The 1988 AC Delco 500 was the 27th stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 24th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 23, 1988, before an audience of 52,400 in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack.

1988 AC Delco 500
Race details
Race 27 of 29 in the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1988 AC Delco 500 program cover.
The 1988 AC Delco 500 program cover.
Date October 23, 1988
Official name 24th Annual AC Delco 500
Location Rockingham, North Carolina, North Carolina Motor Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.017 mi (1.636 km)
Distance 492 laps, 500.364 mi (805.257 km)
Scheduled Distance 492 laps, 500.364 mi (805.257 km)
Average speed 111.557 miles per hour (179.534 km/h)
Attendance 52,400
Pole position
Driver Melling Racing
Time 24.678
Most laps led
Driver Bill Elliott Melling Racing
Laps 217
Winner
No. 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Gary Nelson
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Coming back from a two-lap deficit, Blue Max Racing's Rusty Wallace managed to gain the laps back late in the first half of the race. Afterwards, he proceeded to dominate most of the second half of the race, leading 182 of the last 189 laps to take his ninth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory, his fifth victory of the season, and his third consecutive victory.[1][2] To fill out the top three, King Racing's Ricky Rudd and Junior Johnson & Associates' Terry Labonte finished second and third, respectively.

In the driver's championship for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Wallace was able to gain 10 points on championship leader Bill Elliott, dropping Wallace's deficit down to 79 points.[3]

Background

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

North Carolina Motor Speedway was opened as a flat, one-mile oval on October 31, 1965. In 1969, the track was extensively reconfigured to a high-banked, D-shaped oval just over one mile in length. In 1997, North Carolina Motor Speedway merged with Penske Motorsports, and was renamed North Carolina Speedway. Shortly thereafter, the infield was reconfigured, and competition on the infield road course, mostly by the SCCA, was discontinued. Currently, the track is home to the Fast Track High Performance Driving School.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Chevrolet Kroger
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service
4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Kodak
5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Stroh Light
06 Lee Raymond Coyle Racing Chevrolet Riverside Auto Parts
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 Ford Whitcomb Racing
11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller High Life
13 D. Wayne Strout Strout Racing Oldsmobile Greyhound Package Experience
15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford Crisco
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Rodney Combs Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing
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 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile Hardee's
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Country Time
31 Jim Sauter Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile Slender You Figure Salons
32 Philip Duffie Duffie Racing Buick Bob Beard Buick
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
34 Connie Saylor AAG Racing Buick Allen's Associated Glass
40 Ben Hess Hess Racing Oldsmobile Hess Racing
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Piedmont Airlines
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Eureka
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal, Crown Central Petroleum
57 Morgan Shepherd Osterlund Racing Buick Winner's Circle Auto Parts
63 Jocko Maggiacomo Linro Motorsports Chevrolet Linro Motorsports
67 Brad Teague Arrington Racing Ford Pannill Sweatshirts
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
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Wynn's, Kmart
88 Greg Sacks Baker-Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Red Baron Frozen Pizza
90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Chevrolet Salmon Racing
97 Joe Ruttman Winkle Motorsports Buick AC Spark Plug
98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick Sunoco

Qualifying

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Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was held on Thursday, October 20, at 2:30 pm EST. Originally, the first 20 positions were going to be determined by first round qualifying, with positions 21-40 meant to be determined the following day on Friday, October 21.[4] However, due to rain, the second round was cancelled. As a result, the rest of the starting lineup was set using the results from the first round. 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.[5]

Bill Elliott, driving for Melling Racing, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 24.678 and an average speed of 148.359 miles per hour (238.761 km/h) in the first round.[6]

Seven drivers failed to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 24.678 148.359
2 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 24.706 148.191
3 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 24.790 147.689
4 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 24.866 147.237
5 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 24.885 147.125
6 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 24.899 147.042
7 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 24.905 147.007
8 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 24.919 146.924
9 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 24.946 146.765
10 88 Greg Sacks Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 25.018 146.343
11 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 25.054 146.132
12 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 25.085 145.952
13 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 25.092 145.911
14 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 25.098 145.876
15 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 25.159 145.522
16 12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 25.161 145.511
17 57 Morgan Shepherd Osterlund Racing Buick 25.171 145.453
18 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 25.173 145.443
19 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 25.221 145.165
20 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 25.228 145.124
21 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 25.261 144.935
22 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 25.268 144.895
23 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 25.276 144.849
24 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 25.294 144.746
25 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 25.297 144.729
26 97 Joe Ruttman Winkle Motorsports Buick 25.387 144.216
27 67 Brad Teague Arrington Racing Ford 25.402 144.130
28 22 Rodney Combs Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 25.432 143.960
29 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 25.445 143.887
30 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 25.445 143.887
31 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 25.472 143.734
32 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 25.479 143.695
33 31 Jim Sauter Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 25.482 143.678
34 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 25.509 143.526
35 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 25.555 143.267
36 40 Ben Hess Hess Racing Oldsmobile 25.582 143.116
37 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 25.615 142.932
38 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 25.692 142.504
39 34 Connie Saylor AAG Racing Buick 25.745 142.210
40 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Pontiac 25.746 142.205
Failed to qualify
41 32 Philip Duffie Duffie Racing Buick -* -*
42 63 Jocko Maggiacomo Linro Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
43 13 D. Wayne Strout Strout Racing Oldsmobile -* -*
44 80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford -* -*
45 93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Chevrolet -* -*
46 06 Lee Raymond Coyle Racing Chevrolet -* -*
47 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac -* -*
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 3 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 492 200 running 180 $52,150
2 9 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 492 8 running 175 $26,985
3 7 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 492 1 running 170 $25,095
4 1 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 491 217 running 170 $23,480
5 13 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 491 1 running 160 $27,965
6 16 12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 489 0 running 150 $12,910
7 12 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 489 0 running 146 $10,110
8 23 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 489 2 running 147 $9,210
9 14 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 489 0 running 138 $14,410
10 25 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 489 0 running 134 $13,810
11 21 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 488 0 running 130 $11,020
12 10 88 Greg Sacks Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 488 0 running 127 $8,220
13 29 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 488 0 running 124 $11,520
14 17 57 Morgan Shepherd Osterlund Racing Buick 487 0 running 121 $3,720
15 32 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 484 0 running 118 $6,470
16 34 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 481 1 running 120 $7,170
17 33 31 Jim Sauter Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 479 0 running 0 $4,820
18 40 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Pontiac 477 0 running 109 $5,620
19 15 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 475 0 running 106 $5,970
20 36 40 Ben Hess Hess Racing Oldsmobile 472 0 running 103 $3,370
21 39 34 Connie Saylor AAG Racing Buick 464 0 running 100 $2,565
22 24 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 458 0 running 97 $3,490
23 38 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 444 11 running 99 $5,340
24 30 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 433 0 running 91 $3,165
25 35 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 425 0 engine 88 $5,090
26 2 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 379 0 handling 85 $5,140
27 6 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 374 50 crash 87 $12,290
28 4 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 374 0 crash 79 $4,765
29 8 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 373 0 crash 76 $10,615
30 20 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 355 0 crash 73 $6,715
31 5 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 276 1 engine 75 $9,625
32 22 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 255 0 engine 67 $2,450
33 11 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 241 0 engine 64 $1,755
34 18 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 236 0 engine 61 $4,305
35 27 67 Brad Teague Arrington Racing Ford 231 0 engine 58 $3,655
36 19 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 231 0 crash 55 $1,600
37 31 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 173 0 crank 52 $1,575
38 26 97 Joe Ruttman Winkle Motorsports Buick 71 0 handling 0 $1,550
39 37 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 29 0 engine 46 $3,525
40 28 22 Rodney Combs Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4 0 quit 43 $1,500
Failed to qualify
41 32 Philip Duffie Duffie Racing Buick
42 63 Jocko Maggiacomo Linro Motorsports Chevrolet
43 13 D. Wayne Strout Strout Racing Oldsmobile
44 80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford
45 93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Chevrolet
46 06 Lee Raymond Coyle Racing Chevrolet
47 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (October 24, 1988). "Wallace Rallies At Rockingham". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B, 2B. Retrieved September 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Mulhurn, Mike (October 24, 1988). "Final-lap tap boosts Wallace past Bodine". Winston-Salem Journal. pp. 15, 22. Retrieved September 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ McLaurin, Jim (October 24, 1988). "Elliott still favored over Wallace for title". The State. pp. 1C, 6C. Retrieved September 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ "NASCAR today". The Charlotte Observer. October 20, 1988. pp. 3B. Retrieved September 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Higgins, Tom (October 22, 1988). "NASCAR Might Ride On Radials In '89". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1C, 6C. Retrieved September 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Higgins, Tom (October 21, 1988). "Elliott Outruns Kulwicki For Pole". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1D, 4D. Retrieved September 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  


Previous race:
1988 Holly Farms 400
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1988 season
Next race:
1988 Checker 500