| Official Race Results | |||||||||
| Old Dominion 500 | Martinsville Speedway | |||||||||
| September 27, 1981 | Race 26 of 31 | |||||||||
| Average Speed: 70.089 mph | |||||||||
| Margin of Victory: 9 seconds | Time of Race: 03:45:09 | ||||||||
| Lead Changes: 14 | |||||||||
| Cautions: 11 for 72 laps. | |||||||||
| Fin | St | Car | Driver | Make | Sponsor | Pts / Bonus | Laps | Status | Winnings |
| 1 | 1 | #11 | Darrell Waltrip | Buick | Mountain Dew | 180/5 | 500 | Running | $29,275 |
| 2 | 3 | #33 | Harry Gant | Pontiac | Skoal Bandit | 180/10 | 500 | Running | $18,570 |
| 3 | 5 | #02 | Mark Martin | Pontiac | Amsoil | 170/5 | 497 | Running | $7,525 |
| 4 | 10 | #21 | Neil Bonnett | Ford | Warner Hodgdon/Nat'l Eng. | 160/0 | 497 | Running | $4,500 |
| 5 | 6 | #5 | Joe Millikan | Pontiac | Performance Connection | 155/0 | 497 | Running | $7,425 |
| 6 | 20 | #47 | Ron Bouchard * | Buick | J.D. Stacy Racing | 150/0 | 494 | Running | $5,920 |
| 7 | 24 | #24 | Jimmy Hensley | Buick | Washington Freightliners | PE | 487 | Running | $4,650 |
| 8 | 2 | #88 | Ricky Rudd | Chevrolet | Gatorade | 147/5 | 486 | Running | $7,950 |
| 9 | 11 | #44 | Terry Labonte | Buick | J.D. Stacy Racing | 138/0 | 481 | Running | $5,850 |
| 10 | 8 | #28 | Bobby Allison | Buick | Hardee's | 139/5 | 479 | Running | $6,000 |
| 11 | 25 | #67 | Buddy Arrington | Dodge | Kyle Petty's Boot Barn | 130/0 | 477 | Running | $3,340 |
| 12 | 23 | #17 | Tommy Houston | Chevrolet | Kings Inn Daytona | 127/0 | 469 | Running | $3,170 |
| 13 | 27 | #64 | Tommy Gale | Ford | Sunny King Ford & Honda | 124/0 | 458 | Running | $2,960 |
| 14 | 22 | #71 | Dave Marcis | Chevrolet | J.D. Stacy Racing | 126/5 | 439 | Transmission | $2,800 |
| 15 | 28 | #52 | Jimmy Means | Pontiac | Broadway Motors | 118/0 | 437 | Running | $2,640 |
| 16 | 30 | #99 | Bob Mcelwee | Buick | Alva Racing | PE | 414 | Running | $2,180 |
| 17 | 9 | #2 | Joe Ruttman | Buick | J.D. Stacy Racing | 112/0 | 375 | Transmission | $5,225 |
| 18 | 16 | #43 | Richard Petty | Buick | STP | 109/0 | 357 | Engine Failure | $5,200 |
| 19 | 21 | #42 | Kyle Petty | Buick | STP | 106/0 | 328 | Rear End | $1,995 |
| 20 | 13 | #37 | Tim Richmond | Buick | Roger's Auto Leasing | 108/5 | 305 | Engine Failure | $1,300 |
| 21 | 18 | #90 | Jody Ridley | Ford | Truxmore/Sunny King | 100/0 | 287 | Engine Failure | $2,890 |
| 22 | 26 | #66 | Lake Speed | Buick | Speed Racing | 97/0 | 223 | Engine Failure | $1,880 |
| 23 | 12 | #01 | Geoffrey Bodine | Buick | Zervakis Racing | 99/5 | 204 | Rear End | $670 |
| 24 | 4 | #15 | Benny Parsons | Ford | Melling Tool Company | 91/0 | 198 | Valve Spring Motor | $5,610 |
| 25 | 19 | #68 | Lennie Pond | Buick | J.D. Stacy Racing | 88/0 | 187 | Rear End | $650 |
| 26 | 7 | #3 | Dale Earnhardt | Pontiac | Wrangler Jeans | 85/0 | 148 | Engine Failure | $2,690 |
| 27 | 29 | #25 | Ronnie Thomas | Pontiac | Five Zeros | 82/0 | 115 | Engine Failure | $1,180 |
| 28 | 14 | #98 | Morgan Shepherd | Pontiac | Levi Garrett | 84/5 | 53 | Accident | $870 |
| 29 | 17 | #12 | Buddy Baker | Buick | Ramey's Chevy City | PE | 43 | Accident | $610 |
| 30 | 15 | #55 | Tommy Ellis | Chevrolet | Industrial Boilers | 73/0 | 14 | Accident | $600 |
| * Denotes Rookie | |||||||||