The 1987 Goodwrench 500 was the second stock car race of the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 22nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 1, 1987, before an audience of 38,500 in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Motor Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 492 laps to complete.

1987 Goodwrench 500
Race details
Race 2 of 29 in the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1987 GM Goodwrench 500 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt and Terry Labonte.
The 1987 GM Goodwrench 500 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt and Terry Labonte.
Date March 1, 1987
Official name 22nd Annual Goodwrench 500
Location Rockingham, North Carolina, North Carolina Motor Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.017 mi (1.637 km)
Distance 492 laps, 500.364 mi (805.257 km)
Scheduled Distance 492 laps, 500.364 mi (805.257 km)
Average speed 117.556 miles per hour (189.188 km/h)
Attendance 38,500
Pole position
Driver Ranier-Lundy Racing
Time 24.908
Most laps led
Driver Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing
Laps 319
Winner
No. 3 Dale Earnhardt RahMoc Enterprises
Television in the United States
Network SETN
Announcers Eli Gold, Jerry Punch
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

At race's end, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt, with assistance from crew chief Kirk Shelmerdine and his pit crew, managed to dominate the majority of the race, leading 319 laps. By the finish, Earnhardt had gained a 10.5 second lead over second place, gaining his 21st career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Bud Moore Engineering's Ricky Rudd and RahMoc Enterprises' Neil Bonnett finished second and third, respectively.

Background

edit
 
The layout of North Carolina Motor Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

North Carolina Motor Speedway was opened as a flat, one-mile oval on October 31, 1965. In 1969, the track was extensively reconfigured to a high-banked, D-shaped oval just over one mile in length. In 1997, North Carolina Motor Speedway merged with Penske Motorsports, and was renamed North Carolina Speedway. Shortly thereafter, the infield was reconfigured, and competition on the infield road course, mostly by the SCCA, was discontinued. Currently, the track is home to the Fast Track High Performance Driving School.

Entry list

edit
  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Ron Bouchard Ellington Racing Chevrolet Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Wrangler
5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 D. K. Ulrich 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 David Sosebee Hamby Racing Chevrolet Hamby Racing
15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft Quality Parts
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet Freedlander Financial
21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller American
26 Morgan Shepherd King Racing Buick Quaker State
27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac Kodiak
28 Davey Allison (R) Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford Ranier-Lundy Racing
29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile Hardee's
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Chevrolet Domino's Pizza
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
34 Jesse Samples Jr. AAG Racing Chevrolet AAG Racing
35 Benny Parsons Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Folgers
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Piedmont Airlines
48 James Hylton Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet Fleet Service
50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac Valvoline
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Turtle Wax
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Copenhagen
64 Jerry Cranmer Langley Racing Ford Sunny King Honda
67 Eddie Bierschwale Arrington Racing Ford Pannill Sweatshirts
68 Jerry Holden Holden Racing Chevrolet Altra-Dry
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Winkle Pontiac
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Lifebuoy
74 Bobby Wawak Wawak Racing Chevrolet Wawak Racing
75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Valvoline
81 Chet Fillip Fillip Racing Ford Marshall Batteries
82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford Auto Bell Car Wash
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Wynn's/Kmart
87 Patrick Latimer Buck Baker Racing Chevrolet Buck Baker Racing School
88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Crisco
90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford Red Baron Frozen Pizza
93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Chevrolet Salmon Racing

Qualifying

edit

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was held on Thursday, February 26, at 2:30 pm EST. Originally, the first 20 positions were going to be determined by first round qualifying, with positions 21–40 meant to be determined the following day on Friday, February 27.[3] However, due to rain, the second round was cancelled. As a result, the rest of the starting lineup was set using the results from the first round. 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.[4]

Davey Allison, driving for Ranier-Lundy Racing, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 24.908 and an average speed of 146.989 miles per hour (236.556 km/h).[5]

No drivers failed to qualify.

Full qualifying results

edit
Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 28 Davey Allison (R) Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 24.908 146.989
2 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 24.988 146.518
3 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 25.012 146.378
4 35 Benny Parsons Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 25.026 146.296
5 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 25.052 146.144
6 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 25.069 146.045
7 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 25.139 145.638
8 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 25.218 145.182
9 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 25.243 145.030
10 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 25.288 144.780
11 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 25.308 144.666
12 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 25.311 144.649
13 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 25.333 144.523
14 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 25.353 144.409
15 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 25.376 144.278
16 26 Morgan Shepherd King Racing Buick 25.385 144.227
17 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 25.388 144.210
18 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Chevrolet 25.413 144.068
19 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 25.440 143.915
20 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 25.445 143.887
21 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 25.448 143.870
22 18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet 25.488 143.466
23 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 25.562 143.228
24 29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 25.578 143.139
25 50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac 25.589 143.077
26 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 25.713 142.387
27 34 Jesse Samples Jr. AAG Racing Chevrolet 25.756 142.149
28 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 25.771 142.067
29 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 26.025 140.680
30 81 Chet Fillip Fillip Racing Ford 26.089 140.335
31 1 Ron Bouchard Ellington Racing Chevrolet 26.322 139.039
32 67 Eddie Bierschwale Arrington Racing Ford 26.402 138.671
33 82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford 26.599 137.644
34 74 Bobby Wawak Wawak Racing Chevrolet 26.680 137.226
35 64 Jerry Cranmer Langley Racing Ford 26.730 136.970
36 12 David Sosebee Hamby Racing Chevrolet 26.919 136.008
37 93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Chevrolet 27.162 134.791
38 87 Patrick Latimer Buck Baker Racing Chevrolet 27.753 131.921
39 68 Jerry Holden Holden Racing Chevrolet 28.367 129.065
Qualified via current driver's points
40 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford
Provisionals
41 6 D. K. Ulrich U.S. Racing Chevrolet
42 48 James Hylton Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet
Official starting lineup

Race results

edit
Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 14 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 492 319 running 185 $53,900
2 5 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 492 70 running 175 $28,135
3 6 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 492 36 running 170 $17,875
4 7 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 492 0 running 160 $17,405
5 16 26 Morgan Shepherd King Racing Buick 491 12 running 160 $12,010
6 23 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 491 0 running 150 $14,160
7 8 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 490 0 running 146 $5,060
8 9 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 490 0 running 142 $13,510
9 1 28 Davey Allison (R) Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 490 29 running 143 $8,260
10 3 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 489 1 running 139 $10,035
11 21 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 488 0 running 130 $5,020
12 19 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 487 1 running 132 $3,820
13 17 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 487 0 running 124 $10,620
14 15 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 486 0 running 121 $10,420
15 13 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 486 0 running 118 $8,175
16 20 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 482 0 running 115 $7,025
17 18 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Chevrolet 479 0 running 112 $6,755
18 32 67 Eddie Bierschwale Arrington Racing Ford 477 0 running 109 $6,445
19 12 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 476 0 running 106 $5,985
20 29 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 474 0 running 103 $3,920
21 37 93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Chevrolet 463 0 running 100 $2,265
22 26 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 461 0 running 97 $5,395
23 35 64 Jerry Cranmer Langley Racing Ford 461 0 running 94 $5,160
24 30 81 Chet Fillip Fillip Racing Ford 441 0 running 91 $2,040
25 40 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 440 0 running 88 $5,840
26 41 6 D. K. Ulrich U.S. Racing Chevrolet 435 0 running 85 $4,680
27 34 74 Bobby Wawak Wawak Racing Chevrolet 418 0 running 82 $1,865
28 24 29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 339 0 transmission 79 $1,815
29 11 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 335 0 engine 76 $4,495
30 25 50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac 319 0 crash 73 $1,690
31 10 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 243 1 engine 75 $1,600
32 2 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 228 2 engine 72 $8,800
33 33 82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford 127 0 overheating 64 $1,480
34 4 35 Benny Parsons Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 79 21 engine 66 $10,630
35 28 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 79 0 crash 58 $4,115
36 31 1 Ron Bouchard Ellington Racing Chevrolet 79 0 crash 55 $1,350
37 42 48 James Hylton Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet 79 0 crash 52 $1,325
38 22 18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet 78 0 crash 49 $3,300
39 36 12 David Sosebee Hamby Racing Chevrolet 69 0 crash 46 $3,275
40 38 87 Patrick Latimer Buck Baker Racing Chevrolet 38 0 crash 43 $1,250
41 27 34 Jesse Samples Jr. AAG Racing Chevrolet 8 0 crash 40 $1,250
42 39 68 Jerry Holden Holden Racing Chevrolet 8 0 engine 37 $1,250
Official race results

Standings after the race

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (March 2, 1987). "Earnhardt Takes 500". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1C, 16C. Retrieved September 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Mulhurn, Mike (March 2, 1987). "Earnhardt Rolls at Rockingham". Winston-Salem Journal. pp. 13, 15. Retrieved September 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ "Goodwrench 500". The Charlotte Observer. February 26, 1987. pp. 4B. Retrieved September 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Mulhurn, Mike (February 27, 1987). "Bad Weather Wipes Out Qualifying at Rockingham". Winston-Salem Journal. p. 27. Retrieved September 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Higgins, Tom (February 27, 1987). "Davey Allison Takes Pole With Record At Rockingham". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 4C. Retrieved September 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  


Previous race:
1987 Daytona 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1987 season
Next race:
1987 Miller High Life 400