Winston Western 500

The Winston Western 500 was run on January 18 at Riverside International Raceway. Bobby Allison won the pole.

Top-10 results:

1. #21 - David Pearson*
2. #11 - Cale Yarborough
3. #38 - Jimmy Insolo
4. #96 - Ray Elder
5. #72 - Benny Parsons
6. #54 - Lennie Pond
7. #3 - Richard Childress
8. #71 - Dave Marcis
9. #48 - James Hylton
10. #73 - Bill Schmitt

• This was Pearson's first road course victory since 1966, and the first Riverside victory for the Wood Brothers Racing team since 1968. Pearson led 124 of 191 laps.
• Richard Petty started 27th and stormed through the field to lead 15 laps, but fell out with engine failure.
• On lap 18, Darrell Waltrip suffered a brake failure in turn eight, which sent his car plowing over the fencing and landing near a spectator area. Waltrip drove back to the pits and ultimately finished 21st. ^[1]
• This was Roger Penske's final race fielding an AMC Matador. Penske and driver Bobby Allison would race for Mercury for the rest of the year.

Daytona 500

The 18th running of the Daytona 500 was run on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway. A. J. Foyt, Dave Marcis, and Darrell Waltrip qualified out front, but had their times disallowed after failing inspection. This resulted in Ramo Stott starting on the pole. This race is famous for the intense final lap battle between Richard Petty and David Pearson. Both cars made contact in turn 4, resulting in them crashing into the wall and spinning into the infield. Petty's Dodge stopped in the grass in front of the finish line, but stalled. This allowed Pearson, who managed to get his Mercury moving, to pass Petty and cross the line first to score his only Daytona 500 victory.

Top-10 results:

1. #21 - David Pearson*
2. #43 - Richard Petty
3. #72 - Benny Parsons
4. #54 - Lennie Pond
5. #12 - Neil Bonnett
6. #81 - Terry Ryan
7. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
8. #63 - Terry Bivins
9. #3 - Richard Childress
10. #79 - Frank Warren

• This was the forth Daytona 500 victory for the Wood Brothers, and their last until 2011.
• This race was very nearly marred by tragedy on lap 118, when Johnny Ray spun in oil dropped by Ramo Stott, and was then rammed at high-speed in the driver-side door by Skip Manning. Ray was initially declared dead at the hospital, but managed to be revived by resuscitation.

Carolina 500

The Carolina 500 was run on February 29 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Dave Marcis won the pole. Richard Petty won in dominant fashion, leading 362 of 492 laps, and finishing two laps ahead of 2nd-place finisher Darrell Waltrip.

Top-10 results:

1. #43 - Richard Petty
2. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
3. #11 - Cale Yarborough
4. #15 - Buddy Baker
5. #72 - Benny Parsons
6. #6 - Bobby Isaac
7. #41 - Grant Adcox
8. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
9. #8 - Ed Negre
10. #70 - J.D. McDuffie

Richmond 400

The Richmond 400 was run on March 7 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Bobby Allison won the pole.

Top-10 results:

1. #71 - Dave Marcis
2. #43 - Richard Petty
3. #2 - Bobby Allison
4. #11 - Cale Yarborough
5. #63 - Terry Bivins
6. #3 - Richard Childress
7. #24 - Cecil Gordon
8. #05 - David Sisco
9. #72 - Benny Parsons
10. #64 - Elmo Langley

Southeastern 400

The Southeastern 400 was run on March 14 at Bristol International Speedway. Buddy Baker won the pole. Cale Yarborough led 285 of 400 laps and scored his first of 9 race victories in 1976.

Top-10 results:

1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
2. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
3. #72 - Benny Parsons*
4. #71 - Dave Marcis
5. #2 - Bobby Allison
6. #90 - Dick Brooks
7. #48 - James Hylton
8. #8 - Ed Negre
9. #67 - Buddy Arrington
10. #70 - J.D. McDuffie

• Benny Parsons took the points lead after this race, as Richard Petty failed to finish after crashing with Cecil Gordon and Bill Champion on lap 64.

Atlanta 500

The Atlanta 500 was run on March 21 at Atlanta International Raceway. Dave Marcis won the pole. NASCAR mandated smaller carburetors beginning with this race. David Pearson won after falling off the lead lap early, and spending the next 225 laps fighting to get back into contention. Cale Yarborough finished third, a lap down after making up three laps of a four-lap deficit.

Top-10 results:

1. #21 - David Pearson
2. #72 - Benny Parsons
3. #11 - Cale Yarborough*
4. #54 - Lennie Pond
5. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
6. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
7. #90 - Dick Brooks
8. #12 - Neil Bonnett
9. #05 - David Sisco
10. #60 - Jackie Rogers

• Cale Yarborough made up three laps of a four-lap deficit to finish third.

Gwyn Staley 400

The Gwyn Staley 400 was run on April 4 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Dave Marcis won the pole. Cale Yarborough dominated en route to victory at Junior Johnson's home track, leading 364 laps.

Top-10 results:

1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
2. #43 - Richard Petty
3. #2 - Bobby Allison
4. #72 - Benny Parsons
5. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
6. #54 - Lennie Pond
7. #90 - Dick Brooks
8. #71 - Dave Marcis
9. #3 - Richard Childress
10. #30 - Walter Ballard

Rebel 500

The Rebel 500 was run on April 11 at Darlington Raceway. David Pearson won the pole. Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip crashed out on Lap 80, while Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough fell out with engine failures.

Top-10 results:

1. #21 - David Pearson
2. #15 - Buddy Baker
3. #72 - Benny Parsons
4. #54 - Lennie Pond
5. #71 - Dave Marcis
6. #93 - Buck Baker
7. #41 - Grant Adcox
8. #18 - Joe Frasson
9. #3 - Richard Childress
10. #30 - Bruce Hill

Virginia 500

The Virginia 500 was run on April 25 at Martinsville Speedway. Dave Marcis won the pole.

Top-10 results:

1. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
2. #11 - Cale Yarborough
3. #21 - David Pearson
4. #43 - Richard Petty
5. #90 - Dick Brooks
6. #2 - Bobby Allison
7. #47 - Bruce Hill
8. #3 - Richard Childress
9. #30 - Walter Ballard
10. #24 - Cecil Gordon

Winston 500

The Winston 500 was run on May 2 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. Dave Marcis won the pole. This was the first 500-mile race in Winston Cup history to be completed in under 3 hours, finishing in 2 hours and 56 minutes.

Top-10 results:

1. #15 - Buddy Baker*
2. #11 - Cale Yarborough*
3. #2 - Bobby Allison
4. #43 - Richard Petty*
5. #81 - Terry Ryan
6. #24 - Cecil Gordon
7. #28 - Donnie Allison
8. #47 - Bruce Hill
9. #71 - Dave Marcis
10. #79 - Frank Warren

• Buddy Baker qualified twelfth, a run so disappointing, the Bud Moore team drove back to their Spartanburg, SC shop, over four hours away, to overhaul the engine before returning to Talladega for the race.
• Cale Yarborough took the points lead for the first time all season in this race, as points leader Benny Parsons had issues that resulted in a 26th-place finish.
• Richard Petty finished fourth after stalling the car on an early pitstop and lost a lap.

Music City USA 420

The Music City USA 420 was run on May 8 at Nashville Speedway. Benny Parsons won the pole. Yarborough led all but 22 of 420 laps en route to his third victory of the season.

Top-10 results:

1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
2. #43 - Richard Petty
3. #72 - Benny Parsons
4. #15 - Buddy Baker
5. #2 - Bobby Allison
6. #54 - Lennie Pond
7. #71 - Dave Marcis
8. #30 - Walter Ballard
9. #05 - David Sisco
10. #79 - Frank Warren

Mason-Dixon 500

The Mason-Dixon 500 was run on May 16 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Dave Marcis won the pole. Benny Parsons suffered nose damage in a mid-race incident, but recovered to lead 161 of the last 169 laps and beat David Pearson by 25 seconds.

Top-10 results:

1. #72 - Benny Parsons
2. #21 - David Pearson
3. #71 - Dave Marcis
4. #2 - Bobby Allison
5. #15 - Buddy Baker
6. #43 - Richard Petty
7. #90 - Dick Brooks
8. #54 - Lennie Pond
9. #50 - Darrell Bryant
10. #3 - Richard Childress

• Points leader Cale Yarborough led 243 laps but was penalized a lap on a pitstop, then fell out with an engine failure and finished 27th, losing the points lead to Parsons.

World 600

The World 600 was run on May 30 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. David Pearson won the pole. Pearson and Cale Yarborough fought for the lead and combined to lead 243 of the first 251 laps, but Yarborough lost a lap with a cut tire and finished third.

Top-10 results:

1. #21 - David Pearson
2. #43 - Richard Petty
3. #11 - Cale Yarborough
4. #2 - Bobby Allison
5. #72 - Benny Parsons
6. #28 - Donnie Allison
7. #90 - Dick Brooks
8. #54 - Lennie Pond
9. #18 - Harry Gant
10. #05 - David Sisco

• Janet Guthrie made her NASCAR debut in this race, starting 27th and finishing 15th.
• Bruton Smith made his official return to Charlotte Motor Speedway in this race. Among his first acts was posting $18,000 in lap leader bonuses payable to whoever led the most laps per 100 miles.

Riverside 400

The Riverside 400 was run on June 13 at Riverside International Raceway. David Pearson won the pole. Pearson completed a season sweep at Riverside after a race-long battle with Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough.

Top-10 results:

1. #21 - David Pearson
2. #2 - Bobby Allison
3. #72 - Benny Parsons
4. #96 - Ray Elder
5. #15 - Buddy Baker
6. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
7. #11 - Cale Yarborough
8. #38 - Jimmy Insolo
9. #43 - Richard Petty
10. #71 - Dave Marcis

CAM2 Motor Oil 400

The CAM2 Motor Oil 400 was run on June 20 at Michigan International Speedway. Richard Petty won the pole.

Top-10 results:

1. #21 - David Pearson
2. #11 - Cale Yarborough*
3. #2 - Bobby Allison
4. #43 - Richard Petty
5. #15 - Buddy Baker
6. #90 - Dick Brooks
7. #54 - Lennie Pond
8. #05 - David Sisco
9. #60 - Jackie Rogers
10. #24 - Cecil Gordon

• Cale Yarborough dominated before losing power due to a blown head gasket, but managed to recover and finish 2nd.
• Yarborough's runner-up finish helped him regain the points lead, as Benny Parsons lost 21 laps and finished 19th.

Firecracker 400

The Firecracker 400 was run on July 4 at Daytona International Speedway. A. J. Foyt won the pole.

Top-10 results:

1. #11 - Cale Yarborough*
2. #21 - David Pearson
3. #2 - Bobby Allison
4. #28 - A.J. Foyt
5. #71 - Dave Marcis
6. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
7. #72 - Benny Parsons
8. #90 - Dick Brooks
9. #05 - David Sisco
10. #22 - Ricky Rudd

• This was Yarborough's first victory at Daytona since 1968.

Nashville 420

The Nashville 420 was run on July 17 at Nashville Speedway. Bobby Allison won the pole. Buddy Baker led 220 laps but fell out while leading with 90 laps to go; Benny Parsons took over and beat Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip.

Top-10 results:

1. #72 - Benny Parsons
2. #43 - Richard Petty
3. #88 - Darrell Waltrip*
4. #54 - Lennie Pond
5. #11 - Cale Yarborough
6. #71 - Dave Marcis
7. #2 - Bobby Allison*
8. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
9. #92 - Skip Manning
10. #36 - Bobby Wawak

• Neil Bonnett served as a relief driver for Bobby Allison, as Allison was injured in a bad crash at a local race in Elko, MN. Allison started the race, then pitted after the opening lap to allow Bonnett to take over.
• Darrell Waltrip finished 3rd following the hiring of engine builder Marion "Ducky" Newman by DiGard, after Newman left Bud Moore's team in a salary dispute.

Purolator 500

The Purolator 500 was run on August 1 at Pocono International Raceway. Cale Yarborough won the pole. NASCAR allowed teams to use larger carburetors again beginning with this race. David Pearson was leading the race late, but suffered a blown tire coming to the white flag and ultimately finished 4th. This race had 47 lead changes.

Top-10 results:

1. #43 - Richard Petty
2. #15 - Buddy Baker
3. #72 - Benny Parsons
4. #21 - David Pearson
5. #54 - Lennie Pond
6. #24 - Cecil Gordon
7. #67 - Buddy Arrington
8. #60 - Jackie Rogers
9. #3 - Richard Childress
10. #05 - David Sisco

• Championship leader Cale Yarborough blew his engine halfway through the race, but the Junior Johnson team managed to change engines in the garage in 33 minutes, allowing Yarborough to return to the race. Yarborough finished 25th, losing the points lead to Benny Parsons in the process.

Talladega 500

The Talladega 500 was run on August 8 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. Dave Marcis won the pole. Several championship front-runners suffered mechanical failures in this race, including points leader Benny Parsons, Richard Petty, and 2nd in points Cale Yarborough. This race had 57 lead changes, the most all season.

Top-10 results:

1. #71 - Dave Marcis
2. #15 - Buddy Baker
3. #90 - Dick Brooks
4. #48 - James Hylton
5. #54 - Lennie Pond
6. #30 - Tighe Scott
7. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
8. #3 - Richard Childress
9. #92 - Skip Manning
10. #26 - Jimmy Lee Capps

• After Yarborough blew his engine, Junior Johnson's team changed engines mid-race for the second consecutive week. Yarborough finished 51 laps down in 26th.
• Darrell Waltrip blew his engine, and following the race, DiGard fired team manager Mario Rossi and engine builders Carroll "Stump" Davis and Keith Harlan. The team hired Robert Yates to assist Marion Newman.
• Benny Parsons' 39th place finish allowed Yarborough to retake the points lead, and would hold on to it for the rest of the season.

Champion Spark Plug 400

The Champion Spark Plug 400 was run on August 22 at Michigan International Speedway. David Pearson won the pole.

Top-10 results:

1. #21 - David Pearson
2. #11 - Cale Yarborough
3. #43 - Richard Petty
4. #2 - Bobby Allison
5. #71 - Dave Marcis
6. #12 - Neil Bonnett
7. #40 - D.K. Ulrich
8. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
9. #72 - Benny Parsons
10. #36 - Bobby Wawak

• Junior Johnson hired a security guard to watch over Yarborough's engines, suspecting sabotage after back-to-back engine failures.

Volunteer 400

The Volunteer 400 was run on August 29 at Bristol International Speedway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.

Top-10 results:

1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
2. #43 - Richard Petty
3. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
4. #72 - Benny Parsons
5. #15 - Buddy Baker
6. #2 - Bobby Allison
7. #90 - Dick Brooks
8. #54 - Lennie Pond
9. #36 - Bobby Wawak
10. #3 - Richard Childress

Southern 500

The Southern 500 was run on September 6 at Darlington Raceway. David Pearson won the pole.

Top-10 results:

1. #21 - David Pearson*
2. #43 - Richard Petty
3. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
4. #71 - Dave Marcis
5. #54 - Lennie Pond
6. #90 - Dick Brooks
7. #72 - Benny Parsons
8. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin
9. #2 - Bobby Allison
10. #36 - Bobby Wawak

• This was David Pearson's first Southern 500 victory, having previously won the Rebel 400 six times.
• Cale Yarborough hit a guardrail post on pit road, which bent the rear-end assembly. Which assistance from Richard Childress, the Junior Johnson crew replaced the assembly and Cale finished 23rd. These issues, coupled with Richard Petty's 2nd-place finish, reduced Yarborough's championship lead to 29 points.
• A scary accident occurred when Skip Manning spun in oil, and was slammed into by Joe Frasson, severely caving-in the driver-side door, and pinning Manning in the car. Both the door and roof had to be sawed off to extract Manning from the wreck. Despite the severity of the incident, Manning was not seriously injured.

Capital City 400

The Capital City 400 was run on September 12 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Benny Parsons won the pole. Bobby Allison made his most determined bid for a win of the season, chasing Cale Yarborough and finished one length back at the finish. Yarborough's victory increased his points lead over Richard Petty to 44 points.

Top-10 results:

1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
2. #2 - Bobby Allison
3. #43 - Richard Petty
4. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
5. #15 - Buddy Baker
6. #54 - Lennie Pond
7. #71 - Dave Marcis
8. #90 - Dick Brooks
9. #30 - Terry Bivins
10. #36 - Bobby Wawak

Delaware 500

The Delaware 500 was run on September 19 at at Dover Downs International Speedway. Cale Yarborough won the pole. Cale Yarborough made up two laps on two separate occasions and won his second straight race.

Top-10 results:

1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
2. #43 - Richard Petty
3. #21 - David Pearson
4. #2 - Bobby Allison
5. #15 - Buddy Baker
6. #90 - Dick Brooks
7. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
8. #40 - D.K. Ulrich
9. #48 - James Hylton
10. #67 - Buddy Arrington

Old Dominion 500

The Old Dominion 500 was run on September 26 at Martinsville Speedway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole. This race ended after 340 of 500 laps due to rain.

Top-10 results:

1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
2. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
3. #15 - Buddy Baker
4. #43 - Richard Petty
5. #72 - Benny Parsons
6. #90 - Dick Brooks
7. #63 - Jimmy Hensley
8. #30 - Terry Bivins
9. #55 - Sonny Easley
10. #3 - Richard Childress

Wilkes 400

The Wilkes 400 was run on October 3 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole. Cale Yarborough scored his fourth consecutive race victory, and his ninth of the season.

Top-10 results:

1. #11 - Cale Yarborough
2. #72 - Benny Parsons
3. #43 - Richard Petty
4. #15 - Buddy Baker
5. #54 - Lennie Pond
6. #90 - Dick Brooks
7. #70 - J.D. McDuffie
8. #36 - Bobby Wawak
9. #30 - Terry Bivins
10. #92 - Sonny Easley

National 500

The National 500 was run on October 10 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. David Pearson won the pole. Donnie Allison scored a surprise victory in a backup Hoss Ellington Monte Carlo.

Top-10 results:

1. #1 - Donnie Allison*
2. #11 - Cale Yarborough
3. #2 - Bobby Allison
4. #15 - Buddy Baker
5. #72 - Benny Parsons
6. #21 - David Pearson*
7. #54 - Lennie Pond
8. #43 - Richard Petty
9. #90 - Dick Brooks
10. #36 - Bobby Wawak

• This was Donnie Allison's first Winston Cup victory since 1971.
• In post-race inspection, Donnie Allison's engine measured a tick over the legal displacement, but after cooling down, the engine was within limits. Team owner Hoss Ellington stated, "This one's legal. We left all the cheater stuff at Darlington."
• 57-year old veteran Buck Baker competed in his final Winston Cup race. The two-time Series champion started 38th and finished 24th.
• Neil Bonnett served as a relief driver for David Pearson in this race, after Pearson started experiencing back pain the previous day.

American 500

The American 500 was run on October 24 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. David Pearson won the pole. Green flag pit stops became frequent, as Richard Petty spent a total of 125 seconds on pit road, while 2nd-place finisher Lennie Pond spent 54 seconds.

Top-10 results:

1. #43 - Richard Petty
2. #54 - Lennie Pond
3. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
4. #2 - Bobby Allison
5. #11 - Cale Yarborough
6. #21 - David Pearson
7. #1 - Donnie Allison
8. #90 - Dick Brooks
9. #92 - Skip Manning
10. #14 - Coo Coo Marlin

Dixie 500

The Dixie 500 was run on November 7 at Atlanta International Raceway. Buddy Baker won the pole.

Top-10 results:

1. #71 - Dave Marcis*
2. #21 - David Pearson
3. #1 - Donnie Allison
4. #11 - Cale Yarborough*
5. #15 - Buddy Baker
6. #72 - Benny Parsons
7. #88 - Darrell Waltrip
8. #12 - Neil Bonnett
9. #27 - Sam Sommers
10. #36 - Bobby Wawak

• This was Dave Marcis' last career non-short track victory, and his last victory until 1982. This was also the last victory for the K&K Insurance racing team.
• Dale Earnhardt made his third career Cup start in this race and survived a vicious tumble after colliding with Dick Brooks.
• Richard Petty's engine failure all but clinched the season championship for Cale Yarborough, as Yarborough's 4th-place finish extended his points lead to 183 points, nearly a full race ahead of Petty.

Los Angeles Times 500

The LA Times 500 was run on November 21 at Ontario Motor Speedway. Cale Yarborough clinched the season championship by taking the green flag, only to fall out with transmission trouble after leading 68 laps.

Top-10 results:

1. #21 - David Pearson
2. #54 - Lennie Pond
3. #72 - Benny Parsons
4. #90 - Dick Brooks
5. #48 - James Hylton
6. #36 - Bobby Wawak
7. #50 - Terry Bivins
8. #92 - Skip Manning
9. #81 - Terry Ryan
10. #47 - Bruce Hill

• Bobby Allison blew his engine simultaneously with his brother Donnie, and after the race, told Roger Penske he was leaving the team. This comes just one week after Penske announced that Allison was returning to the team for 1977.