1989 AC Delco 500

The 1989 AC Delco 500 was the 27th stock car race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 15th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 22, 1989, before an audience of 52,500 in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. At race's end, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would manage to dominate the late stages of the race, leading the final 77 laps to take his first career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season.[1][2][3][4] To fill out the top three, Blue Max Racing driver Rusty Wallace and Hendrick Motorsports driver Darrell Waltrip would finish second and third, respectively.

1989 AC Delco 500
Race details
Race 27 of 29 in the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1989 AC Delco 500 program cover.
The 1989 AC Delco 500 program cover.
Date October 22, 1989
Official name 15th Annual AC Delco 500
Location Rockingham, North Carolina, North Carolina Motor Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.017 mi (1.636 km)
Distance 492 laps, 500.364 mi (805.257 km)
Scheduled Distance 492 laps, 500.364 mi (805.257 km)
Average speed 114.079 miles per hour (183.592 km/h)
Attendance 52,500
Pole position
Driver AK Racing
Time 24.634
Most laps led
Driver Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing
Laps 194
Winner
No. 6 Mark Martin Roush 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

The layout of North Carolina Motor Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

North Carolina Motor Speedway was opened as a flat, one-mile oval on October 31, 1965. In 1969, the track was extensively reconfigured to a high-banked, D-shaped oval just over one mile in length. In 1997, North Carolina Motor Speedway merged with Penske Motorsports, and was renamed North Carolina Speedway. Shortly thereafter, the infield was reconfigured, and competition on the infield road course, mostly by the SCCA, was discontinued. Currently, the track is home to the Fast Track High Performance Driving School.

Entry list

  • (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
10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Pontiac Purolator
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
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
33 Harry Gant Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal Bandit
34 Jim Bown AAG Racing Buick AAG Racing
42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac Peak Antifreeze
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Jim Sauter Group 44 Pontiac Group 44
47 Jack Pennington Close Racing Chevrolet Chevrolet Dooley
48 Greg Sacks Winkle Motorsports Pontiac Dinner Bell Foods
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Alka-Seltzer
53 Jerry O'Neil Aroneck Racing Oldsmobile Aroneck Racing
54 Bob Schacht Schacht Racing Buick Schacht Racing
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal, Crown Central Petroleum
57 Hut Stricklin (R) Osterlund Racing Pontiac Heinz
62 Joe Ruttman Douglas Smith Racing Oldsmobile Baja Boats
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 Jimmy Spencer (R) Baker–Schiff Racing Pontiac Crisco
93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Buick Salmon Racing
94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Sunoco

Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Thursday, October 19, at 2:30 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 Friday, October 20, at 2:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 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.

Alan Kulwicki, driving for his own AK Racing team, would win the pole, setting a time of 24.634 and an average speed of 148.624 miles per hour (239.187 km/h) in the first round.[6][7]

No drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 24.634 148.624
2 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 24.695 148.257
3 16 Larry Pearson (R) Pearson Racing Buick 24.738 147.999
4 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 24.817 147.528
5 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 24.826 147.474
6 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Pontiac 24.836 147.415
7 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 24.838 147.403
8 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 24.870 147.214
9 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 24.880 147.154
10 94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 24.958 146.694
11 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 24.968 146.636
12 33 Harry Gant Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 24.975 146.595
13 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 24.998 146.460
14 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 25.021 146.325
15 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 25.035 146.243
16 84 Dick Trickle (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 25.044 146.191
17 47 Jack Pennington Close Racing Chevrolet 25.048 146.167
18 57 Hut Stricklin (R) Osterlund Racing Pontiac 25.060 146.097
19 21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 25.090 145.923
20 2 Ernie Irvan U.S. Racing Pontiac 25.093 145.905
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 25.080 145.981
22 44 Jim Sauter Group 44 Pontiac 25.124 145.725
23 75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 25.148 145.586
24 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 25.201 145.280
25 53 Jerry O'Neil Aroneck Racing Oldsmobile 25.219 145.176
26 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 25.243 145.038
27 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 25.258 144.952
28 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 25.258 144.952
29 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 25.271 144.878
30 48 Greg Sacks Winkle Motorsports Pontiac 25.395 144.170
31 88 Jimmy Spencer (R) Baker–Schiff Racing Pontiac 25.449 143.864
32 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 25.455 143.830
33 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 25.499 143.582
34 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 25.505 143.548
35 62 Joe Ruttman Douglas Smith Racing Oldsmobile 25.506 143.543
36 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 25.527 143.425
37 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 25.718 142.359
38 93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Buick 25.851 141.627
39 34 Jim Bown AAG Racing Buick 25.905 141.332
40 54 Bob Schacht Schacht Racing Buick 25.998 140.826
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 7 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 492 101 running 185 $52,800
2 21 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 492 194 running 180 $33,675
3 2 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 492 24 running 170 $32,225
4 9 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 491 0 running 160 $16,725
5 16 84 Dick Trickle (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 491 0 running 155 $15,250
6 19 21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 491 0 running 150 $10,550
7 11 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 490 0 running 146 $12,275
8 28 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 490 0 running 142 $9,575
9 1 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 490 6 running 143 $13,225
10 36 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 489 0 running 134 $10,107
11 6 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Pontiac 489 0 running 130 $6,625
12 3 16 Larry Pearson (R) Pearson Racing Buick 488 0 running 127 $6,575
13 27 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 488 0 running 124 $7,950
14 15 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 488 0 running 121 $13,725
15 4 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 488 0 running 118 $17,500
16 20 2 Ernie Irvan U.S. Racing Pontiac 487 0 running 115 $5,075
17 26 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 486 0 running 112 $6,775
18 30 48 Greg Sacks Winkle Motorsports Pontiac 485 0 running 109 $3,475
19 24 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 485 0 running 106 $9,875
20 5 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 484 86 running 108 $13,775
21 14 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 484 1 running 105 $6,375
22 18 57 Hut Stricklin (R) Osterlund Racing Pontiac 474 0 running 97 $3,700
23 10 94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 471 0 running 94 $5,500
24 29 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 470 0 running 91 $5,375
25 40 54 Bob Schacht Schacht Racing Buick 463 0 running 88 $2,700
26 13 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 460 2 running 90 $10,950
27 35 62 Joe Ruttman Douglas Smith Racing Oldsmobile 459 0 running 82 $2,500
28 8 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 456 66 running 84 $10,700
29 12 33 Harry Gant Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 446 4 running 81 $10,025
30 33 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 443 0 running 73 $5,500
31 37 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 341 0 engine 70 $2,200
32 17 47 Jack Pennington Close Racing Chevrolet 277 0 handling 0 $2,150
33 22 44 Jim Sauter Group 44 Pontiac 249 8 brakes 69 $2,080
34 34 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 247 0 handling 61 $4,280
35 31 88 Jimmy Spencer (R) Baker–Schiff Racing Pontiac 225 0 crash 58 $4,605
36 23 75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 206 0 crash 55 $9,925
37 39 34 Jim Bown AAG Racing Buick 195 0 handling 52 $1,900
38 25 53 Jerry O'Neil Aroneck Racing Oldsmobile 112 0 axle 49 $1,875
39 32 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 74 0 clutch 46 $4,450
40 38 93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Buick 37 0 oil pump 43 $1,825
Official race results

Standings after the race

References

  1. Higgins, Tom (October 23, 1989). "Martin Ends Victory Drought (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 19. Retrieved June 2, 2023 via Newspapers.com. open access
  2. Higgins, Tom (October 23, 1989). "Martin Ends Victory Drought (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 23. Retrieved June 2, 2023 via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. Mulhurn, Mike (October 23, 1989). "Martin Finally Gets Break... and 1st Win (Part 1)". Winston-Salem Journal. p. 17. Retrieved June 2, 2023 via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. Mulhurn, Mike (October 23, 1989). "Martin Finally Gets Break... and 1st Win (Part 2)". Winston-Salem Journal. p. 24. Retrieved June 2, 2023 via Newspapers.com. open access
  5. "NASCAR Today". The Charlotte Observer. October 19, 1989. p. 56. Retrieved June 5, 2023 via Newspapers.com. open access
  6. Higgins, Tom (October 20, 1989). "Kulwicki Captures Top Spot (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 37. Retrieved June 5, 2023 via Newspapers.com. open access
  7. Higgins, Tom (October 20, 1989). "Kulwicki Captures Top Spot (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 42. Retrieved June 5, 2023 via Newspapers.com. open access
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