1987 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500

The 1987 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was the fourth stock car race of the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 28th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 15, 1987, before an audience of 60,000 in Hampton, Georgia, at Atlanta International Raceway, a 1.522 miles (2.449 km) permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway.[1]

1987 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500
Race details
Race 4 of 29 in the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1987 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 program cover, featuring Ricky Rudd.
The 1987 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 program cover, featuring Ricky Rudd.
Date March 15, 1987
Official name 28th Annual Motorcraft Quality Parts 500
Location Hampton, Georgia, Atlanta International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.522 mi (2.449 km)
Distance 328 laps, 499.216 mi (803.41 km)
Scheduled Distance 328 laps, 499.216 mi (803.41 km)
Average speed 133.689 miles per hour (215.152 km/h)
Attendance 60,000
Pole position
Driver Richard Childress Racing
Time 31.221
Most laps led
Driver Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing
Laps 196
Winner
No. 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering
Television in the United States
Network ABC
Announcers Jim Lampley, Sam Posey
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

After the dominant car of the day, Dale Earnhardt, suffered mechanical problems that put him out of contention for the race, a restart with eight laps left in the race left a four car battle for the victory. By race's end, Bud Moore Engineering's Ricky Rudd managed to pull away to take his seventh career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season.[2][3] To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports' Benny Parsons and Blue Max Racing's Rusty Wallace finished second and third, respectively.

Background

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The layout of Atlanta International Raceway, the circuit where the race was held.

Atlanta Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta International Raceway) is a 1.522-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has annually hosted NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car races since its inauguration in 1960.

The venue was bought by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two intermediate ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with a new official length of 1.54-mile (2.48 km) where before it was 1.522-mile (2.449 km). The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.

Entry list

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  • (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
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 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
14 A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Racing Oldsmobile Copenhagen
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
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
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
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
35 Benny Parsons Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Folgers
36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac Almeda Auto Parts
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Piedmont Airlines
50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac Valvoline
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Turtle Wax, Car and Driver
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Copenhagen
62 Steve Christman (R) Winkle Motorsports Pontiac AC Spark Plug
64 Connie Saylor Langley Racing Ford Sunny King Ford
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
77 Ken Ragan Ragan Racing Ford Southlake Ford
82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford Auto Bell Car Wash
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Wynn's, Kmart
88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Crisco
90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford Red Baron Frozen Pizza
93 Charlie Baker[a] Salmon Racing Chevrolet Salmon Racing

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, March 13, at 2:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 drivers in the round would be 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, March 14, at 10:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 would be decided on time,[5] 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 were given.

Dale Earnhardt, driving for Richard Childress Racing, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 31.221 and an average speed of 175.497 miles per hour (282.435 km/h) in the first round.[6]

Two drivers failed to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 31.221 175.497
2 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 31.445 174.247
3 29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 31.481 174.048
4 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 31.505 173.915
5 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 31.538 173.733
6 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 31.569 173.563
7 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 31.619 173.288
8 28 Davey Allison (R) Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 31.657 173.080
9 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 31.714 172.769
10 35 Benny Parsons Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.736 172.649
11 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 31.748 172.584
12 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 31.784 172.389
13 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 31.784 172.389
14 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.786 172.378
15 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 31.877 171.886
16 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Chevrolet 31.880 171.870
17 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 31.948 171.504
18 77 Ken Ragan Ragan Racing Ford 31.949 171.498
19 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 31.973 171.370
20 50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac 31.984 171.311
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.936 171.568
22 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 31.999 171.230
23 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 32.041 171.006
24 14 A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Racing Oldsmobile 32.041 171.006
25 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 32.056 170.926
26 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 32.112 170.628
27 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 32.118 170.596
28 67 Eddie Bierschwale Arrington Racing Ford 32.123 170.569
29 26 Morgan Shepherd King Racing Buick 32.126 170.553
30 18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet 32.136 170.500
31 12 David Sosebee Hamby Racing Oldsmobile 32.266 169.813
32 1 Ron Bouchard Ellington Racing Chevrolet 32.284 169.719
33 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 32.289 169.692
34 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac 32.417 169.022
35 62 Steve Christman (R) Winkle Motorsports Pontiac 32.421 169.002
36 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 32.440 168.903
37 64 Connie Saylor Langley Racing Ford 32.520 168.487
38 82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford 32.535 168.409
39 93 Mike Potter Salmon Racing Chevrolet 32.546 168.352
40 19 Derrike Cope (R) Stoke Racing Ford 32.551 168.327
Provisionals
41 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac -* -*
42 6 D. K. Ulrich U.S. Racing Chevrolet -* -*
Failed to qualify
43 74 Bobby Wawak Wawak Racing Chevrolet -* -*
44 68 Jerry Holden Holden Racing Chevrolet -* -*
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 6 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 328 7 running 180 $62,400
2 10 35 Benny Parsons Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 328 43 running 175 $36,125
3 7 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 328 26 running 170 $25,950
4 9 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 328 2 running 165 $20,825
5 8 28 Davey Allison (R) Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 327 0 running 155 $18,550
6 21 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 327 0 running 150 $9,900
7 26 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 327 0 running 146 $11,205
8 3 29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 327 7 running 147 $5,650
9 25 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 327 0 running 138 $9,320
10 29 26 Morgan Shepherd King Racing Buick 326 0 running 134 $9,750
11 27 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 326 0 running 130 $8,470
12 32 1 Ron Bouchard Ellington Racing Chevrolet 325 0 running 127 $3,500
13 22 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 325 0 running 124 $9,945
14 17 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 325 1 running 126 $7,215
15 14 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 323 0 running 118 $1,480
16 1 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 322 196 running 125 $19,520
17 30 18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet 322 0 running 112 $8,745
18 34 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac 321 0 running 109 $4,550
19 15 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 320 2 running 111 $9,690
20 24 14 A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Racing Oldsmobile 319 0 running 103 $3,070
21 31 12 David Sosebee Hamby Racing Oldsmobile 317 0 running 100 $7,610
22 35 62 Steve Christman (R) Winkle Motorsports Pontiac 314 0 running 97 $3,600
23 42 6 D. K. Ulrich U.S. Racing Chevrolet 303 0 ball joint 94 $6,680
24 13 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 302 0 running 91 $9,180
25 39 93 Mike Potter Salmon Racing Chevrolet 291 0 running 88 $2,945
26 18 77 Ken Ragan Ragan Racing Ford 281 0 ignition 85 $2,555
27 19 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 261 0 engine 82 $1,995
28 2 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 255 22 engine 84 $10,560
29 4 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 220 22 engine 81 $5,130
30 38 82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford 208 0 running 73 $1,840
31 36 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 169 0 handling 70 $4,855
32 33 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 157 0 crash 67 $4,555
33 23 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 86 0 crash 64 $5,490
34 11 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 86 0 crash 61 $4,455
35 12 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 73 0 fuel pump 58 $1,680
36 40 19 Derrike Cope (R) Stoke Racing Ford 61 0 crash 55 $1,655
37 20 50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac 53 0 engine 52 $1,635
38 5 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 36 0 engine 49 $1,615
39 16 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Chevrolet 33 0 transmission 46 $4,325
40 41 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 16 0 engine 43 $1,510
41 37 64 Connie Saylor Langley Racing Ford 3 0 engine 40 $3,510
42 28 67 Eddie Bierschwale Arrington Racing Ford 0 0 did not start 0 $0
Failed to qualify
43 74 Bobby Wawak Wawak Racing Chevrolet
44 68 Jerry Holden Holden Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

Standings after the race

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Notes

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  1. ^ Baker was injured in the preliminary ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series race on Saturday. As he did qualify before then, Mike Potter replaced him for the race.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Hinton, Ed (March 16, 1987). "In the end, Rudd's best of the rest". The Atlanta Journal. pp. 1C, 8C. Retrieved September 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (March 16, 1987). "Rudd Wins Atlanta 500 As Problems Slow Earnhardt". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1C, 3C. Retrieved September 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ McCollister, Tom (March 16, 1987). "Motorcraft win goes not to swiftest, but to Rudd". The Atlanta Constitution. pp. 1C, 12C. Retrieved September 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Robinson, Bill (March 16, 1987). "Petty's car, feelings were hurt by Cale Yarborough's 'love tap'". The Atlanta Constitution. pp. 8C. Retrieved September 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "NASCAR Today". The Charlotte Observer. March 13, 1987. pp. 4B. Retrieved September 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Higgins, Tom (March 14, 1987). "Earnhardt Nails Atlanta Pole At Record Pace". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 3C. Retrieved September 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  


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