1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season began on January 10 and ended on November 20. Richard Petty was the champion for this Winston Cup season. After 20 years of being named the NASCAR Grand National Series, R. J. Reynolds first became the primary sponsor in a decade where the growing anti-tobacco movement banned its advertisement on television and motorsports was the ideal place to place their advertisements. Through NASCAR, Winston merchandise was unveiled to live viewers of the races (since they were not allowed to advertise to a televised audience). This kind of merchandise would also be given out at stores that sold cigarettes in subsequent years. Race car drivers were encouraged to smoke cigarettes (when not racing) until the mid-2000s brought in strict drug testing policies in addition to a smoking cessation program by Nicorette, a GlaxoSmithKline brand (Goody's Headache Powders, a long-time NASCAR sponsor, is a GSK brand; as of 2023, GSK sponsors both the Truck series race, and the spring Cup race at Martinsville Speedway). Season recap Note: Some races were combined races for Grand American and Grand National cars. Races marked Combined Races were won by Grand American cars. The driver who finished first among Grand National cars is listed. Notable Races Motor Trend 500 The 1971 Motor Trend 500 was the first official race in NASCAR's Winston Cup era. Drivers had to contend with 191 laps on a 2.620 mile road course at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California. Ray Elder won the race. 96- Ray Elder 12- Bobby Allison 72- Benny Parsons (2 laps behind) 71- Bobby Isaac (2 laps behind) 48- James Hylton (6 laps behind) 39- Friday Hassler (7 laps behind) 32- Kevin Terris (7 laps behind) 26- Carl Joiner (22 laps behind) 19- Henley Gray (22 laps behind) 24- Cecil Gordon (24 laps behind) Daytona 500 The 12th annual Daytona 500 was run on February 14 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. A. J. Foyt won the pole and Richard Petty would win his third Daytona 500. Top Ten Results 43- Richard Petty 11- Buddy Baker 21- A. J. Foyt 17- David Pearson (1 lap behind) 99- Fred Lorenzen (1 lap behind) 31- Jim Vandiver (2 laps behind) 22- Dick Brooks (2 laps behind) 20- Jim Hurtubise (3 laps behind) 48- James Hylton (3 laps behind) 71- Bobby Isaac (3 laps behind) Miller High Life 500 The Miller High Life 500 was run on February 28 at Ontario Motor Speedway. A. J. Foyt would win this race after more than three hours of racing (from the pole position). 21- A. J. Foyt 11- Buddy Baker 43- Richard Petty 71- Bobby Isaac 22- Dick Brooks 98- LeeRoy Yarbrough 96- Ray Elder 55- Tiny Lund 72- Benny Parsons 48- James Hylton Greenville 200 The Greenville 200 was the first live flag-to-flag telecast of a NASCAR race. The race was run on Saturday, April 10 at Greenville-Pickens Speedway and was carried live on ABC with Jim McKay, Chris Economaki and Ken