1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

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Richard Petty, the 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion. This would be his 6th of his 7 championships.

The 1975 NASCAR Grand National Winston Cup Series was the 27th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 4th season in the modern era of the NASCAR Cup series. The season began on Sunday, January 19 and ended on Sunday, November 12. Richard Petty, driving the #43 Petty Enterprises STP Dodge scored his sixth NASCAR Grand National Series Winston Cup Championship. Bruce Hill was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year. NASCAR introduced a new points system for 1975, a system designed by statistician Bob Latford. For the first time, each race on the NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National schedule carried an equal point value, a system that would be used for 36 seasons, from 1975 to 2010, with modifications in 2004 and 2007 each time by increasing the emphasis for a win in adding five additional points each time for a race winner. The original points system ran for the first 29 seasons, from 1975 to 2003.

Season recap

[edit]
No.DateEventCircuitPole positionMost laps ledWinnerManufacturer
1January 19Winston Western 500Riverside International RacewayBobby AllisonBobby AllisonBobby AllisonAMC
February 13125 Mile Qualifying RacesDaytona International SpeedwayBobby Allison
David Pearson
2February 16Daytona 500Donnie AllisonDavid PearsonBenny ParsonsChevrolet
3February 23Richmond 500Richmond Fairgrounds RacewayRichard PettyRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
4March 2Carolina 500North Carolina SpeedwayBuddy BakerCale YarboroughCale YarboroughChevrolet
5March 16Southeastern 500Bristol International SpeedwayBuddy BakerRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
6March 23Atlanta 500Atlanta International RacewayRichard PettyRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
7April 6Gwyn Staley 400North Wilkesboro SpeedwayDarrell WaltripRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
8April 13Rebel 500Darlington RacewayDavid PearsonDavid PearsonBobby AllisonAMC
9April 27Virginia 500Martinsville SpeedwayBenny ParsonsRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
10May 4Winston 500Alabama International Motor SpeedwayBuddy BakerBuddy BakerBuddy BakerFord
11May 10Music City USA 420Nashville SpeedwayDarrell WaltripCale YarboroughDarrell WaltripChevrolet
12May 18 &19Mason-Dixon 500Dover Downs International SpeedwayDavid PearsonDavid PearsonDavid PearsonMercury
13May 25World 600Charlotte Motor SpeedwayDavid PearsonRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
14June 8Tuborg 400Riverside International RacewayBobby AllisonBobby AllisonRichard PettyDodge
15June 15Motor State 400Michigan International SpeedwayCale YarboroughDavid PearsonDavid PearsonMercury
16July 4Firecracker 400Daytona International SpeedwayDonnie AllisonBuddy BakerRichard PettyDodge
17July 20Nashville 420Nashville SpeedwayBenny ParsonsCale YarboroughCale YarboroughChevrolet
18August 3Purolator 500Pocono RacewayBobby AllisonDavid PearsonDavid PearsonMercury
19August 17Talladega 500Alabama International Motor SpeedwayDave MarcisBuddy BakerBuddy BakerFord
20August 24Champion Spark Plug 400Michigan International SpeedwayDavid PearsonA.J. FoytRichard PettyDodge
21September 1Southern 500Darlington RacewayDavid PearsonRichard PettyBobby AllisonAMC
22September 14Delaware 500Dover Downs International SpeedwayDave MarcisRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
23September 21Wilkes 400North Wilkesboro SpeedwayRichard PettyRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
24September 28Old Dominion 500Martinsville SpeedwayCale YarboroughCale YarboroughDave MarcisDodge
25October 5National 500Charlotte Motor SpeedwayDavid PearsonRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
26October 12Capital City 500Richmond Fairgrounds RacewayBenny ParsonsLennie PondDarrell WaltripChevrolet
27October 19American 500North Carolina SpeedwayDave MarcisCale YarboroughCale YarboroughChevrolet
28November 2Volunteer 500Bristol International SpeedwayCale YarboroughRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
29November 9Dixie 500Atlanta International RacewayDave MarcisBuddy BakerBuddy BakerFord
30November 23Los Angeles Times 500Ontario Motor SpeedwayDavid PearsonBuddy BakerBuddy BakerFord

1975 Season races

[edit]

Round 1: Winston Western 500

[edit]
Bobby Allison led 173 laps at Riverside International Raceway in Roger Penske's AMC Matador to beat David Pearson by 22 seconds.
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
116Bobby AllisonAMC
221David PearsonMercury
324Cecil GordonChevrolet
471Dave MarcisDodge
564Elmo LangleyFord
648James HyltonChevrolet
743Richard PettyDodge
857WGary MatthewsChevrolet
98Ed NegreDodge
1029WHershel McGriffChevrolet

Round 2: Daytona 500

[edit]
After falling back several laps due to overheating, Richard Petty pulled forward Benny Parsons in his draft to catch Pearson. With three to go Pearson moved into a group of lapped cars that included Cale Yarborough; inexplicably Yarborough got into Pearson and David spun down the backstretch. The win was Parsons' first since 1973.
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
172Benny ParsonsChevrolet
216Bobby AllisonAMC
311Cale YarboroughChevrolet
421David PearsonMercury
583Ramo StottChevrolet
671Dave MarcisDodge
743Richard PettyDodge
898Richie PanchChevrolet
949G.C. SpencerDodge
1048James HyltonChevrolet

Round 3: Richmond 500

[edit]
With a field of only 22 entries due to a dearth of team sponsorships, Petty led 444 laps and won by six laps. Cale Yarborough was among the teams not entered, due to losing Carling sponsorship after the 1974 season.
Pos.No.DriverMake
143Richard PettyDodge
254Lennie PondChevrolet
372Benny ParsonsChevrolet
490Dick BrooksFord
564Elmo LangleyFord
667Buddy ArringtonDodge
724Cecil GordonChevrolet
805David SiscoChevrolet
996Richard ChildressChevrolet
108Ed NegreDodge

Round 4: Carolina 500

[edit]
The 1975 Carolina 500 was run on March 2. In below-freezing temperatures, Cale Yarborough edged Pearson for the win while Petty finished nine laps down due to the same overheating problems that had plagued him at Daytona.
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
111Cale YarboroughChevrolet
221David PearsonMercury
343Richard PettyDodge
490Dick BrooksFord
547Bruce HillChevrolet
696Richard ChildressChevrolet
78Ed NegreDodge
848James HyltonChevrolet
967Buddy ArringtonDodge
107Dean DaltonFord

Round 5: Southeastern 500

[edit]
Richard Petty won his first race at Bristol International Speedway since 1967. Cale Yarborough led 78 laps but fell out with rearend failure. Following the race Maurice Petty found out the team's overheating problems traced to cracked cylinder heads; "we discovered another cracked head that could have cost us the race."[1]
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
143Richard PettyDodge
272Benny ParsonsChevrolet
315Buddy BakerFord
424Cecil GordonChevrolet
548James HyltonChevrolet
617Darrell WaltripChevrolet
705David SiscoChevrolet
871Dave MarcisDodge
996Richard ChildressChevrolet
1010Ricky RuddFord

Round 6: Atlanta 500

[edit]
With Maurice fixing the team's cylinder head issues, Richard Petty engaged Pearson in a running duel for the lead, but Pearson lost a lap in the final 30 laps, result of a slow leaking tire and resultant green flag stop. A late caution for Lennie Pond's engine failure set up a one-lap duel between Petty and Buddy Baker; Petty contended the race ran past 328 laps, a statement supported by his official scorer (Richard Hucks) and the scorers for Pearson (Grover Atkins) and Dick Brooks (Russell Page), but NASCAR showed scoring cards proving it had run the correct distance; among those who scored the race was Richard's daughter Sharon, who said Petty "went by 328 times." Manual scoring with cards and a clock created controversy over the years in NASCAR; the system was used until 1993, when NASCAR switched to transponder-based scoring, which was supplemented by GPS-based scoring in 2003 to determine winners of the race if necessary.
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
143Richard PettyDodge
215Buddy BakerFord
321David PearsonMercury
490Dick BrooksFord
517Darrell WaltripChevrolet
688Donnie AllisonChevrolet
714Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
824Cecil GordonChevrolet
997Harry JeffersonFord
1054Lennie PondChevrolet

Round 7: Gwyn Staley 400

[edit]

The 1975 Gwyn Staley 400 took place on April 6 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The race was dominated by Richard Petty, who led a total of 311 laps and won by a margin of over three laps.

Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
143Richard PettyDodge
211Cale YarboroughChevrolet
315Buddy BakerFord
471Dave MarcisDodge
554Lennie PondChevrolet
672Benny ParsonsChevrolet
717Darrell WaltripChevrolet
890Dick BrooksFord
924Cecil GordonChevrolet
1030Walter BallardChevrolet

Round 8: Rebel 500

[edit]
Darlington Raceway once again proved tougher than Richard Petty as the #43 Dodge crashed out after 159 laps. Benny Parsons and David Pearson got into the late duel for the lead; when Pearson dove under Parsons entering Turn One on lap 350 both cars hammered the wall and ground to a halt. Bobby Allison, who'd been two laps down earlier, unlapped himself and edged Darrell Waltrip and Donnie Allison nose to tail at the stripe.
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
116Bobby AllisonAMC
217Darrell WaltripChevrolet
388Donnie AllisonChevrolet
471Dave MarcisDodge
514Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
672Benny ParsonsChevrolet
721David PearsonMercury
848James HyltonChevrolet
937Bruce JacobiChevrolet
1067Buddy ArringtonPlymouth

Round 9: Virginia 500

[edit]
The 1975 Virginia 500 was run on April 27 at Martinsville Speedway. The race saw Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, and Cale Yarborough battle in out for the lead in the closing stages of the race. At lap 397, Yarborough would fall back and lose the lead to Petty, leading to Darrell and Richard to battle it out. Darrell would take the lead on lap 452, but on lap 480 Petty would retake the lead and lead the rest of the remaining laps that day to win by 6 seconds
Pos.No.DriverMake
143Richard PettyDodge
217Darrell WaltripChevrolet
311Cale YarboroughChevrolet
416Bobby AllisonAMC
571Dave MarcisDodge
672Benny ParsonsChevrolet
763Jimmy HensleyChevrolet
890Dick BrooksFord
996Richard ChildressChevrolet
1048James HyltonChevrolet

Round 10: Winston 500

[edit]
Tragedy blackened Buddy Baker's first win since 1973 and the first win for team owner Bud Moore since 1966. Richard Petty's wheel well caught fire while leading and he pitted; his brother in law Randy Owens fitted a hose to a pressurized water tank; the tank exploded, nearly landing on Petty's roof, and Owens was killed. Baker edged Pearson at the stripe while Dick Brooks and Darrell Waltrip had sparkling efforts in finishing out the top four. The race lead changed 51 times among 13 drivers.
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
115Buddy BakerFord
221David PearsonMercury
390Dick BrooksFord
417Darrell WaltripChevrolet
514Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
695Harry JeffersonFord
741Grant AdcoxChevrolet
837Bruce JacobiChevrolet
960Joe MihalicChevrolet
1096Richard ChildressChevrolet

Round 11: Music City 420

[edit]
The Music City 420 took place on May 10 at Nashville Speedway. The race had two contenders: Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough. Darrell had the pole and led 47 laps before Cale took it away on lap 48. He then proceeded to lead the next 273 laps, with Darrell behind. However, Cale's car proceeded to have engine problems and retired on lap 322, thus handing the lead back over to Darrell. Darrell, who had a 2 lap lead on the next car behind, Benny Parsons, cruised on to a victory, his first of 84 that is second in post-1972 NASCAR scheduling that led to being part of the 2012 NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
117Darrell WaltripChevrolet
272Benny ParsonsChevrolet
314Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
471Dave MarcisDodge
524Cecil GordonChevrolet
668Alton JonesChevrolet
743Richard PettyDodge
805David SiscoChevrolet
948James HyltonChevrolet
1030Walter BallardChevrolet

Round 12: Mason-Dixon 500

[edit]
The 1975 Mason Dixon 500 took place on May 18 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Once again, the race had two contenders; David Pearson and Benny Parsons. In the middle parts of the race, they would swap the lead with each other frequently. However, Parsons would have to retire at lap 360 due to engine problems. David Pearson cruised to a 7 lap margin victory over Cecil Gordon.
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
121David PearsonMercury
224Cecil GordonChevrolet
343Richard PettyDodge
448James HyltonChevrolet
505David SiscoChevrolet
614Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
793Kenny BrighthillFord
847Bruce HillChevrolet
919Henley GrayChevrolet
1025Jabe ThomasChevrolet

Round 13: World 600

[edit]
Petty won a long-distance race at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the first time in his career (he'd won a 100-mile qualifying race there in 1961) as he led 234 laps and finished a lap ahead of Cale Yarborough. The Junior Johnson team by this point had secured Holly Farms sponsorship, allowing the team to contest the remainder of the season. Future seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt made his Cup debut in this race.
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
143Richard PettyDodge
211Cale YarboroughChevrolet
321David PearsonMercury
417Darrell WaltripChevrolet
515Buddy BakerFord
628Charlie GlotzbachChevrolet
790Dick BrooksFord
898Richie PanchChevrolet
988Donnie AllisonChevrolet
1030Walter BallardChevrolet

Round 14: Tuborg 400

[edit]
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
143Richard PettyDodge
216Bobby AllisonAMC
372Benny ParsonsChevrolet
496WRay ElderDodge
571Dave MarcisDodge
670J.D. McDuffieChevrolet
737Chuck WahlChevrolet
873Bill SchmittChevrolet
996Richard ChildressChevrolet
1089Gene RinikerChevrolet

Round 15: Michigan 400

[edit]
In a highly competitive race that saw 44 lead changes, Pearson edged Petty for his second win of the season while Dave Marcis and Cale Yarborough finished third and fourth; the top four combined to lead 180 of 200 laps. Petty increased his point lead to 441 over Marcis.
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
121David PearsonMercury
243Richard PettyDodge
371Dave MarcisDodge
411Cale YarboroughChevrolet
517Darrell WaltripChevrolet
698Richie PanchChevrolet
790Dick BrooksFord
805David SiscoChevrolet
948James HyltonChevrolet
1096Richard ChildressChevrolet
Petty struggled during the weekend, qualifying only at 180 MPH but drafted past Buddy Baker with thirteen laps to go. Donnie Allison finished a distant fifth after winning the pole and was released from the DiGard Racing team and replaced by Darrell Waltrip, who finished fourth.
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
143Richard PettyDodge
215Buddy BakerFord
371Dave MarcisDodge
417Darrell WaltripChevrolet
588Donnie AllisonChevrolet
690Dick BrooksFord
747Bruce HillChevrolet
872Benny ParsonsChevrolet
965Carl AdamsFord
1035Darel DieringerFord

Round 17: Nashville 420

[edit]

The 1975 Nashville 420 took place on July 20 at Nashville Speedway. Cale Yarborough dominated the race after passing Walter Ballard on lap 50, leading the rest of the laps afterwards and winning.

Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
111Cale YarboroughChevrolet
243Richard PettyDodge
371Dave MarcisDodge
472Benny ParsonsChevrolet
524Cecil GordonChevrolet
696Richard ChildressChevrolet
705David SiscoChevrolet
865Carl AdamsFord
970J.D. McDuffieChevrolet
1010Elmo LangleyFord

Round 18: Purolator 500

[edit]
The inaugural race at Pocono International Raceway for the Cup Series featured controversy at the end. The lead changed 43 times despite a ninety-minute delay for rain near halfway. Pearson took the lead on Lap 186 of 200, but in the final seven laps the Wood Brothers Mercury smoked heavily, to where by Lap 198 it was lapping its own smoke. At that point NASCAR black-flagged Pearson in what was a moot point, because the black flag for mechanical reasons was given on Lap 199 with a three lap period to obey the flag and there were only two laps to go. It was the third win of the season for Pearson.

Current rules state a black flag assessed at the end of the race results in a time penalty, primarily for driving standards or track limits. This was assessed on Ricky Rudd at Sonoma in 1991 (inappropriate contact), Chase Briscoe at Indianapolis in 2021 (track limits, then inappropriate contact when under penalty), or Shane van Gisbergen at Austin in a second tier series race in 2024 (exceeded track limits in Maggots-Becketts-Chapel on final lap).

Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
121David PearsonMercury
243Richard PettyDodge
315Buddy BakerFord
472Benny ParsonsChevrolet
596Richard ChildressChevrolet
665Carl AdamsFord
714Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
847Bruce HillChevrolet
948James HyltonChevrolet
1024Cecil GordonChevrolet

Round 19: Talladega 500

[edit]
Multiple tragedies surrounded the seventh running of NASCAR's late-summer 500-miler at Talladega. Gene Lovell, crew chief for Grant Adcox, died of a heart attack; Adcox withdrew and first alternate Tiny Lund got his starting spot. Mark Donohue drove a Porsche IMSA racer to a new closed-course speed record of 221 MPH (breaking A. J. Foyt's 217 MPH record in his Indycar the previous year) before pole qualifying; Donohue was killed ten days later during the Austrian Grand Prix. The 500 itself was scheduled for August 10 but was rained out until the 17th. Early in the race a six-car melee erupted and Lund was smashed through the driver side by another car; he succumbed to massive internal injuries. Dick Brooks then survived a furious tumble down the backstretch in the middle of the race. Buddy Baker held off Richard Petty at the stripe after 60 lead changes among 17 drivers.
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
115Buddy BakerFord
243Richard PettyDodge
328Donnie AllisonChevrolet
471Dave MarcisDodge
514Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
672Benny ParsonsChevrolet
748James HyltonChevrolet
818Joe FrassonChevrolet
960Jackie RogersChevrolet
1024Cecil GordonChevrolet
A six-car crash pierced the backstretch guardrail and stopped the race for half an hour. A late caution set off a five-lap shootout as Petty and Pearson fought for the lead; the lead changed on every lap before Petty drafted past Pearson for the win.[2] Cale Yarborough survived a spin after colliding with Dave Marcis and finished third; the two exchanged words after the race.
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
143Richard PettyDodge
221David PearsonMercury
311Cale YarboroughChevrolet
416Bobby AllisonAMC
571Dave MarcisDodge
615Buddy BakerFord
788Darrell WaltripChevrolet
847Bruce HillChevrolet
963Terry BivinsChevrolet
107Dean DaltonFord

Round 21: Southern 500

[edit]
Bobby Allison, despite breaking a suspension piece in the final 50 laps, completed a season sweep at Darlington as he outlasted Richard Petty, who competed despite illness and heat, needing relief help from Dave Marcis.
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
116Bobby AllisonAMC
243Richard PettyDodge
305David SiscoChevrolet
431Jim VandiverDodge
547Bruce HillChevrolet
624Cecil GordonChevrolet
796Richard ChildressChevrolet
833Dick MayChevrolet
937Bruce JacobiChevrolet
1064Elmo LangleyFord

Round 22: Delaware 500

[edit]
Petty put the entire field two laps down, but with 150 to go a backmarker's blown engine sent debris under the STP Dodge and snapped a tie rod. Petty's crew needed eight laps to fix the problem and he restarted six laps behind Lennie Pond and Cale Yarborough. Pond fell out and Cale fell back; Petty kept lapping the field until he got back onto the lead lap; Buddy Arrington then came to a stop, necessitating a late yellow. Petty won handily and Dick Brooks finished second, upset because Arrington had purchased a transporter from Petty; said Brooks, "I guess Arrington needed that truck paid for."
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
143Richard PettyDodge
290Dick BrooksFord
372Benny ParsonsChevrolet
411Cale YarboroughChevrolet
547Bruce HillChevrolet
696Richard ChildressChevrolet
748James HyltonChevrolet
870J.D. McDuffieChevrolet
97Dean DaltonFord
1040D.K. UlrichChevrolet

Round 23: Wilkes 400

[edit]
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
143Richard PettyDodge
211Cale YarboroughChevrolet
388Darrell WaltripChevrolet
415Buddy BakerFord
554Lennie PondChevrolet
672Benny ParsonsChevrolet
770J.D. McDuffieChevrolet
896Richard ChildressChevrolet
931Jim VandiverDodge
1047Bruce HillChevrolet
Richard Petty fell out with rearend failure and pole-sitter Cale Yarborough crashed after leading 272 laps. Darrell Waltrip led before blowing his engine and Dave Marcis took the win, his first Winston Cup win and the first for Harry Hyde's #71 Dodge since 1973.
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
171Dave MarcisDodge
272Benny ParsonsChevrolet
316Bobby AllisonAMC
496Richard ChildressChevrolet
598Richie PanchChevrolet
690Dick BrooksFord
765Carl AdamsFord
831Jim VandiverDodge
924Cecil GordonChevrolet
1064Elmo LangleyFord

Round 25: National 500

[edit]
Richard Petty broke out of a tight battle and led the final 111 laps for the sweep at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The win all but clinched his sixth Winston Cup Grand National title.
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
143Richard PettyDodge
221David PearsonMercury
315Buddy BakerFord
472Benny ParsonsChevrolet
524Cecil GordonChevrolet
648James HyltonChevrolet
735Darel DieringerFord
896Richard ChildressChevrolet
970J.D. McDuffieChevrolet
1064Elmo LangleyFord
Richard Petty broke a piston 34 laps in but still clinched his sixth title; the Petty Enterprises team had begun experimenting with new parts in anticipation of the 1976 season. Darrell Waltrip made up two laps to post his second win of 1975 and the first for DiGard Racing.
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
188Darrell WaltripChevrolet
254Lennie PondChevrolet
390Dick BrooksFord
424Cecil GordonChevrolet
570J.D. McDuffieChevrolet
648James HyltonChevrolet
764Elmo LangleyFord
847Bruce HillChevrolet
914Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
1025Jabe ThomasChevrolet

Round 27: American 500

[edit]
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
111Cale YarboroughChevrolet
216Bobby AllisonAMC
371Dave MarcisDodge
454Lennie PondChevrolet
528A.J. FoytChevrolet
647Bruce HillChevrolet
73Bobby IssacChevrolet
831Jim VandiverDodge
927Donnie AllisonChevrolet
1014Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet

Round 28: Volunteer 500

[edit]
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
143Richard PettyDodge
254Lennie PondChevrolet
388Darrell WaltripChevrolet
471Dave MarcisDodge
572Benny ParsonsChevrolet
690Dick BrooksFord
714Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
824Cecil GordonChevrolet
948James HyltonChevrolet
1047Bruce HillChevrolet

Round 29: Dixie 500

[edit]
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
115Buddy BakerFord
271Dave MarcisDodge
343Richard PettyDodge
421David PearsonMercury
511Cale YarboroughChevrolet
654Lennie PondChevrolet
790Dick BrooksFord
814Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
924Cecil GordonChevrolet
108Ed NegreDodge
Buddy Baker initially was not entered in NASCAR's season finale but Bud Moore had secured sponsorship from Norris Industries so Baker flew out to LA and led 148 laps, winning by 30 seconds over Pearson. Richard Petty led but fell out for the second straight year with engine failure; it was also his fourth DNF in his last seven races.
Top 10 finishers
Pos.No.DriverMake
115Buddy BakerFord
221David PearsonMercury
371Dave MarcisDodge
411Cale YarboroughChevrolet
516Bobby AllisonAMC
654Lennie PondChevrolet
738Jimmy InsoloChevrolet
890Dick BrooksFord
948James HyltonChevrolet
1096Richard ChildressChevrolet

Full Drivers’ Championship

[edit]

(keyBold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by owner's points. * – Most laps led.

Pos.DriverRIVDAYRCHCARBRIATLNWSDARMARTALNSVDOVCLTRIVMCHDAYNSVPOCTALMCHDARDOVNWSMARCLTRCHCARBRIATLONTPts
1Richard Petty771*31*1*1*261*19731*12122212*1*1*221*28351*3164783
2Dave Marcis4616248274451342034533325452430271262334234061
3James Hylton61014851311810339420139111197172371313661592293914
4Benny Parsons24132222866643223393348446342036241824519343820
5Richard Childress1118969151722910161623910136513317684821211312103818
6Cecil Gordon31572048921232152371833295101013629169543089193702
7Darrell Waltrip2615216572241224215428344273427317241323363462
8Elmo Langley55121717272011141512241214251024141810241410107231015223399
9Cale Yarborough31*202223634014*2724261*35413194219*19261*20543295
10Dick Brooks224419482583297763820262116353296783182
11Walter Ballard3125191718241018151210251024113118134811251425144115111217203151
12Frank Warren171812121216182412151917161716161726141624121414142225173148
13David Sisco21814731232826168527833719271231719201524261629123116
14David Pearson24*237*2021*31*201*392272623225423057
15Buddy Baker202532319191*1152*31*62833418328241*1*3050
16Bruce Hill (R)32115231615472381830713831855102527861013263002
17Ed Negre914107131931133224313228271215141833301117213022121110402982
18J. D. McDuffie14331311282911181161822927452833873095203018212745
19Buddy Arrington6915201014382813261521251224221718181117121315202654
20Coo Coo Marlin1726755364012342675353931122942910782584
21Lennie Pond19223105272526333638322120524222*42662540
22Jabe Thomas122714DNQ1535222519102120162312132615201018182252
23Carl Adams (R)34DNQ131618121244DNQ23219862329DNQ207111416282182
24Bobby Allison1*23014352*22353129412833122652181
25Bruce Jacobi (R)1298162532191112159222016141732
26Dean Dalton103230391717191110329151929321486
27D. K. Ulrich113026DNQ201525211610232813312733131453
28Donnie Allison28286321422893553339271376
29Richie Panch8341749862833432552535361243
30Jim Vandiver35262715143349823278281228
31Bill ChampionDNQ213416111819293030292125171218
32Earle Canavan1331232517171734293235251062
33Grant Adcox (R)3721729362734141316251020
34Joe Mihalic (R)343314139272126DNQ3216957
35Joe FrassonDNQ221814DNQ31836133726939
36Travis Tiller (R)16212124232624302328922
37Rick Newsom31221920243341133612877
38Ferrel Harris (R)16111445DNQ13DNQ1516182224797
39Henley Gray16199282736192933747
40G. C. Spencer93624223839493132634
41Dick May (R)QL20352317198371721631
42Earl BrooksQL2226232622QL3417534
43Neil CastlesDNQ18223029403431529
44Jackie Rogers141930936382936502
45Harry Jefferson32962128455
46Tommy Gale2318282235437
47Ricky Rudd11102528QL431
48Bobby Isaac29353772330405
49Dick Skillen3023253727389
50Ray Elder13425372
51Randy Tissot29292816501515364
52Harold Miller34283624QL34347
53Jimmy Insolo3327397343
54Darel Dieringer1210377337
55Bob Burcham131823327
56Chuck Wahl17735322
57Chuck Bown (R)2734261238319
58Bill Schmitt18833315
59Baxter Price202218309
60Bill Hollar232216306
61Skip Manning14151511297
62Alton Jones612277
63Richard D. Brown29251730261
64Gary Matthews815260
65Don Puskarich123237246
66Sonny Easley213039224
67Glenn Francis2511218
68Johnny Ray48243040207
69Hershel McGriff1030191131205
70Jim Boyd1427203
71Hugh Pearson2318203
72Bill Osborne1626200
73Pete Torres2616200
74George Follmer2429167
75Charlie Griffin2628164
76Kenny Brightbill7146
77Terry Bivins921138
78Gene Riniker10134
79Don Hall11130
80Marty Robbins3931121
81Clyde DagitDNQ15118
82Larry Esau15118
83Richard White19106
84Billy Hagan19106
85John Banks502021103
86Jeff Handy20103
87Johnny Kieper2024103
88Don Reynolds20103
89A. J. Reno21100
90Carl Joiner2297
91Doc Faustina2297
92Ron Esau2297
93Carl Van Horn2394
94Paul Dean Holt212491
95Eddie Bradshaw2588
96Red FarmerQL374483
97Jimmy Hensley72782
98Joey Arrington27273282
99Bill Ward2879
100Chuck Little2879
101G. T. Tallas29DNQ76
102Dan Daughtry384674
103Dick Brown3073
104Harry Gant3170
105John Soares Jr.3170
106Jim Thirkettle3267
107George Wiltshire3267
108Ted Fritz3364
109Randy Bethea3364
110Charlie Glotzbach63660
111Ivan Baldwin353558
112Dick Trickle4055
113H. B. BaileyDNQ4043
114Warren Tope401843
115Tiny LundDNQ4625
116Terry LinkDNQ4722
117A. J. Foyt11352430*21514
118Johnny Rutherford27324034
119Ramo Stott530
120Jody Ridley2911
121Tom Williams20QL23
122Neil Bonnett1435
123Salt Walther1737DNQ
124Earl Ross13
125Don Hoffman15
126Glen McDuffie19
127John Harkins21
128Dale Earnhardt22
129Roy Smith29
130John Martin30
131Mel Larson32
132Gordon Johncock36
133Dennis WilsonDNQDNQ
134Tom CulbertsonDNQ
135Joe BooherDNQ
136Jimmy CroweDNQ
137Bill DennisDNQ
138Bill ElliottDNQ
Pos.DriverRIVDAYRCHCARBRIATLNWSDARMARTALNSVDOVCLTRIVMCHDAYNSVPOCTALMCHDARDOVNWSMARCLTRCHCARBRIATLONTPts

[3]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Stock Car Racing Magazine, August 1975 issue, p. 9
  2. ^ "1975 Champion 400, MRN call". Archived from the original on March 27, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  3. ^ "1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Central - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
[edit]

    Richard Petty, the 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion. This would be his 6th of his 7 championships.

    The 1975 NASCAR Grand National Winston Cup Series was the 27th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 4th season in the modern era of the NASCAR Cup series. The season began on Sunday, January 19 and ended on Sunday, November 12. Richard Petty, driving the #43 Petty Enterprises STP Dodge scored his sixth NASCAR Grand National Series Winston Cup Championship. Bruce Hill was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year. NASCAR introduced a new points system for 1975, a system designed by statistician Bob Latford. For the first time, each race on the NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National schedule carried an equal point value, a system that would be used for 36 seasons, from 1975 to 2010, with modifications in 2004 and 2007 each time by increasing the emphasis for a win in adding five additional points each time for a race winner. The original points system ran for the first 29 seasons, from 1975 to 2003.

    Season recap

    No.DateEventCircuitPole positionMost laps ledWinnerManufacturer
    1January 19Winston Western 500Riverside International RacewayBobby AllisonBobby AllisonBobby AllisonAMC
    February 13125 Mile Qualifying RacesDaytona International SpeedwayBobby Allison
    David Pearson
    2February 16Daytona 500Donnie AllisonDavid PearsonBenny ParsonsChevrolet
    3February 23Richmond 500Richmond Fairgrounds RacewayRichard PettyRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
    4March 2Carolina 500North Carolina SpeedwayBuddy BakerCale YarboroughCale YarboroughChevrolet
    5March 16Southeastern 500Bristol International SpeedwayBuddy BakerRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
    6March 23Atlanta 500Atlanta International RacewayRichard PettyRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
    7April 6Gwyn Staley 400North Wilkesboro SpeedwayDarrell WaltripRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
    8April 13Rebel 500Darlington RacewayDavid PearsonDavid PearsonBobby AllisonAMC
    9April 27Virginia 500Martinsville SpeedwayBenny ParsonsRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
    10May 4Winston 500Alabama International Motor SpeedwayBuddy BakerBuddy BakerBuddy BakerFord
    11May 10Music City USA 420Nashville SpeedwayDarrell WaltripCale YarboroughDarrell WaltripChevrolet
    12May 18 &19Mason-Dixon 500Dover Downs International SpeedwayDavid PearsonDavid PearsonDavid PearsonMercury
    13May 25World 600Charlotte Motor SpeedwayDavid PearsonRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
    14June 8Tuborg 400Riverside International RacewayBobby AllisonBobby AllisonRichard PettyDodge
    15June 15Motor State 400Michigan International SpeedwayCale YarboroughDavid PearsonDavid PearsonMercury
    16July 4Firecracker 400Daytona International SpeedwayDonnie AllisonBuddy BakerRichard PettyDodge
    17July 20Nashville 420Nashville SpeedwayBenny ParsonsCale YarboroughCale YarboroughChevrolet
    18August 3Purolator 500Pocono RacewayBobby AllisonDavid PearsonDavid PearsonMercury
    19August 17Talladega 500Alabama International Motor SpeedwayDave MarcisBuddy BakerBuddy BakerFord
    20August 24Champion Spark Plug 400Michigan International SpeedwayDavid PearsonA.J. FoytRichard PettyDodge
    21September 1Southern 500Darlington RacewayDavid PearsonRichard PettyBobby AllisonAMC
    22September 14Delaware 500Dover Downs International SpeedwayDave MarcisRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
    23September 21Wilkes 400North Wilkesboro SpeedwayRichard PettyRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
    24September 28Old Dominion 500Martinsville SpeedwayCale YarboroughCale YarboroughDave MarcisDodge
    25October 5National 500Charlotte Motor SpeedwayDavid PearsonRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
    26October 12Capital City 500Richmond Fairgrounds RacewayBenny ParsonsLennie PondDarrell WaltripChevrolet
    27October 19American 500North Carolina SpeedwayDave MarcisCale YarboroughCale YarboroughChevrolet
    28November 2Volunteer 500Bristol International SpeedwayCale YarboroughRichard PettyRichard PettyDodge
    29November 9Dixie 500Atlanta International RacewayDave MarcisBuddy BakerBuddy BakerFord
    30November 23Los Angeles Times 500Ontario Motor SpeedwayDavid PearsonBuddy BakerBuddy BakerFord

    1975 Season races

    Round 1: Winston Western 500

    Bobby Allison led 173 laps at Riverside International Raceway in Roger Penske's AMC Matador to beat David Pearson by 22 seconds.
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    116Bobby AllisonAMC
    221David PearsonMercury
    324Cecil GordonChevrolet
    471Dave MarcisDodge
    564Elmo LangleyFord
    648James HyltonChevrolet
    743Richard PettyDodge
    857WGary MatthewsChevrolet
    98Ed NegreDodge
    1029WHershel McGriffChevrolet

    Round 2: Daytona 500

    After falling back several laps due to overheating, Richard Petty pulled forward Benny Parsons in his draft to catch Pearson. With three to go Pearson moved into a group of lapped cars that included Cale Yarborough; inexplicably Yarborough got into Pearson and David spun down the backstretch. The win was Parsons' first since 1973.
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    172Benny ParsonsChevrolet
    216Bobby AllisonAMC
    311Cale YarboroughChevrolet
    421David PearsonMercury
    583Ramo StottChevrolet
    671Dave MarcisDodge
    743Richard PettyDodge
    898Richie PanchChevrolet
    949G.C. SpencerDodge
    1048James HyltonChevrolet

    Round 3: Richmond 500

    With a field of only 22 entries due to a dearth of team sponsorships, Petty led 444 laps and won by six laps. Cale Yarborough was among the teams not entered, due to losing Carling sponsorship after the 1974 season.
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    143Richard PettyDodge
    254Lennie PondChevrolet
    372Benny ParsonsChevrolet
    490Dick BrooksFord
    564Elmo LangleyFord
    667Buddy ArringtonDodge
    724Cecil GordonChevrolet
    805David SiscoChevrolet
    996Richard ChildressChevrolet
    108Ed NegreDodge

    Round 4: Carolina 500

    The 1975 Carolina 500 was run on March 2. In below-freezing temperatures, Cale Yarborough edged Pearson for the win while Petty finished nine laps down due to the same overheating problems that had plagued him at Daytona.
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    111Cale YarboroughChevrolet
    221David PearsonMercury
    343Richard PettyDodge
    490Dick BrooksFord
    547Bruce HillChevrolet
    696Richard ChildressChevrolet
    78Ed NegreDodge
    848James HyltonChevrolet
    967Buddy ArringtonDodge
    107Dean DaltonFord

    Round 5: Southeastern 500

    Richard Petty won his first race at Bristol International Speedway since 1967. Cale Yarborough led 78 laps but fell out with rearend failure. Following the race Maurice Petty found out the team's overheating problems traced to cracked cylinder heads; "we discovered another cracked head that could have cost us the race."[1]
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    143Richard PettyDodge
    272Benny ParsonsChevrolet
    315Buddy BakerFord
    424Cecil GordonChevrolet
    548James HyltonChevrolet
    617Darrell WaltripChevrolet
    705David SiscoChevrolet
    871Dave MarcisDodge
    996Richard ChildressChevrolet
    1010Ricky RuddFord

    Round 6: Atlanta 500

    With Maurice fixing the team's cylinder head issues, Richard Petty engaged Pearson in a running duel for the lead, but Pearson lost a lap in the final 30 laps, result of a slow leaking tire and resultant green flag stop. A late caution for Lennie Pond's engine failure set up a one-lap duel between Petty and Buddy Baker; Petty contended the race ran past 328 laps, a statement supported by his official scorer (Richard Hucks) and the scorers for Pearson (Grover Atkins) and Dick Brooks (Russell Page), but NASCAR showed scoring cards proving it had run the correct distance; among those who scored the race was Richard's daughter Sharon, who said Petty "went by 328 times." Manual scoring with cards and a clock created controversy over the years in NASCAR; the system was used until 1993, when NASCAR switched to transponder-based scoring, which was supplemented by GPS-based scoring in 2003 to determine winners of the race if necessary.
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    143Richard PettyDodge
    215Buddy BakerFord
    321David PearsonMercury
    490Dick BrooksFord
    517Darrell WaltripChevrolet
    688Donnie AllisonChevrolet
    714Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
    824Cecil GordonChevrolet
    997Harry JeffersonFord
    1054Lennie PondChevrolet

    Round 7: Gwyn Staley 400

    The 1975 Gwyn Staley 400 took place on April 6 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The race was dominated by Richard Petty, who led a total of 311 laps and won by a margin of over three laps.

    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    143Richard PettyDodge
    211Cale YarboroughChevrolet
    315Buddy BakerFord
    471Dave MarcisDodge
    554Lennie PondChevrolet
    672Benny ParsonsChevrolet
    717Darrell WaltripChevrolet
    890Dick BrooksFord
    924Cecil GordonChevrolet
    1030Walter BallardChevrolet

    Round 8: Rebel 500

    Darlington Raceway once again proved tougher than Richard Petty as the #43 Dodge crashed out after 159 laps. Benny Parsons and David Pearson got into the late duel for the lead; when Pearson dove under Parsons entering Turn One on lap 350 both cars hammered the wall and ground to a halt. Bobby Allison, who'd been two laps down earlier, unlapped himself and edged Darrell Waltrip and Donnie Allison nose to tail at the stripe.
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    116Bobby AllisonAMC
    217Darrell WaltripChevrolet
    388Donnie AllisonChevrolet
    471Dave MarcisDodge
    514Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
    672Benny ParsonsChevrolet
    721David PearsonMercury
    848James HyltonChevrolet
    937Bruce JacobiChevrolet
    1067Buddy ArringtonPlymouth

    Round 9: Virginia 500

    The 1975 Virginia 500 was run on April 27 at Martinsville Speedway. The race saw Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, and Cale Yarborough battle in out for the lead in the closing stages of the race. At lap 397, Yarborough would fall back and lose the lead to Petty, leading to Darrell and Richard to battle it out. Darrell would take the lead on lap 452, but on lap 480 Petty would retake the lead and lead the rest of the remaining laps that day to win by 6 seconds
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    143Richard PettyDodge
    217Darrell WaltripChevrolet
    311Cale YarboroughChevrolet
    416Bobby AllisonAMC
    571Dave MarcisDodge
    672Benny ParsonsChevrolet
    763Jimmy HensleyChevrolet
    890Dick BrooksFord
    996Richard ChildressChevrolet
    1048James HyltonChevrolet

    Round 10: Winston 500

    Tragedy blackened Buddy Baker's first win since 1973 and the first win for team owner Bud Moore since 1966. Richard Petty's wheel well caught fire while leading and he pitted; his brother in law Randy Owens fitted a hose to a pressurized water tank; the tank exploded, nearly landing on Petty's roof, and Owens was killed. Baker edged Pearson at the stripe while Dick Brooks and Darrell Waltrip had sparkling efforts in finishing out the top four. The race lead changed 51 times among 13 drivers.
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    115Buddy BakerFord
    221David PearsonMercury
    390Dick BrooksFord
    417Darrell WaltripChevrolet
    514Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
    695Harry JeffersonFord
    741Grant AdcoxChevrolet
    837Bruce JacobiChevrolet
    960Joe MihalicChevrolet
    1096Richard ChildressChevrolet

    Round 11: Music City 420

    The Music City 420 took place on May 10 at Nashville Speedway. The race had two contenders: Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough. Darrell had the pole and led 47 laps before Cale took it away on lap 48. He then proceeded to lead the next 273 laps, with Darrell behind. However, Cale's car proceeded to have engine problems and retired on lap 322, thus handing the lead back over to Darrell. Darrell, who had a 2 lap lead on the next car behind, Benny Parsons, cruised on to a victory, his first of 84 that is second in post-1972 NASCAR scheduling that led to being part of the 2012 NASCAR Hall of Fame.
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    117Darrell WaltripChevrolet
    272Benny ParsonsChevrolet
    314Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
    471Dave MarcisDodge
    524Cecil GordonChevrolet
    668Alton JonesChevrolet
    743Richard PettyDodge
    805David SiscoChevrolet
    948James HyltonChevrolet
    1030Walter BallardChevrolet

    Round 12: Mason-Dixon 500

    The 1975 Mason Dixon 500 took place on May 18 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Once again, the race had two contenders; David Pearson and Benny Parsons. In the middle parts of the race, they would swap the lead with each other frequently. However, Parsons would have to retire at lap 360 due to engine problems. David Pearson cruised to a 7 lap margin victory over Cecil Gordon.
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    121David PearsonMercury
    224Cecil GordonChevrolet
    343Richard PettyDodge
    448James HyltonChevrolet
    505David SiscoChevrolet
    614Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
    793Kenny BrighthillFord
    847Bruce HillChevrolet
    919Henley GrayChevrolet
    1025Jabe ThomasChevrolet

    Round 13: World 600

    Petty won a long-distance race at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the first time in his career (he'd won a 100-mile qualifying race there in 1961) as he led 234 laps and finished a lap ahead of Cale Yarborough. The Junior Johnson team by this point had secured Holly Farms sponsorship, allowing the team to contest the remainder of the season. Future seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt made his Cup debut in this race.
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    143Richard PettyDodge
    211Cale YarboroughChevrolet
    321David PearsonMercury
    417Darrell WaltripChevrolet
    515Buddy BakerFord
    628Charlie GlotzbachChevrolet
    790Dick BrooksFord
    898Richie PanchChevrolet
    988Donnie AllisonChevrolet
    1030Walter BallardChevrolet

    Round 14: Tuborg 400

    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    143Richard PettyDodge
    216Bobby AllisonAMC
    372Benny ParsonsChevrolet
    496WRay ElderDodge
    571Dave MarcisDodge
    670J.D. McDuffieChevrolet
    737Chuck WahlChevrolet
    873Bill SchmittChevrolet
    996Richard ChildressChevrolet
    1089Gene RinikerChevrolet

    Round 15: Michigan 400

    In a highly competitive race that saw 44 lead changes, Pearson edged Petty for his second win of the season while Dave Marcis and Cale Yarborough finished third and fourth; the top four combined to lead 180 of 200 laps. Petty increased his point lead to 441 over Marcis.
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    121David PearsonMercury
    243Richard PettyDodge
    371Dave MarcisDodge
    411Cale YarboroughChevrolet
    517Darrell WaltripChevrolet
    698Richie PanchChevrolet
    790Dick BrooksFord
    805David SiscoChevrolet
    948James HyltonChevrolet
    1096Richard ChildressChevrolet

    Round 16: Firecracker 400

    Petty struggled during the weekend, qualifying only at 180 MPH but drafted past Buddy Baker with thirteen laps to go. Donnie Allison finished a distant fifth after winning the pole and was released from the DiGard Racing team and replaced by Darrell Waltrip, who finished fourth.
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    143Richard PettyDodge
    215Buddy BakerFord
    371Dave MarcisDodge
    417Darrell WaltripChevrolet
    588Donnie AllisonChevrolet
    690Dick BrooksFord
    747Bruce HillChevrolet
    872Benny ParsonsChevrolet
    965Carl AdamsFord
    1035Darel DieringerFord

    Round 17: Nashville 420

    The 1975 Nashville 420 took place on July 20 at Nashville Speedway. Cale Yarborough dominated the race after passing Walter Ballard on lap 50, leading the rest of the laps afterwards and winning.

    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    111Cale YarboroughChevrolet
    243Richard PettyDodge
    371Dave MarcisDodge
    472Benny ParsonsChevrolet
    524Cecil GordonChevrolet
    696Richard ChildressChevrolet
    705David SiscoChevrolet
    865Carl AdamsFord
    970J.D. McDuffieChevrolet
    1010Elmo LangleyFord

    Round 18: Purolator 500

    The inaugural race at Pocono International Raceway for the Cup Series featured controversy at the end. The lead changed 43 times despite a ninety-minute delay for rain near halfway. Pearson took the lead on Lap 186 of 200, but in the final seven laps the Wood Brothers Mercury smoked heavily, to where by Lap 198 it was lapping its own smoke. At that point NASCAR black-flagged Pearson in what was a moot point, because the black flag for mechanical reasons was given on Lap 199 with a three lap period to obey the flag and there were only two laps to go. It was the third win of the season for Pearson.

    Current rules state a black flag assessed at the end of the race results in a time penalty, primarily for driving standards or track limits. This was assessed on Ricky Rudd at Sonoma in 1991 (inappropriate contact), Chase Briscoe at Indianapolis in 2021 (track limits, then inappropriate contact when under penalty), or Shane van Gisbergen at Austin in a second tier series race in 2024 (exceeded track limits in Maggots-Becketts-Chapel on final lap).

    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    121David PearsonMercury
    243Richard PettyDodge
    315Buddy BakerFord
    472Benny ParsonsChevrolet
    596Richard ChildressChevrolet
    665Carl AdamsFord
    714Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
    847Bruce HillChevrolet
    948James HyltonChevrolet
    1024Cecil GordonChevrolet

    Round 19: Talladega 500

    Multiple tragedies surrounded the seventh running of NASCAR's late-summer 500-miler at Talladega. Gene Lovell, crew chief for Grant Adcox, died of a heart attack; Adcox withdrew and first alternate Tiny Lund got his starting spot. Mark Donohue drove a Porsche IMSA racer to a new closed-course speed record of 221 MPH (breaking A. J. Foyt's 217 MPH record in his Indycar the previous year) before pole qualifying; Donohue was killed ten days later during the Austrian Grand Prix. The 500 itself was scheduled for August 10 but was rained out until the 17th. Early in the race a six-car melee erupted and Lund was smashed through the driver side by another car; he succumbed to massive internal injuries. Dick Brooks then survived a furious tumble down the backstretch in the middle of the race. Buddy Baker held off Richard Petty at the stripe after 60 lead changes among 17 drivers.
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    115Buddy BakerFord
    243Richard PettyDodge
    328Donnie AllisonChevrolet
    471Dave MarcisDodge
    514Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
    672Benny ParsonsChevrolet
    748James HyltonChevrolet
    818Joe FrassonChevrolet
    960Jackie RogersChevrolet
    1024Cecil GordonChevrolet
    A six-car crash pierced the backstretch guardrail and stopped the race for half an hour. A late caution set off a five-lap shootout as Petty and Pearson fought for the lead; the lead changed on every lap before Petty drafted past Pearson for the win.[2] Cale Yarborough survived a spin after colliding with Dave Marcis and finished third; the two exchanged words after the race.
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    143Richard PettyDodge
    221David PearsonMercury
    311Cale YarboroughChevrolet
    416Bobby AllisonAMC
    571Dave MarcisDodge
    615Buddy BakerFord
    788Darrell WaltripChevrolet
    847Bruce HillChevrolet
    963Terry BivinsChevrolet
    107Dean DaltonFord

    Round 21: Southern 500

    Bobby Allison, despite breaking a suspension piece in the final 50 laps, completed a season sweep at Darlington as he outlasted Richard Petty, who competed despite illness and heat, needing relief help from Dave Marcis.
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    116Bobby AllisonAMC
    243Richard PettyDodge
    305David SiscoChevrolet
    431Jim VandiverDodge
    547Bruce HillChevrolet
    624Cecil GordonChevrolet
    796Richard ChildressChevrolet
    833Dick MayChevrolet
    937Bruce JacobiChevrolet
    1064Elmo LangleyFord

    Round 22: Delaware 500

    Petty put the entire field two laps down, but with 150 to go a backmarker's blown engine sent debris under the STP Dodge and snapped a tie rod. Petty's crew needed eight laps to fix the problem and he restarted six laps behind Lennie Pond and Cale Yarborough. Pond fell out and Cale fell back; Petty kept lapping the field until he got back onto the lead lap; Buddy Arrington then came to a stop, necessitating a late yellow. Petty won handily and Dick Brooks finished second, upset because Arrington had purchased a transporter from Petty; said Brooks, "I guess Arrington needed that truck paid for."
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    143Richard PettyDodge
    290Dick BrooksFord
    372Benny ParsonsChevrolet
    411Cale YarboroughChevrolet
    547Bruce HillChevrolet
    696Richard ChildressChevrolet
    748James HyltonChevrolet
    870J.D. McDuffieChevrolet
    97Dean DaltonFord
    1040D.K. UlrichChevrolet

    Round 23: Wilkes 400

    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    143Richard PettyDodge
    211Cale YarboroughChevrolet
    388Darrell WaltripChevrolet
    415Buddy BakerFord
    554Lennie PondChevrolet
    672Benny ParsonsChevrolet
    770J.D. McDuffieChevrolet
    896Richard ChildressChevrolet
    931Jim VandiverDodge
    1047Bruce HillChevrolet
    Richard Petty fell out with rearend failure and pole-sitter Cale Yarborough crashed after leading 272 laps. Darrell Waltrip led before blowing his engine and Dave Marcis took the win, his first Winston Cup win and the first for Harry Hyde's #71 Dodge since 1973.
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    171Dave MarcisDodge
    272Benny ParsonsChevrolet
    316Bobby AllisonAMC
    496Richard ChildressChevrolet
    598Richie PanchChevrolet
    690Dick BrooksFord
    765Carl AdamsFord
    831Jim VandiverDodge
    924Cecil GordonChevrolet
    1064Elmo LangleyFord

    Round 25: National 500

    Richard Petty broke out of a tight battle and led the final 111 laps for the sweep at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The win all but clinched his sixth Winston Cup Grand National title.
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    143Richard PettyDodge
    221David PearsonMercury
    315Buddy BakerFord
    472Benny ParsonsChevrolet
    524Cecil GordonChevrolet
    648James HyltonChevrolet
    735Darel DieringerFord
    896Richard ChildressChevrolet
    970J.D. McDuffieChevrolet
    1064Elmo LangleyFord
    Richard Petty broke a piston 34 laps in but still clinched his sixth title; the Petty Enterprises team had begun experimenting with new parts in anticipation of the 1976 season. Darrell Waltrip made up two laps to post his second win of 1975 and the first for DiGard Racing.
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    188Darrell WaltripChevrolet
    254Lennie PondChevrolet
    390Dick BrooksFord
    424Cecil GordonChevrolet
    570J.D. McDuffieChevrolet
    648James HyltonChevrolet
    764Elmo LangleyFord
    847Bruce HillChevrolet
    914Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
    1025Jabe ThomasChevrolet

    Round 27: American 500

    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    111Cale YarboroughChevrolet
    216Bobby AllisonAMC
    371Dave MarcisDodge
    454Lennie PondChevrolet
    528A.J. FoytChevrolet
    647Bruce HillChevrolet
    73Bobby IssacChevrolet
    831Jim VandiverDodge
    927Donnie AllisonChevrolet
    1014Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet

    Round 28: Volunteer 500

    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    143Richard PettyDodge
    254Lennie PondChevrolet
    388Darrell WaltripChevrolet
    471Dave MarcisDodge
    572Benny ParsonsChevrolet
    690Dick BrooksFord
    714Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
    824Cecil GordonChevrolet
    948James HyltonChevrolet
    1047Bruce HillChevrolet

    Round 29: Dixie 500

    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    115Buddy BakerFord
    271Dave MarcisDodge
    343Richard PettyDodge
    421David PearsonMercury
    511Cale YarboroughChevrolet
    654Lennie PondChevrolet
    790Dick BrooksFord
    814Coo Coo MarlinChevrolet
    924Cecil GordonChevrolet
    108Ed NegreDodge
    Buddy Baker initially was not entered in NASCAR's season finale but Bud Moore had secured sponsorship from Norris Industries so Baker flew out to LA and led 148 laps, winning by 30 seconds over Pearson. Richard Petty led but fell out for the second straight year with engine failure; it was also his fourth DNF in his last seven races.
    Top 10 finishers
    Pos.No.DriverMake
    115Buddy BakerFord
    221David PearsonMercury
    371Dave MarcisDodge
    411Cale YarboroughChevrolet
    516Bobby AllisonAMC
    654Lennie PondChevrolet
    738Jimmy InsoloChevrolet
    890Dick BrooksFord
    948James HyltonChevrolet
    1096Richard ChildressChevrolet

    Full Drivers’ Championship

    (keyBold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by owner's points. * – Most laps led.

    Pos.DriverRIVDAYRCHCARBRIATLNWSDARMARTALNSVDOVCLTRIVMCHDAYNSVPOCTALMCHDARDOVNWSMARCLTRCHCARBRIATLONTPts
    1Richard Petty771*31*1*1*261*19731*12122212*1*1*221*28351*3164783
    2Dave Marcis4616248274451342034533325452430271262334234061
    3James Hylton61014851311810339420139111197172371313661592293914
    4Benny Parsons24132222866643223393348446342036241824519343820
    5Richard Childress1118969151722910161623910136513317684821211312103818
    6Cecil Gordon31572048921232152371833295101013629169543089193702
    7Darrell Waltrip2615216572241224215428344273427317241323363462
    8Elmo Langley55121717272011141512241214251024141810241410107231015223399
    9Cale Yarborough31*202223634014*2724261*35413194219*19261*20543295
    10Dick Brooks224419482583297763820262116353296783182
    11Walter Ballard3125191718241018151210251024113118134811251425144115111217203151
    12Frank Warren171812121216182412151917161716161726141624121414142225173148
    13David Sisco21814731232826168527833719271231719201524261629123116
    14David Pearson24*237*2021*31*201*392272623225423057
    15Buddy Baker202532319191*1152*31*62833418328241*1*3050
    16Bruce Hill (R)32115231615472381830713831855102527861013263002
    17Ed Negre914107131931133224313228271215141833301117213022121110402982
    18J. D. McDuffie14331311282911181161822927452833873095203018212745
    19Buddy Arrington6915201014382813261521251224221718181117121315202654
    20Coo Coo Marlin1726755364012342675353931122942910782584
    21Lennie Pond19223105272526333638322120524222*42662540
    22Jabe Thomas122714DNQ1535222519102120162312132615201018182252
    23Carl Adams (R)34DNQ131618121244DNQ23219862329DNQ207111416282182
    24Bobby Allison1*23014352*22353129412833122652181
    25Bruce Jacobi (R)1298162532191112159222016141732
    26Dean Dalton103230391717191110329151929321486
    27D. K. Ulrich113026DNQ201525211610232813312733131453
    28Donnie Allison28286321422893553339271376
    29Richie Panch8341749862833432552535361243
    30Jim Vandiver35262715143349823278281228
    31Bill ChampionDNQ213416111819293030292125171218
    32Earle Canavan1331232517171734293235251062
    33Grant Adcox (R)3721729362734141316251020
    34Joe Mihalic (R)343314139272126DNQ3216957
    35Joe FrassonDNQ221814DNQ31836133726939
    36Travis Tiller (R)16212124232624302328922
    37Rick Newsom31221920243341133612877
    38Ferrel Harris (R)16111445DNQ13DNQ1516182224797
    39Henley Gray16199282736192933747
    40G. C. Spencer93624223839493132634
    41Dick May (R)QL20352317198371721631
    42Earl BrooksQL2226232622QL3417534
    43Neil CastlesDNQ18223029403431529
    44Jackie Rogers141930936382936502
    45Harry Jefferson32962128455
    46Tommy Gale2318282235437
    47Ricky Rudd11102528QL431
    48Bobby Isaac29353772330405
    49Dick Skillen3023253727389
    50Ray Elder13425372
    51Randy Tissot29292816501515364
    52Harold Miller34283624QL34347
    53Jimmy Insolo3327397343
    54Darel Dieringer1210377337
    55Bob Burcham131823327
    56Chuck Wahl17735322
    57Chuck Bown (R)2734261238319
    58Bill Schmitt18833315
    59Baxter Price202218309
    60Bill Hollar232216306
    61Skip Manning14151511297
    62Alton Jones612277
    63Richard D. Brown29251730261
    64Gary Matthews815260
    65Don Puskarich123237246
    66Sonny Easley213039224
    67Glenn Francis2511218
    68Johnny Ray48243040207
    69Hershel McGriff1030191131205
    70Jim Boyd1427203
    71Hugh Pearson2318203
    72Bill Osborne1626200
    73Pete Torres2616200
    74George Follmer2429167
    75Charlie Griffin2628164
    76Kenny Brightbill7146
    77Terry Bivins921138
    78Gene Riniker10134
    79Don Hall11130
    80Marty Robbins3931121
    81Clyde DagitDNQ15118
    82Larry Esau15118
    83Richard White19106
    84Billy Hagan19106
    85John Banks502021103
    86Jeff Handy20103
    87Johnny Kieper2024103
    88Don Reynolds20103
    89A. J. Reno21100
    90Carl Joiner2297
    91Doc Faustina2297
    92Ron Esau2297
    93Carl Van Horn2394
    94Paul Dean Holt212491
    95Eddie Bradshaw2588
    96Red FarmerQL374483
    97Jimmy Hensley72782
    98Joey Arrington27273282
    99Bill Ward2879
    100Chuck Little2879
    101G. T. Tallas29DNQ76
    102Dan Daughtry384674
    103Dick Brown3073
    104Harry Gant3170
    105John Soares Jr.3170
    106Jim Thirkettle3267
    107George Wiltshire3267
    108Ted Fritz3364
    109Randy Bethea3364
    110Charlie Glotzbach63660
    111Ivan Baldwin353558
    112Dick Trickle4055
    113H. B. BaileyDNQ4043
    114Warren Tope401843
    115Tiny LundDNQ4625
    116Terry LinkDNQ4722
    117A. J. Foyt11352430*21514
    118Johnny Rutherford27324034
    119Ramo Stott530
    120Jody Ridley2911
    121Tom Williams20QL23
    122Neil Bonnett1435
    123Salt Walther1737DNQ
    124Earl Ross13
    125Don Hoffman15
    126Glen McDuffie19
    127John Harkins21
    128Dale Earnhardt22
    129Roy Smith29
    130John Martin30
    131Mel Larson32
    132Gordon Johncock36
    133Dennis WilsonDNQDNQ
    134Tom CulbertsonDNQ
    135Joe BooherDNQ
    136Jimmy CroweDNQ
    137Bill DennisDNQ
    138Bill ElliottDNQ
    Pos.DriverRIVDAYRCHCARBRIATLNWSDARMARTALNSVDOVCLTRIVMCHDAYNSVPOCTALMCHDARDOVNWSMARCLTRCHCARBRIATLONTPts

    [3]

    See also

    References

    1. ^ Stock Car Racing Magazine, August 1975 issue, p. 9
    2. ^ "1975 Champion 400, MRN call". Archived from the original on March 27, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
    3. ^ "1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Central - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
    • 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Series results on Racing-Reference
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1975_NASCAR_Winston_Cup_Series&oldid=1324031088"