On August 26, 1978, the Volunteer 500 was held at Bristol International Speedway as the 21st race of the 30-race 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, drawing an estimated attendance of 30,000 for a 30-car field contesting 500 laps on the 0.533-mile track.
Lennie Pond captured the pole with a qualifying speed of 110.958 mph in the #54 W.I.N. Oldsmobile. Cale Yarborough, starting fourth in the #11 1st National City Travelers Checks Oldsmobile for Junior Johnson & Associates, scored the victory by 16 seconds over Benny Parsons. Darrell Waltrip finished third, followed by Dick Brooks and Richard Petty. Yarborough collected $15,910 for the win and led 327 laps. He averaged 88.628 mph in a race that featured 16 lead changes and was slowed by 10 cautions for 59 laps.
