The 1989 Goodwrench 500 was the second stock car race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 24th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 5, 1989, before an audience of 44,300 in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. On the final restart with six laps left in the race, Blue Max Racing driver Rusty Wallace would manage to pull away to a sizable lead to take his 11th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season.[1][2][3][4] To fill out the top three, owner-driver Alan Kulwicki and Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would finish second and third, respectively.

1989 Goodwrench 500
Race details
Race 2 of 29 in the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1989 GM Goodwrench 500 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt.
The 1989 GM Goodwrench 500 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt.
Date March 5, 1989
Official name 24th Annual Goodwrench 500
Location Rockingham, North Carolina, North Carolina Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.017 mi (1.637 km)
Distance 492 laps, 500.364 mi (805.257 km)
Scheduled Distance 492 laps, 500.364 mi (805.257 km)
Average speed 115.122 miles per hour (185.271 km/h)
Attendance 44,300
Pole position
Driver Blue Max Racing
Time 24.606
Most laps led
Driver Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing
Laps 222
Winner
No. 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Gary Nelson, Ned Jarrett
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

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The layout of North Carolina Motor Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

North Carolina Motor Speedway was opened as a flat, one-mile oval on October 31, 1965. In 1969, the track was extensively reconfigured to a high-banked, D-shaped oval just over one mile in length. In 1997, North Carolina Motor Speedway merged with Penske Motorsports, and was renamed North Carolina Speedway. Shortly thereafter, the infield was reconfigured, and competition on the infield road course, mostly by the SCCA, was discontinued. Currently, the track is home to the Fast Track High Performance Driving School.

Entry list

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  • (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 Ken Bouchard Whitcomb Racing Pontiac Whitcomb Racing
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
20 Dave Mader III Bahre Racing Pontiac Cheerwine
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
31 Jim Sauter Bob Clark Motorsports Pontiac Slender You Figure Salons
33 Harry Gant Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal Bandit
34 Rodney Combs AAG Racing Buick Allen's Glass
40 Ben Hess (R) Hess Racing Oldsmobile Hess Racing
41 Jim Bown Bown Racing Chevrolet Rose Auto Wrecking
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
48 Mickey Gibbs (R) Winkle Motorsports Pontiac SmartLease
51 Butch Miller (R) Miller Racing Chevrolet Miller Racing
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Alka-Seltzer
53 Jerry O'Neil Aroneck Racing Chevrolet Aroneck Racing
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal, Crown Central Petroleum
57 Hut Stricklin (R) Osterlund Racing Pontiac Heinz
66 Rick Mast (R) Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Mach 1 Racing
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Lifebuoy
75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Valvoline
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
84 Dick Trickle (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller High Life
88 Greg Sacks Baker–Schiff Racing Pontiac Crisco
94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Sunoco

Qualifying

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Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was held on Thursday, March 2, at 2:30 PM EST. Originally, the first 20 positions were going to be determined by first round qualifying, with positions 21-40 meant to be determined the following day on Friday, March 3.[5] However, due to rain, the second round was cancelled. As a result, the rest of the starting lineup was set using the results from the first round. 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.[6]

Rusty Wallace, driving for Blue Max Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 24.606 and an average speed of 148.793 miles per hour (239.459 km/h) in the first round.[7][8]

No drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 24.606 148.793
2 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 24.679 148.353
3 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 24.709 148.173
4 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 24.717 148.125
5 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 24.847 147.350
6 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 24.887 147.113
7 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 24.887 147.113
8 33 Harry Gant Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 24.896 147.060
9 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 24.923 146.900
10 66 Rick Mast (R) Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 24.974 146.600
11 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 24.975 146.595
12 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 24.975 146.595
13 75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 24.985 146.536
14 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 25.097 145.882
15 88 Greg Sacks Baker–Schiff Racing Pontiac 25.111 145.801
16 94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 25.124 145.725
17 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 25.130 145.690
18 2 Ernie Irvan U.S. Racing Pontiac 25.146 145.598
19 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 25.205 145.257
20 34 Rodney Combs AAG Racing Buick 25.242 145.044
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 25.244 145.032
22 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 25.261 144.935
23 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 25.290 144.769
24 21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 25.302 144.700
25 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 25.328 144.551
26 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 25.371 144.306
27 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 25.383 144.238
28 16 Larry Pearson (R) Pearson Racing Buick 25.412 144.074
29 10 Ken Bouchard Whitcomb Racing Pontiac 25.480 143.689
30 40 Ben Hess (R) Hess Racing Oldsmobile 25.503 143.560
31 51 Butch Miller (R) Miller Racing Chevrolet 25.509 143.526
32 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 25.541 143.346
33 31 Jim Sauter Bob Clark Motorsports Pontiac 25.565 143.211
34 53 Jerry O'Neil Aroneck Racing Chevrolet 25.669 142.631
35 48 Mickey Gibbs (R) Winkle Motorsports Pontiac 25.679 142.576
36 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 25.707 142.420
37 57 Hut Stricklin (R) Osterlund Racing Pontiac 25.784 141.995
38 20 Dave Mader III Bahre Racing Pontiac 25.912 141.294
39 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 25.939 141.147
40 41 Jim Bown Bown Racing Chevrolet 25.978 140.935
Provisionals
41 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac - -
42 84 Dick Trickle (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Buick - -
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 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 492 222 running 185 $72,100
2 12 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 492 24 running 175 $29,600
3 19 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 492 0 running 165 $24,200
4 6 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 492 19 running 165 $17,975
5 4 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 492 14 running 160 $15,963
6 17 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 492 22 running 155 $14,680
7 16 94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 491 0 running 146 $9,975
8 25 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 490 2 running 147 $9,525
9 15 88 Greg Sacks Baker–Schiff Racing Pontiac 490 0 running 138 $9,225
10 33 31 Jim Sauter Bob Clark Motorsports Pontiac 489 0 running 134 $9,450
11 22 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 489 2 running 135 $8,525
12 27 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 488 0 running 127 $8,125
13 42 84 Dick Trickle (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 488 0 running 124 $10,182
14 24 21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 488 0 running 121 $7,225
15 23 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 487 0 running 118 $7,625
16 39 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 487 0 running 115 $5,700
17 5 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 487 0 running 112 $6,475
18 14 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 486 0 running 109 $10,475
19 7 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 486 0 running 106 $14,225
20 35 48 Mickey Gibbs (R) Winkle Motorsports Pontiac 486 0 running 103 $4,800
21 10 66 Rick Mast (R) Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 484 0 running 100 $5,925
22 30 40 Ben Hess (R) Hess Racing Oldsmobile 483 0 running 97 $2,850
23 18 2 Ernie Irvan U.S. Racing Pontiac 482 0 running 94 $3,450
24 38 20 Dave Mader III Bahre Racing Pontiac 480 0 running 91 $2,675
25 3 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 479 0 accident 88 $9,925
26 32 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 479 0 running 85 $2,550
27 13 75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 477 0 running 82 $10,700
28 34 53 Jerry O'Neil Aroneck Racing Chevrolet 476 0 running 79 $2,450
29 2 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 461 0 running 76 $11,225
30 28 16 Larry Pearson (R) Pearson Racing Buick 457 3 engine 78 $2,375
31 8 33 Harry Gant Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 451 79 running 75 $2,200
32 11 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 450 104 running 72 $5,825
33 36 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 448 0 running 64 $2,080
34 9 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 407 0 cylinder head 61 $4,680
35 26 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 400 1 running 63 $4,605
36 40 41 Jim Bown Bown Racing Chevrolet 389 0 oil pump 0 $1,925
37 41 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 384 0 oil pressure 52 $1,900
38 29 10 Ken Bouchard Whitcomb Racing Pontiac 299 0 valve 49 $3,475
39 21 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 294 0 engine 46 $3,850
40 20 34 Rodney Combs AAG Racing Buick 214 0 engine 43 $1,825
41 37 57 Hut Stricklin (R) Osterlund Racing Pontiac 115 0 crank 40 $1,825
42 31 51 Butch Miller (R) Miller Racing Chevrolet 50 0 engine 37 $1,825
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (March 6, 1989). "Yellow Flags Sweep Wallace To Victory Lane (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 17. Retrieved April 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (March 6, 1989). "Yellow Flags Sweep Wallace To Victory Lane (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 22. Retrieved April 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ King, Randy (March 6, 1989). "Wallace gets 'em back (Part 1)". The Roanoke Times. p. 11. Retrieved April 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ King, Randy (March 6, 1989). "Wallace gets 'em back (Part 2)". The Roanoke Times. p. 15. Retrieved April 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "NASCAR today". The Charlotte Observer. March 2, 1989. p. 34. Retrieved April 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Higgins, Tom (March 4, 1989). "Rain Washes Away 2nd-Day NASCAR Qualifying". The Charlotte Observer. p. 23. Retrieved April 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ Higgins, Tom (March 3, 1989). "Wallace Takes Pole In Record Time (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 45. Retrieved April 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  8. ^ Higgins, Tom (March 3, 1989). "Wallace Takes Pole In Record Time (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 47. Retrieved April 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
Previous race:
1989 Daytona 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1989 season
Next race:
1989 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500