1980 World 600

1980 World 600
Race details
Race 13 of 31 in the 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
Souvenir magazine cover of the 1980 World 600
Souvenir magazine cover of the 1980 World 600
Date May 25, 1980 (1980-05-25)
Official name World 600
Location Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 1.500 miles (2.414 km)
Distance 400 laps, 600 mi (965 km)
Average speed 119.265 miles per hour (191.938 km/h)
Attendance 135,000
Pole position
Driver
Junior Johnson & Associates
Most laps led
Driver Darrell Waltrip DiGard Motorsports
Laps 157
Winner
No. 27 Benny Parsons M.C. Anderson Racing
Television in the United States
Network CBS
Announcers Ken Squier
David Hobbs

The 1980 World 600, the 21st running of the event, was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that was held on May 25, 1980, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.

The race was won by Benny Parsons, driving the No. 27 Chevrolet for M.C. Anderson Racing. Darrell Waltrip finished second in the No. 88 Chevrolet, and Terry Labonte finished third. Cale Yarborough won the pole.

Race report

Yarborough started from the pole position in the No. 11 Chevrolet. Parsons started sixth and went on to claim the victory, while Waltrip led the most laps of any driver, with 157.

The race was marked by frequent cautions and numerous changes for the lead. Parsons ultimately finished ahead of Waltrip to earn the victory for M.C. Anderson Racing.

Race results

Finish Start No. Driver Sponsor Manufacturer Points Laps Laps led Status
1 6 27 Benny Parsons Melling Tool Company Chevrolet 180 400 31 Running
2 7 88 Darrell Waltrip Gatorade Chevrolet 180 400 157 Running
3 11 44 Terry Labonte Stratagraph Incorporated Chevrolet 165 398 0 Running
4 9 43 Richard Petty STP Chevrolet 165 397 3 Running
5 5 21 Neil Bonnett Purolator Mercury 160 397 5 Running
6 2 1 David Pearson Hawaiian Tropic Chevrolet 155 396 13 Running
7 27 42 Kyle Petty STP Chevrolet 146 395 0 Running
8 35 89 Jim Vandiver Smith Nurseries Oldsmobile 142 394 0 Running
9 13 22 Ricky Rudd Rudd Auto Parts Chevrolet 138 394 0 Running
10 22 67 Buddy Arrington Reid Trailer Sales Dodge 134 392 0 Running
11 29 3 Richard Childress CRC Chemicals Chevrolet 130 390 0 Running
12 12 90 Jody Ridley Truxmore Industries / Sunny King Oldsmobile 127 388 0 Running
13 32 39 Blackie Wangerin Wangerin Racing Chevrolet 124 386 0 Running
14 36 52 Jimmy Means Thompson Industries Chevrolet 121 385 0 Running
15 24 7 Dick Brooks Sanyo Electronics Chevrolet 123 384 6 Running
16 38 5 Sterling Marlin The 5 Racers Corporation Oldsmobile 115 382 0 Running
17 1 11 Cale Yarborough Busch Chevrolet 117 379 43 Running
18 30 19 John Anderson Belden Asphalt Chevrolet 109 373 0 Engine
19 19 4 Connie Saylor Mitco Chevrolet 0 367 4 Oil pump
20 4 2 Dale Earnhardt Mike Curb / Hodgdon Chevrolet 108 367 105 Running
21 40 45 Baxter Price Iron Peddlers / McWhirter Oldsmobile 100 350 0 Running
22 42 25 Ronnie Thomas Stone's Cafeteria Chevrolet 97 343 0 Running
23 18 48 James Hylton Palatine Automotive Chevrolet 99 341 26 Running
24 28 95 Tommy Houston Carpenter Designs Chevrolet 91 332 0 Engine
25 41 74 Bobby Wawak Total Systems Oldsmobile 88 307 0 Ignition
26 8 15 Bobby Allison Warner Hodgdon / Mike Curb Chevrolet 85 275 0 Accident
27 37 87 Billie Harvey Fast Lane Ltd. Oldsmobile 0 251 0 Accident
28 16 47 Harry Gant Race Hill Farm Chevrolet 79 203 0 Accident
29 20 71 Dave Marcis Buck Stove / Hudson Chevrolet Oldsmobile 81 152 4 Steering
30 23 40 J. D. McDuffie Ulrich Racing Chevrolet 73 145 0 Engine
31 17 18 Donnie Allison Briarwood Special Chevrolet 70 134 0 Steering
32 21 53 Slick Johnson Johnson Racing Chevrolet 72 120 3 Engine
33 31 64 Tommy Gale Sunny King Ford & Honda Oldsmobile 64 101 0 Engine
34 25 75 Bill Elswick Performance Boats Chevrolet 61 94 0 Accident
35 39 73 Steve Moore Tuesday's Tavern Oldsmobile 58 86 0 Engine
36 15 30 Tighe Scott Russ Togs Chevrolet 55 75 0 Accident
37 34 24 Cecil Gordon South Hill Texaco Oldsmobile 52 72 0 Engine
38 26 50 Bruce Hill Global Heat Exchange Oldsmobile 49 46 0 Accident
39 3 28 Buddy Baker Napa Regal Ride Shocks Chevrolet 46 40 0 Ignition
40 33 68 John Greenwood Greenwood-Koni Custom Shocks Chevrolet 43 24 0 Accident
41 14 12 Lennie Pond Ramey's Chevy City Chevrolet 40 12 0 Steering
42 10 9 Bill Elliott Dahlonega Ford Sales Chevrolet 37 6 0 Accident

Waylon Jennings riot

On May 21, 1980, following qualifying for the race, Waylon Jennings performed a concert at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The event would descend into a riot among the spectators in the grandstands after Waylon went on stage nearly an hour late, with them reportedly throwing bottles and fighting in the stands midway through the concert. The event reportedly came close to bringing down the entire frontstretch catchfence.

Busch Presents: World 600 Qualifying & Waylon Jennings in Concert
Outdoor concert by Waylon Jennings
Concert poster for the event
VenueCharlotte Motor Speedway
DateMay 21, 1980 6:30pm EST
Duration1 hour (roughly)
Supporting actsReba McEntire
The Waylors
Attendance30,000
1980 World 600 Qualifying Riot
Injuries8
Arrests3

Jennings had reportedly been in his tour bus hanging out with friends Cale Yarborough and Willie Nelson beforehand. Fans eventually ended up climbing over the fence and surging around the stage before the Hells Angels, Jennings' unofficial security detail broke them up.

A total of 8 people were injured, 3 people were arrested, and 175 riot police were called out to the scene who were unsuccessful in breaking the crowd up. Track President and Promoter Humpy Wheeler was quoted as saying "We just got the wrong mix of people. We had God-fearing, flag-waving, red-white-and-blue folks out there with the motorcycle boys." The "motorcycle boys" Wheeler was referring to was the Hells Angels, Jennings' longtime unofficial security detail.

References

  1. ↑ Weather information for the 1980 World 600 at The Old Farmers' Almanac
  2. 1 2 "1980 World 600". NASCAR Reference. Retrieved October 17, 2026.
  3. ↑ "World 600". The Crittenden Automotive Library. Retrieved October 17, 2026.
  4. ↑ "World 600 Qualifying + Waylon Jennings + Beer = Grandstand Riot". Racers Reunion. Retrieved October 17, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Waylon Jennings — May 21, 1980 — Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina, United States". Concert Archives. Retrieved October 17, 2026.
  6. ↑ Rick Houston (August 17, 2022). "Episode 208 -- David Ifft on the Infamous Waylon Jennings Riot, Jailtime in Mexico, Benny Parsons and Cale Yarborough". The Scene Vault Podcast (Podcast). Apple Podcasts. Event occurs at 7:42. Retrieved October 17, 2026.
  7. ↑ "'Red-white-and-blue folks' vs. 'motorcycle boys'? Uh-oh". University of North Carolina. Retrieved October 17, 2026.