The race featured one two-tire pit stop between laps 30 and 40, and was held the day before the 1985 Coca-Cola World 600. Both Labonte and Harry Gant won a purse bonus of US$10,000 for leading the twentieth and fiftieth lap of the race.
The Winston was open to race winners from the 1984 season. The pole position was awarded to the defending Winston Cup champion while the rest of the field was determined by the total number of wins from last season, with driver's points used as the tiebreaker.
The Winston was a 70-lap exhibition race with a combined purse of US$500,000. The earnings were as follows:
The Winston earnings
First place
US$200,000
Second place
US$75,000
Third place
US$50,000
Fourth place
US$40,000
Fifth place
US$30,000
Sixth place
US$15,000
Seventh place
US$13,000
Eighth place
US$12,500
Ninth place
US$12,000
Tenth place
US$11,500
Eleventh place
US$11,000
Twelfth place
US$10,000
In addition, a purse bonus of US$10,000 was given to the drivers who led laps 20 and 55.
Chevrolet Monte Carlo drivers Terry Labonte and Darrell Waltrip led the field on the green flag. Despite having an advantage in aerodynamics, the Ford Thunderbird drivers struggled to keep up with the Chevys, which were in the top five. By lap 8, Dale Earnhardt slipped out of the top five as Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison passed him while Waltrip and Labonte battled for the lead. On lap 14, Geoff Bodine entered pit road and retired from the race due to engine failure, becoming the only DNF in the race. Labonte passed Waltrip on the start/finish line to lead lap 20 and earn US$10,000 before surrendering the lead back to Waltrip. Harry Gant caught up with Waltrip before the two-tire pit stops began on lap 30. By lap 38, Gant took the lead from Waltrip and earned US$10,000 for leading lap 50. Gant dominated the race by leading 31 laps, but Waltrip regained momentum and took back the lead on lap 69 to win the race and US$200,000 just before his engine expired.
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