1988 Talladega DieHard 500

The 1988 Talladega DieHard 500 was the 17th stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 20th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 31, 1988, before an audience of 80,000 in Lincoln, Alabama at Alabama International Motor Speedway, a 2.66 miles (4.28 km) permanent triangle-shaped superspeedway. The race took the scheduled 188 laps to complete. On the final lap of the race, Hendrick Motorsports driver Ken Schrader would manage to make a pass for the lead coming out of the track's second turn, holding onto the lead for the rest of the lap to take the victory. The victory was Schrader's first career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season.[1][2][3][4] To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports driver Geoff Bodine and Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would finish second and third, respectively.

1988 Talladega DieHard 500
Race details
Race 17 of 29 in the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1988 Talladega DieHard 500 program cover, featuring Bill Elliott.
The 1988 Talladega DieHard 500 program cover, featuring Bill Elliott.
Date July 31, 1988
Official name 20th Annual Talladega DieHard 500
Location Lincoln, Alabama, Alabama International Motor Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
2.66 mi (4.28 km)
Distance 188 laps, 500.08 mi (804.8 km)
Scheduled Distance 188 laps, 500.08 mi (804.8 km)
Average speed 154.505 miles per hour (248.652 km/h)
Attendance 80,000
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 48.789
Most laps led
Driver Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 123
Winner
No. 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network CBS
Announcers Ken Squier, Ned Jarrett, Chris Economaki
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

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The layout of Talladega Superspeedway, the venue where the race was held.

Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a tri-oval and was constructed in the 1960s by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line that's located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and the Camping World Truck Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval, a 2.66-mile-long (4.28 km) tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which also is a 2.5-mile-long (4.0 km) tri-oval.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
0 Delma Cowart H. L. Waters Racing Chevrolet Heywood Grooms Construction
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
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
14 A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Racing Oldsmobile Copenhagen
15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford Crisco
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
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 Joe Ruttman Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile Slender You Figure Salons
32 Philip Duffie Duffie Racing Buick Bob Beard Buick
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
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
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Eureka
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Crown Central Petroleum, Skoal
59 Mark Gibson Gibson Racing Pontiac Gibson 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
73 Phil Barkdoll Barkdoll Racing Ford Helen Rae Special
75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Valvoline
76 Hut Stricklin Jaehne Motorsports Pontiac Jaehne Motorsports
77 Ken Ragan Ragan Racing Ford Circle Bar Truck Stop, Bob Beard Ford
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Wynn's, Kmart
86 Rick Jeffrey Jeffrey Racing Chevrolet Slenderizers
88 Buddy Baker Baker-Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Red Baron Frozen Pizza
90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
95 Slick Johnson Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet Sadler Brothers Racing
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 Thursday, July 28, 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 Friday, July 29, 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.

Darrell Waltrip, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 48.789 and an average speed of 196.274 miles per hour (315.872 km/h) in the first round.[6][7]

Eight drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 48.789 196.274
2 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 49.275 194.338
3 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 49.309 194.204
4 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 49.362 193.995
5 75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 49.376 193.940
6 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 49.475 193.552
7 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 49.531 193.333
8 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 49.684 192.738
9 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 49.691 192.711
10 50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac 49.692 192.707
11 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 49.771 192.401
12 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 49.796 192.305
13 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 49.881 191.977
14 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 49.927 191.800
15 12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 49.969 191.639
16 29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 49.982 191.589
17 14 A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Racing Oldsmobile 50.041 191.363
18 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 50.052 191.321
19 01 Mickey Gibbs Gibbs Racing Ford 50.120 191.061
20 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 50.218 190.689
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 50.146 190.962
22 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 50.340 190.226
23 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 50.351 190.185
24 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 50.454 189.797
25 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 50.500 189.624
26 1 Dale Jarrett Ellington Racing Buick 50.500 189.624
27 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 50.568 189.369
28 97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick 50.604 189.234
29 67 Ron Esau Arrington Racing Chevrolet 50.611 189.208
30 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 50.701 188.872
31 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Chevrolet 50.702 188.868
32 7 Alan Kulwicki Mach 1 Racing Ford 50.713 188.827
33 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 50.768 188.623
34 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 50.832 188.385
35 31 Joe Ruttman Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 50.919 188.063
36 77 Ken Ragan Ragan Racing Ford 50.937 187.997
37 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 50.943 187.975
38 73 Phil Barkdoll Barkdoll Racing Chevrolet 50.971 187.872
39 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford 51.094 187.419
40 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 51.124 187.309
Provisionals
41 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 52.355 182.905
42 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 52.181 183.515
Failed to qualify
43 07 Larry Moyer Stark Racing Pontiac 51.133 187.276
44 95 Slick Johnson Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet 51.210 186.995
45 86 Rick Jeffrey Jeffrey Racing Chevrolet 51.443 186.148
46 0 Delma Cowart H. L. Waters Racing Chevrolet 51.452 186.115
47 76 Hut Stricklin Jaehne Motorsports Pontiac 51.626 185.488
48 59 Mark Gibson Gibson Racing Pontiac 52.029 184.051
49 32 Philip Duffie Duffie Racing Buick - -
50 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac - -
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 7 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 188 8 running 180 $67,920
2 4 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 188 0 running 170 $39,915
3 6 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 188 37 running 170 $37,775
4 25 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 188 0 running 160 $20,075
5 22 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 188 0 running 155 $23,215
6 2 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 188 0 running 150 $14,800
7 20 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 188 0 running 146 $10,675
8 8 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 188 1 running 147 $16,220
9 16 29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 188 5 running 143 $8,520
10 14 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 188 1 running 139 $11,370
11 12 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 188 3 running 135 $9,440
12 17 14 A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Racing Oldsmobile 188 3 running 132 $5,470
13 30 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 188 1 running 129 $6,650
14 21 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 188 0 running 121 $12,680
15 13 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 188 0 running 118 $12,175
16 18 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 188 0 running 115 $7,865
17 11 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 188 0 running 112 $7,505
18 37 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 188 1 running 114 $7,395
19 32 7 Alan Kulwicki Mach 1 Racing Ford 188 0 running 106 $7,110
20 27 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 187 0 running 103 $7,505
21 34 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 187 0 running 100 $6,635
22 40 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 187 0 running 97 $4,725
23 23 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 187 1 running 99 $6,365
24 42 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 187 0 running 91 $6,230
25 15 12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 186 0 running 88 $10,520
26 38 73 Phil Barkdoll Barkdoll Racing Chevrolet 186 0 running 85 $3,355
27 41 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 186 0 running 82 $5,935
28 33 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 185 0 running 79 $11,825
29 28 97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick 184 0 running 76 $3,165
30 36 77 Ken Ragan Ragan Racing Ford 176 0 running 73 $3,105
31 24 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 175 0 running 70 $3,045
32 31 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Chevrolet 165 0 running 67 $3,235
33 1 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 162 123 engine 74 $32,675
34 19 01 Mickey Gibbs Gibbs Racing Ford 160 2 clutch 66 $3,955
35 39 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford 148 0 oil pan 58 $2,790
36 29 67 Ron Esau Arrington Racing Chevrolet 141 0 fan blade $4,755
37 26 1 Dale Jarrett Ellington Racing Buick 141 1 engine 57 $2,795
38 10 50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac 133 0 engine 49 $2,630
39 3 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 88 1 engine 51 $12,270
40 5 75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 67 0 crash 43 $9,560
41 9 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 45 0 engine 40 $5,135
42 35 31 Joe Ruttman Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 33 0 engine 37 $3,110
Failed to qualify
43 07 Larry Moyer Stark Racing Pontiac
44 95 Slick Johnson Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet
45 86 Rick Jeffrey Jeffrey Racing Chevrolet
46 0 Delma Cowart H. L. Waters Racing Chevrolet
47 76 Hut Stricklin Jaehne Motorsports Pontiac
48 59 Mark Gibson Gibson Racing Pontiac
49 32 Philip Duffie Duffie Racing Buick
50 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (August 1, 1988). "Schrader Takes High Road At Talladega (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 15. Retrieved July 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (August 1, 1988). "Schrader Takes High Road At Talladega (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 17. Retrieved July 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Finebaum, Paul (August 1, 1988). "Schrader scrambles to first victory (Part 1)". Birmingham Post-Herald. p. 11. Retrieved July 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Finebaum, Paul (August 1, 1988). "Schrader scrambles to first victory (Part 2)". Birmingham Post-Herald. p. 14. Retrieved July 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "NASCAR Today". The Charlotte Observer. July 28, 1988. p. 33. Retrieved July 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Higgins, Tom (July 29, 1988). "Waltrip Stays Hot, Takes Talladega Pole (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 49. Retrieved July 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ Higgins, Tom (July 29, 1988). "Waltrip Stays Hot, Takes Talladega Pole (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 53. Retrieved July 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  


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1988 AC Spark Plug 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1988 season
Next race:
1988 The Budweiser at The Glen