1988 AC Spark Plug 500

The 1988 AC Spark Plug 500 was the 16th stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 16th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 24, 1988, before an audience of 70,000 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, at Pocono Raceway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) triangular permanent course. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end, Melling Racing driver Bill Elliott would manage to dominate a majority of the race, leading 122 laps to take his 27th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fourth victory of the season.[1][2][3][4] To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports driver Ken Schrader and Ranier-Lundy Racing driver Davey Allison would finish second and third, respectively.

1988 AC Spark Plug 500
Race details
Race 16 of 29 in the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1988 AC Spark Plug 500 program cover.
The 1988 AC Spark Plug 500 program cover.
Date July 24, 1988
Official name 16th Annual AC Spark Plug 500
Location Long Pond, Pennsylvania, Pocono Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.0 km)
Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Scheduled Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Average speed 122.866 miles per hour (197.734 km/h)
Attendance 70,000
Pole position
Driver RahMoc Enterprises
Time 57.269
Most laps led
Driver Bill Elliott Melling Racing
Laps 122
Winner
No. 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing
Television in the United States
Network Viewer's Choice (PPV)
Announcers Mike Joy, Ron Bouchard
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

edit
 
The layout of Pocono International Raceway, the venue where the race was held.

The race was held at Pocono International Raceway, which is a three-turn superspeedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The track hosts two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, as well as one Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series event. Until 2019, the track also hosted an IndyCar Series race.

Pocono International Raceway is one of a very few NASCAR tracks not owned by either Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or International Speedway Corporation. It is operated by the Igdalsky siblings Brandon, Nicholas, and sister Ashley, and cousins Joseph IV and Chase Mattioli, all of whom are third-generation members of the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Joseph II and Rose Mattioli.

Outside of the NASCAR races, the track is used throughout the year by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and motorcycle clubs as well as racing schools and an IndyCar race. The triangular oval also has three separate infield sections of racetrack – North Course, East Course and South Course. Each of these infield sections use a separate portion of the tri-oval to complete the track. During regular non-race weekends, multiple clubs can use the track by running on different infield sections. Also some of the infield sections can be run in either direction, or multiple infield sections can be put together – such as running the North Course and the South Course and using the tri-oval to connect the two.

Entry list

edit
  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
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
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 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller High Life
15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford Crisco
16 Bob Schacht Chilson Racing Ford Ed Learn Ford
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
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 Havoline
29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile Hardee's
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Country Time
31 Joe Ruttman Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile Slender You Figure Salons
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
40 Ben Hess Hess Racing Oldsmobile Hess Racing
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Piedmont Airlines
48 Tony Spanos Hylton Motorsports Buick Hylton Motorsports
50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac Dingman Brothers Racing
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Eureka
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Crown Central Petroleum, Skoal Classic
64 Mike Potter Potter Racing Chevrolet Bullfrog Knits
67 Ron Esau Arrington Racing Ford Pannill Sweatshirts
68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford Purolator Filters
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Lifebuoy
75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Valvoline
80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford S&H Racing
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Wynn's, Kmart
85 Bobby Gerhart Bobby Gerhart Racing Chevrolet James Chevrolet
88 Buddy Baker Baker-Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Red Baron Frozen Pizza
90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Chevrolet Salmon Racing
97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick AC Spark Plug
98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick Sunoco

Qualifying

edit

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, July 22, at 3:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 15 drivers in the round would be 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, July 23, at 10:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 16-40 would be 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 provisionals were given.

Morgan Shepherd, driving for RahMoc Enterprises, would win the pole, setting a time of 57.269 and an average speed of 157.153 miles per hour (252.913 km/h) in the first round.[6]

Five drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

edit
Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 57.269 157.153
2 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 57.485 156.563
3 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 57.496 156.533
4 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 57.613 156.215
5 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 57.632 156.163
6 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 57.729 155.901
7 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 57.857 155.556
8 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 57.915 155.400
9 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 57.927 155.368
10 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 57.985 155.213
11 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 58.019 155.122
12 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 58.049 155.041
13 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 58.094 154.921
14 50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac 58.148 154.777
15 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 58.211 154.610
Failed to lock in Round 1
16 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 57.743 155.863
17 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 58.289 154.403
18 12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 58.361 154.213
19 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 58.378 154.168
20 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 58.382 154.157
21 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 58.450 153.978
22 97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick 58.463 153.944
23 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 58.567 153.670
24 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 58.640 153.479
25 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 58.715 153.283
26 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 58.716 153.280
27 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 58.842 152.952
28 31 Joe Ruttman Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 58.964 152.636
29 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 59.024 152.480
30 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford 59.042 152.434
31 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 59.075 152.349
32 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 59.150 152.156
33 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 59.185 152.066
34 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Chevrolet 59.284 151.812
35 16 Bob Schacht Chilson Racing Ford 59.533 151.177
36 80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford 59.557 151.116
37 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 59.573 151.075
38 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 59.879 150.303
39 64 Mike Potter Potter Racing Chevrolet 1:00.033 149.918
40 85 Bobby Gerhart Bobby Gerhart Racing Chevrolet 1:01.512 146.313
Failed to qualify
41 67 Ron Esau Arrington Racing Ford -* -*
42 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac -* -*
43 40 Ben Hess Hess Racing Oldsmobile -* -*
44 48 Tony Spanos Hylton Motorsports Buick -* -*
45 93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Chevrolet -* -*
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

edit
Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 2 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 200 122 running 185 $53,200
2 4 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 5 running 175 $30,725
3 12 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 200 0 running 165 $26,275
4 5 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 28 running 165 $17,775
5 10 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 6 running 160 $17,925
6 1 75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 200 13 running 155 $16,600
7 6 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 200 0 running 146 $8,600
8 3 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 200 0 running 142 $11,425
9 17 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 200 15 running 143 $13,775
10 23 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 200 8 running 139 $10,025
11 9 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 0 running 130 $15,025
12 25 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 200 2 running 132 $7,875
13 13 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 200 0 running 124 $5,575
14 8 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 199 0 running 121 $7,275
15 18 12 Mike Alexander Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 199 0 running 118 $10,875
16 30 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford 198 0 running 115 $3,925
17 24 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 198 0 running 112 $6,675
18 20 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 198 0 running 109 $10,725
19 37 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 197 0 running 106 $3,100
20 7 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 197 0 running 103 $11,875
21 26 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 196 0 running 100 $5,925
22 34 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Chevrolet 195 0 running 97 $2,525
23 32 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 195 0 running 94 $5,525
24 11 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 189 0 running 91 $11,175
25 21 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 188 0 running 88 $3,425
26 40 85 Bobby Gerhart Bobby Gerhart Racing Chevrolet 187 0 running 85 $2,275
27 28 31 Joe Ruttman Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 166 0 steering 82 $3,175
28 15 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 161 1 engine 84 $6,525
29 36 80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford 141 0 engine 76 $2,125
30 33 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 128 0 engine 73 $4,825
31 29 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 119 0 engine 70 $4,725
32 16 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 92 0 crash 67 $4,150
33 19 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 91 0 crash 64 $5,550
34 14 50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac 91 0 suspension 61 $1,850
35 31 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 90 0 engine 58 $4,425
36 22 97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick 78 0 engine 55 $1,750
37 39 64 Mike Potter Potter Racing Chevrolet 44 0 rear end 52 $1,700
38 27 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 34 0 engine 49 $1,675
39 38 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 26 0 engine 46 $4,250
40 35 16 Bob Schacht Chilson Racing Ford 5 0 engine 43 $1,600
Failed to qualify
41 67 Ron Esau Arrington Racing Ford
42 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac
43 40 Ben Hess Hess Racing Oldsmobile
44 48 Tony Spanos Hylton Motorsports Buick
45 93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

Standings after the race

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (July 25, 1988). "Elliott Wins At Pocono, Cuts Wallace's Lead (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 15. Retrieved July 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (July 25, 1988). "Elliott Wins At Pocono, Cuts Wallace's Lead (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 18. Retrieved July 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Kracz, Edward (July 25, 1988). "Easy win for Elliott at Pocono (Part 1)". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 21. Retrieved July 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Kracz, Edward (July 25, 1988). "Easy win for Elliott at Pocono (Part 2)". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 28. Retrieved July 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "NASCAR today". The Charlotte Observer. July 22, 1988. p. 25. Retrieved July 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Higgins, Tom (July 23, 1988). "Shepherd Wins Pocono Pole In Record". The Charlotte Observer. p. 27. Retrieved July 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  


Previous race:
1988 Pepsi Firecracker 400
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1988 season
Next race:
1988 Talladega DieHard 500