The 1988 Coca-Cola 600 was the tenth stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 29th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, May 29, 1988, before an audience of 165,000 in Concord, North Carolina, at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent quad-oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. On the final restart with nine laps left in the race, Hendrick Motorsports driver Darrell Waltrip would manage to fend off the field to take his 72nd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season.[1][2][3][4] To fill out the top three, Blue Max Racing driver Rusty Wallace and owner-driver Alan Kulwicki would finish second and third, respectively.

1988 Coca-Cola 600
Race details
Race 10 of 29 in the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1988 Coca-Cola 600 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott, Bobby Allison, and Cale Yarborough. Artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass.
The 1988 Coca-Cola 600 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott, Bobby Allison, and Cale Yarborough. Artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass.
Date May 29, 1988
Official name 29th Annual Coca-Cola 600
Location Concord, North Carolina, Charlotte Motor Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.41 km)
Distance 400 laps, 600 mi (965.606 km)
Scheduled Distance 400 laps, 600 mi (965.606 km)
Average speed 124.46 miles per hour (200.30 km/h)
Attendance 165,000
Pole position
Driver Ranier-Lundy Racing
Time 31.107
Most laps led
Driver Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports
Laps 106
Winner
No. 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network TBS
Announcers Ken Squier, Johnny Hayes
Radio in the United States
Radio Performance Racing Network

The race was marred by a series of tire failures that had lasted throughout the entire race. With almost every starter for the race deciding to run tires made by Hoosier Racing Tire (with Dave Marcis being the only exception, deciding to instead run tires made by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company), numerous drivers suffered tire blowouts. Notable drivers who suffered tire blowouts include Harry Gant, Neil Bonnett, and Rick Wilson, all of whom had to be hospitalized after their accidents. Marcis did not suffer any tire failures, but still failed to finish after Sterling Marlin also suffered a tire failure and collected Marcis in the process.[5] The increased amount of tire blowouts was blamed on an increase of both track temperature and higher speeds than Hoosier had expected, according to the company's CEO, Bob Newton.[6]

Background

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The layout of Charlotte Motor Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge, as well as the UAW-GM Quality 500. The speedway was built in 1959 by Bruton Smith and is considered the home track for NASCAR with many race teams located in the Charlotte area. The track is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) with Marcus G. Smith (son of Bruton Smith) as track president.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
00 Gary Brooks Brooks Racing Chevrolet Brooks Racing
2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Chevrolet Kroger
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Kodak
5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Stroh's Light
7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford Zerex
8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller High Life
9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford Coors Light
10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet Whitcomb Racing
11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
12 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller High Life
15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford Crisco
16 Larry Pearson Pearson Racing Chevrolet Chattanooga Chew
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile Wayne Paging
25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Folgers
26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick Quaker State
27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac Kodiak
28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile Hardee's
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Country Time
31 Brad Teague[a] Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile Slender You Figure Salons
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
34 Donnie Allison AAG Racing Chevrolet Allen's Associated Glass
36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac Almeda Auto Parts
40 Ben Hess Hess Racing Oldsmobile Hess Racing
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Piedmont Airlines
47 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Buick Winner's Circle Auto Products
50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac Dingman Brothers Racing
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Chevrolet Eureka
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal, Crown Central Petroleum
64 Mike Potter Potter Racing Chevrolet Potter Racing
67 Dale Jarrett Arrington Racing Chevrolet Raven Boats, Bud Light
68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford Purolator
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Lifebuoy
75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Valvoline
80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford S&H Racing
82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford Auto Bell Car Wash
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Wynn's, Kmart
87 Randy Baker Buck Baker Racing Oldsmobile Sony Magnetic Products
88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Red Baron Frozen Pizza
89 Jim Sauter Mueller Brothers Racing Pontiac Evinrude Outboard Motors
90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Chevrolet Salmon Racing
95 Slick Johnson Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet Sadler Brothers Racing
97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick AC Spark Plug
98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick Sunoco
99 Connie Saylor Ball Motorsports Chevrolet Ball Motorsports

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Wednesday, May 27, at 3:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 drivers in the round would be guaranteed a starting spot in the race. If a driver was not able to guarantee a spot in the first round, they had the option to scrub their time from the first round and try and run a faster lap time in a second round qualifying run, held on Thursday, May 28, at 2:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 would be decided on time,[8] 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; up to two were given.

Davey Allison, driving for Ranier-Lundy Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 31.107 and an average speed of 173.594 miles per hour (279.372 km/h) in the first round.[9][10]

11 drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 31.107 173.594
2 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.300 172.524
3 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 31.447 171.717
4 12 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 31.455 171.674
5 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.480 171.537
6 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 31.511 171.369
7 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 31.550 171.157
8 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 31.556 171.124
9 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 31.590 170.940
10 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 31.593 170.924
11 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 31.599 170.891
12 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 31.622 170.767
13 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 31.622 170.767
14 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 31.636 170.692
15 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 31.638 170.681
16 47 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Buick 31.675 170.481
17 89 Jim Sauter Mueller Brothers Racing Pontiac 31.685 170.428
18 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 31.699 170.352
19 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.725 170.213
20 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 31.772 169.961
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 31.723 170.223
22 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 31.813 169.742
23 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Chevrolet 31.921 169.168
24 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford 31.939 169.072
25 31 Joe Ruttman Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 31.943 169.051
26 80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford 31.966 168.929
27 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 31.972 168.898
28 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 31.993 168.787
29 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 32.021 168.639
30 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 32.024 168.624
31 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 32.052 168.476
32 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 32.084 168.308
33 29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 32.126 168.088
34 26 Mike Alexander[b] King Racing Buick 32.161 167.905
35 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac 32.175 167.832
36 50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac 32.181 167.801
37 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 32.203 167.686
38 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 32.261 167.385
39 67 Dale Jarrett Arrington Racing Chevrolet 32.276 167.307
40 97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick 32.281 167.281
Provisional
41 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 32.281 167.281
Failed to qualify
42 34 Donnie Allison AAG Racing Chevrolet -* -*
43 40 Ben Hess Hess Racing Oldsmobile -* -*
44 99 Connie Saylor Ball Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
45 64 Mike Potter Potter Racing Chevrolet -* -*
46 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac -* -*
47 93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Chevrolet -* -*
48 82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford -* -*
49 95 Slick Johnson Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet -* -*
50 87 Randy Baker Buck Baker Racing Oldsmobile -* -*
51 00 Gary Brooks Brooks Racing Chevrolet -* -*
52 16 Larry Pearson[c] Pearson Racing Chevrolet - -
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 5 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 73 running 180 $104,250
2 11 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 400 4 running 175 $56,425
3 9 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 400 12 running 170 $38,100
4 14 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 400 96 running 165 $49,305
5 1 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 400 27 running 160 $62,050
6 19 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 1 running 155 $23,900
7 34 26 Ricky Rudd[b] King Racing Buick 399 0 running 146 $17,050
8 12 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 398 1 running 147 $15,550
9 3 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 397 0 running 138 $22,600
10 36 50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac 396 0 running 134 $10,900
11 24 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford 396 0 running 130 $9,325
12 37 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 395 6 running 132 $12,765
13 7 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 394 0 running 124 $19,205
14 28 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 393 0 running 121 $11,045
15 30 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 392 1 running 123 $10,985
16 13 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 375 0 engine 115 $13,000
17 4 12 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 365 19 running 117 $17,750
18 10 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 353 106 accident 119 $13,950
19 6 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 340 17 running 111 $17,200
20 25 31 Joe Ruttman Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 339 0 running 0 $5,500
21 15 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 338 0 running 100 $4,600
22 23 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Chevrolet 328 0 running 97 $5,950
23 22 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 326 0 running 94 $7,400
24 2 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 317 1 running 96 $12,100
25 18 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 294 0 engine 88 $6,700
26 16 47 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Buick 270 0 engine 85 $3,000
27 20 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 247 18 running 87 $6,400
28 32 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 243 0 accident 79 $2,400
29 27 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 243 6 accident 81 $5,350
30 21 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 231 10 accident 78 $5,900
31 26 80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford 230 0 engine 70 $2,200
32 40 97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick 227 0 engine 67 $2,600
33 41 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 191 1 accident 69 $2,000
34 38 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 166 1 accident 66 $4,625
35 35 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac 155 0 engine 58 $1,750
36 31 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 113 0 accident 55 $8,700
37 8 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 83 0 engine 52 $2,150
38 33 29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 58 0 accident 49 $1,625
39 17 89 Jim Sauter Mueller Brothers Racing Pontiac 57 0 accident 46 $1,600
40 29 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 57 0 accident 43 $2,275
41 39 67 Dale Jarrett Arrington Racing Chevrolet 27 0 engine 40 $4,200
Failed to qualify
42 34 Donnie Allison AAG Racing Chevrolet
43 40 Ben Hess Hess Racing Oldsmobile
44 99 Connie Saylor Ball Motorsports Chevrolet
45 64 Mike Potter Potter Racing Chevrolet
46 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac
47 93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Chevrolet
48 82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford
49 95 Slick Johnson Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet
50 87 Randy Baker Buck Baker Racing Oldsmobile
51 00 Gary Brooks Brooks Racing Chevrolet
52 16 Larry Pearson Pearson Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

Standings after the race

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Notes

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  1. ^ Teague was fired after first-round qualifying, with Joe Ruttman replacing Teague for second-round qualifying and the race.[7]
  2. ^ a b Alexander would replace Ricky Rudd for the race's qualifying sessions, after Rudd suffered torn ligaments in his left knee during the 1988 The Winston.[11] While Rudd would manage to start the race, he was replaced by Alexander midway into the race.[12]
  3. ^ Pearson would crash in first-round qualifying. With a lack of a backup car, Pearson would withdraw from the event.[13]

References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (May 30, 1988). "Waltrip Rolls On Tired Treads (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 19. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (May 30, 1988). "Waltrip Rolls On Tired Treads (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 22. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Mulhurn, Mike (May 30, 1988). "Waltrip Wins World 600 for Record Fourth Time (Part 1)". Winston-Salem Journal. p. 21. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Mulhurn, Mike (May 30, 1988). "Waltrip Wins World 600 for Record Fourth Time (Part 2)". Winston-Salem Journal. p. 28. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Myers, Bob (May 30, 1988). "Tire Problems Fan Controversy's Flame". The Charlotte Observer. p. 23. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Mulhurn, Mike (May 30, 1988). "NASCAR Officials Promise Quick End to Earnhardt–Bodine Fireworks". Winston-Salem Journal. p. 28. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ Higgins, Tom (May 26, 1988). "Rudd Will Probably Participate in 600". The Charlotte Observer. p. 39. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  8. ^ "Race Week '88". The Charlotte Observer. May 22, 1989. p. 150. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  9. ^ Higgins, Tom (May 26, 1988). "D. Allison Takes 600 Pole (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 33. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  10. ^ Higgins, Tom (May 26, 1988). "D. Allison Takes 600 Pole (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 38. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  11. ^ Foreman Jr., Tom (May 27, 1988). "Gant leads 2nd-day qualifying". Myrtle Beach Sun-News. p. 12. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  12. ^ Higgins, Tom (May 27, 1988). "Gant Leads 2nd Day 600 Qualifying". The Charlotte Observer. p. 38. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  13. ^ "Skyland's Marcis sticks with old tires". The Asheville Times. May 27, 1988. p. 24. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  


Previous race:
1988 Winston 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1988 season
Next race:
1988 Budweiser 500