1975 Music City USA 420

Nashville Speedway was converted to a half-mile paved oval in 1957, when it began to be a NASCAR series track. The speedway was lengthened between the 1969 and 1970 seasons. The corners were cut down from 35 degrees to their present 18 degrees in 1972.^{[citation needed]}

There were 28 American-born drivers on the grid; Buddy Arrington received credit for the last-place finish after his car overheated on the second lap.^[2] There were 420 laps in this race.^[2] They were completed in more than two and a half hours with Darrell Waltrip defeating Benny Parsons by at least two laps in front of an audience of 20000.^[2] It was the first of 84 career Cup Series wins in what would become a Hall of Fame career.

Waltrip earned the pole position in qualifying for his fast qualifying run of 103.793 miles per hour (167.039 km/h); driving a 1975 Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna.^[2][3] Only one caution flag waved for a period of eight laps; two changes in first-place were made between Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip.^[2]

Notable crew chiefs who were Tim Brewer, Travis Carter, Harry Hyde, Dale Inman, and Jake Elder.^[4]

Richard Petty would retain his championship points lead over Dave Marcis by 225 points.^[2] He had won five races and earned two pole positions prior to qualifying this event.^[5]

Frank Warren was the lowest finishing driver to actually finish the race; being 47 laps behind Waltrip. Attrition took its toll as only twelve cars were running at the end.^[2] Other notable drivers who raced included J.D. McDuffie, Richard Childress, Elmo Langley and Coo Coo Marlin.^[2][3] Monetary awards ranged from $6,500 for Waltrip ($36,805.19 when adjusted for inflation) to $305 for last-place finisher Arrington ($1,727.01 when adjusted for inflation).^[5] Engine problems and overheating issues would cause many of the qualifying drivers not to finish the race.^[3]

Section reference: ^[2]

† signifies that the driver is known to be deceased
* Driver failed to finish race

Section reference: ^[2]

• Start: Darrell Waltrip was leading the starting grid as the green flag was waved.
• Lap 2: Buddy Arrington managed to overheat his vehicle.
• Lap 11: The suspension on Jody Ridley's vehicle developed severe problems.
• Lap 13: Travis Tiller blew his engine while driving at high speeds.
• Lap 15: Richard D. Brown managed to overheat his vehicle.
• Lap 16: Ed Negre blew his engine while driving at high speeds.
• Lap 19: Bruce Hill blew his engine while driving at high speeds.
• Lap 33: Earl Brooks managed to overheat his vehicle.
• Lap 34: Transmission problems got the best of Paul Dean Holt's vehicle.
• Lap 38: Baxter Prices noticed that his vehicle was leaking oil.
• Lap 48: Cale Yarborough took over the lead from Darrell Waltrip.
• Lap 54: Jabe Thomas blew his engine while driving at high speeds.
• Lap 91: The rear end came off of Bill Champion's vehicle in an unsafe manner.
• Lap 165: Earle Canavan blew his engine while driving at high speeds.
• Lap 192: Richard Childress blew his engine while driving at high speeds.
• Lap 321: Darrell Waltrip took over the lead from Cale Yarborough.
• Lap 322: Cale Yarborough and Elmo Langley blew their engines while driving at high speeds.
• Lap 351: Rick Newsom blew his engine while driving at high speeds.
• Finish: Darrell Waltrip was officially declared the winner of the race.