1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
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The 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 37th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 14th modern-era Cup series season. The season began on Sunday, February 10 and ended on Sunday, November 17. Darrell Waltrip, driving for Junior Johnson, was crowned champion (for the third time in his career) at the end of the season. Bill Elliott, driving for Harry Melling, had won 11 races in 1985 (as well as the Winston Million), but lost the title by 101 points to three-time race winner Waltrip. This was the first season where all races were televised in some form.
This is the last season without Dale Jarrett until 2009 and Mark Martin until 2014.
Teams and drivers[]
Complete schedule[]
There were 23 full-time teams in 1985.
Manufacturer | Team | No. | Race Driver | Crew Chief |
---|---|---|---|---|
Buick | Race Hill Farm Team | 47 | Ron Bouchard | Jake Elder |
Stavola Brothers Racing | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | ||
Chevrolet | Hamby Motorsports | 17 | Ken Ragan 6 | |
Phil Parsons 14 | ||||
Bosco Lowe 1 | ||||
Lennie Pond 7 | ||||
Hendrick Motorsports | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Harry Hyde | |
Junior Johnson & Associates | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Jeff Hammond | |
12 | Neil Bonnett | Doug Richert | ||
Mach 1 Racing | 33 | Harry Gant | Travis Carter | |
Marcis Auto Racing | 71 | Dave Marcis | ||
Richard Childress Racing | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Kirk Shelmerdine | |
Ford | Bud Moore Engineering | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore |
Donlavey Racing | 90 | Ken Schrader (R) | ||
Langley Racing | 64 | |||
Melling Racing | 9 | Bill Elliott | ||
Wood Brothers Racing | 7 | Kyle Petty | Leonard Wood | |
Oldsmobile | Baker-Schiff Racing | 88 | Buddy Baker | |
Hagan Racing | 44 | Terry Labonte | Dale Inman | |
Pontiac | Blue Max Racing | 27 | Tim Richmond | |
2 | Rusty Wallace | Darrell Bryant | ||
Curb Racing | 43 | Richard Petty | Mike Beam | |
Means Racing | 52 | Jimmy Means | ||
RahMoc Enterprises | 75 | Lake Speed | ||
Buick 8 Chevrolet 1 Ford 4[1] |
Bobby Allison Motorsports | 22 | Bobby Allison | Reds Kagle[2] |
Chrysler 5 Dodge 1 Ford 22 |
Arrington Racing | 67 | Morgan Shepherd 1 | |
Phil Good 1 | ||||
Buddy Arrington 26 | Joey Arrington 26 |
Limited schedule[]
Schedule[]
No. | Race Title | Track | Date |
---|---|---|---|
NC | Busch Clash | Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach | February 10 |
7-Eleven Twin 125's | February 14 | ||
Daytona 500 Consolation Race | February 15 | ||
1 | Daytona 500 | February 17 | |
2 | Miller High Life 400 | Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond | February 24 |
3 | Carolina 500 | North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham | March 3 |
4 | Coca-Cola 500 | Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton | March 17 |
5 | Valleydale 500 | Bristol International Raceway, Bristol | April 6 |
6 | TranSouth 500 | Darlington Raceway, Darlington | April 14 |
7 | Northwestern Bank 400 | North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro | April 21 |
8 | Sovran Bank 500 | Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway | April 28 |
9 | Winston 500 | Alabama International Motor Speedway, Talladega | May 5 |
10 | Budweiser 500 | Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover | May 19 |
NC | The Winston | Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord | May 25 |
11 | Coca-Cola World 600 | May 26 | |
12 | Budweiser 400 | Riverside International Raceway, Riverside | June 2 |
13 | Van Scoy Diamond Mine 500 | Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond | June 9 |
14 | Michigan 400 | Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn | June 16 |
15 | Pepsi Firecracker 400 | Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach | July 4 |
16 | Summer 500 | Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond | July 21 |
17 | Talladega 500 | Alabama International Motor Speedway, Talladega | July 28 |
18 | Champion Spark Plug 400 | Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn | August 11 |
19 | Busch 500 | Bristol International Raceway, Bristol | August 24 |
20 | Southern 500 | Darlington Raceway, Darlington | September 1 |
21 | Wrangler Sanfor-Set 400 | Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond | September 8 |
22 | Delaware 500 | Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover | September 15 |
23 | Goody's 500 | Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway | September 22 |
24 | Holly Farms 400 | North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro | September 29 |
25 | Miller High Life 500 | Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord | October 6 |
26 | Nationwise 500 | North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham | October 20 |
27 | Atlanta Journal 500 | Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton | November 3 |
28 | Winston Western 500 | Riverside International Raceway, Riverside | November 17 |
Bold indicates the race was part of the Winston Million.
Busch Clash[]
The Busch Clash was run on February 10 at Daytona International Speedway. Ricky Rudd drew for the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 44 β Terry Labonte
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 5 β Geoff Bodine
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 88 β Buddy Baker
- 2 β Rusty Wallace
- 4 β Joe Ruttman
- 28 β Cale Yarborough
7-Eleven Twin 125's[]
The 7-Eleven Twin 125's were run on February 14 at Daytona. Bill Elliott won the pole for race 1 with a lap average speed of 205.114 mph (330.099 km/h). Cale Yarborough won the pole for races 2 with a lap average speed of 203.814 mph (328.007 km/h).
Race One Top Ten Results
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 55 β Benny Parsons
- 88 β Buddy Baker
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 1 β Dick Brooks
- 51 β Greg Sacks
- 47 β Ron Bouchard
- 5 β Geoff Bodine
- 12 β Neil Bonnett
Race Two Top Ten Results
- 28 β Cale Yarborough
- 21 β David Pearson
- 7 β Kyle Petty
- 43 β Richard Petty
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 66 β Phil Parsons
- 75 β Lake Speed
- 14 β A. J. Foyt
- 3 β Dale Earnhardt
- 95 β Sterling Marlin
Daytona 500 Consolation Race[]
For the final time to date, all 9 drivers that failed to qualify for the Daytona 500 were allowed to race in a 30 lap (75 mi (121 km)) race. Rick Newsom was on the pole.
Full Results
Finish | Grid | Car no. |
Driver | Car Make | Laps | Status | Laps Led |
Money |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5 | 07 | Randy LaJoie | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 30 | 0:23:46 | 36 | $3,500 |
2 | 7 | 41 | Glenn Jarrett | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 30 | -3 seconds | 0 | $500 |
3 | 6 | 37 | Satch Worley | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 30 | Flagged | 2 | $100 |
4 | 1 | 20 | Rick Newsom | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 30 | Flagged | 3 | |
5 | 2 | 05 | Dean Roper | Ford Thunderbird | 29 | -1 lap | 0 | |
6 | 3 | 06 | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 29 | -1 lap | 0 | ||
7 | 9 | 65 | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 28 | -2 laps | 0 | ||
8 | 4 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Ford Thunderbird | 11 | Engine | 0 | |
9 | 8 | 19 | Bob Park | Pontiac Grand Prix | 2 | Engine | 0 | |
Source:[5] |
Average speed: 189.341 mi (304.715 km)
Caution flags: none
Lead changes: 2 | |||
---|---|---|---|
From lap |
To lap |
Total laps |
Driver |
1 | 3 | 3 | Rick Newsom |
4 | 5 | 2 | Satch Worley |
6 | 30 | 25 | Randy LaJoie |
Daytona 500[]
The Daytona 500, the 27th running of the event, was held on February 17, 1985, at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Bill Elliott won the pole with a new track record (at the time) speed of 205.114 mph (330.099 km/h), he also won his qualifying race.
Top Ten Results
- 9 - Bill Elliott
- 75 - Lake Speed
- 11 - Darrell Waltrip -1 Lap
- 88 - Buddy Baker -1 Lap
- 15 - Ricky Rudd -1 Lap
- 51 - Greg Sacks -1 Lap
- 5 - Geoff Bodine -2 Laps
- 2 - Rusty Wallace -3 Laps
- 8 - Bobby Hillin Jr. -3 Laps
- 12 - Neil Bonnett -5 Laps (DNF: Engine Failure)
Miller High Life 400[]
The Miller High Life 400 was run on February 24 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 3 β Dale Earnhardt
- 5 β Geoff Bodine
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 47 β Ron Bouchard
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 44 β Terry Labonte
- 7 β Kyle Petty
- 71 β Dave Marcis
- 27 β Tim Richmond
- 75 β Lake Speed
Carolina 500[]
The Carolina 500 was run on March 3 at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina. Terry Labonte won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 12 β Neil Bonnett
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 44 β Terry Labonte
- 75 β Lake Speed
- 7 β Kyle Petty
- 4 β Joe Ruttman
- 28 β Cale Yarborough
- 43 β Richard Petty
- 2 β Rusty Wallace
- 3 β Dale Earnhardt
Coca-Cola 500[]
The Coca-Cola 500 was run on March 17 at Atlanta International Raceway in Atlanta, Georgia. Neil Bonnett won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 5 β Geoff Bodine
- 12 β Neil Bonnett
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 22 β Bobby Allison
- 44 β Terry Labonte
- 47 β Ron Bouchard
- 55 β Benny Parsons
- 3 β Dale Earnhardt
- 51 β Greg Sacks
- Final career pole for Neil Bonnett.
Valleydale 500[]
The Valleydale 500 was run on April 6 at Bristol International Raceway in Bristol, Tennessee. Harry Gant won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 3 β Dale Earnhardt
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 44 β Terry Labonte
- 88 β Buddy Baker
- 2 β Rusty Wallace
- 7 β Kyle Petty
- 75 β Lake Speed
- 43 β Richard Petty
- 8 β Bobby Hillin Jr.
- 90 β Ken Schrader (R)
This race was scheduled to run on Sunday, March 31, 1985, but was moved to Saturday, April 6 due to rain.
TranSouth 500[]
The TranSouth 500 was run on April 14 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Bill Elliott won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 27 β Tim Richmond
- 44 β Terry Labonte
- 2 β Rusty Wallace
- 12 β Neil Bonnett
- 5 β Geoff Bodine
- 66 β Phil Parsons
- 75 β Lake Speed
- 22 β Bobby Allison
Northwestern Bank 400[]
The Northwestern Bank 400 was run on April 21 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 12 β Neil Bonnett
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 22 β Bobby Allison
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 5 β Geoff Bodine
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 44 β Terry Labonte
- 3 β Dale Earnhardt
- 75 β Lake Speed
- 33 β Harry Gant
Sovran Bank 500[]
The Sovran Bank 500 was run on April 28 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 5 β Geoff Bodine
- 22 β Bobby Allison
- 12 β Neil Bonnett
- 44 β Terry Labonte
- 43 β Richard Petty
- 75 β Lake Speed
- 66 β Phil Parsons
- 2 β Rusty Wallace
Winston 500[]
The Winston 500 was run on May 5 at Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega, Alabama. Bill Elliott won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 7 β Kyle Petty
- 28 β Cale Yarborough
- 22 β Bobby Allison
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 88 β Buddy Baker
- 44 β Terry Labonte
- 71 β Dave Marcis
- 8 β Bobby Hillin Jr.
- 75 β Lake Speed
- Bill Elliott made up two laps under green during this race. Elliott lost the laps from having to pit due to a broken oil fitting. With the victory, Elliott claimed the second leg of the Winston Million.
Budweiser 500[]
The Budweiser 500 was run on May 19 at Dover Downs International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. Terry Labonte won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 7 β Kyle Petty
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 27 β Tim Richmond
- 43 β Richard Petty
- 75 β Neil Bonnett
- 71 β Dave Marcis
- 90 β Ken Schrader (R)
The Winston[]
The inaugural Winston was run on May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Terry Labonte won the pole due to being the defending NASCAR Winston Cup Champion.
Top Six Results
- 11 - Darrell Waltrip
- 33 - Harry Gant
- 44 - Terry Labonte
- 28 - Cale Yarborough
- 27 - Tim Richmond
- 22 - Bobby Allison
Coca-Cola World 600[]
The Coca-Cola World 600 was run on May 26 at Charlotte. Bill Elliott won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 22 β Bobby Allison
- 3 β Dale Earnhardt
- 44 β Terry Labonte
- 75 β Lake Speed
- 4 β Joe Ruttman
- 2 β Rusty Wallace
- 27 β Tim Richmond
- 1 β Dick Brooks
- Bill Elliott had a chance to clinch the first Winston Million, and a then NASCAR record crowd of 155,000 spectators arrived to cheer him on. After considerable pre-race hype, Elliott led 81 laps, but fell short, however, as mechanical problems plagued much of his day. Elliott would have another chance at Darlington in the Southern 500.
- Darrell Waltrip gambled on fuel, stretching his tank over the final 110 laps to secure the victory. Waltrip (who won The Winston a day earlier) nearly missed the race after a car/engine swap controversy with NASCAR Director of Competition Dick Beatty.[6]
- This was the first NASCAR Winston cup start for Michael Waltrip. He would finish in 28th due to transmission failure
- Final start for 10th place finisher Dick Brooks.
Budweiser 400[]
The Budweiser 400 was run on June 2 at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 44 β Terry Labonte
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 22 β Bobby Allison
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 7 β Kyle Petty
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 43 β Richard Petty
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 27 β Tim Richmond
- 90 β Ken Schrader (R)
Van Scoy Diamond Mine 500[]
The Van Scoy Diamond Mine 500 was run on June 9 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Bill Elliott won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 5 β Geoff Bodine
- 12 β Neil Bonnett
- 55 β Benny Parsons
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 88 β Buddy Baker
- 22 β Bobby Allison
- 27 β Tim Richmond
Miller 400[]
The Miller 400 was run on June 16 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. Bill Elliott won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 28 β Cale Yarborough
- 27 β Tim Richmond
- 3 β Dale Earnhardt
- 22 β Bobby Allison
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 12 β Neil Bonnett
- 71 β Dave Marcis
- 55 β Benny Parsons
Pepsi Firecracker 400[]
The Pepsi Firecracker 400 was run on July 4 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Bill Elliott won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 10 β Greg Sacks
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 47 β Ron Bouchard
- 7 β Kyle Petty
- 88 β Buddy Baker
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 44 β Terry Labonte
- 3 β Dale Earnhardt
- 21 β David Pearson
- The race was won by Greg Sacks, who was driving as a Research & Development driver for DiGard Motorsports. His win caused Bobby Allison to leave the team.
- This would be Sacksβ lone career win in Winston Cup competition.
Summer 500[]
The Summer 500 was run on July 21 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 12 β Neil Bonnett
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 5 β Geoff Bodine
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 55 β Benny Parsons
- 7 β Kyle Petty
- 66 β Phil Parsons
- 47 β Ron Bouchard
- 88 β Buddy Baker
- Bill Elliott completes his 1st of 4 track sweeps of 1985.
Talladega 500[]
The Talladega 500 was run on July 28 at Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega, Alabama. Bill Elliott won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 28 Cale Yarborough
- 12 β Neil Bonnett
- 47 β Ron Bouchard
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 14 β A. J. Foyt
- 43 β Richard Petty
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 75 β Lake Speed
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 1 β Davey Allison*
- This race was Davey Allison's Winston Cup debut.
Champion Spark Plug 400[]
The Champion Spark Plug 400 was run on August 11 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. Bill Elliott won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 7 β Kyle Petty
- 55 β Benny Parsons
- 66 β Phil Parsons
- 2 β Rusty Wallace
- 10 β Dick Trickle
- 44 β Terry Labonte
- 67 β Buddy Arrington
- Bill Elliott completes his 2nd of 4 track sweeps of 1985.
Busch 500[]
The Busch 500 was run on August 24 at Bristol International Raceway in Bristol, Tennessee. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 3 β Dale Earnhardt
- 27 β Tim Richmond
- 12 β Neil Bonnett
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 47 β Ron Bouchard
- 43 β Richard Petty
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 75 β Lake Speed
Southern 500[]
The Southern 500 was run on September 1 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Bill Elliott won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 28 β Cale Yarborough
- 5 β Geoff Bodine
- 12 β Neil Bonnett -1 Lap
- 47 β Ron Bouchard -1 Lap
- 15 β Ricky Rudd -1 Lap
- 44 β Terry Labonte -2 Laps
- 55 β Benny Parsons -2 Laps
- 4 β Joe Ruttman -3 Laps
- 7 β Kyle Petty -3 Laps
- Bill Elliott won the Winston Million with the race victory.
- With this victory Elliott had a 206 point lead in the standings with 8 races left in the season.
- Elliott also completes the Darlington sweep for his 3rd of 4 track sweeps of 1985.
Wrangler Sanfor-Set 400[]
The Wrangler Sanfor-Set 400 was run on September 8 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Geoff Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 44 β Terry Labonte
- 43 β Richard Petty
- 3 β Dale Earnhardt
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 5 β Geoff Bodine
- 7 β Kyle Petty
- 12 β Neil Bonnett
- 18 β Tommy Ellis
- This race marked the Winston Cup Series debut of Alan Kulwicki, driving Bill Terry's #32 Ford. Kulwicki would finish 19th, 8 laps down.
- By Elliott finishing 12th in this race, Darrell Waltrip gained 53 points on Elliott.
Delaware 500[]
The Delaware 500 was run on September 15 at Dover Downs International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. Bill Elliott won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 22 β Bobby Allison
- 12 β Neil Bonnett
- 27 β Tim Richmond
- 3 β Dale Earnhardt
- 47 β Ron Bouchard
- 43 β Richard Petty
- 75 β Lake Speed
- Elliott had a disastrous race finishing in 20th place 70 laps down. Waltrip gained 67 points, Elliott now only led by 86 points.
Goody's 500[]
The Goody's 500 was run on September 22 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. Geoff Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 3 β Dale Earnhardt
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 7 β Kyle Petty
- 47 β Ron Bouchard
- 27 β Tim Richmond
- 8 β Bobby Hillin Jr.
- 12 β Neil Bonnett
- 22 β Bobby Allison
- Elliott had another disastrous race finishing in 17th place 33 laps down. Waltrip continued to chip away at Elliotts lead gaining 63 points, Elliott now only led by 23 points.
Holly Farms 400[]
The Holly Farms 400 was run on September 29 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Geoff Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 5 β Geoff Bodine
- 44 β Terry Labonte
- 3 β Dale Earnhardt
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 47 β Ron Bouchard
- 27 β Tim Richmond
- 43 β Richard Petty
- 71 β Dave Marcis
- 12 β Neil Bonnett
- By virtue of Elliott being the second car out of the race finishing in 30th place (out of 31 starters) and Waltrip managing to finish in 14th even with car issues 7 laps down, Waltrip overtook Elliott in the standings and now led by 30 points.
Miller High Life 500[]
The Miller High Life 500 was run on October 6 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Harry Gant won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 28 β Cale Yarborough
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 5 β Geoff Bodine
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 4 β Joe Ruttman
- 27 β Tim Richmond
- 16 β Morgan Shepherd
- 88 β Buddy Baker
- 8 β Bobby Hillin Jr.
- 43 β Richard Petty
- Cale Yarboroughβs win would be his 83rd and the final one of his career before retiring after 1988.
- Elliott and Waltrip both led laps and by Elliott finishing in 2nd he sliced 10 points off Waltrips lead with just 20 points separating the two with three races remaining.
Nationwise 500[]
The Nationwise 500 was run on October 20 at a freshly repaved[7] North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina. Terry Labonte won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 47 β Ron Bouchard
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 5 β Geoff Bodine
- 27 β Tim Richmond
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 3 β Dale Earnhardt
- 2 β Rusty Wallace
- 77 β Greg Sacks
- Elliott finishing three spots down in 4th lost ground to Waltrip by 15 points due to Waltrip winning. Waltrip now lead by 35 points, with just Atlanta and Riverside left to settle the Championship.
Atlanta Journal 500[]
The Atlanta Journal 500 was run on November 3 at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia. Harry Gant won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 9 β Bill Elliott
- 28 β Cale Yarborough
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 3 β Dale Earnhardt
- 16 β Morgan Shepherd
- 44 β Terry Labonte
- 75 β Lake Speed
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 77 β Greg Sacks
- 43 β Richard Petty
- 11th and final win of the season for Bill Elliott.
- With this win, and as of 2018, Bill Elliott is the only driver in NASCAR history to pull off the season sweep at 4 different tracks in one season. Along with the season sweep at Atlanta, he swept Pocono, Michigan, and Darlington. In 2004 however, Jimmie Johnson pulled off the season sweep at 3 different tracks, coming close to tying Bill Elliott's record. The tracks Johnson pulled off the season sweep are Pocono, Charlotte, and Darlington.
- With Elliott getting the bonus points for leading the most laps, Waltrip lost 15 points on his lead. Elliott now had a 20 point deficit going into the season finale at Riverside where he picked up his first Cup victory in 1983, while Waltrip had five wins at the road course. If Elliott won at Riverside then all Waltrip would have to do to win the title would be to finish no lower then 7th if he did not lead a lap. If DW led a lap then he could finish no lower then 8th to win the title. If he led the most laps then he could finish no lower then 9th.
- Morgan Shepherd scored his only top five finish of 1985 driving for David Pearson's team.[8]
- Sprint car ace Sammy Swindell starts his first of two career Cup races. He finished 30th after a crash, he completed 242 of 328 laps.[9]
Winston Western 500[]
The Winston Western 500 was run on November 17 at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California. Terry Labonte won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 15 β Ricky Rudd
- 44 β Terry Labonte
- 75 β Neil Bonnett
- 33 β Harry Gant
- 3 β Dale Earnhardt
- 5 β Geoff Bodine
- 11 β Darrell Waltrip
- 43 β Richard Petty
- 75 β Lake Speed
- 47 β Ron Bouchard
- After winning the previous race, which was at Atlanta, Bill Elliott came into this race 2nd in points, only 20 points behind Darrell Waltrip, giving him a shot to rebound for the championship after a string of poor finishes in 4 of the last 5 races. During this race however, Elliott would suffer early transmission problems, and it would unfortunately cost him the championship. He finished the race in 31st. Waltrip clinched the title once he completed 99 laps of the race, he then finished in 7th, gaining 81 points on Elliott. Darrell Waltrip won his 3rd and final Winston Cup title, having won only three races to Bill Elliott's eleven. Elliott would officially lose the championship by 101 points. This would be the 1st time in Bob Latford's Winston Cup points system that a driver winning 10 or more races in a season failed to win the championship due to poor finishes and lack of consistency in the final stretch of the season.
- This was the final race for Richard Petty driving for Mike Curb. Richard would take his number 43 with STP sponsorship home to Petty Enterprises for 1986.
- This was the final race for Rusty Wallace driving for Cliff Stewart Racing. Rusty's season of misery concluded with a 36th place finish due to engine failure completing 70 of 119 laps. This was Rusty's 12th DNF of the season, 10 of them were due to engine failures.
Final point standings[]
- Darrell Waltrip 4292
- Bill Elliott 4191
- Harry Gant 4033
- Neil Bonnett 3902
- Geoff Bodine 3862
- Ricky Rudd 3857
- Terry Labonte 3683
- Dale Earnhardt 3561
- Kyle Petty 3528
- Lake Speed 3507
- Tim Richmond 3413
- Bobby Allison 3312
- Ron Bouchard 3267
- Richard Petty 3140
- Bobby Hillin Jr. 3091
- Ken Schrader (R) 3024
- Buddy Baker 2986
- Dave Marcis 2871
- Rusty Wallace 2867
- Buddy Arrington 2780
- Phil Parsons 2740
- 2641
- Jimmy Means 2548
- Eddie Bierschwale (R) 2396
- Greg Sacks 1944
- Cale Yarborough 1861
- J. D. McDuffie 1853
- Trevor Boys 1461
- Benny Parsons 1427
- Joe Ruttman 1410
- Morgan Shepherd 1406
- Bobby Wawak 1226
- Lennie Pond 1107
- Tommy Ellis 1100
- Mike Alexander 1046
- David Pearson 879
- Sterling Marlin 645
- Don Hume (R) 637
- Ronnie Thomas 631
- Alan Kulwicki 509
- Rick Newsom 450
- Mike Potter 443
- Jerry Bowman 434
- Bobby Gerhart 422
- A. J. Foyt 410
- Phil Good 406
- Ken Ragan 356
- Slick Johnson 343
- Connie Saylor 296
- Jim Sauter 267
The above information is from Racing Reference
Rookie of the year[]
Ken Schrader won the 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rookie of the year. He beat out both Eddie Bierschwale (who failed to qualify for the Daytona 500 and skipped the next race), and Don Hume (whom only competed in 7 races) for the honors.
References[]
- ^ "Driver Season Stats".
- ^ "Driver Season Stats".
- ^ "Driver Season Stats".
- ^ "Driver Season Stats".
- ^ "Race Results".
- ^ Jeff Hammond. "Darrell Waltrip's sweep in the 1985 Winston All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600 despite controversy in Charlotte built a NASCAR champion". FOX Sports. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
- ^ "User Comments - the 1985 Nationwise 500".
- ^ "Race Results".
- ^ "Race Results".
- 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
- 1985 in NASCAR
- NASCAR Cup Series seasons