1971 Season Recap

Two-time champion Richard Petty added to his ever-growing trophy case by winning the 1971 NASCAR Grand National (now NASCAR Winston Cup Series) championship. In typical Petty fashion, the King won 21 races in 46 starts en route to his third title.

Richard Petty held a sizable lead during most of the season, as his competitors battled throughout the year to see who would finish in the top five in the standings.

FIVE RACES TO GO: Rockingham, NC - Two-time champion Richard Petty entered the race at Rockingham with a sizable lead over rivals James Hylton, Bobby Allison and Cecil Gordon. His lead would grow after his victory at Rockingham, however not without controversy. Petty was a lpa down to leader Buddy Baker when the caution flew. Petty then passed Baker under caution and NASCAR did not catch the illegal pass. They gave Petty the white flag, and that's when Baker realized what had happened.

FOUR RACES TO GO: Macon, GA - Richard Petty and four of five other leading point contenders were not entered in the race at Middle Georgia Raceway. Bobby Allison, who was third in the standings coming in, took advantage of the weak field and captured his 11th win of the season.

THREE RACES TO GO: Richmond, VA - With three races remaining in the 1971 season, the King Richard Petty had the opportunity to wrap up his third championship and did just that at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway with his 20th victory of the season. The remaining point contenders also had good showings as Allison took runner-up, Elmo Langley was fifth, James Hylton seventh and Cecil Gordon ninth.

TWO RACES TO GO: North Wilkesboro, NC - Richard Petty had his 21st victory of the season in hand when a broken valve spring cost him the lead at North Wilkesboro and he came in third. James Hylton, who was second in the standings, took advantage of a rare poor showing from Bobby Allison and put some distance between them with a seventh place effort. Cecil Gordon, who was also battling Allison for third place in the standings, took it from Allison by finishing ninth.

FINAL RACE: College Station, TX - Three-time champion Richard Petty closed out his winning season in grand fashion by taking the checkered flag at Texas World Speedway. Bobby Allison made a final push for third in the standings with his third place finish, but Cecil Gordon finished in seventh, not far enough behind Allison to lose his position. He finished the season 41 points ahead of Allison. James Hylton finished 12th at Texas and was runner-up in the season standings, as Elmo Langley finished the season in fifth with his 41st place showing.