The 1986 Southern 500 was the 21st stock car race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 37th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, August 31, 1986, before an audience of 69,000 in Darlington, South Carolina, at Darlington Raceway, a 1.366 miles (2.198 km) permanent egg-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 367 laps to complete. At race's end, Hendrick Motorsports driver Tim Richmond would manage to make a late-race move for the lead with seven to go to win his ninth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fourth victory of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, Stavola Brothers Racing driver Bobby Allison and Melling Racing driver Bill Elliott would finish second and third, respectively.

1986 Southern 500
Race details
Race 21 of 29 in the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1986 Southern 500 program cover.
The 1986 Southern 500 program cover.
Date August 31, 1986
Official name 37th Annual Southern 500
Location Darlington Raceway, Darlington, South Carolina
Course Permanent racing facility
1.366 mi (2.221 km)
Distance 367 laps, 501.322 mi (806.799 km)
Scheduled Distance 367 laps, 501.322 mi (806.799 km)
Average speed 121.068 miles per hour (194.840 km/h)
Attendance 69,000
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 31.028
Most laps led
Driver Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 168
Winner
No. 25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

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

Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Sterling Marlin Ellington Racing Chevrolet Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Wrangler
4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Kodak
5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 D. K. Ulrich U.S. Racing Chevrolet Finky's
7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 7-Eleven
8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller American
9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford Coors Light
11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
12 Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft
17 Eddie Bierschwale Hamby Motorsports Chevrolet Kmart
22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller American
23 Michael Waltrip (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac Hawaiian Punch
25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Folgers
26 Joe Ruttman King Racing Buick Quaker State
27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac Alugard
28 Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford Hardee's
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
35 Alan Kulwicki (R) AK Racing Ford Quincy's Steak House
36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac Almeda Auto Parts
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Chevrolet Piedmont Airlines
47 Morgan Shepherd Race Hill Farm Team Buick Race Hill Farm Team
48 James Hylton Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet Hemmel Garn & Sons
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Jimmy Means Racing
54 Donnie Allison Gray Racing Chevrolet Gray Racing
55 Benny Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Copenhagen
64 Connie Saylor Langley Racing Ford Sunny King Ford & Honda
66 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal
67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford Pannill Sweatshirts
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Helen Rae Special
75 Jim Sauter RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Nationwise Automotive
81 Chet Fillip (R) Circle Bar Racing Ford Circle Bar Truck Corral
82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford Auto Bell Car Wash
88 Buddy Baker Baker-Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Crisco
90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford Red Baron Frozen Pizza
92 Jonathan Edwards Edwards Racing Chevrolet Edwards Racing
98 Ron Bouchard Curb Racing Pontiac Valvoline

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. Pole qualifying for the race was held on Thursday, August 28, 1986. Per the NASCAR rules in 1986, a one-lap qualifying attempt was utilized. The top twenty cars in pole qualifying were locked into the starting field. The remainder of the cars could stand on their time, or make a new attempt in second-round qualifying. If a driver did decide to make an attempt, their first-round times would be scrubbed. Second-round qualifying was held Friday August 29, 1986. The drivers that had qualified 1st–20th on Thursday were locked-in to those positions and did not have to re-qualify.[2]

Tim Richmond, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 31.028 and an average speed of 158.489 miles per hour (255.063 km/h).[3]

During pole qualifying, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would crash in turn three during his qualifying run. According to Earnhardt, he "just lost it. I just went into turn three too hard and the car got away from me."[4] Earnhardt would eventually qualify 21st, taking the first spot outside of the top 20.

No drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.028 158.489
2 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.204 157.595
3 12 Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 31.209 157.570
4 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 31.303 157.097
5 88 Buddy Baker Baker-Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 31.389 156.666
6 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 31.443 156.397
7 44 Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Chevrolet 31.492 156.154
8 28 Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 31.499 156.119
9 55 Benny Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 31.507 156.080
10 11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 31.539 155.921
11 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 31.544 155.897
12 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 31.603 155.605
13 1 Sterling Marlin Ellington Racing Chevrolet 31.639 155.428
14 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 31.649 155.379
15 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 31.652 155.365
16 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 31.759 154.841
17 66 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 31.786 154.710
18 26 Joe Ruttman King Racing Buick 31.890 154.205
19 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 31.922 154.050
20 47 Morgan Shepherd Race Hill Farm Team Buick 32.058 153.397
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 31.409 156.567
22 75 Jim Sauter RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 32.092 153.234
23 35 Alan Kulwicki (R) AK Racing Ford 32.203 152.706
24 7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 32.236 152.550
25 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 32.399 151.782
26 98 Ron Bouchard Curb Racing Pontiac 32.431 151.633
27 23 Michael Waltrip (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac 32.483 151.390
28 17 Eddie Bierschwale Hamby Motorsports Chevrolet 32.512 151.255
29 81 Chet Fillip (R) Circle Bar Racing Ford 32.528 151.181
30 54 Donnie Allison Gray Racing Chevrolet 32.529 151.176
31 6 D. K. Ulrich U.S. Racing Chevrolet 32.550 151.078
32 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 32.644 150.643
33 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 32.759 150.114
34 64 Connie Saylor Langley Racing Ford 32.902 149.462
35 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac 32.926 149.353
36 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 33.066 148.721
37 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford 33.077 148.671
38 92 Jonathan Edwards Edwards Racing Chevrolet 33.565 146.510
39 82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford 34.188 143.840
40 48 James Hylton Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet 35.010 140.463
Official qualifying results

Race results

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Fin[5] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 1 25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 367 168 running 185 $60,005
2 11 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 367 2 running 175 $31,500
3 14 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 367 8 running 170 $25,625
4 20 47 Morgan Shepherd Race Hill Farm Team Buick 367 4 running 165 $11,125
5 10 11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 367 0 running 155 $21,055
6 15 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 367 0 running 150 $15,735
7 6 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 367 0 running 146 $11,010
8 2 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 367 162 running 147 $13,215
9 21 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 366 17 running 143 $15,735
10 8 28 Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 366 0 running 134 $6,435
11 25 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 364 0 running 130 $8,730
12 23 35 Alan Kulwicki (R) AK Racing Ford 360 0 running 127 $5,390
13 22 75 Jim Sauter RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 356 0 running 124 $8,295
14 24 7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 356 0 running 121 $11,070
15 36 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 354 0 running 118 $8,165
16 27 23 Michael Waltrip (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac 354 0 running 115 $5,605
17 35 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac 352 1 running 117 $3,610
18 31 6 D. K. Ulrich U.S. Racing Chevrolet 350 0 running 109 $7,140
19 5 88 Buddy Baker Baker-Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 340 1 engine 111 $3,315
20 37 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford 339 0 running 103 $7,030
21 7 44 Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Chevrolet 337 0 running 100 $9,910
22 17 66 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 326 0 engine 97 $2,810
23 16 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 316 0 running 94 $9,710
24 3 12 Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 261 4 valve 96 $11,015
25 28 17 Eddie Bierschwale Hamby Motorsports Chevrolet 261 0 running 88 $5,825
26 34 64 Connie Saylor Langley Racing Ford 254 0 engine 85 $5,475
27 4 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 235 0 engine 82 $10,940
28 12 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 232 0 overheating 79 $2,245
29 38 92 Jonathan Edwards Edwards Racing Chevrolet 203 0 rear end 76 $2,155
30 26 98 Ron Bouchard Curb Racing Pontiac 177 0 engine 73 $2,100
31 9 55 Benny Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 167 0 transmission 70 $1,955
32 39 82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford 132 0 flagged 67 $1,895
33 30 54 Donnie Allison Gray Racing Chevrolet 131 0 overheating 64 $1,840
34 33 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 85 0 tie rod 61 $4,565
35 29 81 Chet Fillip (R) Circle Bar Racing Ford 81 0 accident 58 $1,720
36 32 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 46 0 engine 55 $5,435
37 13 1 Sterling Marlin Ellington Racing Chevrolet 35 0 battery 52 $1,620
38 18 26 Joe Ruttman King Racing Buick 32 0 valve 49 $4,325
39 40 48 James Hylton Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet 29 0 engine 46 $4,260
40 19 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 6 0 accident 43 $3,470
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ Scoppe, Rick (September 1, 1986). "Richmond surges to claim Southern 500". Rocky Mount Telegram. p. 9. Retrieved August 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ "Southern 500". The Tampa Tribune. August 31, 1986. p. 14. Retrieved August 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Scoppe, Rick (August 31, 1986). "Richmond likes his chances at Darlington". Johnson City Press. p. 32. Retrieved August 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Higgins, Tom (August 29, 1986). "Earnhardt 'Just Lost It' In Wreck". The Charlotte Observer. p. 31. Retrieved August 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "1986 Southern 500 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
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1986 Busch 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1986 season
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1986 Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400