1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
| 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season | |||
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The 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season is 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.
1993 was marked by the deaths of two Winston Cup drivers, though neither were on-track in any form. 1992 Champion Alan Kulwicki was killed on April 1 in a plane crash near Blountville, Tennessee. He was travelling to Bristol Motor Speedway in a corporate jet belonging to his sponsor, Hooters. Davey Allison died on July 13, a day after a helicopter crash at Talladega Superspeedway left him with severe head trauma. The accidents robbed the sport of two of its brightest young stars.
Teams and drivers
Complete schedule
Limited schedule
Busch Clash
The Busch Clash, an invitational event for all pole winners of the previous season, was held February 7 at Daytona International Speedway. Ernie Irvan drew the pole.
Top ten results
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 25-Ken Schrader
- 4-Ernie Irvan
- 6-Mark Martin
- 5-Ricky Rudd
- 28-Davey Allison
- 42-Kyle Petty
- 8-Sterling Marlin
- 11-Bill Elliott
- 7-Alan Kulwicki
Gatorade 125s
The Gatorade 125s, qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held February 11 at Daytona International Speedway. Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett won the poles for both races, respectively.
Race one: top ten results
- 24-Jeff Gordon
- 11-Bill Elliott
- 42-Kyle Petty
- 25-Ken Schrader
- 90-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
- 28-Davey Allison
- 83-Lake Speed
- 44-Rick Wilson
- 9-Chad Little
- 14-Terry Labonte
Race two: top ten results
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 15-Geoff Bodine
- 18-Dale Jarrett
- 4-Ernie Irvan
- 7-Alan Kulwicki
- 5-Ricky Rudd
- 8-Sterling Marlin
- 41-Phil Parsons
- 27-Hut Stricklin
- 26-Brett Bodine
- With the win, Jeff Gordon became the first rookie ever to win a qualifying race, only to be surpassed by Denny Hamlin in 2006. In the second race, defending Indy 500 winner Al Unser, Jr. (entering his first NASCAR race) wrecked on lap 10, but still managed to qualify for the Daytona 500 based on speed.
Daytona 500 by STP
The 1993 Daytona 500 by STP was held February 14 at Daytona International Speedway. Kyle Petty's #42 car won the pole, putting a Petty on the Daytona 500 pole for the first time since 1966, and only the second time ever. Kyle was also the first North Carolina driver to win the 500 pole since Benny Parsons in 1982. His father Richard waved the green flag in the first Winston Cup race held since his retirement. Dale Jarrett took the checkered flag after a last lap pass over Dale Earnhardt who led 107 laps, the most by far.
Top ten results
- 18-Dale Jarrett
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 15-Geoff Bodine
- 27-Hut Stricklin
- 24-Jeff Gordon*
- 6-Mark Martin
- 21-Morgan Shepherd
- 25-Ken Schrader
- 8-Sterling Marlin
- 16-Wally Dallenbach, Jr.
Failed to qualify: 85-Dorsey Schroeder, 48-James Hylton, 45-Rich Bickle, 29-Kerry Teague, 0-Delma Cowart, 77-Mike Potter, 73-Stanley Smith, 99-Brad Teague, 31-Steve Kinser, 51-Jeff Purvis, 50-A. J. Foyt, 23-Eddie Bierschwale, and 95-Ken Ragan.
The race was marked by a grinding crash involving Rusty Wallace who was spun out by Michael Waltrip on the backstretch and sent Wallace on a series of horrific barrel rolls in the grass. He was uninjured although.
Jeff Gordon made his first Daytona 500 debut on his first Winston Cup full Season. He became the first rookie ever to win one of the Qualifying races. He also led Lap 1 and finished 5th, and is considered as one of the most successful's Daytona 500's debut ever.
The "Dale and Dale Show" commenced as Jarrett passed Earnhardt in the tri-oval as they took the white flag. As the leaders exited Turn 2, the CBS Sports producers came on the headsets of Ken Squier, Neil Bonnett, and Ned Jarrett, telling Ned to "call his son home", leading to an emotional finish.
GM Goodwrench 500
The GM Goodwrench 500 was held February 28 at North Carolina Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.
Top ten results
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 4-Ernie Irvan
- 7-Alan Kulwicki
- 6-Mark Martin
- 18-Dale Jarrett
- 55-Ted Musgrave
- 41-Phil Parsons
- 15-Geoff Bodine, 1 lap down
- 14-Terry Labonte, 1 lap down
Failed to qualify: 49-Stanley Smith
Pontiac Excitement 400
The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held March 7 at Richmond International Raceway. Ken Schrader won the pole.
Top ten results
- 28-Davey Allison
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 7-Alan Kulwicki
- 18-Dale Jarrett
- 42-Kyle Petty
- 24-Jeff Gordon
- 6-Mark Martin
- 17-Darrell Waltrip
- 33-Harry Gant
- 3-Dale Earnhardt, 1 lap down
Failed to qualify: 45-Rich Bickle
This would be Davey Allison's final Winston Cup win.
Motorcraft Quality Parts 500
The Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was scheduled March 14 but was held March 20 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The race was postponed to the effects of the 1993 Superstorm. Rusty Wallace won the pole. Jeff Gordon appeared headed to his first Winston Cup win when he lost control and spun in the muddy grass. Morgan Shepherd passed him and won the event, his final victory as of 2015.
Top ten results
- 21-Morgan Shepherd
- 4-Ernie Irvan
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 24-Jeff Gordon, 1 lap down
- 5-Ricky Rudd, 1 lap down
- 15-Geoff Bodine, 1 Lap dwn
- 42-Kyle Petty, 1 lap down
- 26-Brett Bodine, 1 lap down
- 11-Bill Elliott, 2 laps down
- 12-Jimmy Spencer, 3 laps down
Failed to qualify: 45-Rich Bickle, 84-Rick Crawford, 48-James Hylton, 61-Rick Carelli
- Winning this race gave Morgan Shepherd his fourth career NASCAR Cup victory overall, and his third at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
TranSouth 500
The TranSouth 500 was held March 28 at Darlington Raceway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole. This was the last time the spring race was 500 miles until the track went to 1 race a year for the top division of NASCAR in 2005.
Top ten results
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 6-Mark Martin
- 18-Dale Jarrett
- 25-Ken Schrader
- 2-Rusty Wallace, 1 lap down
- 7-Alan Kulwicki, 1 lap down
- 42-Kyle Petty, 1 lap down
- 15-Geoff Bodine, 1 lap down
- 14-Terry Labonte, 1 lap down
- 21-Morgan Shepherd, 2 laps down
Failed to qualify: 62-John McFadden
Food City 500
The Food City 500 was held April 4 at Bristol International Raceway. Rusty Wallace won the pole. During the weekend of this race, defending Cup champion Alan Kulwicki and three Hooters executives were killed in a plane crash on their way to this race. After being spun out by Bobby Hillin Jr, Dale Jarrett threw his helmet at the #90 car during the caution period.
Top ten results
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 42-Kyle Petty
- 12-Jimmy Spencer
- 28-Davey Allison
- 17-Darrell Waltrip
- 21-Morgan Shepherd, 1 lap down
- 6-Mark Martin, 2 laps down
- 26-Brett Bodine, 3 laps down
- 1-Rick Mast, 3 laps down
Failed to qualify: 48-James Hylton
After taking the checkered flag, Rusty Wallace made a Polish Victory Lap, in memory of the deceased Winston Cup Champion Alan Kulwicki, which made it famous.
First Union 400
The First Union 400 was held April 18 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Brett Bodine won the pole.
Top ten results
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 42-Kyle Petty
- 25-Ken Schrader
- 28-Davey Allison
- 17-Darrell Waltrip
- 14-Terry Labonte
- 5-Ricky Rudd
- 21-Morgan Shepherd
- 8-Sterling Marlin
- 11-Bill Elliott, 2 laps down
Failed to qualify: 49-Stanley Smith
The biggest news story of the week leading up to the race was the official announcement of the Inaugural Brickyard 400, scheduled for August 6, 1994.
Hanes 500
The Hanes 500 was held April 25 at Martinsville Speedway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.
Top ten results
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 28-Davey Allison
- 18-Dale Jarrett
- 17-Darrell Waltrip
- 42-Kyle Petty, 1 lap down
- 15-Geoff Bodine, 3 laps down
- 26-Brett Bodine, 3 laps down
- 24-Jeff Gordon, 3 laps down
- 14-Terry Labonte, 3 laps down
- 6-Mark Martin, 4 laps down
Failed to qualify: 52-Jimmy Means, 9-P. J. Jones
Winston 500
The Winston 500 was held May 2 at Talladega Superspeedway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole. On the final lap approaching the checkered flag, Rusty Wallace was spun and flipped end over end.
Top ten results
- 4-Ernie Irvan
- 12-Jimmy Spencer
- 18-Dale Jarrett
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 20-Joe Ruttman
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 28-Davey Allison
- 98-Derrike Cope
- 7-Jimmy Hensley
- 30-Michael Waltrip
Failed to qualify: 9-P. J. Jones, 48-James Hylton, 0-Delma Cowart, 31-Steve Kinser, 62-Ben Hess, 71-Dave Marcis, 73-Phil Barkdoll, 65-Jerry O'Neil, 49-Stanley Smith.
Save Mart Supermarkets 300K
The Save Mart Supermarkets 300K was held May 16 at Sears Point International Raceway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.
Top ten results
- 15-Geoff Bodine
- 4-Ernie Irvan
- 5-Ricky Rudd
- 25-Ken Schrader
- 42-Kyle Petty
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 16-Wally Dallenbach, Jr.
- 44-Rick Wilson
- 14-Terry Labonte
- 27-Hut Stricklin
Failed to qualify: 51-Rick Scribner, 09-R. K. Smith, 48-Jack Sellers
This was the last win for the famous Bud Moore team.
Geoff Bodine celebrated the win at the same time as he was finalizing a deal to purchase the assets to the late Alan Kulwicki's #7 team.
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 30 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Ken Schrader won the pole. For the first time, the race was moved to a late afternoon start, and ended under the lights. The race was no longer to be held at the same time as the Indianapolis 500.
Top ten results
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 24-Jeff Gordon
- 18-Dale Jarrett
- 25-Ken Schrader
- 4-Ernie Irvan
- 11-Bill Elliott
- 12-Jimmy Spencer
- 22-Bobby Labonte
- 21-Morgan Shepherd, 1 lap down
- 15-Geoff Bodine, 1 lap down
Failed to qualify: 85-Ken Bouchard, 48-James Hylton, 84-Rick Crawford, 38-Bobby Hamilton, 65-Jerry O'Neil, 49-Stanley Smith, 64-Johnny Chapman
Budweiser 500
The Budweiser 500 was held June 6 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole.
Top ten results
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 18-Dale Jarrett
- 28-Davey Allison
- 6-Mark Martin
- 25-Ken Schrader
- 1-Rick Mast
- 33-Harry Gant, 1 lap down
- 12-Jimmy Spencer, 1 lap down
- 21-Morgan Shepherd, 2 laps down
- 38-Bobby Hamilton, 5 laps down
Failed to qualify: 80-Jimmy Horton, 56-Jerry Hill, 85-Ken Bouchard
Champion Spark Plug 500
The Champion Spark Plug 500 was held June 13 at Pocono Raceway. Ken Schrader won the pole.
Top ten results
- 42-Kyle Petty
- 25-Ken Schrader
- 33-Harry Gant
- 12-Jimmy Spencer
- 55-Ted Musgrave
- 28-Davey Allison
- 21-Morgan Shepherd
- 8-Sterling Marlin
- 5-Ricky Rudd
- 11-Bill Elliott
Failed to qualify: 80-Jimmy Horton
Miller Genuine Draft 400
The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held June 20 at Michigan International Speedway. Brett Bodine won the pole.
Top ten results
- 5-Ricky Rudd
- 24-Jeff Gordon
- 4-Ernie Irvan
- 18-Dale Jarrett
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 6-Mark Martin
- 21-Morgan Shepherd
- 8-Sterling Marlin
- 11-Bill Elliott
- 33-Harry Gant
Failed to qualify: 48-Trevor Boys, 81-Jeff Davis
Pepsi 400
The Pepsi 400 was held July 3 at Daytona International Speedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole.
Top ten results
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 8-Sterling Marlin
- 25-Ken Schrader
- 5-Ricky Rudd
- 24-Jeff Gordon
- 6-Mark Martin
- 4-Ernie Irvan
- 18-Dale Jarrett
- 14-Terry Labonte
- 55-Ted Musgrave
Failed to qualify: 45-Rich Bickle, 62-Clay Young, 29-Kerry Teague, 0-Delma Cowart, 31-Stan Fox, 49-Stanley Smith, 35-Bill Venturini, 65-Jerry O'Neil, 48-James Hylton, 73-Phil Barkdoll, 79-Andy Belmont, 77-Mike Potter, 86-Mark Thompson, 82-Mark Stahl, 83-Lake Speed, 85-Ken Bouchard, 89-Jim Sauter, 95-Jeremy Mayfield, 23-Eddie Bierschwale, 99-Brad Teague
Slick 50 300
The Slick 50 300 was the first Winston Cup race held at New Hampshire International Speedway (July 11). Mark Martin won the pole. This was the last race for Davey Allison, who would die from injuries suffered in a helicopter accident during the next week. Jeff Burton and Joe Nemechek made their Winston Cup debuts in this race. Both would fall out before the halfway point.
Top ten results
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 6-Mark Martin
- 28-Davey Allison
- 18-Dale Jarrett
- 5-Ricky Rudd
- 8-Sterling Marlin
- 24-Jeff Gordon
- 42-Kyle Petty, 1 lap down
- 11-Bill Elliott, 1 lap down
- 22-Bobby Labonte, 1 lap down
Failed to qualify: 62-Clay Young
Miller Genuine Draft 500
The Miller Genuine Draft 500 was held July 18 at Pocono Raceway. Ken Schrader won the pole.
Top ten results
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 11-Bill Elliott
- 21-Morgan Shepherd
- 26-Brett Bodine
- 25-Ken Schrader
- 8-Sterling Marlin
- 18-Dale Jarrett
- 33-Harry Gant
- 17-Darrell Waltrip
Failed to qualify: 52-Jimmy Means, 78-Jay Hedgecock, 56-Jerry Hill, 57-Bob Schacht
DieHard 500
The DieHard 500 was held July 25 at Talladega Superspeedway. Bill Elliott won the pole.
The race was marked by two major accidents: Stanley Smith suffered near-fatal head injuries in a Lap 69 accident while Jimmy Horton flew over the wall and landed on an access road outside the track in the same crash. Later in the race, on Lap 132, Neil Bonnett flew into the catch fence similar to the Bobby Allison crash in 1987. That resulted in the introduction of roof flaps in 1994.
Top ten results
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 4-Ernie Irvan
- 6-Mark Martin
- 42-Kyle Petty
- 18-Dale Jarrett
- 68-Greg Sacks
- 21-Morgan Shepherd
- 33-Harry Gant
- 26-Brett Bodine
- 16-Wally Dallenbach, Jr.
Failed to qualify: 45-Rich Bickle, 38-Bobby Hamilton, 46-Buddy Baker, 62-Clay Young, 29-Kerry Teague
- The margin of victory was 5 one-thousandths of a second (.005), setting a new record.
- Race winner Dale Earnhardt made a Polish Victory Lap with the #28 flag of Davey Allison on his memory, who died 13 days before.
Budweiser At The Glen
The Budweiser At The Glen was held August 8 at Watkins Glen International. Mark Martin won the pole and had the all-dominating car in the race. However, problems in the pits at one point put him out of the top 20 in the race. Martin raced up through the field and inherited the lead with 5 laps when the two leaders, Kyle Petty and Dale Earnhardt, crashed in the esses.
Top ten results
- 6-Mark Martin
- 16-Wally Dallenbach, Jr.
- 12-Jimmy Spencer
- 11-Bill Elliott
- 25-Ken Schrader
- 8-Sterling Marlin
- 22-Bobby Labonte
- 9-P. J. Jones
- 40-Kenny Wallace
- 33-Harry Gant
Failed to qualify: 77-Davy Jones, 71-Dave Marcis, 81-Jeff Davis, 29-Kerry Teague, 65-Jerry O'Neil
Champion Spark Plug 400
The Champion Spark Plug 400 was held August 15 at Michigan International Speedway. Ken Schrader won the pole.
Top ten results
- 6-Mark Martin
- 21-Morgan Shepherd
- 24-Jeff Gordon
- 18-Dale Jarrett
- 55-Ted Musgrave
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 28-Lake Speed
- 22-Bobby Labonte
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 11-Bill Elliott
Failed to qualify: 37-Loy Allen, 48-James Hylton, 95-Jeremy Mayfield, 53-Richie Petty, 85-Ken Bouchard, 76-Ron Hornaday, Jr., 62-Clay Young, 29-John Krebs, 81-Jeff Davis, 02-T. W. Taylor, 48-Andy Genzman
- Andy Genzman may have made a second attempt in the James Hylton car.
Brickyard 400 test session
A day after the Champion Spark Plug 400, the top 35 teams in the standings were invited to participate in an open test session for the 1994 Brickyard 400. On the way home from Michigan, the teams stopped at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for two days of practice. Retired driver Richard Petty took a few fast laps on the second day, then donated the car to the Speedway museum.
Bud 500
The Bud 500 was held August 28 at Bristol International Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole.
Top ten results
- 6-Mark Martin
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 33-Harry Gant
- 1-Rick Mast
- 7-Jimmy Hensley
- 26-Brett Bodine
- 15-Geoff Bodine
- 40-Kenny Wallace*, 1 lap down
- 30-Michael Waltrip, 2 laps down
- Dick Trickle relieved Wallace in the car. Wallace had broken his scapula during testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in preparation for next year's inaugural running of the Brickyard 400.
Failed to qualify: 55-Ted Musgrave, 75-Todd Bodine, 9-P. J. Jones, 45-Rich Bickle
Mountain Dew Southern 500
The Mountain Dew Southern 500 was held September 5 at Darlington Raceway. Ken Schrader won the pole. Ernie Irvan negotiated out of his contract with Morgan-McClure Motorsports in order to take over the #28 Ford for Robert Yates Racing. Mark Martin won his fourth Winston Cup race in a row.
Top ten results
- 6-Mark Martin
- 26-Brett Bodine
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 28-Ernie Irvan, 1 lap down
- 5-Ricky Rudd, 1 lap down
- 33-Harry Gant, 1 lap down
- 21-Morgan Shepherd, 2 laps down
- 25-Ken Schrader, 2 laps down
- 40-Kenny Wallace, 3 laps down
Failed to qualify: 48-Trevor Boys, 56-Jerry Hill, 29-Jeff McClure
- This was Mark Martin's 4th consecutive victory, tying the Modern-era record for most consecutive victories.
- The race was shortened by 15 laps. The start of the race had been delayed by more than 3 hours. As the race came towards the end the teams were told on a restart with 25 laps to go that there would only be 10 laps remaining due to darkness
Miller Genuine Draft 400
The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held September 11 at Richmond International Raceway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.
Top ten results
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 11-Bill Elliott
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 5-Ricky Rudd
- 26-Brett Bodine
- 6-Mark Martin
- 17-Darrell Waltrip
- 14-Terry Labonte
- 42-Kyle Petty
- 24-Jeff Gordon
Failed to qualify: 80-Jimmy Horton, 45-Rich Bickle, 53-Richie Petty, 02-T. W. Taylor
SplitFire Spark Plug 500
The SplitFire Spark Plug 500 was held September 19 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Rusty Wallace won the pole. Among other driver changes, Geoff Bodine left Bud Moore Engineering after the previous race to drive for the #7 Ford team, a car that he had just purchased from the family of the late Alan Kulwicki.
Top ten results
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 25-Ken Schrader
- 17-Darrell Waltrip
- 18-Dale Jarrett
- 33-Harry Gant
- 12-Jimmy Spencer
- 22-Bobby Labonte
- 14-Terry Labonte
- 21-Morgan Shepherd, 1 lap down
- 11-Bill Elliott, 2 laps down
Failed to qualify: 48-Trevor Boys, 84-Norm Benning, 66-Mike Wallace, 02-T. W. Taylor, 9-P. J. Jones, 77-Mike Potter
- This race was mired with tire issues resulting in cut tires and 16 cautions for 103 of the 500 laps, and the average speed was 100.334 mph. The race took 4 hours and 59 minutes to complete.
Goody's 500
The Goody's 500 was held September 26 at Martinsville Speedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole. It was the Robert Yates team's first trip to victory lane since Davey Allison's death and the crew was reported to have had tears in their eyes as they went to victory lane.
Top ten results
- 28-Ernie Irvan
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 12-Jimmy Spencer
- 5-Ricky Rudd
- 18-Dale Jarrett, 1 lap down
- 26-Brett Bodine, 1 lap down
- 14-Terry Labonte, 1 lap down
- 30-Michael Waltrip, 1 lap down
- 21-Morgan Shepherd, 2 laps down
- 42-Kyle Petty, 2 laps down
Failed to qualify: 52-Jimmy Means
- This was the last race with an entry list of less than 40 cars until the 2016 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, when only 39 cars entered. NASCAR limited race fields to a maximum of 40 cars starting with the 2016 season.[1]
Tyson/Holly Farms 400
The Tyson/Holly Farms 400 was held October 3 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole.
Top ten results
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 28-Ernie Irvan
- 42-Kyle Petty
- 5-Ricky Rudd, 1 lap down
- 33-Harry Gant, 2 laps down
- 14-Terry Labonte, 2 laps down
- 1-Rick Mast, 3 laps down
- 18-Dale Jarrett, 3 laps down
- 25-Ken Schrader, 3 laps down
Failed to qualify: 52-Jimmy Means, 48-James Hylton, 68-Greg Sacks, 71-Dave Marcis, 45-Rich Bickle, 37-Loy Allen Jr.
Mello Yello 500
The Mello Yello 500 was held October 10 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole.
Top ten results
- 28-Ernie Irvan
- 6-Mark Martin
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 24-Jeff Gordon
- 12-Jimmy Spencer
- 42-Kyle Petty
- 5-Ricky Rudd, 1 lap down
- 25-Ken Schrader, 2 laps down
- 11-Bill Elliott, 2 laps down
Failed to qualify: 71-Dave Marcis, 47-Billy Standridge, 37-Loy Allen Jr., 35-Bill Venturini, 63-Norm Benning, 99-Brad Teague, 83-Jeff McClure, 02-T. W. Taylor
AC Delco 500
The AC Delco 500 was held October 24 at North Carolina Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.
Top ten results
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 11-Bill Elliott
- 33-Harry Gant
- 6-Mark Martin, 1 lap down
- 28-Ernie Irvan, 1 lap down
- 17-Darrell Waltrip, 1 lap down
- 25-Ken Schrader, 1 lap down
- 41-Dick Trickle, 2 laps down
- 7-Geoff Bodine, 2 laps down
Failed to qualify: 47-Billy Standridge, 63-Norm Benning, 65-Jerry O'Neil, 05-Ed Ferree
Slick 50 500
The Slick 50 500 was held October 31 at Phoenix International Raceway. Bill Elliott won the pole.
Top ten results
- 6-Mark Martin
- 28-Ernie Irvan
- 42-Kyle Petty
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 11-Bill Elliott
- 5-Ricky Rudd
- 17-Darrell Waltrip
- 22-Bobby Labonte
- 30-Michael Waltrip
- 1-Rick Mast
Failed to qualify: 52-Scott Gaylord, 36-Butch Gilliland, 13-Stan Fox, 48-Jack Sellers, 81-Jeff Davis, 51-Rick Scribner
Hooters 500
The Hooters 500 was held November 14 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Harry Gant won the pole. In this race, Dale Earnhardt clinched his sixth championship, only needing a 34th-place finish or better to claim the title; he finished 10th. 1989 champion Rusty Wallace gave his maximum effort in his 300th Winston Cup start but was still 80 points short of the Winston Cup Championship.
During practice, Dale Earnhardt, Ken Schrader, and Jeff Gordon all had crashes. However, all three were uninjured and qualified for the race.
This race was a day of remembrance, as mentioned in the television broadcast opening. Exactly a one-year prior, the 1992 race ended up being one of the greatest races of all time - and two of the key fixtures, Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison were killed in aviation accidents during the season.
Top ten results
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 5-Ricky Rudd
- 17-Darrell Waltrip
- 11-Bill Elliott
- 41-Dick Trickle
- 30-Michael Waltrip
- 18-Dale Jarrett
- 55-Ted Musgrave
- 75-Phil Parsons
- 3-Dale Earnhardt, 1 lap down
Failed to qualify: 47-Billy Standridge, 95-Jeremy Mayfield, 52-Jimmy Means, 62-Clay Young, 57-Bob Schacht, 72-John Andretti, 63-Norm Benning, 9-P. J. Jones, 84-Rick Crawford, 48-Andy Genzman
Neil Bonnett qualified for the race in a backup car (#31) for RCR, and executed one of the first start and park situations in NASCAR. The team arranged that Bonnett would step aside from the #31 car, in the last minute, in the event that Earnhardt's car, after pre-race inspection, suffered mechanical failure on the grid or during the pace laps. If Earnhardt started the race in the #31 car, by rule, he would be awarded full points for that entry. The car Bonnett qualified was set up with Earnhardt's exact chassis set up. Earnhardt started his primary car as expected, and Bonnett pulled off the track to finish last after 3 laps. The team gave the reason of "engine failure." Bonnett's intentional "start and park" helped maximize Earnhardt's finishing position, as only seven other cars had to drop out for Earnhardt to clinch the title. RCR pulled out all the stops in preparation for the race. They brought a truck filled with extra spare parts, including an entire pre-assembled rear end and a framing machine to fix the car in case of a crash.
Due to fog at the airport, several pit crew members on several teams were late arriving at the track. Darrell Waltrip started the race without his entire pit crew.
By lap 117, enough cars had dropped out of the race to mathematically clinch the championship for Earnhardt.
Jeff Gordon secured the rookie of the year award; but in a mild surprise, he did not manage to win a points-paying race during the season.
Final points standings
- 3-Dale Earnhardt – 4526
- 2-Rusty Wallace – 4446
- 6-Mark Martin – 4150
- 18-Dale Jarrett – 4000
- 42-Kyle Petty – 3860
- 28-Ernie Irvan – 3834
- 21-Morgan Shepherd – 3807
- 11-Bill Elliott – 3774
- 25-Ken Schrader – 3715
- 5-Ricky Rudd – 3644
- 33-Harry Gant – 3524
- 12-Jimmy Spencer – 3496
- 17-Darrell Waltrip – 3479
- 24-Jeff Gordon – 3447
- 8-Sterling Marlin – 3355
- 7-Geoff Bodine – 3338
- 30-Michael Waltrip – 3291
- 14-Terry Labonte – 3280
- 22-Bobby Labonte – 3221
- 26-Brett Bodine – 3183
- 1-Rick Mast – 3001
- 16-Wally Dallenbach, Jr. – 2978
- 40-Kenny Wallace – 2893
- 27-Hut Stricklin – 2866
- 55-Ted Musgrave – 2853
- 98-Derrike Cope – 2787
- 90-Bobby Hillin, Jr. – 2717
- 44-Rick Wilson – 2647
- 75-Phil Parsons – 2454
- 41-Dick Trickle – 2224
- Davey Allison – 2104
- 4-Jimmy Hensley – 2001
- 71-Dave Marcis – 1970
- 15-Lake Speed – 1956
- 68-Greg Sacks – 1730
- 52-Jimmy Means – 1471
- 20-Bobby Hamilton – 1348
- 32-Jimmy Horton – 841
- Jeff Purvis – 774
- Todd Bodine – 715
- Alan Kulwicki – 625
- 9-P. J. Jones – 498
- Joe Ruttman – 417
- Joe Nemechek – 389
- 37-Loy Allen Jr. – 362
- 66-Mike Wallace – 343
- Jim Sauter – 295
- 45-Rich Bickle – 292
- 61-Rick Carelli – 258
- 72-John Andretti – 250
Rookie of the Year
After his contract was bought from Bill Davis Racing, Jeff Gordon drove the #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy in 1993. He won one pole, had eleven top-tens and finished 14th in points. His next closest competitor was Bobby Labonte who had replaced Gordon at BDR. He had six top-tens and one pole, while third-place finisher Kenny Wallace had only three top-tens. The last place runner was P. J. Jones, who declared late in the season and only ran six races for Melling Racing.
References
- ↑ Pockrass, Bob (February 27, 2016). "Field of 39 cars at Atlanta smallest in nearly 20 years". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
External links
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