The 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 39th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 16th modern-era cup series.
The season began on February 8 and ended on November 22. Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing won the championship for the third time.
The 1987 season was the first since 1959 without NASCAR legend David Pearson.
After three championships together in 1981, 1982, and 1985, Darrell Waltrip decided to move from the No. 11 Junior Johnson Chevrolet to the new No. 17 Chevrolet, a third full-time Hendrick Motorsports team.
A famous quote stemmed from this move, which crew chief Jeff Hammond describes in his book Real Men Work In the Pits went like this:
"I finally got me a thoroughbred." – Darrell Waltrip, referring to his new ride.
"I don't know about any thoroughbred. I do know we had a jackass around here who recently left." – Junior Johnson
The rest of "silly season" looked like this among full-time teams: Terry Labonte left the No. 44 Piedmont Oldsmobile owned by Billy Hagan to replace Waltrip in the No. 11. Johnson decided to disband the No. 12 Budweiser team and let go driver Neil Bonnett, who moved to the No. 75 Pontiac. Morgan Shepherd vacated the No. 75 in favor of the No. 26 Buick owned by Kenny Bernstein, driven by Joe Ruttman in 1986. Phil Parsons would replace older brother Benny in the No. 55 Oldsmobile owned by Leo and Richard Jackson. Lake Speed started out 1986 in the No. 75 RahMoc ride but was let go early in the season. Speed would form his own team for 1987 in the No. 83 Oldsmobile.
A few car number changes took place as well. Kyle Petty would continue to drive the Wood Brothers Ford, switching from No. 7 to No. 21. Alan Kulwicki took the No. 7 for his independent team. Cale Yarborough exited the No. 28 Ford team and drove his self-owned No. 29 Oldsmobile. Davey Allison would compete for Rookie Of The Year in the Harry Ranier No. 28 Ford.. Michael Waltrip would continue driving for Chuck Rider but switched from the No. 23 Chevrolet to the No. 30 Chevrolet.
Drivers remaining with the same teams from 1986 would be: No. 3 Dale Earnhardt (owner: Richard Childress), No. 4 Rick Wilson (Larry McClure) No. 5 Geoff Bodine (Rick Hendrick), No. 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. (Stavola Brothers), No. 9 Bill Elliott ( Harry Melling), No. 15 Ricky Rudd (Bud Moore), No. 18 Tommy Ellis (Eric Freelander), No. 22 Bobby Allison (Stavola Brothers), No. 27 Rusty Wallace (Raymond Beadle), No. 33 Harry Gant (Hal Needham), No. 43 Richard Petty ( Petty Enterprises), No. 52 Jimmy Means, No. 70 J. D. McDuffie (Tom Winkle), No. 71 Dave Marcis, No. 88 Buddy Baker (Baker/Danny Schiff), No. 90 Ken Schrader (Junie Donlavey) and the part-time/independent efforts of No. 14 A. J. Foyt, No. 67 Buddy Arrington, No. 77 Ken Ragan (Marvin Ragan), No. 81 Chet Fillip (Corey Fillip) and No. 89 Jim Sauter (Mueller Brothers).
Top drivers out of a ride included Benny Parsons and Joe Ruttman.
Those who officially threw their hat in the ring for NASCAR Rookie of the Year in 1987 would be: Davey Allison, Steve Christman (No. 62 AC Delco, Tom Winkle), Rodney Combs (No. 10 DiGard) and Derrike Cope (No. 19 Stoke Racing).
Ron Bouchard, Trevor Boys, Eddie Bierschwale and a host of others would battle for the remaining open spots.
The Busch Clash, an annual invitational event for all Busch Pole winners the previous season, was held February 8 at Daytona International Speedway. Bill Elliott drew for the pole. Alan Kulwicki was the wild card.
Results
The 7-Eleven Twin 125's, a pair of qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held February 12 at Daytona International Speedway. Bill Elliott and Davey Allison won the poles for both races, respectively, as a result of their speeds in qualifying on February 9.
Race One: Top Ten Results
Notes:
Race Two: Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: 18-Tommy Ellis, 24-Grant Adcox, 32-Jonathan Lee Edwards, 39-Blackie Wangerin, 41-Ronnie Thomas, 48-Steve Moore, 49-Delma Cowart, 51-David Simko, 54-Donnie Allison, 62-Steve Christman, 74-Bobby Wawak, 89-Jim Sauter, 93-Charlie Baker, 98-Ed Pimm, 00-Dick McCabe, 02-Joe Booher, 09-Jeff Swindell, 63-Jocko Maggiacomo (did not start qualifying race).
The Goodwrench 500 was held March 1 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Davey Allison won his first career pole. Dale Earnhardt led 319 out of 492 laps en route to his first victory of the season. [1]
Top Ten Results
The Miller High Life 400 was held March 8 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Alan Kulwicki won his first career pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Ron Sheppard (#34), Tony Spanos (#48), Lake Speed (#83), Bob Hollar (#02)
The Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was held March 15 at Atlanta International Raceway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole and led 196 laps, but a mechanical problem would leave him out of contention. A restart with eight laps remaining left a four car battle for the victory. Ricky Rudd managed to pull away from Benny Parsons to take his first victory of the season, and seventh of his career. [2] [3]
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Jerry Holden (#68), Bobby Wawak (#74)
The TranSouth 500 was held March 29 at Darlington Raceway. Ken Schrader won the pole. Bill Elliott was leading at the white flag but ran out of gas in Turn 3. This allowed Dale Earnhardt to overtake Elliott and cruise to victory. At one point in the race, Benny Parsons, having hit the wall early, attempted to make a pit stop only for crew chief Harry Hyde to tell him that the crew was in the middle of a break for ice cream, inspiring a scene in the film Days of Thunder , where fictional driver Cole Trickle, played by Tom Cruise, is denied a pit stop due to his team eating ice cream. [4]
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Mike Potter (#81), Mark Stahl (#82)
The First Union 400 was held April 5 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole. Dale Earnhardt won the race in dominating fashion, leading 319 out of 500 laps to claim his second straight victory and fourth of the season. [5] Terry Labonte was injured the previous week at Darlington, and was relieved by Brett Bodine at an early pit stop. This was the final race for DiGard Motorsports, as team's assets were sold to Whitcomb Racing before the 1988 season.
Top Ten Results
The Valleydale Meats 500 was held April 12 at Bristol International Raceway. Harry Gant won the pole. After leading the most laps, Bill Elliott was surpassed by Dale Earnhardt with 115 laps to go. Earnhardt would hold on for his fifth victory of the season. [6]
Top Ten Results
The Sovran Bank 500 was held April 26 at Martinsville Speedway. Morgan Shepherd won the pole.
Top Ten Results
The Winston 500 was held May 3 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole at a record speed of 212.809 mph (44.998 seconds), a record that still stands today and will likely never be broken. This race was remembered for a near-tragedy early when Bobby Allison flew into the fence and nearly landed in the front stretch grandstands. Though Allison was not injured, a female fan lost an eye as a result of being struck by debris. Eventually, this crash would lead to the introduction of restrictor plates in 1988, and the practice would continue until the 2019 Daytona 500. Allison's crash caused a 2½ hour red flag to repair the catch fence, and the race was shortened to 178 laps due to darkness. This was Davey Allison's first career Winston Cup victory, in only his 14th career start.
Top Ten Results
The Winston, an annual invitational race for previous winners in Winston Cup, was held May 17 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt won the race. At one point, Bill Elliott's car nicked the rear of Earnhardt's, sending the latter into the infield grass. But no sooner did Earnhardt drive through the grass than he drove onto the track once more. That incident came to be known as "The Pass in the Grass." With eight laps to go, contact with Earnhardt cut down Elliott's tire. An angry Elliott retaliated by bumping Earnhardt after the race was over. This race would be the breakthrough edition NASCAR envisioned, with the adoption of the non-winners "last chance" race and the 19 most recent NASCAR race winners in the feature of 75, 50, and 10 laps.
Top Ten Results
The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The No. 9 of Bill Elliott won the pole. This race was notable for the sheer amount of attrition. Out of the 42 cars that started the 600 mile event, only 17 of them finished the race. 21 years before Marcos Ambrose made his debut in the series, Allan Grice became the first Australian driver to qualify for a Winston Cup race. In his first ever run on an oval track, Grice qualified his Oldsmobile Delta 88 in 35th position. Kyle Petty won this race by over 1 lap over Morgan Shepherd. This would be Kyle Petty’s last win with the Wood Brothers. Petty left the team following a dismal 1988 season to drive for Felix Sabates.
Top Ten Results
The Budweiser 500 was held May 31 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole. Davey Allison's 2nd and last victory of his rookie season would make him the last rookie to win a Winston Cup race until Tony Stewart won 3 races in 1999.
Top Ten Results
The Miller High Life 500 was held June 14 at Pocono International Raceway. The No. 11 of Terry Labonte won the pole. This was Tim Richmond's first start of 1987. Late in the 1986 season, Richmond came down with what was thought of as "double pneumonia." This caused him to miss most of the season.
Top Ten Results
The Budweiser 400 was held June 21 at Riverside International Raceway. Terry Labonte won the pole. Richard Petty, not fully recovered from rib injuries sustained in a crash at the Miller High Life 500 at Pocono a week earlier, ran only the pace lap before giving way to Joe Ruttman while Petty moved to the ESPN broadcast booth. This was Tim Richmond's final career victory.
Top Ten Results
The Miller American 400 was held June 28 at Michigan International Speedway. Rusty Wallace won his 1st career pole.
Top Ten Results
The Pepsi Firecracker 400 was held July 4 at Daytona International Speedway. The No. 28 of Davey Allison won the pole. In this race, smaller carburetors (the size used in the Busch Series) were mandated by NASCAR at Daytona and Talladega in an attempt to slow the cars. The pole speed was just over 198 mph as compared to over 210 mph in February. NASCAR officials experienced scoring difficulties late in the race, and at one point, were scoring leader Bobby Allison as one lap down. Final results properly restored the missing lap to Allison's total, and he was credited with the victory. On the final lap, Ken Schrader got loose coming out of turn four, spun, and barrel-rolled in the tri-oval just shy of the start/finish line. He collected Harry Gant, slid across the finish line, and still finished in 7th place. Schrader's flip can be seen in the movie Days of Thunder.
Top Ten Results
The Summer 500 was held July 19 at Pocono International Raceway. Tim Richmond won the pole for the final time in his career.
Top Ten Results
The Talladega 500 was held July 26 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole at 203.827 mph (328.028 km/h) with the smaller Busch series carburetors.
Top Ten Results
The Budweiser at The Glen was held August 10 at Watkins Glen International. Terry Labonte won the pole. The race started a day late due to rain. Rusty Wallace had a commanding lead in the final laps of the race, but prior to the white flag, he started running out of fuel. Rusty made a quick pit stop for gas, but kept his lead and held on for the win.
Top Ten Results
The Champion Spark Plug 400 was held August 16 at Michigan International Speedway. Davey Allison won the pole. This was Tim Richmond's final race; he was running 8th when his engine blew. (It's believed he purposely over-revved it to blow it up, because he was suffering from severe exhaustion caused by what turned out to be a then-unknown bout with the AIDS virus.) He would be credited with a 29th place finish. Members of the print media covering the race were witnesses to the Northwest Airlines Flight 255 plane crash later in the day. Tom Higgins of The Charlotte Observer was involved in coverage of the plane crash, as he had just checked into the nearby hotel awaiting a Monday morning flight to Charlotte following the race.
Top Ten Results
The Busch 500 was held August 22 at Bristol International Raceway. Terry Labonte won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Tony Spanos (No. 48), Troy Beebe (No. 6), Mike Potter (No. 81), J. D. McDuffie (No. 70)
The Southern 500 was held September 6 at Darlington Raceway. Davey Allison won the pole. The race was shortened to 202 laps due to rain. Going into this race three drivers had a shot at a special $100,000 bonus from Winston if they won this race because they had won the 3 previous Winston Million races. Bill Elliott won the Daytona 500, Davey Allison won the Winston 500, and Kyle Petty won the Coca Cola 600. Davey crashed out of the race on lap 164 finishing 29th. Kyle finished 14th 2 laps down to the winner. Bill could only muster 8th so ultimately no one won the bonus for 1987.
Top Ten Results
The Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400 was held September 13 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Alan Kulwicki won the pole.
Top Ten Results
The Delaware 500 was held September 20 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Alan Kulwicki won the pole.
Top Ten Results
The Goody's 500 was held September 27 at Martinsville Speedway. Geoff Bodine won the pole. A late race caution set up an intense 3-lap sprint among Dale Earnhardt, Terry Labonte and Darrell Waltrip. On the final lap, going into turn 3, Labonte hooked Earnhardt's left rear quarter-panel, sending Earnhardt sideways and Labonte spinning towards the outside wall in turn 4. The contact enabled Waltrip to sneak underneath and grab the win.
Top Ten Results
The Holly Farms 400 was held October 4 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole.
Top Ten Results
The Oakwood Homes 500 was held October 11 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bobby Allison won the pole for the final time in his career. A crash at lap 57 ended Neil Bonnett's season as the crash shattered his leg. A big chain reaction crash at lap 125 took out Geoff Bodine, Brett Bodine, Alan Kulwicki and Bobby Hillin Jr. among others.
Top Ten Results
The AC Delco 500 was held October 25 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Davey Allison won the pole. Dale Earnhardt clinched his 3rd NASCAR Winston Cup Championship with two races to go (he only needed a 19th place finish in this race to clinch the title). In the Bob Latford Winston Cup points system, a driver can clinch the championship with two races to go if he has a 370+ point lead over 2nd, and Earnhardt did just that by having a 515 point lead over Bill Elliott at the end of the race. Earnhardt would become the third driver in NASCAR history to clinch the Winston Cup Championship with two or more races to go, joining Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough, but as of 2018, Earnhardt is the only driver in NASCAR history to clinch the title twice with two races to go. He would accomplish it again in 1994 when he clinched his seventh and final championship with two races to go by 448 points over Rusty Wallace. In 1978, Yarborough clinched his third consecutive Winston Cup Championship with two races to go by 396 points over Bobby Allison, but in 1975, however, Petty clinched his sixth championship with four races to go because his point lead was 740+ over second. His margin was 827 points over James Hylton. Petty's championship win with four races to go is the earliest for a driver to clinch a championship in NASCAR history. Also as of 2018, this feat can never happen again due to several changes in the points system after 2003.
Top Ten Results
The Winston Western 500 was held November 8 at Riverside International Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Trevor Boys (No. 12), John Krebs (No. 66), Brad Noffsinger (No. 98), St. James Davis, Jack Sellers
The Atlanta Journal 500 was held November 22 at Atlanta International Raceway. Bill Elliott won the pole. This was the 1st time that Atlanta was the season finale (it was the season finale from 1987 to 2000). Dale Earnhardt officially won his third Winston Cup Championship by 489 points over Bill Elliott, the second largest point margin in Bob Latford's Winston Cup points system history. As of 2022, Richard Petty holds the record for the largest point margin, dating back to 1975, when he won his sixth championship by 722 points over Dave Marcis.
Top Ten Results
(key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by owner's points. * – Most laps led.
Pos | Driver | DAY | CAR | RCH | ATL | DAR | NWS | BRI | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | POC | RSD | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | RSD | ATL | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dale Earnhardt | 5 | 1* | 1* | 16* | 1* | 1* | 1 | 1* | 4 | 20 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 1* | 6 | 1* | 3 | 8 | 2* | 1* | 1* | 1 | 31 | 2* | 2 | 12 | 2 | 30 | 2 | 4696 |
2 | Bill Elliott | 1* | 4 | 4 | 28 | 2 | 10 | 4* | 6 | 22 | 23* | 2 | 2 | 5 | 34 | 12 | 32 | 1 | 28 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1* | 23 | 1* | 4207 |
3 | Terry Labonte | 18 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 32 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 37 | 4 | 28 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 33 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 32 | 3 | 1* | 4 | 4 | 8 | 28 | 4007 |
4 | Darrell Waltrip | 8 | 7 | 20 | 6 | 10 | 21 | 12 | 21 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 30 | 7 | 4 | 19 | 4 | 11 | 17 | 21 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 18 | 3911 |
5 | Rusty Wallace | 41 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 9 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 17 | 40 | 41 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 8 | 1* | 4 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 12 | 28 | 10 | 22 | 12 | 1 | 12 | 3818 |
6 | Ricky Rudd | 9 | 2 | 28 | 1 | 30 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 30 | 25 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 14 | 26 | 15 | 4 | 25 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1* | 21 | 13 | 11 | 31 | 31 | 3 | 3742 |
7 | Kyle Petty | 35 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 24 | 3 | 24 | 3 | 17 | 20 | 9 | 12 | 27 | 28 | 14 | 18 | 23 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 3737 |
8 | Richard Petty | 3 | 15 | 23 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 22 | 16 | 4 | 36 | 29 | 6 | 12 | 26 | 8 | 37 | 14 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 17 | 4 | 30 | 3708 |
9 | Bobby Allison | 6 | 13 | 9 | 19 | 28 | 14 | 23 | 8 | 39 | 22 | 25 | 6 | 8 | 27 | 1 | 27 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 22 | 26 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 2* | 38 | 5 | 4 | 3530 |
10 | Ken Schrader | 7 | 10 | 13 | 29 | 5 | 16 | 17 | 7 | 8 | 29 | 6 | 17 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 18 | 27 | 34 | 27 | 11 | 21 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 29 | 35 | 3405 |
11 | Sterling Marlin | 30 | 19 | 21 | 13 | 4 | 17 | 24 | 19 | 14 | 32 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 16 | 25 | 14 | 32 | 15 | 20 | 4 | 22 | 5 | 7 | 20 | 3 | 11 | 24 | 9 | 3381 |
12 | Neil Bonnett | 12 | 3 | 22 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 17 | 18 | 7 | 32 | 37 | 9 | 10 | 32 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 36 | 3352 | |||
13 | Geoff Bodine | 14 | 32 | 2 | 15 | 11 | 28 | 19 | 3 | 40 | 18 | 28 | 9 | 27 | 11 | 39 | 34 | 13 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 18 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 5 | 31 | 8 | 10* | 31 | 3328 |
14 | Phil Parsons | 11 | 11 | 15 | 27 | 9 | 7 | 20 | 4 | 31 | 8 | 22 | 11 | 11 | 21 | 15 | 39 | 29 | 7 | 14 | 19 | 12 | 20 | 29 | 16 | 14 | 27 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 3327 |
15 | Alan Kulwicki | 15 | 25 | 6 | 33 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 28 | 34 | 27 | 15 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 2 | 23 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 40 | 23 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 29 | 18 | 11 | 6 | 3238 |
16 | Benny Parsons | 2 | 34 | 10 | 2 | 21 | 15 | 28 | 26 | 12 | 26 | 5 | 33 | 34 | 9 | 35 | 4 | 30 | 5 | 18 | 26 | 31 | 16 | 16 | 23 | 19 | 38 | 15 | 2 | 7 | 3215 |
17 | Morgan Shepherd | 16 | 5 | 31 | 10 | 22 | 27 | 8 | 17 | 10 | 2 | 32 | 31 | 35 | 25 | 5 | 36 | 39 | 22 | 3 | 24 | 9 | 30 | 40 | 5 | 4 | 20 | 5 | 25 | 39 | 3099 |
18 | Dave Marcis | 34 | 35 | 8 | 31 | 33 | 26 | 27 | 23 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 27 | 16 | 15 | 3 | 9 | 22 | 3 | 35 | 18 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 27 | 30 | 18 | 22 | 9 | 32 | 3080 |
19 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | 13 | 14 | 11 | 24 | 23 | 13 | 26 | 15 | 5 | 34 | 26 | 14 | 13 | 6 | 13 | 15 | 40 | 29 | 13 | 29 | 6 | 15 | 39 | 22 | 8 | 28 | 33 | 34 | 14 | 3027 |
20 | Michael Waltrip | 22 | 17 | 12 | 39 | 19 | 24 | 13 | 10 | 25 | 11 | 21 | 16 | 32 | 39 | 19 | 37 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 14 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 35 | 19 | 26 | 38 | 2840 |
21 | Davey Allison (R) | 27 | 9 | 26 | 5 | 27 | 1* | 16 | 1* | 12 | 2 | 20 | 5 | 2* | 17 | 5 | 29 | 2 | 26 | 19 | 42 | 14 | 5 | 2824 | |||||||
22 | Harry Gant | 31 | 29 | 25 | 34 | 7 | 11 | 6 | 27 | 29 | 24 | 30 | 32 | 25 | 13 | 9 | 30 | 31 | 18 | 26 | 8 | 39 | 25 | 25 | 14 | 31 | 33 | 13 | 28 | 24 | 2725 |
23 | Jimmy Means | 24 | 22 | 14 | 32 | 36 | 30 | 29 | 14 | 33 | 15 | 13 | 19 | 23 | DNQ | 29 | 38 | 36 | 19 | 37 | 13 | 22 | 9 | 22 | 30 | 21 | 40 | 20 | 27 | 29 | 2483 |
24 | Buddy Baker | 4 | 31 | 38 | 25 | 32 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 8 | 31 | 41 | 7 | 10 | 2373 | |||||||||
25 | Buddy Arrington | 17 | 11 | 12 | 18 | 25 | 37 | 28 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 17 | 24 | 14 | 19 | 29 | 27 | 14 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 1885 | |||||||||
26 | Dale Jarrett (R) | 12 | 10 | 29 | 28 | 38 | 35 | 35 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 12 | 21 | 36 | 39 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 38 | 10 | 18 | 34 | 16 | 17 | 36 | 1840 | |||||
27 | Steve Christman (R) | DNQ | 29 | 22 | 39 | 31 | 25 | 19 | 41 | 37 | 26 | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 23 | 26 | 34 | DNQ | 15 | 21 | 11 | 17 | 19 | 29 | 15 | 32 | DNQ | 1727 | |||
28 | Rick Wilson | 37 | 11 | 34 | 20 | 30 | 29 | 14 | 30 | 30 | 40 | 16 | 21 | 12 | 7 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 18 | 27 | 1723 | ||||||||||
29 | Cale Yarborough | 10 | 28 | 8 | 15 | 37 | 42 | 4 | 33 | 24 | 5 | 40 | 13 | 36 | 24 | 37 | 40 | 1450 | |||||||||||||
30 | J. D. McDuffie | 25 | 20 | 16 | 40 | 41 | 32 | 21 | 31 | Wth | DNQ | 23 | 28 | 37 | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 25 | 24 | 22 | DNQ | DNQ | 28 | 17 | DNQ | DNQ | 40 | DNQ | 1361 | ||
31 | Lake Speed | 26 | 12 | DNQ | 35 | 31 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 40 | 7 | 16 | 30 | 7 | 41 | 1345 | |||||||||||||||
32 | Brett Bodine | RL | 21 | 14 | 34 | 38 | 22 | 11 | 22 | 38 | 21 | 20 | 13 | 32 | 41 | 15 | 1271 | ||||||||||||||
33 | Greg Sacks | 20 | 30 | 37 | 26 | 26 | 36 | 36 | 29 | 25 | 35 | Wth | 19 | 38 | 24 | 42 | 27 | 26 | 1200 | ||||||||||||
34 | Eddie Bierschwale | 36 | 18 | 18 | 42 | 16 | 18 | 25 | 24 | 18 | 28 | 19 | 33 | DNQ | 25 | 37 | DNQ | 23 | 1162 | ||||||||||||
35 | Rodney Combs (R) | 19 | 37 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 31 | 16 | 19 | 23 | 31 | 23 | 27 | DNQ | 37 | 1098 | ||||||||||||||
36 | Tim Richmond | 1* | 1* | 4 | 22 | 29 | 11 | 10 | 29 | Wth | 1063 | ||||||||||||||||||||
37 | Derrike Cope (R) | 33 | 36 | 13 | 37 | 38 | 41 | 31 | 31 | 38 | 16 | 39 | 20 | 797 | |||||||||||||||||
38 | Mark Stahl | 38 | 33 | 30 | DNQ | 17 | DNQ | 37 | 33 | 23 | 28 | 21 | 687 | ||||||||||||||||||
39 | Bobby Wawak | DNQ | 27 | 32 | DNQ | 29 | Wth | 19 | 24 | DNQ | DNQ | 32 | 23 | DNQ | 36 | 638 | |||||||||||||||
40 | D. K. Ulrich | 26 | 30 | 23 | 18 | 15 | 34 | DNQ | 26 | 625 | |||||||||||||||||||||
41 | Ken Ragan | 17 | 26 | 21 | 30 | 26 | 23 | 549 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
42 | Connie Saylor | 40 | 41 | 24 | 23 | 33 | 38 | DNQ | 18 | DNQ | DNQ | 34 | 16 | 25 | DNQ | 486 | |||||||||||||||
43 | Jerry Cranmer (R) | 23 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 482 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
44 | Chet Fillip | 39 | 24 | 41 | DNQ | 21 | 21 | 20 | 480 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
45 | Trevor Boys | 23 | Wth | 18 | 11 | 38 | DNQ | 36 | 24 | 33 | 24 | 25 | 21 | DNQ | DNQ | 460 | |||||||||||||||
46 | Mike Potter | 25 | DNQ | 18 | 33 | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 30 | DNQ | 33 | 35 | 456 | ||||||||||||||||||
47 | Slick Johnson | 19 | 12 | 19 | 14 | 30 | 15 | 25 | 32 | 444 | |||||||||||||||||||||
48 | Ron Bouchard | 32 | 36 | 12 | 8 | 38 | 440 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
49 | H. B. Bailey | 18 | 17 | 40 | DNQ | 35 | DNQ | 19 | 428 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
50 | A. J. Foyt | 42 | 20 | 38 | 35 | 21 | 37 | 409 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
51 | Larry Pearson | 25 | 31 | 6 | 25 | 401 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
52 | Charlie Rudolph | 19 | 22 | DNQ | 13 | 36 | 382 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
53 | Ernie Irvan | 29 | 15 | 22 | 8 | 19 | 324 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
54 | Jim Sauter | DNQ | 9 | 24 | 24 | DNQ | 320 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
55 | Brad Teague | 40 | 41 | 25 | 13 | 17 | 319 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
56 | Ronnie Thomas | DNQ | 30 | 30 | 25 | 26 | 319 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
57 | David Simko | DNQ | 26 | 28 | 30 | 35 | 295 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
58 | Tommy Ellis | DNQ | 38 | 27 | 17 | 40 | 286 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
59 | Hut Stricklin | 28 | 29 | 16 | 270 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
60 | Chad Little | 15 | 15 | 236 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
61 | David Sosebee | 28 | 39 | 21 | 225 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
62 | Randy Baker | 17 | DNQ | 20 | 215 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
63 | Jocko Maggiacomo | DNQ | 24 | 35 | DNQ | 37 | 201 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
64 | Ed Pimm | DNQ | 27 | 34 | 42 | 185 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
65 | Jim Robinson | 36 | 12 | 182 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
66 | Harry Goularte | 20 | 32 | 170 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
67 | Charlie Baker | DNQ | 21 | QL | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 33 | 164 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
68 | Jimmy Horton | Wth | 21 | 33 | QL | DNQ | 164 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
69 | Hershel McGriff | 12 | 42 | 164 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
70 | George Follmer | 40 | 16 | 163 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
71 | Ruben Garcia | 19 | 39 | 152 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
72 | Ron Shephard | DNQ | 39 | DNQ | 21 | 146 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
73 | Rick McCray | 26 | 35 | 143 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
74 | Dave Pletcher | 36 | 27 | DNQ | 137 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
75 | Bobby Gerhart | 39 | DNQ | 28 | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 125 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
76 | Bill Schmitt | 33 | 36 | 119 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
77 | Jerry Holden | 42 | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 28 | 116 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
78 | Jesse Samples Jr. | 41 | 29 | DNQ | 116 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
79 | Jim Fitzgerald | 17 | 112 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
80 | Jonathan Lee Edwards | DNQ | 35 | 37 | DNQ | 110 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
81 | James Hylton | 37 | 38 | Wth | DNQ | 101 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
82 | Bobby Baker | 23 | 94 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
83 | Rick Knoop | 24 | 25 | 20 | 91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
84 | Rick Jeffrey | DNQ | DNQ | 24 | DNQ | 91 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
85 | Roy Smith | 39 | 40 | 89 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
86 | Tom Retsell | 26 | 85 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
87 | D. Wayne Strout | DNQ | 26 | DNQ | DNQ | 85 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
88 | Gary Fedewa | 27 | DNQ | 82 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
89 | Doug French | 28 | 79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
90 | John Krebs | 29 | DNQ | 76 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
91 | Tom Sneva | 29 | 76 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
92 | Curtis Markham | 38 | 26 | 30 | 34 | 73 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
93 | Jim Bown | 23 | 31 | 70 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
94 | Jerry Bowman | 31 | 70 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
95 | Ken Bouchard | 32 | 67 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
96 | Patty Moise | 33 | 64 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
97 | Kirk Bryant | DNQ | 34 | 61 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
98 | Mark Gibson | 34 | 61 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
99 | Jeff Swindell | DNQ | 34 | 61 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
100 | Phil Barkdoll | DNQ | 35 | DNQ | DNQ | 58 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
101 | Donny Paul | 35 | 58 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
102 | Butch Miller | 36 | DNQ | DNQ | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
103 | Phil Good | DNQ | 39 | DNQ | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
104 | Mark Martin | 39 | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
105 | Patrick Latimer | 40 | 43 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
106 | Chuck Schroedel | 40 | 43 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
107 | Joe Ruttman | 36 | QL | QL | 10 | 7 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
108 | Larry Pollard | 16 | 27 | 13 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
109 | Tony Spanos | DNQ | DNQ | 18 | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
110 | Larry Caudill | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
111 | Ronnie Sanders | 21 | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
112 | Ron Esau | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
113 | Irv Hoerr | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
114 | Delma Cowart | DNQ | Wth | DNQ | 24 | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
115 | Rick Hendrick | 33 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
116 | Allan Grice | 35 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
117 | Tommy Kendall | 38 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
118 | Glen Steurer | 41 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
119 | Dick McCabe | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
120 | Joe Booher | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
121 | Grant Adcox | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
122 | Steve Moore | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
123 | Ralph Jones | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
124 | Blackie Wangerin | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
125 | Donnie Allison | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
126 | Eddie Drury | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | Wth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
127 | Clark James | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
128 | Bill Hollar | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
129 | Joe Millikan | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
130 | Graeme Crosby | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
131 | Johnny Coy Jr. | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
132 | Billy Fulcher | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
133 | Tommie Crozier | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
134 | Roman Calczynski | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
135 | Ray Kelly | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
136 | St. James Davis | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
137 | Jack Sellers | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
138 | Rick Hood | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
139 | Ed Sutton | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
140 | Jerry Ward | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
141 | George Wiltshire | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
142 | Lynn Gibson | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
143 | Glenn Moffat | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
144 | Graham Taylor | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
145 | Joe Dan Bailey | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
146 | Ronnie Adams | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
147 | Kevin Evans | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
148 | Brandon Baker | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
149 | Philip Duffie | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
150 | Reno Fontana | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
151 | Bob Howard | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
152 | Brad Noffsinger | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
153 | Doug Wolfgang | Wth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
154 | Robbie Faggart | Wth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
155 | Bob Keselowski | Wth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
156 | Paul Newman | Wth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pos | Driver | DAY | CAR | RCH | ATL | DAR | NWS | BRI | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | POC | RSD | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | RSD | ATL | Pts |
Davey Allison won the Rookie of the Year award in 1987, winning two races for Harry Ranier after making an aborted attempt at the award the previous season. He was followed by Dale Jarrett, who had two top-ten finishes, and Steve Christman, who did not race in NASCAR again following the season. The other contenders were Rodney Combs, Derrike Cope, and Jerry Cranmer, all running incomplete schedules.
The 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 42nd season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 19th modern-era Cup Series. It began on Sunday, February 11, and ended on Sunday, November 18. Because of a highly controversial penalty to Mark Martin early in the season, Dale Earnhardt with Richard Childress Racing was crowned the Winston Cup champion for the fourth time, edging out Martin by 26 points.
The 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 49th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 26th modern-era NASCAR Cup series. It began on February 9 and ended on November 16. Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports won his second Cup championship at the end of the season.
The 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 46th season of NASCAR professional stock car racing in the United States and the 23rd modern-era Cup series. The season began on Sunday, February 20, and ended on Sunday, November 13. Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing was crowned champion at season's end, winning consecutive Winston Cups for the third time in his career and tying Richard Petty for the record of most top-level NASCAR championships with seven. It was also the 7th and final NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship for Dale Earnhardt before his death 7 years later in 2001, this was also the final season for 18-time Winston Cup winner Harry Gant.
The 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 48th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 25th modern-era NASCAR Cup series. The season had been started on February 18 at Daytona International Speedway, and ended on November 10 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The season would be remembered for Terry Labonte pulling off a massive upset and winning his second Winston Cup Championship over teammate Jeff Gordon.
The 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 47th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 24th modern-era Cup series season. The season began on February 12 in Daytona Beach and concluded on November 12 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports won his first career championship.
The 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 45th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 22nd modern-era Cup season. The season began on February 7 and ended on November 14. Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing won the title, the sixth of his career.
The 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 44th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 21st modern-era Cup season. The season began on February 9, 1992, and ended on November 15, 1992. Independent owner/driver Alan Kulwicki of AK Racing won the Winston Cup championship.
The 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 43rd of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 20th modern-era Cup Season. It began February 10 and ended November 17. Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing won his fifth Winston Cup championship at the conclusion of the season. The season was marred by the death of driver and team owner J. D. McDuffie, who was killed in a wreck at Watkins Glen.
The 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 41st season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 18th modern-era Cup season. It began February 12 and ended November 19. Rusty Wallace of Blue Max Racing won the championship. This was the first year that every Winston Cup race had flag to flag coverage, with almost all of them being televised live.
The 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 40th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 17th modern-era Cup series. The season began on February 7 at Daytona International Speedway and ended on November 20 at the Atlanta International Speedway. Bill Elliott of Melling Racing won the championship.
The 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 38th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 15th modern-era Cup series season. The season began on February 16 and ended November 16. Dale Earnhardt of RCR Enterprises won his second championship this year.
The 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 37th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 14th modern-era Cup series season. The season began on Sunday, February 10 and ended on Sunday, November 17. Darrell Waltrip, driving for Junior Johnson, was crowned champion at the end of the season. Bill Elliott, driving for Harry Melling, had won 11 races in 1985, but lost the title by 101 points to three-time race winner Waltrip. This was the first season where all races were televised in some form.
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.
The 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 31st season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 8th modern-era Cup series. It began on Sunday, January 14, and ended on Sunday, November 18. Richard Petty won his seventh and final Winston Cup championship, winning by 11 points over Darrell Waltrip. Dale Earnhardt was crowned NASCAR Rookie of the Year.
The 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 34th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 11th modern-era Cup series. The season began on February 14 at the Daytona International Speedway and concluded on November 21 at Riverside International Raceway. Darrell Waltrip took his second straight championship driving for Junior Johnson by 72 points over Bobby Allison.
The 1992 edition of The Winston was a stock car racing competition that took place on May 16, 1992. Held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, the 70-lap race was an exhibition race in the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. This was the first broadcast of The Winston on TNN, which aired the event until 2000. It was also better known as One Hot Night because it was the first ever race that was held on a superspeedway at night. Davey Allison of Robert Yates Racing won the pole, led the most laps, and won the race. This was also the final appearance of Richard Petty and Alan Kulwicki at The Winston; Petty retired at the end of the season and Kulwicki was killed in a plane crash on April 1, 1993.
The 1987 edition of The Winston was a stock car racing competition that took place on May 17, 1987. Held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, the 135-lap race was an exhibition race in the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Bill Elliott of Melling Racing won the pole and led the most laps (121), but it was Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing who won the race in a move that would be known in NASCAR history as the Pass in the Grass.
The 1988 edition of The Winston was a stock car racing competition that took place on May 22, 1988. Held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, the 135-lap race was an exhibition race in the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Darrell Waltrip of Hendrick Motorsports won the pole and led the most laps (50), but it was Terry Labonte of Junior Johnson & Associates who won the race.
The 1989 edition of The Winston was a stock car racing competition that took place on May 21, 1989. Held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, the 135-lap race was an exhibition race in the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Terry Labonte of Junior Johnson & Associates won the pole, but it was Rusty Wallace of Blue Max Racing who led the most laps (69) and won the race to collect US$240,000 after spinning Darrell Waltrip of Hendrick Motorsports out before the final lap.
The 1990 edition of The Winston was a stock car racing competition that took place on May 20, 1990. Held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, the 70-lap race was an exhibition race in the 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing won the pole and led all 70 laps to win the race and collect a total purse of US$325,000. He also became the first two-time winner of The Winston.