1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Recap

1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Chronology

By the 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National season, the transition from big to small engines was complete. All cars were equipped with the same-size engines and the restrictor plates were gone. With a standard set of rules, stability had gained a foothold within the NASCAR kingdom. Despite smaller fields of competition, NASCAR Winston Cup racing was getting more television time as well. You can learn about the events of the 1975 season in the following article, from season highlights to the year's final standings, all packed with plenty of photos.

January, 1975

NASCAR announces a new points system, the fourth different method of distributing points in the last five years. For the first time in NASCAR history, each race will carry an equal points value throughout the season.

NASCAR Image Gallery

Flames erupt from the engine of Ramo Stott's #83 Chevrolet as it slides through the turn in the Winston 500. Marty Robbins' Dodge skidded into the side of Stott's car, and, in turn, was hit squarely in the door by the onrushing Chevrolet manned by James Hylton. Miraculously, all three drivers escaped uninjured.

February 16, 1975: Daytona 500

Benny Parsons takes the lead three laps from the finish and wins the Daytona 500 when leader David Pearson spins on the backstretch. Parsons comes from the 32nd starting position to claim the upset win and the biggest victory of his career.

April 13, 1975: Rebel 500

Bobby Allison, running two laps behind with 40 laps to go, scrambles back into contention and rides to a narrow victory in the Rebel 500 at Darlington. A crash involving David Pearson and Benny Parsons opens the door for Allison, who edges Darrell Waltrip by a car length at the finish line.

Veteran J.D. McDuffie's #70 Chevrolet runs beside rookie Carl Adams in the July 4 Daytona Firecracker 400. McDuffie was injured in a multicar crash in the Daytona 500 and was forced to miss several races while on the mend. McDuffie finished 22nd in the race, while Adams brought his Ford home in the ninth spot.

May 4, 1975: Winston 500

Buddy Baker ends his two-year drought by winning the Winston 500 at Talladega. Baker's Bud Moore Ford finishes a car length in front of ­runner-up David Pearson.

May 10, 1975: Music City USA 420

Darrell Waltrip racks up his first career NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National victory with a two-lap triumph in the Music City USA 420 at his hometown Nashville Speedway. Benny Parsons comes home second with Coo Coo Marlin third.

Darrell Waltrip's #17 Chevy chases Richard Petty's Dodge in a 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National event. Waltrip drove his self-owned Chevy Laguna in 17 races before he was signed to drive for the DiGard team in August. Waltrip's first career win came on May 10 at his hometown, Nashville, in his own car. It was Waltrip's 50th career NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National start.

May 25, 1975: World 600

Richard Petty scores his first victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway since winning a 100-mile qualifying race in 1961 with a resounding win in the World 600. Dale Earnhardt makes his first NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National start, ­finishing 22nd in a Dodge owned by Ed Negre.

August 16, 1975: Talladega 500

Buddy Baker noses out Richard Petty in a photo finish to win the Talladega 500, an event marred by the death of DeWayne "Tiny" Lund. Lund is involved in a multicar crash on the seventh lap.

Pole-sitter #88 Donnie Allison takes the green flag at the start of the 17th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 16, followed closely by David Pearson and Buddy Baker. Allison only led the opening lap and eventually fell out with engine problems. Pearson was headed to victory when he spun off the backstretch with less than three laps remaining. Benny Parsons came from his 32nd starting spot to win NASCAR's crown-jewel event.

September 14, 1975: Delaware 500

Richard Petty overcomes a six-lap deficit and edges Dick Brooks to win the Delaware 500 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Petty's Dodge snaps a tie rod that requires a lengthy pit stop to repair. Petty gets back onto the lead lap with a late caution and outruns Brooks and Benny Parsons in the final laps.

September 28, 1975: Old Dominion 500

Journeyman Dave Marcis drives a Dodge to his first career NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National victory in the Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville Speed­way. Marcis passes Benny Parsons with 40 laps to go and scores a three-second victory.

Bobby Allison's Matador snakes its way through the "esses" on Riverside's road course on the way to victory in the Jan. 19 season opening Winston Western 500. Allison was the class of the field in the 500-miler, leading all but 18 of the 191 laps. Richard Petty, seen here chasing Allison, fell out of contention when he backed into the wall on the 33rd lap. Petty lost 19 laps in the pits while repairs were made to his Dodge, but he still managed to finish seventh.

October 12, 1975

Darrell Waltrip gives the DiGard Racing team its first NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National win in the 500-lapper at Richmond Fairgrounds Speedway.

November 23, 1975: Los Angeles Times 500

Buddy Baker bags his fourth win of the season with a decisive triumph in the Los Angeles Times 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway. Richard Petty takes his sixth NASCAR championship by a 722-point margin over Dave Marcis.

See the next section for the full standings of the 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National season.