While not televised, the 1972 American 500 was covered by local radio stations WAYN-AM (900 AM) and WEEB-AM (990 AM).

Drivers who failed to qualify were David Ray Boggs, Jimmy Crawford and Elmo Langley.

[2] Ron Hutcherson was the last-place finisher of this event; with a racing accident on lap 29 out of 492.

Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, and David Pearson dominated the closing laps of this race.

[2] This was his final start of 1972 and he would only make two further starts in 1973, both of which ended in DNFs Hutcherson's racing career would last throughout the course of the 1970s; ending only after the 1979 running of the World 600. Notable crew chiefs for this race were Harry Hyde, Dale Inman, Tom Vandiver, Vic Ballard, and Herb Nab.