1989 AC Spark Plug 500

The 1989 AC Spark Plug 500 was the 16th stock car race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 17th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 23, 1989, 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. In the final laps of the race, Melling Racing driver Bill Elliott would make a late-race charge, passing for the lead with six laps left in the race to take his 31st career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season.[1][2][3][4] To fill out the top three, Blue Max Racing driver Rusty Wallace and Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would finish second and third, respectively.

1989 AC Spark Plug 500
Race details
Race 16 of 29 in the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1989 AC Spark Plug 500 program cover
The 1989 AC Spark Plug 500 program cover
Date July 23, 1989
Official name 17th 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 117.847 miles per hour (189.656 km/h)
Attendance 70,000
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 57.031
Most laps led
Driver Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing
Laps 68
Winner
No. 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Benny Parsons, Ned Jarrett
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

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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

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
2 Ernie Irvan U.S. Racing Pontiac Kroger
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Kodak
04 Bob Schacht Hakes Racing Ford Hakes Racing
5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Stroh's Light
06 Terry Byers Byers Racing Buick Byers Racing
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 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Pontiac Purolator
11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Ford Budweiser
13 Eddie Bierschwale Rosenblum Racing Chevrolet Genesee Brewing Company
15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft
16 Larry Pearson (R) Pearson Racing Buick Chattanooga Chew
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
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 Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac Hardee's
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Country Time
33 Harry Gant Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal Bandit
38 Dick Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Redkote Steel Tubing
42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac Peak Antifreeze
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Jim Sauter Group 44 Pontiac Group 44
48 Greg Sacks Winkle Motorsports Pontiac Dinner Bell Foods
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Alka-Seltzer
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal, Crown Central Petroleum
57 Hut Stricklin (R) Osterlund Racing Pontiac Heinz
62 Joe Ruttman Douglas Smith Racing Oldsmobile Baja Boats
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 S&H Racing Pontiac S&H Racing
81 Mike Potter Welch Racing Ford O. C. Welch Ford
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
84 Dick Trickle (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller High Life
88 Jimmy Spencer (R) Baker–Schiff Racing Pontiac Crisco
93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Buick Salmon Racing
94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Sunoco
99 Norm Benning O'Neil Racing Chevrolet O'Neil Racing

Qualifying

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Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was scheduled to be held on Friday, July 21, at 3:00 PM EST. However, due to fog, the first round was cancelled, and qualifying was condensed into one round,[5] which was held on Saturday, July 22, at 8:00 AM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 1–40 would be decided on time,[6] 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.

Ken Schrader, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 57.031 and an average speed of 157.809 miles per hour (253.969 km/h).[7]

Four drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 57.031 157.809
2 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 57.095 157.632
3 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 57.174 157.414
4 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 57.223 157.279
5 15 Brett Bodine RahMoc Enterprises Ford 57.292 157.090
6 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 57.312 157.036
7 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 57.348 156.937
8 33 Harry Gant Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 57.447 156.666
9 94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 57.484 156.565
10 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 57.600 156.250
11 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 57.652 156.109
12 75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 57.675 156.047
13 16 Larry Pearson Pearson Racing Buick 57.680 156.033
14 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 57.713 155.944
15 48 Greg Sacks Winkle Motorsports Pontiac 57.753 155.836
16 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 57.810 155.682
17 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 57.812 155.677
18 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 57.834 155.618
19 21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 57.876 155.505
20 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Pontiac 57.915 155.400
21 88 Jimmy Spencer Baker–Schiff Racing Pontiac 57.974 155.242
22 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 58.037 155.073
23 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 58.078 154.964
24 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 58.117 154.860
25 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 58.132 154.820
26 62 Joe Ruttman Douglas Smith Racing Oldsmobile 58.155 154.759
27 2 Ernie Irvan U.S. Racing Pontiac 58.179 154.695
28 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 58.279 154.430
29 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 58.313 154.340
30 44 Jim Sauter Group 44 Pontiac 58.532 153.762
31 84 Dick Trickle Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 58.557 153.696
32 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 58.651 153.450
33 80 Jimmy Horton S&H Racing Pontiac 58.670 153.400
34 57 Hut Stricklin Osterlund Racing Pontiac 58.743 153.210
35 04 Bob Schacht Hakes Racing Ford 58.784 153.103
36 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 58.901 152.799
37 38 Dick Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford 58.998 152.548
38 13 Eddie Bierschwale Rosenblum Racing Chevrolet 59.085 152.323
39 06 Terry Byers Byers Racing Chevrolet 59.110 152.259
40 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 59.331 151.691
Failed to qualify
41 93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Buick -* -*
42 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac -* -*
43 81 Mike Potter Welch Racing Ford -* -*
44 99 Norm Benning O'Neil Racing Chevrolet -* -*
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 14 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 200 8 running 180 $58,400
2 6 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 200 68 running 180 $46,875
3 7 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 200 4 running 170 $26,300
4 24 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 19 running 165 $23,850
5 8 33 Harry Gant Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 200 0 running 155 $20,350
6 23 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 200 1 running 155 $16,225
7 1 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 7 running 151 $16,050
8 12 75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 200 0 running 142 $13,925
9 3 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 3 running 143 $14,275
10 5 15 Brett Bodine RahMoc Enterprises Ford 200 0 running 134 $12,250
11 29 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 200 16 running 135 $8,950
12 36 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 200 0 running 127 $11,207
13 22 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 199 2 running 129 $12,850
14 11 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 199 16 running 126 $4,150
15 21 88 Jimmy Spencer Baker–Schiff Racing Pontiac 199 0 running 118 $9,400
16 30 44 Jim Sauter Group 44 Pontiac 199 0 running 115 $3,850
17 2 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 199 41 running 117 $12,750
18 17 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 198 0 running 109 $7,550
19 32 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 198 5 running 111 $7,325
20 31 84 Dick Trickle Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 198 7 running 108 $8,175
21 39 06 Terry Byers Byers Racing Chevrolet 197 0 running 100 $3,175
22 37 38 Dick Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford 196 0 running 97 $3,075
23 19 21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 195 3 running 99 $6,295
24 40 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 195 0 running 91 $2,925
25 10 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 192 0 running 88 $6,100
26 27 2 Ernie Irvan U.S. Racing Pontiac 164 0 running 85 $3,825
27 35 04 Bob Schacht Hakes Racing Ford 139 0 engine 82 $2,775
28 28 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 128 0 water pump 79 $6,675
29 16 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 127 0 crash 76 $5,525
30 15 48 Greg Sacks Winkle Motorsports Pontiac 114 0 crash 73 $3,425
31 18 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 111 0 engine 70 $9,575
32 38 13 Eddie Bierschwale Rosenblum Racing Chevrolet 83 0 crash 67 $2,575
33 33 80 Jimmy Horton S&H Racing Pontiac 71 0 crash 64 $3,175
34 26 62 Joe Ruttman Douglas Smith Racing Oldsmobile 60 0 engine 61 $2,400
35 20 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Pontiac 56 0 engine 58 $3,100
36 9 94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 45 0 engine 55 $5,000
37 34 57 Hut Stricklin Osterlund Racing Pontiac 24 0 engine 52 $2,925
38 25 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 22 0 engne 49 $2,875
39 4 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 10 0 engine 46 $4,825
40 13 16 Larry Pearson Pearson Racing Buick 2 0 oil line 43 $2,740
Failed to qualify
41 93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Buick
42 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac
43 81 Mike Potter Welch Racing Ford
44 99 Norm Benning O'Neil Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (July 24, 1989). "Elliott Rallies For Sparkling Finish (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 15. Retrieved May 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (July 24, 1989). "Elliott Rallies For Sparkling Finish (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 18. Retrieved May 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Walsh, Scott (July 24, 1989). "Elliott's Victory a Little Bit of History Repeating (Part 1)". The Scranton Times-Tribune. p. 15. Retrieved May 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Walsh, Scott (July 24, 1989). "Elliott's Victory a Little Bit of History Repeating (Part 2)". The Scranton Times-Tribune. p. 18. Retrieved May 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Higgins, Tom (July 22, 1989). "Fog Puts Damper On Qualifying For Pocono Race". The Charlotte Observer. p. 28. Retrieved May 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ "NASCAR Today". The Charlotte Observer. July 21, 1989. p. 37. Retrieved May 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ Higgins, Tom (July 23, 1989). "Schrader Leads Lumina Charge In Qualifying". The Charlotte Observer. p. 82. Retrieved May 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  


Previous race:
1989 Pepsi 400
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1989 season
Next race:
1989 Talladega DieHard 500