1995 Pontiac Excitement 400

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1995 Pontiac Excitement 400
Race details
Race 3 of 31 in the 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1995 Pontiac Excitement 400.jpeg
The 1995 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover.
DateMarch 5, 1995
Official name 41st Annual Pontiac Excitement 400
Location Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 0.75 miles (1.21 km)
Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Scheduled distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Average speed 106.425 miles per hour (171.274 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 21.642
Most laps led
Driver Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South
Laps 248
Winner
No. 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network TBS
Announcers Ken Squier, Ernie Irvan, Chuck Bown
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 1995 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the third stock car race of the 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 41st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 5, 1995, in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. At race's end, Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte would manage to dominate the final stages of the race to take his 15th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. [1] [2] To fill out the top three, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt and Penske Racing South driver Rusty Wallace would finish second and third, respectively.

Contents

Background

The layout of Richmond International Raceway, the venue where the race was at. Richmond International Speedway.png
The layout of Richmond International Raceway, the venue where the race was at.

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

Entry list

#DriverTeamMakeSponsor
1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Pontiac Skoal
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford Miller Genuine Draft
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's Frosted Flakes
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Valvoline
7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford Exide
8 Jeff Burton Stavola Brothers Racing Ford Raybestos
9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford Spam
10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford Tide
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Lowe's
12 Derrike Cope Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford Mane 'n Tail
15 Dick Trickle Bud Moore Engineering Ford Ford Quality Care
16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford The Family Channel
17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet Western Auto
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet Interstate Batteries
21 Morgan Shepherd Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Randy LaJoie (R) Bill Davis Racing Pontiac MBNA
23 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Smokin' Joe's
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Budweiser
26 Steve Kinser King Racing Ford Quaker State
27 Loy Allen Jr. Junior Johnson & Associates Ford Hooters
28 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Steve Grissom Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet Meineke
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Pennzoil
31 Ward Burton A.G. Dillard Motorsports Chevrolet Hardee's
32 Jimmy Hensley Active Motorsports Chevrolet Active Trucking
33 Robert Pressley (R) Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
37 John Andretti Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford Little Caesars, Kmart
40 Greg Sacks Dick Brooks Racing Pontiac Kendall
41 Ricky Craven (R) Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kodiak
42 Kyle Petty Team SABCO Pontiac Coors Light Silver Bullet
43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
47 Billy Standridge Standridge Motorsports Ford World Championship Wrestling
49 Eric Smith Smith Racing Ford 49 Express Pit Stop
52 Gary Bradberry Jimmy Means Racing Ford Advanced Communications, Race Page
66 Ben Hess RaDiUs Motorsports Ford RaDiUs Motorsports
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Olive Garden
75 Todd Bodine Butch Mock Motorsports Ford Factory Stores of America
77 Davy Jones (R) Jasper Motorsports Ford US Airways, Jasper Engines & Transmissions
78 Jay Hedgecock Triad Motorsports Ford Diamond Rio
81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford TIC Financial Systems
87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet Burger King
90 Mike Wallace Donlavey Racing Ford Heilig-Meyers
94 Bill Elliott Elliott-Hardy Racing Ford McDonald's
98 Jeremy Mayfield Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford RCA

Qualifying

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was scheduled to be held on Friday, March 3, at 10:30 AM EST. However, qualifying was snowed out and postponed until Saturday, March 4, at 12:00 PM EST. Qualifying was eventually combined into only one round. [3] Each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 1-34 would be decided on time, [4] and depending on who needed it, a select amount of positions were given to cars who had not otherwise qualified but were high enough in owner's points; which is usually four.

Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 21.642 and an average speed of 124.757 miles per hour (200.777 km/h). [5]

Nine drivers would fail to qualify: Jimmy Hensley, Kenny Wallace, Billy Standridge, Jay Hedgecock, Steve Grissom, Gary Bradberry, Ben Hess, Eric Smith, and Davy Jones.

Full qualifying results

Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
124 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.642124.757
243 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac 21.730124.252
32 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 21.822123.728
416 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 21.826123.706
512 Derrike Cope Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 21.854123.547
625 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.880123.400
715 Dick Trickle Bud Moore Engineering Ford 21.881123.395
84 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 21.898123.299
96 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 21.904123.265
109 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford 21.905123.260
1133 Robert Pressley (R) Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet 21.926123.141
121 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Ford 21.934123.097
1328 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.939123.069
1421 Morgan Shepherd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 21.968122.906
1511 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 21.976122.861
1690 Mike Wallace Donlavey Racing Ford 22.047122.466
1717 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 22.087122.244
1818 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 22.095122.200
1942 Kyle Petty Team SABCO Pontiac 22.098122.183
207 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 22.130122.006
2137 John Andretti Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford 22.132121.995
228 Jeff Burton Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 22.135121.979
2323 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 22.147121.913
245 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.158121.852
2594 Bill Elliott Elliott-Hardy Racing Ford 22.177121.748
263 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 22.186121.698
2740 Greg Sacks Dick Brooks Racing Pontiac 22.201121.616
2898 Jeremy Mayfield Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 22.215121.540
2971 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 22.223121.496
3010 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 22.260121.294
3141 Ricky Craven (R) Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.261121.288
3275 Todd Bodine Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 22.270121.239
3331 Ward Burton A.G. Dillard Motorsports Chevrolet 22.284121.163
3487 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 22.350120.805
Provisionals
3530 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac -*-*
3626 Steve Kinser King Racing Ford -*-*
3722 Randy LaJoie (R) Bill Davis Racing Pontiac -*-*
3827 Loy Allen Jr. Junior Johnson & Associates Ford -*-*
Failed to qualify
3932 Jimmy Hensley Active Motorsports Chevrolet -*-*
4081 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford -*-*
4147 Billy Standridge Standridge Motorsports Ford -*-*
4278 Jay Hedgecock Triad Motorsports Ford -*-*
4329 Steve Grissom Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet -*-*
4452 Gary Bradberry Jimmy Means Racing Ford -*-*
4566 Ben Hess RaDiUs Motorsports Ford -*-*
4649 Eric Smith Smith Racing Ford -*-*
4777 Davy Jones (R) Jasper Motorsports Ford -*-*
Official starting lineup

Race results

FinSt#DriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings
1245 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400131running180$82,950
2263 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 40011running175$57,200
332 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 400248running175$29,600
4625 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 4000running160$31,100
584 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 4000running155$34,400
6512 Derrike Cope Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 4002running155$23,900
71717 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 4000running146$21,875
896 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 3990running142$26,075
9243 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac 3990running138$11,875
102137 John Andretti Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford 3997running139$13,925
11207 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 3980running130$25,575
12715 Dick Trickle Bud Moore Engineering Ford 3980running127$20,175
13416 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 3980running124$20,025
14109 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford 3970running121$10,625
151421 Morgan Shepherd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 3970running118$20,335
162594 Bill Elliott Elliott-Hardy Racing Ford 3970running115$10,400
172898 Jeremy Mayfield Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 3970running112$10,300
181511 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 3970running109$23,250
192740 Greg Sacks Dick Brooks Racing Pontiac 3960running106$19,325
202971 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 3950running103$11,700
213010 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 3950running100$23,150
223331 Ward Burton A.G. Dillard Motorsports Chevrolet 3950running97$10,125
233530 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 3950running94$19,050
242323 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 3930running91$13,825
251328 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 3930running88$24,375
261690 Mike Wallace Donlavey Racing Ford 3930running85$9,950
273722 Randy LaJoie (R) Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 3920running82$19,625
283626 Steve Kinser King Racing Ford 3910running79$19,000
293827 Loy Allen Jr. Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 3890running76$17,875
301818 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 3880transmission73$18,345
31228 Jeff Burton Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 3780running70$18,200
323487 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 3750running67$9,775
331942 Kyle Petty Team SABCO Pontiac 3740running64$18,060
34121 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Ford 3020engine61$17,950
351133 Robert Pressley (R) Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet 2660crash58$18,350
36124 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1831fuel pump60$28,750
373275 Todd Bodine Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 1480crash52$17,750
383141 Ricky Craven (R) Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1410engine49$12,750
Failed to qualify
3932 Jimmy Hensley Active Motorsports Chevrolet
4081 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford
4147 Billy Standridge Standridge Motorsports Ford
4278 Jay Hedgecock Triad Motorsports Ford
4329 Steve Grissom Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet
4452 Gary Bradberry Jimmy Means Racing Ford
4566 Ben Hess RaDiUs Motorsports Ford
4649 Eric Smith Smith Racing Ford
4777 Davy Jones (R) Jasper Motorsports Ford
Official race results

References

  1. Macenka, Joe (March 6, 1995). "Labonte wins second straight at Richmond". Messenger-Inquirer. p. 13. Retrieved October 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  2. Higgins, Tom (March 6, 1995). "Excitement's plentiful as Labonte wins Pontiac 400". The Daily Herald. p. 8. Retrieved October 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  3. Higgins, Tom (March 4, 1995). "Snow postpones qualifying". The Charlotte Observer . p. 20. Retrieved October 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Pontiac Excitement 400". The Charlotte Observer . March 3, 1995. p. 14. Retrieved October 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  5. Higgins, Tom (March 5, 1995). "Qualifying deja vu: Gordon wins pole with record speed". The Charlotte Observer . p. 103. Retrieved October 27, 2022. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
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1995 Goodwrench 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1995 season
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