1985 Daytona 500

Last updated
1985 Daytona 500
Race details [1]
Race 1 of 28 in the 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
1985 Daytona 500 program cover and logo.jpg
1985 Daytona 500 program cover
Date February 17, 1985 (1985-02-17)
Location Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.023 km)
Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Weather Temperatures of 73 °F (23 °C);
wind speeds of 14 mph (23 km/h) [2]
Average speed 172.265 mph (277.234 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Melling Racing
Qualifying race winners
Duel 1 Winner Bill Elliott Melling Racing
Duel 2 Winner Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy
Most laps led
Driver Bill Elliott Melling Racing
Laps 136
Winner
No. 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing
Television in the United States
Network CBS
Announcers Host: Chris Economaki
Lap-by-lap: Ken Squier
Driver analyst: David Hobbs
Driver analyst: Ned Jarrett
Pit reporter: Chris Economaki
Pit reporter: Mike Joy
Nielsen Ratings 8.3/23
(9.8 million viewers)

The 1985 Daytona 500, the 27th running of the event, was held on February 17, 1985, at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Contents

Race report

Bill Elliott won the pole at a then-record speed of 205.114 mph. After a mediocre run in the Busch Clash, Elliott nearly lapped the field in his 125-mile qualifying race, then thoroughly dominated the Daytona 500, leading 136 of the 200 laps in his #9 Coors/Melling Ford Thunderbird. The race restarted on the last lap after a Neil Bonnett spin out with less than four laps to go; Bonnett got out of his car and was credited for a 10th-place finish. The race saw a number of engine problems, which knocked many of the contenders, including former Daytona 500 winners David Pearson, A. J. Foyt, Benny Parsons, Bobby Allison, and two-time defending race winner Cale Yarborough, who was trying to win his third straight Daytona 500 victory. [3]

The only car that could consistently run with Elliott was Cale Yarborough, and when his engine went up in smoke on lap 62 the race was for all intents and purposes over. [1] Hendrick Motorsports landed its first big-time full-season sponsorship for 1985 with Levi Garrett chewing tobacco coming aboard to sponsor the #5 Chevrolet of Geoff Bodine. The car's first points race in its new yellow-and-white paint scheme saw Bodine post a solid top-10 run, kicking off a several-year partnership. [1]

There were 12 cars that were knocked out just from engine problems; with a lot of big names affected (Neil Bonnett, who somehow finished 10th even with a blown engine; defending champion Terry Labonte; both Parsons brothers; Kyle Petty; Harry Gant; David Pearson; Bobby Allison and 2-time defending Daytona 500 champion Cale Yarborough among them). [1]

Qualifying

Qualifying results

PosNo.DriverTeamManufacturerSpeed
19Bill ElliottHarry MellingFord Thunderbird205.114
228Cale YarboroughHarry RanierFord Thunderbird203.814
311Darrell WaltripJunior JohnsonChevrolet Monte Carlo
421David PearsonHoss EllingtonChevrolet Monte Carlo
555Benny ParsonsLeo/Richard JacksonChevrolet Monte Carlo
67Kyle PettyWood BrothersFord Thunderbird
788Buddy BakerBuddy Baker/Danny SchiffOldsmobile Cutlass
843Richard PettyMike CurbPontiac Grand Prix
915Ricky RuddBud MooreFord Thunderbird
1033Harry GantHal NeedhamChevrolet Monte Carlo
111Dick BrooksPetty EnterprisesFord Thunderbird
1266Phil ParsonsLeo/Richard JacksonChevrolet Monte Carlo
1351Greg SacksArnie SacksChevrolet Monte Carlo
1475Lake SpeedRahMoc EnterprisesPontiac Grand Prix
1547Ron BouchardJack BeebeBuick Regal
1614A. J. FoytA. J. FoytOldsmobile Cutlass
175Geoff BodineRick HendrickChevrolet Monte Carlo
183Dale EarnhardtRichard ChildressChevrolet Monte Carlo
1912Neil BonnettJunior JohnsonChevrolet Monte Carlo
2095Sterling MarlinSadler BrothersChevrolet Monte Carlo
2171Dave MarcisDave MarcisChevrolet Monte Carlo
222Rusty WallaceCliff StewartPontiac Grand Prix
2310Doug HeveronTom HeveronChevrolet Monte Carlo
2490Ken SchraderJunie DonlaveyFord Thunderbird
2552Jimmy MeansJimmy MeansChevrolet Monte Carlo
2674Bobby WawakBobby WawakChevrolet Monte Carlo
2748Lennie PondJames HyltonChevrolet Monte Carlo
2889Jim SauterMueller BrothersPontiac Grand Prix
2984Mike AlexanderSims BrothersChevrolet Monte Carlo
300Delma CowartH.L. WatersChevrolet Monte Carlo
3144Terry LabonteBilly HaganChevrolet Monte Carlo
324Joe RuttmanLarry McClureChevrolet Monte Carlo
3327Tim RichmondRaymond BeadlePontiac Grand Prix
3422Bobby AllisonDiGardBuick Regal
3598Trevor BoysRon BenfieldChevrolet Monte Carlo
3667Morgan ShepherdBuddy ArringtonChrysler Imperial
3617Ken RaganRoger HambyChevrolet Monte Carlo
378Bobby Hillin Jr.Stavola BrothersChevrolet Monte Carlo
3864Clark DwyerElmo LangleyFord Thunderbird
3931Slick JohnsonHenley GrayChevrolet Monte Carlo
Source [4]

Failed to qualify

Car #DriverCar Make
00 Jody Ridley Chevrolet Monte Carlo
05 Dean Roper Ford Thunderbird
6 Eddie Bierschwale Chevrolet Monte Carlo
06 Joe Thurman Chevrolet Monte Carlo
07 Randy LaJoie Chevrolet Monte Carlo
08 Craig Spetman Chevrolet Monte Carlo
19 Bob Park Pontiac Grand Prix
20 Rick Newsom Chevrolet Monte Carlo
37 Satch Worley Chevrolet Monte Carlo
41 Glenn Jarrett Chevrolet Monte Carlo
42 Tom Sneva Pontiac Grand Prix
53 Donny Paul Chevrolet Monte Carlo
65 Joey Sonntag Chevrolet Monte Carlo
70 J.D. McDuffie Chevrolet Monte Carlo
77 Davey Allison (R)Chevrolet Monte Carlo
79 Dick Skillen Chevrolet Monte Carlo
82 Mark Stahl Ford Thunderbird
99 Connie Saylor Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Source [4]

Finishing Order

PosGridNo.DriverCar MakeLapsStatusLaps
led
Points
119 Bill Elliott Ford Thunderbird2002:54:09136185 (10)
21475 Lake Speed Pontiac Grand Prix200+0.94 seconds2175 (5)
3311 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet Monte Carlo199Flagged165
4788 Buddy Baker Oldsmobile Cutlass199Flagged160
5915 Ricky Rudd Ford Thunderbird199Flagged155
61351 Greg Sacks Chevrolet Monte Carlo199Flagged2155 (5)
7175 Geoffrey Bodine Chevrolet Monte Carlo198Flagged146
8222 Rusty Wallace Pontiac Grand Prix197Flagged142
9388 Bobby Hillin Jr. Chevrolet Monte Carlo197Flagged138
101912 Neil Bonnett Chevrolet Monte Carlo195Engine22139 (5)
112490 Ken Schrader Ford Thunderbird195Flagged130
122984 Mike Alexander Chevrolet Monte Carlo194Flagged127
132674 Bobby Wawak Chevrolet Monte Carlo192Flagged124
142552 Jimmy Means Chevrolet Monte Carlo192Flagged121
153667 Morgan Shepherd Chrysler Imperial190Flagged118
162095 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet Monte Carlo188Oil pump115
17324 Joe Ruttman Chevrolet Monte Carlo185Transmission112
183964 Clark Dwyer Ford Thunderbird182Flagged109
192748 Lennie Pond Chevrolet Monte Carlo178Crash106
204031 Slick Johnson Chevrolet Monte Carlo175Flagged103
213717 Ken Ragan Chevrolet Monte Carlo172Flagged100
22111 Dick Brooks Ford Thunderbird171Wheel97
232889 Jim Sauter Pontiac Grand Prix161Flagged94
242171 Dave Marcis Chevrolet Monte Carlo156Clutch91
253144 Terry Labonte Chevrolet Monte Carlo154Engine293 (5)
261033 Harry Gant Chevrolet Monte Carlo124Engine190 (5)
273598 Trevor Boys Chevrolet Monte Carlo103Rear end82
28421 David Pearson Chevrolet Monte Carlo98Engine79
291266 Phil Parsons Chevrolet Monte Carlo91Engine76
301614 A. J. Foyt Oldsmobile Cutlass90Engine73
31555 Benny Parsons Chevrolet Monte Carlo84Engine70
32183 Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet Monte Carlo84Engine67
333422 Bobby Allison Buick Regal82Engine169 (5)
34843 Richard Petty (W)Pontiac Grand Prix80Clutch266 (5)
353327 Tim Richmond Pontiac Grand Prix66Crash58
36228 Cale Yarborough Ford Thunderbird62Engine3260 (5)
3767 Kyle Petty Ford Thunderbird58Engine52
381547 Ron Bouchard Buick Regal45Camshaft49
392310 Doug Heveron Chevrolet Monte Carlo44Engine46
40300 Delma Cowart Chevrolet Monte Carlo38Oil leak43
Source [1]

(5) Indicates 5 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading 1 lap
(10) Indicates 10 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading 1 lap & leading the most laps [4]

Cautions

5 for 18 laps [1]

From
Lap
To
Lap
Number
of laps
Reason
72776Car #27 accident, backstretch
1621643Car #71 stalled, turn 4
1741763Car #1 accident, turn 2
1921943Car #48 spin, frontstretch
1971993Car #12 engine

Lap Leader Breakdown

Lead changes: 22 [1]

DriverFrom
Lap
To
Lap
Number
of Laps
Bill Elliott122
Cale Yarborough342
Bill Elliott51410
Cale Yarborough152410
Bill Elliott253511
Richard Petty36372
Greg Sacks38381
Terry Labonte39401
Cale Yarborough416020
Bill Elliott617212
Bobby Allison73731
Bill Elliott7410734
Neil Bonnett1081103
Harry Gant1111111
Greg Sacks1121121
Bill Elliott11314432
Lake Speed1451462
Neil Bonnett1471548
Bill Elliott15516511
Neil Bonnett1661738
Bill Elliott17419118
Neil Bonnett1921943
Bill Elliott1952006

Notes

Standings after the race

PosDriverPoints [4] Difference
1 Bill Elliott 1850
2 Lake Speed 175-10
3 Darrell Waltrip 165-20
4 Buddy Baker 160-25
5 Ricky Rudd 155-30
5 Greg Sacks 155-30
7 Geoffrey Bodine 146-39
8 Rusty Wallace 142-43
9 Neil Bonnett 139-46
10 Bobby Hillin Jr. 138-47

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "1985 Daytona 500". Racing-Reference. 17 February 1985. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  2. "Weather of the 1985 Daytona 500". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  3. Mark Aumann, Turner Sports Interactive (29 January 2003). "1985: Absolutely awesome – January 29, 2003". NASCAR.com. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "1985 Daytona 500". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 3 July 2017.