KNOW YOUR NASCAR > LOOKING BACK, SEASON BY SEASON

Home > Know Your NASCAR > Looking Back, Season by Season > 1971 Season Summary

Got a Question about NASCAR?

1971 SEASON SUMMARY

• R.J. Reynolds becomes the primary sponsor of the Winston Cup Series.

• The announcement of Winston's sponsorship, which takes place on Thursday, Dec. 10 at Southern Pines, N.C., stipulates that RJR will put $100,000 into the year-end point fund and also be title sponsor for the spring race at Talladega.

• RJR places ads in several daily newspapers in areas where Winston Cup races are scheduled.

• The Motor Racing Network broadcasts its first Daytona 500. Other Daytona Speedweeks broadcasts include Daytona 500 pole qualifying, the 125-Mile Qualifying Races, the Grand American Modified race and the 300-mile Sportsman race.

• Ken Squier is the first MRN anchorman.

• The new Ontario (Calif.) Motor Speedway opens in February, which just happens to be the 1,000th NASCAR Winston Cup race. A.J. Foyt wins in a Wood Brothers Mercury.

• Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter holds a cookout at the Governor's mansion in Atlanta during the week of the Atlanta 500. More than 300 guests accept invitations. "I think automobile racing is the greatest sport of all," said Carter. "I'm having a big thrill by getting them here to my house to be with me and my family."

• ABC Sports televises the 100-mile Winston Cup race at Greenville-Pickens (S.C.) Speedway live from start to finish. Bobby Isaac wins the race.

• President Richard M. Nixon invites more than a hundred top members of the auto racing fraternity to the White House on Sept. 21. A number of marquee Winston Cup drivers are in attendance, including Richard Petty, Bobby Allison and Bobby Isaac. Bill France Sr. and Bill France also attend the ceremonies. A presidential aide notes that the reception marked the first time any sport had been so recognized by a presidential reception.

• Nixon also mails in a subscription to National Speed Sport News, becoming the first known president to subscribe to a weekly auto racing publication.

• Richard Petty wins 21 races en route to the 1971 Winston Cup championship, his record-tying third national driving title.

• Petty also establishes a money winning record of $351,071, which includes post-season awards. Petty becomes the first driver to top $1 million in career earnings.