1987 Budweiser 500

1987 Budweiser 500
Race details
Race 11 of 29 in the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1987 Budweiser 500 program cover.
The 1987 Budweiser 500 program cover.
Date May 31, 1987
Official name 19th Annual Budweiser 500
Location Dover, Delaware, Dover Downs International Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1 mi (1.6 km)
Distance 500 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Scheduled Distance 500 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Average speed 118.726 miles per hour (191.071 km/h)
Attendance 56,000
Pole position
Driver Melling Racing
Time 24.818
Most laps led
Driver Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing
Laps 212
Winner
No. 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Larry Nuber, Jerry Punch
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 1987 Budweiser 500 was the 11th stock car race of the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 19th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, May 31, 1987, before an audience of 56,000 in Dover, Delaware at Dover Downs International Speedway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete.

By race's end, Ranier-Lundy Racing's Davey Allison had managed to dominate the late stages of the race, leading 216 laps to take his second career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season. The victory also marked the first time a driver who had declared for NASCAR Rookie of the Year honors had won multiple races in the same season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Melling Racing's Bill Elliott and Junior Johnson & Associates' Terry Labonte finished second and third, respectively.

Background

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The layout of Dover Downs International Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

Dover Downs International Speedway is an oval race track in Dover, Delaware, United States that has held at least two NASCAR races since it opened in 1969. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC and the NTT IndyCar Series. The track features one layout, a 1-mile (1.6 km) concrete oval, with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. The speedway is owned and operated by Dover Motorsports.

The track, nicknamed "The Monster Mile", was built in 1969 by Melvin Joseph of Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc., with an asphalt surface, but was replaced with concrete in 1995. Six years later in 2001, the track's capacity moved to 135,000 seats, making the track have the largest capacity of sports venue in the mid-Atlantic. In 2002, the name changed to Dover International Speedway from Dover Downs International Speedway after Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment split, making Dover Motorsports. From 2007 to 2009, the speedway worked on an improvement project called "The Monster Makeover", which expanded facilities at the track and beautified the track. After the 2014 season, the track's capacity was reduced to 95,500 seats.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Brett Bodine Ellington Racing Buick Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Wrangler
4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Kodak
04 Charlie Rudolph Rudolph Racing Chevrolet Sunoco
5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 D. K. Ulrich U.S. Racing Chevrolet U.S. Racing
7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford Zerex
8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller American
9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford Coors
11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
12 Larry Pollard Hamby Racing Chevrolet Hamby Racing
15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft Quality Parts
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
18 Dale Jarrett (R) Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet Freedlander Financial
21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller American
26 Morgan Shepherd King Racing Buick Quaker State
27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac Kodiak
28 Davey Allison (R) Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Chevrolet Bahari Racing
31 Ron Shephard Ron Shephard Racing Chevrolet L. B. S. Graphics, National Parts Peddler
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
35 Benny Parsons Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Folgers
37 Curtis Markham Beahr Racing Ford Hanover Printing
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Piedmont Airlines
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Jimmy Means Racing
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Copenhagen
58 Jerry Bowman Jerry Bowman Racing Ford Jerry Bowman Racing
62 Steve Christman (R) Winkle Motorsports Pontiac AC Spark Plug
64 Rodney Combs Langley Racing Ford Sunny King Ford
67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford Pannill Sweatshirts
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Lifebuoy
75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Valvoline
80 Gary Fedewa Burke Racing Chevrolet Burke Racing
81 Mike Potter Fillip Racing Ford Fillip Racing
85 Jimmy Horton S&H Racing Ford S&H Racing
88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Crisco
90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford Red Baron Frozen Pizza

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Saturday, May 30, at 10:00 AM 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, at 3:00 PM 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,[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.

Bill Elliott, driving for Melling Racing, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 24.818 and an average speed of 145.056 miles per hour (233.445 km/h) in the first round.[4]

No drivers failed to qualify.

Full qualifying results

[edit]
Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 24.818 145.056
2 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 24.860 144.811
3 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 25.010 143.942
4 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 25.065 143.627
5 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 25.130 143.255
6 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 25.185 142.942
7 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 25.185 142.942
8 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 25.197 142.874
9 35 Benny Parsons Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 25.220 142.744
10 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 25.224 142.721
11 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 25.250 142.574
12 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 25.291 142.343
13 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 25.314 142.214
14 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 25.315 142.208
15 26 Morgan Shepherd King Racing Buick 25.316 142.203
16 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 25.325 142.152
17 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 25.372 141.889
18 1 Brett Bodine Ellington Racing Chevrolet 25.433 141.548
19 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 25.435 141.537
20 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 25.435 141.537
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Chevrolet 25.486 141.254
22 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 25.499 141.182
23 18 Dale Jarrett Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet 25.654 140.329
24 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 25.657 140.313
25 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 25.667 140.258
26 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 25.720 139.969
27 80 Gary Fedewa Burke Racing Chevrolet 25.731 139.909
28 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford 25.737 139.876
29 64 Rodney Combs Langley Racing Ford 26.092 137.973
30 58 Jerry Bowman Jerry Bowman Racing Ford 26.110 137.878
31 12 Larry Pollard Hamby Racing Chevrolet 26.115 137.852
32 85 Jimmy Horton S&H Racing Ford 26.248 137.153
33 37 Curtis Markham Beahr Racing Ford 26.317 136.794
34 6 D. K. Ulrich U.S. Racing Chevrolet 26.325 136.752
35 62 Steve Christman Winkle Motorsports Pontiac 26.398 136.374
36 81 Mike Potter Fillip Racing Ford 26.411 136.307
37 04 Charlie Rudolph Rudolph Racing Chevrolet 26.431 136.204
38 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 26.591 135.384
39 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 26.632 135.176
40 31 Ron Shephard Ron Shephard Racing Chevrolet 26.747 134.595
Official starting lineup

Race results

[edit]
Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 2 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 500 212 running 185 $46,600
2 1 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 500 61 running 175 $35,575
3 13 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 499 1 running 165 $25,575
4 10 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 498 15 running 165 $20,775
5 9 35 Benny Parsons Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 498 0 running 155 $18,025
6 3 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 498 38 running 155 $12,880
7 8 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 496 0 running 151 $7,895
8 25 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 496 25 running 147 $11,575
9 12 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 494 0 running 138 $8,465
10 16 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 494 0 running 134 $9,280
11 22 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 492 0 running 130 $3,400
12 11 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 490 1 running 132 $11,300
13 38 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 487 0 running 124 $6,485
14 18 1 Brett Bodine Ellington Racing Chevrolet 486 0 running 121 $2,400
15 17 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 485 0 crash 118 $7,275
16 31 12 Larry Pollard Hamby Racing Chevrolet 483 0 running 0 $5,615
17 19 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 481 0 running 112 $10,150
18 28 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford 479 0 running 109 $5,305
19 37 04 Charlie Rudolph Rudolph Racing Chevrolet 462 0 running 106 $2,050
20 29 64 Rodney Combs Langley Racing Ford 456 0 engine 103 $5,595
21 21 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Chevrolet 415 0 engine 100 $4,725
22 26 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 389 0 crash 97 $2,400
23 39 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 373 0 engine 94 $1,850
24 14 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 370 0 running 91 $8,800
25 4 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 362 147 engine 93 $10,600
26 20 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 359 0 engine 85 $8,700
27 27 80 Gary Fedewa Burke Racing Chevrolet 355 0 engine 82 $1,650
28 7 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 316 0 engine 79 $8,600
29 6 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 289 0 engine 76 $1,540
30 5 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 196 0 engine 73 $4,275
31 30 58 Jerry Bowman Jerry Bowman Racing Ford 161 0 electrical 70 $1,450
32 15 26 Morgan Shepherd King Racing Buick 135 0 crash 67 $4,155
33 36 81 Mike Potter Fillip Racing Ford 132 0 crash 64 $1,350
34 34 6 D. K. Ulrich U.S. Racing Chevrolet 91 0 crash 61 $4,035
35 23 18 Dale Jarrett Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet 84 0 transmission 58 $3,200
36 24 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 69 0 crash 55 $3,175
37 35 62 Steve Christman Winkle Motorsports Pontiac 59 0 engine 52 $1,175
38 33 37 Curtis Markham Beahr Racing Ford 29 0 crash 0 $1,175
39 40 31 Ron Shephard Ron Shephard Racing Chevrolet 22 0 engine 46 $1,150
40 32 85 Jimmy Horton[a] S&H Racing Ford 0 0 did not start 0 $0
Official race results

Standings after the race

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Notes

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  1. ^ While Horton was able to qualify for the race, for unknown reasons, he did not start and is not classified in NASCAR's results.

References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (June 1, 1987). "D. Allison Cruises At Dover". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B, 3B. Retrieved October 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ Bryson, Gene (June 1, 1987). "Davey Allison rolls to win". The News Journal. pp. C1, C4. Retrieved October 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "NASCAR Today". The Charlotte Observer. May 29, 1987. pp. 3C. Retrieved October 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ Higgins, Tom (May 31, 1987). "Fords, Led By Elliott, Dominate Qualifying For Dover Race". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 8C. Retrieved October 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon


Previous race:
1987 Coca-Cola 600
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1987 season
Next race:
1987 Miller High Life 500