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{{short description|Auto race held at Michigan International Speedway in 1976}}
{{NASCAR race season infobox
{{NASCAR race season infobox
| Type = CUST
| Type = CUST
| Description = Race 20 of 30 in the [[1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series]] season
| Description = Race 20 of 30 in the [[1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series]] season
| country = United States
| Race Name = Champion Spark Plug 400
| Race Name = Champion Spark Plug 400
| Details ref = <ref name="weather-information">[http://www.almanac.com/weather/history/MI/Brooklyn/1976-08-22 Weather information for the ''1976 Champion Spark Plug 400''] at The Old Farmers' Almanac</ref>
| Details ref = <ref name="weather-information">[http://www.almanac.com/weather/history/MI/Brooklyn/1976-08-22 Weather information for the ''1976 Champion Spark Plug 400''] at The Old Farmers' Almanac</ref>
Line 9: Line 9:
| Race_No = 20
| Race_No = 20
| Season_No = 30
| Season_No = 30
| Image = Michigan International Speedway.PNG
| Image = 1976_Champion_Spark_Plug_400_program_cover.png
| image-size = 200px
| image-size = 200px
| image-alt = <!-- image alt text -->
| image-alt = <!-- image alt text -->
| Caption = Layout of Michigan International Speedway
| Caption = 1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 program cover
| Official name = Champion Spark Plug 400
| Official name = Champion Spark Plug 400
| Location = [[Michigan International Speedway]], [[Brooklyn, Michigan]]
| Location = [[Michigan International Speedway]], [[Brooklyn, Michigan]]
Line 20: Line 20:
| Distance_mi = 400
| Distance_mi = 400
| Distance_km = 643
| Distance_km = 643
| Weather = Hot with temperatures approaching {{convert|91|F|C}}; wind speeds up to {{convert|9.9|mph|km/h}}
| Weather = Hot with temperatures of {{convert|91|F|C}}; wind speeds of {{convert|9.9|mph|km/h}}
| Avg = {{convert|140.078|mi/h}}
| Avg = {{convert|140.078|mi/h}}
| Attendance = 55,000<ref name="rr"/>
| Attendance = 55,000<ref name="rr"/>
Line 31: Line 31:
| First_Driver = David Pearson
| First_Driver = David Pearson
| First_Team = Wood Brothers Racing
| First_Team = Wood Brothers Racing
| Network = untelevised
| Network = [[CBS]]
| Announcers = none
| Announcers = [[Ken Squier]] <br> [[Bobby Unser]] <br> [[Ned Jarrett]]
|Course=}}
}}

The '''1976 Champion Spark Plug 400''' was a [[NASCAR]] [[Sprint Cup Series|Winston Cup Series]] racing event that took place on August 22, 1976, at [[Michigan International Speedway]] in [[Brooklyn, Michigan]].


The '''1976 Champion Spark Plug 400''' was a [[NASCAR]] [[NASCAR Cup Series|Winston Cup Series]] race that took place on August 22, 1976, at [[Michigan International Speedway]] in [[Brooklyn, Michigan]].
During this era, Michigan International Speedway was a Mercury-dominated track. It was also a track that suited a smooth driver or a driver that could change his driving tactics for Michigan International Speedway.


==Background==
==Background==
[[Michigan International Speedway]] is a four-turn superspeedway that is {{convert|2|mi|km}} long.<ref name="cbsmichiganfacts">{{cite web | url=http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/tracks/page/michigan/michigan-international-speedway | title=Michigan International Speedway | publisher=CBS Sports | accessdate=2013-06-11}}</ref> Opened in 1968, the track's turns are banked at eighteen degrees, while the 3,600-foot-long front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at twelve degrees.<ref name="cbsmichiganfacts" /> The back stretch, has a five degree banking and is 2,242 feet long.<ref name="cbsmichiganfacts" />
[[Michigan International Speedway]] is a four-turn superspeedway that is {{convert|2|mi|km}} long.<ref name="cbsmichiganfacts">{{cite web | url=http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/tracks/page/michigan/michigan-international-speedway | title=Michigan International Speedway | publisher=CBS Sports | accessdate=2013-06-11}}</ref> Opened in 1968, the track's turns are banked at eighteen degrees, while the 3,600-foot-long front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at twelve degrees.<ref name="cbsmichiganfacts" /> The back stretch, has a five degree banking and is 2,242 feet long.<ref name="cbsmichiganfacts" />


==Summary==
==Race report==
A grand total of 36 drivers took part in this race; [[David Hobbs (racing driver)|David Hobbs]] was the only foreigner involved. The closing portion of the race would see [[Cale Yarborough]], [[Richard Petty]], [[Benny Parsons]], [[Cale Yarborough]] and [[David Pearson (racing driver)|David Pearson]] jointly dominate the race. Meanwhile the first 67 laps of the race would see fairly even competition. [[Tighe Scott]]'s unfortunate last-place finish would be linked to his vehicle overheating on lap 6 of 200. Fifty-five thousand people would witness David Pearson defeating Cale Yarborough by slightly more than a second. The total time of the race was 171 minutes.<ref name="rr">[http://racing-reference.info/race/1976_Champion_Spark_Plug_400/W ''1976 Champion Spark Plug 400''] at Racing Reference</ref>
36 drivers took part in this race; [[David Hobbs (racing driver)|David Hobbs]] was the only foreigner. The closing portion of the race would see [[Cale Yarborough]], [[Richard Petty]], [[Benny Parsons]], [[Cale Yarborough]] and [[David Pearson (racing driver)|David Pearson]] vie for the win. The first 67 laps of the race would see fairly even competition. [[Tighe Scott]]'s last-place finish was due to his vehicle overheating on lap 6 of 200. Fifty-five thousand people would witness David Pearson defeat Cale Yarborough by more than a second. The total time of the race was 171 minutes.<ref name="rr">[http://racing-reference.info/race/1976_Champion_Spark_Plug_400/W ''1976 Champion Spark Plug 400''] at Racing Reference</ref>


Cale Yarborough led more than 120 laps in both of the MIS races in 1976 but had to settle for second place both times. David Pearson bested him to win both races in the Wood Brothers Purolator #21 Mercury as he claimed the season sweep. This race was almost a case of deja vu for fans as weirdly the "top four" was the almost the same in this one as it had been for the earlier race in June with Richard Petty and Bobby Allison as the only other cars on the lead lap just as before; the only difference was that Allison was third in June while Petty flip-flopped their positions with his third-place run here.
NASCAR treasury officials handed out a grand total of $120,025 to all the qualifying drivers (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|120025|1976|r=2}}}} when adjusted for inflation). The majority of the vehicles raced here belonged to the [[Chevrolet]] manufacturer.<ref>[http://fantasyracingcheatsheet.com/nascar/races/results/1976/michigan-international-speedway/champion-spark-plug-400/1398 ''1976 Champion Spark Plug 400''] at Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet</ref> While the winner took home $11,950 after competing in this event (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|11950|1976|r=2}}}} when adjusted for inflation), the last-place finisher took home a meager paycheck of $1,250 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|1250|1976|r=2}}}} when adjusted for inflation).<ref>[http://www.driveraverages.com/nascar_stats/race.php?sked_id=1976020 ''1976 Champion Spark Plug 400''] at Driver Averages</ref>


NASCAR handed out a total of $120,025 to all drivers (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|120025|1976|r=2}}}} when adjusted for inflation). The majority of the vehicles were [[Chevrolet]]s.<ref>[http://fantasyracingcheatsheet.com/nascar/races/results/1976/michigan-international-speedway/champion-spark-plug-400/1398 ''1976 Champion Spark Plug 400''] at Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet</ref>
[[John Haver]] would make his NASCAR Cup Series debut at this event while [[David Hobbs (racing driver)|David Hobbs]] would wrap up his professional stock car career afterwards.


While the winner took home $11,950 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|11950|1976|r=2}}}} when adjusted for inflation), the last-place finisher took home $1,250 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|1250|1976|r=2}}}} when adjusted for inflation).<ref>[http://www.driveraverages.com/nascar_stats/race.php?sked_id=1976020 ''1976 Champion Spark Plug 400''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602005456/http://www.driveraverages.com/nascar_stats/race.php?sked_id=1976020 |date=2012-06-02 }} at Driver Averages</ref>
===Finishing order===
{{div col|cols=3}}
# [[David Pearson (racing driver)|David Pearson]] (#21)
# [[Cale Yarborough]] (#11)
# [[Richard Petty]] (#43)
# [[Bobby Allison]] (#2)
# [[Dave Marcis]] (#71)
# [[Neil Bonnett]]† (#12)
# [[D.K. Ulrich]] (#40)
# [[J.D. McDuffie]]† (#70)
# [[Benny Parsons]]† (#72)
# [[Bobby Wawak]]† (#36)
# [[Henley Gray]] (#19)
# [[Coo Coo Marlin]]† (#14)
# [[Richard Childress]] (#3)
# [[Skip Manning]] (#92)
# [[Terry Bivins]] (#10)
# [[Dick May]]† (#25)
# [[David Hobbs (racing driver)|David Hobbs]] (#9)
# [[Dean Dalton]] (#7)
# [[Bruce Hill (racing driver)|Bruce Hill]]* (#47)
# [[Harold Miller (racing driver)|Harold Miller]] (#91)
# [[James Hylton]] (#48)
# [[Joe Mihalic]] (#61)
# [[Frank Warren (racing driver)|Frank Warren]] (#79)
# [[Jimmy Means]] (#52)
# [[Lennie Pond]] (#54)
# [[Cecil Gordon]]*† (#24)
# [[Darrell Waltrip]]* (#88)
# [[Joe Frasson]] (#18)
# [[Dick Brooks]]*† (#90)
# [[Ed Negre]]*† (#8)
# [[Buddy Baker]]*† (#15)
# [[David Sisco]]* (#05)
# [[John Haver]]* (#51)
# [[G.C. Spencer]]*† (#49)
# [[Jackie Rogers]]* (#60)
# [[Tighe Scott]]* (#30)
{{div col end}}
''† signifies that the driver is known to be deceased'' <br>
''* Driver failed to finish race''


Notable crew chiefs for this race included [[Billy Hagan (racing driver)|Billy Hagan]], [[Junie Donlavey]], [[Jake Elder]], [[Harry Hyde]], [[Dale Inman]], [[Sterling Marlin]] and [[Tim Brewer]].<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/entrylist/1976-20/enwiki/w/C 1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 crew chiefs] at Racing Reference</ref>
==Standings after the race==

[[John Haver]] would make his NASCAR Cup Series debut at this event while [[David Hobbs (racing driver)|David Hobbs]] would wrap up his professional stock car career afterward.

===Qualifying===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Grid
! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}
! Driver
! Manufacturer
|-
! 1
| 21 || David Pearson || Mercury
|-
! 2
| 15 || Buddy Baker || Ford
|-
! 3
| 11 || Cale Yarborough || Chevrolet
|-
! 4
| 54 || Lennie Pond || Chevrolet
|-
! 5
| 43 || Richard Petty || Dodge
|-
! 6
| 2 || Bobby Allison || Mercury
|-
! 7
| 71 || Dave Marcis || Dodge
|-
! 8
| 72 || Benny Parsons || Chevrolet
|-
! 9
| 90 || Dick Brooks || Ford
|-
! 10
| 88 || Darrell Waltrip || Chevrolet
|-
! 11
| 47 || Bruce Hill || Chevrolet
|-
! 12
| 40 || D.K. Ulrich || Chevrolet
|-
! 13
| 52 || Jimmy Means || Chevrolet
|-
! 14
| 92 || Skip Manning || Chevrolet
|-
! 15
| 12 || Neil Bonnett || Chevrolet
|-
! 16
| 05 || David Sisco || Chevrolet
|-
! 17
| 36 || Bobby Wawak || Chevrolet
|-
! 18
| 24 || Cecil Gordon || Chevrolet
|-
! 19
| 7 || Dean Dalton || Chevrolet
|-
! 20
| 48 || James Hylton || Chevrolet
|-
! 21
| 18 || Joe Frasson || Chevrolet
|-
! 22
| 9 || David Hobbs || Ford
|-
! 23
| 60 || Jackie Rogers || Chevrolet
|-
! 24
| 19 || Henley Gray || Chevrolet
|-
! 25
| 51 || John Haver || Chevrolet
|-
! 26
| 8 || Ed Negre || Dodge
|-
! 27
| 70 || J.D. McDuffie || Chevrolet
|-
! 28
| 3 || Richard Childress || Chevrolet
|-
! 29
| 14 || Coo Coo Marlin || Chevrolet
|-
! 30
| 79 || Frank Warren || Dodge
|}

==Finishing order==
{| class="wikitable"
!POS<ref>{{Cite web|title=Race Results|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/|access-date=2021-05-28|website=Racing-Reference|language=en-US}}</ref>
!ST
!#
!DRIVER
!SPONSOR / OWNER
!CAR
!LAPS
!MONEY
!STATUS
!LED
!PTS
|-
|1
|1
|21
|  David Pearson
|'''Purolator'''   (Wood Brothers)
|Mercury
|200
|16700
|running
|27
|180
|-
|2
|3
|11
|  Cale Yarborough
|'''Holly Farms'''   (Junior Johnson)
|Chevrolet
|200
|13705
|running
|125
|180
|-
|3
|5
|43
|  Richard Petty
|'''STP'''   (Petty Enterprises)
|Dodge
|200
|10985
|running
|22
|170
|-
|4
|6
|2
|  Bobby Allison
|'''CAM 2'''   (Roger Penske)
|Mercury
|200
|7375
|running
|6
|165
|-
|5
|7
|71
|  Dave Marcis
|'''K & K Insurance'''   (Nord Krauskopf)
|Dodge
|199
|6565
|running
|11
|160
|-
|6
|15
|12
|  Neil Bonnett
|'''Hawaiian Tropic'''   (Neil Bonnett)
|Chevrolet
|195
|2455
|running
|1
|155
|-
|7
|12
|40
|  D.K. Ulrich
|'''Garden State Auto'''   (J.R. DeLotto)
|Chevrolet
|194
|4545
|running
|0
|146
|-
|8
|27
|70
|  J.D. McDuffie
|J.D. McDuffie
|Chevrolet
|194
|4335
|running
|0
|142
|-
|9
|8
|72
|  Benny Parsons
|'''King's Row Fireplace'''   (L.G. DeWitt)
|Chevrolet
|194
|5125
|running
|2
|143
|-
|10
|17
|36
|  Bobby Wawak
|'''J & B Corvette'''   (John Gwinn)
|Chevrolet
|193
|1855
|running
|0
|134
|-
|11
|24
|19
|  Henley Gray
|'''Belden Asphalt'''   (Henley Gray)
|Chevrolet
|193
|1755
|running
|0
|130
|-
|12
|29
|14
|  Coo Coo Marlin
|'''Cunningham-Kelley'''   (H.B. Cunningham)
|Chevrolet
|192
|3615
|running
|0
|127
|-
|13
|28
|3
|  Richard Childress
|'''Kansas Jack'''   (Richard Childress)
|Chevrolet
|192
|3255
|running
|0
|124
|-
|14
|14
|92
|  Skip Manning
|'''Stratagraph'''   (Billy Hagan)
|Chevrolet
|192
|2430
|running
|0
|121
|-
|15
|33
|10
|  Terry Bivins
|'''Sunny King'''   (Bill Champion)
|Ford
|192
|2875
|running
|0
|118
|-
|16
|36
|25
|  Dick May
|Don Robertson
|Chevrolet
|187
|2635
|running
|0
|115
|-
|17
|22
|9
|  David Hobbs
|'''Coca-Cola'''   (George Elliott)
|Ford
|187
|1130
|running
|0
|
|-
|18
|19
|7
|  Dean Dalton
|'''Belden Asphalt'''   (Dean Dalton)
|Chevrolet
|184
|1105
|running
|0
|109
|-
|19
|11
|47
|  Bruce Hill
|Bruce Hill
|Chevrolet
|183
|2300
|'''engine'''
|3
|111
|-
|20
|31
|91
|  Harold Miller
|'''Bartow Paving'''   (Harold Miller)
|Chevrolet
|183
|1055
|running
|0
|103
|-
|21
|20
|48
|  James Hylton
|'''Kockums'''   (James Hylton)
|Chevrolet
|183
|2030
|running
|0
|100
|-
|22
|32
|61
|  Joe Mihalic
|Lou Viglione
|Chevrolet
|175
|1005
|running
|0
|97
|-
|23
|30
|79
|  Frank Warren
|'''Native Tan'''   (Frank Warren)
|Dodge
|174
|955
|running
|0
|94
|-
|24
|13
|52
|  Jimmy Means
|'''WIXC'''   (Bill Gray)
|Chevrolet
|168
|955
|running
|0
|91
|-
|25
|4
|54
|  Lennie Pond
|'''Pepsi-Cola'''   (Ronnie Elder)
|Chevrolet
|166
|1555
|running
|0
|88
|-
|26
|18
|24
|  Cecil Gordon
|'''Transmissions Unlimited'''   (Cecil Gordon)
|Chevrolet
|154
|1400
|'''engine'''
|0
|85
|-
|27
|10
|88
|  Darrell Waltrip
|'''Gatorade'''   (DiGard Racing)
|Chevrolet
|134
|3875
|'''engine'''
|0
|82
|-
|28
|21
|18
|  Joe Frasson
|'''Excuse Lounge'''   (Joe Frasson)
|Chevrolet
|118
|850
|running
|1
|84
|-
|29
|9
|90
|  Dick Brooks
|'''Truxmore'''   (Junie Donlavey)
|Ford
|114
|1335
|'''engine'''
|0
|76
|-
|30
|26
|8
|  Ed Negre
|Ed Negre
|Dodge
|108
|1315
|'''engine'''
|0
|73
|-
|31
|2
|15
|  Buddy Baker
|'''Norris Industries'''   (Bud Moore)
|Ford
|86
|4100
|'''engine'''
|2
|75
|-
|32
|16
|05
|  David Sisco
|David Sisco
|Chevrolet
|70
|1290
|'''suspension'''
|0
|67
|-
|33
|25
|51
|  John Haver
|'''Jim's Furniture'''   (George Harrivel)
|Chevrolet
|49
|780
|'''engine'''
|0
|64
|-
|34
|34
|49
|  G.C. Spencer
|G.C. Spencer
|Dodge
|37
|770
|'''engine'''
|0
|61
|-
|35
|23
|60
|  Jackie Rogers
|'''Red Dog's'''   (Lou Viglione)
|Chevrolet
|15
|760
|'''steering'''
|0
|58
|-
|36
|35
|30
|  Tighe Scott
|'''Scotty's Fashions'''   (Walter Ballard)
|Chevrolet
|6
|1250
|'''overheating'''
|0
|55
|}

== Standings after the race ==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
Line 97: Line 605:
! Driver
! Driver
! Points<ref name="rr"/>
! Points<ref name="rr"/>
! Differential
|-
|-
! 1 [[File:1rightarrow.png|10px]]
! 1
| '''[[Cale Yarborough]]'''
| '''[[Cale Yarborough]]'''
| style="text-align:center;"| '''3026'''
| style="text-align:center;"| '''3026'''
| 0
|-
|-
! 2 [[File:1rightarrow.png|10px]]
! 2
| [[Benny Parsons]]
| [[Benny Parsons]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2952
| style="text-align:center;"| 2952
| -74
|-
|-
! 3 [[File:1rightarrow.png|10px]]
! 3
| [[Richard Petty]]
| [[Richard Petty]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2936
| style="text-align:center;"| 2936
| -90
|-
|-
! 4 [[File:1rightarrow.png|10px]]
! 4
| [[Bobby Allison]]
| [[Bobby Allison]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2832
| style="text-align:center;"| 2832
| -194
|-
|-
! 5 {{Increase}}
! 5
| [[Dave Marcis]]
| [[Dave Marcis]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2652
| style="text-align:center;"| 2652
| -374
|-
|-
! 6 {{Decrease}}
! 6
| [[Lennie Pond]]
| [[Lennie Pond]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2599
| style="text-align:center;"| 2599
| -427
|-
|-
! 7 [[File:1rightarrow.png|10px]]
! 7
| [[Richard Childress]]
| [[Richard Childress]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2477
| style="text-align:center;"| 2477
| -549
|-
|-
! 8 [[File:1rightarrow.png|10px]]
! 8
| [[Buddy Baker]]
| [[Buddy Baker]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2420
| style="text-align:center;"| 2420
| -606
|-
|-
! 9 [[File:1rightarrow.png|10px]]
! 9
| [[David Pearson (racing driver)|David Pearson]]
| [[David Pearson (racing driver)|David Pearson]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2352
| style="text-align:center;"| 2352
| -674
|-
|-
! 10
! 10 {{Increase}}
| [[J.D. McDuffie]]
| [[J.D. McDuffie]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2263
| style="text-align:center;"| 2263
| -763
|}
|}


Line 159: Line 678:
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}


{{authority control}}
[[Category:1976 in Michigan|Champion Spark Plug 400]]

[[Category:1976 in NASCAR|Champion Spark Plug 400]]
[[Category:1976 in sports in Michigan|Champion Spark Plug 400]]
[[Category:1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|Champion Spark Plug 400]]
[[Category:NASCAR races at Michigan International Speedway]]
[[Category:NASCAR races at Michigan International Speedway]]

Latest revision as of 23:15, 1 December 2021

1976 Champion Spark Plug 400
Race details[1]
Race 20 of 30 in the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 program cover
1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 program cover
Date August 22, 1976 (1976-August-22)
Official name Champion Spark Plug 400
Location Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan
Course 2.000 mi (3.218 km)
Distance 200 laps, 400 mi (643 km)
Weather Hot with temperatures of 91 °F (33 °C); wind speeds of 9.9 miles per hour (15.9 km/h)
Average speed 140.078 miles per hour (225.434 km/h)
Attendance 55,000[2]
Pole position
Driver
Wood Brothers Racing
Most laps led
Driver Cale Yarborough Junior Johnson & Associates
Laps 125
Winner
No. 21 David Pearson Wood Brothers Racing
Television in the United States
Network CBS
Announcers Ken Squier
Bobby Unser
Ned Jarrett

The 1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on August 22, 1976, at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan.

Background

[edit]

Michigan International Speedway is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2 miles (3.2 km) long.[3] Opened in 1968, the track's turns are banked at eighteen degrees, while the 3,600-foot-long front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at twelve degrees.[3] The back stretch, has a five degree banking and is 2,242 feet long.[3]

Race report

[edit]

36 drivers took part in this race; David Hobbs was the only foreigner. The closing portion of the race would see Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty, Benny Parsons, Cale Yarborough and David Pearson vie for the win. The first 67 laps of the race would see fairly even competition. Tighe Scott's last-place finish was due to his vehicle overheating on lap 6 of 200. Fifty-five thousand people would witness David Pearson defeat Cale Yarborough by more than a second. The total time of the race was 171 minutes.[2]

Cale Yarborough led more than 120 laps in both of the MIS races in 1976 but had to settle for second place both times. David Pearson bested him to win both races in the Wood Brothers Purolator #21 Mercury as he claimed the season sweep. This race was almost a case of deja vu for fans as weirdly the "top four" was the almost the same in this one as it had been for the earlier race in June with Richard Petty and Bobby Allison as the only other cars on the lead lap just as before; the only difference was that Allison was third in June while Petty flip-flopped their positions with his third-place run here.

NASCAR handed out a total of $120,025 to all drivers ($642,660.18 when adjusted for inflation). The majority of the vehicles were Chevrolets.[4]

While the winner took home $11,950 ($63,984.91 when adjusted for inflation), the last-place finisher took home $1,250 ($6,692.98 when adjusted for inflation).[5]

Notable crew chiefs for this race included Billy Hagan, Junie Donlavey, Jake Elder, Harry Hyde, Dale Inman, Sterling Marlin and Tim Brewer.[6]

John Haver would make his NASCAR Cup Series debut at this event while David Hobbs would wrap up his professional stock car career afterward.

Qualifying

[edit]
Grid No. Driver Manufacturer
1 21 David Pearson Mercury
2 15 Buddy Baker Ford
3 11 Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
4 54 Lennie Pond Chevrolet
5 43 Richard Petty Dodge
6 2 Bobby Allison Mercury
7 71 Dave Marcis Dodge
8 72 Benny Parsons Chevrolet
9 90 Dick Brooks Ford
10 88 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
11 47 Bruce Hill Chevrolet
12 40 D.K. Ulrich Chevrolet
13 52 Jimmy Means Chevrolet
14 92 Skip Manning Chevrolet
15 12 Neil Bonnett Chevrolet
16 05 David Sisco Chevrolet
17 36 Bobby Wawak Chevrolet
18 24 Cecil Gordon Chevrolet
19 7 Dean Dalton Chevrolet
20 48 James Hylton Chevrolet
21 18 Joe Frasson Chevrolet
22 9 David Hobbs Ford
23 60 Jackie Rogers Chevrolet
24 19 Henley Gray Chevrolet
25 51 John Haver Chevrolet
26 8 Ed Negre Dodge
27 70 J.D. McDuffie Chevrolet
28 3 Richard Childress Chevrolet
29 14 Coo Coo Marlin Chevrolet
30 79 Frank Warren Dodge

Finishing order

[edit]
POS[7] ST # DRIVER SPONSOR / OWNER CAR LAPS MONEY STATUS LED PTS
1 1 21   David Pearson Purolator   (Wood Brothers) Mercury 200 16700 running 27 180
2 3 11   Cale Yarborough Holly Farms   (Junior Johnson) Chevrolet 200 13705 running 125 180
3 5 43   Richard Petty STP   (Petty Enterprises) Dodge 200 10985 running 22 170
4 6 2   Bobby Allison CAM 2   (Roger Penske) Mercury 200 7375 running 6 165
5 7 71   Dave Marcis K & K Insurance   (Nord Krauskopf) Dodge 199 6565 running 11 160
6 15 12   Neil Bonnett Hawaiian Tropic   (Neil Bonnett) Chevrolet 195 2455 running 1 155
7 12 40   D.K. Ulrich Garden State Auto   (J.R. DeLotto) Chevrolet 194 4545 running 0 146
8 27 70   J.D. McDuffie J.D. McDuffie Chevrolet 194 4335 running 0 142
9 8 72   Benny Parsons King's Row Fireplace   (L.G. DeWitt) Chevrolet 194 5125 running 2 143
10 17 36   Bobby Wawak J & B Corvette   (John Gwinn) Chevrolet 193 1855 running 0 134
11 24 19   Henley Gray Belden Asphalt   (Henley Gray) Chevrolet 193 1755 running 0 130
12 29 14   Coo Coo Marlin Cunningham-Kelley   (H.B. Cunningham) Chevrolet 192 3615 running 0 127
13 28 3   Richard Childress Kansas Jack   (Richard Childress) Chevrolet 192 3255 running 0 124
14 14 92   Skip Manning Stratagraph   (Billy Hagan) Chevrolet 192 2430 running 0 121
15 33 10   Terry Bivins Sunny King   (Bill Champion) Ford 192 2875 running 0 118
16 36 25   Dick May Don Robertson Chevrolet 187 2635 running 0 115
17 22 9   David Hobbs Coca-Cola   (George Elliott) Ford 187 1130 running 0
18 19 7   Dean Dalton Belden Asphalt   (Dean Dalton) Chevrolet 184 1105 running 0 109
19 11 47   Bruce Hill Bruce Hill Chevrolet 183 2300 engine 3 111
20 31 91   Harold Miller Bartow Paving   (Harold Miller) Chevrolet 183 1055 running 0 103
21 20 48   James Hylton Kockums   (James Hylton) Chevrolet 183 2030 running 0 100
22 32 61   Joe Mihalic Lou Viglione Chevrolet 175 1005 running 0 97
23 30 79   Frank Warren Native Tan   (Frank Warren) Dodge 174 955 running 0 94
24 13 52   Jimmy Means WIXC   (Bill Gray) Chevrolet 168 955 running 0 91
25 4 54   Lennie Pond Pepsi-Cola   (Ronnie Elder) Chevrolet 166 1555 running 0 88
26 18 24   Cecil Gordon Transmissions Unlimited   (Cecil Gordon) Chevrolet 154 1400 engine 0 85
27 10 88   Darrell Waltrip Gatorade   (DiGard Racing) Chevrolet 134 3875 engine 0 82
28 21 18   Joe Frasson Excuse Lounge   (Joe Frasson) Chevrolet 118 850 running 1 84
29 9 90   Dick Brooks Truxmore   (Junie Donlavey) Ford 114 1335 engine 0 76
30 26 8   Ed Negre Ed Negre Dodge 108 1315 engine 0 73
31 2 15   Buddy Baker Norris Industries   (Bud Moore) Ford 86 4100 engine 2 75
32 16 05   David Sisco David Sisco Chevrolet 70 1290 suspension 0 67
33 25 51   John Haver Jim's Furniture   (George Harrivel) Chevrolet 49 780 engine 0 64
34 34 49   G.C. Spencer G.C. Spencer Dodge 37 770 engine 0 61
35 23 60   Jackie Rogers Red Dog's   (Lou Viglione) Chevrolet 15 760 steering 0 58
36 35 30   Tighe Scott Scotty's Fashions   (Walter Ballard) Chevrolet 6 1250 overheating 0 55

Standings after the race

[edit]
Pos Driver Points[2] Differential
1 Cale Yarborough 3026 0
2 Benny Parsons 2952 -74
3 Richard Petty 2936 -90
4 Bobby Allison 2832 -194
5 Increase Dave Marcis 2652 -374
6 Decrease Lennie Pond 2599 -427
7 Richard Childress 2477 -549
8 Buddy Baker 2420 -606
9 David Pearson 2352 -674
10 Increase J.D. McDuffie 2263 -763

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Weather information for the 1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 at The Old Farmers' Almanac
  2. ^ a b c 1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 at Racing Reference
  3. ^ a b c "Michigan International Speedway". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  4. ^ 1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 at Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet
  5. ^ 1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 Archived 2012-06-02 at the Wayback Machine at Driver Averages
  6. ^ 1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 crew chiefs at Racing Reference
  7. ^ "Race Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
Preceded by NASCAR Winston Cup Season
1976 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Champion Spark Plug 400 races
1976 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=1976_Champion_Spark_Plug_400&oldid=1058178609"