February 15, 1981 (Sunday)
- NASCAR driver Richard Petty came from fifth place to win the Daytona 500, after the four drivers ahead of him lost their leads by getting their tires changed. With 26 laps left, Bobby Allison changed the right side tires, and in a process that Petty later described as "follow the leader", Buddy Baker, Dale Earnhardt and Ricky Rudd did the same. Petty and his crew elected to use his final pit stop for fuel only, and "The King" won Daytona for the 7th and last time.
- Born: Olivia Theresa Longott, American R&B singer, in Brooklyn; and Jenna Morasca, winner of Survivor, in Bridgeville, PA
- Died: Michael Bloomfield, 37, electric blues guitarist
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