The 1993 Food City 500 was the sixth stock car race of the 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 33rd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 4, 1993, 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. At race's end, Penske Racing South driver Rusty Wallace would manage to dominate a majority of the race to take his 23rd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt and SABCO Racing driver Kyle Petty would finish second and third, respectively.

1993 Food City 500
Race details
Race 6 of 30 in the 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1993 Food City 500 program cover, featuring Larry Carrier.
The 1993 Food City 500 program cover, featuring Larry Carrier.
Date April 4, 1993
Official name 33rd Annual Food City 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 84.73 miles per hour (136.36 km/h)
Attendance 68,000
Pole position
Driver Penske Racing South
Time 15.866
Most laps led
Driver Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South
Laps 376
Winner
No. 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The race weekend was marred by the death of Alan Kulwicki, last year's champion. Kulwicki had died while traveling to Bristol Motor Speedway in an airplane crash on the evening of Thursday, April 1. As a result, his team would withdraw from the race.[3][4]

Background

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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

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Ford Skoal
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Pontiac Miller Genuine Draft
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
4 Ernie Irvan Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Valvoline
7 Alan Kulwicki* AK Racing Ford Hooters
8 Sterling Marlin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford Raybestos
11 Bill Elliott Junior Johnson & Associates Ford Budweiser
12 Jimmy Spencer Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford Meineke
14 Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Chevrolet Kellogg's Frosted Flakes
15 Geoff Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft
16 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Roush Racing Ford Keystone
17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet Western Auto
18 Dale Jarrett Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet Interstate Batteries
20 Joe Ruttman Moroso Racing Ford FINA
21 Morgan Shepherd Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Bobby Labonte (R) Bill Davis Racing Ford Maxwell House
24 Jeff Gordon (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kodiak
26 Brett Bodine King Racing Ford Quaker State
27 Hut Stricklin Junior Johnson & Associates Ford McDonald's
28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Pennzoil
33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
40 Kenny Wallace (R) SABCO Racing Pontiac Dirt Devil
41 Phil Parsons Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet Manheim Auctions
42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac Mello Yello
44 Rick Wilson Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
48 James Hylton Hylton Motorsports Pontiac Rumple Furniture
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Ford NAPA Auto Parts
55 Ted Musgrave RaDiUs Motorsports Ford USAir, Jasper Engines & Transmissions
68 Bobby Hamilton TriStar Motorsports Ford Country Time
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Southwest Technical Group
75 Dick Trickle Butch Mock Motorsports Ford Carolina Pottery
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Ford Purex
90 Bobby Hillin Jr. Donlavey Racing Ford Heilig-Meyers
98 Derrike Cope Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford Bojangles

*Withdrew due to Kulwicki dying in a plane crash.[4]

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, April 2, 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 Saturday, April 3, at 10:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-32 would be decided on time,[5] 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. If needed, a past champion who did not qualify on either time or provisionals could use a champion's provisional, adding one more spot to the field.

Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske Racing South, would win the pole, setting a time of 15.866 and an average speed of 120.938 miles per hour (194.631 km/h) in the first round.[6]

Two drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Pontiac 15.866 120.938
2 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Ford 15.913 120.581
3 4 Ernie Irvan Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 15.926 120.482
4 21 Morgan Shepherd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 15.931 120.444
5 15 Geoff Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 15.944 120.346
6 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.958 120.241
7 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.976 120.105
8 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 15.989 120.008
9 5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.989 120.008
10 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 15.991 119.992
11 68 Bobby Hamilton TriStar Motorsports Ford 16.015 119.813
12 98 Derrike Cope Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 16.052 119.537
13 90 Bobby Hillin Jr. Donlavey Racing Ford 16.054 119.522
14 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 16.057 119.499
15 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 16.073 119.380
16 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Ford 16.116 119.062
17 8 Sterling Marlin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 16.128 118.973
18 14 Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Chevrolet 16.166 118.694
19 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Ford 16.176 118.620
20 11 Bill Elliott Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 16.186 118.547
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 24 Jeff Gordon (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.888 120.770
22 18 Dale Jarrett Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 15.979 120.083
23 27 Hut Stricklin Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 15.999 119.932
24 44 Rick Wilson Petty Enterprises Pontiac 16.005 119.888
25 16 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Roush Racing Ford 16.029 119.708
26 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet 16.031 119.693
27 20 Joe Ruttman Moroso Racing Ford 16.087 119.276
28 12 Jimmy Spencer Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 16.099 119.188
29 41 Phil Parsons Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 16.170 118.664
30 40 Kenny Wallace (R) SABCO Racing Pontiac 16.187 118.540
31 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Ford 16.190 118.518
32 55 Ted Musgrave RaDiUs Motorsports Ford 16.195 118.481
Provisionals
33 22 Bobby Labonte (R) Bill Davis Racing Ford -* -*
34 75 Dick Trickle Butch Mock Motorsports Ford -* -*
Champion's Provisional
35 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
Failed to qualify
36 48 James Hylton Hylton Motorsports Pontiac -* -*
37 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet -* -*
WD 7 Alan Kulwicki AK 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 1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Pontiac 500 376 running 185 $107,610
2 6 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 500 15 running 175 $47,760
3 14 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 500 0 running 165 $31,485
4 28 12 Jimmy Spencer Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 500 2 running 165 $26,050
5 10 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 500 1 running 160 $25,180
6 35 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 500 0 running 150 $23,405
7 4 21 Morgan Shepherd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 499 10 running 151 $17,305
8 8 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 498 43 running 147 $19,055
9 2 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Ford 497 4 running 143 $16,150
10 19 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Ford 497 0 running 134 $17,650
11 25 16 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Roush Racing Ford 496 0 running 130 $14,950
12 12 98 Derrike Cope Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 494 0 running 127 $15,500
13 30 40 Kenny Wallace (R) SABCO Racing Pontiac 494 0 running 124 $9,825
14 15 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 492 18 running 126 $13,875
15 32 55 Ted Musgrave RaDiUs Motorsports Ford 488 0 running 118 $13,825
16 31 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Ford 484 0 running 115 $8,450
17 21 24 Jeff Gordon (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 481 0 crash 112 $9,400
18 5 15 Geoff Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 469 1 running 114 $16,350
19 27 20 Joe Ruttman Moroso Racing Ford 467 0 running 106 $8,340
20 17 8 Sterling Marlin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 443 0 running 103 $13,200
21 18 14 Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Chevrolet 440 0 running 100 $12,950
22 34 75 Dick Trickle Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 440 0 running 97 $8,050
23 3 4 Ernie Irvan Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 409 0 crash 94 $17,900
24 33 22 Bobby Labonte (R) Bill Davis Racing Ford 397 0 crash 91 $7,925
25 24 44 Rick Wilson Petty Enterprises Pontiac 392 0 running 88 $9,630
26 9 5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 369 0 crash 85 $12,500
27 23 27 Hut Stricklin Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 352 0 running 82 $12,425
28 26 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet 329 0 running 79 $16,775
29 16 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Ford 305 0 engine 76 $7,745
30 20 11 Bill Elliott Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 303 0 crash 73 $17,620
31 29 41 Phil Parsons Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 254 0 engine 70 $8,395
32 22 18 Dale Jarrett Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 207 30 crash 72 $15,420
33 13 90 Bobby Hillin Jr. Donlavey Racing Ford 119 0 oil pump 64 $6,420
34 7 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 51 0 crash 61 $10,970
35 11 68 Bobby Hamilton TriStar Motorsports Ford 27 0 engine 58 $7,025
Failed to qualify
36 48 James Hylton Hylton Motorsports Pontiac
37 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
WD 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Sharp, Tom (April 5, 1993). "Wallace dedicates win to Kulwicki - runs two 'Polish victory laps'". The Morning Call. p. 20. Retrieved January 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Coble, Don (April 5, 1993). "Wallace gets emotional win". Clarion-Ledger. p. 20. Retrieved January 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Lloyd, Leslie (April 2, 1993). "Kulwicki feared dead". Rapid City Journal. p. 13. Retrieved January 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ a b Clarke, Liz (April 3, 1993). "Friends look for answers in Kulwicki's death". Sun-News. p. 17. Retrieved January 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "NASCAR today". The Charlotte Observer. April 2, 1993. p. 14. Retrieved January 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 3, 1993). "Wallace wins pole, but thoughts with Kulwicki". The Charlotte Observer. p. 24. Retrieved January 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
Previous race:
1993 TranSouth 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1993 season
Next race:
1993 First Union 400