1989 Valleydale Meats 500

The 1989 Valleydale Meats 500 was the sixth stock car race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 29th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 9, 1989, before an audience of 56,000 in Bristol, Tennessee, at Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. Coming back from initial mishaps early in the race, Blue Max Racing driver Rusty Wallace would manage to make a late race charge to the lead, passing for the lead with 43 laps left in the race to take his 13th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third victory of the season.[1][2][3][4] To fill out the top three, Darrell Waltrip and Geoff Bodine, both drivers for Hendrick Motorsports, would finish second and third, respectively.

1989 Valleydale Meats 500
Race details
Race 6 of 29 in the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1989 Valleydale Meats 500 program cover, featuring Bill Elliott.
The 1989 Valleydale Meats 500 program cover, featuring Bill Elliott.
Date April 9, 1989
Official name 29th Annual Valleydale Meats 500
Location Bristol, Tennessee, Bristol Motor 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 76.034 miles per hour (122.365 km/h)
Attendance 56,000
Pole position
Driver Roush Racing
Time 15.953
Most laps led
Driver Greg Sacks Baker–Schiff Racing
Laps 119
Winner
No. 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons
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 U.S. Racing Pontiac Kroger
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
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
11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Ford Budweiser
15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft
16 Larry Pearson (R) Pearson Racing Buick Chattanooga Chew
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile B&B Racing
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 Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac Hardee's
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Country Time
31 Jim Sauter Bob Clark Motorsports Pontiac Slender You Figure Salons
33 Harry Gant Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal Bandit
40 Ben Hess (R) Hess Racing Oldsmobile Hess Racing
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
51 Butch Miller (R) Miller Racing Chevrolet Phoenix Construction
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Alka-Seltzer
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal, Crown Central Petroleum
57 Hut Stricklin (R) Osterlund Racing Pontiac Heinz
66 Rick Mast (R) Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Mach 1 Racing
67 Brad Teague Arrington Racing Pontiac U Can Rent
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Lifebuoy
75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Valvoline
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
84 Dick Trickle (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller High Life
88 Greg Sacks Baker–Schiff Racing Pontiac Crisco
94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Sunoco

Qualifying

edit

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, April 7, at 2:00 PM EST. Originally, the first 15 positions were going to be determined by first round qualifying, with positions 16-30 meant to be determined the following day on Saturday, April 8.[5] 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.[6]

Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 15.953 and an average speed of 120.278 miles per hour (193.569 km/h) in the first round.[7]

Five drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

edit
Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 15.953 120.278
2 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 16.003 119.903
3 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 16.016 119.805
4 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 16.126 118.988
5 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 16.213 118.349
6 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 16.226 118.255
7 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 16.243 118.131
8 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 16.251 118.073
9 51 Butch Miller (R) Miller Racing Chevrolet 16.251 118.073
10 75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 16.252 118.065
11 33 Harry Gant Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 16.279 117.869
12 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 16.297 117.739
13 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 16.324 117.543
14 94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 16.326 117.530
15 66 Rick Mast (R) Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 16.349 117.365
16 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 16.361 117.279
17 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 16.366 117.243
18 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 16.369 117.222
19 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 16.411 116.922
20 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 16.440 116.715
21 88 Greg Sacks Baker–Schiff Racing Pontiac 16.444 116.687
22 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 16.465 116.538
23 31 Jim Sauter Bob Clark Motorsports Pontiac 16.487 116.383
24 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 16.489 116.367
25 2 Ernie Irvan U.S. Racing Pontiac 16.491 116.354
26 57 Hut Stricklin (R) Osterlund Racing Pontiac 16.540 116.010
27 84 Dick Trickle (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 16.554 115.912
28 67 Brad Teague Arrington Racing Pontiac 16.569 115.807
29 21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 16.622 115.437
30 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 16.637 115.333
Provisionals
31 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford -* -*
32 16 Larry Pearson (R) Pearson Racing Buick -* -*
Failed to qualify
33 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac -* -*
34 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet -* -*
35 40 Ben Hess (R) Hess Racing Oldsmobile -* -*
36 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac -* -*
37 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac -* -*
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

edit
Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 8 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 500 51 running 180 $48,750
2 13 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 0 running 170 $28,900
3 2 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 43 running 170 $21,950
4 31 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 500 28 running 165 $17,802
5 27 84 Dick Trickle (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 500 0 running 155 $12,950
6 1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 500 37 running 155 $13,975
7 21 88 Greg Sacks Baker–Schiff Racing Pontiac 500 119 running 156 $9,300
8 18 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 500 0 running 142 $7,325
9 16 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 500 34 running 143 $13,150
10 11 33 Harry Gant Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 500 22 running 139 $10,350
11 7 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 499 0 running 130 $6,500
12 29 21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 499 8 running 132 $6,075
13 23 31 Jim Sauter Bob Clark Motorsports Pontiac 498 0 running 124 $6,300
14 15 66 Rick Mast (R) Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 496 5 running 126 $5,800
15 14 94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 493 8 running 123 $6,930
16 5 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 492 74 running 120 $21,280
17 28 67 Brad Teague Arrington Racing Pontiac 488 0 running 112 $2,480
18 32 16 Larry Pearson (R) Pearson Racing Buick 480 0 oil line 109 $2,430
19 12 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 479 0 running 106 $2,390
20 3 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 458 3 running 108 $6,075
21 4 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 442 2 running 105 $4,710
22 20 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 440 0 running 97 $4,520
23 6 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 420 0 crash 94 $4,395
24 19 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 400 0 running 91 $7,825
25 30 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 397 0 running 88 $4,405
26 10 75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 234 4 crash 90 $8,745
27 22 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 215 6 crash 87 $4,160
28 26 57 Hut Stricklin (R) Osterlund Racing Pontiac 167 0 crash 79 $1,970
29 25 2 Ernie Irvan U.S. Racing Pontiac 167 56 crash 81 $2,535
30 24 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 167 0 crash 73 $3,450
31 9 51 Butch Miller (R) Miller Racing Chevrolet 80 0 crash 70 $1,950
32 17 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 35 0 crash 67 $7,650
Failed to qualify
33 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac
34 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
35 40 Ben Hess (R) Hess Racing Oldsmobile
36 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac
37 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac
Official race results

Standings after the race

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 10, 1989). "Wallace Overcomes Mishaps For Win At Bristol (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 43. Retrieved April 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 10, 1989). "Wallace Overcomes Mishaps For Win At Bristol (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 45. Retrieved April 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Cox, Ray (April 10, 1989). "Wallace races with caution, wins at Bristol (Part 1)". The Roanoke Times. p. 11. Retrieved April 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Cox, Ray (April 10, 1989). "Wallace races with caution, wins at Bristol (Part 2)". The Roanoke Times. p. 15. Retrieved April 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "NASCAR Today". The Charlotte Observer. April 7, 1989. p. 26. Retrieved April 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 9, 1989). "Petty Fails To Qualify For 2nd Race In 3 Weeks". The Charlotte Observer. p. 54. Retrieved April 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 8, 1989). "Bristol Records Fall In Qualifying". The Charlotte Observer. p. 25. Retrieved April 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
Previous race:
1989 TranSouth 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1989 season
Next race:
1989 First Union 400