The 1988 Busch 500 was the 20th stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 28th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, August 27, 1988, before an audience of 54,000 in Bristol, Tennessee, at Bristol International Speedway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. At race's end, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt managed to dominate the late stages of the race, leading the final 110 laps to take his 34th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third and final victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Melling Racing's Bill Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports's Geoff Bodine would finish second and third, respectively.

1988 Busch 500
Race details
Race 20 of 29 in the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1988 Busch 500 program cover, featuring Bill Elliott.
The 1988 Busch 500 program cover, featuring Bill Elliott.
Date August 27, 1988
Official name 28th Annual Busch 500
Location Bristol, Tennessee, Bristol International Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
0.533 mi (0.858 km)
Distance 500 laps, 266.5 mi (428.89 km)
Scheduled Distance 500 laps, 266.5 mi (428.89 km)
Average speed 78.775 miles per hour (126.776 km/h)
Attendance 53,100
Pole position
Driver AK Racing
Time 16.415
Most laps led
Driver Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing
Laps 220
Winner
No. 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Gary Nelson
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

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

The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.

Entry list

edit
  • (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
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
15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford Crisco
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
20 Dave Mader III Bahre Racing Pontiac Bahre Racing
21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
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 Havoline
29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile Hardee's
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Country Time
31 Butch Miller Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile Slender You Figure Salons
32 Lee Faulk Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile Slender You Figure Salons
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
41 Ronnie Thomas Ronnie Thomas Racing Chevrolet Everride Radiator
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 Crown Central Petroleum, Skoal Classic
57 Morgan Shepherd Osterlund Racing Buick Heinz Ketchup
67 Ron Esau Arrington Racing Ford Pannill Sweatshirts
68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford Purolator Filters
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Lifebuoy
75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Valvoline
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Wynn's, Kmart
88 Rick Mast Baker-Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Red Baron Frozen Pizza
90 Tommy Ellis Donlavey Racing Ford Sunny King Ford
97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick AC Spark Plug
98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick Sunoco

Qualifying

edit

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, August 26, at 7:35 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 15 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 Saturday, August 27, at 1:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 15-30 would be decided on time,[3] and depending on who needed it, a select amount of positions were given to cars who had not otherwise qualified on time but were high enough in owner's points; up to two provisionals were given.

Alan Kulwicki, driving for his own AK Racing team, would win the pole, setting a time of 16.415 and an average speed of 116.893 miles per hour (188.121 km/h) in the first round.[4]

Eight drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

edit
Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 16.415 116.893
2 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 16.454 116.616
3 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 16.574 115.772
4 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 16.630 115.382
5 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 16.676 115.064
6 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 16.723 114.740
7 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 16.785 114.316
8 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 16.818 114.092
9 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 16.819 114.085
10 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 16.839 113.950
11 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 16.865 113.774
12 31 Butch Miller Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 16.883 113.653
13 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 16.905 113.505
14 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 16.922 113.391
15 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 16.930 113.337
Failed to lock in Round 1
16 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 16.931 113.331
17 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 16.953 113.184
18 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 16.964 113.110
19 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 16.967 113.090
20 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 16.987 112.957
21 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 16.991 112.930
22 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 17.003 112.851
23 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 17.016 112.764
24 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 17.016 112.764
25 88 Rick Mast Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 17.017 112.758
26 12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 17.030 112.672
27 20 Dave Mader III Bahre Racing Pontiac 17.062 112.460
28 97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick 17.066 112.434
29 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 17.068 112.421
30 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 17.084 112.316
Provisionals
31 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick -* -*
32 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac -* -*
Failed to qualify
33 57 Morgan Shepherd Osterlund Racing Buick -* -*
34 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac -* -*
35 90 Tommy Ellis Donlavey Racing Ford -* -*
36 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford -* -*
37 41 Ronnie Thomas Ronnie Thomas Racing Chevrolet -* -*
38 32 Lee Faulk Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile -* -*
39 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac -* -*
40 67 Ron Esau Arrington Racing Ford -* -*
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

edit
Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 5 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 500 220 running 185 $48,500
2 6 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 500 3 running 175 $29,150
3 3 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 499 15 running 170 $17,475
4 11 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 499 17 running 165 $16,775
5 1 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 499 21 running 160 $16,410
6 7 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 497 24 running 155 $7,525
7 4 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 497 3 running 151 $9,300
8 20 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 497 0 running 142 $6,300
9 17 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 493 0 running 138 $10,800
10 31 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 492 0 running 134 $9,050
11 28 97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick 489 0 running 130 $2,450
12 13 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 481 0 running 127 $5,350
13 22 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 479 65 running 129 $7,950
14 29 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 476 0 running 121 $7,850
15 21 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 452 0 running 118 $3,450
16 19 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 451 10 engine 120 $4,850
17 12 31 Butch Miller Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 438 0 engine 0 $3,175
18 26 12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 428 0 running 109 $7,525
19 23 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 417 0 overheating 106 $4,475
20 24 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 391 66 running 108 $3,425
21 9 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 388 0 running 100 $6,835
22 10 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 331 17 engine 102 $7,305
23 8 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 285 0 crash 94 $2,435
24 27 20 Dave Mader III Bahre Racing Pontiac 271 0 engine 91 $1,565
25 16 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 252 0 crash 88 $8,945
26 15 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 207 0 crash 85 $2,325
27 2 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 207 37 crash 87 $3,480
28 25 88 Rick Mast Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 207 2 crash 0 $3,660
29 18 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 142 0 crash 76 $3,615
30 14 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 93 0 overheating 73 $3,550
31 32 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 54 0 engine 70 $2,950
32 30 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 1 0 crash 67 $1,700
Failed to qualify
33 57 Morgan Shepherd Osterlund Racing Buick
34 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac
35 90 Tommy Ellis Donlavey Racing Ford
36 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford
37 41 Ronnie Thomas Ronnie Thomas Racing Chevrolet
38 32 Lee Faulk Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile
39 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac
40 67 Ron Esau Arrington Racing Ford
Official race results

Standings after the race

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (August 29, 1988). "Earnhardt Takes Bristol; Elliott Leads Points". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B, 3B. Retrieved July 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Mulhurn, Mike (August 28, 1988). "Earnhardt Preparing For Title". Winston-Salem Journal. pp. 17, 19. Retrieved July 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ "NASCAR Today". The Charlotte Observer. August 26, 1988. pp. 3B. Retrieved July 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Harris, Mike (August 27, 1988). "Kulwicki wins pole, sets qualifying mark". The Charlotte Observer. Associated Press. p. 20. Retrieved July 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  


Previous race:
1988 Champion Spark Plug 400
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1988 season
Next race:
1988 Southern 500