1987 Champion Spark Plug 400

The 1987 Champion Spark Plug 400 was the 19th stock car race of the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 18th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, August 16, 1987, before an audience of 72,000 in Brooklyn, Michigan, at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete.

1987 Champion Spark Plug 400
Race details
Race 19 of 29 in the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1987 Champion Spark Plug 400 program cover.
The 1987 Champion Spark Plug 400 program cover.
Date August 16, 1987
Official name 18th Annual Champion Spark Plug 400
Location Brooklyn, Michigan, Michigan International Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
2 mi (3.2 km)
Distance 200 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km)
Scheduled Distance 200 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km)
Average speed 138.648 miles per hour (223.132 km/h)
Attendance 72,000
Pole position
Driver Ranier-Lundy Racing
Time 42.178
Most laps led
Driver Dale Earnhardt Blue Max Racing
Laps 63
Winner
No. 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Larry Nuber
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

In the final laps of the race, Melling Racing's Bill Elliott was able to hold off a late-race charges by Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, holding off the field on the final restart with eight laps left to take his 20th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, the aforementioned Dale Earnhardt and King Racing's Morgan Shepherd finished second and third, respectively.

Background

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The layout of Michigan International Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

The race was held at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located in Brooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is known as a "sister track" to Texas World Speedway as MIS's oval design was a direct basis of TWS, with moderate modifications to the banking in the corners, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is owned by International Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Brett Bodine Ellington Racing Chevrolet Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
01 Dave Pletcher Sr. Weaver Racing Ford Ernie Haire Ford
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Wrangler
4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Kodak
04 Charlie Rudolph Rudolph Racing Chevrolet Sunoco
5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 Connie Saylor U.S. Racing Chevrolet U.S. Racing
7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford Zerex
8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller American
9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford Coors
11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
12 Trevor Boys Hamby Racing Chevrolet Gorman's Esso Sales
15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft Quality Parts
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
18 Dale Jarrett (R) Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet Freedlander Financial
19 Derrike Cope (R) Stoke Racing Ford Stoke Racing
21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller American
25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Folgers
26 Morgan Shepherd King Racing Buick Quaker State
27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac Kodiak
28 Davey Allison (R) Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile Hardee's
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Chevrolet All Pro Auto Parts
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
35 Benny Parsons Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Folgers Decaf
36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac Almeda Auto Parts
38 Rickey Hood Hood Racing Ford Solar Sources
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Piedmont Airlines
50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac Valvoline
51 David Simko Simko Racing Chevrolet Metro 25 Car Care Center
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Eureka
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal Classic
62 Steve Christman (R) Winkle Motorsports Pontiac AC Spark Plug
63 Jocko Maggiacomo Linro Motorsports Chevrolet Linro Motorsports
64 Rodney Combs Langley Racing Ford Sunny King Ford
67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford Pannill Sweatshirts
69 Donny Paul Paul Racing Chevrolet Cyclo Automotive Chemicals
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Lifebuoy
74 Bobby Wawak Wawak Racing Chevrolet Wawak Racing
75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Valvoline
77 Ken Ragan Ragan Racing Ford Southlake Ford
80 Eddie Bierschwale S&H Racing Chevrolet TRW Automotive
82 Rick Jeffrey Jeffrey Racing Chevrolet Jeffrey Racing
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Wynn's, Kmart
88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Crisco
89 Jim Sauter Mueller Brothers Racing Pontiac Evinrude Outboard Motors
90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford Red Baron Frozen Pizza

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Saturday, August 15, at 11:30 AM EST. Each driver had one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 drivers in the round were guaranteed a starting spot in the race. If a driver was not able to guarantee a spot in the first round, they had the option to scrub their time from the first round and try and run a faster lap time in a second round qualifying run, held on Saturday, at 2:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver had one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 were decided on time,[3] and depending on who needed it, a select amount of positions were given to cars who had not otherwise qualified but were high enough in owner's points; up to two provisionals were given.

Davey Allison, driving for Ranier-Lundy Racing, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 42.178 and an average speed of 170.705 miles per hour (274.723 km/h) in the first round.[4]

Ten drivers failed to qualify. Two drivers who failed to qualify, Jocko Maggiacomo and Donny Paul, were both involved in qualifying crashes.[5]

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 28 Davey Allison (R) Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 42.178 170.705
2 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 42.236 170.471
3 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 42.370 169.932
4 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 42.488 169.460
5 1 Brett Bodine Ellington Racing Chevrolet 42.494 169.436
6 35 Benny Parsons Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 42.606 168.990
7 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 42.618 168.943
8 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 42.684 168.681
9 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 42.694 168.642
10 19 Derrike Cope (R) Stoke Racing Ford 42.696 168.634
11 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 42.746 168.437
12 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 42.754 168.405
13 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 42.796 168.240
14 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 42.826 168.122
15 26 Morgan Shepherd King Racing Buick 42.878 167.918
16 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 42.887 167.883
17 89 Jim Sauter Mueller Brothers Racing Pontiac 42.903 167.820
18 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 42.903 167.820
19 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 42.913 167.781
20 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 42.921 167.750
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 42.878 167.918
22 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 42.929 167.719
23 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 42.940 167.676
24 64 Rodney Combs Langley Racing Ford 42.942 167.668
25 25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 42.948 167.645
26 77 Ken Ragan Ragan Racing Ford 42.963 167.586
27 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 43.062 167.201
28 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Chevrolet 43.073 167.158
29 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 43.085 167.112
30 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 43.106 167.030
31 88 Buddy Baker Baker-Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 43.188 166.713
32 29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 43.221 166.586
33 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford 43.354 166.075
34 51 David Simko Simko Racing Chevrolet 43.410 165.850
35 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 43.427 165.795
36 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Chevrolet 43.510 165.479
37 18 Dale Jarrett (R) Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet 43.512 165.472
38 04 Charlie Rudolph Rudolph Racing Chevrolet 43.547 165.339
39 74 Bobby Wawak Wawak Racing Chevrolet 43.645 164.967
40 50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac 43.676 164.850
Failed to qualify (results unknown)
41 01 Dave Pletcher Sr. Weaver Racing Ford -* -*
42 6 Connie Saylor U.S. Racing Chevrolet -* -*
43 12 Trevor Boys Hamby Racing Oldsmobile -* -*
44 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac -* -*
45 38 Rickey Hood Hood Racing Ford -* -*
46 62 Steve Christman (R) Winkle Motorsports Pontiac -* -*
47 80 Eddie Bierschwale S&H Racing Chevrolet -* -*
48 82 Rick Jeffrey Jeffrey Racing Chevrolet -* -*
49 63 Jocko Maggiacomo Linro Motorsports Chevrolet - -
50 69 Donny Paul Paul Racing Chevrolet - -
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 3 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 200 16 running 180 $52,875
2 8 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 63 running 180 $34,325
3 15 26 Morgan Shepherd King Racing Buick 200 1 running 170 $20,505
4 20 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 200 58 running 165 $20,650
5 1 28 Davey Allison (R) Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 200 21 running 160 $13,500
6 2 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 200 0 running 150 $15,795
7 19 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 200 11 running 151 $14,290
8 31 88 Buddy Baker Baker-Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 200 0 running 142 $8,295
9 30 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 200 0 running 138 $10,310
10 22 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 1 running 139 $13,955
11 11 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 199 28 crash 135 $9,990
12 13 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 199 0 running 127 $4,845
13 16 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 199 0 running 124 $11,515
14 23 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 199 0 running 121 $4,185
15 21 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 199 0 running 118 $8,665
16 14 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 199 0 running 115 $3,645
17 7 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 199 1 running 117 $5,270
18 6 35 Benny Parsons Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 199 0 running 109 $12,425
19 40 50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac 198 0 running 106 $3,015
20 28 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Chevrolet 198 0 running 103 $7,030
21 5 1 Brett Bodine Ellington Racing Chevrolet 196 0 running 100 $3,420
22 35 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 195 0 running 97 $2,560
23 33 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford 194 0 running 94 $5,865
24 17 89 Jim Sauter Mueller Brothers Racing Pontiac 190 0 engine 91 $2,840
25 27 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 180 0 running 88 $11,485
26 12 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 179 0 engine 85 $5,360
27 18 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 165 0 engine 82 $9,100
28 34 51 David Simko Simko Racing Chevrolet 164 0 engine 79 $2,045
29 25 25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 149 0 engine 76 $1,990
30 26 77 Ken Ragan Ragan Racing Ford 146 0 crash 73 $1,930
31 24 64 Rodney Combs Langley Racing Ford 146 0 engine 70 $4,935
32 39 74 Bobby Wawak Wawak Racing Chevrolet 137 0 oil leak 67 $1,845
33 9 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 129 0 water pump 64 $10,600
34 4 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 89 0 engine 61 $4,630
35 29 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 77 0 engine 58 $4,465
36 38 04 Charlie Rudolph Rudolph Racing Chevrolet 68 0 transmission 55 $1,680
37 36 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Chevrolet 65 0 engine 52 $4,430
38 10 19 Derrike Cope (R) Stoke Racing Ford 43 0 engine 49 $1,670
39 37 18 Dale Jarrett (R) Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet 25 0 engine 46 $4,400
40 32 29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 22 0 engine 43 $1,660
Failed to qualify (results unknown)
41 01 Dave Pletcher Sr. Weaver Racing Ford
42 6 Connie Saylor U.S. Racing Chevrolet
43 12 Trevor Boys Hamby Racing Oldsmobile
44 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac
45 38 Rickey Hood Hood Racing Ford
46 62 Steve Christman (R) Winkle Motorsports Pontiac
47 80 Eddie Bierschwale S&H Racing Chevrolet
48 82 Rick Jeffrey Jeffrey Racing Chevrolet
49 63 Jocko Maggiacomo Linro Motorsports Chevrolet
50 69 Donny Paul Paul Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (August 17, 1987). "Petty Makes A Run, But Elliott Wins Michigan". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B, 4B. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Brown, Clifton (August 17, 1987). "Elliott survives a chaotic 400". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1F, 6F. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ "NASCAR Today". The Charlotte Observer. August 14, 1987. pp. 5C. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Higgins, Tom (August 16, 1987). "Davey Allison Charges To Pole At Michigan". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1D, 10D. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Griffis, Richard (August 16, 1987). "Fords thunder to first four spots on grid". Battle Creek Enquirer. pp. 3D. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  


Previous race:
1987 The Budweiser at The Glen
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1987 season
Next race:
1987 Busch 500