1987 The Winston
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Race details[1] | |||
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Exhibition race in the 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
Date | May 17, 1987 | ||
Location | Concord, North Carolina | ||
Course | Charlotte Motor Speedway 1.5 mi (2.4 km) |
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Distance | 135 laps, 202.5 mi (324 km) | ||
Weather | Temperatures around 82 °F (28 °C), with humidity at 59% and winds gusting to 8 miles per hour (13 km/h) southwest | ||
Average speed | 153.023 mph (246.267 km/h) | ||
Pole position | |||
Driver | Melling Racing | ||
Most laps led | |||
Driver | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | |
Laps | 121 | ||
Winner | |||
No. 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | |
Television in the United States | |||
Network | ABC | ||
Announcers | Keith Jackson and Donnie Allison |
The 1987 edition of The Winston was a stock car racing competition that took place on May 17, 1987. Held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, the 135-lap race was an exhibition race in the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Bill Elliott of Melling Racing won the pole and led the most laps (121), but it was Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing who won the race in a move that would be known in NASCAR history as the "pass in the grass."[2]
Race summary
Segment 1
Bill Elliott won the pole with a track record of 170.827 mph (274.919 km/h). Buddy Baker made the starting grid by winning the Winston Open. Cale Yarborough served as the onboard camera car throughout the race. On the first lap, Dale Earnhardt and Geoff Bodine got loose and tangled with each other, with Earnhardt slightly hitting the turn three wall and both cars losing several positions in the process. Earnhardt eventually inched his way towards the top-five throughout the race. On lap 62, Neil Bonnett and Richard Petty collided in turn three, bringing out the first caution and ending their chances of finishing the race. Segment 1 ended on lap 76 with Elliott in first place.
- Segment results
- 9-Bill Elliott ($25,000)
- 5-Geoff Bodine
- 17-Darrell Waltrip
Segment 2
Baker retired on lap 95 due to a transmission failure while Harry Gant suffered engine problems on lap 121. Segment 2 ended on lap 126, with Elliott once again on the top spot.
- Segment results
- 9-Bill Elliott ($50,000)
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 5-Geoff Bodine
Segment 3
As Segment 3 began, Bodine attempted to pass in front of Elliott, but both cars tangled with Bodine spinning while Earnhardt took over the lead before the caution came out. With eight laps to go, Elliott closed in on Earnhardt and tapped him from behind. Earnhardt was sent to the infield grass, but he quickly recovered to maintain the lead in what has become known as the "pass in the grass".[2] Both cars once again traded paint side-by-side, but the contact cut Elliott's left rear tire, forcing him to pit and go a lap down while Terry Labonte charged forward to challenge Earnhardt. Eventually, Earnhardt beat Labonte and Tim Richmond to win The Winston and earn $200,000.
Following the race, a frustrated Elliott bumped Earnhardt before all cars returned to pit road and Earnhardt entered victory lane.
Race results
Pos | Grid | Car | Driver | Owner | Manufacturer | Laps run | Laps led |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 135 | 10 |
2 | 12 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 135 | 0 |
3 | 2 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 135 | 0 |
4 | 5 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 135 | 3 |
5 | 7 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 135 | 0 |
6 | 15 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 135 | 1 |
7 | 17 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 135 | 0 |
8 | 14 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 135 | 0 |
9 | 9 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 135 | 0 |
10 | 6 | 55 | Benny Parsons | Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 135 | 0 |
11 | 18 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 135 | 0 |
12 | 3 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 134 | 0 |
13 | 19 | 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 134 | 0 |
14 | 1 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 134 | 121 |
15 | 11 | 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 132 | 0 |
16 | 10 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 132 | 0 |
17 | 13 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 121 | 0 |
18 | 20 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker-Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 95 | 0 |
19 | 16 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 63 | 0 |
20 | 8 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 62 | 0 |
Source:[1]
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