1981 American 500 - NASCAR Race
| Name of Race: | 1981 American 500 |
| Name of Track: | North Carolina Speedway |
| Date: | November 1st |
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1981 American 500 NASCAR Race Results
Below are the race results for 1981 American 500, in order of finishing place.
| Fin | Driver | Num | Start | Money | Laps | Pts | Status | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Darrell Waltrip | 11 | 1 | $23,410 | 492 | 0 | running | Mountain Dew |
| 2 | Bobby Allison | 28 | 14 | $17,100 | 492 | 0 | running | Hardee's |
| 3 | Harry Gant | 33 | 2 | $10,150 | 492 | 0 | running | Skoal Bandit |
| 4 | Richard Petty | 43 | 12 | $10,400 | 492 | 0 | running | STP |
| 5 | Joe Ruttman | 2 | 16 | $9,700 | 492 | 0 | running | J.D. Stacy |
| 6 | Benny Parsons | 15 | 24 | $8,750 | 491 | 0 | running | Melling Tool |
| 7 | Terry Labonte | 44 | 10 | $8,350 | 490 | 0 | running | J.D. Stacy |
| 8 | Bill Elliott | 9 | 22 | $3,000 | 490 | 0 | running | Mell-Gear |
| 9 | Dale Earnhardt | 3 | 5 | $7,360 | 489 | 0 | running | Wrangler |
| 10 | Jody Ridley | 90 | 19 | $6,190 | 487 | 0 | running | Truxmore / Sunny King |
| 11 | Ron Bouchard | 47 | 37 | $4,730 | 485 | 0 | running | J.D. Stacy |
| 12 | Dave Marcis | 71 | 26 | $4,270 | 483 | 0 | running | J.D. Stacy |
| 13 | Tommy Gale | 64 | 27 | $3,980 | 475 | 0 | running | Sunny King Ford & Honda |
| 14 | Buddy Arrington | 67 | 31 | $3,740 | 470 | 0 | running | Kyle Petty's Boot Barn |
| 15 | Cecil Gordon | 24 | 34 | $3,530 | 457 | 0 | running | Washington Freightliner |
| 16 | Buddy Baker | 1 | 4 | $1,425 | 445 | 0 | rear end | UNO |
| 18 | Ricky Rudd | 88 | 3 | $7,000 | 434 | 0 | running | Gatorade |
| 21 | Dick Brooks | 13 | 23 | $825 | 379 | 0 | valve | Carolina Tool |
| 22 | Tim Richmond | 37 | 13 | $800 | 334 | 0 | crash | Rogers Auto Leasing |
| 23 | Joe Fields | 92 | 35 | $775 | 262 | 0 | crash | Richmond Printing |
| 24 | John Anderson | 17 | 29 | $2,290 | 226 | 0 | suspension | Kings Inn Daytona |
| 25 | Cale Yarborough | 27 | 8 | $1,225 | 214 | 0 | crash | Valvoline |
| 26 | James Hylton | 48 | 25 | $2,230 | 214 | 0 | push rod | Palatine Auto Parts |
| 27 | Morgan Shepherd | 96 | 15 | $675 | 205 | 0 | crash | Levi Garrett |
| 28 | Chuck Bown | 16 | 28 | $650 | 193 | 0 | engine | Rose Auto Wrecking |
| 29 | Johnny Rutherford | 98 | 11 | $625 | 172 | 0 | crash | Levi Garrett |
| 31 | Lake Speed | 66 | 18 | $2,125 | 162 | 0 | engine | Speed Racing |
| 32 | Gary Balough | 75 | 21 | $1,395 | 117 | 0 | crash | Ferrailuolo & Sons Excavating |
| 33 | Don Hume | 40 | 33 | $590 | 101 | 0 | crash | Newton Oil & Gas |
| 34 | Dean Combs | 77 | 7 | $585 | 89 | 0 | crash | Captains Table |
| 35 | Neil Bonnett | 21 | 9 | $1,080 | 55 | 0 | crash | Warner Hodgdon / Natl. Eng. |
| 36 | Lennie Pond | 68 | 20 | $575 | 54 | 0 | crash | J.D. Stacy |
| 37 | Kyle Petty | 42 | 6 | $870 | 19 | 0 | engine | STP |
