1995 AC Delco 400

The 1995 AC Delco 400 was the 29th stock car race of the 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 21st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 22, 1995, in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Motor Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 393 laps to complete. On the final restart of the race with 10 to go, Bill Davis Racing driver Ward Burton would manage to defend the field 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, Penske Racing South driver Rusty Wallace and Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would finish second and third, respectively.

1995 AC Delco 400
Race details
Race 29 of 31 in the 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1995 AC Delco 400 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon.
The 1995 AC Delco 400 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon.
Date October 22, 1995
Official name 21st Annual AC Delco 400
Location Rockingham, North Carolina, North Carolina Motor Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.017 mi (1.636 km)
Distance 393 laps, 399.681 mi (643.224 km)
Scheduled Distance 393 laps, 399.681 mi (643.224 km)
Average speed 114.778 miles per hour (184.717 km/h)
Pole position
Driver King Racing
Time 23.563
Most laps led
Driver Rick Mast Precision Products Racing
Laps 139
Winner
No. 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing
Television in the United States
Network TNN
Announcers Mike Joy, Buddy Baker, Dick Berggren
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The race was marred in controversy when late in the race, a NASCAR official had mistaken a dark-colored lug-nut on championship contender Dale Earnhardt's car as missing, when in reality the lug-nut was on the car. Initially, Earnhardt was forced to suffer a one-lap penalty. However, after NASCAR had realized the mistake, NASCAR would declare an extended caution period to ensure that Earnhardt could gain his lost lap back. This decision led to extreme anger from drivers and their crews, saying that the caution had ruined their strategies and that the decision had preferred a single driver that had been a deterrent to every other driver.[3]

In the overall driver's championship points race, second-place driver Dale Earnhardt was able to close the gap between himself and points leader Jeff Gordon by 43 points, decreasing Gordon's lead to 162 points. With only two races left in the season, Gordon was listed as the heavy favorite to win the championship.[4]

Background

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

North Carolina 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.[5]

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Pontiac Skoal
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford Miller Genuine Draft
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
03 Richard Brickhouse Skillen Racing Chevrolet Skillen Racing
4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's Frosted Flakes
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Valvoline
7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford Exide
8 Jeff Burton Stavola Brothers Racing Ford Raybestos
9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford Spam
10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford Tide
11 Brett Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford Lowe's
12 Derrike Cope Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford Mane 'n Tail
15 Dick Trickle Bud Moore Engineering Ford Ford Quality Care
16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford The Family Channel
17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet Western Auto
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet Interstate Batteries
19 Loy Allen Jr. TriStar Motorsports Ford HealthSource RI
21 Morgan Shepherd Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac MBNA
23 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Smokin' Joe's
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Budweiser
26 Hut Stricklin King Racing Ford Quaker State
27 Elton Sawyer Junior Johnson & Associates Ford Hooters
28 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Steve Grissom Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet Meineke
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Pennzoil
31 Gary Bradberry A.G. Dillard Motorsports Chevrolet Hardee's
32 Greg Sacks Active Motorsports Chevrolet ATS Wood Recycling
33 Robert Pressley (R) Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
37 John Andretti Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford Little Caesars, Kmart
40 Shane Hall Dick Brooks Racing Pontiac Kendall
41 Ricky Craven (R) Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kodiak
42 Kyle Petty Team SABCO Pontiac Coors Light Great Pumpkin
43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
70 Alan Russell Russell Racing Chevrolet Page Sales
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Olive Garden
75 Todd Bodine Butch Mock Motorsports Ford Factory Stores of America
77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Jasper Motorsports Ford US Airways, Jasper Engines & Transmissions
78 Jay Hedgecock Triad Motorsports Ford Hauser Rental
84 Norm Benning Norm Benning Racing Ford Norm Benning Racing
87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet Burger King
88 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
90 Mike Wallace Donlavey Racing Ford Heilig-Meyers
94 Bill Elliott Elliott-Hardy Racing Ford McDonald's
98 Jeremy Mayfield Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford RCA

Qualifying

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was scheduled to be held on Friday, October 20, at 2:30 PM EST.[6] However, first-round qualifying was rained out and postponed until Saturday, October 21, at 9:30 AM EST. As a result of the rain delay, qualifying was decided to be combined into only one round. For this specific race, positions 1-38 would be decided on time, 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 usually four. 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.[7]

Hut Stricklin, driving for King Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 23.563 and an average speed of 155.379 miles per hour (250.058 km/h).[8]

Seven drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 26 Hut Stricklin King Racing Ford 23.563 155.379
2 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 23.572 155.320
3 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 23.575 155.300
4 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.591 155.195
5 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 23.592 155.188
6 15 Dick Trickle Bud Moore Engineering Ford 23.610 155.070
7 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 23.664 154.716
8 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 23.670 154.677
9 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 23.671 154.670
10 12 Derrike Cope Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 23.673 154.657
11 21 Morgan Shepherd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 23.675 154.644
12 31 Gary Bradberry A.G. Dillard Motorsports Chevrolet 23.685 154.579
13 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.692 154.533
14 37 John Andretti Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford 23.692 154.533
15 42 Kyle Petty Team SABCO Pontiac 23.696 154.507
16 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Ford 23.706 154.442
17 43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac 23.711 154.409
18 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 23.734 154.260
19 98 Jeremy Mayfield Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 23.744 154.195
20 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 23.764 154.065
21 41 Ricky Craven (R) Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.769 154.033
22 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 23.790 153.897
23 94 Bill Elliott Elliott-Hardy Racing Ford 23.807 153.787
24 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.807 153.787
25 33 Robert Pressley (R) Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet 23.826 153.664
26 77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Jasper Motorsports Ford 23.829 153.645
27 28 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 23.907 153.143
28 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 23.913 153.105
29 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 23.921 153.054
30 90 Mike Wallace Donlavey Racing Ford 23.932 152.983
31 29 Steve Grissom Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 23.947 152.888
32 8 Jeff Burton Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 23.954 152.843
33 75 Todd Bodine Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 23.978 152.690
34 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 23.994 152.588
35 27 Elton Sawyer Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 23.995 152.582
36 11 Brett Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 23.998 152.563
37 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 24.004 152.525
38 32 Greg Sacks Active Motorsports Chevrolet 24.051 152.227
Provisionals
39 9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford -* -*
40 40 Shane Hall Dick Brooks Racing Pontiac -* -*
Failed to qualify
41 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet -* -*
42 88 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford -* -*
43 19 Loy Allen Jr. TriStar Motorsports Ford -* -*
44 78 Jay Hedgecock Triad Motorsports Ford -* -*
45 84 Norm Benning Norm Benning Racing Ford -* -*
46 70 Alan Russell Russell Racing Chevrolet -* -*
47 03 Richard Brickhouse Skillen Racing Chevrolet -* -*
Official starting lineup

Race results

Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 3 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 393 87 running 180 $70,250
2 18 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 393 21 running 175 $50,050
3 5 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 393 2 running 170 $44,850
4 13 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 393 0 running 160 $34,925
5 32 8 Jeff Burton Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 393 0 running 155 $40,325
6 28 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 393 33 running 155 $27,550
7 20 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 393 39 running 151 $34,050
8 21 41 Ricky Craven (R) Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 393 0 running 142 $19,650
9 9 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 393 0 running 138 $18,650
10 23 94 Bill Elliott Elliott-Hardy Racing Ford 393 0 running 134 $17,650
11 19 98 Jeremy Mayfield Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 393 6 running 135 $16,950
12 8 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 392 1 crash 132 $21,650
13 7 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 392 0 running 124 $21,950
14 31 29 Steve Grissom Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 392 0 running 121 $16,050
15 22 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 392 0 running 118 $27,450
16 6 15 Dick Trickle Bud Moore Engineering Ford 392 0 running 115 $20,450
17 33 75 Todd Bodine Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 391 0 running 112 $20,740
18 11 21 Morgan Shepherd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 391 0 running 109 $19,850
19 10 12 Derrike Cope Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 391 0 running 106 $17,650
20 4 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 391 57 running 108 $25,550
21 26 77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Jasper Motorsports Ford 391 0 running 100 $10,500
22 37 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 391 0 running 97 $14,300
23 27 28 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 390 0 running 94 $24,700
24 39 9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford 390 0 running 91 $13,500
25 14 37 John Andretti Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford 390 0 running 88 $13,500
26 34 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 390 0 running 85 $13,100
27 36 11 Brett Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 387 0 running 82 $33,000
28 1 26 Hut Stricklin King Racing Ford 386 8 running 84 $21,300
29 25 33 Robert Pressley (R) Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet 384 0 running 76 $18,200
30 17 43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac 372 0 running 73 $12,600
31 35 27 Elton Sawyer Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 357 0 handling 70 $17,400
32 15 42 Kyle Petty Team SABCO Pontiac 327 0 crash 67 $21,900
33 24 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 321 0 running 64 $14,200
34 16 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Ford 257 139 engine 71 $25,100
35 12 31 Gary Bradberry A.G. Dillard Motorsports Chevrolet 254 0 crash 58 $9,000
36 40 40 Shane Hall Dick Brooks Racing Pontiac 205 0 crash 55 $13,975
37 38 32 Greg Sacks Active Motorsports Chevrolet 149 0 oil pump 52 $8,950
38 2 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 113 0 crash 49 $14,150
39 30 90 Mike Wallace Donlavey Racing Ford 84 0 crash 46 $8,900
40 29 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 47 0 engine 43 $22,700
Failed to qualify
41 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
42 88 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford
43 19 Loy Allen Jr. TriStar Motorsports Ford
44 78 Jay Hedgecock Triad Motorsports Ford
45 84 Norm Benning Norm Benning Racing Ford
46 70 Alan Russell Russell Racing Chevrolet
47 03 Richard Brickhouse Skillen Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

References

  1. Harris, Mike (October 23, 1995). "MBNA driver Burton makes Delco 400 his first victory". The News Journal. p. 17. Retrieved November 16, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  2. Higgins, Tom (October 23, 1995). "Burton wins; Gordon's points lead dwindles". The Republic. p. 11. Retrieved November 16, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. Higgins, Tom (October 23, 1995). "Let's spruce up those murky lug nuts". The Charlotte Observer. p. 17. Retrieved November 16, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. Higgins, Tom (October 23, 1995). "Gordon sees his points lead shrink". The Charlotte Observer. p. 17. Retrieved November 16, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  5. "Fast Track High Performance Driving School, Inc". Fasttrackracing.com. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  6. "AC Delco 400". The Charlotte Observer. October 20, 1995. p. 26. Retrieved November 16, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  7. Higgins, Tom (October 21, 1995). "Rain halts Rockingham's day". The Charlotte Observer. p. 10. Retrieved November 16, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  8. McLaurin, Jim (October 22, 1995). "Hut one - Stricklin grabs the pole". The State. p. 36. Retrieved November 16, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
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