1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

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.

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

Richard Petty's championship would also be the last for Chrysler Corporation, and the last for a Dodge driver until Brad Keselowski in 2012.

Season recap

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No. Date Event Circuit Pole position Most laps led Winner Manufacturer
1 January 19 Winston Western 500 Riverside International Raceway Bobby Allison Bobby Allison Bobby Allison AMC
February 13 125 Mile Qualifying Races Daytona International Speedway Bobby Allison
David Pearson
2 February 16 Daytona 500 Donnie Allison David Pearson Benny Parsons Chevrolet
3 February 23 Richmond 500 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway Richard Petty Richard Petty Richard Petty Dodge
4 March 2 Carolina 500 North Carolina Speedway Buddy Baker Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
5 March 16 Southeastern 500 Bristol International Speedway Buddy Baker Richard Petty Richard Petty Dodge
6 March 23 Atlanta 500 Atlanta International Raceway Richard Petty Richard Petty Richard Petty Dodge
7 April 6 Gwyn Staley 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway Darrell Waltrip Richard Petty Richard Petty Dodge
8 April 13 Rebel 500 Darlington Raceway David Pearson David Pearson Bobby Allison AMC
9 April 27 Virginia 500 Martinsville Speedway Benny Parsons Richard Petty Richard Petty Dodge
10 May 4 Winston 500 Alabama International Motor Speedway Buddy Baker Buddy Baker Buddy Baker Ford
11 May 10 Music City USA 420 Nashville Speedway Darrell Waltrip Cale Yarborough Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
12 May 18 &19 Mason-Dixon 500 Dover Downs International Speedway David Pearson David Pearson David Pearson Mercury
13 May 25 World 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway David Pearson Richard Petty Richard Petty Dodge
14 June 8 Tuborg 400 Riverside International Raceway Bobby Allison Bobby Allison Richard Petty Dodge
15 June 15 Motor State 400 Michigan International Speedway Cale Yarborough David Pearson David Pearson Mercury
16 July 4 Firecracker 400 Daytona International Speedway Donnie Allison Buddy Baker Richard Petty Dodge
17 July 20 Nashville 420 Nashville Speedway Benny Parsons Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
18 August 3 Purolator 500 Pocono Raceway Bobby Allison David Pearson David Pearson Mercury
19 August 17 Talladega 500 Alabama International Motor Speedway Dave Marcis Buddy Baker Buddy Baker Ford
20 August 24 Champion Spark Plug 400 Michigan International Speedway David Pearson A.J. Foyt Richard Petty Dodge
21 September 1 Southern 500 Darlington Raceway David Pearson Richard Petty Bobby Allison AMC
22 September 14 Delaware 500 Dover Downs International Speedway Dave Marcis Richard Petty Richard Petty Dodge
23 September 21 Wilkes 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway Richard Petty Richard Petty Richard Petty Dodge
24 September 28 Old Dominion 500 Martinsville Speedway Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Dave Marcis Dodge
25 October 5 National 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway David Pearson Richard Petty Richard Petty Dodge
26 October 12 Capital City 500 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway Benny Parsons Lennie Pond Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
27 October 19 American 500 North Carolina Speedway Dave Marcis Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
28 November 2 Volunteer 500 Bristol International Speedway Cale Yarborough Richard Petty Richard Petty Dodge
29 November 9 Dixie 500 Atlanta International Raceway Dave Marcis Buddy Baker Buddy Baker Ford
30 November 23 Los Angeles Times 500 Ontario Motor Speedway David Pearson Buddy Baker Buddy Baker Ford

1975 Season races

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Round 1: Winston Western 500

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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. Driver Make
1 16 Bobby Allison AMC
2 21 David Pearson Mercury
3 24 Cecil Gordon Chevrolet
4 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
5 64 Elmo Langley Ford
6 48 James Hylton Chevrolet
7 43 Richard Petty Dodge
8 57W Gary Matthews Chevrolet
9 8 Ed Negre Dodge
10 29W Hershel McGriff Chevrolet

Round 2: Daytona 500

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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. Driver Make
1 72 Benny Parsons Chevrolet
2 16 Bobby Allison AMC
3 11 Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
4 21 David Pearson Mercury
5 83 Ramo Stott Chevrolet
6 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
7 43 Richard Petty Dodge
8 98 Richie Panch Chevrolet
9 49 G.C. Spencer Dodge
10 48 James Hylton Chevrolet

Round 3: Richmond 500

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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. Driver Make
1 43 Richard Petty Dodge
2 54 Lennie Pond Chevrolet
3 72 Benny Parsons Chevrolet
4 90 Dick Brooks Ford
5 64 Elmo Langley Ford
6 67 Buddy Arrington Dodge
7 24 Cecil Gordon Chevrolet
8 05 David Sisco Chevrolet
9 96 Richard Childress Chevrolet
10 8 Ed Negre Dodge

Round 4: Carolina 500

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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. Driver Make
1 11 Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
2 21 David Pearson Mercury
3 43 Richard Petty Dodge
4 90 Dick Brooks Ford
5 47 Bruce Hill Chevrolet
6 96 Richard Childress Chevrolet
7 8 Ed Negre Dodge
8 48 James Hylton Chevrolet
9 67 Buddy Arrington Dodge
10 7 Dean Dalton Ford

Round 5: Southeastern 500

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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. Driver Make
1 43 Richard Petty Dodge
2 72 Benny Parsons Chevrolet
3 15 Buddy Baker Ford
4 24 Cecil Gordon Chevrolet
5 48 James Hylton Chevrolet
6 17 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
7 05 David Sisco Chevrolet
8 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
9 96 Richard Childress Chevrolet
10 10 Ricky Rudd Ford

Round 6: Atlanta 500

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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. Driver Make
1 43 Richard Petty Dodge
2 15 Buddy Baker Ford
3 21 David Pearson Mercury
4 90 Dick Brooks Ford
5 17 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
6 88 Donnie Allison Chevrolet
7 14 Coo Coo Marlin Chevrolet
8 24 Cecil Gordon Chevrolet
9 97 Harry Jefferson Ford
10 54 Lennie Pond Chevrolet

Round 7: Gwyn Staley 400

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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. Driver Make
1 43 Richard Petty Dodge
2 11 Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
3 15 Buddy Baker Ford
4 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
5 54 Lennie Pond Chevrolet
6 72 Benny Parsons Chevrolet
7 17 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
8 90 Dick Brooks Ford
9 24 Cecil Gordon Chevrolet
10 30 Walter Ballard Chevrolet

Round 8: Rebel 500

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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. Driver Make
1 16 Bobby Allison AMC
2 17 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
3 88 Donnie Allison Chevrolet
4 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
5 14 Coo Coo Marlin Chevrolet
6 72 Benny Parsons Chevrolet
7 21 David Pearson Mercury
8 48 James Hylton Chevrolet
9 37 Bruce Jacobi Chevrolet
10 67 Buddy Arrington Plymouth

Round 9: Virginia 500

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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. Driver Make
1 43 Richard Petty Dodge
2 17 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
3 11 Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
4 16 Bobby Allison AMC
5 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
6 72 Benny Parsons Chevrolet
7 63 Jimmy Hensley Chevrolet
8 90 Dick Brooks Ford
9 96 Richard Childress Chevrolet
10 48 James Hylton Chevrolet
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. Driver Make
1 15 Buddy Baker Ford
2 21 David Pearson Mercury
3 90 Dick Brooks Ford
4 17 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
5 14 Coo Coo Marlin Chevrolet
6 95 Harry Jefferson Ford
7 41 Grant Adcox Chevrolet
8 37 Bruce Jacobi Chevrolet
9 60 Joe Mihalic Chevrolet
10 96 Richard Childress Chevrolet

Round 11: Music City 420

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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. Driver Make
1 17 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
2 72 Benny Parsons Chevrolet
3 14 Coo Coo Marlin Chevrolet
4 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
5 24 Cecil Gordon Chevrolet
6 68 Alton Jones Chevrolet
7 43 Richard Petty Dodge
8 05 David Sisco Chevrolet
9 48 James Hylton Chevrolet
10 30 Walter Ballard Chevrolet

Round 12: Mason-Dixon 500

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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. Driver Make
1 21 David Pearson Mercury
2 24 Cecil Gordon Chevrolet
3 43 Richard Petty Dodge
4 48 James Hylton Chevrolet
5 05 David Sisco Chevrolet
6 14 Coo Coo Marlin Chevrolet
7 93 Kenny Brighthill Ford
8 47 Bruce Hill Chevrolet
9 19 Henley Gray Chevrolet
10 25 Jabe Thomas Chevrolet

Round 13: World 600

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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. Driver Make
1 43 Richard Petty Dodge
2 11 Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
3 21 David Pearson Mercury
4 17 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
5 15 Buddy Baker Ford
6 28 Charlie Glotzbach Chevrolet
7 90 Dick Brooks Ford
8 98 Richie Panch Chevrolet
9 88 Donnie Allison Chevrolet
10 30 Walter Ballard Chevrolet

Round 14: Tuborg 400

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Top 10 finishers
Pos. No. Driver Make
1 43 Richard Petty Dodge
2 16 Bobby Allison AMC
3 72 Benny Parsons Chevrolet
4 96W Ray Elder Dodge
5 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
6 70 J.D. McDuffie Chevrolet
7 37 Chuck Wahl Chevrolet
8 73 Bill Schmidt Chevrolet
9 96 Richard Childress Chevrolet
10 89 Gene Riniker Chevrolet

Round 15: Michigan 400

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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. Driver Make
1 21 David Pearson Mercury
2 43 Richard Petty Dodge
3 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
4 11 Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
5 17 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
6 98 Richie Panch Chevrolet
7 90 Dick Brooks Ford
8 05 David Sisco Chevrolet
9 48 James Hylton Chevrolet
10 96 Richard Childress Chevrolet
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. Driver Make
1 43 Richard Petty Dodge
2 15 Buddy Baker Ford
3 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
4 17 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
5 88 Donnie Allison Chevrolet
6 90 Dick Brooks Ford
7 47 Bruce Hill Chevrolet
8 72 Benny Parsons Chevrolet
9 65 Carl Adams Ford
10 35 Darel Dieringer Ford

Round 17: Nashville 420

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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. Driver Make
1 11 Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
2 43 Richard Petty Dodge
3 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
4 72 Benny Parsons Chevrolet
5 24 Cecil Gordon Chevrolet
6 96 Richard Childress Chevrolet
7 05 David Sisco Chevrolet
8 65 Carl Adams Ford
9 70 J.D. McDuffie Chevrolet
10 10 Elmo Langley Ford
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. Driver Make
1 21 David Pearson Mercury
2 43 Richard Petty Dodge
3 15 Buddy Baker Ford
4 72 Benny Parsons Chevrolet
5 96 Richard Childress Chevrolet
6 65 Carl Adams Ford
7 14 Coo Coo Marlin Chevrolet
8 47 Bruce Hill Chevrolet
9 48 James Hylton Chevrolet
10 24 Cecil Gordon Chevrolet
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. Driver Make
1 15 Buddy Baker Ford
2 43 Richard Petty Dodge
3 28 Donnie Allison Chevrolet
4 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
5 14 Coo Coo Marlin Chevrolet
6 72 Benny Parsons Chevrolet
7 48 James Hylton Chevrolet
8 18 Joe Frasson Chevrolet
9 60 Jackie Rogers Chevrolet
10 24 Cecil Gordon Chevrolet
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. Driver Make
1 43 Richard Petty Dodge
2 21 David Pearson Mercury
3 11 Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
4 16 Bobby Allison AMC
5 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
6 15 Buddy Baker Ford
7 88 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
8 47 Bruce Hill Chevrolet
9 63 Terry Bivins Chevrolet
10 7 Dean Dalton Ford
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. Driver Make
1 16 Bobby Allison AMC
2 43 Richard Petty Dodge
3 05 David Sisco Chevrolet
4 31 Jim Vandiver Dodge
5 47 Bruce Hill Chevrolet
6 24 Cecil Gordon Chevrolet
7 96 Richard Childress Chevrolet
8 33 Dick May Chevrolet
9 37 Bruce Jacobi Chevrolet
10 64 Elmo Langley Ford
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. Driver Make
1 43 Richard Petty Dodge
2 90 Dick Brooks Ford
3 72 Benny Parsons Chevrolet
4 11 Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
5 47 Bruce Hill Chevrolet
6 96 Richard Childress Chevrolet
7 48 James Hylton Chevrolet
8 70 J.D. McDuffie Chevrolet
9 7 Dean Dalton Ford
10 40 D.K. Ulrich Chevrolet

Round 23: Wilkes 400

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Top 10 finishers
Pos. No. Driver Make
1 43 Richard Petty Dodge
2 11 Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
3 88 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
4 15 Buddy Baker Ford
5 54 Lennie Pond Chevrolet
6 72 Benny Parsons Chevrolet
7 70 J.D. McDuffie Chevrolet
8 96 Richard Childress Chevrolet
9 31 Jim Vandiver Dodge
10 47 Bruce Hill Chevrolet
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. Driver Make
1 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
2 72 Benny Parsons Chevrolet
3 16 Bobby Allison AMC
4 96 Richard Childress Chevrolet
5 98 Richie Panch Chevrolet
6 90 Dick Brooks Ford
7 65 Carl Adams Ford
8 31 Jim Vandiver Dodge
9 24 Cecil Gordon Chevrolet
10 64 Elmo Langley Ford
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. Driver Make
1 43 Richard Petty Dodge
2 21 David Pearson Mercury
3 15 Buddy Baker Ford
4 72 Benny Parsons Chevrolet
5 24 Cecil Gordon Chevrolet
6 48 James Hylton Chevrolet
7 35 Darel Dieringer Ford
8 96 Richard Childress Chevrolet
9 70 J.D. McDuffie Chevrolet
10 64 Elmo Langley Ford
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. Driver Make
1 88 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
2 54 Lennie Pond Chevrolet
3 90 Dick Brooks Ford
4 24 Cecil Gordon Chevrolet
5 70 J.D. McDuffie Chevrolet
6 48 James Hylton Chevrolet
7 64 Elmo Langley Ford
8 47 Bruce Hill Chevrolet
9 14 Coo Coo Marlin Chevrolet
10 25 Jabe Thomas Chevrolet

Round 27: American 500

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Top 10 finishers
Pos. No. Driver Make
1 11 Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
2 16 Bobby Allison AMC
3 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
4 54 Lennie Pond Chevrolet
5 28 A.J. Foyt Chevrolet
6 47 Bruce Hill Chevrolet
7 3 Bobby Issac Chevrolet
8 31 Jim Vandiver Dodge
9 27 Donnie Allison Chevrolet
10 14 Coo Coo Marlin Chevrolet

Round 28: Volunteer 500

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Top 10 finishers
Pos. No. Driver Make
1 43 Richard Petty Dodge
2 54 Lennie Pond Chevrolet
3 88 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
4 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
5 72 Benny Parsons Chevrolet
6 90 Dick Brooks Ford
7 14 Coo Coo Marlin Chevrolet
8 24 Cecil Gordon Chevrolet
9 48 James Hylton Chevrolet
10 47 Bruce Hill Chevrolet

Round 29: Dixie 500

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Top 10 finishers
Pos. No. Driver Make
1 15 Buddy Baker Ford
2 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
3 43 Richard Petty Dodge
4 21 David Pearson Mercury
5 11 Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
6 54 Lennie Pond Chevrolet
7 90 Dick Brooks Ford
8 14 Coo Coo Marlin Chevrolet
9 24 Cecil Gordon Chevrolet
10 8 Ed Negre Dodge
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. Driver Make
1 15 Buddy Baker Ford
2 21 David Pearson Mercury
3 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
4 11 Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
5 16 Bobby Allison AMC
6 54 Lennie Pond Chevrolet
7 38 Jimmy Insolo Chevrolet
8 90 Dick Brooks Ford
9 48 James Hylton Chevrolet
10 96 Richard Childress Chevrolet

Full Drivers’ Championship

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

Pos. Driver RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH DAR DOV NWS MAR CLT RCH CAR BRI ATL ONT Pts
1 Richard Petty 7 7 1* 3 1* 1* 1* 26 1* 19 7 3 1* 1 2 1 2 2 2 1 2* 1* 1* 22 1* 28 35 1* 3 16 4783
2 Dave Marcis 4 6 16 24 8 27 4 4 5 13 4 20 34 5 3 3 3 25 4 5 24 30 27 1 26 23 3 4 2 3 4061
3 James Hylton 6 10 14 8 5 13 11 8 10 33 9 4 20 13 9 11 11 9 7 17 23 7 13 13 6 6 15 9 22 9 3914
4 Benny Parsons 24 1 3 22 2 28 6 6 6 43 2 23 39 3 34 8 4 4 6 34 20 3 6 2 4 18 24 5 19 34 3820
5 Richard Childress 11 18 9 6 9 15 17 22 9 10 16 16 23 9 10 13 6 5 13 31 7 6 8 4 8 21 21 13 12 10 3818
6 Cecil Gordon 3 15 7 20 4 8 9 21 23 21 5 2 37 18 33 29 5 10 10 13 6 29 16 9 5 4 30 8 9 19 3702
7 Darrell Waltrip 26 15 21 6 5 7 2 2 4 1 22 4 21 5 4 28 34 42 7 34 27 3 17 24 1 32 3 36 3462
8 Elmo Langley 5 5 12 17 17 27 20 11 14 15 12 24 12 14 25 10 24 14 18 10 24 14 10 10 7 23 10 15 22 3399
9 Cale Yarborough 3 1* 20 22 2 36 3 40 14* 27 2 4 26 1* 35 41 3 19 4 2 19* 19 26 1* 20 5 4 3295
10 Dick Brooks 22 4 4 19 4 8 25 8 3 29 7 7 6 38 20 26 2 11 6 35 3 29 6 7 8 3182
11 Walter Ballard 31 25 19 17 18 24 10 18 15 12 10 25 10 24 11 31 18 13 48 11 25 14 25 14 41 15 11 12 17 20 3151
12 Frank Warren 17 18 12 12 12 16 18 24 12 15 19 17 16 17 16 16 17 26 14 16 24 12 14 14 14 22 25 17 3148
13 David Sisco 21 8 14 7 31 23 28 26 16 8 5 27 8 33 7 19 27 12 3 17 19 20 15 24 26 16 29 12 3116
14 David Pearson 2 4* 2 3 7* 20 2 1* 3 1* 20 1* 39 2 27 26 23 2 25 4 2 3057
15 Buddy Baker 20 25 3 2 3 19 19 1* 11 5 2* 3 1* 6 28 33 4 18 3 28 24 1* 1* 3050
16 Bruce Hill (R) 32 11 5 23 16 15 47 23 8 18 30 7 13 8 31 8 5 5 10 25 27 8 6 10 13 26 3002
17 Ed Negre 9 14 10 7 13 19 31 13 32 24 31 32 28 27 12 15 14 18 33 30 11 17 21 30 22 12 11 10 40 2982
18 J. D. McDuffie 14 33 13 11 28 29 11 18 11 6 18 22 9 27 45 28 33 8 7 30 9 5 20 30 18 21 2745
19 Buddy Arrington 6 9 15 20 10 14 38 28 13 26 15 21 25 12 24 22 17 18 18 11 17 12 13 15 20 2654
20 Coo Coo Marlin 17 26 7 5 5 3 6 40 12 34 26 7 5 35 39 31 12 29 42 9 10 7 8 2584
21 Lennie Pond 19 2 23 10 5 27 25 26 33 36 38 32 21 20 5 24 22 2* 4 2 6 6 2540
22 Jabe Thomas 12 27 14 DNQ 15 35 22 25 19 10 21 20 16 23 12 13 26 15 20 10 18 18 2252
23 Carl Adams (R) 34 DNQ 13 16 18 12 12 44 DNQ 23 21 9 8 6 23 29 DNQ 20 7 11 14 16 28 2182
24 Bobby Allison 1* 2 30 1 4 35 2* 22 35 31 29 4 1 28 3 31 2 26 5 2181
25 Bruce Jacobi (R) 12 9 8 16 25 32 19 11 12 15 9 22 20 16 14 1732
26 Dean Dalton 10 32 30 39 17 17 19 11 10 32 9 15 19 29 32 1486
27 D. K. Ulrich 11 30 26 DNQ 20 15 25 21 16 10 23 28 13 31 27 33 13 1453
28 Donnie Allison 28 28 6 3 21 42 28 9 35 5 3 33 9 27 1376
29 Richie Panch 8 34 17 49 8 6 28 33 43 25 5 25 35 36 1243
30 Jim Vandiver 35 26 27 15 14 33 4 9 8 23 27 8 28 1228
31 Bill Champion DNQ 21 34 16 11 18 19 29 30 30 29 21 25 17 1218
32 Earle Canavan 13 31 23 25 17 17 17 34 29 32 35 25 1062
33 Grant Adcox (R) 37 21 7 29 36 27 34 14 13 16 25 1020
34 Joe Mihalic (R) 34 33 14 13 9 27 21 26 DNQ 32 16 957
35 Joe Frasson DNQ 22 18 14 DNQ 31 8 36 13 37 26 939
36 Travis Tiller (R) 16 21 21 24 23 26 24 30 23 28 922
37 Rick Newsom 31 22 19 20 24 33 41 13 36 12 877
38 Ferrel Harris (R) 16 11 14 45 DNQ 13 DNQ 15 16 18 22 24 797
39 Henley Gray 16 19 9 28 27 36 19 29 33 747
40 G. C. Spencer 9 36 24 22 38 39 49 31 32 634
41 Dick May (R) QL 20 35 23 17 19 8 37 17 21 631
42 Earl Brooks QL 22 26 23 26 22 QL 34 17 534
43 Neil Castles DNQ 18 22 30 29 40 34 31 529
44 Jackie Rogers 14 19 30 9 36 38 29 36 502
45 Harry Jefferson 32 9 6 21 28 455
46 Tommy Gale 23 18 28 22 35 437
47 Ricky Rudd 11 10 25 28 QL 431
48 Bobby Isaac 29 35 37 7 23 30 405
49 Dick Skillen 30 23 25 37 27 389
50 Ray Elder 13 4 25 372
51 Randy Tissot 29 29 28 16 50 15 15 364
52 Harold Miller 34 28 36 24 QL 34 347
53 Jimmy Insolo 33 27 39 7 343
54 Darel Dieringer 12 10 37 7 337
55 Bob Burcham 13 18 23 327
56 Chuck Wahl 17 7 35 322
57 Chuck Bown (R) 27 34 26 12 38 319
58 Bill Schmitt 18 8 33 315
59 Baxter Price 20 22 18 309
60 Bill Hollar 23 22 16 306
61 Skip Manning 14 15 15 11 297
62 Alton Jones 6 12 277
63 Richard D. Brown 29 25 17 30 261
64 Gary Matthews 8 15 260
65 Don Puskarich 12 32 37 246
66 Sonny Easley 21 30 39 224
67 Glenn Francis 25 11 218
68 Johnny Ray 48 24 30 40 207
69 Hershel McGriff 10 30 19 11 31 205
70 Jim Boyd 14 27 203
71 Hugh Pearson 23 18 203
72 Bill Osborne 16 26 200
73 Pete Torres 26 16 200
74 George Follmer 24 29 167
75 Charlie Griffin 26 28 164
76 Kenny Brightbill 7 146
77 Terry Bivins 9 21 138
78 Gene Riniker 10 134
79 Don Hall 11 130
80 Marty Robbins 39 31 121
81 Clyde Dagit DNQ 15 118
82 Larry Esau 15 118
83 Richard White 19 106
84 Billy Hagan 19 106
85 John Banks 50 20 21 103
86 Jeff Handy 20 103
87 Johnny Kieper 20 24 103
88 Don Reynolds 20 103
89 A. J. Reno 21 100
90 Carl Joiner 22 97
91 Doc Faustina 22 97
92 Ron Esau 22 97
93 Carl Van Horn 23 94
94 Paul Dean Holt 21 24 91
95 Eddie Bradshaw 25 88
96 Red Farmer QL 37 44 83
97 Jimmy Hensley 7 27 82
98 Joey Arrington 27 27 32 82
99 Bill Ward 28 79
100 Chuck Little 28 79
101 G. T. Tallas 29 DNQ 76
102 Dan Daughtry 38 46 74
103 Dick Brown 30 73
104 Harry Gant 31 70
105 John Soares Jr. 31 70
106 Jim Thirkettle 32 67
107 George Wiltshire 32 67
108 Ted Fritz 33 64
109 Randy Bethea 33 64
110 Charlie Glotzbach 6 36 60
111 Ivan Baldwin 35 35 58
112 Dick Trickle 40 55
113 H. B. Bailey DNQ 40 43
114 Warren Tope 40 18 43
115 Tiny Lund DNQ 46 25
116 Terry Link DNQ 47 22
117 A. J. Foyt 11 35 24 30* 21 5 14
118 Johnny Rutherford 27 32 40 34
119 Ramo Stott 5 30
120 Jody Ridley 29 11
121 Tom Williams 20 QL 23
122 Neil Bonnett 14 35
123 Salt Walther 17 37 DNQ
124 Earl Ross 13
125 Don Hoffman 15
126 Glen McDuffie 19
127 John Harkins 21
128 Dale Earnhardt 22
129 Roy Smith 29
130 John Martin 30
131 Mel Larson 32
132 Gordon Johncock 36
133 Dennis Wilson DNQ DNQ
134 Tom Culbertson DNQ
135 Joe Booher DNQ
136 Jimmy Crowe DNQ
137 Bill Dennis DNQ
138 Bill Elliott DNQ
Pos. Driver RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH DAR DOV NWS MAR CLT RCH CAR BRI ATL ONT Pts

[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Stock Car Racing Magazine, August 1975 issue, p. 9
  2. ^ "1975 Champion 400, MRN call". Archived from the original on 2014-03-27. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  3. ^ "1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Central - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
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