1988 Miller High Life 500

The 1988 Miller High Life 500 was the 13th stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the seventh iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 19, 1988, before an audience of 96,000 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, at Pocono Raceway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) triangular permanent course. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end, Hendrick Motorsports driver Geoff Bodine would manage to run the final 42 laps of the race on one tank of fuel to take his sixth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season.[1][2][3][4] To fill out the top three, Bahari Racing driver Michael Waltrip and Blue Max Racing driver Rusty Wallace would finish second and third, respectively.

1988 Miller High Life 500
Race details
Race 13 of 29 in the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1988 Miller High Life 500 program cover, featuring Bobby Hillin Jr. and Bobby Allison.
The 1988 Miller High Life 500 program cover, featuring Bobby Hillin Jr. and Bobby Allison.
Date June 19, 1988
Official name 7th Annual Miller High Life 500
Location Long Pond, Pennsylvania, Pocono Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.0 km)
Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Scheduled Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Average speed 126.147 miles per hour (203.014 km/h)
Attendance 96,000
Pole position
Driver AK Racing
Time 56.673
Most laps led
Driver Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 90
Winner
No. 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network FNN (tape-delayed)
Announcers Pat Patterson, Bob Latford
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

On the first lap of the race, a crash involving Stavola Brothers Racing driver Bobby Allison and Linro Motorsports driver Jocko Maggiacomo would occur in the second turn of the speedway. Allison, who had cut a tire before the start of the race, would spin in the second turn while trying to nurse his car to pit road. Maggiacomo, who had started behind Allison, was unable to avoid the spinning Allison and t-boned Allison's car on the driver's side. As a result, Allison would suffer a broken left leg and a cerebral concussion.[5][6] Allison would eventually recover from his physical injuries, but was left with amnesia after the incident.[7] Maggiacomo, who suffered a fractured left ankle, would retire after the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season after suffering from PTSD from hitting Allison.[8]

Background

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The layout of Pocono International Raceway, the venue where the race was held.

The race was held at Pocono International Raceway, which is a three-turn superspeedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The track hosts two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, as well as one Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series event. Until 2019, the track also hosted an IndyCar Series race.

Pocono International Raceway is one of a very few NASCAR tracks not owned by either Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or International Speedway Corporation. It is operated by the Igdalsky siblings Brandon, Nicholas, and sister Ashley, and cousins Joseph IV and Chase Mattioli, all of whom are third-generation members of the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Joseph II and Rose Mattioli.

Outside of the NASCAR races, the track is used throughout the year by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and motorcycle clubs as well as racing schools and an IndyCar race. The triangular oval also has three separate infield sections of racetrack – North Course, East Course and South Course. Each of these infield sections use a separate portion of the tri-oval to complete the track. During regular non-race weekends, multiple clubs can use the track by running on different infield sections. Also some of the infield sections can be run in either direction, or multiple infield sections can be put together – such as running the North Course and the South Course and using the tri-oval to connect the two.

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 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller High Life
15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford Crisco
16 Bob Schacht Chilson Racing Ford Ed Learn Ford
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Steve Moore Hamby Racing Chevrolet Hamby Racing
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 Joe Ruttman Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile Slender You Figure Salons
33 Morgan Shepherd Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Piedmont Airlines
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Eureka
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Crown, Skoal Classic
63 Jocko Maggiacomo Linro Motorsports Chevrolet Linro Motorsports
64 Mike Potter Potter Racing Chevrolet Bullfrog Knits
67 Buddy Arrington 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
85 Bobby Gerhart Bobby Gerhart Racing Chevrolet James Chevrolet
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, June 17, at 3:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 15 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, June 18, 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 16-40 would be decided on time,[9] 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 provisionals were given.

Alan Kulwicki, driving for his own AK Racing team, would win the pole, setting a time of 56.673 and an average speed of 158.806 miles per hour (255.573 km/h) in the first round.[10][11]

Three drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 56.673 158.806
2 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 56.870 158.256
3 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 56.908 158.150
4 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 57.344 156.948
5 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 57.376 156.860
6 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 57.626 156.180
7 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 57.654 156.104
8 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 57.695 155.993
9 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 57.711 155.949
10 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 57.735 155.885
11 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 57.737 155.879
12 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 57.816 155.666
13 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 57.835 155.615
14 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 57.905 155.427
15 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 57.933 155.352
Failed to lock in Round 1
16 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 57.688 156.012
17 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 57.984 155.215
18 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 57.990 155.199
19 33 Morgan Shepherd Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 58.040 155.065
20 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 58.063 155.004
21 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 58.177 154.700
22 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 58.211 154.610
23 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 58.303 154.366
24 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Chevrolet 58.457 153.959
25 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 58.535 153.754
26 97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick 58.623 153.523
27 31 Joe Ruttman Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 58.624 153.521
28 12 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 58.663 153.419
29 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford 58.668 153.406
30 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 58.693 153.340
31 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 58.704 153.312
32 80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford 58.752 153.186
33 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 58.930 152.724
34 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 59.033 152.457
35 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 59.171 152.102
36 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 59.185 152.066
37 16 Bob Schacht Chilson Racing Ford 59.588 151.037
38 63 Jocko Maggiacomo Linro Motorsports Chevrolet 59.620 150.956
39 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford 59.666 150.840
40 85 Bobby Gerhart Bobby Gerhart Racing Chevrolet 1:00.140 149.651
Failed to qualify
41 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac -* -*
42 64 Mike Potter Potter Racing Chevrolet -* -*
43 22 Steve Moore Hamby 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 3 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 90 running 185 $51,200
2 30 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 200 1 running 175 $31,100
3 17 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 200 23 running 170 $26,500
4 15 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 200 6 running 165 $15,080
5 6 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 200 0 running 155 $20,925
6 9 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 0 running 150 $13,625
7 25 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 200 0 running 146 $11,600
8 11 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 200 3 running 147 $9,700
9 2 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 68 running 143 $13,480
10 4 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 200 0 running 134 $15,460
11 7 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 199 0 running 130 $11,490
12 14 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 199 0 running 127 $11,270
13 20 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 199 0 running 124 $5,950
14 29 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford 199 0 running 121 $4,550
15 22 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 199 0 running 118 $7,875
16 19 33 Morgan Shepherd Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 198 0 running 115 $7,060
17 27 31 Joe Ruttman Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 197 0 running 112 $4,655
18 32 80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford 196 0 running 109 $3,500
19 31 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 196 0 running 106 $3,115
20 36 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 194 0 running 103 $6,635
21 39 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford 192 0 running 0 $4,880
22 40 85 Bobby Gerhart Bobby Gerhart Racing Chevrolet 190 0 running 97 $2,775
23 12 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 187 0 running 94 $3,670
24 34 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 187 0 running 91 $6,190
25 8 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 148 0 running 88 $3,510
26 13 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 147 9 crash 90 $5,255
27 1 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 127 0 engine 82 $7,650
28 21 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 118 0 engine 79 $5,070
29 35 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 111 0 camshaft 76 $2,340
30 10 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 105 0 engine 73 $4,935
31 23 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 100 0 crash 70 $4,855
32 5 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 98 0 engine 67 $9,175
33 18 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 93 0 engine 64 $13,045
34 26 97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick 54 0 engine 61 $2,030
35 16 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 27 0 engine 58 $12,075
36 37 16 Bob Schacht Chilson Racing Ford 22 0 engine 55 $1,920
37 24 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Chevrolet 12 0 crash 52 $1,865
38 33 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 11 0 engine 49 $4,435
39 28 12 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 0 0 crash 46 $9,805
40 38 63 Jocko Maggiacomo Linro Motorsports Chevrolet 0 0 crash 43 $1,750
Failed to qualify
41 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac
42 64 Mike Potter Potter Racing Chevrolet
43 22 Steve Moore Hamby Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (June 20, 1988). "Gambling G. Bodine Claims Pocono Race (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 13. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (June 20, 1988). "Gambling G. Bodine Claims Pocono Race (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 16. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Hocek, Bob (June 20, 1988). "Bodine rolls to Miller 500 victory (Part 1)". Times Leader. p. 17. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Hocek, Bob (June 20, 1988). "Bodine rolls to Miller 500 victory (Part 2)". Times Leader. p. 23. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Walsh, Scott (June 20, 1988). "Father's Day wasn't too pleasant for NASCAR stars Allison, Petty". The Scranton Times-Tribune. p. 12. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Hocek, Bob (June 20, 1988). "Allison remains critical". Times Leader. p. 23. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ Pearce, Al (August 20, 2021). "Sadly, Bobby Allison Does Not Remember His Favorite Race in NASCAR". Autoweek. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  8. ^ Beard, Brock (June 2, 2016). "6/19/88: Jocko Maggiacomo: the forgotten half of Bobby Allison's career-ending Pocono crash". LASTCAR. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  9. ^ "NASCAR Today". The Charlotte Observer. June 17, 1988. p. 41. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  10. ^ Higgins, Tom (June 18, 1988). "Kulwicki Takes Pocono Pole With Record Effort (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 19. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  11. ^ Higgins, Tom (June 18, 1988). "Kulwicki Takes Pocono Pole With Record Effort (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 23. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  


Previous race:
1988 Budweiser 400
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1988 season
Next race:
1988 Miller High Life 400 (Michigan)