1981 NASCAR Cup Series
Champion: Darrell Waltrip
Driver standings
| # | Driver | Pts | Behind | W |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Darrell Waltrip | 4880 | 12 | |
| 2 | Bobby Allison | 4827 | −53 | 5 |
| 3 | Harry Gant | 4213 | −667 | |
| 4 | Terry Labonte | 4052 | −828 | |
| 5 | Jody Ridley | 4002 | −878 | 1 |
| 6 | Ricky Rudd | 3991 | −889 | |
| 7 | Dale Earnhardt | 3978 | −902 | |
| 8 | Richard Petty | 3883 | −997 | 3 |
| 9 | Dave Marcis | 3510 | −1,370 | |
| 10 | Benny Parsons | 3452 | −1,428 | 3 |
| 11 | Buddy Arrington | 3384 | −1,496 | |
| 12 | Kyle Petty | 3335 | −1,545 | |
| 13 | Morgan Shepherd | 3264 | −1,616 | 1 |
| 14 | Jimmy Means | 3145 | −1,735 | |
| 15 | Tommy Gale | 3143 | −1,737 | |
| 16 | Tim Richmond | 3094 | −1,786 | |
| 17 | J.D. McDuffie | 3000 | −1,880 | |
| 18 | Lake Speed | 2820 | −2,060 | |
| 19 | James Hylton | 2756 | −2,124 | |
| 20 | Joe Millikan | 2682 | −2,198 | |
| 21 | Ron Bouchard | 2597 | −2,283 | 1 |
| 22 | Neil Bonnett | 2449 | −2,431 | 3 |
| 23 | Cecil Gordon | 2320 | −2,560 | |
| 24 | Cale Yarborough | 2201 | −2,679 | 2 |
| 25 | Richard Childress | 2144 | −2,736 | |
| 26 | Ronnie Thomas | 2138 | −2,742 | |
| 27 | Buddy Baker | 1904 | −2,976 | |
| 28 | Joe Ruttman | 1854 | −3,026 | |
| 29 | Mike Alexander | 1784 | −3,096 | |
| 30 | Bill Elliott | 1442 | −3,438 |