1994 Miller Genuine Draft 500

The 1994 Miller Genuine Draft 500 was the 17th stock car race of the 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 22nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 17, 1994, 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, Geoff Bodine, driving for his own Geoff Bodine Racing team, would manage to dominate a majority of the race to take his 16th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, A.G. Dillard Motorsports driver Ward Burton and Larry Hedrick Motorsports driver Joe Nemechek would finish second and third, respectively.

1994 Miller Genuine Draft 500
Race details
Race 17 of 31 in the 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1994 Miller Genuine Draft 500 program cover, featuring Rusty Wallace. Artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass.
The 1994 Miller Genuine Draft 500 program cover, featuring Rusty Wallace. Artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass.
Date July 17, 1994
Official name 22nd Annual Miller Genuine Draft 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 136.075 miles per hour (218.991 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Geoff Bodine Racing
Time 54.922
Most laps led
Driver Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing
Laps 156
Winner
No. 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing
Television in the United States
Network TBS
Announcers Ken Squier, Barry Dodson
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

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

The race was held at Pocono 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 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 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
1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Ford Skoal
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford Miller Genuine Draft
02 Derrike Cope Taylor Racing Ford Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's Frosted Flakes
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Valvoline
7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford Exide
8 Jeff Burton (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Ford Raybestos
9 Rich Bickle (R) Melling Racing Ford Melling Racing
10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford Tide
11 Bill Elliott Junior Johnson & Associates Ford Budweiser
12 Tim Steele Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford Bobby Allison Motorsports
14 John Andretti (R) Hagan Racing Chevrolet Hagan Racing
15 Lake Speed Bud Moore Engineering Ford Ford Quality Care
16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford The Family Channel
17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet Western Auto
18 Dale Jarrett Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet Interstate Batteries
19 Loy Allen Jr. (R) TriStar Motorsports Ford Hooters
21 Morgan Shepherd Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Bobby Labonte Bill Davis Racing Pontiac Maxwell House
23 Hut Stricklin Travis Carter Enterprises Ford Smokin' Joe's
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kodiak
26 Brett Bodine King Racing Ford Quaker State
27 Jimmy Spencer Junior Johnson & Associates Ford McDonald's
28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Steve Grissom Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet Diamond Ridge Motorsports
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Pennzoil
31 Ward Burton A.G. Dillard Motorsports Chevrolet Hardee's
32 Dick Trickle Active Motorsports Chevrolet SkyBox International
33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
40 Bobby Hamilton SABCO Racing Pontiac Kendall
41 Joe Nemechek (R) Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet Meineke
42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac Mello Yello
43 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
47 Billy Standridge (R) Johnson Standridge Racing Ford Johnson Standridge Racing
55 Jimmy Hensley RaDiUs Motorsports Ford RaDiUs Motorsports
57 Bob Schacht Balough Racing Ford Kenova Golf Construction
65 Jerry O'Neil O'Neil Racing Chevrolet X-1R
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Precision Restaurant Services
75 Todd Bodine Butch Mock Motorsports Ford Factory Stores of America
77 Greg Sacks U.S. Motorsports Inc. Ford US Airways
90 Mike Wallace (R) Donlavey Racing Ford Heilig-Meyers
98 Jeremy Mayfield (R) Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford Fingerhut
99 Phil Parsons J&J Racing Oldsmobile Matchbox

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, July 15, 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, July 16, 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 21-40 would be decided on time,[3] 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. If needed, a past champion who did not qualify on either time or provisionals could use a champion's provisional, adding one more spot to the field.

Geoff Bodine, driving for his own Geoff Bodine Racing team, would win the pole, setting a time of 54.922 and an average speed of 163.869 miles per hour (263.722 km/h) in the first round.[4]

Four drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 54.922 163.869
2 31 Ward Burton (R) A.G. Dillard Motorsports Chevrolet 55.118 163.286
3 77 Greg Sacks U.S. Motorsports Inc. Ford 55.274 162.825
4 8 Jeff Burton (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 55.392 162.478
5 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 55.395 162.470
6 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 55.440 162.338
7 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 55.468 162.256
8 19 Loy Allen Jr. (R) TriStar Motorsports Ford 55.513 162.124
9 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 55.515 162.118
10 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 55.519 162.107
11 41 Joe Nemechek (R) Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 55.525 162.089
12 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 55.539 162.048
13 22 Bobby Labonte Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 55.575 161.943
14 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Ford 55.641 161.751
15 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet 55.663 161.687
16 40 Bobby Hamilton SABCO Racing Pontiac 55.682 161.632
17 18 Dale Jarrett Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 55.690 161.609
18 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 55.699 161.583
19 11 Bill Elliott Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 55.768 161.383
20 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 55.782 161.342
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 43 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Petty Enterprises Pontiac 55.794 161.308
22 47 Billy Standridge (R) Johnson Standridge Racing Ford 55.795 161.305
23 98 Jeremy Mayfield (R) Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 55.821 161.230
24 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Ford 55.894 161.019
25 90 Mike Wallace (R) Donlavey Racing Ford 55.919 160.947
26 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 55.929 160.918
27 02 Derrike Cope Taylor Racing Ford 55.982 160.766
28 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 55.999 160.717
29 12 Tim Steele Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 56.003 160.706
30 57 Bob Schacht Balough Racing Ford 56.105 160.414
31 75 Todd Bodine Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 56.130 160.342
32 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 56.181 160.197
33 21 Morgan Shepherd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 56.203 160.134
34 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 56.209 160.117
35 23 Hut Stricklin Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 56.249 160.003
36 14 John Andretti (R) Hagan Racing Chevrolet 56.262 159.966
37 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 56.286 159.898
38 9 Rich Bickle (R) Melling Racing Ford 56.348 159.722
39 29 Steve Grissom (R) Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 56.389 159.606
40 15 Lake Speed Bud Moore Engineering Ford 56.396 159.586
Provisionals
41 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac -* -*
42 27 Jimmy Spencer Junior Johnson & Associates Ford -* -*
Failed to qualify
43 55 Jimmy Hensley RaDiUs Motorsports Ford -* -*
44 32 Dick Trickle Active Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
45 99 Phil Parsons J&J Racing Oldsmobile -* -*
46 65 Jerry O'Neil O'Neil 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 1 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 200 156 running 185 $103,270
2 2 31 Ward Burton (R) A.G. Dillard Motorsports Chevrolet 200 6 running 175 $39,720
3 11 41 Joe Nemechek (R) Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 0 running 165 $29,790
4 4 8 Jeff Burton (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 200 16 running 165 $29,640
5 33 21 Morgan Shepherd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 200 0 running 155 $30,635
6 6 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 200 0 running 150 $17,260
7 20 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 0 running 146 $26,210
8 7 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 199 0 running 142 $21,760
9 10 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 199 12 running 143 $24,460
10 17 18 Dale Jarrett Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 199 0 running 134 $24,510
11 31 75 Todd Bodine Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 199 1 running 135 $13,710
12 18 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 199 0 running 127 $20,160
13 13 22 Bobby Labonte Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 199 0 running 124 $17,160
14 41 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 198 0 running 121 $16,860
15 28 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 198 0 running 118 $19,910
16 21 43 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Petty Enterprises Pontiac 198 0 running 115 $19,360
17 19 11 Bill Elliott Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 198 0 running 112 $16,160
18 8 19 Loy Allen Jr. (R) TriStar Motorsports Ford 198 0 running 109 $9,260
19 27 02 Derrike Cope Taylor Racing Ford 198 0 running 106 $9,110
20 40 15 Lake Speed Bud Moore Engineering Ford 197 0 running 103 $19,365
21 23 98 Jeremy Mayfield (R) Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 197 0 running 100 $11,960
22 35 23 Hut Stricklin Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 197 0 running 97 $11,260
23 16 40 Bobby Hamilton SABCO Racing Pontiac 196 0 running 94 $15,060
24 42 27 Jimmy Spencer Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 196 0 running 91 $10,910
25 36 14 John Andretti (R) Hagan Racing Chevrolet 196 1 running 93 $12,460
26 34 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 196 0 running 85 $10,710
27 37 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 190 0 running 82 $19,360
28 26 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 189 0 running 79 $14,810
29 39 29 Steve Grissom (R) Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 178 0 running 76 $10,360
30 25 90 Mike Wallace (R) Donlavey Racing Ford 176 0 running 73 $10,210
31 12 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 174 2 engine 75 $21,460
32 32 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 156 0 running 67 $14,110
33 29 12 Tim Steele Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 153 0 running 64 $13,510
34 38 9 Rich Bickle (R) Melling Racing Ford 152 0 engine 61 $7,935
35 14 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Ford 145 0 transmission 58 $11,860
36 3 77 Greg Sacks U.S. Motorsports Inc. Ford 143 0 engine 55 $7,785
37 5 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 136 1 timing chain 57 $19,310
38 15 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet 111 5 oil line 54 $12,670
39 9 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 105 0 overheating 46 $11,635
40 24 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Ford 102 0 overheating 43 $12,060
41 22 47 Billy Standridge (R) Johnson Standridge Racing Ford 77 0 rear end 40 $7,560
42 30 57 Bob Schacht Balough Racing Ford 11 0 transmission 37 $7,560
Failed to qualify
43 55 Jimmy Hensley RaDiUs Motorsports Ford
44 32 Dick Trickle Active Motorsports Chevrolet
45 99 Phil Parsons J&J Racing Oldsmobile
46 65 Jerry O'Neil O'Neil Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Brinster, Dick (July 18, 1994). "Hoosier tires deliver win". The Advocate-Messenger. p. 12. Retrieved December 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ McKee, Sandra (July 18, 1994). "Bodine easily wins Miller 500". The Baltimore Sun. p. 20. Retrieved December 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ "NASCAR today". The Charlotte Observer. July 15, 1994. p. 22. Retrieved December 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Coble, Don (July 16, 1994). "Geoff takes Miller pole". Star-Gazette. p. 11. Retrieved December 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
Previous race:
1994 Slick 50 300
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1994 season
Next race:
1994 DieHard 500