1988 Atlanta Journal 500

The 1988 Atlanta Journal 500 was the 29th and final stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 29th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 20, 1988, before an audience of 70,000 in Hampton, Georgia, at Atlanta International Raceway, a 1.522 miles (2.449 km) permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway. The race took the scheduled 328 laps to complete.

1988 Atlanta Journal 500
Race details
Race 29 of 29 in the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1988 Atlanta Journal 500 program cover, featuring Bill Elliott.
The 1988 Atlanta Journal 500 program cover, featuring Bill Elliott.
Date November 20, 1988
Official name 29th Annual Atlanta Journal 500
Location Hampton, Georgia, Atlanta International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.522 mi (2.449 km)
Distance 328 laps, 499.216 mi (803.41 km)
Scheduled Distance 328 laps, 499.216 mi (803.41 km)
Average speed 140.229 miles per hour (225.677 km/h)
Attendance 70,000
Pole position
Driver Blue Max Racing
Time 30.525
Most laps led
Driver Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing
Laps 166
Winner
No. 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Gary Nelson
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

For the battle of the race's victory, Blue Max Racing's Rusty Wallace managed to dominate a majority of the race, leading 166 laps en route to his tenth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series and his sixth and final victory of the season, earning the maximum points possible for a driver to gain in a race.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Ranier-Lundy Racing's Davey Allison and Stavola Brothers Racing's Mike Alexander finished second and third, respectively.

In the battle for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship, championship leader Bill Elliott was able to defend his lead in the championship, needing an 18th place or better finish in order to guarantee the championship.[3] While Elliott was not a contender for the race's victory, suffering numerous problems during the race, he was able to maintain a consistent position running around 11th-15th position, finishing 11th to secure the championship, winning the championship over Wallace by 24 points.[4]

The race was the final start for 3-time Winston Cup champion Cale Yarborough, who managed to round out his driving career with a Top 10 finish.

Background

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The layout of Atlanta Motor Speedway, the circuit where the race was held.

Atlanta International Raceway is a 1.522-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has annually hosted NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car races since its inauguration in 1960.

The venue was bought by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two intermediate ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with a new official length of 1.54-mile (2.48 km) where before it was 1.522-mile (2.449 km). The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.

Entry list

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  • (R) - denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Dale Jarrett Ellington Racing Buick Port-A-Lube, Bud Light
2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Chevrolet Kroger
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service
4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Kodak
04 Bill Meacham Meacham Racing Oldsmobile Meacham Racing
5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Stroh 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 (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford Whitcomb Racing
11 Jerry Churchill Churchill Racing Oldsmobile Churchill Racing
11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller High Life
14 A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Racing Oldsmobile Copenhagen
15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford Crisco
16 Larry Pearson Pearson Racing Chevrolet Chattanooga Chew
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
20 Alan Russell Russell Racing Chevrolet Russell Racing
21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile Wayne Paging
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 Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile Hardee's
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Country Time
31 Jim Sauter Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile Slender You Figure Salons
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
34 Rodney Combs AAG Racing Buick Fab Detergent
36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac Almeda Auto Parts
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Piedmont Airlines
48 Don Hume Hylton Motorsports Ford Hylton Motorsports
50 Bobby Coyle Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac Dingman Brothers Racing
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Eureka
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal, Crown Central Petroleum
57 Morgan Shepherd Osterlund Racing Buick Valvoline
64 Brad Teague Potter Racing Chevrolet Hardy Chevrolet
68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford Purolator
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Lifebuoy
73 Joe Ruttman Barkdoll Racing Ford Barkdoll Racing
75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Valvoline
80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford S&H Racing
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Wynn's, Kmart
88 Greg Sacks Baker-Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Red Baron Frozen Pizza
90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
92 David Sosebee LC Racing Buick LC Racing
93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Chevrolet Salmon Racing
95 Slick Johnson Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet Sadler Brothers Racing
97 Tommy Ellis Winkle Motorsports Buick AC Spark Plug
98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick Sunoco

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, November 18, at 2:00 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 Saturday, November 19, at 10:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver had one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 were decided on time,[5] 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 were given.

Rusty Wallace, driving for Blue Max Racing, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 30.525 and an average speed of 179.499 miles per hour (288.876 km/h) in the first round.[6]

11 drivers failed to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 30.525 179.499
2 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 30.875 177.464
3 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 30.925 177.177
4 12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 30.934 177.125
5 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 30.944 177.068
6 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.977 176.880
7 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.992 176.794
8 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 31.105 176.152
9 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 31.109 176.129
10 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 31.142 175.942
11 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 31.164 175.818
12 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 31.174 175.762
13 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.203 175.599
14 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 31.215 175.531
15 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 31.246 175.357
16 64 Brad Teague Potter Racing Chevrolet 31.249 175.340
17 57 Morgan Shepherd Osterlund Racing Pontiac 31.335 174.859
18 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 31.349 174.781
19 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 31.351 174.770
Failed to lock in Round 1
20 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 30.903 177.303
21 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 31.041 176.515
22 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 31.090 176.237
23 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 31.102 176.169
24 14 A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Racing Oldsmobile 31.170 175.784
25 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 31.221 175.497
26 29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 31.335 174.859
27 16 Larry Pearson Pearson Racing Chevrolet 31.353 174.758
28 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 31.393 174.536
29 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 31.408 174.452
30 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 31.435 174.303
31 97 Tommy Ellis Winkle Motorsports Buick 31.444 174.253
32 80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford 31.448 174.230
33 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 31.457 174.181
34 1 Dale Jarrett Ellington Racing Buick 31.463 174.147
35 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 31.493 173.982
36 34 Rodney Combs AAG Racing Buick 31.501 173.937
37 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 31.513 173.871
38 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 31.532 173.766
39 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac 31.594 173.425
Provisionals
40 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 31.742 172.617
41 31 Jim Sauter Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 32.607 168.038
Forced to start at rear
42 88 Greg Sacks Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 31.389 174.558
Failed to qualify
43 48 Don Hume Hylton Motorsports Ford -* -*
44 93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Chevrolet -* -*
45 73 Joe Ruttman Barkdoll Racing Ford -* -*
46 50 Bobby Coyle Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac -* -*
47 11 Jerry Churchill Churchill Racing Oldsmobile -* -*
48 95 Slick Johnson Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet -* -*
49 20 Alan Russell Russell Racing Chevrolet -* -*
50 92 David Sosebee LC Racing Buick -* -*
51 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac -* -*
52 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Pontiac -* -*
53 04 Bill Meacham Meacham Racing Oldsmobile -* -*
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 328 166 running 185 $87,575
2 23 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 328 26 running 175 $35,625
3 4 12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 328 20 running 170 $23,610
4 5 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 328 1 running 165 $14,725
5 13 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 328 14 running 160 $16,525
6 7 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 328 1 running 155 $12,350
7 28 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 327 0 running 146 $14,950
8 9 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 327 0 running 142 $12,025
9 38 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 327 0 running 138 $8,650
10 26 29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 327 0 running 134 $7,800
11 29 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 327 0 running 130 $12,500
12 8 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 327 23 running 132 $8,375
13 18 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 327 0 running 124 $10,150
14 2 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 326 49 running 126 $16,750
15 6 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 326 1 running 123 $7,425
16 19 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 326 0 running 115 $6,550
17 14 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 325 0 running 112 $4,230
18 30 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 325 0 running 109 $4,575
19 40 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 320 1 running 111 $7,620
20 10 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 276 0 engine 103 $5,960
21 27 16 Larry Pearson Pearson Racing Chevrolet 272 0 engine 100 $2,205
22 21 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 267 0 engine 97 $9,125
23 41 31 Jim Sauter Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 265 6 flywheel 99 $2,990
24 15 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 252 0 running 91 $1,960
25 12 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 250 13 crash 93 $5,230
26 35 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 234 0 engine 85 $2,100
27 3 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 228 0 engine 82 $10,420
28 42 88 Greg Sacks Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 224 1 engine 84 $4,540
29 36 34 Rodney Combs AAG Racing Buick 220 0 engine 76 $1,760
30 22 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 206 0 crash 73 $4,425
31 24 14 A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Racing Oldsmobile 199 5 engine 75 $1,690
32 32 80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford 190 0 water pump 67 $1,670
33 25 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 166 0 engine 64 $1,650
34 33 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 134 0 crash 61 $5,060
35 39 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac 105 0 engine 58 $1,605
36 20 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 84 0 crash 55 $2,195
37 11 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 66 0 engine 52 $3,550
38 37 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 63 1 engine 54 $1,540
39 16 64 Brad Teague Potter Racing Chevrolet 60 0 engine 46 $1,525
40 17 57 Morgan Shepherd Osterlund Racing Pontiac 52 0 water pump 43 $1,525
41 34 1 Dale Jarrett Ellington Racing Buick 5 0 crash 40 $1,525
42 31 97 Tommy Ellis Winkle Motorsports Buick 2 0 transmission 37 $1,525
Failed to qualify
43 48 Don Hume Hylton Motorsports Ford
44 93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Chevrolet
45 73 Joe Ruttman Barkdoll Racing Ford
46 50 Bobby Coyle Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac
47 11 Jerry Churchill Churchill Racing Oldsmobile
48 95 Slick Johnson Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet
49 20 Alan Russell Russell Racing Chevrolet
50 92 David Sosebee LC Racing Buick
51 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac
52 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Pontiac
53 04 Bill Meacham Meacham Racing Oldsmobile
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (November 21, 1988). "Wallace's Victory Not Enough". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B, 3B. Retrieved September 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Rosen, Karen (November 21, 1988). "Wallace Goes All Out in "Perfect Race,' But Sill Falls 24 Points Short of Elliott". The Atlanta Constitution. pp. 4B. Retrieved September 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Hinton, Ed (November 21, 1988). "Wallace Carries the Day, But Elliott Owns the Year". The Atlanta Constitution. pp. 1B, 6B. Retrieved September 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ McCollister, Tom (November 21, 1988). "Elliott & Co". The Atlanta Constitution. pp. 5B. Retrieved September 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "NASCAR Today". The Charlotte Observer. November 17, 1988. pp. 5B. Retrieved September 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Higgins, Tom (November 19, 1988). "Wallace Wins Pole As Elliott Falls Short". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B, 7B. Retrieved September 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  


Previous race:
1988 Checker 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1988 season
Next race:
1989 Daytona 500