1988 Champion Spark Plug 400

The 1988 Champion Spark Plug 400 was the 19th stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 19th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, August 21, 1988, 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. Taking advantage of a misfortunate Bill Elliott, Ranier-Lundy Racing driver Davey Allison would manage to lead the final 23 laps of the race to take his third career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season.[1][2][3][4] To fill out the top three, Blue Max Racing driver Rusty Wallace and Melling Racing driver Bill Elliott would finish second and third, respectively.

1988 Champion Spark Plug 400
Race details
Race 19 of 29 in the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1988 Champion Spark Plug 400 program cover, featuring Richard Petty.
The 1988 Champion Spark Plug 400 program cover, featuring Richard Petty.
Date August 21, 1988
Official name 19th 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 156.863 miles per hour (252.447 km/h)
Attendance 72,000
Pole position
Driver Melling Racing
Time 41.157
Most laps led
Driver Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing
Laps 75
Winner
No. 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Gary Nelson
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

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 Dale Jarrett Ellington Racing Buick Port-A-Lube, Bud Light
01 Mickey Gibbs Gibbs Racing Ford Gibbs–West Tractor
2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Chevrolet Kroger
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service
4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Kodak
5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Stroh Light
06 Lee Raymond Coyle Racing Chevrolet Riverside Auto Parts
7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford Zerex
07 Larry Moyer Stark Racing Pontiac Hooters, Just Say No!
8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller High Life
9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford Coors Light
10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford Whitcomb Racing
11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller High Life
15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford Crisco
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford Coors Extra Gold
21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile Wayne Paging
25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Folgers
26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick Quaker State
27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac Kodiak
28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford Havoline
29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile Hardee's
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Country Time
31 Donnie Allison Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile Slender You Figure Salons
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac Almeda Auto Parts
38 Mike Laws ProStar Motorsports Oldsmobile ProStar Motorsports
40 Ben Hess Hess Racing Oldsmobile Hess Racing
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Piedmont Airlines
50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac Dingman Brothers Racing
51 David Simko Simko Racing Pontiac Tom Company
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Eureka
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Crown Central Petroleum, Skoal
67 Ron Esau Arrington Racing Ford Pannill Sweatshirts
68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford Purolator Filters
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Lifebuoy
75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Valvoline
80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford S&H Racing
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Wynn's, Kmart
88 Morgan Shepherd Baker-Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Red Baron Frozen Pizza
89 Jim Sauter Mueller Brothers Racing Pontiac Evinrude Outboard Motors
90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
95 Slick Johnson Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet Sadler Brothers Racing
96 Dana Patten Patten Racing Buick U.S. Chrome
97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick AC Spark Plug
98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick Sunoco

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Saturday, August 20, at 11:30 AM 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, August 20, at 2:00 PM 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.

Bill Elliott, driving for Melling Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 41.157 and an average speed of 174.940 miles per hour (281.539 km/h) in the first round.[6]

Nine drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 41.157 174.940
2 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 41.289 174.381
3 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 41.295 174.355
4 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 41.342 174.157
5 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 41.343 174.153
6 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 41.434 173.770
7 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 41.449 173.707
8 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 41.472 173.611
9 88 Morgan Shepherd Baker-Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 41.520 173.410
10 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 41.617 173.006
11 1 Dale Jarrett Ellington Racing Buick 41.738 172.505
12 12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 41.745 172.476
13 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 41.752 172.447
14 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 41.769 172.377
15 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 41.779 172.335
16 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 41.805 172.228
17 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 41.814 172.191
18 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 41.844 172.068
19 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 41.881 171.916
20 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 41.884 171.903
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 41.885 171.899
22 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 41.911 171.793
23 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 41.924 171.739
24 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 41.931 171.711
25 97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick 41.941 171.670
26 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 41.947 171.645
27 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 41.991 171.465
28 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 42.002 171.420
29 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 42.003 171.416
30 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 42.080 171.103
31 50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac 42.082 171.095
32 01 Mickey Gibbs Gibbs Racing Ford 42.086 171.078
33 96 Dana Patten Patten Racing Buick 42.152 170.810
34 19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford 42.153 170.806
35 29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 42.182 170.689
36 89 Jim Sauter Mueller Brothers Racing Pontiac 42.217 170.547
37 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford 42.225 170.515
38 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac 42.225 170.515
39 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 42.259 170.378
40 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 42.362 169.964
Provisionals
41 31 Donnie Allison Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 42.373 169.920
42 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 42.775 168.323
Failed to qualify
43 51 David Simko Simko Racing Pontiac 42.718 168.547
44 40 Ben Hess Hess Racing Oldsmobile 42.719 168.543
45 80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford 42.867 167.961
46 67 Ron Esau Arrington Racing Ford 43.017 167.376
47 95 Slick Johnson Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet 43.033 167.313
48 38 Mike Laws ProStar Motorsports Oldsmobile 43.362 166.044
49 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 43.650 164.948
50 06 Lee Raymond Coyle Racing Chevrolet 44.078 163.347
51 07 Larry Moyer Stark Racing Pontiac - -
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 4 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 200 38 running 180 $60,475
2 7 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 200 75 running 180 $37,250
3 1 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 200 36 running 170 $31,775
4 9 88 Morgan Shepherd Baker-Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 200 6 running 165 $19,600
5 16 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 200 0 running 155 $14,650
6 6 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 200 0 running 150 $18,425
7 28 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 200 0 running 146 $12,365
8 22 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 200 0 running 142 $14,365
9 23 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 200 0 running 138 $8,910
10 2 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 0 running 134 $12,705
11 14 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 200 0 running 130 $9,750
12 3 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 1 running 132 $11,695
13 20 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 199 1 running 129 $12,190
14 25 97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick 199 0 running 121 $4,860
15 21 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 199 0 running 118 $8,935
16 10 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 198 3 engine 120 $7,895
17 15 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 198 1 running 117 $11,085
18 35 29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 198 0 running 109 $5,175
19 36 89 Jim Sauter Mueller Brothers Racing Pontiac 198 0 running 106 $3,665
20 13 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 198 0 running 103 $7,205
21 27 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 197 0 running 100 $6,320
22 18 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 197 0 running 97 $6,160
23 12 12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 197 0 running 94 $10,075
24 29 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 197 0 running 91 $2,965
25 37 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford 196 0 running 88 $3,710
26 42 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 196 0 running 85 $3,030
27 34 19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford 195 0 running 82 $2,725
28 38 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac 195 0 running 79 $2,670
29 5 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 194 39 running 81 $14,315
30 33 96 Dana Patten Patten Racing Buick 193 0 running 73 $2,535
31 32 01 Mickey Gibbs Gibbs Racing Ford 186 0 running 70 $2,490
32 26 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 162 0 engine 67 $3,295
33 40 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 157 0 engine 64 $2,400
34 17 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 127 0 engine 61 $5,080
35 41 31 Donnie Allison Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 114 0 engine 58 $3,000
36 8 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 104 0 engine 55 $4,955
37 39 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 94 0 engine 52 $4,915
38 30 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 72 0 spindle 49 $4,870
39 24 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 68 0 distributor 46 $4,825
40 19 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 51 0 engine 43 $9,210
41 11 1 Dale Jarrett Ellington Racing Buick 50 0 oil pan 40 $2,210
42 31 50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac 21 0 ignition 37 $2,710
Failed to qualify
43 51 David Simko Simko Racing Pontiac
44 40 Ben Hess Hess Racing Oldsmobile
45 80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford
46 67 Ron Esau Arrington Racing Ford
47 95 Slick Johnson Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet
48 38 Mike Laws ProStar Motorsports Oldsmobile
49 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac
50 06 Lee Raymond Coyle Racing Chevrolet
51 07 Larry Moyer Stark Racing Pontiac
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (August 22, 1988). "Allison Gets Victory To Dedicate To Dad (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 17. Retrieved July 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (August 22, 1988). "Allison Gets Victory To Dedicate To Dad (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 20. Retrieved July 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Brown, Clifton (August 22, 1988). "Davey Allison breaks '88 jinx (Part 1)". Detroit Free Press. p. 41. Retrieved July 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Brown, Clifton (August 22, 1988). "Davey Allison breaks '88 jinx (Part 2)". Detroit Free Press. p. 48. Retrieved July 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "NASCAR Today". The Charlotte Observer. August 20, 1988. p. 32. Retrieved July 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Higgins, Tom (August 21, 1988). "Winston Cup Front-Runners To Duel At Michigan Today". The Charlotte Observer. p. 138. Retrieved July 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  


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1988 The Budweiser at The Glen
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1988 season
Next race:
1988 Busch 500