1982 Winston 500

1982 Winston 500

Race details[1][2]
Race 9 of 30 in the 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
This is a brochure from the 1982 Winston 500.
Date	May 2, 1982 (1982-May-02)
Official name	Winston 500
Location	Alabama International Motor Speedway, Talladega, Alabama
Course	Permanent racing facility 2.660 mi (4.280 km)
Distance	188 laps, 500.1 mi (804.8 km)
Weather	Temperatures between 54.9 °F (12.7 °C) and 81.0 °F (27.2 °C); wind speeds averaging around 3.3 miles per hour (5.3 km/h) with no precipitation within 24 hours of the race
Average speed	156.597 miles per hour (252.018 km/h)
Attendance	100,000[3]
Pole position
Driver	Benny Parsons	Ranier Racing
Most laps led
Driver	Benny Parsons	Ranier Racing
Laps	84
Winner
No. 11	Darrell Waltrip	Junior Johnson & Associates
Television in the United States
Network	ESPN
Announcers	Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber

The 1982 Winston 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place May 2, 1982, at Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega, Alabama.

The exact number of cars involved in the race were 1 Oldsmobile vehicle, 9 Pontiac vehicles, 5 Ford vehicles, 1 Chevrolet vehicle, 1 Dodge vehicle, and 24 Buick vehicles.^[2][4] Unrestricted high-speed races at Talladega Superspeedway ended after the 1987 Winston 500; which was five years later.

Background

Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a Tri-oval and was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in the 1960s. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line - located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the Sprint Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and the Camping World Truck Series. Talladega Superspeedway is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66 miles (4.28 km), and the track at its peak had a seating capacity of 175,000 spectators.^[5]

Summary

Benny Parsons won the pole position with a qualifying speed of 200.176 miles per hour (322.152 km/h);^[3] the first 200+ MPH qualifying session in NASCAR history.^[2][6]

There were 40 drivers on the grid; all of them were American-born.^[3] Darrell Waltrip defeated Terry Labonte by slightly less than three car lengths because Labonte had a fender under Waltrip coming to the line;^[7] earning $44,250 in the process ($108,687.16 when adjusted for inflation).^[3][2][4] Just a short distance before the checkered flag, the race became a battle between Benny Parsons, Darrell Waltrip, Terry Labonte and Kyle Petty. Parsons would lead seven of those laps while Waltrip lead 13 of them followed by Labonte leading just two of those crucial laps.^[3]

The green flag was waved at 1:00 P.M. while the checkered flag was waved at approximately 4:19 P.M.; allowing families to find suitable restaurants for supper. There were eight cautions for 39 laps.^[3][2] There were 51 lead changes and the average speed of the race was 156.597 miles per hour (252.018 km/h).^[3][2] The race covered 188 laps of the 2.660-mile (4.281 km) track, totaling 500.1 miles (804.8 km).^[3] Attendance was announced at 100,000 spectators.

Terry Labonte took the championship lead after this race.^[3] Ferrel Harris would retire after this race with a 23rd-place finish.^[3][2] One-time NASCAR driver L.W. Wright would race his only professional stock car event on this day.^[8] Wright was a con artist who managed to swindle people into financing him getting a ride for this race; his credentials as a licensed NASCAR driver weren't asked for during the early 1980s.

Finishing order

* Driver failed to finish race

Standings after the race

References