1996 in NASCAR

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In 1996 in NASCAR, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) sanctioned three national touring series, eight regional touring series, and the Winston Racing Series for local competition. NASCAR champions in 1996 were Terry Labonte, Randy LaJoie, Ron Hornaday Jr., Lance Hooper, Dave Dion, Tony Hirschman, Lyndon Amick, Mike Cope, Kelly Tanner, Chris Raudman, Joe Kosiski, and Larry Phillips.

Contents

Off-track activities

During 1996, NASCAR expanded its brand into several new entertainment areas. The NASCAR Online website went live during the year, [1] while the first four NASCAR Thunder stores, operated in conjunction with Gaylord Entertainment, were opened. [2] In addition, the NASCAR Racing Online Series, based on Papyrus's NASCAR Racing 2 game, was formed using the Total Entertainment Network system. [3]

National touring series

Winston Cup Series

1996 Winston Cup champion Terry Labonte Terry Labonte 1997.jpg
1996 Winston Cup champion Terry Labonte

The 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series consisted of 31 events, run at 18 race tracks in 15 states. [4] Terry Labonte won his second series championship, beating Jeff Gordon by 37 points; [5] the Rick Hendrick-owned No. 5 Kellogg's Corn Flakes Chevrolet team won the series' owner's championship. [6] Labonte's team, led by crew chief Gary DeHart, also won the series' Pit Crew Championship, held in October at North Carolina Motor Speedway. [7]

Eleven drivers won races over the course of the 31-race season; Jeff Gordon won the most events, with ten victories. [8] Bobby Hamilton was the season's only first-time winner, winning at Phoenix International Raceway in October. [9]

The Busch Pole Award was won by Jeff Gordon, who won five pole positions during the season. [10] Johnny Benson Jr. won the series' Rookie of the Year title over Randy MacDonald and Stacy Compton, [11] while Bill Elliott won his eleventh Most Popular Driver award. [12] The series' Manufacturers' Championship was won by Chevrolet, whose teams won 17 of the series' races; Ford won 13 events while Pontiac drivers scored a single win. [13]

In addition to the 31-race regular season, three exhibition races were run during the year. The Busch Clash, an event for the previous year's pole-winning drivers at Daytona International Speedway in February, was won by Dale Jarrett, [14] while The Winston, the series' all-star race for race winners at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, was won by Michael Waltrip, who had advanced into the event as a wild card from the last chance race for non-winning drivers. [15] Following the regular season, the Winston Cup Series ran the first NASCAR exhibition race in Japan, and the first overseas exhibition race since the 1988 Goodyear NASCAR 500 in Australia, [16] the Suzuka Thunder Special run on November 24 at Suzuka Circuit; competed in by invited drivers from the Winston Cup Series, Busch Series, Craftsman Truck Series and Winston West Series, the event was won by Rusty Wallace. [17]

Top ten drivers standings

Pos.DriverCarManufacturerOwnerPtsStartsWinsTop 5Top 10Winnings
1 Terry Labonte 5Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 46573122124$4,030,648
2 Jeff Gordon 24ChevroletHendrick Motorsports462031102124$3,428,485
3 Dale Jarrett 88Ford Robert Yates Racing 45683141721$2,985,418
4 Dale Earnhardt 3Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 43273121317$2,285,926
5 Mark Martin 6Ford Roush Racing 42783101423$1,887,396
6 Ricky Rudd 10Ford Rudd Performance Motorsports 3845311516$1,503,025
7 Rusty Wallace 2Ford Penske Racing South 3717315818$1,665,315
8 Sterling Marlin 4Chevrolet Morgan-McClure Motorsports 3682312510$1,588,425
9 Bobby Hamilton 43Pontiac Petty Enterprises 3639311311$1,151,235
10 Ernie Irvan 28FordRobert Yates Racing36323121216$1,683,313

Busch Series

1996 Busch Series champion Randy LaJoie Randy LaJoie.jpg
1996 Busch Series champion Randy LaJoie

The 1996 NASCAR Busch Series consisted of 26 events, run at 20 race tracks in 14 states. [18] Randy LaJoie won his first series championship, beating David Green by 29 points. [19]

Thirteen drivers won races over the course of the 26-race season; Mark Martin won the most events, with six victories. [20] Randy LaJoie, [21] Buckshot Jones, [22] Greg Sacks, [23] Jeff Fuller, [24] and Kevin Lepage were first-time winners during the season. [25]

The series' Busch Pole Award was won by David Green for the third consecutive season, winning four pole positions during the season. [26] Glenn Allen Jr. won the series' Rookie of the Year title over Mike Dillon and Shane Hall, [26] while David Green won the series' Most Popular Driver award. [27] The series' Manufacturers' Championship, the Bill France Performance Cup, was won by Chevrolet. [26]

Top ten drivers standings

Pos.DriverCarManufacturerOwnerPtsStartsWinsTop 5Top 10Winnings
1 Randy LaJoie 74Chevrolet BACE Motorsports 37142651120$532,823
2 David Green 96Chevrolet American Equipment Racing 36852621318$469,118
3 Todd Bodine 81
82
Chevrolet Pro Tech Motorsports 306426139$281,616
4 Jeff Green 3Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 3059260513$269,285
5 Chad Little 23Pontiac Mark Rypien Motorsports 298426027$317,394
6 Jason Keller 57Chevrolet KEL Racing 2900260310$281,902
7 Jeff Purvis 4Chevrolet Phoenix Racing 289426247$266,026
8 Kevin Lepage 71
88
Chevrolet Lepage Racing
Ridling Motorsports
2870261310$254,925
9 Phil Parsons 10Chevrolet Phil Parsons Racing 285426056$215,023
10 Mike McLaughlin 34Chevrolet Team 34 2853260710$290,701

Craftsman Truck Series

1996 Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. (left) Ron Hornaday 1996 Championship.jpg
1996 Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. (left)

The 1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, renamed from the SuperTruck Series presented by Craftsman, [28] consisted of 24 events, run at 23 race tracks in 19 states. [29] Ron Hornaday Jr. won his first series championship, beating Jack Sprague by 53 points. [30]

Seven drivers won races over the course of the 26-race season; Mike Skinner won the most events, with eight victories. [31] Dave Rezendes, [32] Jack Sprague, [33] Rick Carelli, [34] and Mark Martin were first-time winners during the season. [35]

The series' Busch Pole Award was won by Mike Skinner, winning five pole positions during the season. [36] Bryan Reffner won the series' Rookie of the Year title over Doug George and Lance Norick, [36] while Jimmy Hensley won the series' Most Popular Driver award. [37] The series' Manufacturers' Championship was won by Chevrolet, followed by Ford and Dodge. [36]

Top ten drivers standings

Pos.DriverCarManufacturerOwnerPtsStartsWinsTop 5Top 10Winnings
1 Ron Hornaday Jr. 16Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 38312441823$614,084
2 Jack Sprague 24Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 37782451821$580,112
3 Mike Skinner 3Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 37712481720$590,995
4 Joe Ruttman 80Ford Roush Racing 3275240716$276,012
5 Mike Bliss 2Ford Ultra Motorsports 3190242911$345,322
6 Dave Rezendes 7Ford Geoff Bodine Racing 3179243813$335,840
7 Butch Miller 98
28
19
Ford
Ford
Dodge
Liberty Racing
Irvan-Simo Racing
Walker Evans Racing
3126240711$258,333
8 Jimmy Hensley 30Dodge Grandaddy Racing 3029240514$228,936
9 Bryan Reffner 44Ford Irvan-Simo Racing 296124039$200,898
10 Rick Carelli 6Chevrolet Chesrown Racing 295324129$216,625

Regional touring series

Winston West Series

The 1996 NASCAR Winston West Series consisted of 15 events, run at 11 race tracks in 6 states; two races, at Sears Point Raceway in May and at Phoenix International Raceway in October, were combination events with the Winston Cup Series. [38] Lance Hooper won his first series championship, beating Jeff Krogh by 30 points; [39] Hooper was the first driver to win the championship during his rookie year in the series. [40]

Eight drivers won races over the course of the 15-race season; Hooper won the most events, with four victories, in addition to finishing first among Winston West competitors in the Phoenix combination race; [41] the four overall wins were a series record for a rookie driver. [42]

The series' Busch Pole Award was tied for by Mark Krogh and Butch Gilliland, who each won three pole positions during the season. [42] Hooper won the series' Rookie of the Year title, [42] while Larry Gunselman won the series' Most Popular Driver award. [43] The series' Manufacturers' Championship was won by Chevrolet, followed by Ford, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick. [42]

Top ten drivers standings

Pos.DriverCarManufacturerOwnerPtsStartsWinsTop 5Top 10Winnings
1 Lance Hooper 07Pontiac Golden West Motorsports 21851551114$63,395
2 Jeff Krogh 1Chevrolet Excel Motorsports 21551411213$55,805
3 Larry Gunselman 37FordOlson Technology Racing20701511012$58,300
4 Mark Krogh 24ChevroletExcel Motorsports1907141310$23,625
5 Scott Gaylord 2ChevroletOliver Racing188315078$43,170
6 Rich Woodland Jr. 86ChevroletWoodland Racing1841150111$34,195
7 Joe Bean 3ChevroletBean & Krebs Motorsports178915128$24,300
8 Butch Gilliland 38Ford Bill Stroppe Motorsports 167511357$45,325
9 Bill McAnally 2
02
Chevrolet Bill McAnally Racing 162315004$17,225
10Pete Graham59Chevrolet140412002$14,975

Manufacturer's standings

PosManufacturerWinsPoints
1 Chevrolet 587
2 Ford 481
3 Pontiac 478
4 Oldsmobile 014
5 Buick 010

Busch North Series

The 1996 NASCAR Busch North Series consisted of 21 events, run at 14 race tracks in 8 states; two races, at Daytona International Speedway in February and at Nazareth Speedway in May, were combination events with the Busch Series. [44] Dave Dion won his first series championship, beating Andy Santerre by 116 points. [45]

Eight drivers won races over the course of the 21-race season; Andy Santerre won the most events, with four victories. [46] The series' Busch Pole Award was won by Santerre, who won eight pole positions during the season. [46] Brad Leighton won the series' Rookie of the Year title, [46] while Brandon Butler won the series' Most Popular Driver award. [47]

Top ten drivers standings

Pos.DriverCarManufacturerOwnerPtsStartsWinsTop 5Top 10Winnings
1 Dave Dion 29FordDion Racing Enterprises28031921012$74,060
2 Andy Santerre 44ChevroletAndy Santerre Motorsports2687204813$100,700
3 Dale Shaw 60PontiacShaw Racing2654202912$76,900
4 Kelly Moore 24PontiacMoore Racing2637200613$67,675
5 Brad Leighton 55ChevroletGrizco Racing2596192810$73,150
6 Mike Stefanik 51ChevroletGreci Racing252320089$54,920
7 Robbie Crouch 6PontiacLing Racing2415190710$42,495
8 Tom Bolles 76ChevroletBolles Motorsports238021027$45,590
9 Brandon Butler 7PontiacShaw Racing2321190310$31,675
10 Stub Fadden 16ChevroletFadden Racing224319017$28,055

Featherlite Modified Tour

The 1996 NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour consisted of 20 events, run at 11 race tracks in 7 states. [48] Tony Hirschman won the series championship for the second consecutive year, beating Steve Park by 12 points. [49]

Eight drivers won races over the course of the 20-race season; Steve Park won the most events, with five victories; [50] Park also won the series' Busch Pole Award, winning won four pole positions during the season, [51] and the series' Most Popular Driver award. [52]

Top ten drivers standings

Pos.DriverCarManufacturerPtsStartsWinsTop 5Top 10
1 Tony Hirschman 3Chevrolet29192031214
2 Steve Park 8Chevrolet29072051313
3 Rick Fuller 17Chevrolet2698202912
4Jan Leaty25Chevrolet2689203711
5 Mike Stefanik 6Chevrolet26691931011
6 Tim Connolly 4Dodge2664200811
7 Jerry Marquis 21Chevrolet2649202913
8Ed Flemke Jr.11Chevrolet2568201411
9 Tom Baldwin 7Pontiac250120139
10Tony Ferrante Jr.31Chevrolet238720006

Goody's Dash Series

The 1996 NASCAR Goody's Dash Series consisted of 21 events, run at 18 race tracks in 5 states. Lyndon Amick won his first series championship, beating Robert Huffman by 34 points. [53]

Eight drivers won races over the course of the 21-race season; Amick and Will Hobgood tied for winning the most events, with four victories.[42] [53] Hobgood also won the series' Busch Pole Award, winning five pole positions during the season. [54] Jimmy Foster won the series' Rookie of the Year title over Andy Houston and Brian Sockwell, [54] while Andy Houston won the series' Most Popular Driver award. [55]

Top ten drivers standings

Pos.DriverCarManufacturersPtsStartsWinsTop 5Top 10
1 Lyndon Amick 33Pontiac31702141217
2 Robert Huffman 37Pontiac31362131316
3 Will Hobgood 65Pontiac31282141214
4 Danny Bagwell 10Ford30442111316
5 Mike Swaim Jr. 28Pontiac2932212814
6B.J. Mackey11Chevrolet2822211711
7 Jimmy Foster 7Pontiac2753211613
8Ned Combs9Pontiac2620210410
9 Mickey York 24Pontiac26112110310
10Scott Weaver2Pontiac242321015

Slim Jim All Pro Series

The 1996 NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series consisted of 23 events, run at 19 race tracks in 11 states. Mike Cope won his second series championship, beating Toby Porter by 184 points. [56]

Eleven drivers won races over the course of the 21-race season; Toby Porter and Ron Young tied for winning the most events, with four victories each. [57] The series' Busch Pole Award was won by Wayne Anderson, who won five pole positions during the season; Tammy Jo Kirk won two poles, becoming the series' first female pole winner. [58] Steven Christian won the series' Rookie of the Year title over Wayne Anderson and Nipper Alsup, [58] while Tammy Jo Kirk won the series' Most Popular Driver award. [59]

Top ten drivers standings

Pos.DriverCarManufacturerPtsStartsWinsTop 5Top 10
1 Mike Cope 57Chevrolet35442321819
2 Toby Porter 44
80
Chevrolet33602341317
3Steven Christian0Chevrolet33592331218
4 Rick Crawford 14Ford33482331115
5 Ron Young 4Chevrolet32822341115
6 Wayne Anderson 25Chevrolet3065231712
7 Tammy Jo Kirk 52Chevrolet2985230511
8 Derrick Gilchrist 83
44
Chevrolet2732230316
9 Nipper Alsup 74Chevrolet2716220112
10 Conrad Burr 33Chevrolet262322017

Reb-Co Northwest Tour

The 1996 NASCAR Reb-Co Northwest Tour consisted of 13 events, run at 7 race tracks in Washington and Oregon. Kelly Tanner won his first series championship, beating Garrett Evans by 156 points. [60]

Eight drivers won races over the course of the 13-race season; Garrett Evans won the most events, scoring four victories. [60] The series' Busch Pole Award was won by Kelly Tanner, who won four pole positions during the season; [61] Marc Groskreutz won the series' Rookie of the Year award. [60]

Top ten drivers standings

Pos.DriverCarManufacturerPtsStartsWinsTop 5Top 10Winnings
1 Kelly Tanner 65Chevrolet21231321113$26,760
2 Garrett Evans 64Ford1967134810$23,550
3 Ron Eaton 7Pontiac185213178$24,130
4Chris Cunningham04Ford1795131410$19,550
5Marc Groskreuz72Chevrolet177413118$14,555
6Rick Schultz84Chevrolet173713048
7Bill Lawrence21Chevrolet169713018
8Martin Rosler81Chevrolet164813035
9 Gary Lewis 73Chevrolet164713266
10Ken Bailey27Chevrolet164413024

Featherlite Southwest Tour

The 1996 NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour consisted of 18 events, run at 13 race tracks in 5 states. Chris Raudman won his first series championship, [62] beating Bryan Germone by 160 points. [63]

Twelve drivers won races over the course of the 18-race season; Craig Raudman won the most events, with three victories each. [64] The series' Busch Pole Award was tied for by Chris Raudman, Craig Raudman, and M. K. Kanke, who won three pole positions each; Chris Raudman won the series' Rookie of the Year title as well as the championship. [65] Chris Raudman also won the series' "Winter Heat" exhibition race at Tucson Raceway Park in December. [62]

Top ten drivers standings

Pos.DriverCarManufacturerPtsStartsWinsTop 5Top 10
1 Chris Raudman 93Chevrolet27391821313
2 Bryan Germone 5Chevrolet2579182814
3 Craig Raudman 2Chevrolet2575183811
4 Chris Trickle 70Chevrolet244118169
5Bob Lyon44Chevrolet2387181412
6Michael Alsup61Chevrolet238418018
7 Mark Reed 73Chevrolet235218269
8Doug McCoun34Pontiac2219181410
9Keith Spangler37Chevrolet214118028
10 Tony Toste 33Chevrolet208817006

Busch All-Star Tour

The only NASCAR regional series to compete on dirt tracks, [66] the 1996 NASCAR Busch All-Star Tour consisted of 16 events, run at 11 race tracks in 5 states. Joe Kosiski won his fourth series championship, beating Ray Guss Jr. by 19 points. [67]

Eight drivers won races over the course of the 18-race season; Joe Kosiski won the most events, with four victories. [67] Donnie McClellan won the series' Rookie of the Year title, [67] while Denny Osborn was named the series' Most Popular Driver. [66]

Top ten drivers standings

Pos.DriverCarManufacturerPtsStartsWinsTop 5Top 10
1 Joe Kosiski 53Chevrolet25861641415
2 Ray Guss Jr. 12Chevrolet25671611415
3 Steve Kosiski 52Chevrolet2304162711
4Gary Webb70Chevrolet2224161813
5Donnie McClellan22Chevrolet210516028
6Jay Johnson5Chevrolet209216038
7Denny Osborn72Chevrolet199516004
8Brian Birkhofer15Chevrolet171611468
9Bob Helm1XChevrolet171213246
10Curt Martin45Chevrolet167514018

Winston Racing Series

The 1996 NASCAR Winston Racing Series was a local racing series operating under NASCAR sanction, comprising 100 member tracks grouped into 10 regions. Each track ran weekly races in a variety of classes, with one class being the track's featured class; each featured class champion at each track was then ranked using a Competition Performance Index (CPI), based on the driver's winning percentage, a weighed car count for the region's tracks, and percentage of races competed in, with the driver having the highest CPI being declared the regional champion. The regional champions' CPIs were then ranked, with the highest-ranking driver being awarded the national championship. [68]

Larry Phillips, competing in the Grand American Late Model class at I-44 Speedway in the Heartland Region, [69] won the series' national championship in 1996, his fifth Winston Racing Series national championship. [70] Second in the national rankings was John Blewett III, competing at Flemington Speedway in the Northeast Region, [71] third was Wes Troup of Old Dominion Speedway in the Atlantic Seaboard Region, [72] fourth was Steven Howard competing at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in the Blue Ridge Region, [73] fifth was Steve Boley from West Liberty Raceway in the Midwest Region, [74] sixth was Bobby Hogge IV competing at Antioch Speedway and Altamont Raceway Park in the Pacific Coast Region, [75] seventh was Eddie McKean of Magic Valley Speedway in the Great West Region, [76] eighth was Mike VanSparrentak from Kalamazoo Speedway in the Mid-America Region, [77] ninth was Carl Trimmer of Tucson Raceway Park in the Sunbelt Region, [78] and tenth was Dale Planck, who competed at Fulton Speedway and Utica-Rome Speedway in the New England Region. [79]

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Bibliography
Preceded by NASCAR seasons
1996
Succeeded by