The 1971 Texas 500, the season finale, was held on December 12 at the two-mile Texas World Speedway in College Station before 18,600 fans. The race featured a 49-car field after rain postponed the original date by one week following qualifying on December 4. Pete Hamilton won the pole with a speed of 170.830 mph. Richard Petty, starting third in the Petty Enterprises No. 43 Plymouth, led 111 laps and held off teammate Buddy Baker by 18 seconds for the victory, with Bobby Allison third, Hamilton fourth, and Bill Dennis fifth.
Petty averaged 144.000 mph and earned $13,395 in a race slowed by three cautions for 28 laps; the win was his 21st of the year. He finished the season 364 points ahead of James Hylton to claim his third NASCAR Grand National championship. Several USAC drivers who had entered the race were warned by USAC that they would face severe penalties if they competed. Those USAC drivers did not race.
