The 1991 Pepsi 400 was the 15th stock car race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 33rd iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, July 6, 1991, before an audience of 80,000 in Daytona Beach, Florida at Daytona International Speedway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) permanent triangular-shaped superspeedway. The race took the scheduled 160 laps to complete. In the final laps of the race, Melling Racing driver Bill Elliott would manage to mount a late-race charge to the lead, passing for the lead with 13 to go to take his 34th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season.[1][2][3][4] To fill out the top three, Junior Johnson & Associates driver Geoff Bodine and Robert Yates Racing driver Davey Allison would finish second and third, respectively.

1991 Pepsi 400
Race details
Race 15 of 29 in the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1991 Pepsi 400 program cover.
The 1991 Pepsi 400 program cover.
Date July 6, 1991
Official name 33rd Annual Pepsi 400
Location Daytona Beach, Florida, Daytona International Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.0 km)
Distance 160 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km)
Scheduled Distance 160 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km)
Average speed 159.116 miles per hour (256.072 km/h)
Attendance 80,000
Pole position
Driver Junior Johnson & Associates
Time 47.286
Most laps led
Driver Ernie Irvan Morgan-McClure Motorsports
Laps 85
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

On lap 120 of the race, owner-driver Darrell Waltrip, along with RahMoc Enterprises driver Joe Ruttman, would both be involved in a crash on the track's back straightaway. Waltrip and Ruttman would both slide into the infield grass, and Waltrip's car, after hitting a bump in the infield, would then proceed to go into a series of violent flips, destroying Waltrip's car. Waltrip was not seriously hurt.[5][6]

Background

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

Daytona International Speedway is one of three superspeedways to hold NASCAR races, the other two being Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. The standard track at Daytona International Speedway is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long. The track's turns are banked at 31 degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at 18 degrees.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Oldsmobile Skoal
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Pontiac Miller Genuine Draft
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
4 Ernie Irvan Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Folgers
7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford Hooters
8 Rick Wilson Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Snickers
9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford Coors Light
10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet Purolator Filters
11 Geoff Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford Budweiser
12 Hut Stricklin Bobby Allison Motorsports Buick Raybestos
14 Mike Chase A. J. Foyt Racing Oldsmobile Copenhagen
15 Morgan Shepherd Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft
17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet Western Auto
19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford Tyson Foods
20 Buddy Baker Moroso Racing Oldsmobile Rob Moroso Memorial
21 Dale Jarrett Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Sterling Marlin Junior Johnson & Associates Ford Maxwell House
23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile Auto Finders
24 Mickey Gibbs Team III Racing Pontiac Team III Racing
25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kodiak
26 Brett Bodine King Racing Buick Quaker State
28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Pennzoil
33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal Bandit
41 Larry Pearson Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's Frosted Flakes
42 Bobby Hillin Jr. SABCO Racing Pontiac Mello Yello
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
47 Greg Sacks Close Racing Oldsmobile Kanawha Insurance
49 Stanley Smith (R) BS&S Motorsports Buick Interstate Batteries
51 Jeff Purvis (R) Phoenix Racing Oldsmobile Phoenix Construction
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Alka-Seltzer
55 Ted Musgrave (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac U.S. Racing
66 Lake Speed Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac Phillips 66 TropArtic
68 Bobby Hamilton (R) TriStar Motorsports Oldsmobile Country Time
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Big Apple Market
73 Phil Barkdoll Barkdoll Racing Oldsmobile X-1R
75 Joe Ruttman RahMoc Enterprises Oldsmobile Dinner Bell Foods
80 Jimmy Horton S&H Racing Ford S&H Racing
90 Wally Dallenbach Jr. (R) Donlavey Racing Ford Ford Motorsport Sportswear
94 Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Sunoco
95 Kerry Teague Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet Texaco
98 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Chevrolet Banquet Foods

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Thursday, July 2, at 10:00 AM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 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 Friday, July 3, at 11:00 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 would be decided on time,[7] 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. If needed, a past champion who did not qualify on either time or provisionals could use a champion's provisional, adding one more spot to the field.

Sterling Marlin, driving for Junior Johnson & Associates, would win the pole, setting a time of 47.286 and an average speed of 190.331 miles per hour (306.308 km/h) in the first round.[8][9]

Four drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 22 Sterling Marlin Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 47.286 190.331
2 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 47.391 189.909
3 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Oldsmobile 47.402 189.865
4 11 Geoff Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 47.618 189.004
5 68 Bobby Hamilton (R) TriStar Motorsports Oldsmobile 47.659 188.842
6 66 Lake Speed Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 47.679 188.762
7 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 47.757 188.454
8 19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford 47.765 188.422
9 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Oldsmobile 47.784 188.348
10 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 47.788 188.332
11 4 Ernie Irvan Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 47.794 188.308
12 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 47.795 188.304
13 5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 47.796 188.300
14 8 Rick Wilson Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 47.910 187.852
15 12 Hut Stricklin Bobby Allison Motorsports Buick 47.920 187.813
16 75 Joe Ruttman RahMoc Enterprises Oldsmobile 47.957 187.668
17 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 47.964 187.641
18 15 Morgan Shepherd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 48.055 187.285
19 20 Buddy Baker Moroso Racing Oldsmobile 48.124 187.017
20 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 48.128 187.001
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 48.171 186.834
22 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 48.188 186.768
23 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Buick 48.220 186.645
24 55 Ted Musgrave (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 48.249 186.532
25 42 Bobby Hillin Jr. SABCO Racing Pontiac 48.265 186.471
26 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 48.286 186.389
27 49 Stanley Smith (R) BS&S Motorsports Buick 48.298 186.343
28 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Pontiac 48.353 186.131
29 51 Jeff Purvis (R) Phoenix Racing Oldsmobile 48.378 186.035
30 14 Mike Chase A. J. Foyt Racing Oldsmobile 48.439 185.801
31 21 Dale Jarrett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 48.444 185.782
32 98 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Chevrolet 48.554 185.361
33 47 Greg Sacks Close Racing Oldsmobile 48.593 185.212
34 41 Larry Pearson Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 48.651 184.991
35 24 Mickey Gibbs Team III Racing Pontiac 48.654 184.980
36 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet 48.656 184.972
37 73 Phil Barkdoll Barkdoll Racing Oldsmobile 48.689 184.847
38 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 48.697 184.816
39 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 48.774 184.525
40 90 Wally Dallenbach Jr. (R) Donlavey Racing Ford 49.063 183.438
41 94 Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 49.147 183.124
Failed to qualify
42 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac -* -*
43 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile -* -*
44 80 Jimmy Horton S&H Racing Ford -* -*
45 95 Kerry Teague Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet -* -*
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 10 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 160 13 running 180 $75,000
2 4 11 Geoff Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 160 4 running 175 $48,325
3 2 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 160 11 running 170 $36,950
4 22 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 160 21 running 165 $27,450
5 11 4 Ernie Irvan Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 160 85 running 165 $36,525
6 7 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 160 4 running 155 $17,300
7 12 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 160 8 running 151 $23,200
8 1 22 Sterling Marlin Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 160 2 running 147 $17,100
9 13 5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 160 8 running 143 $16,500
10 32 98 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Chevrolet 160 2 running 139 $15,800
11 26 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 160 0 running 130 $17,090
12 28 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Pontiac 160 0 running 127 $9,600
13 19 20 Buddy Baker Moroso Racing Oldsmobile 160 0 running 124 $9,210
14 17 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 160 0 running 121 $14,070
15 25 42 Bobby Hillin Jr. SABCO Racing Pontiac 160 0 running 118 $14,480
16 15 12 Hut Stricklin Bobby Allison Motorsports Buick 160 2 running 120 $10,440
17 36 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet 160 0 running 112 $14,825
18 31 21 Dale Jarrett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 160 0 running 109 $9,810
19 9 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Oldsmobile 160 0 running 106 $9,295
20 18 15 Morgan Shepherd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 159 0 running 103 $13,730
21 34 41 Larry Pearson Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 159 0 running 100 $5,510
22 21 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 159 0 running 97 $8,490
23 3 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Oldsmobile 159 0 running 94 $8,470
24 14 8 Rick Wilson Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 158 0 running 91 $8,050
25 39 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 157 0 running 88 $7,930
26 38 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 157 0 running 85 $4,810
27 35 24 Mickey Gibbs Team III Racing Pontiac 154 0 running 82 $5,440
28 5 68 Bobby Hamilton (R) TriStar Motorsports Oldsmobile 153 0 running 79 $6,070
29 8 19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford 150 0 running 76 4,475
30 29 51 Jeff Purvis (R) Phoenix Racing Oldsmobile 144 0 running 73 $5,080
31 16 75 Joe Ruttman RahMoc Enterprises Oldsmobile 125 0 crash 70 $7,000
32 20 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 119 0 crash 67 $5,945
33 30 14 Mike Chase A. J. Foyt Racing Oldsmobile 106 0 crash 64 $4,265
34 40 90 Wally Dallenbach Jr. (R) Donlavey Racing Ford 89 0 ignition 61 $4,585
35 37 73 Phil Barkdoll Barkdoll Racing Oldsmobile 84 0 crash 58 $4,205
36 23 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Buick 17 0 engine 55 $6,800
37 24 55 Ted Musgrave (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 12 0 crash 52 $4,745
38 6 66 Lake Speed Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 12 0 crash 49 $6,130
39 33 47 Greg Sacks Close Racing Oldsmobile 12 0 crash 46 $4,120
40 27 49 Stanley Smith (R) BS&S Motorsports Buick 12 0 crash 43 $4,080
41 41 94 Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 8 0 quit 40 $6,080
Failed to qualify
42 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac
43 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile
44 80 Jimmy Horton S&H Racing Ford
45 95 Kerry Teague Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (July 7, 1991). "Elliott pours on the power (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 37. Retrieved February 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (July 7, 1991). "Elliott pours on the power (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 40. Retrieved February 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Coble, Don (July 7, 1991). "Uh-huh... Elliott's the right one (Part 1)". Florida Today. p. 21. Retrieved February 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Coble, Don (July 7, 1991). "Uh-huh... Elliott's the right one (Part 2)". Florida Today. p. 22. Retrieved February 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Higgins, Tom (July 7, 1991). "Daytona track not on Waltrip's list of favorites". The Charlotte Observer. p. 40. Retrieved February 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ D'Angelo, Tom (July 7, 1991). "Waltrip on course - until crash". The Palm Beach Post. p. 51. Retrieved February 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ "NASCAR today". The Charlotte Observer. July 2, 1991. p. 26. Retrieved February 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  8. ^ Higgins, Tom (July 5, 1991). "Marlin displays true grit (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 13. Retrieved February 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  9. ^ Higgins, Tom (July 5, 1991). "Marlin displays true grit (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 15. Retrieved February 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
Previous race:
1991 Miller Genuine Draft 400 (Michigan)
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1991 season
Next race:
1991 Miller Genuine Draft 500