| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 21 of 29 in the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
 The 1986 Southern 500 program cover. | |||
| Date | August 31, 1986 | ||
| Official name | 37th Annual Southern 500 | ||
| Location | Darlington Raceway, Darlington, South Carolina | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 1.366 miles (2.221 km) | ||
| Distance | 367 laps, 501.322 mi (806.799 km) | ||
| Scheduled distance | 367 laps, 501.322 mi (806.799 km) | ||
| Average speed | 121.068 miles per hour (194.840 km/h) | ||
| Attendance | 69,000 | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Hendrick Motorsports | ||
| Time | 31.028 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| Laps | 168 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | ESPN | ||
| Announcers | Bob Jenkins | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | Motor Racing Network | ||
The 1986 Southern 500 was the 21st stock car race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 37th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, August 31, 1986, before an audience of 69,000 in Darlington, South Carolina, at Darlington Raceway, a 1.366 miles (2.198 km) permanent egg-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 367 laps to complete. At race's end, Hendrick Motorsports driver Tim Richmond would manage to make a late-race move for the lead with seven to go to win his ninth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fourth victory of the season. [1] To fill out the podium, Stavola Brothers Racing driver Bobby Allison and Melling Racing driver Bill Elliott would finish second and third, respectively.
