1996 Dura Lube 500

The 1996 Dura Lube 500 was the 30th and penultimate stock car race of the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, the 14th and penultimate race of the 1996 NASCAR Winston West Series, and the ninth iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 27, 1996, in Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix International Raceway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent low-banked tri-oval race track. The race took the scheduled 312 laps to complete. In the late stages of the race, Petty Enterprises driver Bobby Hamilton would manage to make a late race pass and dominate to take his first career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season.[1][2]

1996 Dura Lube 500
Race details
Race 30 of 31 in the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1996 Dura Lube 500 program cover.
The 1996 Dura Lube 500 program cover.
Date October 27, 1996
Official name 9th Annual Dura Lube 500
Location Avondale, Arizona, Phoenix International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1 mi (1.6 km)
Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (502.115 km)
Scheduled Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (502.115 km)
Average speed 109.709 miles per hour (176.560 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Time 27.465
Most laps led
Driver Mark Martin Roush Racing
Laps 83
Winner
No. 43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises
Television in the United States
Network TNN
Announcers Eli Gold, Buddy Baker, Dick Berggren
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Heading into the final race of the season, the 1996 NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, points leader Terry Labonte would come into the race with a 47 point lead over teammate Jeff Gordon. To clinch the championship, Labonte would need to finish eighth or better.[1]

Background

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

Phoenix International Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
00 Scott Gaylord Oliver Racing Chevrolet Oliver Gravity Separators
1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Pontiac Hooters
01 Jeff Krogh Excel Motorsports Chevrolet Clearwater Forest Industries
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford Miller Silver Splash
02 Bill McAnally Bill McAnally Racing Chevrolet Bill McAnally Racing
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
03 Joe Bean Bean Racing Ford Bean 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 QVC
07 Lance Hooper Golden West Motorsports Pontiac Cinema Vehicle Services
8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford Circuit City
9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford Spam
10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford Tide
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Lowe's
12 Derrike Cope Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford Badcock Home Furniture
15 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Bud Moore Engineering Ford Hayes Modems
16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford PrimeStar, The Family Channel
17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet Parts America
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet Interstate Batteries
19 Dick Trickle TriStar Motorsports Ford HealthSource RI
20 Mark Krogh Excel Motorsports Chevrolet Excel Motorsports
21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac MBNA
23 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Camel Cigarettes
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Budweiser
28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Robert Pressley Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet Cartoon Network, The Flintstones
30 Johnny Benson Jr. (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac Pennzoil
33 Todd Bodine Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Skoal
35 Larry Gunselman Race Stuff Motorsports Ford Race Stuff Motorsports
37 Jeremy Mayfield Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford Kmart, Little Caesars
38 Rich Woodland Jr. Bill Stroppe Motorsports Chevrolet Bill Stroppe Motorsports
40 Robby Gordon Team SABCO Chevrolet First Union
41 Ricky Craven Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kodiak
42 Kyle Petty Team SABCO Pontiac Coors Light Silver Bullet
43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
52 Jack Sprague Hendrick Motorsports Pontiac Pedigree, Kal Kan
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Prodigy
75 Morgan Shepherd Butch Mock Motorsports Ford Remington Arms
77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford Square D, TIC Financial Systems
87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet Burger King
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford Quality Care Service, Ford Credit
90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford Heilig-Meyers
94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford McDonald's
98 Jeremy Mayfield Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford RCA
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Exide

Qualifying

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was scheduled to be held on Friday, October 25, at 4:30 PM EST. However, only six drivers were able to set a lap before qualifying was rained out and postponed until Saturday, October 26, at 2:00 PM EST. Qualifying was eventually combined into only one round.[3] Each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 26-38 would be decided on time,[4] 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.

Bobby Labonte, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, setting a time of 27.465 and an average speed of 131.076 miles per hour (210.946 km/h).[5]

Six drivers would fail to qualify: Mark Krogh, Scott Gaylord, Larry Gunselman, Rich Woodland Jr., Joe Bean, and Bill McAnally.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 27.465 131.076
2 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 27.545 130.695
3 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 27.587 130.496
4 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.617 130.354
5 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 27.669 130.110
6 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 27.680 130.058
7 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 27.693 129.997
8 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Pontiac 27.694 129.992
9 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 27.701 129.959
10 37 Jeremy Mayfield Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford 27.734 129.805
11 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 27.746 129.748
12 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 27.749 129.734
13 33 Todd Bodine Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 27.762 129.674
14 98 John Andretti Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 27.763 129.669
15 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 27.781 129.585
16 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 27.792 129.534
17 43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac 27.794 129.524
18 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 27.810 129.450
19 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.815 129.427
20 15 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Bud Moore Engineering Ford 27.817 129.417
21 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 27.826 129.375
22 42 Kyle Petty Team SABCO Pontiac 27.856 129.236
23 30 Johnny Benson Jr. (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac 27.870 129.171
24 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 27.884 129.106
25 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 27.896 129.051
26 75 Morgan Shepherd Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 27.900 129.032
27 12 Derrike Cope Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 27.902 129.023
28 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 27.911 128.981
29 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 27.922 128.931
30 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.954 128.783
31 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 27.954 128.783
32 40 Robby Gordon Team SABCO Chevrolet 27.954 128.783
33 9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford 27.960 128.755
34 52 Jack Sprague Hendrick Motorsports Pontiac 27.981 128.659
35 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 27.991 128.613
36 29 Robert Pressley Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 28.017 128.493
37 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 28.038 128.397
38 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 28.063 128.283
Winston Cup provisionals
39 41 Ricky Craven Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
40 8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford -* -*
41 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac -* -*
42 77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Jasper Motorsports Ford -* -*
Winston West provisionals
43 07 Lance Hooper Golden West Motorsports Pontiac -* -*
44 01 Jeff Krogh Excel Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
Failed to qualify
45 20 Mark Krogh Excel Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
46 00 Scott Gaylord Oliver Racing Chevrolet -* -*
47 35 Larry Gunselman Race Stuff Motorsports Ford -* -*
48 38 Rich Woodland Jr. Bill Stroppe Motorsports Ford -* -*
49 03 Joe Bean Bean Racing Chevrolet -* -*
50 02 Bill McAnally Bill McAnally Racing Chevrolet -* -*
Official starting lineup

Race results

Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 17 43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac 312 40 running 180 $95,550
2 6 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 312 83 running 180 $59,795
3 30 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 61 running 170 $61,590
4 25 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 312 2 running 165 $35,153
5 19 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 0 running 155 $45,065
6 28 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 312 31 running 155 $30,555
7 12 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 312 0 running 146 $31,555
8 5 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 312 29 running 147 $22,055
9 1 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 312 54 running 143 $34,555
10 18 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 312 0 running 134 $27,155
11 13 33 Todd Bodine Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 312 0 running 130 $23,955
12 24 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 312 0 running 127 $29,055
13 2 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 311 0 running 124 $12,255
14 3 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 311 0 running 121 $26,855
15 20 15 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Bud Moore Engineering Ford 311 0 running 118 $22,355
16 31 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 311 0 running 115 $22,055
17 26 75 Morgan Shepherd Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 311 0 running 112 $14,855
18 37 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 311 10 running 114 $22,330
19 14 98 John Andretti Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 310 0 running 106 $14,330
20 29 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 310 0 running 103 $15,745
21 11 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 310 0 running 100 $20,820
22 41 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 310 0 running 97 $25,195
23 34 52 Jack Sprague Hendrick Motorsports Pontiac 310 2 running 99 $10,170
24 38 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 309 0 running 91 $13,620
25 16 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 309 0 running 88 $20,695
26 35 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 309 0 running 85 $20,370
27 15 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 308 0 running 82 $26,465
28 33 9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford 308 0 running 79 $20,220
29 22 42 Kyle Petty Team SABCO Pontiac 307 0 oil leak 76 $20,095
30 40 8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 307 0 running 73 $12,970
31 21 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 304 0 running 70 $12,945
32 23 30 Johnny Benson Jr. (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac 304 0 running 67 $19,170
33 43 07 Lance Hooper Golden West Motorsports Pontiac 302 0 running 64 $9,645
34 39 41 Ricky Craven Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 296 0 running 61 $16,620
35 4 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 288 0 rear end 58 $16,790
36 36 29 Robert Pressley Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 257 0 engine 55 $16,565
37 7 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 254 0 engine 52 $9,525
38 8 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Pontiac 198 0 engine 49 $18,465
39 42 77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Jasper Motorsports Ford 153 0 accident 46 $9,465
40 9 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 151 0 engine 43 $24,465
41 44 01 Jeff Krogh Excel Motorsports Chevrolet 151 0 accident 40 $9,465
42 32 40 Robby Gordon Team SABCO Chevrolet 134 0 accident 37 $9,465
43 27 12 Derrike Cope Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 114 0 accident 34 $17,465
44 10 37 Jeremy Mayfield Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford 10 0 engine 31 $17,065
Failed to qualify
45 20 Mark Krogh Excel Motorsports Chevrolet
46 00 Scott Gaylord Oliver Racing Chevrolet
47 35 Larry Gunselman Race Stuff Motorsports Ford
48 38 Rich Woodland Jr. Bill Stroppe Motorsports Ford
49 03 Joe Bean Bean Racing Chevrolet
50 02 Bill McAnally Bill McAnally Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

References

  1. Higgins, Tom (October 28, 1996). "No. 43 returns to Victory Lane". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  2. Harris, Mike (October 28, 1996). "Hamilton gives Petty Enterprises 1st win in 13 years". The Morning Call. p. 24. Retrieved October 26, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. Harris, Mike (October 26, 1996). "Labonte injured; Dura-Lube qualifying postponed". Palladium-Item. p. 22. Retrieved October 26, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Dura Lube 500". The Charlotte Observer. October 25, 1996. p. 32. Retrieved October 26, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  5. Strubin, John (October 27, 1996). "Bobby Labonte feels brother's pain, gains pole". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 45. Retrieved October 26, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
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