The 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 38th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 15th modern-era Cup series season. The season began on February 16 and ended November 16. Dale Earnhardt of RCR Enterprises won his second championship this year.
1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series drivers
Complete schedule ManufacturerTeamDriverCrew ChiefBuick King Racing 26 Joe Ruttman Larry McReynolds Stavola Brothers Racing 22 Bobby Allison Bobby HudsonChevroletHylton Motorsports 48 Ron Esau Eddie Bierschwale Wayne Slark James Hylton Ronnie Thomas Morgan Shepherd Jerry Cranmer Johnny Coy Jr. Trevor Boys Ken Ragan Hendrick Motorsports 5 Geoff Bodine Gary Nelson 25 Tim Richmond Harry Hyde Junior Johnson & Associates 11 Darrell Waltrip Jeff Hammond12 Neil Bonnett Tim BrewerDavey Allison Mach 1 Racing 33 Harry Gant Travis Carter Marcis Auto Racing 71 Dave Marcis Richard Childress Racing 3 Dale Earnhardt Kirk ShelmerdineFord Arrington Racing 67 Buddy Arrington Joey Arrington Rick Baldwin Bud Moore Engineering 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Donlavey Racing 90 Ken Schrader Junie DonlaveyMelling Racing 9 Bill Elliott Ernie ElliottWood Brothers Racing 7 Kyle Petty Eddie WoodOldsmobile Hagan Racing 44 Terry Labonte Steve HmielPontiac Blue Max Racing 27 Rusty Wallace Barry Dodson Means Racing 52 Jimmy Means Petty Enterprises 43 Richard Petty Dale Inman RahMoc Enterprises 75 Lake Speed Robin Pemberton Jody Ridley Morgan Shepherd Jim Sauter Chevrolet Buick Stavola Brothers Racing 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Ron Puryear Chevrolet Oldsmobile Hamby Motorsports17Doug Heveron Phil Parsons Pancho Carter Jim Hull Eddie Bierschwale Pontiac Buick Bahari Racing 23 Michael Waltrip (R)
Limited schedule ManufacturerTeamDriverCrew ChiefRound(s)ChevroletEllington Racing1Sterling MarlinFreelander Motorsports18Tommy EllisBuddy ParrottJackson Brothers Motorsports55Benny ParsonsCliff Champion66Phil ParsonsMarv ActonFord Bill Terry 32 Alan Kulwicki (R) Mike Beat 35 AK Racing Circle Bar Racing 81 Chet Fillip (R) Langley Racing64Pancho CarterElmo LangleyDoug Heveron Morgan ShepherdConnie SaylorRick BaldwinJimmy HensleyTommy GaleEddie BierschwaleBryan BakerMike PotterRick McCray Ranier-Lundy Racing 28 Cale Yarborough Joey Knuckles OldsmobileBaker-Schiff Racing88Buddy BakerDoug RichertAl Unser Pontiac Curb Racing 98 Ron Bouchard Mike Beam Dale Jarrett McDuffie Racing 70 J. D. McDuffie Jeff McDuffie Winkle Motorsports Chevrolet Buick Race Hill Farm Team 47 Morgan Shepherd Jake ElderChevrolet Buick Sadler Brothers Racing 95 Davey Allison Tom PistoneOldsmobile Chevrolet Morgan-McClure Motorsports4Rick WilsonTony GloverLake Speed
Schedule No. Race title Track Date Busch ClashDaytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachFebruary 97-Eleven Twin 125'sFebruary 131Daytona 500February 162Miller High Life 400Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, RichmondFebruary 233Goodwrench 500North Carolina Motor Speedway, RockinghamMarch 24Motorcraft 500Atlanta International Raceway, HamptonMarch 165Valleydale 500Bristol International Raceway, BristolApril 66TranSouth 500Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonApril 137First Union 400North Wilkesboro Speedway, North WilkesboroApril 208Sovran Bank 500Martinsville Speedway, RidgewayApril 279Winston 500Alabama International Motor Speedway, TalladegaMay 4Atlanta InvitationalAtlanta International Raceway, HamptonMay 11The Winston10Budweiser 500Dover Downs International Speedway, DoverMay 1811Coca-Cola 600Charlotte Motor Speedway, ConcordMay 2512Budweiser 400Riverside International Raceway, RiversideJune 113Miller High Life 500Pocono International Raceway, Long PondJune 814Miller American 400Michigan International Speedway, BrooklynJune 1515Firecracker 400Daytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachJuly 416Summer 500Pocono International Raceway, Long PondJuly 2017Talladega 500Alabama International Motor Speedway, TalladegaJuly 2718Budweiser at The GlenWatkins Glen International, Watkins GlenAugust 1019Champion Spark Plug 400Michigan International Speedway, BrooklynAugust 1720Busch 500Bristol International Raceway, BristolAugust 2321Southern 500Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonAugust 3122Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, RichmondSeptember 723Delaware 500Dover Downs International Speedway, DoverSeptember 1424Goody's 500Martinsville Speedway, RidgewaySeptember 2125Holly Farms 400North Wilkesboro Speedway, North WilkesboroSeptember 2826Oakwood Homes 500Charlotte Motor Speedway, ConcordOctober 527Nationwise 500North Carolina Motor Speedway, RockinghamOctober 1928Atlanta Journal 500Atlanta International Raceway, HamptonNovember 229Winston Western 500Riverside International Raceway, RiversideNovember 16
Races No.RacePole positionMost laps ledWinning driverBusch ClashHarry GantDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet7-Eleven 125 #1Bill ElliottUnknownBill ElliottFord7-Eleven 125 #2Geoff BodineDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet1Daytona 500Bill ElliottGeoff BodineGeoff BodineChevrolet2Miller High Life 400Geoff BodineDale EarnhardtKyle PettyFord3Goodwrench 500Terry LabonteTerry LabonteTerry LabonteOldsmobile4Motorcraft 500Dale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtMorgan ShepherdBuick5Valleydale 500Geoff BodineRusty WallaceRusty WallacePontiac6TranSouth 500Geoff BodineDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet7First Union 400Geoff BodineDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet8Sovran Bank 500Tim RichmondRicky RuddRicky RuddFord9Winston 500Bill ElliottBill ElliottBobby AllisonBuickAtlanta InvitationalKyle PettyTim RichmondBenny ParsonsOldsmobileThe WinstonDarrell WaltripBill ElliottBill ElliottFord10Budweiser 500Ricky RuddHarry GantGeoff BodineChevrolet11Coca-Cola 600Geoff BodineCale Yarborough Bill ElliottDale EarnhardtChevrolet12Budweiser 400Darrell WaltripTim RichmondDarrell WaltripChevrolet13Miller High Life 500Geoff BodineTim RichmondTim RichmondChevrolet14Miller American 400Tim RichmondHarry GantBill ElliottFord15Firecracker 400Cale YarboroughDale EarnhardtTim RichmondChevrolet16Summer 500Harry GantGeoff BodineTim RichmondChevrolet17Talladega 500Bill ElliottDale EarnhardtBobby Hillin Jr.Buick18Budweiser at The GlenTim RichmondGeoff BodineTim RIchmondChevrolet19Champion Spark Plug 400Benny ParsonsBill ElliottBill ElliottFord20Busch 500Geoff BodineDarrell WaltripDarrell WaltripChevrolet21Southern 500Tim RichmondTim RichmondTim RichmondChevrolet22Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400Harry GantRicky RuddTim RichmondChevrolet23Delaware 500Geoff BodineRicky RuddRicky RuddFord24Goody's 500Geoff BodineGeoff BodineRusty WallacePontiac25Holly Farms 400Tim RichmondGeoff BodineDarrell WaltripChevrolet26Oakwood Homes 500Tim RichmondTim RichmondDale EarnhardtChevrolet27Nationwise 500Tim RichmondMorgan ShepherdNeil BonnettChevrolet28Atlanta Journal 500Bill ElliottDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet29Winston Western 500Tim RichmondGeoff BodineTim RichmondChevrolet
Busch Clash
The 8th annual Busch Clash was held on February 9 at Daytona International Speedway. Harry Gant drew for the pole. Only eight drivers ran.
Full Results FinishGridCarno.DriverCar MakeLapsStatusLapsLed 1 4 3 Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet Monte Carlo 20 0:15:19 15 2 6 9 Bill Elliott Ford Thunderbird 20 -2 car lengths 3 2 12 Neil Bonnett Chevrolet Monte Carlo 20 Flagged 5 4 7 5 Geoff Bodine Chevrolet Monte Carlo 20 Flagged 5 8 44 Terry Labonte Oldsmobile Delta 88 20 Flagged 6 3 27 Rusty Wallace Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2 20 Flagged 7 1 33 Harry Gant Chevrolet Monte Carlo 20 Flagged 8 5 11 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet Monte Carlo 20 Flagged
Average speed: 195.865 mph
Caution flags(caution flag laps do not count in this race)FromLapToLapReason 6 6 #5 Bodine spin, turn 4
Lap Leader BreakdownFromLapToLapTotalLapsDriver 1 5 5 Neil Bonnett 6 20 15 Dale Earnhardt
7-Eleven Twin 125's
The 7-Eleven Twin 125's, a pair of qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held February 13 at Daytona International Speedway. Bill Elliott and Geoff Bodine won the poles for both races, respectively.
Race One Top Ten Results
9-Bill Elliott 22-Bobby Allison 44-Terry Labonte 7-Kyle Petty 1-Sterling Marlin 43-Richard Petty 12-Neil Bonnett 98-Ron Bouchard 4-Rick Wilson 66-Phil Parsons
Race Two Top Ten Results
3-Dale Earnhardt 5-Geoff Bodine 11-Darrell Waltrip 47-Morgan Shepherd 27-Rusty Wallace 71-Dave Marcis 28-Cale Yarborough 33-Harry Gant 88-Buddy Baker 6-Trevor Boys
Daytona 500
Top Ten Results 5-Geoff Bodine 44-Terry Labonte 11-Darrell Waltrip 8-Bobby Hillin Jr. 55-Benny Parsons -1 lap 98-Ron Bouchard -1 lap 4-Rick Wilson -1 lap 27-Rusty Wallace -1 lap 1-Sterling Marlin -2 laps 75-Lake Speed -2 laps
In what would be the first of a string of Daytona 500 heartbreakers for Dale Earnhardt; Earnhardt ran out of fuel with three laps to go and coasted into pit road for gas, only to blow his engine when restarting it; resulting in a 14th place finish.
Miller High Life 400
The Miller High Life 400 was held February 23 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
7-Kyle Petty* 26-Joe Ruttman 3-Dale Earnhardt 22-Bobby Allison -1 lap 11-Darrell Waltrip -2 laps 8-Bobby Hillin Jr. -2 laps 12-Neil Bonnett -2 laps 5-Geoff Bodine -3 laps 71-Dave Marcis -3 laps 27-Rusty Wallace -5 laps
This was Kyle Petty's first career Winston Cup Series victory. The race is widely considered one of the most controversial finishes in NASCAR history. Darrell Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt battled for the better part of the race. In the final five laps, Waltrip rode on the back bumper of Earnhardt, bumping and rubbing the whole way. With three laps to go, Waltrip finally got a nose underneath Earnhardt exiting turn two. But Waltrip did not fully clear Earnhardt down the backstretch. Going into turn 3, Earnhardt spun Waltrip out, but lost control himself and both cars crashed hard into outside guardrail. The wreck collected Joe Ruttman (3rd place) and Geoff Bodine (4th place), allowing 5th place Kyle Petty to slip by and take his first-career Cup victory in improbable fashion. The incident drew a fine for Earnhardt, raised tempers throughout the garage area, and earned Earnhardt the "Ironhead" nickname. The incident was dramatized in the movie 3. With his victory, Kyle Petty became NASCAR's first third generation winner. In the 1990 film Days of Thunder, a clip of the incident between Earnhardt and Waltrip appears on the TV set that Cole Trickle and Harry Hogge are watching in the scene where they are riding in a transporter. Terry Labonte, thinking his engine had failed, pulled his #44 Piedmont Airlines Oldsmobile behind the wall. However, a crew member noticed some metal interfering with the ignition, and once the obstruction was cleared, the engine refired, allowing Labonte to return to the race and finish in 15th place. Early in the race, Earnhardt could be seen steering his car while simultaneously wiping dirt off his windshield.
Goodwrench 500
The Goodwrench 500 was held March 2 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Terry Labonte won the pole.
Top Ten Results
44-Terry Labonte 33-Harry Gant 43-Richard Petty 47-Morgan Shepherd -1 lap 11-Darrell Waltrip -1 lap 28-Cale Yarborough -2 laps 9-Bill Elliott -2 laps 3-Dale Earnhardt -2 laps 12-Neil Bonnett -2 laps 75-Lake Speed -3 laps
The win proved to be Labonte's last with Billy Hagan. This was the only points paying win for the Oldsmobile Delta 88 in the Winston Cup Series.
Motorcraft 500
The Motorcraft 500 was held March 16 at Atlanta International Raceway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.
Top Ten Results
47-Morgan Shepherd 3-Dale Earnhardt 44-Terry Labonte 11-Darrell Waltrip 9-Bill Elliott 55-Benny Parsons 25-Tim Richmond 27-Rusty Wallace -1 lap 22-Bobby Allison -1 lap 5-Geoff Bodine -1 lap
This was Morgan Shepherd's 1st victory since 1981.
Valleydale 500
The Valleydale 500 was held April 6 at Bristol International Raceway. The No. 5 of Geoff Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
27-Rusty Wallace* 15-Ricky Rudd 11-Darrell Waltrip 33-Harry Gant -1 lap