The 1989 Budweiser 500 was the 11th stock car race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 21st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 4, 1989, before an audience of 66,000 in Dover, Delaware at Dover Downs International Speedway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. On the final restart with seven laps left in the race, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would manage to pull away from the field, completing a dominant performance where Earnhardt led 456 laps of the race. The victory was Earnhardt's 36th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season.[1][2][3][4] To fill out the top three, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin and Hendrick Motorsports driver Ken Schrader would finish second and third, respectively.

1989 Budweiser 500
Race details
Race 11 of 29 in the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1989 Budweiser 500 program cover, featuring Terry Labonte.
The 1989 Budweiser 500 program cover, featuring Terry Labonte.
Date June 4, 1989
Official name 21st Annual Budweiser 500
Location Dover, Delaware, Dover Downs International Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1 mi (1.6 km)
Distance 500 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Scheduled Distance 500 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Average speed 121.67 miles per hour (195.81 km/h)
Attendance 66,000
Pole position
Driver Roush Racing
Time 24.933
Most laps led
Driver Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing
Laps 456
Winner
No. 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

edit
 
The layout of Dover Downs International Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

Dover Downs International Speedway is an oval race track in Dover, Delaware, United States that has held at least two NASCAR races since it opened in 1969. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC and the NTT IndyCar Series. The track features one layout, a 1-mile (1.6 km) concrete oval, with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. The speedway is owned and operated by Dover Motorsports.

The track, nicknamed "The Monster Mile", was built in 1969 by Melvin Joseph of Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc., with an asphalt surface, but was replaced with concrete in 1995. Six years later in 2001, the track's capacity moved to 135,000 seats, making the track have the largest capacity of sports venue in the mid-Atlantic. In 2002, the name changed to Dover International Speedway from Dover Downs International Speedway after Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment split, making Dover Motorsports. From 2007 to 2009, the speedway worked on an improvement project called "The Monster Makeover", which expanded facilities at the track and beautified the track. After the 2014 season, the track's capacity was reduced to 95,500 seats.

Entry list

edit
  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
2 Ernie Irvan U.S. Racing Pontiac Kroger
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Kodak
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
10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Pontiac Purolator Filters
11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Ford Budweiser
15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft
16 Larry Pearson (R) Pearson Racing Buick Chattanooga Chew
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile B&B Racing
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 Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac Hardee's
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Country Time
33 Harry Gant Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal Bandit
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
49 Bill Flowers Hylton Motorsports Buick Hylton Motorsports
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Alka-Seltzer
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal, Crown Central Petroleum
57 Hut Stricklin (R) Osterlund Racing Pontiac Heinz
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Lifebuoy
75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Valvoline
80 Jimmy Horton S&H Racing Pontiac S&H Racing
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
84 Dick Trickle (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller High Life
88 Jimmy Spencer (R) Baker–Schiff Racing Pontiac Crisco
94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Sunoco
99 Norm Benning O'Neil Racing Chevrolet O'Neil Racing

Qualifying

edit

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, June 2, at 3:00 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 Saturday, June 3, at 11:30 AM 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 provisionals were given.

Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 24.933 and an average speed of 144.387 miles per hour (232.368 km/h) in the first round.[6][7]

No drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

edit
Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 24.933 144.387
2 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 25.011 143.937
3 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 25.059 143.661
4 75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 25.072 143.586
5 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 25.074 143.575
6 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 25.081 143.535
7 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 25.095 143.455
8 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 25.120 143.312
9 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 25.135 143.227
10 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 25.163 143.067
11 16 Larry Pearson (R) Pearson Racing Buick 25.200 142.857
12 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 25.253 142.557
13 33 Harry Gant Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 25.299 142.298
14 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 25.305 142.264
15 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 25.335 142.096
16 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 25.337 142.085
17 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 25.344 142.045
18 84 Dick Trickle (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 25.357 141.973
19 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 25.389 141.794
20 88 Jimmy Spencer (R) Baker–Schiff Racing Pontiac 25.467 141.359
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 25.137 143.215
22 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 25.146 143.164
23 2 Ernie Irvan U.S. Racing Pontiac 25.218 142.755
24 94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 25.398 141.743
25 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 25.490 141.232
26 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 25.543 140.939
27 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 25.556 140.867
28 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Pontiac 25.573 140.773
29 80 Jimmy Horton S&H Racing Pontiac 25.637 140.422
30 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 25.644 140.384
31 57 Hut Stricklin (R) Osterlund Racing Pontiac 25.703 140.061
32 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 25.787 139.605
33 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 26.166 137.583
34 49 Bill Flowers Hylton Motorsports Buick 27.384 131.464
35 99 Norm Benning O'Neil Racing Chevrolet - -
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

edit
Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 2 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 500 456 running 185 $59,350
2 1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 500 2 running 175 $38,950
3 5 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 22 running 170 $36,525
4 15 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 500 6 running 165 $18,425
5 3 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 500 9 running 160 $20,975
6 7 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 500 0 running 150 $11,675
7 21 21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 499 3 running 151 $10,925
8 8 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 499 0 running 142 $16,625
9 12 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 498 0 running 138 $13,675
10 25 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 497 0 running 134 $11,275
11 14 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 494 0 running 130 $8,025
12 31 57 Hut Stricklin (R) Osterlund Racing Pontiac 493 0 running 127 $6,732
13 26 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 493 0 running 124 $7,400
14 6 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 492 0 running 121 $6,825
15 9 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 492 0 running 118 $7,175
16 32 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 491 0 running 115 $6,100
17 23 2 Ernie Irvan U.S. Racing Pontiac 491 0 running 112 $3,850
18 19 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 490 0 running 109 $5,700
19 11 16 Larry Pearson (R) Pearson Racing Buick 490 0 running 106 $3,850
20 30 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 489 0 running 103 $4,375
21 18 84 Dick Trickle (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 487 0 running 100 $6,050
22 16 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 483 0 accident 97 $5,200
23 13 33 Harry Gant Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 482 2 running 99 $9,450
24 33 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 477 0 running 91 $2,400
25 17 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 444 0 running 88 $5,150
26 24 94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 434 0 running 85 $4,950
27 27 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 355 0 running 82 $2,875
28 28 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Pontiac 304 0 engine 79 $2,200
29 10 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 294 0 piston 76 $9,150
30 35 99 Norm Benning O'Neil Racing Chevrolet 226 0 steering 73 $2,150
31 29 80 Jimmy Horton S&H Racing Pontiac 211 0 engine 70 $2,050
32 22 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 171 0 engine 67 $10,400
33 4 75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 140 0 accident 64 $9,950
34 20 88 Jimmy Spencer (R) Baker–Schiff Racing Pontiac 75 0 engine 0 $4,500
35 34 49 Bill Flowers Hylton Motorsports Buick 2 0 engine 58 $1,800
Official race results

Standings after the race

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (June 5, 1989). "Earnhardt Gives Chevrolet A Dover Victory (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 15. Retrieved May 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (June 5, 1989). "Earnhardt Gives Chevrolet A Dover Victory (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 18. Retrieved May 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Vehorn, Frank (June 5, 1989). "Dale Earnhardt settles old score with Dover Downs (Part 1)". The Roanoke Times. p. 9. Retrieved May 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Vehorn, Frank (June 5, 1989). "Dale Earnhardt settles old score with Dover Downs (Part 2)". The Roanoke Times. p. 14. Retrieved May 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "NASCAR Today". The Charlotte Observer. June 2, 1989. p. 28. Retrieved May 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Higgins, Tom (June 2, 1989). "Martin, Ford Cruise Away For Dover Pole (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 29. Retrieved May 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ Higgins, Tom (June 2, 1989). "Martin, Ford Cruise Away For Dover Pole (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 32. Retrieved May 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  


Previous race:
1989 Coca-Cola 600
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1989 season
Next race:
1989 Banquet Frozen Foods 300