1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

Darrell Waltrip, finished second in points.
Bill Elliott, future champion, finished third in the standings.
Richard Petty, the seven time champion finished fourth in the standings.
Sterling Marlin, the 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year.

The 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 35th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 12th modern-era Cup series season. The season began on Sunday, February 20 and ended on Sunday, November 20. Bobby Allison was crowned Winston Cup champion at the end of the season finishing 47 points ahead of Darrell Waltrip.

Teams and drivers

Team Make No. Driver Car Owner Crew Chief
Arrington Racing Chrysler Imperial
Dodge Mirada 		67 Buddy Arrington Buddy Arrington
Benfield Racing Buick Regal 98 Joe Ruttman Ron Benfield Buddy Parrott
Blue Max Racing Pontiac Grand Prix
Pontiac LeMans 		27 Tim Richmond Raymond Beadle Tim Brewer
Bobby Hawkins Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo 16 David Pearson Bobby Hawkins
Bud Moore Engineering Ford Thunderbird 15 Dale Earnhardt Bud Moore Bud Moore
Cliff Stewart Racing Pontiac Grand Prix 88 Geoff Bodine Cliff Stewart
DiGard Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Buick Regal 		22 Bobby Allison Bill Gardner Gary Nelson
Donlavey Racing Ford Thunderbird 90 Dick Brooks Junie Donlavey
Ellington Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo 1 Lake Speed Hoss Ellington Runt Pittman
Hagan Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo 44 Terry Labonte Billy Hagan Dale Inman
Hamby Motorsports Pontiac Grand Prix 17 Sterling Marlin (R) Roger Hamby
Henderson Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Buick Regal 		26 Ronnie Hopkins (R) Charlie Henderson
Hillin Racing Buick Regal 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. (R) Bobby Hillin Sr. Harry Hyde
Hylton Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo 48 Trevor Boys (R)/James Hylton James Hylton
Jim Stacy Racing Buick Regal 2 Morgan Shepherd Jim Stacy
Johnny Hayes Racing Buick Regal
Chevrolet Monte Carlo 		55 Benny Parsons Johnny Hayes Cliff Champion
Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Monte Carlo 11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson Jeff Hammond
Langley Racing Ford Thunderbird 64 Tommy Gale Elmo Langley
Mach 1 Racing Buick Regal 33 Harry Gant Hal Needham Travis Carter
Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo 71 Dave Marcis Dave Marcis
McDuffie Racing Pontiac Grand Prix 70 J. D. McDuffie J. D. McDuffie
Means Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means
Melling Racing Ford Thunderbird 9 Bill Elliott Harry Melling Ernie Elliott
Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo 4 Mark Martin Larry McClure
Petty Enterprises Pontiac Grand Prix 7 Kyle Petty Richard Petty Maurice Petty
43 Richard Petty Robin Pemberton
Race Hill Farm Team Buick Regal 47 Ron Bouchard Jack Beebe David Ifft
RahMoc Enterprises Chevrolet Monte Carlo 75 Neil Bonnett Bob Rahilly Bob Rahilly
Ranier-Lundy Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo 28 Cale Yarborough Harry Ranier Waddell Wilson
Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo 3 Ricky Rudd Richard Childress Kirk Shelmerdine
Robert McEntyre Racing Buick Regal
Chevrolet Monte Carlo 		84 Jody Ridley Robert McEntyre
Thomas Racing Pontiac Grand Prix 41 Ronnie Thomas Ronnie Thomas
Ulrich Racing Buick Regal 6 D. K. Ulrich D. K. Ulrich
Wood Brothers Racing Ford Thunderbird 21 Buddy Baker Glen Wood Leonard Wood

Schedule

No. Race Title Track Date
Busch Clash Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach February 13–14*
UNO Twin 125 Qualifiers February 17
Daytona 500 Consolation Race February 18
1 Daytona 500 February 20
2 Richmond 400 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond February 27
3 Hodgdon Carolina 500 North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham March 6 & 13
4 Coca-Cola 500 Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton March 27
5 TranSouth 500 Darlington Raceway, Darlington April 10
6 Northwestern Bank 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro April 17
7 Virginia National Bank 500 Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway April 24
8 Winston 500 Alabama International Motor Speedway, Talladega May 1
9 Marty Robbins 420 Nashville Speedway, Nashville May 8
10 Mason-Dixon 500 Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover May 15
11 Valleydale 500 Bristol International Raceway, Bristol May 22
12 World 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord May 29
13 Budweiser 400 Riverside International Raceway, Riverside June 5
14 Van Scoy Diamond Mine 500 Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond June 12
15 Gabriel 400 Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn June 19
16 Firecracker 400 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach July 4
17 Busch Nashville 420 Nashville Speedway, Nashville July 16
18 Like Cola 500 Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond July 24
19 Talladega 500 Alabama International Motor Speedway, Talladega July 31
20 Champion Spark Plug 400 Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn August 21
21 Busch 500 Bristol International Raceway, Bristol August 27
22 Southern 500 Darlington Raceway, Darlington September 5
23 Wrangler Sanfor-Set 400 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond September 11
24 Budweiser 500 Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover September 18
25 Goody's 500 Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway September 25
26 Holly Farms 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro October 2
27 Miller High Life 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord October 9
28 Warner W. Hodgdon American 500 North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham October 30
29 Atlanta Journal 500 Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton November 6
30 Winston Western 500 Riverside International Raceway, Riverside November 20
  • The Busch Clash was scheduled for Sunday, February 13 but rain forced the race to be postponed until Monday, February 14.

Season Results and Standings

Races

Rd. Race Name Pole position Most laps led Winning
driver 		Winning
manufacturer 		Report
NC Busch Clash Bill Elliott Darrell Waltrip Neil Bonnett Chevrolet Monte Carlo Report
First UNO Twin 125 Qualifier Ricky Rudd Dale Earnhardt Ford Thunderbird Report
Second UNO Twin 125 Qualifier Geoff Bodine Neil Bonnett Chevrolet Monte Carlo Report
Daytona 500 Consolation Race Darryl Sage Blackie Wangerin Blackie Wangerin Ford Thunderbird Report
1 Daytona 500 Ricky Rudd Joe Ruttman Cale Yarborough Pontiac LeMans Report
2 Richmond 400 Ricky Rudd Joe Ruttman Bobby Allison Chevrolet Monte Carlo Report
3 Warner W. Hodgdon Carolina 500 Ricky Rudd Cale Yarborough Richard Petty Pontiac Grand Prix Report
4 Coca-Cola 500 Geoff Bodine Neil Bonnett Cale Yarborough Chevrolet Monte Carlo Report
5 TranSouth 500 Tim Richmond Geoff Bodine Harry Gant Buick Regal Report
6 Northwestern Bank 400 Neil Bonnett Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet Monte Carlo Report
7 Virginia National Bank 500 Ricky Rudd Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet Monte Carlo Report
8 Winston 500 Cale Yarborough Richard Petty Richard Petty Pontiac Grand Prix Report
9 Marty Robbins 420 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet Monte Carlo Report
10 Mason-Dixon 500 Joe Ruttman Bobby Allison Bobby Allison Buick Regal Report
11 Valleydale 500 Neil Bonnett Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet Monte Carlo Report
12 World 600 Buddy Baker Bobby Allison Neil Bonnett Chevrolet Monte Carlo Report
13 Budweiser 400 Darrell Waltrip Ricky Rudd Ricky Rudd Chevrolet Monte Carlo Report
14 Van Scoy Diamond Mine 500 Darrell Waltrip Bobby Allison Bobby Allison Buick Regal Report
15 Gabriel 400 Terry Labonte Terry Labonte Cale Yarborough Chevrolet Monte Carlo Report
16 Firecracker 400 Cale Yarborough Buddy Baker Buddy Baker Ford Thunderbird Report
17 Busch Nashville 420 Ron Bouchard Dale Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt Ford Thunderbird Report
18 Like Cola 500 Tim Richmond Bobby Allison Tim Richmond Pontiac LeMans Report
19 Talladega 500 Cale Yarborough Dale Earnhardt
Tim Richmond 		Dale Earnhardt Ford Thunderbird Report
20 Champion Spark Plug 400 Terry Labonte Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Ford Thunderbird Report
21 Busch 500 Joe Ruttman Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet Monte Carlo Report
22 Southern 500 Neil Bonnett Bobby Allison Bobby Allison Buick Regal Report
23 Wrangler Sanfor-Set 400 Darrell Waltrip Bobby Allison Bobby Allison Buick Regal Report
24 Budweiser 500 Terry Labonte Bobby Allison Bobby Allison Buick Regal Report
25 Goody's 500 Darrell Waltrip Ricky Rudd Ricky Rudd Chevrolet Monte Carlo Report
26 Holly Farms 400 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet Monte Carlo Report
27 Miller High Life 500 Tim Richmond Tim Richmond Richard Petty Pontiac Grand Prix Report
28 Warner W. Hodgdon American 500 Neil Bonnett Tim Richmond Terry Labonte Chevrolet Monte Carlo Report
29 Atlanta Journal 500 Tim Richmond Bobby Allison Neil Bonnett Chevrolet Monte Carlo Report
30 Winston Western 500 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Bill Elliott Ford Thunderbird Report
  • Bold indicates a NASCAR Crown Jewel race.
  • The Busch 500 was shortened to 419 of 500 laps due to rain.

Winston Cup Final Standings

Further information: List of NASCAR points scoring systems

(key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by final practice results or 1982 Owner's points. * – Most laps led.

Pos. Driver DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV BRI CLT RSD POC MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD Pts
1 Bobby Allison 9 1 10 25 8 2 3 10 2 1* 2 3* 22 1* 2 14 4 3* 9 34 3 1* 1* 1* 2 3 7 16 3* 9 4667
2 Darrell Waltrip 36 29 3 40 2 1* 1* 33 1* 2 1* 4 7 2 4 20 2 2 2 2 1* 3 3 5 3 1* 2 5 9 6* 4620
3 Bill Elliott 2 6 2 30 5 21 21 5 5 4 8 16 2 6 25 7 7 6 8 3 27 2 4 8 14 4 8 21 6 1 4279
4 Richard Petty 38 8 1 5 25 10 17 1* 6 7 5 2 10 3 11 33 19 10 4 6 9 12 6 9 9 12 1 26 5 10 4042
5 Terry Labonte 6 22 24 8 36 6 6 6 8 31 6 33 31 9 5 5 11 12 29 4 5 5 5 4 24 5 4 1 4 7 4004
6 Neil Bonnett 22 3 12 2 7 4 16 15 13 28 4 1 13 7 31 28 6 4 35 35 10 4 8 7 6 13 26 4 1 3 3842
7 Harry Gant 37 5 5 11 1 3 2 4 3 9 27 25 3 18 8 11 8 5 5 30 6 22 20 17 8 9 29 23 37 31 3790
8 Dale Earnhardt 35 2 33 33 13 29 26 24 24 8 9 5 4 8 15 9 1 35 1* 7 2 11 22 35 4 2 14 17 33 4 3732
9 Ricky Rudd 24 28 6 10 4 27 5 8 14 24 26 32 1 31 6 21 5 7 16 27 14 25 2 13 1 6 9 3 26 37 3693
10 Tim Richmond 41 17 7 9 35 28 15 27 10 30 10 40 28 4 3 31 3 1* 3* 5 22 26 23 3 26 10 5 2 29 5 3612
11 Dave Marcis 32 9 34 13 33 9 19 9 27 16 12 10 12 11 30 13 9 8 32 11 20 14 18 22 28 25 17 7 13 12 3361
12 Joe Ruttman 4* 7 29 4 20 7 4 11 7 3 23 14 34 10 33 37 22 9 15 24 18 38 27 20 7 14 13 30 30 41 3342
13 Kyle Petty 33 14 15 35 31 30 11 30 17 11 11 8 6 13 16 30 20 11 11 14 11 35 12 26 12 16 18 24 20 13 3261
14 Dick Brooks 5 13 8 6 19 20 8 14 25 15 21 37 5 28 12 32 14 15 7 21 21 31 13 32 16 15 37 18 31 34 3230
15 Buddy Arrington 16 20 22 16 23 15 9 23 16 19 16 12 17 17 29 34 24 32 18 23 13 18 14 23 10 18 34 12 14 23 3158
16 Ron Bouchard 26 12 20 12 18 11 7 20 9 34 7 41 34 28 4 27 13 12 12 7 32 25 16 7 15 6 23 11 3113
17 Geoff Bodine 30 4 19 41 9 5 25 21 20 35 25 36 29 30 9 6 16 39 6 36 4 13 21 2 5 11 28 33 3019
18 Jimmy Means 14 16 14 32 12 14 10 7 12 12 14 38 18 20 21 36 12 35 26 20 24 21 15 22 23 9 18 16 2983
19 Sterling Marlin (R) 34 18 13 31 11 22 12 41 11 10 18 19 25 29 20 16 15 18 21 29 15 24 26 27 27 17 40 15 16 17 2980
20 Morgan Shepherd DNQ 31 26 32 17 4 6 3 9 8 15 10 2 10 19 27 37 8 9 16 6 29 8 25 27 7 33 2733
21 Buddy Baker 3 10 32 3 32 31 25 5 7 7 1 28 10 6 7 25 22 6 29 2 20 2621
22 Ronnie Thomas 17 23 27 24 24 17 18 35 15 25 15 DNQ 33 21 24 24 23 20 20 DNQ 12 30 17 24 21 21 19 DNQ 27 2515
23 Tommy Gale 27 32 21 23 14 19 22 13 28 27 20 35 25 26 23 28 24 38 28 23 29 30 28 19 24 31 10 19 2507
24 D. K. Ulrich 18 10 13 13 18 13 23 16 16 22 30 17 33 16 10 12 18 20 20 11 21 26 2400
25 Trevor Boys (R) 29 19 32 22 20 32 14 18 17 13 14 17 19 17 28 9 31 11 19 16 32 11 24 2293
26 J. D. McDuffie 29 25 30 36 17 DNQ DNQ 18 23 24 26 24 19 34 17 25 23 32 25 37 11 36 13 26 DNQ 14 32 30 2197
27 Lake Speed 25 15 4 15 28 8 23 3 6 12 19 29 26 8 15 11 28 12 2114
28 Cale Yarborough 1 9 1 6 29 22 28 27 1 40 24 1 7 10 36 23 1960
29 Benny Parsons 42 14 34 2 29 34 5 13 26 31 22 13 8 3 25 2 1657
30 Mark Martin 28 24 11 7 3 26 27 36 21 29 27 19 10 18 17 33 DNQ 1627
31 Ronnie Hopkins (R) 19 17 21 30 24 30 29 26 17 26 17 28 40 1147
32 Jody Ridley 10 17 27 32 DNQ 8 31 15 33 12 10 1050
33 David Pearson 8 22 31 39 35 3 25 9 10 39 943
34 Lennie Pond 12 31 12 14 19 DNQ 10 22 39 28 8 887
35 Ken Ragan (R) 27 12 17 12 14 19 38 17 836
36 Bobby Wawak DNQ DNQ 16 18 16 DNQ DNQ 18 37 27 27 34 DNQ DNQ 21 825
37 Bobby Hillin Jr. (R) DNQ 25 19 DNQ 16 11 37 15 16 13 25 41 11 36 DNQ 737
38 Slick Johnson DNQ 27 23 34 29 25 28 24 37 27 20 905
39 Mike Potter DNQ DNQ 28 22 DNQ 21 30 DNQ 24 36 19 20 29 31 22 662
40 Cecil Gordon DNQ DNQ 16 21 23 22 23 33 15 649
41 Rick Newsom DNQ DNQ 28 DNQ DNQ 20 DNQ 23 14 19 31 573
42 Dean Combs 13 20 33 32 8 500
43 Phil Parsons 13 28 31 19 28 458
44 Bob Senneker 28 27 14 16 15 436
45 Jerry Bowman DNQ DNQ 13 36 28 30 25 419
46 Clark Dwyer 21 DNQ 39 25 40 DNQ 10 411
47 Greg Sacks 38 29 17 30 38 359
48 Rick McCray 23 24 27 39 313
49 Delma Cowart 31 35 35 24 277
50 Philip Duffie DNQ 38 30 34 27 265
51 Eddie Bierschwale 26 DNQ 26 34 231
52 Jim Robinson 11 21 230
53 Hershel McGriff 26 8 227
54 Dean Roper 15 18 227
55 Sumner McKnight 15 19 224
56 Butch Lindley 11 25 223
57 John McFadden DNQ 29 28 35 213
58 Doug Wheeler 21 18 209
59 Glenn Francis 14 28 200
60 Jocko Maggiacomo DNQ 36 35 26 198
61 H. B. Bailey 22 22 DNQ DNQ 194
62 Bob Riley 32 38 29 192
63 Don Waterman 20 25 191
64 Dick May 21 33 DNQ 33 23 22 191
65 Steve Moore DNQ 22 23 191
66 Mark Stahl 23 23 DNQ 188
67 Bill Schmitt 9 40 181
68 Jim Sauter 18 19 26 29 21 176
69 Rick Baldwin 20 42 DNQ 36 13 27 174
70 Randy Becker 36 15 173
71 Scott Miller 30 22 170
72 John Callis 20 33 DNQ DNQ 167
73 Travis Tiller DNQ 15 DNQ 39 DNQ DNQ 164
74 Jim Bown 23 35 152
75 Tom Sneva 7 32 146
76 A. J. Foyt 11 38 34 Wth 130
77 Pat Mintey 37 29 128
78 Joe Fields 26 15 14 121
79 Tommy Ellis 15 118
80 Blackie Wangerin DNQ DNQ 39 DNQ 34 115
81 Jimmy Ingalls 17 18 DNQ 112
82 Bobby Gerhart 38 34 110
83 Ron Esau 35 38 107
84 Bob Kennedy 19 DNQ 106
85 Darryl Sage DNQ DNQ 20 26 26 103
86 Steve Gray 22 24 21 100
87 Rodney Combs Wth 22 97
88 Jim Vandiver 39 21 88
89 Jimmy Walker DNQ 29 DNQ 27 82
90 Ed Baugess DNQ 30 DNQ 73
91 Dave Dion 30 DNQ 73
92 John Krebs 32 67
93 Natz Peters DNQ 34 DNQ 61
94 Ernie Cline 35 58
95 Grant Adcox 36 55
96 Glenn Jarrett DNQ 36 55
97 Roy Smith 36 55
98 David Simko DNQ 37 DNQ DNQ 52
99 Rick Wilson 37 52
100 Bosco Lowe 39 DNQ 46
101 Connie Saylor DNQ 40 18 43
102 Dick Skillen DNQ 40 43
103 Elliott Forbes-Robinson 40 43
104 Jimmy Insolo 42 37
105 Al Elmore 18 22 19 DNQ 16
106 Don Satterfield DNQ 25 19 29
107 Laurent Rioux DNQ 19 17 DNQ
108 James Hylton 23 21
109 Donnie Allison 36 14
110 Joe Millikan DNQ 18
111 John Anderson 24
112 Lowell Cowell DNQ 26
113 Billie Harvey 37 DNQ
114 Joe Booher DNQ DNQ DNQ 39
115 Bruce Jacobi DNQ
116 Ronnie Sanders DNQ
117 Ferrel Harris DNQ
118 Alan West DNQ
119 Mike Kempton DNQ
120 Rusty Wallace DNQ
121 Ralph Jones DNQ
122 Bill Scott DNQ DNQ DNQ
123 Ken Kalla DNQ DNQ
124 Jim Hurlbert Wth DNQ
125 Jeff Halverson DNQ
126 Maurice Randall DNQ
127 Randy Baker DNQ
128 Wayne Peterson DNQ DNQ
129 John Ingalls DNQ
130 Dennis DeVea DNQ
131 Jim Southard DNQ
132 Graham Duxbury DNQ
133 John Haver Wth DNQ
134 Mark Perry DNQ
134 St. James Davis DNQ
135 Steve Pfeifer DNQ
136 Harry Goularte DNQ
137 Dan Noble DNQ
138 Tony Settember DNQ
139 Al Loquasto Wth
140 Chet Fillip Wth
141 Howard Mark Wth
142 Mike Alexander Wth
Pos. Driver DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV BRI CLT RSD POC MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD Pts

Rookie of the year

Sterling Marlin was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year. He beat Trevor Boys, Bobby Hillin Jr., Ronnie Hopkins, and Ken Ragan for the award. Of the drivers that competed for the award, only Marlin ran all 30 races. The closest a driver got to competing in all 30 races was Trevor Boys competing in 23 races (skipped rounds 1–6, and 8).

See also

References