The 1986 Summer 500 was the 16th stock car race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 14th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 20, 1986, before an audience of 60,000 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, at Pocono Raceway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) triangular permanent course. The race was shortened from its scheduled 200 laps to 150 laps due to a combination of rain, darkness, and fog.[1]

1986 Summer 500
Race details
Race 16 of 29 in the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1986 Summer 500 program cover, featuring Darrell Waltrip.
The 1986 Summer 500 program cover, featuring Darrell Waltrip.
Date July 20, 1986
Official name 14th Annual Summer 500
Location Long Pond, Pennsylvania, Pocono Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.0 km)
Distance 150 laps, 375 mi (603.504 km)
Scheduled Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Average speed 124.218 miles per hour (199.909 km/h)
Attendance 60,000
Pole position
Driver Mach 1 Racing
Time 58.293
Most laps led
Driver Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 52
Winner
No. 25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network SETN
Announcers Mike Joy, Jerry Punch
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

In the final laps of the race, Hendrick Motorsports teammates Tim Richmond and Geoff Bodine engaged in a dogfight for the lead. As the two rubbed fenders throughout driving the last two turns, Bud Moore Engineering's Ricky Rudd was able to charge his way into the fray, and by the time all three drivers got out of the last turn, Rudd and Richmond were side-by-side for the lead. At the time, Richmond bested out Rudd by a foot, in the process managing to come back from a lap down to claim the victory. The victory was Richmond's eighth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Bodine finished third.[2][3]

Background

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

The race was held at Pocono International Raceway, which is a three-turn superspeedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The track hosts two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, as well as one Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series event. Until 2019, the track also hosted an IndyCar Series race.

Pocono International Raceway is one of a very few NASCAR tracks not owned by either Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or International Speedway Corporation. It is operated by the Igdalsky siblings Brandon, Nicholas, and sister Ashley, and cousins Joseph IV and Chase Mattioli, all of whom are third-generation members of the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Joseph II and Rose Mattioli.

Outside of the NASCAR races, the track is used throughout the year by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and motorcycle clubs as well as racing schools and an IndyCar race. The triangular oval also has three separate infield sections of racetrack – North Course, East Course and South Course. Each of these infield sections use a separate portion of the tri-oval to complete the track. During regular non-race weekends, multiple clubs can use the track by running on different infield sections. Also some of the infield sections can be run in either direction, or multiple infield sections can be put together – such as running the North Course and the South Course and using the tri-oval to connect the two.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Wrangler
4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Kodak
5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 D. K. Ulrich U.S. Racing Chevrolet U.S. Racing
7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 7-Eleven
8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Chevrolet Miller American
9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford Coors
11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
12 Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft Quality Parts
17 Doug Heveron Hamby Racing Chevrolet Hamby Racing
18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet Freedlander Financial
22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller American
23 Michael Waltrip (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac Hawaiian Punch
25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Folgers
26 Joe Ruttman King Racing Buick Quaker State
27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac Alugard
28 Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford Hardee's
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
34 Jocko Maggiacomo Linro Motorsports Oldsmobile WMGC-TV
35 Alan Kulwicki (R) AK Racing Ford Quincy's Steakhouse
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Terry Labonte Hagan Enterprises Oldsmobile Piedmont Airlines
47 Morgan Shepherd Race Hill Farm Team Chevrolet Race Hill Farm Team
48 Jerry Cranmer Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet Hylton Motorsports
49 Ferdin Wallace Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet Hylton Motorsports
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Jimmy Means Racing
55 Benny Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Copenhagen
60 Cliff Hucul Eller Racing Pontiac Eller Racing
64 Eddie Bierschwale Langley Racing Ford Sunny King Ford
66 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal
67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford Pannill Sweatshirts
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Pontiac Helen Rae Special
74 Jack Ely Wawak Racing Chevrolet Wawak Racing
75 Jim Sauter RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Nationwise Automotive
80 Gary Fedewa Burke Racing Chevrolet Micromatic Refrigeration Sales
81 Chet Fillip (R) Fillip Racing Ford Circle Bar Truck Corral
85 Bobby Gerhart Bobby Gerhart Racing Chevrolet Bobby Gerhart Racing
88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Crisco
90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford Red Baron Frozen Pizza

Qualifying

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Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was scheduled to be held on Friday, March 14, at 10:00 AM EST. Originally, the first 20 positions were going to be determined by first round qualifying, with positions 21-40 meant to be determined later in the day at 3:00 PM EST.[4] However, due to rain, the first round was cancelled. As a result, qualifying was both delayed for almost four hours and condensed into one round for all starting grid spots in the race. 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; up to two were given.[5]

Harry Gant, driving for Mach 1 Racing, won the pole, setting a time of 58.293 and an average speed of 154.392 miles per hour (248.470 km/h).[6]

Ferdin Wallace was the only driver that failed to qualify.[5]

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 58.293 154.392
2 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 58.307 154.355
3 44 Terry Labonte Hagan Enterprises Oldsmobile 58.565 153.675
4 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 58.574 153.652
5 25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 58.748 153.197
6 11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 58.815 153.022
7 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 58.931 152.721
8 47 Morgan Shepherd Race Hill Farm Team Buick 58.936 152.708
9 55 Benny Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 59.002 152.537
10 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 59.031 152.462
11 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 59.109 152.261
12 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 59.212 151.996
13 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 59.246 151.909
14 12 Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 59.246 151.909
15 66 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 59.272 151.842
16 28 Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 59.317 151.727
17 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 59.421 151.462
18 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 59.449 151.390
19 26 Joe Ruttman King Racing Buick 59.451 151.385
20 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 59.474 151.327
21 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Pontiac 59.494 151.276
22 75 Jim Sauter RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 59.728 150.683
23 7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 59.827 150.434
24 85 Bobby Gerhart Bobby Gerhart Racing Chevrolet 1:00.112 149.721
25 18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet 1:00.124 149.691
26 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 1:00.247 149.385
27 23 Michael Waltrip (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac 1:00.389 149.034
28 35 Alan Kulwicki (R) AK Racing Ford 1:00.486 148.795
29 64 Eddie Bierschwale Langley Racing Ford 1:00.733 148.092
30 80 Gary Fedewa Burke Racing Chevrolet 1:00.851 147.902
31 17 Doug Heveron Hamby Racing Chevrolet 1:00.899 147.786
32 81 Chet Fillip (R) Fillip Racing Ford 1:00.947 147.669
33 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 1:01.200 147.059
34 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford 1:01.264 146.905
35 48 Jerry Cranmer Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet 1:01.375 146.640
36 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 1:01.464 146.427
37 74 Jack Ely Wawak Racing Chevrolet 1:02.113 144.897
38 6 D. K. Ulrich U.S. Racing Chevrolet 1:02.321 144.414
39 34 Jocko Maggiacomo Linro Motorsports Oldsmobile 1:04.628 139.359
40 60 Cliff Hucul Eller Racing Pontiac 1:05.728 136.928
Failed to qualify
41 49 Ferdin Wallace Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet 1:12.144 124.750
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 5 25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 150 48 running 180 $46,805
2 13 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 150 0 running 170 $29,500
3 2 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 150 52 running 175 $22,350
4 6 11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 150 29 running 165 $23,825
5 12 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 150 0 running 155 $17,525
6 3 44 Terry Labonte Hagan Enterprises Oldsmobile 150 0 running 150 $13,775
7 10 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 150 0 running 146 $14,655
8 23 7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 149 0 running 142 $12,085
9 25 18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet 148 0 running 138 $6,710
10 20 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 148 0 running 134 $5,740
11 27 23 Michael Waltrip (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac 148 1 running 135 $4,470
12 32 81 Chet Fillip (R) Fillip Racing Ford 148 0 running 127 $3,750
13 36 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 148 0 running 124 $8,025
14 22 75 Jim Sauter RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 147 0 running 121 $7,450
15 29 64 Eddie Bierschwale Langley Racing Ford 147 0 running 118 $7,420
16 31 17 Doug Heveron Hamby Racing Chevrolet 146 0 running 115 $6,830
17 34 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford 146 0 running 112 $6,665
18 38 6 D. K. Ulrich U.S. Racing Chevrolet 145 0 running 109 $6,400
19 33 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 145 0 running 106 $5,980
20 37 74 Jack Ely Wawak Racing Chevrolet 144 0 running 103 $3,010
21 30 80 Gary Fedewa Burke Racing Chevrolet 144 0 running 100 $2,355
22 28 35 Alan Kulwicki (R) AK Racing Ford 143 0 oil line 97 $2,250
23 26 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 143 0 running 94 $6,350
24 21 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Pontiac 139 0 running 91 $5,135
25 16 28 Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 138 0 engine 88 $2,135
26 35 48 Jerry Cranmer Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet 137 0 accident 85 $4,755
27 11 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 133 0 engine 82 $8,925
28 24 85 Bobby Gerhart Bobby Gerhart Racing Chevrolet 129 0 running 79 $1,870
29 9 55 Benny Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 128 0 accident 76 $1,815
30 1 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 126 14 accident 78 $13,360
31 14 12 Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 125 6 accident 75 $10,105
32 8 47 Morgan Shepherd Race Hill Farm Team Buick 123 0 accident 67 $1,625
33 17 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 123 0 accident 64 $4,335
34 7 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 120 0 accident 61 $4,270
35 4 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 103 0 engine 58 $10,660
36 18 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 98 0 oil pressure 55 $1,405
37 15 66 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 86 0 ignition 52 $1,380
38 19 26 Joe Ruttman King Racing Buick 18 0 accident 49 $4,090
39 39 34 Jocko Maggiacomo Linro Motorsports Oldsmobile 12 0 engine 46 $1,200
40 40 60 Cliff Hucul Eller Racing Pontiac 2 0 clutch 43 $1,175
Failed to qualify
41 49 Ferdin Wallace Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Miegoc, Joe (July 21, 1986). "Richmond doubles up at Pocono". Times Leader. pp. 1C, 5C. Retrieved January 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (July 21, 1986). "Richmond Squeaks To Pocono Victory". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B, 5B. Retrieved January 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Meixell, Ted (July 21, 1986). "Richmond's extra stop results in one-foot win". The Morning Call. pp. C1, C6. Retrieved January 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ "Time trials start busy schedule". Times Leader. July 19, 1986. pp. 1C, 5C. Retrieved January 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ a b Clark, Charles H. (July 20, 1986). "Gant Takes Pole at Pocono". Newsday. p. 384. Retrieved January 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Higgins, Tom (July 20, 1986). "Gant Wins Pole After Strange Water Falls From Sky". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 7B. Retrieved January 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  


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1986 Firecracker 400
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1986 season
Next race:
1986 Talladega 500