The 1977 Delaware 500 was held on September 18th at Dover Downs International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. This was the 24th race of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and produced a strong performance from Benny Parsons, who drove his No. 72 Chevrolet to victory over a competitive 500‑mile field. Neil Bonnett won the pole for the 40-car field with a qualifying lap of 134.233 mph. Throughout the event he, Parsons, and Donnie Allison combined to lead most of the laps — Parsons and Allison together controlled 470 of the 500 laps as the race unfolded. Parsons ultimately prevailed, earning his third win of the 1977 season, while Cale Yarborough finished third and Richard Petty — a championship contender — fell out of the race with engine trouble. The race saw multiple lead changes and typical attrition as Dover’s abrasive concrete surface tested engines and equipment under the late‑summer sunlight.
