Contested over 400 laps on the 1.5 mile (2.4 km) speedway, it was the 13th race of the 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season.
The complex features a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious World 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the National 500.
The speedway was built in 1959 by Bruton Smith and is considered the home track for NASCAR with many race teams located in the Charlotte area.
[2] Donnie Allison's career was effectively ended after he sustained a serious head injury when his car hit the wall on lap 146.
Polesitter Neil Bonnett was the early leader but crashed trying to keep Cale Yarborough a lap down midway through the race.