On October 22, 1978, the American 500 was held at North Carolina Motor Speedway as the 28th race of the 30-race 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, drawing an estimated attendance of 46,000 for a 36-car field contesting 492 laps on the 1.017-mile track.
Cale Yarborough captured the pole in the #11 1st National City Travelers Checks Oldsmobile for Junior Johnson & Associates. Yarborough scored the victory by two laps over Bobby Allison. Darrell Waltrip finished third, followed by Benny Parsons and Dick Brooks. Yarborough collected $23,360 for the win, led a dominant 376 laps, and clinched his third consecutive Winston Cup championship. He averaged 117.288 mph in a race that featured 19 lead changes and was slowed by five cautions for 52 laps.
