1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

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The 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 36th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 13th modern-era Cup series season. It began on Sunday, February 19 and ended on Sunday, November 18. Terry Labonte was crowned champion at the end of the season. This was the final year for Chrysler until Dodge returned in 2001.

Teams and drivers

Team	Make	No.	Driver	Car Owner	Crew Chief
All-Star Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	5	Geoff Bodine	Rick Hendrick	Harry Hyde
Arrington Racing	Chrysler Imperial	67	Buddy Arrington	Buddy Arrington	Joey Arrington
Benfield Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	98	Joe Ruttman 25	Ron Benfield	Kenny Wallace
			Morgan Shepherd 3
Blue Max Racing	Pontiac Grand Prix	27	Tim Richmond	Raymond Beadle	Tim Brewer
Bobby Hawkins Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	16	David Pearson	Bobby Hawkins	Ricky Pearson
Branch-Ragan Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	77	Ken Ragan	Marvin Ragan
Bud Moore Engineering	Ford Thunderbird	15	Ricky Rudd	Bud Moore	Bud Moore
Cliff Stewart Racing	Pontiac Grand Prix	88	Rusty Wallace (R)	Cliff Stewart	Darrell Bryant
Curb Racing	Pontiac Grand Prix	43	Richard Petty	Mike Curb	Buddy Parrott
DiGard Motorsports	Buick Regal	22	Bobby Allison	Bill Gardner	Gary Nelson
Donlavey Racing	Ford Thunderbird	90	Dick Brooks	Junie Donlavey	Junie Donlavey
Ellington Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	1	Lake Speed	Hoss Ellington	Runt Pittman
Hagan Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	44	Terry Labonte	Billy Hagan	Dale Inman
Hamby Motorsports	Pontiac Grand Prix Chevrolet Monte Carlo	17	Clark Dwyer (R)	Roger Hamby
Heveron Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	01	Doug Heveron (R)	Tom Heveron
Hylton Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	48	Trevor Boys	James Hylton
Irv Sanderson Racing	Oldsmobile Cutlass Chevrolet Monte Carlo	97	Dean Combs (R)	Irv Sanderson
Johnny Hayes Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	55	Benny Parsons	Johnny Hayes	Cliff Champion
		66	Phil Parsons (R)		David Ifft
Junior Johnson & Associates	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	11	Darrell Waltrip	Junior Johnson	Jeff Hammond
		12	Neil Bonnett		Doug Richert
Langley Racing	Ford Thunderbird	64	Tommy Gale	Elmo Langley
Mach 1 Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	33	Harry Gant	Hal Needham	Travis Carter
Marcis Auto Racing	Oldsmobile Cutlass	71	Mike Alexander 19	Dave Marcis
			Lennie Pond 7
McDuffie Racing	Pontiac Grand Prix	70	J. D. McDuffie	J. D. McDuffie
Means Racing	Pontiac Grand Prix Chevrolet Monte Carlo	52	Jimmy Means	Jimmy Means
Melling Racing	Ford Thunderbird	9	Bill Elliott	Harry Melling	Ernie Elliott
Morgan-McClure Motorsports	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	4	Tommy Ellis 27(R)	Larry McClure	Tony Glover
			Joe Ruttman 3
Race Hill Farm Team	Buick Regal	47	Ron Bouchard	Jack Beebe	Mike Beam
RahMoc Enterprises	Pontiac Grand Prix	75	Dave Marcis	Bob Rahilly	Butch Mock
Ranier-Lundy Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	28	Cale Yarborough	Harry Ranier	Waddell Wilson
Richard Childress Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	3	Dale Earnhardt	Richard Childress	Kirk Shelmerdine
Robert McEntyre Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	84	Jody Ridley	Robert McEntyre
Sacks & Sons	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	51	Greg Sacks 29(R)	Arnie Sacks
Sadler Brothers Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	95	Sterling Marlin	Earl Sadler
Stavola Brothers Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Regal	8	Bobby Hillin Jr.	Billy Stavola	Jake Elder
Thomas Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	41	Ronnie Thomas	Ronnie Thomas
Ulrich Racing	Chevrolet Monte Carlo Buick Regal	6	D. K. Ulrich	D. K. Ulrich
Wood Brothers Racing	Ford Thunderbird	7	Kyle Petty	Glen Wood	Glen Wood
		21	Buddy Baker 20		Leonard Wood
			Bobby Rahal 1

Schedule

No.	Race Title	Track	Date
NC	Busch Clash	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 12
	UNO Twin 125 Qualifiers		February 16
	Daytona 500 Consolation Race		February 17
1	Daytona 500		February 19
2	Richmond 400	Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond	February 26
3	Carolina 500	North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham	March 4
4	Coca-Cola 500	Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton	March 18
5	Valleydale 500	Bristol International Raceway, Bristol	April 1
6	Northwestern Bank 400	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro	April 8
7	TranSouth 500	Darlington Raceway, Darlington	April 15
8	Sovran Bank 500	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway	April 29
9	Winston 500	Alabama International Motor Speedway, Talladega	May 6
10	Coors 420	Nashville Speedway, Nashville	May 12
11	Budweiser 500	Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover	May 20
12	World 600	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord	May 27
13	Budweiser 400	Riverside International Raceway, Riverside	June 3
14	Van Scoy Diamond Mine 500	Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond	June 10
15	Miller High Life 400	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn	June 17
16	Firecracker 400	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	July 4
17	Pepsi 420	Nashville Speedway, Nashville	July 14
18	Like Cola 500	Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond	July 22
19	Talladega 500	Alabama International Motor Speedway, Talladega	July 29
20	Champion Spark Plug 400	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn	August 12
21	Busch 500	Bristol International Raceway, Bristol	August 25
22	Southern 500	Darlington Raceway, Darlington	September 2
23	Wrangler Sanfor-Set 400	Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond	September 9
24	Delaware 500	Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover	September 16
25	Goody's 500	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway	September 23
26	Miller High Life 500	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord	October 7
27	Holly Farms 400	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro	October 14
28	Warner W. Hodgdon American 500	North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham	October 21
29	Atlanta Journal 500	Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton	November 11 1
30	Winston Western 500	Riverside International Raceway, Riverside	November 18

1. ^ Originally scheduled for November 4, but postponed due to rain.

Bold denotes NASCAR Crown Jewel event

Races

Several cars at Pocono, including #90 Dick Brooks

Daytona 500

Main article: 1984 Daytona 500

Cale Yarborough completed a lap of 201.848 mph (324.828 km/h), officially breaking the 200 mph barrier at Daytona. He drafted past Darrell Waltrip on the final lap, winning for the second year in a row, and fourth time in his career. Richard Petty, making his debut with Curb Racing, stormed from 34th to lead over 20 laps before a camshaft broke.

Top ten results:

1. #28 - Cale Yarborough
2. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
3. #11 - Darrell Waltrip
4. #12 - Neil Bonnett
5. #9 - Bill Elliott
6. #33 - Harry Gant
7. #15 - Ricky Rudd
8. #5 - Geoff Bodine
9. #16 - David Pearson
10. #84 - Jody Ridley

Richmond 400

Ricky Rudd, still sporting swelling in his face from his bad Daytona crash, ran down Darrell Waltrip for his first win with Bud Moore Engineering.

Top ten results:

1. #15 - Ricky Rudd
2. #11 - Darrell Waltrip
3. #44 - Terry Labonte
4. #9 - Bill Elliott
5. #12 - Neil Bonnett
6. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
7. #27 - Tim Richmond
8. #33 - Harry Gant
9. #5 - Geoff Bodine
10. #98 - Joe Ruttman

Carolina 500

Bobby Allison grabbed his first win of the season, while a vicious four-car crash swept up rookie Rusty Wallace on Lap 372; the guardrail was damaged to where it took half an hour to repair it. Before the race controversy erupted between the track and sponsor Warner Hodgdon over late payment of sponsorship fees; the fees were paid in full March 19.

Top ten results:

1. #22 - Bobby Allison
2. #44 - Terry Labonte
3. #1 - Lake Speed
4. #43 - Richard Petty
5. #21 - Buddy Baker
6. #5 - Geoff Bodine
7. #9 - Bill Elliott
8. #75 - Dave Marcis
9. #11 - Darrell Waltrip

Atlanta 500

Benny Parsons fought off Dale Earnhardt and Cale Yarborough in a three-car race; the win was Parsons' final Winston Cup victory. Darrell Waltrip was dropped from fifth to 10th after the race when NASCAR ruled he'd passed illegally to get a lap back late in the race.

Top ten results:

1. #55 - Benny Parsons
2. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
3. #28 - Cale Yarborough
4. #43 - Richard Petty
5. #22 - Bobby Allison
6. #33 - Harry Gant
7. #44 - Terry Labonte
8. #15 - Ricky Rudd
9. #1 - Lake Speed
10. #11 - Darrell Waltrip

Valleydale 500

Waltrip passed Tim Richmond with 44 laps to go for his seventh-straight Bristol International Raceway win. He was pressured by Bobby Allison, who led 190 laps to Waltrip's 205; Allison faltered with 57 laps to go and finished 19th.

Top ten results:

1. #11 - Darrell Waltrip
2. #44 - Terry Labonte
3. #47 - Ron Bouchard
4. #75 - Dave Marcis
5. #27 - Tim Richmond
6. #15 - Ricky Rudd
7. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
8. #43 - Richard Petty
9. #9 - Bill Elliott
10. #98 - Joe Ruttman

Northwestern Bank 400

Ricky Rudd led 290 laps but North Wilkesboro Speedway would not see him win as he faltered in the final 28 laps. Tim Richmond pounced to the win, what would be his last with Raymond Beadle's team.

Top ten results:

1. #27 - Tim Richmond
2. #33 - Harry Gant
3. #15 - Ricky Rudd
4. #44 - Terry Labonte
5. #7 - Kyle Petty
6. #11 - Darrell Waltrip
7. #47 - Ron Bouchard
8. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
9. #12 - Neil Bonnett
10. #9 - Bill Elliott

TranSouth 500

Two thunderstorms and multiple crashes permeated Darlington's annual spring race as Darrell Waltrip took his fourth Rebel 500 win. Pole-sitter Benny Parsons hit the wall on the opening lap; on Lap Three a three-abreast stack-up for second led to a four-car crash involving Bobby Allison, Richard Petty (who led seven laps and still finished seventh), Geoff Bodine, and Dick Brooks. Around Lap 137 following a Bobby Hillin Jr. crash Joe Ruttman, Terry Labonte, Buddy Baker, and Rusty Wallace crashed on the backstretch on the yellow. In a later five-car melee in the second turn D. K. Ulrich climbed over Greg Sacks's hood; Tim Richmond crashed twice while Dave Marcis crashed while leading (he still finished 13th) after being sideswiped by Buddy Baker. In all some thirty cars were involved in wrecks.

Top ten results:

1. #11 - Darrell Waltrip
2. #44 - Terry Labonte
3. #9 - Bill Elliott
4. #28 - Cale Yarborough
5. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
6. #33 - Harry Gant
7. #43 - Richard Petty
8. #66 - Phil Parsons
9. #15 - Ricky Rudd
10. #12 - Neil Bonnett

Sovran Bank 500

Ricky Rudd led 121 laps and Bobby Allison led 266 laps, but both were knocked out of contention in the final 60 laps as Geoff Bodine took his first career Winston Cup win and gave Charlotte car dealer Rick Hendrick his first win as owner. Ron Bouchard, a longtime adversary of Bodine on NASCAR's Modified Tour, finished second. Bodine's victory saved All-Star Racing from shutting down as they were able to secure sponsorship from Northwestern Security Life for the rest of the season.

Top ten results:

1. #5 - Geoff Bodine
2. #47 - Ron Bouchard
3. #11 - Darrell Waltrip
4. #22 - Bobby Allison
5. #12 - Neil Bonnett
6. #98 - Joe Ruttman
7. #9 - Bill Elliott
8. #7 - Kyle Petty
9. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
10. #21 - Buddy Baker

Winston 500

Main article: 1984 Winston 500

The Winston 500 at Talladega was the 2nd most competitive race in the history of NASCAR Winston Cup. The race had 75 different lead changes, a record that stood until the 2010 Aaron's 499 with 88 changes, which was matched in 2011. Cale Yarborough passed Harry Gant in the final lap to take the win.

Top ten results:

1. #28 - Cale Yarborough
2. #33 - Harry Gant
3. #21 - Buddy Baker
4. #22 - Bobby Allison
5. #55 - Benny Parsons
6. #43 - Richard Petty
7. #66 - Phil Parsons
8. #75 - Dave Marcis
9. #9 - Bill Elliott
10. #47 - Ron Bouchard

Coors 420

Nashville's Fairgrounds race track had seen numerous controversies over the years, but 1984's controversy may have topped all of them. On lap 418 three cars crashed on the backstretch; Darrell Waltrip led laps 418 and 419 but Junior Johnson teammate Neil Bonnett passed him on the final lap under yellow; Dick Beaty of NASCAR initially ruled Bonnett the race winner; the following Monday, however, NASCAR reversed the decision since the yellow had flown before the last lap pass.

Top ten results:

1. #11 - Darrell Waltrip
2. #12 - Neil Bonnett
3. #5 - Geoff Bodine
4. #15 - Ricky Rudd
5. #47 - Ron Bouchard
6. #88 - Rusty Wallace
7. #43 - Richard Petty
8. #44 - Terry Labonte
9. #90 - Dick Brooks
10. #75 - Dave Marcis

Budweiser 500

Richard Petty had not won at Dover Downs International Speedway since 1979 and had not won the track's spring/early summer race since 1969. But he battled Bill Elliott, Tim Richmond, and Harry Gant to the win, his 199th Winston Cup win. Gant led 218 laps but fell out while running in the top five 108 laps from the end, while Elliott cut a tire while running second with 40 to go. It was Petty's first win not with Petty Enterprises since driving a Don Robertson Plymouth to two wins in 1970.

Top ten results:

1. #43 - Richard Petty
2. #27 - Tim Richmond
3. #44 - Terry Labonte
4. #9 - Bill Elliott
5. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
6. #11 - Darrell Waltrip
7. #21 - Buddy Baker
8. #15 - Ricky Rudd
9. #47 - Ron Bouchard
10. #5 - Geoff Bodine

World 600

Main article: 1984 World 600

Cale Yarborough's engine failure sealed a win for Bobby Allison; it proved to be his final win for DiGard Motorsports.

Top ten results:

1. #22 - Bobby Allison
2. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
3. #47 - Ron Bouchard
4. #33 - Harry Gant
5. #5 - Geoff Bodine
6. #1 - Lake Speed
7. #21 - Buddy Baker
8. #84 - Jody Ridley
9. #16 - David Pearson
10. #27 - Tim Richmond

Budweiser 400

Terry Labonte passed Bobby Allison and led the final 23 laps for his first win of the season and first win at Riverside International Raceway barely two years after a very serious crash there.

Top ten results:

1. #44 - Terry Labonte
2. #12 - Neil Bonnett
3. #22 - Bobby Allison
4. #5 - Geoff Bodine
5. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
6. #27 - Tim Richmond
7. #98 - Joe Ruttman
8. #7 - Kyle Petty
9. #15 - Ricky Rudd
10. #9 - Bill Elliott

Van Scoy Diamond Mine 500

Cale Yarborough outlasted his competitors to take the win at Pocono Raceway. David Pearson drove Neil Bonnett's Chevrolet in qualifying and won the pole; he relieved Bonnett and finished 14th; ironically David finished just behind arch-rival Richard Petty, who led early before finishing 13th.

Top ten results:

1. #28 - Cale Yarborough
2. #33 - Harry Gant
3. #44 - Terry Labonte
4. #9 - Bill Elliott
5. #27 - Tim Richmond
6. #11 - Darrell Waltrip
7. #22 - Bobby Allison
8. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
9. #55 - Benny Parsons
10. #1 - Lake Speed

Michigan 400

Yarborough led 67 laps but faltered late as Bill Elliott achieved a breakthrough win, his second career win but first on a superspeedway and first with Coors sponsorship.

Top ten results:

1. #9 - Bill Elliott
2. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
3. #11 - Darrell Waltrip
4. #33 - Harry Gant
5. #1 - Lake Speed
6. #22 - Bobby Allison
7. #5 - Geoff Bodine
8. #98 - Joe Ruttman
9. #16 - David Pearson
10. #21 - Buddy Baker

Firecracker 400

Main article: 1984 Firecracker 400

Richard Petty's last win. In the 1984 Firecracker 400, Richard Petty edged out Cale Yarborough by about 8 inches to visit Victory Lane for the 200th and what turned out to be the final time.

Top ten results:

1. #43 - Richard Petty
2. #33 - Harry Gant
3. #28 - Cale Yarborough
4. #22 - Bobby Allison
5. #55 - Benny Parsons
6. #9 - Bill Elliott
7. #44 - Terry Labonte
8. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
9. #12 - Neil Bonnett
10. #98 - Joe Ruttman

Pepsi 420

Geoff Bodine led 327 laps to the win at Nashville - it would turn out to be the final Winston Cup race at the Fairgrounds as Warner W. Hodgdon's racing empire began cracking. Richard Petty started third but fell out after 212 laps with engine failure; it was his first race having to get engines from suppliers other than the DiGard team after the Gardners ended their engine deal with Curb Motorsports.

Top ten results:

1. #5 - Geoff Bodine
2. #11 - Darrell Waltrip
3. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
4. #47 - Ron Bouchard
5. #22 - Bobby Allison
6. #44 - Terry Labonte
7. #9 - Bill Elliott
8. #98 - Joe Ruttman
9. #33 - Harry Gant
10. #12 - Neil Bonnett

Like Cola 500

At Pocono Harry Gant burst past pole-sitter Bill Elliott on the opening lap and edged Cale Yarborough and Elliott at the stripe after leading 107 laps. Bobby Allison led one lap but climbed the wall hard in the Tunnel Turn (one of nine yellows during the day) and finished a distant 28th.

Top ten results:

1. #33 - Harry Gant
2. #28 - Cale Yarborough
3. #9 - Bill Elliott
4. #44 - Terry Labonte
5. #55 - Benny Parsons
6. #88 - Rusty Wallace
7. #47 - Ron Bouchard
8. #7 - Kyle Petty
9. #27 - Tim Richmond
10. #3 - Dale Earnhardt

Talladega 500

Main article: 1984 Talladega 500

Dale Earnhardt fought off a ten car pack, passing Terry Labonte on the last lap to win his second consecutive Talladega 500. The race featured 68 lead changes among 16 drivers.

Top ten results:

1. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
2. #21 - Buddy Baker
3. #44 - Terry Labonte
4. #22 - Bobby Allison
5. #28 - Cale Yarborough
6. #11 - Darrell Waltrip
7. #33 - Harry Gant
8. #1 - Lake Speed
9. #4 - Tommy Ellis
10. #9 - Bill Elliott

Champion Spark Plug 400

Terry Labonte led 117 laps as he, Darrell Waltrip, and pole-sitter Bill Elliott led 194 of 200 laps at Michigan International Speedway. With no yellows, pitstops became the key as Waltrip stretch his fuel mileage for the win.

Top ten results:

1. #11 - Darrell Waltrip
2. #44 - Terry Labonte
3. #9 - Bill Elliott
4. #33 - Harry Gant
5. #28 - Cale Yarborough
6. #55 - Benny Parsons
7. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
8. #21 - Buddy Baker
9. #43 - Richard Petty
10. #47 - Ron Bouchard

Busch 500

Darrell Waltrip led 144 laps but after halfway he fell out and finished 12th, ending his win streak at Bristol International Raceway. Terry Labonte led the final 124 laps but had to withstand a challenge from Bobby Allison to grab the win, his fourth career win and first on a short track.

Top ten results:

1. #44 - Terry Labonte
2. #22 - Bobby Allison
3. #90 - Dick Brooks
4. #75 - Dave Marcis
5. #33 - Harry Gant
6. #9 - Bill Elliott
7. #71 - Mike Alexander
8. #95 - Sterling Marlin
9. #51 - Greg Sacks
10. #3 - Dale Earnhardt

Southern 500

Amid numerous crashes Harry Gant led 277 laps to an easy win. He thus moved into second place in points behind Terry Labonte.

Top ten results:

1. #33 - Harry Gant
2. #27 - Tim Richmond
3. #21 - Buddy Baker
4. #88 - Rusty Wallace
5. #15 - Ricky Rudd
6. #90 - Dick Brooks
7. #66 - Phil Parsons
8. #44 - Terry Labonte
9. #55 - Benny Parsons
10. #22 - Bobby Allison

Capital City 400

Darrell Waltrip, despite more wins than any other driver, found himself a distant fifth in points; he led 321 laps for the win but was still 185 points out of the lead. Dale Earnhardt grabbed third in the race and second in points behind Labonte (eighth at the end) while Harry Gant finished ninth.

Top ten results:

1. #11 - Darrell Waltrip
2. #15 - Ricky Rudd
3. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
4. #5 - Geoff Bodine
5. #43 - Richard Petty
6. #7 - Kyle Petty
7. #12 - Neil Bonnett
8. #44 - Terry Labonte
9. #33 - Harry Gant
10. #90 - Dick Brooks

Delaware 500

Harry Gant and Terry Labonte combined to lead 385 of 500 laps at Dover Downs International Speedway en route to a 1-2 finish, Gant's third win of the season, as numerous crashes thinned the field; among those involved in wrecks were Bill Elliott, Rusty Wallace, Tim Richmond, and defending race champ Bobby Allison. Dale Earnhardt led 35 laps but finished three laps down; Ron Bouchard led 68 laps but finished five laps down. Richard Petty, winner at Dover in May, fell out with oil pump failure.

Top ten results:

1. #33 - Harry Gant
2. #44 - Terry Labonte
3. #15 - Ricky Rudd
4. #75 - Dave Marcis
5. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
6. #12 - Neil Bonnett
7. #90 - Dick Brooks
8. #47 - Ron Bouchard
9. #5 - Geoff Bodine
10. #48 - Trevor Boys

Goody's 500

Despite leading 313 laps to the win, Darrell Waltrip was now 215 points out of the lead following Martinsville's early-autumn race. Terry Labonte finished second and held a 91-point lead over Harry Gant (fourth). Pole-sitter Geoff Bodine led the first 37 laps before his oil pump failed. Joe Ruttman fell out with engine failure and left Ron Benfield's team after two potent but ultimately futile seasons.

Top ten results:

1. #11 - Darrell Waltrip
2. #44 - Terry Labonte
3. #9 - Bill Elliott
4. #33 - Harry Gant
5. #12 - Neil Bonnett
6. #21 - Buddy Baker
7. #75 - Dave Marcis
8. #43 - Richard Petty
9. #71 - Lennie Pond
10. #7 - Kyle Petty

Miller High Life 500

Benny Parsons and Bill Elliott claimed the front row and combined to lead 284 of 334 laps. Cale Yarborough and point leaders Harry Gant and Terry Labonte led 37 laps between them and finished 3-4-5 at the end. Elliott grabbed the lead with 60 to go and pulled away to his second win of the season. Gant finished fourth and stood 86 points behind Labonte.

Top ten results:

1. #9 - Bill Elliott
2. #55 - Benny Parsons
3. #28 - Cale Yarborough
4. #33 - Harry Gant
5. #44 - Terry Labonte
6. #5 - Geoff Bodine
7. #84 - Jody Ridley
8. #15 - Ricky Rudd
9. #43 - Richard Petty
10. #22 - Bobby Allison

Holly Farms 400

Junior Johnson's Chevrolets led 305 of 400 laps as Darrell Waltrip took his seventh win of the season and Neil Bonnett finished fifth. But he was 246 points out of the lead and realistically was eliminated from the championship; the story fell to Harry Gant as he finished a close second in the race; combined with a ninth-place finish by Terry Labonte the finish helped Gant close to 59 points out.

Top ten results:

1. #11 - Darrell Waltrip
2. #33 - Harry Gant
3. #22 - Bobby Allison
4. #12 - Neil Bonnett
5. #88 - Rusty Wallace
6. #15 - Ricky Rudd
7. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
8. #9 - Bill Elliott
9. #44 - Terry Labonte
10. #21 - Buddy Baker

Warner W. Hodgdon American 500

North Carolina Motor Speedway saw its final race under Warner Hodgdon sponsorship as the racing magnate's business empire was deteriorating more and more. Numerous crashes erupted; a multicar melee on a restart eliminated Geoff Bodine and Tim Richmond. The most spectacular crash came when Jerry Bowman flipped over and slid on his roof down the backstretch. Bill Elliott and Harry Gant combined to lead 299 laps; in the final 55 laps Gant ran down Elliott and took the lead with two to go, but Elliott dove back under Gant and the two raced abreast the final two miles; they hit the stripe abreast and Elliott won by less than a wheel. Labonte finished third and held a 49-point lead on Gant with two races to go.

Top ten results:

1. #9 - Bill Elliott
2. #33 - Harry Gant
3. #44 - Terry Labonte
4. #11 - Darrell Waltrip
5. #22 - Bobby Allison
6. #98 - Morgan Shepherd
7. #21 - Buddy Baker
8. #27 - Tim Richmond
9. #75 - Dave Marcis
10. #71 - Lennie Pond

Atlanta Journal 500

Geoff Bodine stormed into the lead on the opening lap and led 125 laps before his engine failed with 36 laps to go; this put Dale Earnhardt into the lead for his second win of the season, while pole-sitter Bill Elliott finished second. Terry Labonte and Harry Gant fell out with engine failures and the points race stood with Labonte holding a 42-point lead on Gant. Tragedy blackened the event when Terry Schoonover crashed some 200 miles in and was killed.

Top ten results:

1. #3 - Dale Earnhardt
2. #9 - Bill Elliott
3. #15 - Ricky Rudd
4. #55 - Benny Parsons
5. #22 - Bobby Allison
6. #11 - Darrell Waltrip
7. #1 - Lake Speed
8. #43 - Richard Petty
9. #95 - Sterling Marlin
10. #75 - Dave Marcis

Winston Western 500

Geoff Bodine grabbed his third win of the season as Terry Labonte won the pole and finished third, finally clinching the Winston Cup title. Harry Gant finished eighth and finished second in points. Lame duck series champ Bobby Allison led 56 laps but slid off the track with four to go and finished seventh; arch-rival Darrell Waltrip led 33 laps but blew his engine and finished 34th. Bodine referenced budding rumors about Riverside International Raceway's future when he said he was glad to have won as "they're going to tear this place down." Open-wheel driver Bobby Rahal made his only NASCAR start in this race, driving for Wood Brothers Racing. Rahal would drop out of the race on lap 44 due to mechanical problems.

Top ten results:

1. #5 - Geoff Bodine
2. #27 - Tim Richmond
3. #44 - Terry Labonte
4. #9 - Bill Elliott
5. #55 - Benny Parsons
6. #12 - Neil Bonnett
7. #22 - Bobby Allison
8. #33 - Harry Gant
9. #04 - Hershel McGriff
10. #4 - Joe Ruttman

Race Results

Cup cars at Van Scoy Diamond Mine 500 at Pocono

Rd.	Date	Event	Circuit	Winner
NC	February 9	Busch Clash	Daytona International Speedway	Neil Bonnett
	February 16	UNO Twin 125 #1		Cale Yarborough
		UNO Twin 125 #2		Bobby Allison
	February 17	Daytona 500 Consolation Race		Connie Saylor
1	February 19	Daytona 500		Cale Yarborough
2	February 26	Miller High Life 400	Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway	Ricky Rudd
3	March 4	Hodgdon Carolina 500	North Carolina Motor Speedway	Bobby Allison
4	March 18	Coca-Cola 500	Atlanta International Raceway	Benny Parsons
5	April 1	Valleydale 500	Bristol International Raceway	Darrell Waltrip
6	April 8	Northwestern Bank 400	North Wilkesboro Speedway	Tim Richmond
7	April 15	TranSouth 500	Darlington International Raceway	Darrell Waltrip
8	April 29	Sovran Bank 500	Martinsville Speedway	Geoff Bodine
9	May 6	Winston 500	Alabama International Motor Speedway	Cale Yarborough
10	May 12	Coors 420	Nashville Speedway	Darrell Waltrip
11	May 20	Mason-Dixon 500	Dover Downs International Speedway	Richard Petty
12	May 27	World 600	Charlotte Motor Speedway	Bobby Allison
13	June 5	Budweiser 400	Riverside International Raceway	Terry Labonte
14	June 10	Van Scoy Diamond Mine 500	Pocono Raceway	Cale Yarborough
15	June 17	Miller 400	Michigan International Speedway	Bill Elliott
16	July 4	Firecracker 400	Daytona International Speedway	Richard Petty
17	July 14	Pepsi 420	Nashville Speedway	Geoff Bodine
18	July 22	Like Cola 500	Pocono Raceway	Harry Gant
19	July 29	Talladega 500	Alabama International Motor Speedway	Dale Earnhardt
20	August 12	Champion Spark Plug 400	Michigan International Speedway	Darrell Waltrip
21	August 25	Busch 500	Bristol International Raceway	Terry Labonte
22	September 2	Southern 500	Darlington International Raceway	Harry Gant
23	September 9	Wrangler SanforSet 400	Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway	Darrell Waltrip
24	September 16	Delaware 500	Dover Downs International Speedway	Harry Gant
25	September 23	Goody's 500	Martinsville Speedway	Darrell Waltrip
26	October 7	Miller 500	Charlotte Motor Speedway	Bill Elliott
27	October 14	Holly Farms 400	North Wilkesboro Speedway	Darrell Waltrip
28	October 21	Hodgdon American 500	North Carolina Motor Speedway	Bill Elliott
29	November 11	Atlanta Journal 500	Atlanta International Raceway	Dale Earnhardt
30	November 18	Winston Western 500	Riverside International Raceway	Geoff Bodine

Bold denotes NASCAR Crown Jewel event.

Full Drivers' Championship

Further information: List of NASCAR points scoring systems

(key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by owner's points. * – Most laps led.

Pos	Driver	DAY	RCH	CAR	ATL	BRI	NWS	DAR	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	RIV	POC	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	CLT	NWS	CAR	ATL	RIV	Pts
1	Terry Labonte	12	3	2	7	2	4	2	24	25	8	3	30	1*	3	31	7	6	4	3	2*	1*	8	8	2	2	5	9	3	30	3	4508
2	Harry Gant	6	8	24	6	23	2	6	13	2	16	27*	4	29	2	4	2	9	1*	7	4	5	1*	9	1*	4	4	2	2*	26	8	4443
3	Bill Elliott	5	4	8	11	9	10	3	7	9	20	4	28	10	4	1	6	7	3	10	3	6	15	24	32	3	1	8	1	2	4	4377
4	Dale Earnhardt	2	6	14	2	7	8	5	9	27	19	5	2	5	8	2	8	3	10	1	7	10	38	3	5	12	39	7	13	1	11	4265
5	Darrell Waltrip	3	2*	10	10	1*	6	1*	3	38	1	6	26	11	6	3	31	2	22	6	1	21*	40	1*	11	1*	27	1*	4	6	34	4230
6	Bobby Allison	34	30	1	5	19	22	20	4*	4	12	12	1*	3	7	6	4	5	28	4	11	2	10	25	36	23	10	3	5	5	7*	4094
7	Ricky Rudd	7	1	7	8	6	3*	9	18	22	4	8	11	9	18	40	15	16	39	14	12	16	5	2	3	27	8	6	23	3	15	3918
8	Neil Bonnett	4	5	28	33	11	9	10	5	23	2*	15	12	2	14	17	9	10	19	19	13	23	30	7	6	5	16	4	33	21	6	3802
9	Geoff Bodine	8	9	6	13	25	14	35	1	34	3	10	5	4	36	7	12	1*	12	26	34	22	12	4	9	28	6	23	19	24*	1	3734
10	Richard Petty	31	15	4	4	8	12	7	12	6	7	1	34	23	13	34	1	25	27	23	9	17	29	5	37	8	9	18	15	8	14	3643
11	Ron Bouchard	27	29	21	12	3	7	17	2	10	5	9	3	19	19	20	34	4	7	16	10	14	33	13	8	19	11	28	14	12	35	3609
12	Tim Richmond	33	7	27	34	5	1	34	23	26	28	2	10	6	5	16	11	14	9	33	15	25	2	20	28	21	30	13	8	13	2	3505
13	Dave Marcis	42	11	9	18	4	13	13	19	8	10	20	36	34	15	21	18	23	26	13	19	4	21	16	4	7	24	26	9	10	20	3416
14	Rusty Wallace (R)	30	16	26	19	12	28	30	15	31	6	11	15	20	17	14	20	18	6	12	35	20	4	11	30	13	14	5	26	15	26	3316
15	Dick Brooks	26	19	23*	14	30	11	31	11	30	9	35	13	12	20	11	38	27	11	35	18	3	6	10	7	11	13	11	30	17	24	3265
16	Kyle Petty	40	17	31	38	26	5	24	8	15	11	13	37	8	12	12	30	15	8	22	17	24	32	6	14	10	17	20	24	22	28	3159
17	Trevor Boys	41	26	19	15	16	17	16	22	18	17	19	35	13	32	37	16	22	13	24	27	18	11	27	10	26	12	27	11	23	12	3040
18	Joe Ruttman	28	10	17	28	10	30	19	6	21	15	14	41	7	11	8	10	8	14	37	20	29	13	30	33	29	40		34	35	10	2945
19	Greg Sacks (R)	18	24	34	16		18	21	17	14	29	24	38	32	22	32	39	29	24	29	22	9	37	21	25	30	18	24	35	31	16	2545
20	Buddy Arrington	25		15	20	22	20	11	25	24	21	32	32	21	23	18	36	17	16	21	31	13	28	23	17	18	DNQ	29	20	DNQ	DNQ	2504
21	Buddy Baker	38		5	23			33	10	3		7	7		35	10	41			2*	8		3	19	26	6	29	10	7	20		2477
22	Cale Yarborough	1*	14		3			4		1			21		1*	13*	3*		2	5	5		17	14			3			11		2448
23	Clark Dwyer (R)	20	27	12	40	18	16	15	21	29	25	22	23	17	25	39	25	24	15	28	40	15	20	26	18				38		25	2374
24	Phil Parsons (R)	11	18		29	13	15	8	16	7			31		21	15	13	13	17	20	29	26	7			20	31	15		28	41	2290
25	Jimmy Means	17	28	13		17	25	14		40	22	16	27						25		26	30	18	18	15	15	19	16	18	16	21	2218
26	Lake Speed	37	12	3	9			22		33		21	6		10	5	42			8	16		14				32	25	29	7	17	2023
27	Benny Parsons	29			1*			27		5*			42		9	28	5		5	Wth	6		9				2*			4	5	1865
28	Mike Alexander	21	21	11	31	29	21	32	31	17	13		16	31		23	22	12		17	24	7	34									1862
29	Morgan Shepherd		13			27		26	26			36	17			22	40	26		30	28	19	35	12	22	24	23		6	14	22	1811
30	Ronnie Thomas	24	31	32	25	15	26	28	30	20	23	30		DNQ	24	25	29	21	40	27	23	27	DNQ	DNQ	35	16	DNQ	QL		DNQ	DNQ	1775
31	Tommy Ellis					28	29	23	29	13	14		14			38	14	11	34	9	36	28	19	15	34	17	33	14				1738
32	Bobby Hillin Jr.	35			37			12		11		25	33		16	19	37		33	15	21		23		DNQ		15		12	33		1477
33	Tommy Gale	32		30	24	20	23	18		19	27	23	25		27	33	24		36	DNQ		11	22									1426
34	J. D. McDuffie	DNQ	23	16		21	24				26	33			39	DNQ		DNQ	31	DNQ	DNQ	12	24	28	16	25	DNQ	30	36	DNQ	30	1366
35	Jody Ridley	10			27			36		16			8			35	19	28		34	14		16		29		7			32		1288
36	Doug Heveron	23	DNQ		30	14			28	36			40		26	30	28		21		37		DNQ		13	14	37			18	23	1265
37	Sterling Marlin	15		35						12	18		29		33		33	30		32	32	8	39				35			9		1207
38	Lennie Pond	13	20	25	39			38																17	12	9	25	12	10	37		923
39	Dean Combs	19	25		32		31		27			29	18			36	32				38			DNQ			28			36		903
40	Ken Ragan	14			21								19			26	26		35	11			26				36			40		873
41	David Pearson	9	32					37		32			9		QL	9	17				39		41				38			25		812
42	D. K. Ulrich			22		24	19	29			24	17		18	37	29																810
43	Connie Saylor	22		33				25					39			DNQ	27		29				31				34					367
44	Jerry Bowman	DNQ										18			38				30						38				32			362
45	Elliott Forbes-Robinson	DNQ								39						24				38							20			19		349
46	Jeff Hooker																	20			30			DNQ				21	39			322
47	Bobby Wawak	DNQ													28	DNQ			32								22		28			307
48	Dick May											28													19				16			300
49	Dean Roper	16								28							21															294
50	Bobby Gerhart														34				38		DNQ			DNQ	39			19				262
51	Jim Southard	DNQ										31			31			DNQ	20						20		DNQ		DNQ			243
52	Mark Stahl	DNQ		18																			DNQ				DNQ		27	38		240
53	Ken Schrader																	19			33						26	17		27		228
54	Randy Baker	DNQ											24							39			27									219
55	Jim Robinson													14																	29	197
56	Summer McKnight													25																	19	194
57	Derrike Cope													15										29							18	194
58	H. B. Bailey				22											DNQ					DNQ		25									185
59	Bill Schmitt													39																	13	170
60	Steve Moore	DNQ														DNQ	35			18												167
61	Harry Goularte													22																	31	167
62	Ron Esau													27																	27	164
63	Joe Fields		DNQ									26												DNQ	31							155
64	Delma Cowart	DNQ			36								22							DNQ	DNQ											152
65	Phil Barkdoll									35										25												146
66	Eddie Bierschwale																			31										29		146
67	Hershel McGriff													35																	9	143
68	Jimmy Ingalls																		37						40			DNQ	22			140
69	Jim Bown													28																	36	139
70	Ruben Garcia													33																	32	131
71	Rick McCray													30																	37	125
72	Dale Jarrett								14								23												37			121
73	Scott Miller													36																	33	119
74	Glenn Francis													16																	DNQ	115
75	Joe Millikan																												17	DNQ	38	112
76	A. J. Foyt	39			35															36											41	101
77	L. D. Ottinger																										21	22				97
78	John Krebs													40																	39	89
79	Bob Fox																											DNQ	25			88
80	Tommie Crozier																	DNQ				DNQ			27							82
81	Brent Elliott						27																	DNQ				DNQ	DNQ			82
82	Rick Newsom	DNQ		29												DNQ							DNQ				DNQ					76
83	Steve Gray														30																	73
84	Buddie Boys																	DNQ							DNQ			DNQ	31			70
85	Terry Schoonover																												21	34		61
86	Jerry Churchill	DNQ										34				DNQ																61
87	Dick Trickle	36																														55
88	Jim Sauter	DNQ			17					37			20																			52
89	Jerry Jolly													38																		49
90	Bob Penrod																													39		46
91	Grant Adcox	DNQ																		40												43
92	Bobby Rahal																														40	43
93	Donny Paul	DNQ														DNQ					DNQ						41					40
94	Jimmy Hensley		22						20															22		22
95	Gene Coyle																		18						21
96	Laurent Rioux	DNQ		20
97	Johnny Coy Jr.																								23
98	Charles Poalillo																		23
99	Phil Good																								24				DNQ
100	Kevin Terris													24
101	Rodney Combs																				25
102	Don Hume				26
103	Roy Smith													26
104	David Simko	DNQ														27
105	Bob Riley														29
106	Maurice Randall										30					DNQ		DNQ			DNQ				DNQ			DNQ	DNQ
107	Sam Ard																									31
108	Slick Johnson															DNQ							36
109	Blackie Wangerin	DNQ		36																DNQ							DNQ
110	Gary Mayeda													37
111	Mike Potter															DNQ						DNQ							40
112	Tom Sneva	DNQ
113	Wayne Peterson	DNQ
114	Randy LaJoie	DNQ
115	Joe Booher	DNQ
116	Ronnie Sanders	DNQ
117	Jim Hurlbert	DNQ
118	Ramo Stott	DNQ
119	Natz Peters	DNQ
120	Jocko Maggiacomo	DNQ
121	Ralph Jones	DNQ
122	Lowell Cowell	DNQ
123	Jack Ingram	DNQ
124	Philip Duffie	DNQ
125	Louie Littlepage		DNQ																				DNQ	DNQ
126	Robert Ingram		DNQ																					DNQ
127	Don Puskarich													DNQ
128	Doug Wheeler															DNQ
129	Bill Simpson															DNQ
130	John McFadden															DNQ						DNQ						DNQ
131	Jimmy Walker																	DNQ
132	Keith Davis																		DNQ
133	Jim Hull																				DNQ
134	John Ingalls																				DNQ
135	Don Satterfield																					DNQ
136	Buddy Fox																										DNQ
137	Jonathan Lee Edwards																										DNQ
138	St. James Davis																														DNQ
139	Bill Osborne																														DNQ
140	Pat Mintey																														DNQ
141	Bob Kennedy																														DNQ
142	Scott Autrey																														DNQ
143	John Soares Jr.																														DNQ
Pos	Driver	DAY	RCH	CAR	ATL	BRI	NWS	DAR	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	RIV	POC	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	CLT	NWS	CAR	ATL	RIV	Pts

Rookie of the year

Rusty Wallace, a future hall of famer (see Class of 2013 hall of fame), beat out Dean Combs, Clark Dwyer, Tommy Ellis, Doug Heveron, Phil Parsons, and Greg Sacks to win the award in 1984. Only Wallace competed in all 30 races. Combs competed in 12 races. Dwyer competed in 26 races (he skipped rounds 25-27). Ellis competed in 20 races (he skipped rounds 1-4, 11, 13-14, and 28-30). Heveron competed in 16 races (he failed to qualify for the spring Richmond race and the Southern 500). Parsons competed in 23 races (He skipped rounds 3-4, 10-11, 13, 23-24, and 28). Sacks competed in 29 races only skipping the spring Bristol race.

See also

• 1984 NASCAR Busch Series
• 1984 NASCAR Winston West Series

External links

• Winston Cup Standings and Statistics for 1984