The 1986 Goodwrench 500 was the third stock car race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 21st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 2, 1986, before an audience of 47,500 in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Motor Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 492 laps to complete.

1986 Goodwrench 500
Race details
Race 3 of 29 in the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1986 GM Goodwrench 500 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt.
The 1986 GM Goodwrench 500 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt.
Date March 2, 1986
Official name 21st Annual Goodwrench 500
Location Rockingham, North Carolina, North Carolina Motor 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 120.488 miles per hour (193.907 km/h)
Attendance 47,500
Pole position
Driver Hagan Enterprises
Time 25.017
Most laps led
Driver Terry Labonte Hagan Enterprises
Laps 306
Winner
No. 44 Terry Labonte Hagan Enterprises
Television in the United States
Network SETN
Announcers Mike Joy, Benny Parsons
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

By race's end, Hagan Enterprises' Terry Labonte managed to dominate a majority of the race, leading 306 laps and defending a late race charge by Mach 1 Racing's Harry Gant to take his fifth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, the aforementioned Harry Gant and owner-driver Richard Petty finished second and third, respectively.

Background

edit
 
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

edit
  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
01 Earle Canavan Canavan Racing Pontiac Gates Hydraulics
2 Kirk Bryant Cliff Stewart Racing Pontiac Spectrum Furniture
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Wrangler
5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 Trevor Boys U.S. Racing Chevrolet U.S. Racing
7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 7-Eleven
8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller American
9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford Coors
10 Greg Sacks DiGard Motorsports Pontiac TRW Automotive
11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
12 Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft Quality Parts
17 Phil Parsons Hamby Racing Chevrolet Skoal
18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet Freedlander Financial
20 Rick Newsom Newsom Racing Buick Newsom Racing
22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller American
23 Michael Waltrip (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac Hawaiian Punch
25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Folgers
26 Joe Ruttman King Racing Buick Quaker State
27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac Alugard
28 Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford Hardee's
32 Alan Kulwicki (R) Terry Racing Ford Quincy's Steakhouse
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
41 Ronnie Thomas Ronnie Thomas Racing Chevrolet Ronnie Thomas Racing
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Terry Labonte Hagan Enterprises Oldsmobile Piedmont Airlines
47 Morgan Shepherd Race Hill Farm Team Buick Race Hill Farm Team
48 Wayne Slark Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet Captain D's
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Jimmy Means Racing
64 Pancho Carter Langley Racing Ford Kmart
67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford Pannill Sweatshirts
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Pontiac Helen Rae Special
74 Bobby Wawak Wawak Racing Chevrolet Superior Piping
75 Lake Speed RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Nationwise Automotive
90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford Red Baron Frozen Pizza
92 Jonathan Lee Edwards Edwards Racing Buick Edwards Racing
94 Eddie Bierschwale Eller Racing Pontiac Kodak Film
95 Davey Allison Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet Sadler Brothers Racing
98 Ron Bouchard Curb Racing Pontiac Valvoline

Qualifying

edit

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Thursday, February 27, at 2:30 PM EST. Each driver had one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 drivers in the round were 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 Friday, February 28, at 2:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver had one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-30 were 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 in the previous season; up to two were given.

Terry Labonte, driving for Hagan Enterprises, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 25.017 and an average speed of 146.348 miles per hour (235.524 km/h) in the first round.[4]

No drivers failed to qualify.

Full qualifying results

edit
Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 44 Terry Labonte Hagan Enterprises Oldsmobile 25.017 146.348
2 25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 25.117 145.766
3 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 25.264 144.918
4 11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 25.310 144.654
5 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 25.337 144.500
6 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 25.401 144.136
7 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 25.420 144.028
8 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 25.493 143.616
9 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 25.532 143.397
10 28 Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 25.554 143.273
11 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 25.574 143.161
12 7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 25.611 142.954
13 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 25.627 142.865
14 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 25.677 142.587
15 75 Lake Speed RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 25.699 142.465
16 18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet 25.706 142.426
17 23 Michael Waltrip (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac 25.796 141.929
18 12 Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 25.822 141.786
19 2 Kirk Bryant Cliff Stewart Racing Pontiac 25.908 141.315
20 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 25.926 141.217
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 26 Joe Ruttman King Racing Buick 25.367 144.329
22 47 Morgan Shepherd Race Hill Farm Team Buick 25.373 144.295
23 10 Greg Sacks DiGard Motorsports Pontiac 25.572 143.172
24 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 25.649 142.742
25 94 Eddie Bierschwale Eller Racing Pontiac 25.839 141.693
26 95 Davey Allison Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet 25.946 141.108
27 32 Alan Kulwicki (R) Terry Racing Ford 26.041 140.594
28 17 Phil Parsons Hamby Racing Oldsmobile 26.120 140.168
29 64 Pancho Carter Langley Racing Ford 26.197 139.756
30 98 Ron Bouchard Curb Racing Buick 26.200 139.740
31 6 Trevor Boys U.S. Racing Chevrolet 26.376 138.810
32 74 Bobby Wawak Wawak Racing Chevrolet 26.505 138.132
33 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 26.507 138.122
34 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford 26.529 138.007
35 01 Earle Canavan Canavan Racing Pontiac 26.687 137.190
36 92 Jonathan Lee Edwards Edwards Racing Chevrolet 26.755 136.842
37 41 Ronnie Thomas Ronnie Thomas Racing Chevrolet 26.808 136.571
38 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 26.898 136.114
39 48 Wayne Slark Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet 26.972 135.741
40 20 Rick Newsom Newsom Racing Buick 27.039 135.404
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

edit
Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 1 44 Terry Labonte Hagan Enterprises Oldsmobile 492 306 running 185 $44,550
2 7 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 492 0 running 170 $28,110
3 13 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 492 59 running 170 $15,970
4 22 47 Morgan Shepherd Race Hill Farm Team Buick 491 0 running 160 $9,255
5 4 11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 491 1 running 160 $18,615
6 10 28 Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 490 0 running 150 $5,410
7 9 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 490 0 running 146 $15,560
8 5 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 490 69 running 147 $19,510
9 18 12 Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 490 2 running 143 $12,710
10 15 75 Lake Speed RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 489 4 running 139 $9,965
11 12 7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 489 1 running 135 $10,870
12 20 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 487 0 running 127 $8,165
13 30 98 Ron Bouchard Curb Racing Buick 486 0 running 124 $7,645
14 16 18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet 485 0 running 121 $3,270
15 27 32 Alan Kulwicki (R) Terry Racing Ford 483 0 running 118 $3,870
16 2 25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 478 0 running 115 $3,170
17 34 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford 477 0 running 112 $6,835
18 19 2 Kirk Bryant Cliff Stewart Racing Pontiac 476 0 running 109 $6,575
19 33 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 476 0 running 106 $6,305
20 3 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 459 46 engine 108 $10,470
21 17 23 Michael Waltrip (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac 457 0 running 100 $2,165
22 8 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 457 0 running 97 $6,765
23 29 64 Pancho Carter Langley Racing Ford 436 0 running 94 $5,430
24 36 92 Jonathan Lee Edwards Edwards Racing Chevrolet 432 0 running 91 $2,440
25 26 95 Davey Allison Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet 410 0 rear end 88 $1,965
26 37 41 Ronnie Thomas Ronnie Thomas Racing Chevrolet 356 0 rear end 85 $1,815
27 11 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 352 2 engine 87 $4,970
28 14 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 315 0 engine 79 $9,715
29 25 94 Eddie Bierschwale Eller Racing Pontiac 231 0 crash 76 $1,665
30 28 17 Phil Parsons Hamby Racing Oldsmobile 228 0 engine 73 $4,660
31 38 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 170 0 engine 70 $4,300
32 35 01 Earle Canavan Canavan Racing Pontiac 165 0 engine 67 $1,475
33 21 26 Joe Ruttman King Racing Buick 117 0 overheating 64 $2,000
34 6 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 117 2 ignition 66 $1,375
35 31 6 Trevor Boys U.S. Racing Chevrolet 101 0 brakes 58 $4,090
36 39 48 Wayne Slark Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet 96 0 crash 55 $4,055
37 23 10 Greg Sacks DiGard Motorsports Pontiac 81 0 handling 52 $8,300
38 32 74 Bobby Wawak Wawak Racing Chevrolet 47 0 engine 49 $1,250
39 24 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 41 0 crash 46 $3,960
40 40 20 Rick Newsom Newsom Racing Buick 39 0 crash 43 $1,205
Official race results

Standings after the race

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (March 3, 1986). "Labonte Hangs On At Rockingham". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1C, 3C. Retrieved December 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Mulhurn, Mike (March 3, 1986). "Labonte Captures Carolina 500". Winston-Salem Journal. pp. 11, 15. Retrieved December 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ "Race Week Calendar". The Charlotte Observer. February 27, 1986. pp. 3C. Retrieved December 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Higgins, Tom (February 28, 1986). "Labonte Record Run Takes Pole". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1C, 3C. Retrieved December 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  


Previous race:
1986 Miller High Life 400
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1986 season
Next race:
1986 Motorcraft 500