Like most racing series around the world, NASCAR used mandated homologation ... Looking to stage a recovery, Buick decided to replace the Regal with its LeSabre model for 1986.

Three years later in 1981, the Buick Century Regal — now called just the Regal — entered NASCAR with the Junior Johnson team and won back-to-back championships, driven by Darrell Waltrip.

The Buick Regal enjoyed a fairly long history as one of the brand’s core models. First introduced in 1973, the Regal was positioned as an upscale version of Buick’s mid-size Century.