The 1988 First Union 400 was the seventh stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 38th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 17, 1988, before an audience of 33,000 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina at the North Wilkesboro Speedway, a 0.625 miles (1.006 km) oval short track. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. Taking advantage of a misfortunate Dale Earnhardt, who had suffered a leaking tire late in the race, Junior Johnson & Associates driver Terry Labonte would manage to pass for the lead with 13 laps left in the race, maintaining the lead to take the victory. The victory was Labonte's ninth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season.[1][2][3][4] To fill out the top three, King Racing driver Ricky Rudd and the aforementioned Dale Earnhardt would finish second and third, respectively.

1988 First Union 400
Race details
Race 7 of 29 in the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1988 First Union 400 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt and Richard Childress.
The 1988 First Union 400 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt and Richard Childress.
Date April 17, 1988
Official name 38th Annual First Union 400
Location North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Course Permanent racing facility
0.625 mi (1.006 km)
Distance 400 laps, 250 mi (402.336 km)
Scheduled Distance 400 laps, 250 mi (402.336 km)
Average speed 99.075 miles per hour (159.446 km/h)
Attendance 33,000
Pole position
Driver Junior Johnson & Associates
Time 19.178
Most laps led
Driver Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing
Laps 235
Winner
No. 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates
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 North Wilkesboro Speedway, the venue where the race was held

North Wilkesboro Speedway is a short oval racetrack located on U.S. Route 421, about five miles east of the town of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, or 80 miles north of Charlotte. It measures 0.625 mi (1.006 km) and features a unique uphill backstretch and downhill frontstretch. It has previously held races in NASCAR's top three series, including 93 Winston Cup Series races. The track, a NASCAR original, operated from 1949, NASCAR's inception, until the track's original closure in 1996. The speedway briefly reopened in 2010 and hosted several stock car series races before closing again in the spring of 2011. It was re-opened in August 2022 for grassroots racing.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
00 Gary Brooks Brooks Racing Chevrolet Brooks Racing
2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Chevrolet Kroger
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Kodak
04 Bill Meacham Meacham Racing Oldsmobile Meacham Racing
5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Stroh's Light
7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford Zerex
8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller High Life
9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford Coors Light
09 Doug French Caragias Racing Chevrolet Caragias Racing
10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet Whitcomb Racing
11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
12 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller High Life
15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford Crisco
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
20 Alan Russell Russell Racing Chevrolet Russell Racing
21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
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 Texaco, Havoline
29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile Hardee's
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Country Time
31 Brad Teague Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile Slender You Figure Salons
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Piedmont Airlines
46 Glenn Moffat Moffat Racing Chevrolet Moffat Racing
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Chevrolet Eureka
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal, Crown Central Petroleum
67 Rick Jeffrey Arrington Racing Chevrolet Pannill Sweatshirts
68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford Purolator
70 Jeff McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Lifebuoy
75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Valvoline
78 Jay Sommers Sommers Racing Chevrolet Doe & Associates
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Wynn's, Kmart
88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Red Baron Frozen Pizza
90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
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 Friday, April 14, at 3:00 pm EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 10 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, April 15, at 12:15 pm EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 11-30 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.

Terry Labonte, driving for Junior Johnson & Associates, would win the pole, setting a time of 19.178 and an average speed of 117.322 miles per hour (188.811 km/h) in the first round.[6][7]

Ten drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 19.178 117.322
2 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 19.185 117.279
3 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 19.198 117.200
4 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 19.215 117.096
5 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 19.232 116.993
6 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 19.262 116.810
7 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 19.266 116.786
8 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 19.268 116.774
9 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 19.272 116.750
10 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 19.313 116.502
Failed to lock in Round 1
11 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 19.331 116.393
12 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 19.343 116.321
13 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 19.360 116.219
14 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 19.365 116.189
15 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 19.379 116.105
16 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 19.392 116.027
17 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 19.397 115.997
18 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 19.406 115.944
19 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 19.407 115.938
20 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 19.419 115.866
21 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 19.425 115.830
22 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 19.448 115.693
23 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 19.456 115.646
24 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 19.482 115.491
25 97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick 19.503 115.367
26 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 19.510 115.325
27 12 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 19.514 115.302
28 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 19.562 115.019
29 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 19.596 114.819
30 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 19.713 114.138
Provisionals
31 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick -* -*
32 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet -* -*
Failed to qualify
33 31 Brad Teague Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile -* -*
34 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick -* -*
35 78 Jay Sommers Sommers Racing Chevrolet -* -*
36 09 Doug French Caragias Racing Chevrolet -* -*
37 04 Bill Meacham Meacham Racing Oldsmobile -* -*
38 67 Rick Jeffrey Arrington Racing Chevrolet -* -*
39 46 Glenn Moffat Moffat Racing Chevrolet -* -*
40 70 Jeff McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac -* -*
41 00 Gary Brooks Brooks Racing Chevrolet -* -*
42 20 Alan Russell Russell 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 1 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 400 142 running 180 $48,050
2 7 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 400 3 running 175 $21,025
3 10 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 400 235 running 175 $22,115
4 3 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 400 0 running 160 $14,650
5 6 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 400 0 running 155 $12,965
6 9 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 398 0 running 150 $9,560
7 12 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 398 0 running 146 $6,760
8 20 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 398 0 running 142 $10,715
9 13 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 398 0 running 138 $5,610
10 2 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 397 19 running 139 $12,010
11 5 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 397 0 running 130 $7,280
12 15 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 397 0 running 127 $5,105
13 17 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 397 0 running 124 $9,130
14 18 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 396 0 running 121 $7,475
15 16 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 396 0 running 118 $5,330
16 22 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 396 0 running 115 $4,580
17 11 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 395 0 running 112 $4,455
18 31 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 394 0 running 109 $5,380
19 8 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 394 1 running 111 $8,330
20 27 12 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 393 0 running 103 $8,805
21 21 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 393 0 running 100 $1,510
22 24 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 392 0 running 97 $3,785
23 25 97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick 391 0 running 94 $2,685
24 23 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 390 0 running 91 $2,860
25 19 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 388 0 running 88 $3,660
26 26 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 384 0 running 85 $1,485
27 32 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet 384 0 running 82 $1,660
28 28 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 381 0 running 79 $1,985
29 4 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 327 0 running 76 $1,335
30 29 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 263 0 brakes 73 $2,760
31 30 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 130 0 rear end 70 $2,810
32 14 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 24 0 engine 67 $4,760
Failed to qualify
33 31 Brad Teague Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile
34 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick
35 78 Jay Sommers Sommers Racing Chevrolet
36 09 Doug French Caragias Racing Chevrolet
37 04 Bill Meacham Meacham Racing Oldsmobile
38 67 Rick Jeffrey Arrington Racing Chevrolet
39 46 Glenn Moffat Moffat Racing Chevrolet
40 70 Jeff McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac
41 00 Gary Brooks Brooks Racing Chevrolet
42 20 Alan Russell Russell Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 18, 1988). "Labonte Takes N. Wilkesboro (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 49. Retrieved July 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 18, 1988). "Labonte Takes N. Wilkesboro (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 51. Retrieved July 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Mulhurn, Mike (April 18, 1988). "Labonte Wins First Of Season (Part 1)". Winston-Salem Journal. p. 13. Retrieved July 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Mulhurn, Mike (April 18, 1988). "Labonte Wins First Of Season (Part 2)". Winston-Salem Journal. p. 18. Retrieved July 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "NASCAR Today". The Charlotte Observer. April 15, 1988. p. 27. Retrieved July 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 16, 1988). "Labonte Leads N. Wilkesboro Speed Spree (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 21. Retrieved July 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 16, 1988). "Labonte Leads N. Wilkesboro Speed Spree (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 27. Retrieved July 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  


Previous race:
1988 Valleydale Meats 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1988 season
Next race:
1988 Pannill Sweatshirts 500