The 1988 Checker 500 was the 28th and penultimate stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, the eighth and final race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston West Series, and the inaugural iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 6, 1988, before an audience of 60,000 in Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix International Raceway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent low-banked tri-oval race track. The race took the scheduled 312 laps to complete.

1988 Checker 500
Race details
Race 28 of 29 in the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1988 Checker 500 program cover, featuring Terry Labonte.
The 1988 Checker 500 program cover, featuring Terry Labonte.
Date November 6, 1988
Official name Inaugural Checker 500
Location Avondale, Arizona, Phoenix International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1 mi (1.6 km)
Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (502.115 km)
Scheduled Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (502.115 km)
Average speed 90.457 miles per hour (145.576 km/h)
Attendance 60,000
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 29.220
Most laps led
Driver Ricky Rudd King Racing
Laps 183
Winner
No. 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

In the closing laps of the race, owner-driver Alan Kulwicki took advantage of a misfortunate Ricky Rudd, who suffered an engine failure after being the dominant driver of the race. Passing Rudd for the lead with 16 laps left in the race, Kulwicki was able to defend a large gap to take his first career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Junior Johnson & Associates' Terry Labonte and Ranier-Lundy Racing's Davey Allison finished second and third, respectively.

In the driver's championship battle for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, championship leader Bill Elliott maintained a 79-point lead over second-place driver Rusty Wallace heading into the final race of the season, the 1988 Atlanta Journal 500. In order for Elliott to guarantee the title victory in the final race, he needed to finish 18th or better in the race.[3]

In the driver's championship for the NASCAR Winston West Series, Razore Racing's Roy Smith won the championship over runner-up Bill Schmitt.

Background

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The layout of Phoenix International Raceway, the venue where the race was held.

Phoenix International Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Jim Bown Bown Racing Chevrolet Rose Auto Wrecking
2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Chevrolet Kroger
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service
03 Bill Schmitt Schmitt Racing Chevrolet Schmitt Racing
4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Kodak
04 Hershel McGriff McGriff Racing Pontiac U.S. Bank
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
14 Butch Gilliland Gilliland Racing Buick Anaheim Brakes & Wheels
15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford Crisco
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
19 Chad Little George Jefferson Racing Ford Coors Extra Gold
20 Scott Gaylord Burney Racing Oldsmobile Oliver Manufacturing
21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 St. James Davis St. James Racing Buick St. James Racing
23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile Wayne Paging
24 Gary Collins Collins Motorsports Oldsmobile Nex Shop
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 Johnny Rutherford Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile Slender You Figure Salons
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
41 Jack Sellers Vincent Racing Chevrolet Coca-Cola
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
66 John Krebs Krebs Racing Oldsmobile Skoal
68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford Purolator
69 Trevor Boys Boys Racing Oldsmobile Boys Racing
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Lifebuoy
73 Joe Ruttman Barkdoll Racing Ford Helen Rae
75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Valvoline
79 Roy Smith Razore Racing Ford Peterbilt
82 J. C. Danielsen Gautsche Racing Buick Chico Auto Parts
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Wynn's, Kmart
88 Greg Sacks 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
95 Harry Jefferson George Jefferson Racing Ford Peterbilt
98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick Sunoco

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, November 4, 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 were 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, November 5, at 1:30 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 were decided on time,[4] 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; which was up to two for cars in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and up to two extra provisionals for the cars in the NASCAR Winston West Series.

Geoff Bodine, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 29.220 and an average speed of 123.203 miles per hour (198.276 km/h) in the first round.[5]

Seven drivers failed to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.220 123.203
2 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 29.299 122.871
3 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 29.314 122.808
4 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 29.368 122.582
5 89 Jim Sauter Mueller Brothers Racing Pontiac 29.371 122.570
6 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 29.395 122.470
7 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 29.422 122.357
8 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 29.432 122.316
9 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 29.438 122.291
10 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 29.468 122.166
11 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 29.503 122.021
12 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 29.537 121.881
13 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.546 121.844
14 12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 29.558 121.794
15 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 29.581 121.700
16 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.593 121.650
17 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 29.603 121.609
18 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 29.627 121.511
19 04 Hershel McGriff McGriff Racing Pontiac 29.655 121.396
20 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 29.667 121.347
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 29.465 122.179
22 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 29.535 121.889
23 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 29.624 121.523
24 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.625 121.519
25 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 29.634 121.482
26 73 Joe Ruttman Barkdoll Racing Ford 29.674 121.322
27 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 29.678 121.302
28 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 29.711 121.167
29 79 Roy Smith Razore Racing Ford 29.740 121.049
30 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 29.756 120.984
31 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 29.758 120.976
32 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 29.775 120.907
33 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 29.794 120.830
34 31 Johnny Rutherford Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 29.862 120.555
35 88 Greg Sacks Baker-Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 29.878 120.490
36 1 Jim Bown Bown Racing Chevrolet 29.987 120.052
37 19 Chad Little George Jefferson Racing Ford 29.993 120.028
38 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 30.111 119.558
39 24 Gary Collins Collins Motorsports Oldsmobile 30.145 119.423
40 69 Trevor Boys Boys Racing Oldsmobile 30.156 119.379
Winston Cup provisionals
41 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Pontiac -* -*
42 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick -* -*
Winston West provisional
43 03 Bill Schmitt Schmitt Racing Chevrolet -* -*
Failed to qualify (results unknown)
44 14 Butch Gilliland Gilliland Racing Buick -* -*
45 20 Scott Gaylord Burney Racing Oldsmobile -* -*
46 22 St. James Davis St. James Racing Buick -* -*
47 41 Jack Sellers Vincent Racing Chevrolet -* -*
48 66 John Krebs Krebs Racing Oldsmobile -* -*
49 82 J. C. Danielsen Gautsche Racing Buick -* -*
50 95 Harry Jefferson George Jefferson Racing Ford -* -*
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 21 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 312 41 running 180 $54,100
2 17 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 312 2 running 175 $31,075
3 20 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 312 0 running 165 $24,275
4 6 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 312 0 running 160 $19,475
5 2 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 312 68 running 160 $20,400
6 1 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 311 2 running 155 $13,700
7 33 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 311 0 running 146 $11,400
8 15 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 311 0 running 142 $9,650
9 18 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 311 0 running 138 $9,050
10 9 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 311 11 running 139 $10,150
11 13 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 311 0 running 130 $15,100
12 3 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 311 0 running 127 $7,850
13 16 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 310 0 running 124 $10,550
14 24 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 310 0 running 121 $9,250
15 12 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 310 0 running 118 $4,850
16 23 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 309 0 running 115 $2,450
17 25 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 309 0 running 112 $9,500
18 38 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 308 0 running 109 $5,575
19 37 19 Chad Little George Jefferson Racing Ford 307 0 running 106 $4,450
20 40 69 Trevor Boys Boys Racing Oldsmobile 306 0 running 103 $2,875
21 8 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 306 0 running 100 $9,150
22 27 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 305 0 running 97 $3,875
23 41 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Pontiac 304 0 running 94 $3,300
24 28 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 303 0 running 91 $4,080
25 42 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 299 0 running 88 $2,175
26 4 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 296 183 engine 95 $17,350
27 14 12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 293 5 running 87 $9,550
28 11 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 292 0 running 79 $4,750
29 10 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 221 0 running 76 $2,690
30 29 79 Roy Smith Razore Racing Ford 218 0 running 73 $1,975
31 32 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 215 0 engine 70 $2,600
32 5 89 Jim Sauter Mueller Brothers Racing Pontiac 213 0 engine 67 $1,900
33 39 24 Gary Collins Collins Motorsports Oldsmobile 212 0 engine 64 $2,525
34 19 04 Hershel McGriff McGriff Racing Pontiac 177 0 engine 61 $2,475
35 30 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 168 0 oilpan 58 $4,435
36 7 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 159 0 crash 55 $3,805
37 43 03 Bill Schmitt Schmitt Racing Chevrolet 157 0 crash 52 $1,795
38 35 88 Greg Sacks Baker-Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 157 0 crash 49 $3,775
39 34 31 Johnny Rutherford Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 155 0 crash 46 $3,775
40 31 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 133 0 engine 43 $1,750
41 26 73 Joe Ruttman Barkdoll Racing Ford 65 0 crash 40 $1,725
42 36 1 Jim Bown Bown Racing Chevrolet 64 0 engine 37 $1,725
43 22 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 13 0 engine 34 $1,725
Failed to qualify (results unknown)
44 14 Butch Gilliland Gilliland Racing Buick
45 20 Scott Gaylord Burney Racing Oldsmobile
46 22 St. James Davis St. James Racing Buick
47 41 Jack Sellers Vincent Racing Chevrolet
48 66 John Krebs Krebs Racing Oldsmobile
49 82 J. C. Danielsen Gautsche Racing Buick
50 95 Harry Jefferson George Jefferson Racing Ford
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (November 7, 1988). "Kulwicki Rolls To First Win". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B, 3B. Retrieved September 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Armijo, Mark (November 7, 1988). "Kulwicki engineers Checker victory". The Arizona Republic. pp. D1, D6. Retrieved September 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Hinton, Ed (November 20, 1988). "Elliott's Journal 500 Tactics In Quest For Title Draw Fire". The Atlanta Constitution. pp. 25D. Retrieved September 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ "NASCAR Today". The Charlotte Observer. November 4, 1988. pp. 4F. Retrieved September 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Higgins, Tom (November 5, 1988). "Charging Bodine Snatches Pole". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 4B. Retrieved September 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  


Previous race:
1988 AC Delco 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1988 season
Next race:
1988 Atlanta Journal 500