The 1990 TranSouth 500 was the fifth stock car race of the 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 34th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 1, 1990, before an audience of 55,000 in Darlington, South Carolina, at Darlington Raceway, a 1.366 miles (2.198 km) permanent egg-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 367 laps to complete. On the final restart with three laps to go in the race, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would manage to fend off the field to take his 41st 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 Robert Yates Racing driver Davey Allison would finish second and third, respectively.

1990 TranSouth 500
Race details
Race 5 of 29 in the 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1990 TranSouth 500 program cover, featuring Harry Gant.
The 1990 TranSouth 500 program cover, featuring Harry Gant.
Date April 1, 1990
Official name 34th Annual TranSouth 500
Location Darlington, South Carolina, Darlington Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.366 mi (2.198 km)
Distance 367 laps, 501.322 mi (806.799 km)
Scheduled Distance 367 laps, 501.322 mi (806.799 km)
Average speed 124.073 miles per hour (199.676 km/h)
Attendance 55,000
Pole position
Driver Junior Johnson & Associates
Time 30.170
Most laps led
Driver Geoff Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates
Laps 154
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

On lap 212 of the race, a 13-car pileup would occur on the track's front-stretch. One of the 13 drivers involved, Neil Bonnett, would suffer brain injuries that would lead towards amnesia and dizziness that would ultimately lead to the effective end of his racing career, only racing in two more races in 1993 before dying in an practice session accident in 1994.[5]

Background

edit
 
The layout of Darlington Raceway, the venue where the race was held.

Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.

Entry list

edit
  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Terry Labonte Precision Products Racing Oldsmobile Skoal
01 Mickey Gibbs Gibbs Racing Ford Special Days Inn
2 Rick Mast U.S. Racing Pontiac U.S. Racing
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
4 Ernie Irvan Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Kodak
5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Folgers
7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford Zerex
8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Snickers
9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford Coors Light
10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet Purolator Filters
11 Geoff Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford Budweiser
12 Mike Alexander Bobby Allison Motorsports Buick Raybestos
15 Morgan Shepherd Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
20 Rob Moroso (R) Moroso Racing Oldsmobile Crown Central Petroleum
21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kodiak
26 Brett Bodine King Racing Buick Quaker State
27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac Miller Genuine Draft
28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Country Time
33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal Bandit
36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac Almeda Auto Parts
38 Dick Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Redkote Steel Tubing
42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac Peak Antifreeze
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
46 Greg Sacks Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet City Chevrolet
47 Jack Pennington (R) Close Racing Oldsmobile Kanawha Insurance
48 Norm Benning Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet Hylton Motorsports
51 Hut Stricklin Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Exxon
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Alka-Seltzer
57 Jimmy Spencer Osterlund Racing Pontiac Heinz
66 Dick Trickle Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac Phillips 66 TropArtic
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac McDuffie Racing
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Big Apple Market
74 Mike Potter Wawak Racing Pontiac Wawak Racing
75 Rick Wilson RahMoc Enterprises Oldsmobile Dinner Bell Foods
82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford Auto Bell Car Wash
90 Buddy Baker Donlavey Racing Ford Donlavey Racing
94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Sunoco
98 Butch Miller Travis Carter Enterprises Chevrolet Piggly Wiggly

Qualifying

edit

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was scheduled to be held on Thursday, March 29, at 3:00 PM EST. However, due to rain, the first round was cancelled, and qualifying was condensed into one round,[6][7] which was held on Friday, March 30, at 2:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 1–40 would be decided on time,[8] 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.

Geoff Bodine, driving for Junior Johnson & Associates, would win the pole, setting a time of 30.170 and an average speed of 162.996 miles per hour (262.317 km/h).[9][10]

Three drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

edit
Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 11 Geoff Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 30.170 162.996
2 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 30.281 162.399
3 4 Ernie Irvan Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 30.460 161.445
4 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Buick 30.495 161.259
5 94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 30.582 160.800
6 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.686 160.255
7 46 Greg Sacks Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.703 160.167
8 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 30.789 159.719
9 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 30.816 159.579
10 5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.834 159.486
11 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 30.838 159.466
12 20 Rob Moroso (R) Moroso Racing Oldsmobile 30.844 159.435
13 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 30.875 159.274
14 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 30.907 159.110
15 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 30.920 159.043
16 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.929 158.996
17 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 30.935 158.966
18 21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 30.951 158.883
19 15 Morgan Shepherd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 31.011 158.576
20 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Oldsmobile 31.012 158.571
21 66 Dick Trickle Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 31.020 158.530
22 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 31.061 158.321
23 2 Rick Mast U.S. Racing Pontiac 31.063 158.311
24 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet 31.123 158.005
25 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 31.172 157.757
26 75 Rick Wilson RahMoc Enterprises Oldsmobile 31.254 157.343
27 51 Hut Stricklin Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.336 156.931
28 1 Terry Labonte Precision Products Racing Oldsmobile 31.409 156.567
29 47 Jack Pennington (R) Close Racing Oldsmobile 31.448 156.372
30 90 Buddy Baker Donlavey Racing Ford 31.581 155.714
31 98 Butch Miller Travis Carter Enterprises Chevrolet 31.624 155.502
32 19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford 31.700 155.129
33 57 Jimmy Spencer Osterlund Racing Pontiac 31.739 154.939
34 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 31.818 154.554
35 12 Mike Alexander Bobby Allison Motorsports Buick 31.871 154.297
36 01 Mickey Gibbs Gibbs Racing Ford 32.031 153.526
37 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 32.034 153.512
38 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 32.105 153.172
39 38 Dick Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford 32.150 152.958
40 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac 32.653 150.602
Failed to qualify
41 48 Norm Benning Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet 32.676 150.496
42 74 Mike Potter Wawak Racing Pontiac 32.940 149.290
43 82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford 33.066 148.721
Official starting lineup

Race results

edit
Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 15 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 367 129 running 180 $61,985
2 2 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 367 0 running 170 $34,460
3 13 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 367 0 running 165 $25,795
4 1 11 Geoff Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 367 154 running 170 $28,110
5 19 15 Morgan Shepherd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 367 65 running 160 $17,610
6 20 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Oldsmobile 367 0 running 150 $14,880
7 17 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 367 3 running 151 $15,070
8 4 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Buick 367 1 running 147 $11,675
9 9 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 367 0 running 138 $11,140
10 6 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 366 6 running 139 $14,585
11 16 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 366 0 running 130 $14,155
12 22 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 365 0 running 127 $7,050
13 8 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 363 0 running 124 $9,780
14 28 1 Terry Labonte Precision Products Racing Oldsmobile 361 0 running 121 $8,590
15 34 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 360 0 running 118 $9,892
16 32 19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford 360 0 running 115 $4,215
17 31 98 Butch Miller Travis Carter Enterprises Chevrolet 360 0 running 112 $4,085
18 11 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 359 0 running 109 $14,900
19 35 12 Mike Alexander Bobby Allison Motorsports Buick 356 0 accident 106 $3,790
20 29 47 Jack Pennington (R) Close Racing Oldsmobile 354 0 running 103 $5,635
21 25 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 349 0 engine 100 $5,390
22 21 66 Dick Trickle Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 298 5 engine 102 $8,120
23 14 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 295 2 accident 99 $6,750
24 10 5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 294 0 running 91 $6,480
25 33 57 Jimmy Spencer Osterlund Racing Pontiac 280 1 running 93 $6,385
26 12 20 Rob Moroso (R) Moroso Racing Oldsmobile 234 0 handling 85 $3,470
27 24 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet 224 0 engine 82 $8,170
28 5 94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 211 0 accident 79 $6,570
29 26 75 Rick Wilson RahMoc Enterprises Oldsmobile 211 0 accident 76 $5,910
30 18 21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 209 0 accident 73 $5,775
31 38 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 208 0 accident 70 $3,665
32 3 4 Ernie Irvan Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 201 0 accident 67 $6,680
33 40 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac 168 0 flagged 64 $2,870
34 39 38 Dick Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford 95 0 handling 61 $2,835
35 37 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 82 0 head gasket 58 $2,800
36 27 51 Hut Stricklin Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 82 0 flagged 55 $2,765
37 7 46 Greg Sacks Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 61 0 crankshaft 52 $2,730
38 36 01 Mickey Gibbs Gibbs Racing Ford 53 1 engine 54 $2,715
39 23 2 Rick Mast U.S. Racing Pontiac 42 0 engine 46 $5,350
40 30 90 Buddy Baker Donlavey Racing Ford 9 0 engine 43 $2,650
Failed to qualify
41 48 Norm Benning Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet
42 74 Mike Potter Wawak Racing Pontiac
43 82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford
Official race results

Standings after the race

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 2, 1990). "Earnhardt Races To 2-Car-Length Victory (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 41. Retrieved March 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 2, 1990). "Earnhardt Races To 2-Car-Length Victory (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 43. Retrieved March 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Woodward, Bill (April 2, 1990). "Earnhardt rides radials to TranSouth 500 victory (Part 1)". The News and Observer. p. 15. Retrieved March 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Woodward, Bill (April 2, 1990). "Earnhardt rides radials to TranSouth 500 victory (Part 2)". The News and Observer. p. 20. Retrieved March 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 3, 1990). "Bonnett Suffers Amnesia After Darlington Crash". The Charlotte Observer. p. 17. Retrieved March 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Higgins, Tom (March 30, 1990). "Rain Putting A Damper On Darlington (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 53. Retrieved March 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ Higgins, Tom (March 30, 1990). "Rain Putting A Damper On Darlington (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 54. Retrieved March 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  8. ^ "NASCAR today". The Charlotte Observer. March 29, 1990. p. 22. Retrieved March 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  9. ^ Higgins, Tom (March 31, 1990). "Bodine Takes Pole (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 77. Retrieved March 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  10. ^ Higgins, Tom (March 31, 1990). "Bodine Takes Pole (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 81. Retrieved March 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
Previous race:
1990 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1990 season
Next race:
1990 Valleydale Meats 500