1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season began February 16 and ended November 16. Dale Earnhardt of RCR Enterprises won his second championship this year.

See also: 1986 in NASCAR Busch Series

Busch Clash

The Busch Clash was held on February 9 at Daytona International Speedway. Harry Gant drew for the pole. Only eight drivers ran.

Results

# Dale Earnhardt
# Bill Elliott
# Neil Bonnett
# Geoffrey Bodine
# Terry Labonte
# Rusty Wallace
# Harry Gant
# Darrell Waltrip

Gatorade 125s

The Gatorade 125s, a pair of qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held February 13 at Daytona International Speedway. Bill Elliott and Geoff Bodine won the poles for both races, respectively.

Race One Top Ten Results

# 9-Bill Elliott
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 44-Terry Labonte
# 7-Kyle Petty
# 1-Sterling Marlin
# 43-Richard Petty
# 12-Neil Bonnett
# 98-Ron Bouchard
# 4-Rick Wilson
# 66-Phil Parsons

Race Two Top Ten Results

# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 5-Geoff Bodine
# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 47-Morgan Shepherd
# 27-Rusty Wallace
# 71-Dave Marcis
# 28-Cale Yarborough
# 33-Harry Gant
# 88-Buddy Baker
# 6-Trevor Boys

Daytona 500

The 28th annual Daytona 500 was held February 16 at Daytona International Speedway. The #9 of Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 5-Geoff Bodine*
# 44-Terry Labonte
# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
# 55-Benny Parsons
# 98-Ron Bouchard
# 4-Rick Wilson
# 27-Rusty Wallace
# 1-Sterling Marlin
# 75-Lake Speed

Failed to qualify: 0-Delma Cowart, 19-Bob Park, 23-Michael Waltrip, 29-Grant Adcox, 35-Alan Kulwicki, 39-Blackie Wangerin, 48-Ron Esau, 49-Ferdin Wallace, 53-Donny Paul, 54-Slick Johnson, 60-Dick Skillen, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 73-Phil Barkdoll, 74-Bobby Wawak, 76-Clark Dwyer, 81-Chet Fillip, 82-Mark Stahl, 95-Davey Allison, 99-Connie Saylor, 07-Randy LaJoie

*Geoff Bodine won this race on fuel mileage after engaging in a long feud with Dale Earnhardt. Earnhardt was forced to pit for gas with 3 laps to go, then blew the engine leaving the pits. This allowed Bodine to cruise to victory by a margin of over 11 seconds.

Miller High Life 400

The Miller High Life 400 was held February 23 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 7-Kyle Petty*
# 26-Joe Ruttman
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
# 12-Neil Bonnett
# 5-Geoff Bodine
# 71-Dave Marcis
# 27-Rusty Wallace

*This was Petty's first career Cup win.

*Petty won this race as the direct result of Dale Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip wrecking while racing for the lead with 2 laps to go. Going into Turn 3, Earnhardt hooked the right rear corner of Waltrip's car and turned him head on into the wall. Geoff Bodine and Joe Ruttman, running 3rd and 4th at the time then proceeded to pile in behind Earnhardt and Waltrip. Petty, who was running 5th at the time of the caution, was the first lead lap car through the mess, and thus was gifted his first career victory.

Goodwrench 500

The Goodwrench 500 was held March 2 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Terry Labonte won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#44-Terry Labonte
#33-Harry Gant
#43-Richard Petty
#47-Morgan Shepherd
#11-Darrell Waltrip
#28-Cale Yarborough
#9-Bill Elliott
#3-Dale Earnhardt
#12-Neil Bonnett
#75-Lake Speed

Motorcraft 500

The Motorcraft 500 was held March 16 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 47-Morgan Shepherd
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 44-Terry Labonte
# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 55-Benny Parsons
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 27-Rusty Wallace
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 5-Geoff Bodine

Valleydale 500

The Valleydale 500 was held April 6 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The #5 of Geoff Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 27-Rusty Wallace*
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 17-Darrell Waltrip
# 33-Harry Gant
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 44-Terry Labonte
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 7-Kyle Petty
# 3-Dale Earnhardt

*This was Rusty Wallace's 1st career Winston Cup victory.

TranSouth 500

The TranSouth 500 was held April 13 at Darlington Raceway. The #5 of Geoff Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 12-Neil Bonnett
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 27-Rusty Wallace
# 43-Richard Petty
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 7-Kyle Petty
# 90-Ken Schrader

First Union 400

The First Union 400 was held April 20 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 5-Geoff Bodine
# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 26-Joe Ruttman
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 33-Harry Gant
# 7-Kyle Petty
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 27-Rusty Wallace

*This race marked the 1st career Winston Cup start for Willy T. Ribbs, best known for being the 1st African-American to start the Indianapolis 500 in 1991. Ribbs struggled during the race, spinning out twice on his way to a 22nd place finish, 13 laps down.

*The #6 of Trevor Boys smacked the wall in Turn 3 on Lap 89 and came to a stop at the entrance of pit road, blocking it. Instead of throwing a caution, the tow truck was sent out to tow the D. K. Ulrich-owned car to his pit stall/hauler (until the September 1988 event at the track, race team haulers were literally parked right behind their chosen pit stall) while the rest of the cars continued around the track at full speed.

*This race included two caution periods around halfway due to rain. However, the race was not red flagged either time the caution was thrown for the rain showers.

Sovran Bank 500

The Sovran Bank 500 was held April 27 at Martinsville Speedway. The #25 of Tim Richmond won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 15-Ricky Rudd*
# 26-Joe Ruttman
# 44-Terry Labonte
# 35-Alan Kulwicki
# 7-Kyle Petty
# 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
# 90-Ken Schrader
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 79-Derrike Cope
# 75-Jody Ridley

*Ricky Rudd's official margin of victory in the race was 1 lap, and an additional 6 seconds.

*According to Bill Elliott's book, Awesome Bill From Dawsonville, Elliott suffered his first engine failure in 3 years in this race.

*This race marked the first career Winston Cup start for Mike Skinner. Skinner finished 22nd, 156 laps behind.

= Winston 500 =

The Winston 500 was held May 4 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. The #9 of Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 22-Bobby Allison
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 88-Buddy Baker
# 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
# 55-Phil Parsons
# 47-Morgan Shepherd
# 43-Richard Petty
# 4-Rick Wilson
# 98-Ron Bouchard
# 10-Greg Sacks

Failed to Qualify:35-Alan Kulwicki, 60-Dick Skillen, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 77-Ken Ragan, 95-Davey Allison, 02-Mark Martin, Steve Moore

*This race is most notable for the fact that a drunken fan stole the pace car before the race started and drove a lap around the track. Local Sheriff's Deputies and track workers quickly set up a road block at the exit of Turn 4. When the fan stopped the Pontiac Firebird, the sheriffs opened the door, pulled the driver out and detained him.

The Winston

The second edition of The Winston, an all-start event for previous NASCAR winners, was held at Atlanta International Raceway on May 11.

This was the only time the race was run at Atlanta, and featured a 200-kilometer (83 lap) format, with a mandatory green flag pit stop. Because there were only nine race winners, the highest placed non-winner from the 1985 point standings was also invited.

Bill Elliott won the race.

A non-winner's race, the Atlanta Invitational, was added, and was Benny Parsons' last NASCAR-sanctioned win in his career when he won the 100-lap, 152.2 mile race.

While only 18,500 attended the event, and only 23 cars featured (10 in The Winston, 13 in the Atlanta Invitational), the all-star weekend format of having a non-winners race and a winners race would be a permanent part of the weekend afterwards, although NASCAR made the non-winner's race the next year and afterwards a "last chance" race to make the winner's race.

Budweiser 500

The Budweiser 500 was held May 18 at Dover International Speedway. Ricky Rudd won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 5-Geoff Bodine
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 43-Richard Petty
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
# 18-Tommy Ellis
# 90-Ken Schrader

Coca-Cola 600

The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The #5 of Geoff Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 28-Cale Yarborough
# 33-Harry Gant
# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 1-Sterling Marlin
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 47-Morgan Shepherd
# 27-Rusty Wallace

*Richard Petty was not allowed to bring out a backup car after crashing his #43 STP Pontiac in practice. As a result, Petty Enterprises bought the lime green-and-white #6 Chevrolet owned by D.K. Ulrich, put STP logos on it, and raced that car. Petty finished 38th as a result of a blown engine after completing 123 laps.

*This was the 1st career Winston Cup start for Brett Bodine, who drove a Hendrick Motorsports #2 Chevrolet to an 18th place finish, 6 laps down.

Budweiser 400

The Budweiser 400 was held June 1 at Riverside International Raceway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 27-Rusty Wallace
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 43-Richard Petty
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 12-Neil Bonnett
# 33-Harry Gant
# 18-Glen Steurer

*This was the 1st career Winston Cup start for Chad Little, who was then a regular in the Winston West series. Little finished 13th, 3 laps down in the race after starting 25th.

Miller High Life 500

The Miller High Life 500 was held June 8 at Pocono International Speedway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 25-Tim Richmond
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 28-Cale Yarborough
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 27-Rusty Wallace
# 26-Joe Ruttman
# 7-Kyle Petty
# 5-Geoff Bodine
# 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.

Miller American 400

The Miller American 400 was held June 15 at Michigan International Speedway. Tim Richmond won the pole.

During qualifying, 31-year old ARCA driver Rick Baldwin, in the Buddy Arrington #67 Ford Thunderbird, suffered a severe crash in qualifying that resulted in the car hitting the wall flush with the driver's side, knocking him unconscious into a coma from the massive head injuries, from which he would succumb eleven years later.

Top Ten Results

# 9-Bill Elliott
# 33-Harry Gant
# 5-Geoff Bodine
# 88-Buddy Baker
# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
# 4-Rick Wilson
# 26-Joe Ruttman
# 15-Ricky Rudd

Firecracker 400

The Firecracker 400 was held July 4 at Daytona International Speedway. Cale Yarborough won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 25-Tim Richmond
# 1-Sterling Marlin
# 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 7-Kyle Petty
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 26-Joe Ruttman
# 2-Rusty Wallace
# 66-Phil Parsons
# 35-Alan Kulwicki

*This race marked Richard Petty's 1000th career start in the Winston Cup Series, dating all the way back to 1958.

Summer 500

The Summer 500 was held July 20 at Pocono International Raceway. Harry Gant won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 25-Tim Richmond
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 5-Geoff Bodine
# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 44-Terry Labonte
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 7-Kyle Petty
# 18-Tommy Ellis
# 4-Rick Wilson

*This race was shortened to 150 laps (375 miles) due to a combination of rain, fog and darkness.

*Late in the race, Tim Richmond was spun out coming out of the Tunnel Turn (Turn 2). His car had both front tires flattened and was in a position so that he could not drive it forwards. Richmond backed the car out, then drove it in reverse the nearly 1 mile to his pit. At that point, his crew fixed the car so that he could go forward, but only in high gear (4th). It was at this point that NASCAR announced the impending end of the race due to darkness. Richmond then charged through the field after the restart and won the race in a photo finish. A modified version of this incident was featured in the 1990 movie Days of Thunder.

Talladega 500

The Talladega 500 was held July 27 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. The #9 of Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.*
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 15-Ricky Rudd*
# 1-Sterling Marlin
# 55-Benny Parsons
# 47-Morgan Shepherd
# 12-Davey Allison*
# 26-Joe Ruttman
# 7-Kyle Petty
# 22-Bobby Allison

*This was Bobby Hillin, Jr.'s 1st and only career Winston Cup victory.

*Ricky Rudd was relieved during the race by Rusty Wallace, who had blown an engine earlier.

*Davey Allison drove the race in relief of Neil Bonnett, who was injured in a multi-car wreck at Pocono the previous week.

The Budweiser At The Glen

The Budweiser At The Glen was held August 10 at Watkins Glen International. Tim Richmond won the pole. It was the first time a NASCAR race had been run at the track since 1965.

Top Ten Results

# 25-Tim Richmond
# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 12-Neil Bonnett
# 27-Rusty Wallace
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 55-Benny Parsons
# 7-Kyle Petty
# 43-Richard Petty

Failed to Qualify:30-Willy T. Ribbs

Champion Spark Plug 400

The Champion Spark Plug 400 was held August 17 at Michigan International Speedway. The #55 of Benny Parsons won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 9-Bill Elliott
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 5-Geoff Bodine
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 27-Rusty Wallace
# 28-Cale Yarborough
# 33-Harry Gant
# 66-Phil Parsons
# 21-David Pearson*

*This was David Pearson's last Winston Cup start.

Busch 500

The Busch 500 was held August 23 at Bristol International Speedway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 44-Terry Labonte
# 5-Geoffrey Bodine
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 33-Harry Gant
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 43-Richard Petty
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
# 35-Alan Kulwicki

Southern 500

The Southern 500 was held August 31 at Darlington Raceway. Tim Richmond won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 25-Tim Richmond
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 47-Morgan Shepherd
# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
# 5-Geoffrey Bodine
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 28-Cale Yarborough

*This race was plagued by rain, to the point of the race running on a damp surface and the drivers having to race as if Darlington Raceway were a dirt track.

Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400

The Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400 was held September 7 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Harry Gant won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 25-Tim Richmond
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 75-Morgan Shepherd*
# 43-Richard Petty
# 12-Neil Bonnett
# 26-Joe Ruttman
# 33-Harry Gant
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.

*Morgan Shepherd was hired by RAHMOC Enterprises to replace Jody Ridley as the driver of the #75 Nationwise Auto Parts Pontiac.

Delaware 500

The Delaware 500 was held September 14 at Dover Downs International Speedway. The #5 of Geoff Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 12-Neil Bonnett
# 7-Kyle Petty
# 88-Buddy Baker
# 71-Dave Marcis
# 26-Joe Ruttman
# 35-Alan Kulwicki
# 18-Tommy Ellis
# 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
# 75-Morgan Shepherd

Goody's 500

The Goody's 500 was held September 21 at Martinsville Speedway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 27-Rusty Wallace
# 5-Geoff Bodine
# 33-Harry Gant
# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 26-Joe Ruttman
# 7-Kyle Petty
# 90-Ken Schrader
# 12-Neil Bonnett
# 71-Dave Marcis
# 25-Tim Richmond

Holly Farms 400

The Holly Farms 400 was held September 28 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The #25 of Tim Richmond won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 5-Geoff Bodine
# 43-Richard Petty
# 27-Rusty Wallace
# 33-Harry Gant
# 26-Joe Ruttman
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 71-Dave Marcis
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 44-Terry Labonte

Oakwood Homes 500

The Oakwood Homes 500 was held October 5 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The #25 of Tim Richmond won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 33-Harry Gant
# 12-Neil Bonnett
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 88-Buddy Baker
# 5-Geoff Bodine
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 27-Rusty Wallace
# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 66-Phil Parsons

Nationwise 500

The Nationwise 500 was held October 19 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. The #25 of Tim Richmond won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 12-Neil Bonnett
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 11-Darrell Waltrip
# 33-Harry Gant
# 88-Buddy Baker
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 43-Richard Petty
# 26-Joe Ruttman
# 7-Kyle Petty

Atlanta Journal 500

The Atlanta Journal 500 was held November 2 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top Ten Results

# 3-Dale Earnhardt*
# 43-Richard Petty
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 88-Buddy Baker
# 12-Neil Bonnett
# 7-Kyle Petty
# 44-Terry Labonte
# 26-Joe Ruttman
# 66-Phil Parsons

*Dale Earnhardt's official margin of victory was 1 lap, and an additional 3 seconds. Winning the race clinched Earnhardt's 2nd Winston Cup Championship.

Winston Western 500

The Winston Western 500 was held November 16 at Riverside International Raceway. Tim Richmond won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Tim Richmond
#Dale Earnhardt
#Geoff Bodine
#Darrell Waltrip
#Joe Ruttman
#Bobby Hillin, Jr.
#Bobby Allison
#Rusty Wallace
#Neil Bonnett
#Terry Labonte

Final points standings

#Dale Earnhardt - 4468
#Darrell Waltrip - 4180
#Tim Richmond - 4174
#Bill Elliott - 3844
#Ricky Rudd - 3823
#Rusty Wallace - 3762
#Bobby Allison - 3698
#Geoff Bodine - 3678
#Bobby Hillin, Jr. - 3546
#Kyle Petty - 3537
#Harry Gant - 3498
#Terry Labonte - 3473
#Neil Bonnett - 3369
#Richard Petty - 3314
#Joe Ruttman - 3295
#Ken Schrader - 3052
#Dave Marcis - 2912
#Morgan Shepherd - 2896
#Michael Waltrip - 2853
#Buddy Arrington - 2776
#Alan Kulwicki - 2705
#Jimmy Means - 2495
#Tommy Ellis - 2393
#Buddy Baker - 1924
#Eddie Bierschwale - 1860
#J. D. McDuffie - 1825
#Phil Parsons - 1742
#Rick Wilson - 1698
#Cale Yarborough - 1642
#Benny Parsons - 1555
#Ron Bouchard - 1553
#Chet Fillip - 1433
#Jody Ridley - 1213
#Trevor Boys - 1064
#Doug Heveron - 1052
#Sterling Marlin - 989
#D.K. Ulrich - 804
#Pancho Carter - 706
#Ken Ragan - 627
#Lake Speed - 608
#Greg Sacks - 579
#Ronnie Thomas - 504
#Bobby Wawak - 480
#Rodney Combs - 421
#Derrike Cope - 400
#James Hylton - 386
#Davey Allison - 364
#Mark Martin - 364
#Jim Sauter - 361
#A. J. Foyt - 355

= Rookie of the Year =

Alan Kulwicki, driving for a team that had only one car, won the Rookie of the Year award in 1986, finishing in the top-ten four times. Of the rest of the candidates, only runner-up Michael Waltrip ran a complete schedule.

External links

* [http://www.racing-reference.info/raceyear?yr=1986&series=W Winston Cup Standings and Statistics for 1986]