1994 Save Mart Supermarkets 300

The 1994 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 was the 10th stock car race of the 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, the third race of the 1994 NASCAR Winston West Series, and the sixth iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, May 15, 1994, at the Grand Prix layout of Sears Point Raceway, a 2.52 miles (4.06 km) permanent road course layout. The race took the scheduled 74 laps to complete. At race's end, Robert Yates Racing driver Ernie Irvan would manage to dominate the race to take his 12th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third and final victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Geoff Bodine, driving for his own Geoff Bodine Racing, and Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would finish second and third, respectively.

1994 Save Mart Supermarkets 300
Race details
Race 10 of 31 in the 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1994 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 program cover.
The 1994 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 program cover.
Date May 15, 1994
Official name 6th Annual Save Mart Supermarkets 300
Location Sonoma, California, Sears Point Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
2.52 mi (4.06 km)
Distance 74 laps, 186.48 mi (300.11 km)
Scheduled Distance 74 laps, 186.48 mi (300.11 km)
Average speed 77.458 miles per hour (124.657 km/h)
Attendance 94,157
Pole position
Driver Robert Yates Racing
Time 1:39.132
Most laps led
Driver Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing
Laps 68
Winner
No. 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

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The layout of Sears Point Raceway used by NASCAR at the time.

Sears Point Raceway is one of two road courses to hold NASCAR races, the other being Watkins Glen International. The standard road course at Sears Point Raceway is a 12-turn course that is 2.52 miles (4.06 km) long;[3] the track was modified in 1998, adding the Chute, which bypassed turns 5 and 6, shortening the course to 1.95 miles (3.14 km). The Chute was only used for NASCAR events such as this race, and was criticized by many drivers, who preferred the full layout.[4] In 2001, it was replaced with a 70-degree turn, 4A, bringing the track to its current dimensions of 1.99 miles (3.20 km).[5]

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Ford Skoal
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford Miller Genuine Draft
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's Frosted Flakes
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Valvoline
7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford Exide
8 Jeff Burton (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Ford Raybestos
9 John Krebs Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet Channellock
09 Charlie O'Brien O'Brien Racing Pontiac Qantas
10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford Tide
11 Bill Elliott Junior Johnson & Associates Ford Budweiser
12 Chuck Bown Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford
14 John Andretti (R) Hagan Racing Chevrolet
15 Lake Speed Bud Moore Engineering Ford Ford Quality Care
16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford The Family Channel
17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet Western Auto
18 Dale Jarrett Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet Interstate Batteries
19 Loy Allen Jr. (R) TriStar Motorsports Ford Hooters
20 Gary Collins Venable Racing Ford Venable Racing
21 Morgan Shepherd Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Bobby Labonte Bill Davis Racing Pontiac Maxwell House
23 Hut Stricklin Travis Carter Enterprises Ford Smokin' Joe's
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kodiak
26 Brett Bodine King Racing Ford Quaker State
27 Jimmy Spencer Junior Johnson & Associates Ford McDonald's
28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Steve Grissom Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet Diamond Ridge Motorsports
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Pennzoil
31 Ward Burton A.G. Dillard Motorsports Chevrolet Hardee's
32 Dick Trickle Active Motorsports Chevrolet Active Motorsports
33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
36 Butch Gilliland Gilliland Racing Chevrolet Gilliland Racing
37 Doug George Olson Technology Racing Ford Olson Technology
38 Tobey Butler Bill Stroppe Motorsports Ford American Racing Wheels
40 Bobby Hamilton SABCO Racing Pontiac Kendall
41 Joe Nemechek (R) Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet Meineke
42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac Mello Yello
43 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
48 Jack Sellers Sellers Racing Chevrolet Bear Automotive
50 Mike Chase JTC Racing Chevrolet Star Race Computers
52 Scott Gaylord Jimmy Means Racing Ford Jimmy Means Racing
55 Jimmy Hensley RaDiUs Motorsports Ford Petron Plus
58 Wayne Jacks Jacks Motorsports Pontiac Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino
61 Rick Carelli Chesrown Racing Chevrolet Total Petroleum
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Health Management
75 Todd Bodine Butch Mock Motorsports Ford Factory Stores of America
76 Ron Hornaday Jr. Spears Motorsports Chevrolet Spears Manufacturing
77 Greg Sacks U.S. Motorsports Inc. Ford US Airways
81 Jeff Davis Jeff Davis Racing Ford Van-K Wheels
86 Rich Woodland Jr. Gilliland Racing Oldsmobile Gilliland Racing
90 Mike Wallace (R) Donlavey Racing Ford Heilig-Meyers
90W Joe Heath Heath Racing Ford Miller
98 Derrike Cope Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford Fingerhut

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, April 22, at 6:30 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 25 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, April 23, at 1:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 26-40 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; which was two for cars in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and one extra provisional for the NASCAR Winston West Series. 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.

Ernie Irvan, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 1:39.132 and an average speed of 91.514 miles per hour (147.278 km/h) in the first round.[7]

12 drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 1:39.132 91.514
2 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 1:39.284 91.374
3 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 1:39.470 91.203
4 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:39.872 90.836
5 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:39.905 90.806
6 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:39.929 90.784
7 43 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Petty Enterprises Pontiac 1:40.045 90.679
8 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:40.478 90.288
9 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 1:40.559 90.216
10 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 1:40.587 90.191
11 11 Bill Elliott Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 1:40.639 90.144
12 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 1:40.664 90.122
13 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 1:40.864 89.943
14 36 Butch Gilliland Gilliland Racing Chevrolet 1:40.923 89.890
15 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 1:41.020 89.804
16 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet 1:41.166 89.674
17 98 Derrike Cope Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 1:41.236 89.612
18 76 Ron Hornaday Jr. Spears Motorsports Chevrolet 1:41.293 89.562
19 21 Morgan Shepherd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 1:41.303 89.553
20 18 Dale Jarrett Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 1:41.353 89.509
21 8 Jeff Burton (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 1:41.395 89.472
22 22 Bobby Labonte Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 1:41.479 89.398
23 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Ford 1:41.767 89.145
24 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Ford 1:41.809 89.108
25 27 Jimmy Spencer Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 1:41.841 89.080
Failed to lock in Round 1
26 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 1:39.642 91.046
27 31 Ward Burton (R) A.G. Dillard Motorsports Chevrolet 1:40.898 89.913
28 90 Mike Wallace (R) Donlavey Racing Ford 1:41.252 89.598
29 15 Lake Speed Bud Moore Engineering Ford 1:41.649 89.248
30 40 Bobby Hamilton SABCO Racing Pontiac 1:41.873 89.052
31 75 Todd Bodine Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 1:42.123 88.834
32 41 Joe Nemechek (R) Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:42.128 88.830
33 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 1:42.130 88.828
34 9 John Krebs Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 1:42.156 88.805
35 50 Mike Chase JTC Racing Chevrolet 1:42.396 88.597
36 61 Rick Carelli Chesrown Racing Chevrolet 1:42.480 88.525
37 23 Hut Stricklin Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 1:42.541 88.472
38 14 John Andretti (R) Hagan Racing Chevrolet 1:42.660 88.369
39 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 1:42.753 88.289
40 29 Steve Grissom (R) Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 1:42.767 88.277
Winston Cup provisionals
41 12 Chuck Bown Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford -* -*
42 77 Greg Sacks U.S. Motorsports, Inc. Ford -* -*
Winston West provisional
43 20 Gary Collins Venable Racing Ford -* -*
Failed to qualify
44 52 Scott Gaylord Jimmy Means Racing Ford 1:42.808 88.242
45 32 Dick Trickle Active Motorsports Chevrolet 1:42.831 88.222
46 81 Jeff Davis Jeff Davis Racing Ford 1:42.961 88.111
47 37 Doug George Olson Technology Racing Ford 1:42.972 88.102
48 55 Jimmy Hensley RaDiUs Motorsports Ford 1:43.318 87.807
49 09 Charlie O'Brien O'Brien Racing Pontiac 1:43.545 87.614
50 90W Joe Heath Heath Racing Ford 1:45.365 86.101
51 19 Loy Allen Jr. (R) TriStar Motorsports Ford 1:45.412 86.062
52 38 Tobey Butler Bill Stroppe Motorsports Ford 1:46.791 84.951
53 48 Jack Sellers Sellers Racing Chevrolet 1:51.202 81.581
54 58 Wayne Jacks Jacks Motorsports Pontiac - -
55 86 Rich Woodland Jr. Gilliland Racing Oldsmobile - -
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 1 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 74 68 running 185 $78,810
2 26 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 74 0 running 170 $45,640
3 4 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 74 3 running 170 $37,825
4 7 43 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Petty Enterprises Pontiac 74 0 running 160 $24,920
5 12 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 74 0 running 155 $25,970
6 15 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 74 0 running 150 $20,370
7 19 21 Morgan Shepherd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 74 1 running 151 $22,020
8 2 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 74 0 running 142 $24,120
9 8 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 74 0 running 138 $18,170
10 16 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet 74 0 running 134 $19,815
11 10 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 74 0 running 130 $16,755
12 20 18 Dale Jarrett Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 74 0 running 127 $20,755
13 23 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Ford 74 0 running 124 $16,355
14 3 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 74 0 running 121 $9,155
15 21 8 Jeff Burton (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 74 0 running 118 $16,705
16 9 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 74 0 running 115 $15,005
17 22 22 Bobby Labonte Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 74 0 running 112 $14,730
18 33 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 74 0 running 109 $14,580
19 38 14 John Andretti (R) Hagan Racing Chevrolet 74 0 running 106 $14,955
20 37 23 Hut Stricklin Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 74 0 running 103 $8,480
21 41 12 Chuck Bown Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 73 0 running 100 $14,230
22 32 41 Joe Nemechek (R) Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 73 0 running 97 $10,105
23 28 90 Mike Wallace (R) Donlavey Racing Ford 73 0 running 94 $9,980
24 42 77 Greg Sacks U.S. Motorsports, Inc. Ford 73 1 running 96 $7,610
25 39 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 73 0 running 88 $9,900
26 25 27 Jimmy Spencer Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 73 0 running 85 $9,780
27 14 36 Butch Gilliland Gilliland Racing Chevrolet 72 0 running 82 $7,755
28 5 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 72 0 running 79 $17,680
29 13 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 72 0 running 76 $17,470
30 11 11 Bill Elliott Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 71 0 running 73 $13,540
31 35 50 Mike Chase JTC Racing Chevrolet 70 0 running 70 $7,355
32 29 15 Lake Speed Bud Moore Engineering Ford 70 0 running 67 $17,305
33 30 40 Bobby Hamilton SABCO Racing Pontiac 68 0 transmission 64 $13,255
34 24 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Ford 62 0 transmission 61 $13,230
35 40 29 Steve Grissom (R) Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 61 0 rear end 58 $7,205
36 27 31 Ward Burton (R) A.G. Dillard Motorsports Chevrolet 60 0 running 55 $7,195
37 6 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 59 0 rearend 52 $12,675
38 31 75 Todd Bodine Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 56 0 running 49 $7,155
39 18 76 Ron Hornaday Jr. Spears Motorsports Chevrolet 53 0 running 46 $7,125
40 43 20 Gary Collins Venable Racing Ford 43 0 running 43 $7,100
41 36 61 Rick Carelli Chesrown Racing Chevrolet 24 0 engine 40 $7,100
42 34 9 John Krebs Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 18 1 accident 42 $8,100
43 17 98 Derrike Cope Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 18 0 accident 34 $8,600
Failed to qualify
44 52 Scott Gaylord Jimmy Means Racing Ford
45 32 Dick Trickle Active Motorsports Chevrolet
46 81 Jeff Davis Jeff Davis Racing Ford
47 37 Doug George Olson Technology Racing Ford
48 55 Jimmy Hensley RaDiUs Motorsports Ford
49 09 Charlie O'Brien O'Brien Racing Pontiac
50 90W Joe Heath Heath Racing Ford
51 19 Loy Allen Jr. (R) TriStar Motorsports Ford
52 38 Tobey Butler Bill Stroppe Motorsports Ford
53 48 Jack Sellers Sellers Racing Chevrolet
54 58 Wayne Jacks Jacks Motorsports Pontiac
55 86 Rich Woodland Jr. Gilliland Racing Oldsmobile
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Schiffmann, William (May 16, 1994). "Irvan's road-racing prowess shows as he dominates, wins". Messenger-Inquirer. p. 18. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (May 16, 1994). "Irvan speeds to convincing victory in Save Mart 300". Evansville Press. p. 16. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ "Sears Point". www.gt-racing.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  4. ^ "Passing is tough in Chute | chronicle.augusta.com". 2011-06-07. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  5. ^ "SEARS POINT BREAKS GROUND ON MODIFIED CHUTE - RacingWest". 2007-09-29. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  6. ^ "NASCAR today". The Charlotte Observer. May 13, 1996. p. 34. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ Higgins, Tom (May 14, 1994). "Irvan stays course for Sears Point pole". The Charlotte Observer. p. 13. Retrieved November 28, 2022.  
Previous race:
1994 Winston Select 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1994 season
Next race:
1994 Coca-Cola 600