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1981 American 500 qualifying results Previous race results / Next race results                     Previous at this track / Next at this track     Post NASCAR Winston Cup race number 29 of 31 Sunday, November 1, 1981 at North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham, NC 492 laps on a 1.017 mile paved track (500.364 miles) Time of race: 4:39:32 Average speed: 107.399 mph Pole speed: 138.164 mph Cautions: 12 for 97 laps Margin of victory: 2 cl Attendance: 35000 Lead changes: 33 Glossary    1981 NASCAR Winston Cup results   /   1981 standings

Qualifying results for this race: Rank Driver Nbr Car Time Speed   1   Darrell Waltrip 11 Buick 26.499   138.164   2   Harry Gant 33 Pontiac 26.518   138.065   3   Ricky Rudd 88 Chevrolet 26.563   137.831   4   Buddy Baker 1 Buick 26.594   137.670   5   Dale Earnhardt 3 Pontiac 26.613   137.572   6   Kyle Petty 42 Buick 26.665   137.304   7   Dean Combs 77 Buick 26.683   137.211   8   Cale Yarborough 27 Buick 26.686   137.196   9   Neil Bonnett 21 Ford 26.698   137.134   10   Terry Labonte 44 Buick 26.751   136.862   11   Johnny Rutherford 98 Buick 26.752   136.857   12   Richard Petty 43 Buick 26.780   136.714   13   Tim Richmond 37 Buick 26.791   136.658   14   Bobby Allison 28 Buick 26.797   136.627   15   Morgan Shepherd 96 Buick 26.830   136.459   16   Joe Ruttman 2 Pontiac 26.311   139.151   17   Joe Millikan 5 Pontiac 26.565   137.820   18   Lake Speed 66 Oldsmobile 26.718   137.031   19   Jody Ridley 90 Ford 26.719   137.026   20   Lennie Pond 68 Buick 26.730   136.970   21   Gary Balough 75 Buick 26.740   136.918   22   Bill Elliott 9 Ford 26.774   136.745   23   Dick Brooks 13 Ford 26.830   136.459   24   Benny Parsons 15 Ford 26.900   136.104   25   Slick Johnson 48 Pontiac 27.024   135.480   26   Dave Marcis 71 Chevrolet 27.050   135.349   27   Tommy Gale 64 Ford 27.094   135.130   28   Chuck Bown 16 Buick 27.096   135.120   29   John Anderson 17 Buick 27.197   134.618   30   J.D. McDuffie 70 Pontiac 27.233   134.440   31   Buddy Arrington 67 Dodge 26.839   136.413   32   D.K. Ulrich 99 Buick 26.851   136.352   33   Don Hume 40 Buick 27.060   135.300   34   Cecil Gordon 24 Buick 27.099   135.105   35   Joe Fields 92 Buick 27.152   134.841   36   Jimmy Means 52 Pontiac 27.244   134.386   37   Ron Bouchard 47 Buick 27.244   134.386   OP: qualified via owners points PC: qualified as past champion PR: provisional QR: via qualifying race * - had to qualify on time Failed to qualify, withdrew, or driver changes:   not available