1982 Winston 500

Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a Tri-oval and was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in the 1960s. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line - located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the Sprint Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and the Camping World Truck Series. Talladega Superspeedway is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66 miles (4.28 km), and the track at its peak had a seating capacity of 175,000 spectators.[5]

Benny Parsons won the pole position with a qualifying speed of 200.176 miles per hour (322.152 km/h);[3] the first 200+ MPH qualifying speed in NASCAR history.[2][6] It broke the previous qualifying record of 199.658 miles per hour (321.318 km/h) set in 1970 by Bobby Isaac.

There were 40 drivers on the grid; all of them were American-born.[3] Darrell Waltrip defeated Terry Labonte by approximately three car lengths even though Labonte had a fender under Waltrip coming to the finish line.[7] Waltrip earned $44,250 for winning the race ($117,232 when adjusted for inflation).[3][2][4] In the final laps before the checkered flag, the race became a battle between Benny Parsons, Darrell Waltrip, Terry Labonte and Kyle Petty. Parsons would lead seven of those laps while Waltrip led 13 followed by Labonte leading two.[3] The green flag was waved at 1:00 P.M. while the checkered flag was waved at approximately 4:19 P.M.; There were eight cautions for 39 laps.[3][2] There were 51 lead changes and the average speed of the race was 156.597 miles per hour (252.018 km/h).[3][2] The race covered 188 laps of the 2.660-mile (4.281 km) track, totaling 500.1 miles (804.8 km).[3] Attendance was announced at 100,000 spectators.[3]

David Simko, Phillip Duffie, and L.W. Wright each had the potential to do better than Darrell Waltrip during the 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season because of their abilities to perform consistently during that season.[3] In reality, all three of these drivers performed miserably throughout the race and failed to overtake Darrell Waltrip as one of the greatest NASCAR drivers of the 1980s.[3]

David Simko crashed his vehicle on lap 4 while L.W. Wright blew his engine on lap 13. Further engine failures would be caused by Jody Ridley on lap 16, Cale Yarborough on lap 17 and Ron Bouchard on lap 23. Steve Moore's vehicle developed problems with its clutch that forced Moore out of the race on lap 32. Lake Speed blew his engine on lap 39 while Geoffrey Bodine did the same thing on lap 53. A haphazard valve sidelined Rick Wilson on lap 57. Lennie Pond would cause terminal damage to his vehicle on lap 66 while Dave Marcis blew his engine on the same lap. Elliott Forbes-Robinson would be relegated to the sidelines due to a nonworking engine on lap 73 while a problematic piston took Bill Scott out of the race on lap 75.[3]

Richard Petty had an issue with his vehicle's fuel pump that would knock him out of the race on lap 82 while transmission problems took out Bill Elliott on lap 100. Buddy Baker developed steering problems with his vehicle on lap 109; forcing his early exit from the race. An engine issue took out Joe Ruttman on lap 159 and John Anderson on lap 164.[3]

Terry Labonte took the championship lead after this race.[3] Ferrel Harris would retire after this race with a 23rd-place finish.[3][2] One-time NASCAR driver L.W. Wright would race his only professional stock car event on this day; he managed to out-qualify JD McDuffie because McDuffie was driving some terrible equipment.[8] The sole Chevrolet driver on the grid, Wright was a con artist who managed to swindle people into financing him getting a ride for this race, as well as an attempt at another at the next race where he failed to make the grid.[9] His credentials as a licensed NASCAR driver weren't asked for during the early 1980s.