The 1986 Coca-Cola 600 was the 11th stock car race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 27th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, May 25, 1986, before an audience of 158,000 in Concord, North Carolina, at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent quad-oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete.[1]

1986 Coca-Cola 600
Race details
Race 11 of 29 in the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1986 Coca-Cola 600 program cover, featuring Terry Labonte. Artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass.
The 1986 Coca-Cola 600 program cover, featuring Terry Labonte. Artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass.
Date May 25, 1986
Official name 27th Annual Coca-Cola 600
Location Concord, North Carolina, Charlotte Motor Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.41 km)
Distance 400 laps, 600 mi (965.606 km)
Scheduled Distance 400 laps, 600 mi (965.606 km)
Average speed 140.406 miles per hour (225.962 km/h)
Attendance 158,000
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 32.824
Most laps led
Driver Cale Yarborough
Bill Elliott
Ranier-Lundy Racing
Melling Racing
Laps 98
Winner
No. 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing
Television in the United States
Network Jefferson-Pilot
Announcers Mike Hogewood, Jerry Punch
Radio in the United States
Radio WSOC-FM

After a poor start, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt, crediting crew chief Kirk Shelmerdine, made several changes to the car afterward, making an improvement. As a result, Earnhardt steadily climbed through the field in the final stages of the race, taking the lead when Bill Elliott pitted for fuel with less than 20 laps left in the race, securing the victory. The victory was Earnhardt's 18th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third victory of the season.[2][3] To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports' Tim Richmond and Ranier-Lundy Racing's Cale Yarborough finished second and third, respectively.

Background

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The layout of Charlotte Motor Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge, as well as the UAW-GM Quality 500. The speedway was built in 1959 by Bruton Smith and is considered the home track for NASCAR with many race teams located in the Charlotte area. The track is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) with Marcus G. Smith (son of Bruton Smith) as track president.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Sterling Marlin Ellington Racing Chevrolet Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
2 Brett Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Exxon
02 Mark Martin Gunderman Racing Ford Gunderman Racing
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Wrangler
4 Lake Speed Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile All Pro Auto Parts
5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 D. K. Ulrich[a] U.S. Racing Chevrolet STP
7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 7-Eleven
8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Chevrolet 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 Doug Heveron Hamby Racing Chevrolet Kmart
18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet Freedlander Financial
21 David Pearson Pearson Racing Chevrolet Chattanooga Chew
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
30 Willy T. Ribbs DiGard Motorsports Chevrolet Red Roof Inn
32 Eddie Bierschwale Ingle Racing Chevrolet Ingle Racing
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
35 Alan Kulwicki (R) AK Racing Ford Quincy's Steakhouse
43 Richard Petty[a] Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Terry Labonte Hagan Enterprises Oldsmobile Piedmont Airlines
45 Ken Ragan Morris Racing Pontiac Morris Racing
47 Morgan Shepherd Race Hill Farm Team Chevrolet Race Hill Farm Team
51 Connie Saylor Spohn Racing Ford Spohn Racing
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Jimmy Means Racing
55 Benny Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Copenhagen
66 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal
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
75 Jody Ridley RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Nationwise Automotive
79 Derrike Cope Razore Racing Ford Peterbilt
81 Chet Fillip (R) Fillip Racing Ford Circle Bar Truck Corral
88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Crisco
90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford Red Baron Frozen Pizza
94 Trevor Boys Eller Racing Pontiac Kodak Film
98 Ron Bouchard Curb Racing Pontiac Valvoline
99 Brad Teague Ball Motorsports Chevrolet Ball Motorsports

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into three rounds. The first round was held on Wednesday, May 21, at 4:00 PM EST. Each driver had one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 15 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 Thursday, May 22, at 2:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver had one lap to set a time. Positions 16-30 were decided on times in the second round. The third round was held on Friday, May 23, at 12:30 PM EST; if a driver was not able to guarantee a starting spot in the previous two rounds, they had the option to scrub their time again and run in the third round. As with the previous two rounds, each driver had one lap to set a time. Positions 31-40 were determined on times in the third round.[5] 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.

Geoff Bodine, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, won the pole, setting a time of 32.824 and an average speed of 164.511 miles per hour (264.755 km/h) in the first round.[6]

Four drivers failed to qualify.[7]

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 32.824 164.511
2 25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 32.840 164.431
3 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 32.958 163.842
4 1 Sterling Marlin Ellington Racing Chevrolet 33.068 163.297
5 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 33.119 163.048
6 55 Benny Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 33.139 162.948
7 21 David Pearson Pearson Racing Chevrolet 33.164 162.828
8 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 33.238 162.465
9 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 33.255 162.379
10 47 Morgan Shepherd Race Hill Farm Team Buick 33.299 162.166
11 12 Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 33.349 161.923
12 28 Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 33.364 161.850
13 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 33.394 161.707
14 02 Mark Martin Gunderman Racing Ford 33.441 161.477
15 11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 32.849 164.389
Failed to lock in Round 1
16 44 Terry Labonte Hagan Enterprises Oldsmobile 32.862 164.324
17 7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 33.068 163.300
18 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 33.133 162.980
19 4 Lake Speed Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 33.158 162.857
20 66 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 33.200 162.651
21 51 Connie Saylor Spohn Racing Ford 33.221 162.548
22 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 33.236 162.474
23 26 Joe Ruttman King Racing Buick 33.260 162.357
24 75 Jody Ridley RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 33.272 162.299
25 10 Greg Sacks DiGard Motorsports Chevrolet 33.279 162.264
26 99 Brad Teague Ball Motorsports Chevrolet 33.283 162.245
27 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 33.295 162.187
28 81 Chet Fillip (R) Fillip Racing Ford 33.297 162.177
29 35 Alan Kulwicki (R) AK Racing Ford 33.308 162.123
30 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 32.671 165.284
Failed to lock in Round 2
31 98 Ron Bouchard Curb Racing Pontiac 32.831 164.479
32 2 Brett Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 32.872 164.274
33 17 Doug Heveron Hamby Racing Chevrolet 32.894 164.164
34 23 Michael Waltrip (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac 32.918 164.044
35 79 Derrike Cope Razore Racing Ford 33.057 163.354
36 45 Ken Ragan Morris Racing Pontiac 33.073 163.275
37 6 D. K. Ulrich U.S. Racing Chevrolet 33.077 163.255
38 32 Eddie Bierschwale Ingle Racing Chevrolet 33.143 162.930
39 94 Trevor Boys Eller Racing Pontiac 33.245 162.430
Provisionals
40 18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet 33.489 161.247
41 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Ford - -
Failed to qualify
42 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford 33.276 162.279
43 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 33.309 162.118
44 30 Willy T. Ribbs DiGard Motorsports Chevrolet 33.329 162.021
45 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 33.969 158.968
Withdrew after qualifying
WD 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 33.441 161.476
Official first round qualifying results
Official second round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 3 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 400 26 running 180 $98,150
2 2 25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 94 running 175 $64,355
3 12 28 Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 400 98 running 175 $34,375
4 8 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 400 50 running 165 $35,630
5 15 11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 400 3 running 160 $27,250
6 5 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 400 98 running 160 $34,750
7 4 1 Sterling Marlin Ellington Racing Chevrolet 399 0 running 146 $13,000
8 13 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 399 0 running 142 $18,200
9 10 47 Morgan Shepherd Race Hill Farm Team Buick 399 12 running 143 $14,450
10 9 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 398 5 running 139 $16,750
11 16 44 Terry Labonte Hagan Enterprises Oldsmobile 398 0 running 130 $14,800
12 18 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 398 1 running 132 $14,200
13 11 12 Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 397 2 running 129 $15,400
14 19 4 Lake Speed Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 397 6 running 126 $6,400
15 22 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 396 0 running 118 $10,795
16 41 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Ford 395 0 running 115 $9,825
17 30 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 395 0 running 112 $5,300
18 32 2 Brett Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 394 0 running 109 $10,100
19 31 98 Ron Bouchard Curb Racing Pontiac 394 0 running 106 $4,900
20 17 7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 394 0 running 103 $12,150
21 24 75 Jody Ridley RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 392 0 running 100 $8,315
22 14 02 Mark Martin Gunderman Racing Ford 391 0 running 97 $4,200
23 27 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 391 0 running 94 $8,705
24 20 66 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 389 0 running 91 $3,500
25 39 94 Trevor Boys Eller Racing Pontiac 389 0 running 88 $2,800
26 34 23 Michael Waltrip (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac 389 0 running 85 $3,850
27 29 35 Alan Kulwicki (R) AK Racing Ford 382 0 running 82 $2,500
28 21 51 Connie Saylor Spohn Racing Ford 376 0 running 0 $2,200
29 38 32 Eddie Bierschwale Ingle Racing Chevrolet 374 1 running 81 $2,000
30 35 79 Derrike Cope Razore Racing Ford 361 0 running 73 $1,900
31 1 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 319 2 camshaft 75 $33,850
32 23 26 Joe Ruttman King Racing Buick 292 0 running 67 $5,635
33 33 17 Doug Heveron Hamby Racing Chevrolet 278 0 engine 64 $5,475
34 6 55 Benny Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 198 1 shocks 66 $2,200
35 40 18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet 172 1 overheating 63 $1,650
36 7 21 David Pearson Pearson Racing Chevrolet 138 0 head gasket 0 $1,800
37 28 81 Chet Fillip (R) Fillip Racing Ford 124 0 accident 52 $1,575
38 37 6 Richard Petty U.S. Racing Chevrolet 123 0 engine 49 $5,465
39 25 10 Greg Sacks DiGard Motorsports Chevrolet 73 0 accident 46 $1,525
40 26 99 Brad Teague Ball Motorsports Chevrolet 37 0 accident 43 $1,500
41 36 45 Ken Ragan Morris Racing Pontiac 5 0 accident 40 $1,500
Failed to qualify or withdrew
42 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford
43 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac
44 30 Willy T. Ribbs DiGard Motorsports Chevrolet
45 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac
WD 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac
Official race results

Standings after the race

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Petty crashed his car in a Friday practice session, terminally damaging his only car. As a result, both Petty and his sponsor, STP, paid D. K. Ulrich to drive his car for the race.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Hardesty, Abe (May 24, 1986). "Earnhardt grabs a dream". The Greenville News. pp. 1C, 8C. Retrieved January 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (May 26, 1986). "Earnhardt Waits And Wins 600". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B, 4B. Retrieved January 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Mulhurn, Mike (May 26, 1986). "Earnhardt Charges to World 600 Victory". Winston-Salem Journal. pp. 13, 17. Retrieved January 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Olson, Stan (May 24, 1986). "Petty Wrecks, But Says He'll Race". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 2D. Retrieved January 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "Race Week Schedule". The Charlotte Observer. May 20, 1986. pp. 1B. Retrieved January 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Higgins, Tom (May 22, 1986). "600 Pole Belongs To Bodine". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B, 8B. Retrieved January 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ Higgins, Tom (May 24, 1986). "Baker Leads Final Day Of 600 Qualifying". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 3D. Retrieved January 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  


Previous race:
1986 Budweiser 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1986 season
Next race:
1986 Budweiser 400