1981 Winston Western 500 from Riverside International Raceway | NASCAR Classic Full Race Replay

The race you are about to see appear as originally broadcast and may contain imagery that is offensive and doesn't align with NASCAR's values. NASCAR has since permanently banned the display of the confederate flag at all events.

[@Greg29fan]

Last time the Daytona 500 wasn't the first race of the season and the last race for the Gen 2 cars, the Gen 3 cars would take over at Daytona.

[@jefferyrobertson7520]

Generation 3 Debut In 1981 Next 12 Years Through Final Chapter In 1993 Pop Culture NASCAR Winston Cup Series

[@deansutherland3570]

I love all these guys.... I was 9years,,,1981,,,,,,,excited to see any nascar race on television....the love died off, in the early 2000's for nascar...love Street racing now. But I still watch a NASCAR race...it's still😎 Cheers from🇨🇦

[@BigSkyModelWorkshop]

My how times have changed. In 1981 McDonalds was just "a local hamburger chain" lol...

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

So true

[@user-xh8ii2hj6r]

Heck with McDonald's we'd always eat at Sunnymead Burgers when we went to Riverside Int'l Raceway.... LoL...

[@NotSteveCook]

Mike meant that a McDonald's franchise owner was sponsoring Richard's car, rather than McDonald's corporate.

[@user-xh8ii2hj6r]

@@NotSteveCook Nice! I'm from Downey where the oldest McDonald's still stands..I'm now a McDonald's boycotter ...back in those days everything was pretty cool I had no qualms with McDonald's but how they inflated their prices was uncalled for ...the hamburgaler would of been pissed not to mention Ronald himself! Lol....✌️

[@DanArnets1492]

*WHAT HAPPENED IN 1980?* • Dale Earnhardt became the Cup series champion in his 2nd full season benefited by Richard Petty's injury in Pocono (front-right blew up), Darrell Waltrip's team troubles and Cale Yarborough's mechanical issues. Cale fell short by less than 30pts in the end. • Donnie Allison left the #1 Chevrolet during the Spring and David Pearson took over and got a single win in his new ride. Donnie moved to the #16 and found no success there. *WHAT IS NEW FOR 1981?* • The Ontario Motor Speedway died • The cars are now slightly shorter (6-7 inches) and way narrower (13 inches!) • Ricky Rudd is now driving the GM #88 (Waltrip's) • Waltrip is driving the GM #11 (Cale's) • Cale is driving the GM #27 (Parsons') • Parsons is driving the Ford #15 (Bobby's) • Bobby Allison is driving the GM #28 (Baker's) • Baker is driving the GM #1 (Pearson's) • Pearson is driving the GM #16 (Donnie's) • Donnie Allison is driving the GM #12

[@polycube868]

Mike Joy and Ned Jarrett make a great commentary duo.

[@Cmperry9]

last race for the big cars....

[@mrcrazy8032]

You are doing great work by finding and archiving these

[@CocoMark]

That is the official NASCAR classics channel, owned by NASCAR themselves

[@jefferyrobertson7520]

I Like Riverside International Raceway In Riverside California Iconic NASCAR Road Course In My Opinion NASCAR History Thanks For Uploading

[@briansenecal3071]

Well done, enjoyed very much.

[@Nasty-Canasta]

That's the first time I've ever heard Billy Hagan speak

[@thomashallman5436]

r.i.p. riverside international raceway went there with my daddy did not miss a single race thru the last race in 1988

[@btventura9570]

Best track ever...

[@thomashallman5436]

@@btventura9570 agreed i miss it very much

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

🏁Enjoyed!!!🏁

[@jimknox6139]

Did they put canned cheering audio during lead changes?

[@pooch7245]

Beautiful flowing course, wish it was still around. Before my time sadly.

[@user-xh8ii2hj6r]

Boomer here! It was fun to watch out there.... we'd sit in the dirt I think it was turn 5 top of the S turns just before the first hairpin.... lots of dirt spinouts...the dirt would cloud up the course then they'd gear down hit the hairpins then open up on the back long straightway.., screaming! They had all cars race out there the GTs were cool.....and 24 hour Grand Prix of endurance....the latter was really tuff on drivers and cars....✌️

[@bartongalambos3869]

Mike Joy and/or Ned Jarret--My 1st NASCAR race was Riverside 1979, I was a Marine at Camp Pendleton and was waiting to go to Okinawa. I took a lot of pictures. Were any of you there calling the race? Richard Petty Crashed and I thin DW won the race!

[@user-xh8ii2hj6r]

I love Oceanside! I was at this race also. Pop's worked for the LA Times we always got complimentary tickets to Ontario and Riverside...we'd always sit above the S turns before the first hairpin...lots of cars would get dirt on those S turns..,. Thanks for serving.... Okinawa huh.... lucky you to see so much

[@JohnKeister-ld4ie]

I remember going there with my father and brother to go see the race car's I lived five miles from The Riverside International Speedway before stupid Mall

[@richardstanyer5199]

Good old west coast racing❤

[@maxsdad538]

What I remember most about racing of that era was the constant, non-stop freight train of J D Stacy cars rolling through the Ess'es. Oh, and that cocky little shit they nicknamed "Jaws" (Darrell Waltrip).NASCAR remembers Dale, but we measure him up against DW.

[@RandysRacingPlace633]

1981 and 1986 were the last seasons before the late-2010s where there were three road course races in a single Cup season.

[@ProCoach2373]

This is fun to watch! The safer wall was hilarious.

[@Rico-ow3ys]

So. Cal. had a lot of tracks back in the 70's and 80's. Now that Auto club is gone, all we have left is Irwindale racetrack. Sad.

[@jsuperk391]

I. Was told that the track footprint was replaced by a mall which has since gone bankrupt.

[@user-xh8ii2hj6r]

You heard right....grew up going to Riverside Int'l Raceway....sad for sure

[@tommccallan8802]

Homes..Appartments..car dealership....shops..so sad it was a great track..

[@user-xh8ii2hj6r]

@@tommccallan8802 ever have a Sunnymead 🍔 Burger? Sunnymead Burger is still there!

[@tommccallan8802]

@@user-xh8ii2hj6r to be honest I've never heard of that but I'm going to look it up next time I'm down there I'm up here in the high desert Apple Valley California

[@vinewood8295]

Same thing happened in Ontario, there's a park where the racetrack used to be, the mall is across the street from it...

[@JohnKeister-ld4ie]

I saw Skoal Bandit and STP and other classic race car's 😮❤

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Given the engine note on Waltrip's car (and a couple others) is it running a V6 rather than a V8? I know Junior Johnson often ran V6s in his cars on road courses, gave up a little horsepower in a straight line but was presumably lighter for better handling? :)

[@jamesculbertson1746]

Probably 180 degree headers on a V8.

[@vinewood8295]

This was prior to the Busch Grand National Series which started in 1982 so ya might be right. Back in them days the rules were a lot more flexible...

[@user-xh8ii2hj6r]

Anybody watching this every eat at Sunnymead Burgers! I was at this race top of the S turns

[@AmericanFlyOnTheWall]

This was the last race in the "big cars."

[@beeemm2578]

Loved those big honkin beasts. Getting those huge chunks of steel moving nearly 200mph 🤯🤯

[@joshuadodginsatgoogle4116]

Does NASCAR has November 1981 version of Winston Western 500

[@jefferyrobertson7520]

Ranier Racing Number 28 Wins At Riverside International Raceway In Riverside California

[@CocoMark]

MRN TV. Also, how does Mike Joy appear on every single broadcast possible?

[@timgarrison5562]

Bonnett was driving the downsized t bird.

[@Greaseland]

I think some cars had 180 degree headers.

[@SoldiesBC]

Somehow I like how gloomy this looks.

[@barbequeiguana1457]

Richard Petty in the 42 car? Kyle in the 43.

[@user-xh8ii2hj6r]

No....

[@ShortTrackNews]

@@user-xh8ii2hj6r Yes, Richard drove the #42 car trying to win the race and put the team on the Winners Circle program to get more money during the season

[@user-xh8ii2hj6r]

@@ShortTrackNews Oh thanks...makes sense ✌️

[@tommccallan8802]

It always makes me laugh..the fastest road cars in the RAIN , F-1 ..but a little rain and NASCAR ..NO

[@polycube868]

Actually NASCAR has changed the rules on road courses and races in the rain now.