1988 Miller High Life 400 (Richmond)

The 1988 Miller High Life 400 was the 22nd stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 31st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, September 11, 1988, before an audience of 60,000 in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. At race's end, Ranier-Lundy Racing's Davey Allison would manage to dominate the majority of the race, leading 262 laps to take his fourth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt and Junior Johnson & Associates' Terry Labonte would finish second and third, respectively.

1988 Miller High Life 400
Race details
Race 22 of 29 in the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1988 Miller Genuine Draft 400 program cover, featuring Bobby Hillin Jr. and Bobby Allison. Artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass.
The 1988 Miller Genuine Draft 400 program cover, featuring Bobby Hillin Jr. and Bobby Allison. Artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass.
Date September 11, 1988
Official name 31st Annual Miller High Life 400
Location Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
0.75 mi (1.21 km)
Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Scheduled Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Average speed 95.77 miles per hour (154.13 km/h)
Attendance 60,000
Pole position
Driver Ranier-Lundy Racing
Time 21.978
Most laps led
Driver Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing
Laps 262
Winner
No. 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing
Television in the United States
Network TBS
Announcers Ken Squier, Johnny Hayes
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The race was the first ever race at the newly-built Richmond International Raceway, a track that replaced the old Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway.[3]

Background

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The layout of Richmond International Raceway, the venue where the race was at.

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
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
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
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
20 Rayven Clark Zieglar Racing Chevrolet Zieglar Racing
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 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile Hardee's
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Country Time
31 Jim Sauter Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile Slender You Figure Salons
32 Lee Faulk Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile Slender You Figure Salons
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
37 Randy Morrison Morrison Racing Ford Morrison Racing
40 Ben Hess Hess Racing Oldsmobile Hess Racing
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Piedmont Airlines
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Eureka
54 Lennie Pond Gray Racing Chevrolet Heritage Chevrolet
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Crown Central Petroleum, Skoal Classic
57 Morgan Shepherd Osterlund Racing Buick Heinz Ketchup
66 Bob Schacht Reet Racing Buick Reet Racing
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
78 Jay Sommers Sommers Racing Chevrolet Doe & Associates
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Wynn's, Kmart
88 Greg Sacks 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 originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was scheduled to be held on Friday, September 9, at 3:00 PM EST. Originally, the first 20 positions were going to be determined by first round qualifying, with positions 21-30 meant to be determined the following day on Saturday, September 10.[4] However, due to rain, the first round was cancelled. As a result, qualifying was condensed into one round for all starting grid spots in the race, which was run on Saturday. 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.[5]

Davey Allison, driving for Ranier-Lundy Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 21.978 and an average speed of 122.850 miles per hour (197.708 km/h).[6]

The starting lineup was drastically changed due to consequences of an ongoing tire war between the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Hoosier Racing Tire. A rule implemented at the time stated that if a driver who had managed to qualify for a race changed tire brands between the qualifying session and the race, the driver was forced to forfeit their starting position and start at the rear. Around half of qualified drivers decided to switch tire brands, all of them forfeiting their original starting positions. The decision was regarded as unprecedented. The lineup is still disputed to this day, as NASCAR officials at the time were still in dispute over the correct order of the official starting lineup at the start of the race.[7]

Nine drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results (disputed)

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 21.978 122.850
2 12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 22.150 121.896
3 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 22.162 121.830
4 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.251 121.343
5 31 Butch Miller Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 22.296 121.098
6 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 22.256 121.316
7 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 22.407 120.498
8 88 Greg Sacks Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 22.284 121.163
9 97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick 22.545 119.760
10 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 22.343 120.843
11 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 22.668 119.111
12 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 22.373 120.681
13 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet - -
14 32 Lee Faulk Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 22.539 119.792
15 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford 22.705 118.917
16 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 22.547 119.750
17 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile - -
18 66 Bob Schacht Reet Racing Buick 22.630 119.311
Forfeit starting positions
19 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 22.384 120.622
20 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 22.083 122.266
21 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 22.253 121.332
22 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 22.389 120.595
23 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.274 121.218
24 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 22.319 120.973
25 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.116 122.084
26 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 22.604 119.448
27 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22.352 120.795
28 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 22.105 122.144
29 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 22.591 119.517
30 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 22.316 120.989
31 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 22.070 122.338
32 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 22.508 119.957
33 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 22.500 120.000
34 57 Morgan Shepherd Osterlund Racing Buick 22.447 120.283
35 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 22.516 119.915
36 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 22.553 119.718
Failed to qualify (results unknown)
37 20 Rayven Clark Zieglar Racing Chevrolet -* -*
38 37 Randy Morrison Morrison Racing Ford -* -*
39 40 Ben Hess Hess Racing Oldsmobile -* -*
40 54 Lennie Pond Gray Racing Chevrolet -* -*
41 67 Ron Esau Arrington Racing Ford -* -*
42 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford -* -*
43 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac -* -*
44 78 Jay Sommers Sommers Racing Chevrolet -* -*
45 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick -* -*
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 1 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 400 262 running 185 $57,800
2 19 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 400 78 running 175 $29,625
3 22 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 400 5 running 170 $20,525
4 28 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 400 0 running 160 $10,925
5 31 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 400 0 running 155 $15,825
6 27 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 399 0 running 150 $10,400
7 20 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 399 1 running 151 $11,600
8 25 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 398 0 running 142 $9,100
9 29 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 398 0 running 138 $8,900
10 13 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 397 0 running 134 $8,600
11 7 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 397 0 running 130 $10,070
12 6 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 397 0 running 127 $6,000
13 8 88 Greg Sacks Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 396 0 running 0 $5,750
14 11 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 396 0 running 121 $5,160
15 33 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 395 0 running 118 $4,430
16 24 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 394 0 running 115 $5,130
17 2 12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 394 22 running 117 $7,975
18 4 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 393 0 running 109 $8,865
19 15 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford 392 0 running 106 $4,050
20 10 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 392 0 running 103 $5,275
21 9 97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick 392 0 running 100 $2,020
22 23 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 390 0 running 97 $4,315
23 14 32 Lee Faulk Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 388 0 running 0 $1,920
24 26 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 361 0 running 91 $4,175
25 5 31 Butch Miller Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 352 18 axle 0 $2,730
26 12 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 349 14 engine 90 $5,010
27 17 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 339 0 engine 82 $1,760
28 35 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 292 0 engine 79 $1,990
29 36 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 259 0 fatigue 76 $3,210
30 18 66 Bob Schacht Reet Racing Buick 138 0 brakes 0 $1,650
31 34 57 Morgan Shepherd Osterlund Racing Buick 59 0 handling 70 $1,590
32 16 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 36 0 crash 67 $3,710
33 3 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 36 0 engine 64 $2,150
34 32 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 26 0 crash 61 $2,900
35 21 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 18 0 crash 58 $9,650
36 30 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 11 0 crash 55 $1,400
Failed to qualify (results unknown)
37 20 Rayven Clark Zieglar Racing Chevrolet
38 37 Randy Morrison Morrison Racing Ford
39 40 Ben Hess Hess Racing Oldsmobile
40 54 Lennie Pond Gray Racing Chevrolet
41 67 Ron Esau Arrington Racing Ford
42 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford
43 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac
44 78 Jay Sommers Sommers Racing Chevrolet
45 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (September 12, 1988). "Allison Drives To Win". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B, 3B. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Pearson, Harold (September 12, 1988). "Allison captures triumph in 400". Richmond Times-Dispatch. pp. C1, C6. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Millsaps, Bill (September 12, 1988). "Richmond reaches big time with RIR's coming-out party". Richmond Times-Dispatch. pp. C1, C6. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ "NASCAR Today". The Charlotte Observer. September 9, 1988. pp. 3B. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Higgins, Tom (September 10, 1988). "Drivers Still Wait To Get Acquainted With New Track". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 3B. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Higgins, Tom (September 11, 1988). "Allison Grabs Richmond Pole". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 19D. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ Mulhurn, Mike (September 12, 1988). "Some Teams Calling for Changes With NASCAR, Tire Companies". Winston-Salem Journal. p. 24. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  


Previous race:
1988 Southern 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1988 season
Next race:
1988 Delaware 500