The 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season marked the 29th year of NASCAR’s premier division and the sixth under Winston Cup sponsorship, featuring a 30-race schedule contested across a wide range of track types. Cale Yarborough, driving for Junior Johnson & Associates, successfully defended his championship to earn his second consecutive series title, relying on exceptional consistency rather than sheer dominance. Yarborough recorded two victories, fourteen top-five finishes, and nineteen top-ten finishes, edging out a strong field led by Richard Petty, Benny Parsons, Donnie Allison, and Darrell Waltrip in the final standings.
Although Yarborough captured the championship, Benny Parsons led all drivers with five wins, showcasing versatility and strength across the schedule, while Darrell Waltrip earned a season-high eight pole positions, underscoring his emerging speed and technical prowess. In the sport’s marquee events, Yarborough delivered commanding performances, winning both the Daytona 500 and the prestigious Southern 500 at Darlington, a rare and significant accomplishment. Donnie Allison claimed victory in the grueling World 600 at Charlotte and also triumphed at Talladega in the Winston 500, while Richard Petty added another superspeedway victory to his legendary career by capturing the Firecracker 400 at Daytona. Collectively, the 1977 season reflected NASCAR’s ongoing evolution toward a more professional and strategic era, with mechanical reliability, aerodynamic development, and team organization playing increasingly decisive roles, while also highlighting the continued excellence of established legends and the emergence of future champions.
Winston West 500
January 16, 1977
Daytona 500
February 20, 1977
Richmond 400
February 27, 1977
Carolina 500
March 13, 1977
Atlanta 500
March 20, 1977
Gwyn Staley 400
March 27, 1977
Rebel 500
April 3, 1977
Southeastern 500
April 17, 1977
Virginia 500
April 24, 1977
Winston 500
May 1, 1977
Music City 420
May 7, 1977
Mason-Dixon 500
May 15, 1977
World 600
May 29, 1977
NAPA 400
June 12, 1977
Cam2 400
June 19, 1977
Firecracker 400
July 4, 1977
Nashville 420
July 16, 1977
Coca-Cola 500
July 31, 1977
Talladega 500
August 7, 1977
Champion 400
August 22, 1977
Volunteer 400
August 28, 1977
Southern 500
September 5, 1977
Capital City 400
September 11, 1977
Delaware 500
September 18, 1977
Old Dominion 500 September 25, 1977
Wilkes 400
October 2, 1977
National 500
October 9, 1977
American 500
October 23, 1977
Dixie 500
November 6, 1977
LA Times 500
November 20, 1977