10/03/2026
44 YEARS AGO: Darrell Waltrip Dominated the Holly Farms 400
Forty-four years ago today, Darrell Waltrip put on a clinic at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
On October 3, 1982, NASCAR’s Winston Cup Series returned to the historic .625-mile North Carolina short track for the Holly Farms 400, the 25th race of the 30-race season. Waltrip started from the pole in Junior Johnson’s No. 11 Mountain Dew Buick — and then proceeded to lead nearly the entire afternoon.
Waltrip led an incredible 329 of 400 laps on his way to victory, finishing 13.8 seconds ahead of Harry Gant. Terry Labonte finished third, with Richard Petty fourth and Geoffrey Bodine fifth.
The race lasted just 2 hours, 32 minutes and 57 seconds, averaging 98.071 mph despite four cautions that accounted for 26 laps. Only four lead changes were recorded among the field.
The top five:
1. Darrell Waltrip — No. 11 Mountain Dew Buick
2. Harry Gant — No. 33 7-Eleven/Skoal Bandit Buick
3. Terry Labonte — No. 44 Texas Jeans Chevrolet
4. Richard Petty — No. 43 STP Pontiac
5. Geoffrey Bodine — No. 50 Performance Connection Pontiac
And look at that front row: Waltrip's pole-winning speed was 113.86 mph, with Terry Labonte starting second.
It was another memorable North Wilkesboro performance from Waltrip, who had a long history of success at the legendary short track.
Meanwhile, the names chasing him that afternoon read like a NASCAR history book — Gant, Labonte, Petty and Bodine all finishing inside the top five.
44 years later, does the Holly Farms 400 bring back memories for you? Who was your favorite driver from this era of NASCAR?
