1981 season recap

Darrell Waltrip won his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship in a torrid duel with spirited veteran Bobby Allison.

For the third straight season, the championship was not decided until the last race of the year.

FIVE RACES TO GO: North Wilkesboro, NC - With five races remaining in the 1981 season, Bobby Allison looked to shave some of Darrell Waltrip's lead in the point standings with his runner-up finish at North Wilkesboro. However, Waltrip took his second straight checkered flag and built his lead by ten more points. Waltrip now stood at 53 points.

FOUR RACES TO GO: Charlotte, NC - In a repeat performance of the previous race, Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison finish 1-2. It Is Waltrip's third consecutive victory and his lead grew to 58 points.

THREE RACES TO GO: Rockingham, NC - Catching fire at the absolute right time of the season was Darrell Waltrip, who turned in his fourth consecutive victory, this coming at Rockingham. And once again, right behind him followed Bobby Allison. Allison had finished second for the third consecutive week, only to incredibly lose ground to the points leader. He found himself 68 points out of the lead with two races remaining in the season.

TWO RACES TO GO: Hampton, GA - Darrell Waltrip just missed his fifth straight win and finished runner-up at Atlanta. Bobby Allison turned in another solid top five performance, this time fourth place, but loses 15 more points to Waltrip.

FINAL RACE: Riverside, CA - Trailing by 83 points heading into the season finale, Bobby Allison was mathematically alive to win the 1981 title over leader Darrell Waltrip. He did his part by winning the race, but Waltrip would not falter and finished the race in sixth place. Allison's victory solidified the final margin of victory at 53 points. Waltrip's late season visit to the zone left him with 12 wins and 11 poles on the year, as well as his first championship.