1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
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The 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 42nd season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 19th modern-era Cup Series. It began on Sunday, February 11, and ended on Sunday, November 18. Because of a highly controversial penalty to Mark Martin early in the season, Dale Earnhardt with Richard Childress Racing was crowned the Winston Cup champion for the fourth time, edging out Martin by 26 points.

Teams and drivers[]

Complete schedule[]

Make	Team	No.	Driver	Crew Chief
Buick	Bobby Allison Racing	12	Mike Alexander 7	Jimmy Fennig
			Jeff Purvis 1
			Hut Stricklin 21
	King Racing	26	Brett Bodine	Larry McReynolds
	Stavola Brothers Racing	8	Bobby Hillin Jr.	Harry Hyde
Chevrolet	Hendrick Motorsports	5	Ricky Rudd	Waddell Wilson
		17	Darrell Waltrip 23	Jeff Hammond
			Jimmy Horton 2
			Sarel van der Merwe 1
			Greg Sacks 3
		25	Ken Schrader
	Marcis Auto Racing	71	Dave Marcis
	Morgan-McClure Motorsports	4	Phil Parsons 3	Tony Glover
			Ernie Irvan 26
	Richard Childress Racing	3	Dale Earnhardt	Kirk Shelmerdine
	Travis Carter Enterprises	98	Butch Miller 23	Travis Carter
			Rick Mast 6
		10	Derrike Cope	Buddy Parrott
Ford	AK Racing	7	Alan Kulwicki	Paul Andrews
	Bud Moore Engineering	15	Morgan Shepherd	Donnie Wingo
	Junior Johnson & Associates	11	Geoff Bodine	Tim Brewer
	Melling Racing	9	Bill Elliott	Mike Beam
	Robert Yates Racing	28	Davey Allison	Jake Elder
	Roush Racing	6	Mark Martin	Robin Pemberton
	Wood Brothers Racing	21	Neil Bonnett 5	Leonard Wood
			Dale Jarrett 24
Oldsmobile	Hagan Racing	94	Sterling Marlin
	Leo Jackson Motorsports	33	Harry Gant	Andy Petree
		20	Rob Moroso (R)
	Precision Products Racing	1	Terry Labonte
	RahMoc Enterprises	75	Rick Wilson
Pontiac	Bahari Racing	30	Michael Waltrip	Bill Ingle
	Blue Max Racing	27	Rusty Wallace	Jimmy Makar
	Cale Yarborough Motorsports	66	Dick Trickle
	Means Racing	52	Jimmy Means	Darrell Bryant
	Osterlund Racing	57	Jimmy Spencer
	Petty Enterprises	43	Richard Petty	Dale Inman
	SABCO Racing	42	Kyle Petty	Gary Nelson

Limited schedule[]

Manufacturer	Team	No.	Race Driver	Crew Chief	Round(s)
Ford		19	Chad Little
	Dick Johnson Racing	38	Dick Johnson	Ray Evernham	4
			Jim Sauter		1
	Donlavey Racing	90	Ernie Irvan	Junie Donlavey	3
			Buddy Baker		8
			Charlie Glotzbach		1

Schedule[]

No.	Race Title	Track	Date
	Busch Clash	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 11
	Twin 125 Qualifiers		February 15
1	Daytona 500		February 18
2	Pontiac Excitement 400	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond	February 25
3	GM Goodwrench 500	North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham	March 4
4	Motorcraft 500	Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton	March 18
5	TranSouth 500	Darlington Raceway, Darlington	April 1
6	Valleydale Meats 500	Bristol International Raceway, Bristol	April 8
7	First Union 400	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro	April 22
8	Hanes Activewear 500	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway	April 29
9	Winston 500	Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega	May 6
	Winston Open	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord	May 20
	The Winston
10	Coca-Cola 600		May 27
11	Budweiser 500	Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover	June 3
12	Banquet Frozen Foods 300	Sears Point Raceway, Sonoma	June 10
13	Miller Genuine Draft 500	Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond	June 17
14	Miller Genuine Draft 400	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn	June 24
15	Pepsi 400	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	July 7
16	AC Spark Plug 500	Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond	July 22
17	DieHard 500	Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega	July 29
18	Budweiser at The Glen	Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen	August 12
19	Champion Spark Plug 400	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn	August 19
20	Busch 500	Bristol International Raceway, Bristol	August 25
21	Heinz Southern 500	Darlington Raceway, Darlington	September 2
22	Miller Genuine Draft 400	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond	September 9
23	Peak Antifreeze 500	Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover	September 16
24	Goody's 500	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway	September 23
25	Tyson Holly Farms 400	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro	September 30
26	Mello Yello 500	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord	October 7
27	AC Delco 500	North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham	October 21
28	Checker 500	Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix	November 4
29	Atlanta Journal 500	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton	November 18

Races[]

Busch Clash[]

The exhibition Busch Clash race, for drivers who have won a pole position in the previous season or have won the event before, was held on February 11 at Daytona International Speedway. Jimmy Hensley drew the pole.

Results

1. 25-Ken Schrader
2. 46-Greg Sacks
3. 28-Davey Allison
4. 11-Geoff Bodine
5. 9-Bill Elliott
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 7-Alan Kulwicki
8. 27-Rusty Wallace
9. 15-Morgan Shepherd
10. 20-Jimmy Hensley

• The No. 46 City Chevrolet of Sacks was entered for in-race footage for the 1990 film Days of Thunder.

Gatorade Twin 125s[]

The Gatorade Twin 125s qualifying for the Daytona 500 was held on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway.

Race One: Top Ten Results

1. 11-Geoff Bodine
2. 33-Harry Gant
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 17-Darrell Waltrip
5. 43-Richard Petty
6. 14-A. J. Foyt
7. 25-Ken Schrader
8. 12-Mike Alexander
9. 98-Butch Miller
10. 5-Ricky Rudd

Race Two: Top Ten Results

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 9-Bill Elliott
3. 57-Jimmy Spencer
4. 4-Phil Parsons
5. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr.
6. 10-Derrike Cope
7. 83-Lake Speed
8. 28-Davey Allison
9. 90-Ernie Irvan
10. 1-Terry Labonte

• Two cars entered by Hendrick Motorsports (the No. 46 Superflo Chevrolet driven by Greg Sacks and the No. 51 Exxon Chevrolet driven by Bobby Hamilton) were entered into in-race footage for the 1990 film Days of Thunder. Both cars were unscored and withdrew from the race early.

Daytona 500[]

The 32nd annual Daytona 500 was held on February 18 at Daytona International Speedway. Ken Schrader won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 10-Derrike Cope
2. 1-Terry Labonte
3. 9-Bill Elliott
4. 5-Ricky Rudd
5. 3-Dale Earnhardt
6. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr.
7. 27-Rusty Wallace
8. 30-Michael Waltrip -1
9. 11-Geoff Bodine -1
10. 15-Morgan Shepherd -1

Failed to qualify: 0-Delma Cowart, 13-Mike Potter, 19-Chad Little, 29-Joe Booher, 34-Charlie Glotzbach, 35-Bill Venturini, 37-, 39-Blackie Wangerin, 44-Jim Sauter, 48-Trevor Boys, 59-Mark Gibson, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 72-Stan Barrett, 77-Ken Ragan, 82-Mark Stahl, 85-Bobby Gerhart, 89-Rodney Combs, 96-, 01-Mickey Gibbs

• Derrike Cope started off the 1990 season on a Cinderella note as he won his first ever Winston Cup race, the Daytona 500. It came when Dale Earnhardt, who had led 155 of 200 laps (at one point, leading by 25 seconds over 2nd place), ran over a piece of Rick Wilson's expired engine cutting a right rear tire in turn three on the final lap allowing Cope to shoot past for the win. Cope opted to not take a late pit stop and led briefly before relinquishing the lead in lap 196, not seeing the front again until the last lap.
• Two cars entered by Hendrick Motorsports (the No. 18 Hardee's Chevrolet driven by Tommy Ellis and the No. 51 Mello Yello Chevrolet driven by Bobby Hamilton) were entered for in-race footage for the 1990 film Days of Thunder. Both cars were unscored and withdrew from the race early.

Pontiac Excitement 400[]

The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held on February 25 at Richmond International Raceway. Ricky Rudd won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 5-Ricky Rudd
4. 9-Bill Elliott
5. 66-Dick Trickle
6. 27-Rusty Wallace
7. 15-Morgan Shepherd
8. 26-Brett Bodine
9. 57-Jimmy Spencer
10. 25-Ken Schrader

Failed to qualify: 70-J. D. McDuffie, 53-Jerry O'Neil^[1]

• This was possibly the coldest race in NASCAR history, with a temperature in the mid-20s and winds gusting to 41 MPH, generating a wind chill of about 5 degrees.
• Mark Martin won the race, only to lose 46 championship points after NASCAR officials discovered a somewhat oversized carburetor spacer plate in his car. This ultimately became a key factor in determining the 1990 championship.
• It was admitted later that the spacer plate was actually not oversized and not technically illegal. The part was bolted on instead of welded on, thus landing in the "gray area" of NASCAR rules. Dale Earnhardt and his car owner, Richard Childress, who finished second in the race, protested the result because of the findings of the post-race inspection. NASCAR eventually ruled that Martin and car owner Jack Roush would keep the victory, but would lose 46 points as a result of the infraction. This has spawned many years of speculation that NASCAR was biased toward Earnhardt, the eventual seven-time champion, but given that the race was only the second of the season (27 races still remained), nobody could have foreseen that the penalty would decide the points championship at the conclusion of the season.

GM Goodwrench 500[]

The GM Goodwrench 500 was held on March 4, 1990, at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Kyle Petty won the pole.

Top Ten results

1. 42-Kyle Petty
2. 11-Geoff Bodine
3. 25-Ken Schrader -1
4. 94-Sterling Marlin -2
5. 27-Rusty Wallace -2
6. 17-Darrell Waltrip -3
7. 15-Morgan Shepherd -3
8. 57-Jimmy Spencer -3
9. 1-Terry Labonte -3
10. 3-Dale Earnhardt -3

• This was Kyle Petty's first pole on his 277th start in the No. 42 Peak Pontiac owned by Felix Sabates and wrenched by crew chief Gary Nelson, later of NASCAR R&D. Petty claimed the Unocal 76 Challenge, which had rolled over 29 times since it had last been won. Petty won a bonus of $228,400 in addition to the race purse, for an all-time NASCAR record (at the time) $284,450 single-race payday. Car owner Felix Sebates presented Petty with a Rolls-Royce as a gift for winning the elusive bonus.

Motorcraft Quality Parts 500[]

The Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was held on March 18 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 15-Morgan Shepherd
3. 4-Ernie Irvan
4. 25-Ken Schrader
5. 6-Mark Martin
6. 42-Kyle Petty
7. 11-Geoff Bodine
8. 7-Alan Kulwicki -1
9. 33-Harry Gant -1
10. 94-Sterling Marlin -2

Failed to qualify: 14-A. J. Foyt, 46-Greg Sacks, 70-J. D. McDuffie

• Dale enjoyed his first win since November 1989, which was also at Atlanta. Although he was suffering from an upset stomach, Earnhardt made up a lost lap to score a narrow victory over Morgan Shepherd. The race was virtually caution free as Earnhardt led 216 of 328 laps in recording a track record race average speed of 156.849 mph.
• Ernie Irvan replaced Phil Parsons in the No. 4 Oldsmobile for Morgan-McClure Motorsports. This began a 3½ year tenure for Irvan in the No. 4.

TranSouth 500[]

The TranSouth 500 was held on April 1 at Darlington Speedway. Geoff Bodine started on the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 28-Davey Allison
4. 11-Geoff Bodine
5. 15-Morgan Shepherd
6. 33-Harry Gant
7. 9-Bill Elliott
8. 26-Brett Bodine
9. 30-Michael Waltrip
10. 25-Ken Schrader -1

Failed to qualify: 48-Norm Benning, 74-Mike Potter, 82-Mark Stahl

• Dale Earnhardt pulled away on two restarts in the final 18 laps and finished two car lengths in front of Mark Martin to earn his second victory of the 1990 season and second consecutive win at Darlington.
• The race came under some controversy, as Ernie Irvan, who was ten laps down, was racing aggressively against then-leader Ken Schrader, lost control and started a huge crash that almost ended the career of Neil Bonnett.
• Two cars entered by Hendrick Motorsports (the No. 46 City Chevrolet driven by Greg Sacks and the No. 51 Exxon Chevrolet driven by Hut Stricklin) were originally for the 1990 film Days of Thunder, but were not used for in-race footage. Sacks started in 7th place, but finished in 37th due to a broken crankshaft. Stricklin started in 27th place but finished in 36th after withdrawing from the race.

Valleydale Meats 500[]

The Valleydale Meats 500 was held on April 8 at Bristol International Raceway. The No. 4 of Ernie Irvan won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 28-Davey Allison
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 5-Ricky Rudd
4. 1-Terry Labonte
5. 75-Rick Wilson
6. 25-Ken Schrader
7. 94-Sterling Marlin
8. 15-Morgan Shepherd -1
9. 17-Darrell Waltrip -1
10. 42-Kyle Petty -1

Failed to qualify: 19-Chad Little, 16-Larry Pearson

• Michael Waltrip had a terrible crash in the previous day's Busch Series race when he hit the wall head on and his car collapsed into itself, but still managed to race in this race and finish 20th.
• Davey Allison elected not to pit on the final caution on lap 391 while the other front runners took on fresh tires and fuel. The gamble paid off with Allison leading the rest of the way, holding off Mark Martin for an eight-inch victory at Bristol. Darrell Waltrip fell from contention with a cut tire with 25 laps left, leaving Allison, Martin, and Ricky Rudd in a bumper-to-bumper battle to the finish.
• Sterling Marlin was spun out with half a lap to go by Rudd. This resulted in a physical confrontation inside Rudd's transporter after the race.
• Dale Jarrett was inserted into the No. 21 Ford for the Wood Brothers in a relief role (initially). It became permanent after Neil Bonnett developed a case of amnesia, which left him unable to race competitively.
• The #33 Skoal "Bandit" Leo Jackson-owned Oldsmobile, normally driven by Harry Gant, was initially supposed to be driven by Rick Wilson after Gant skipped that race due to the death of his father, only for Wilson to give way to Phil Parsons for the actual race.

First Union 400[]

The First Union 400 was held at North Wilkesboro Speedway on April 22, 1990. Mark Martin was the polesitter.

Top Ten Results

1. 26-Brett Bodine*
2. 17-Darrell Waltrip
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 5-Ricky Rudd
5. 15-Morgan Shepherd
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 27-Rusty Wallace
8. 11-Geoff Bodine
9. 28-Davey Allison
10. 42-Kyle Petty -1

Failed to qualify: 48-Freddie Crawford, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 76-Bill Sedgwick

• Brett Bodine won his only Winston Cup race.
• Final win for Buick in NASCAR.
• Controversy occurred after Kenny Wallace, who was making his first start in the series, crashed in turn one and brought the caution. During the caution, the pace car picked up Dale Earnhardt instead of Bodine who had fresh tires. This led to several confusions on whether who led the race (NASCAR did not have electronic time and scoring until 1993) and took 17 caution laps to sort out the scoring error. In the end, Bodine was declared as the race leader and he went on to win. After the race, Darrell Waltrip, who finished second, protested the victory; however, it was turned down on the grounds that the decision to put Bodine in the lead was a judgment call that was unappealable under NASCAR rules.

Hanes Activewear 500[]

The Hanes Activewear 500 was held on April 29 at Martinsville Speedway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 11-Geoff Bodine
2. 27-Rusty Wallace
3. 15-Morgan Shepherd
4. 17-Darrell Waltrip
5. 3-Dale Earnhardt -1
6. 25-Ken Schrader -2
7. 6-Mark Martin -2
8. 30-Michael Waltrip -3
9. 66-Dick Trickle -3
10. 9-Bill Elliott -3

Failed to qualify: none

• Geoff lost the lead on the first lap but held the lead four times during the race including the final 137 laps for his first win of the season at Martinsville. In an afternoon-long battle of the pit crews, Rusty Wallace, Bodine's crew executed a four-tire change in 19.6 seconds during the 10th and final caution period to beat Wallace back onto the track on lap 364 and easily cruised to the checker flag.

Winston 500[]

The Winston 500 was held on May 6 at Talladega Superspeedway. The No. 9 of Bill Elliott won the pole.*

Top Ten Results

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 18-Greg Sacks
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 4-Ernie Irvan
5. 30-Michael Waltrip
6. 1-Terry Labonte
7. 42-Kyle Petty -1
8. 15-Morgan Shepherd -1
9. 12-Hut Stricklin -1
10. 17-Darrell Waltrip -1

Failed to qualify: 70-J. D. McDuffie, 80-Jimmy Horton, 82-Mark Stahl, 85-Bobby Gerhart

• Bill Elliott's pole speed of 199.388 mph (48.027 seconds) is the fastest qualifying lap turned in the Winston Cup Series since restrictor plates began to be used at Daytona and Talladega.
• Dale Earnhardt dominated the field to lead eight times for 107 of 188 laps to earn his third win of the season. Drafting with one other driver after the sixth of seven cautions, the field was left behind when the final caution ended on the 172nd lap and Dale sped to victory.
• An ESPN on-board camera caught footage of Dick Trickle smoking in his car during a caution period.

Winston Open[]

The Winston Open, a shootout race for drivers who are normally not eligible for The Winston, was held May 20 at Charlotte Motor Speedway with the winner transferring to The Winston later in the day. Ernie Irvan was on the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 66-Dick Trickle
2. 20-Rob Moroso
3. 4-Ernie Irvan
4. 94-Sterling Marlin
5. 12-Hut Stricklin
6. 75-Rick Wilson
7. 43-Richard Petty
8. 71-Dave Marcis
9. 16-Larry Pearson
10. 98-Butch Miller

The Winston[]

The Winston was held May 20 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt started on pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 25-Ken Schrader
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 9-Bill Elliott
5. 28-Davey Allison
6. 66-Dick Trickle (Winston Open Winner)
7. 33-Harry Gant
8. 7-Alan Kulwicki
9. 15-Morgan Shepherd
10. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr.

• Dale Earnhardt continued his early-season domination of the Winston Cup circuit with a runaway victory in the annual All-Star event. The 1990 edition was the 6th annual running of The Winston & the second victory in the "winners-only" event for Earnhardt and Richard Childress Racing. Earnhardt led all 70 laps after starting from the pole position & won $325,000. Earnhardt became the first 2-time winner of the race.

Coca-Cola 600[]

The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 27 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The No. 25 of Ken Schrader won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 27-Rusty Wallace
2. 9-Bill Elliott
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 30-Michael Waltrip
5. 4-Ernie Irvan
6. 7-Alan Kulwicki
7. 28-Davey Allison
8. 15-Morgan Shepherd
9. 10-Derrike Cope
10. 11-Geoff Bodine

Failed to qualify: 0-Delma Cowart, 35-Bill Venturini, 36-H. B. Bailey, 38-Dick Johnson, 52-Jimmy Means, 53-Jerry O'Neil, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 74-Mike Potter, 82-Mark Stahl, 01-Mickey Gibbs, 04-, 48-

• Rusty Wallace emerged from early season mediocrity to announce his return to dominance with a shootout win over Bill Elliott. Wallace led 306 of the 400 laps for his first win of the season, resuming his final lead on lap 310 when Geoff Bodine made a green-flag pit stop. A two-lap caution beginning on lap 297 set up the duel between Wallace and Elliott, who had regained a lap he lost early in the race.
• This was Rusty Wallace's only career win in a crown jewel event (other crown jewel events are the Daytona 500, Winston 500, and Southern 500).

Budweiser 500[]

The Budweiser 500 was held at Dover Downs International Speedway on June 3, 1990. Dick Trickle won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 10-Derrike Cope
2. 25-Ken Schrader
3. 66-Dick Trickle
4. 6-Mark Martin
5. 94-Sterling Marlin
6. 15-Morgan Shepherd
7. 4-Ernie Irvan
8. 9-Bill Elliott
9. 42-Kyle Petty
10. 27-Rusty Wallace

• Footage from this race was used in the Racing Tough, hosted by Benny Parsons and Brett Bodine.
• Dale Earnhardt had blown the engine early in the race. Earnhardt's crew performed the unheard feat of actually fixing a blown engine and getting the car back on the track. Unfortunately, he blew his engine again later in the race.
• This was Derrike Cope's 2nd and last Winston Cup win.
• As a result of both his consistency (with 11 Top 10 finishes) and Earnhardt's engine problems, Morgan Shepherd would briefly assume the points lead for the only time in his career.

Banquet Frozen Foods 300[]

The Banquet Frozen Foods 300 was held June 10 at Sears Point Raceway. Ricky Rudd won the pole. Top Ten Results

1. 27-Rusty Wallace
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 5-Ricky Rudd
4. 11-Geoff Bodine
5. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr.
6. 94-Sterling Marlin
7. 4-Ernie Irvan
8. 0-Irv Hoerr*
9. 30-Michael Waltrip
10. 75-Rick Wilson

Failed to qualify: 52-Jimmy Means, , ,

• Rusty Wallace continued his Winston Cup road course mastery in earning his second win of the season at Sears Point. It was his fifth road course win in the last seven, finishing second in the other two. Wallace overtook Ricky Rudd on the 11th turn on lap 60 and led the rest of the way, beating Mark Martin to the caution on lap 73, earning the win under caution in the final lap. Martin overtook the Winston Cup points race at 1800.
• This was the final race victory for Blue Max Racing as the team would fold after Wallace left the team at the end of 1990, Roger Penske would acquire their equipment and hire Wallace starting in 1991.
• Irv Hoerr was a road course ringer racing for Richard Jackson Motorsports. His car was a Skoal Classic Oldsmobile in colors very similar to Terry Labonte's.^[2]
• After finishing 29th due to a blown engine, the first time all season finishing outside the Top 10, Morgan Shepherd lost his points lead to Mark Martin.
• Final Top 5 finish for Bobby Hillin Jr.

Miller Genuine Draft 500[]

The Miller Genuine Draft 500 was held at Pocono International Raceway on June 17, 1990. Ernie Irvan started on the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 33-Harry Gant
2. 27-Rusty Wallace
3. 11-Geoff Bodine
4. 26-Brett Bodine
5. 28-Davey Allison
6. 12-Hut Stricklin
7. 18-Greg Sacks
8. 17-Darrell Waltrip
9. 94-Sterling Marlin
10. 42-Kyle Petty

Failed to qualify: 74-

• This race set a record (at the time) for the most cars finishing on the lead lap, with 22 cars completing all 500 miles.

Miller Genuine Draft 400[]

The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held at Michigan International Speedway on June 24, 1990. Mark Martin won the pole via points as qualifying was rained out.

Top Ten Results

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 4-Ernie Irvan
3. 11-Geoff Bodine
4. 6-Mark Martin
5. 33-Harry Gant
6. 7-Alan Kulwicki
7. 1-Terry Labonte
8. 42-Kyle Petty
9. 5-Ricky Rudd
10. 75-Rick Wilson

Failed to qualify: 50-Rich Vogler, 77-Ken Ragan, 34-Charlie Glotzbach

• Bill Elliott led the 102 laps and had the car to beat, but blew the engine on lap 185.

Pepsi 400[]

The Pepsi 400 was held at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 1990. Greg Sacks won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 7-Alan Kulwicki
3. 25-Ken Schrader
4. 1-Terry Labonte
5. 94-Sterling Marlin
6. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr.
7. 33-Harry Gant
8. 21-Dale Jarrett
9. 20-Rob Moroso
10. 42-Kyle Petty -1

Failed to qualify: 70-J. D. McDuffie*, 72-Tracy Leslie, 80-Jimmy Horton*

• During practice Darrell Waltrip suffered serious injuries (multiple leg fractures, a broken arm, 9 broken ribs, a concussion) in a multi-car practice crash that was caused by a broken oil line in A. J. Foyt's No. 14 Oldsmobile car that Dale Earnhardt happened to be driving at the time (Foyt had Indycar commitments, and Earnhardt had promised to shake the car down in final practice). During the wreck, Waltrip's No. 17 Chevrolet spun out and stopped in the middle of the track with its left side facing traffic. Before he could get the car restarted, Waltrip was T-Boned by the No. 71 of Dave Marcis in the driver's door. Waltrip's injuries forced him to miss 6 races. Marcis suffered a broken leg and had to borrow J. D. McDuffie's Pontiac to start the race. McDuffie relieved him after the pace lap.^[3]
• Jimmy Horton, who had failed to qualify for the race, was tapped to fill in for Waltrip at Daytona and was Waltrip's relief driver 2 weeks later at Pocono.
• As a result of Waltrip's crash, NASCAR thoroughly inspected Waltrip's car. Waltrip describes in his book, DW: A Lifetime Going Around in Circles, that the engine had a "floating block in the manifold that sat under the restrictor plate." This was not necessarily illegal, but it was not approved by NASCAR. NASCAR forced Hendrick Motorsports (including the pole sitting No. 18 Chevrolet of Greg Sacks) and other teams to weld the blocks into proper place. This, along with his team's forgetting to put the car's spoiler back into its proper position after qualifying, resulted in the pole sitting car of Sacks essentially being a sitting duck, which more or less caused The Big One at the end of the 1st lap, which involved 24 cars and took 11 cars immediately out of the race.
• Dale Earnhardt dominated the race and led 127 laps on his first Winston Cup points race win at Daytona
• Shortly after the race, Earnhardt, Terry Labonte, Mark Martin, and Rusty Wallace all departed for Cleveland to compete in an IROC race that same afternoon.
• This race would mark Rob Moroso's only Top 10 finish in a points-paying race, as he was the last car on the lead lap in 9th place.

AC Spark Plug 500[]

The AC Spark Plug 500 was held July 22 at Pocono Raceway. Mark Martin qualified on the top spot.

Top Ten Results

1. 11-Geoff Bodine
2. 9-Bill Elliott
3. 27-Rusty Wallace
4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
5. 28-Davey Allison
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 5-Ricky Rudd
8. 98-Butch Miller
9. 43-Richard Petty
10. 1-Terry Labonte

Did not start: 50-Rich Vogler (credited with 40th place finish^[4])

Failed to qualify: 2-Troy Beebe, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 85-Bobby Gerhart

• Rich Vogler was set to make his Winston Cup debut at this event as he had qualified 32nd for this race, but on the night before, he was killed in a sprint car race at Salem Speedway.
• Junior Johnson's team gambled on the amount of fuel in Geoff Bodine's tank and elected not to make a pit stop as Bodine nearly coasted to victory over Bill Elliott at Pocono. Bodine led nine times for 119 of the 200 laps. Elliott had pitted on lap 157 and needed no fuel for the finish while other contenders made fuel stops beginning with 11 laps left. After a four-lap caution, the race was restarted on the final lap and Bodine finished with a half-gallon to spare. Martin won the pole. One car that qualified for this race did not roll off the grid.
• Darrell Waltrip actually started the race in the No. 17, and pulled in to put Jimmy Horton in the car at the end of the 1st lap. NASCAR official Dick Beaty stated the day before that he wanted Darrell to stay at the back of the field, do not pass anybody, and pull in at the end of the 1st lap for the driver change. Waltrip passed 3 or 4 cars at the start, then caught a caution that allowed him to do the driver change under yellow. Beaty then penalized the No. 17 1 lap for disobeying the earlier command (as stated in Waltrip's book, DW: A Lifetime Going Around in Circles).

Diehard 500[]

The Diehard 500 was held July 29, 1990, at Talladega Superspeedway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 9-Bill Elliott
3. 94-Sterling Marlin
4. 7-Alan Kulwicki
5. 5-Ricky Rudd
6. 4-Ernie Irvan
7. 10-Derrike Cope
8. 42-Kyle Petty
9. 6-Mark Martin
10. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr. -1

Failed to qualify: 0-Delma Cowart, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 77-Ken Ragan

• Dale Earnhardt made it three of four major superspeedway titles so far in the 1990 season by winning the pole, leading a record-breaking 134 laps and winning the race. Earnhardt got the win by dropping behind another driver to draft and conserve fuel on lap 151, then passing him on turn four with 20 laps left, and leading the rest of the way to the checkered flag. As of 2017, this marks the only time in NASCAR history that a driver won 3 straight restrictor plate races.
• Amateur driver Stanley Smith was involved in a pit road mishap when he lost control of his car and hit several crew members for Tracy Leslie's team. No one was seriously injured.
• As the leaders came off turn 4 on the last lap, the caution was waved along with the checkered flag. No reason for the caution was ever given by the CBS announcers after the race, although photographs have shown that the No. 57 of Jimmy Spencer actually rolled over on the last lap of the race and managed to still finish 24th, 2 laps down.

Budweiser at The Glen[]

The Budweiser at The Glen was held at Watkins Glen International on August 12, 1990. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 5-Ricky Rudd
2. 11-Geoff Bodine
3. 26-Brett Bodine
4. 30-Michael Waltrip
5. 6-Mark Martin
6. 15-Morgan Shepherd
7. 3-Dale Earnhardt
8. 40-Tommy Kendall
9. 25-Ken Schrader
10. 0-Irv Hoerr

Failed to qualify: 93-Troy Beebe

• After finishing the race in 11th, the No. 7 of Alan Kulwicki actually caught fire, forcing Alan to bail out just past the start-finish line.
• Originally, Rick Hendrick was scheduled to race the event - however, sports car racer Sarel van der Merwe substituted for Darrell Waltrip in the No. 17. He finished in 24th place after crashing late in the race. At the time, van der Merwe was racing for Rick Hendrick's Camel GT team in IMSA.
• First career start for Rick Ware who later became a NASCAR Cup Series team owner.

Champion Spark Plug 400[]

The Champion Spark Plug 400 was held on August 19, 1990, at Michigan International Speedway. The No. 7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 17-Greg Sacks
3. 27-Rusty Wallace
4. 9-Bill Elliott
5. 5-Ricky Rudd
6. 28-Davey Allison
7. 11-Geoff Bodine
8. 3-Dale Earnhardt
9. 15-Morgan Shepherd
10. 21-Dale Jarrett

Failed to qualify: 34-Charlie Glotzbach, 36-H. B. Bailey, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 72-Tracy Leslie

• Mark Martin started on the outside of the front row, hovered in the top five the first half of the race, then demonstrated his dominance by leading 70 of the last 100 laps to win at Michigan. Martin and Rusty Wallace linked up for a side-by-side duel on lap 124 with Martin emerging ahead never to be challenged again. He regained the lead on lap 162 after a flurry of green-flag pit stops and led the rest of the 200 laps.

Busch 500[]

The Busch 500 was held August 25, 1990, at Bristol International Raceway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 4-Ernie Irvan
2. 27-Rusty Wallace
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 1-Terry Labonte
5. 94-Sterling Marlin
6. 7-Alan Kulwicki
7. 21-Dale Jarrett -1
8. 3-Dale Earnhardt -1
9. 30-Michael Waltrip -1
10. 5-Ricky Rudd -1

Failed to qualify: 19-Chad Little, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 74-Mike Potter

• Ernie Irvan and the Morgan-McClure Motorsports team captured their first ever Winston Cup victory at Bristol. The last 50 laps of the 500-lap race was a shootout between Irvan and Rusty Wallace. Irvan never relinquished the lead to Wallace, which he gained on lap 411. Irvan finished one car length ahead of Wallace.

Heinz Southern 500[]

The Heinz Southern 500 was held on September 2, 1990, at Darlington Raceway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 4-Ernie Irvan
3. 7-Alan Kulwicki
4. 9-Bill Elliott
5. 33-Harry Gant
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 5-Ricky Rudd
8. 11-Geoff Bodine
9. 10-Derrike Cope -1
10. 26-Brett Bodine -1

Failed to qualify: 70-J. D. McDuffie

• The traditional Labor Day event saw Dale Earnhardt capture the Richard Childress Racing's fourth pole of the season before winning the race. Even with an ill-handling racecar, Earnhardt recovered, made up a lost lap and then having to battle a vibrating tire to outrun Ernie Irvan to the checkered flag. With the $200,000 payday ($100,000 of this was a bonus from Winston for winning 2 out of 4 crown jewel races in a season), Dale became the first race car driver in history to pass the $11,000,000 mark in career winnings.
• This was the final time Dale Earnhardt won from the pole.
• During the race, Morgan Shepherd and Ken Schrader made contact, sending Schrader into the wall.^{[citation needed]} An angry Schrader returned to the race and rammed Shepherd into the wall, knocking both drivers out of the race.

Miller Genuine Draft 400[]

The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held September 9, 1990, at Richmond International Raceway. Ernie Irvan won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 17-Darrell Waltrip*
4. 9-Bill Elliott
5. 27-Rusty Wallace
6. 42-Kyle Petty
7. 66-Dick Trickle
8. 5-Ricky Rudd -1
9. 11-Geoff Bodine -1
10. 25-Ken Schrader -1

Failed to qualify: 70-J. D. McDuffie, 47-Jack Pennington, 13-Kerry Teague

• This would be the final day race at Richmond that would be run during the fall.
• Dale Earnhardt won his fifth of the last nine races, gambling on his fuel mileage to lead the last 25 laps of the race. As the car coasted toward victory lane, it ran out of gas. "We figured our only chance was to win it on gas mileage and we did," said Dale. "I nursed it as much as I could for the last twenty laps and it was sputtering when I took the checkered flag. Luckily we made the right decision."
• This was Darrell Waltrip's first full race back from his injuries suffered at Daytona in July.

Peak AntiFreeze 500[]

The Peak AntiFreeze 500 was held at Dover Downs International Speedway on September 16, 1990. Bill Elliott won the pole

Top Ten Results

1. 9-Bill Elliott
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 33-Harry Gant -1
5. 30-Michael Waltrip -1
6. 21-Dale Jarrett -1
7. 27-Rusty Wallace -1
8. 42-Kyle Petty -1
9. 28-Davey Allison -1
10. 25-Ken Schrader -2

Failed to qualify: 13-Kerry Teague

• Elliott dominated the race leading 364 laps of the 500 lap race.

Goody's 500[]

The Goody's 500 was held at Martinsville Speedway on September 23, 1990. Mark Martin won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 11-Geoff Bodine
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 26-Brett Bodine
5. 33-Harry Gant
6. 7-Alan Kulwicki
7. 28-Davey Allison
8. 9-Bill Elliott
9. 1-Terry Labonte -2
10. 21-Dale Jarrett -3

Failed to qualify: 2–Ron Esau, 70–J. D. McDuffie

• Geoff Bodine won and swept on Martinsville in 1990.

Tyson Holly Farms 400[]

The Tyson Holly Farms 400 was held September 30, 1990, at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Kyle Petty won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 26-Brett Bodine
4. 9-Bill Elliott
5. 25-Ken Schrader
6. 4-Ernie Irvan
7. 17-Darrell Waltrip
8. 27-Rusty Wallace
9. 7-Alan Kulwicki
10. 42-Kyle Petty -1

Failed to qualify: 2-Ron Esau, 40-Tommy Kendall, 41-Larry Pearson, 47-Jack Pennington, 70-J. D. McDuffie

• Dale Earnhardt dominated, leading 291 of 400 laps, but Mark Martin snatched the lead on lap 363, and held onto it until the finish.
• With the win, Martin retained his 16-point advantage in the Winston Cup Championship race. Two pit stops to remove spring rubber left him in 12th place on lap 196, but by lap 288 he was in second place. On lap 263, Martin was the only driver to pass Earnhardt under green.
• The race was marked by tragedy, as rookie driver Rob Moroso, who finished in 21st place in this race, was killed in a highway accident hours after this race had concluded. Police reports said that Moroso was above the legal alcohol limit when he crashed.

Mello Yello 500[]

The Mello Yello 500 was held on October 7, 1990, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Brett Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 28-Davey Allison
2. 15-Morgan Shepherd
3. 30-Michael Waltrip
4. 42-Kyle Petty
5. 7-Alan Kulwicki
6. 5-Ricky Rudd
7. 10-Derrike Cope
8. 26-Brett Bodine
9. 17-Darrell Waltrip
10. 21-Dale Jarrett -1

Failed to qualify: 13-Mike Skinner, 65-Dave Mader III, 89-Rodney Combs, 64-Gary Wright, 40-Tommy Kendall, 13-Kerry Teague, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 74-Mike Potter, 93-Troy Beebe, 72-Tracy Leslie, 53-Jerry O'Neil, 36-H. B. Bailey, 54-Bob Schacht, 0-Delma Cowart, 04-, 35-Bill Venturini.

• It seemed that Bill Elliott had the dominant car but blew the engine on lap 331 of 334 after leading 243 laps regulating him to a 15th place finish.
• During a caution, Dale Earnhardt, who was not running well, lost all four tires at the end of pit road after a pit stop (communication mix-up, lug nuts). His crew ran down pit lane with jacks and got him back on all fours but he lost a few laps. Mark Martin had a chance to capitalize on the misfortune but ended up losing a cylinder and finished 14th, 3 laps down.

AC Delco 500[]

The AC Delco 500 was held October 21, 1990, at North Carolina Speedway. Ken Schrader won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 7-Alan Kulwicki
2. 9-Bill Elliott
3. 33-Harry Gant
4. 11-Geoff Bodine
5. 25-Ken Schrader
6. 94-Sterling Marlin -1
7. 5-Ricky Rudd -1
8. 17-Darrell Waltrip -1
9. 4-Ernie Irvan -2
10. 3-Dale Earnhardt -2

Failed to qualify: 0-Delma Cowart, 48-James Hylton, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 82-Mark Stahl

• Alan Kulwicki led six times for 155 of 492 laps, including the last 55 after taking the lead from Bill Elliott, to post his first win since November 1988 at Phoenix International Raceway. The race ended under caution.
• With both finishing three laps back, the Richard Childress Racing team gained five points on Mark Martin in the Winston Cup Championship race, though Martin still held a 45-point lead with two races remaining.
• During the last caution, Ken Schrader pitted for 4 tires on the final lap, dropping him from 4th to 5th place.

Checker 500[]

The Checker 500 was held November 4, 1990, at Phoenix International Raceway. Rusty Wallace won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 25-Ken Schrader
3. 15-Morgan Shepherd
4. 17-Darrell Waltrip
5. 9-Bill Elliott
6. 7-Alan Kulwicki
7. 98-Rick Mast
8. 11-Geoff Bodine
9. 4-Ernie Irvan
10. 6-Mark Martin

Failed to qualify: 04-Hershel McGriff, 34-, 24-Butch Gilliland, 61-, 44-Jack Sellers, 22-

• Dale Earnhardt won his first (and only) race at Phoenix in a dominant way leading the most laps (262 laps of 312). He also took the points lead by 6 points over Mark Martin heading into the season finale at Atlanta.
• This was the first season since 1987 where Dale Earnhardt won the most races in a season. 1990 was also the final season in his career that he won the most races in a season.

Atlanta Journal 500[]

The final race of the season was held on November 18, 1990, at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Rusty Wallace won the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 15-Morgan Shepherd
2. 11-Geoff Bodine
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 21-Dale Jarrett
5. 17-Darrell Waltrip
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 4-Ernie Irvan
8. 7-Alan Kulwicki
9. 27-Rusty Wallace
10. 18-Greg Sacks -1

Failed to qualify: 82-Mark Stahl

• Tragedy struck during the race when Ricky Rudd driving the Levi Garrett No. 5 locked his brakes up, lost control of the car on pit road, and struck and killed Mike Ritch, a pit crew member on Bill Elliott's team.
• The fatal accident on pit road was the trigger for a series of new pit road procedures in the Winston Cup Series. At this time, pit road had no speed limit, which meant that cars would blast down pit road in order to lose a least amount of time. Drivers were essentially waved into their pit stall by a sign board man who would stand out in pit lane holding up their team's pit board. (Examples of this can be seen in the film Days of Thunder.) In addition, pit road was not closed when the caution was first displayed, which would result in cars rushing into the pits before the pace car picked up the field. This was first curtailed by the banning of tire changes under caution, an extremely unpopular move (all other services were still allowed though). The pit road closing procedures (that continue today in a modified form) also began with this pit procedure. New rules for pit crews that required crews to stay on the other side of the pit wall from the cars until their car was one stall away were instituted.
• Pit board men were no longer allowed to stand out in the middle of the pit lane. Lollipops, similar to what is used in most motorsport, were dangled out in the pit stall from the other side of the pit wall. In addition, each car was issued either a blue (with a white number 1 on it) or orange sticker (with a white number 2 on it). The odd numbered cars got the blue stickers while the even numbered cars got the orange stickers. Once the green flag came back out, the blue flag was put out at the end of the second lap after the restart, which allowed only the odd-numbered cars to pit for tires. At the end of the third lap after the restart, an orange flag was displayed, allowing only even-numbered cars to pit for tires. This procedure only lasted a few races before it was dumped in favor of pit road speed limits.
• This was the final time Darrell Waltrip drove for Hendrick Motorsports, as he left following this race to form his own team with sponsorship from Western Auto for 1991. Also, Darrell would not drive for another car owner until 1998 when he filled in for an injured Steve Park at Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

Final Points Standings[]

1. Dale Earnhardt – 4430
2. Mark Martin – 4404
3. Geoff Bodine – 4017
4. Bill Elliott – 3999
5. Morgan Shepherd – 3689
6. Rusty Wallace – 3676
7. Ricky Rudd – 3601
8. Alan Kulwicki – 3599
9. Ernie Irvan – 3593
10. Ken Schrader – 3572
11. Kyle Petty – 3501
12. Brett Bodine – 3440
13. Davey Allison – 3423
14. Sterling Marlin – 3387
15. Terry Labonte  – 3371
16. Michael Waltrip – 3251
17. Harry Gant – 3182
18. Derrike Cope – 3140
19. Bobby Hillin Jr. – 3048
20. Darrell Waltrip – 3013
21. Dave Marcis – 2944
22. Dick Trickle – 2863
23. Rick Wilson – 2666
24. Jimmy Spencer – 2579
25. Dale Jarrett – 2558
26. Richard Petty – 2556
27. Butch Miller – 2377
28. Hut Stricklin – 2316
29. Jimmy Means – 2271
30. Rob Moroso – 2184
31. Rick Mast – 1719
32. Greg Sacks – 1663
33. Chad Little – 1632
34. Jack Pennington – 1278
35. Larry Pearson – 822
36. Jimmy Horton – 756
37. Mickey Gibbs – 755
38. Mike Alexander – 682
39. Phil Parsons – 632
40. J. D. McDuffie – 557
41. Buddy Baker – 498
42. Lake Speed – 479
43. Neil Bonnett – 455
44. Mark Stahl – 371
45. Bill Venturini – 349
46. Rodney Combs  – 323
47. Irv Hoerr – 281
48. Tommy Kendall – 281
49. Ted Musgrave – 280
50. Chuck Bown – 276

Winston Cup Standings[]

(key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by final practice results or 1989 Owner's points. * – Most laps led.

Pos.	#	Driver	Make																														Pts
3	11	Geoff Bodine	Ford	9	33	2	7	4*	24	8	1*	24	10	15	4	3	3	25	1*	17	2	7	11	8	9	36	1	16	36	4	8	2	4017
12	26	Brett Bodine	Buick	17	8	25	11	8	22	1*	12	12	29	18	41	4	14	22	16	33	3	17	25	10	31	20	4	3	8	17	15	18	3440
Pos.	#	Driver	Make																														Pts

Rookie of the Year[]

The 1990 season was a slim season for Rookie of the Year contenders. 1989 Busch Series champion Rob Moroso had a top-ten finish and qualified for every race, but he was killed in a car crash before the end of the year and was awarded the top rookie award posthumously. His top runner-up was Jack Pennington, a late-model dirt racing champion, who had 14 starts and no top-tens in an unsponsored car. The only other declarees were Jerry O'Neil and Jeff Purvis, who did not run enough races to be completely eligible for the honor.

See also[]

• 1990 NASCAR Busch Series

References[]

• Racing Reference
• Race Summaries are from Maxx Trading Card's 1990 NASCAR set.
• Non-qualifiers taken from contemporary reports in Grand National Scene magazine.