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season | |||
 Layout of Rockingham Speedway | |||
| Date | October 24, 1976 (1976-10-24) | ||
| Official name | American 500 | ||
| Location | North Carolina Motor Speedway,Rockingham, North Carolina | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 1.017 miles (1.636 km) | ||
| Distance | 492 laps, 500 mi (804 km) | ||
| Weather | Mild with temperatures of 72 °F (22 °C); wind speeds of 4.9 miles per hour (7.9 km/h) | ||
| Average speed | 117.718 miles per hour (189.449 km/h) | ||
| Attendance | 32,500[2] | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Wood Brothers | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | |
| Laps | 193 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | untelevised | ||
| Announcers | none | ||
The1976 American 500 was the 28th official race (out of 30) in theNASCARWinston Cup Series season.[2]
This race took place on October 24, 1976, atNorth Carolina Motor Speedway inRockingham,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 anengine issue on the first lap.[2]
Notable crew chiefs in the race wereJunie Donlavey,Jake Elder,Harry Hyde,Dale Inman,Bud Moore,Tim Brewer among others.[5]
Richard Petty's teenage sonKyle 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 onlyCanadian competitor out of the 36-car grid.[2]
| Grid[2] | No. | Driver | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 | David Pearson | Mercury |
| 2 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Dodge |
| 3 | 15 | Buddy Baker | Ford |
| 4 | 43 | Richard Petty | Dodge |
| 5 | 1 | Donnie Allison | Chevrolet |
| 6 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Chevrolet |
| 7 | 2 | Bobby Allison | Mercury |
| 8 | 88 | Darrell Waltrip | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 11 | Cale Yarborough | Chevrolet |
| 10 | 40 | D.K. Ulrich | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 54 | Lennie Pond | Chevrolet |
| 12 | 90 | Dick Brooks | Ford |
| 13 | 60 | Jackie Rogers | Chevrolet |
| 14 | 36 | Bobby Wawak | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 92 | Skip Manning | Chevrolet |
| 16 | 3 | Richard Childress | Chevrolet |
| 17 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Dodge |
| 18 | 55 | Sonny Easley | Ford |
| 19 | 49 | Henley Gray | Dodge |
| 20 | 5 | James Hylton | Dodge |
| 21 | 41 | Grant Adcox | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 14 | Coo Coo Marlin | Chevrolet |
| 23 | 24 | Cecil Gordon | Chevrolet |
| 24 | 05 | David Sisco | Chevrolet |
| 25 | 30 | Terry Bivins | Chevrolet |
Section reference:[2]
Section reference:[2]
| Pos | Driver | Points[2] | Differential |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cale Yarborough | 4380 | 0 |
| 2 | Richard Petty | 4283 | -97 |
| 3 | Benny Parsons | 3984 | -396 |
| 4 | Bobby Allison | 3948 | -432 |
5 | Lennie Pond | 3669 | -711 |
6 | Dave Marcis | 3599 | -781 |
| 7 | Buddy Baker | 3539 | -841 |
| 8 | Darrell Waltrip | 3316 | -1064 |
| 9 | Richard Childress | 3285 | -1095 |
| 10 | Dick Brooks | 3211 | -1169 |
| Preceded by | NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season 1976 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | American 500 races 1976 | Succeeded by |