1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Season began February 7 and ended November 20. Bill Elliott of Melling Racing won the championship.

See also: 1988 in NASCAR Busch Series

Busch Clash
The Busch Clash, an invitational event for all Busch Pole winners the previous season, was held February 7 at Daytona International Speedway. Geoffrey Bodine drew for the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) Dale Earnhardt
 * 2) Davey Allison
 * 3) Bobby Allison
 * 4) Geoffrey Bodine
 * 5) Bill Elliott
 * 6) Rusty Wallace
 * 7) Ken Schrader
 * 8) Morgan Shepherd
 * 9) Terry Labonte
 * 10) Harry Gant


 * Tim Richmond was eligible to race in this event, but was without a ride.

Gatorade 125s
The Gatorade 125s, a pair of qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held February 11 at Daytona International Speedway. Ken Schrader and Davey Allison won the poles for both races, respectively.

Race One: Top Ten Results


 * 1) 12-Bobby Allison
 * 2) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 3) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 4) 50-Greg Sacks
 * 5) 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
 * 6) 97-Morgan Shepherd
 * 7) 4-Rick Wilson
 * 8) 5-Geoff Bodine
 * 9) 14-A. J. Foyt
 * 10) 55-Phil Parsons

Race Two: Top Ten Results


 * 1) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 2) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 3) 28-Davey Allison
 * 4) 11-Terry Labonte
 * 5) 83-Lake Speed
 * 6) 44-Sterling Marlin
 * 7) 75-Neil Bonnett
 * 8) 7-Alan Kulwicki
 * 9) 88-Buddy Baker
 * 10) 33-Harry Gant

Pontiac Excitement 400
The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held February 21 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. The #97 of Morgan Shepherd won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 75-Neil Bonnett
 * 2) 26-Ricky Rudd
 * 3) 43-Richard Petty
 * 4) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 5) 44-Sterling Marlin
 * 6) 83-Lake Speed
 * 7) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 8) 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
 * 9) 11-Terry Labonte
 * 10) 3-Dale Earnhardt

Failed to qualify: 2-Ernie Irvan, 4-Rick Wilson, 25*-Ken Schrader,


 * Ken Schrader's team bought the #67 entry (normally driven by Buddy Arrington) in order to get Schrader into the race.


 * This was the last race on the old half-mile Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. After the race, workers got going to convert the track into a more modern-looking 3/4-mile oval.


 * A scoring error failed to show Bonnett was one lap down after making a green flag pit stop. A post-race protest filed by Ricky Rudd's car owner Kenny Bernstein did not resolve the NASCAR scoring error and Bonnett's win stood even though a review of the race tape shows clearly that Rudd should have been awarded the victory.

Goodwrench 500
The Goodwrench 500 was held March 6 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 75-Neil Bonnett*
 * 2) 83-Lake Speed
 * 3) 44-Sterling Marlin
 * 4) 7-Alan Kulwicki
 * 5) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 6) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 7) 97-Morgan Shepherd
 * 8) 10-Ken Bouchard
 * 9) 28-Davey Allison
 * 10) 25-Ken Schrader


 * This Was Neil Bonnett's final Winston Cup Series win.

Motorcraft Quality Parts 500
The Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was held March 20 at Atlanta International Raceway. The #5 of Geoff Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 2) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 3) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 4) 11-Terry Labonte
 * 5) 21-Kyle Petty
 * 6) 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
 * 7) 88-Buddy Baker
 * 8) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 9) 15-Brett Bodine
 * 10) 4-Rick Wilson

TranSouth 500
The TranSouth 500 was held March 27 at Darlington Raceway. The #25 of Ken Schrader won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 83-Lake Speed*
 * 2) 7-Alan Kulwicki
 * 3) 28-Davey Allison
 * 4) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 5) 44-Sterling Marlin
 * 6) 6-Mark Martin
 * 7) 5-Geoff Bodine
 * 8) 55-Phil Parsons
 * 9) 12-Bobby Allison
 * 10) 88-Buddy Baker


 * This was Lake Speed's only victory in the Winston Cup Series.

Valleydale Meats 500
The Valleydale Meats 500 was held April 10 at Bristol International Raceway. The #4 of Rick Wilson won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 2) 6-Mark Martin
 * 3) 5-Geoff Bodine
 * 4) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 5) 12-Bobby Allison
 * 6) 43-Richard Petty
 * 7) 21-Kyle Petty
 * 8) 44-Sterling Marlin
 * 9) 71-Dave Marcis
 * 10) 25-Ken Schrader

First Union 400
The First Union 400 was held April 17 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Terry Labonte won the pole. Labonte passed Dale Earnhardt with 10 laps to go when Earnhardt suffered a slow leak of air from his right rear tire.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 11-Terry Labonte
 * 2) 26-Ricky Rudd
 * 3) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 4) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 5) 21-Kyle Petty
 * 6) 43-Richard Petty
 * 7) 55-Phil Parsons
 * 8) 28-Davey Allison
 * 9) 5-Geoff Bodine
 * 10) 9-Bill Elliott

Failed to Qualify: 00-Gary Brooks, 04-Bill Meacham, 09-Doug French, 20-Alan Russell, 31-Brad Teague, 46-Glenn Moffat, 67-Rick Jeffrey, 70-Jeff McDuffie, 78- Jay Sommers, 98-Brad Noffsinger

Pannill Sweatshirts 500
The Pannill Sweatshirts 500 was held April 24 at Martinsville Speedway. The #26 of Ricky Rudd won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 2) 44-Sterling Marlin
 * 3) 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
 * 4) 11-Terry Labonte
 * 5) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 6) 28-Davey Allison
 * 7) 88-Buddy Baker
 * 8) 12-Bobby Allison
 * 9) 55-Phil Parsons
 * 10) 25-Ken Schrader

Failed to qualify: 2-Ernie Irvan, 52-Jimmy Means

Winston 500
The Winston 500 was held May 1 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. The #28 of Davey Allison won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 55-Phil Parsons*
 * 2) 12-Bobby Allison
 * 3) 5-Geoff Bodine
 * 4) 11-Terry Labonte
 * 5) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 6) 44-Sterling Marlin
 * 7) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 8) 21-Kyle Petty
 * 9) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 10) 27-Rusty Wallace

Failed to qualify: 10-Ken Bouchard


 * This was Phil Parsons' only win in the Winston Cup Series.

Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 29 at ]. [[Davey Allison won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 2) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 3) 7-Alan Kulwicki
 * 4) 15-Brett Bodine
 * 5) 28-Davey Allison
 * 6) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 7) 26-Ricky Rudd*
 * 8) 55-Phil Parsons
 * 9) 11-Terry Labonte
 * 10) 50-Greg Sacks


 * Ricky Rudd was relieved during the race by Mike Alexander (Rudd had suffered injuries earlier in the season).

Budweiser 500
The Budweiser 500 was held June 5 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Alan Kulwicki won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 2) 33-Morgan Shepherd*
 * 3) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 4) 83-Lake Speed
 * 5) 28-Davey Allison
 * 6) 7-Alan Kulwicki
 * 7) 4-Rick Wilson
 * 8) 5-Geoff Bodine
 * 9) 6-Mark Martin
 * 10) 12-Bobby Allison


 * Morgan Shepherd was subbing for Harry Gant, who had been injured during the Busch Grand National race the previous day.

Budweiser 400
The final Budweiser 400 was held June 12 at Riverside International Raceway. Ricky Rudd won the pole. It was the last NASCAR race held at Riverside before the track's closure.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 2) 11-Terry Labonte
 * 3) 26-Ricky Rudd
 * 4) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 5) 55-Phil Parsons
 * 6) 43-Richard Petty
 * 7) 6-Mark Martin
 * 8) 29-Dale Jarrett
 * 9) 44-Sterling Marlin
 * 10) 75-Neil Bonnett

Failed to qualify: 10-Ken Bouchard

Miller High Life 500
The Miller High Life 500 was held June 19 at Pocono Raceway. The #7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole. On the opening lap of this race, Bobby Allison suffered career-ending injuries when he spun and was T-boned by the #63 of Jocko Maggiacomo.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 5-Geoff Bodine
 * 2) 30-Michael Waltrip
 * 3) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 4) 6-Mark Martin
 * 5) 28-Davey Allison
 * 6) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 7) 88-Buddy Baker
 * 8) 55-Phil Parsons
 * 9) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 10) 9-Bill Elliott

Miller High Life 400
The Miller High Life 400 was held June 26 at Michigan International Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 2) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 3) 11-Terry Labonte
 * 4) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 5) 5-Geoff Bodine
 * 6) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 7) 55-Phil Parsons
 * 8) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 9) 29-Cale Yarborough
 * 10) 12-Mike Alexander

Pepsi Firecracker 400
The Pepsi Firecracker 400 was held July 2 at Daytona International Speedway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 2) 4-Rick Wilson
 * 3) 55-Phil Parsons
 * 4) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 5) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 6) 88-Buddy Baker
 * 7) 33-Morgan Shepherd
 * 8) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 9) 83-Lake Speed
 * 10) 50-Greg Sacks


 * This was the first Pepsi Firecracker 400 run with restrictor plates, and was notable for a very close finish. Bill Elliott charged from 38th starting position, and nearly fell a lap down at one point. On the final lap, Elliott battled with Rick Wilson out of the final turn, with Elliott taking the win by 18 inches. The second place would be Wilson's best-career finish.
 * This race marked the final start at Daytona for Cale Yarborough. He was involved in a crash on the second lap, dropped out and finished 41st.

AC Spark Plug 500
The AC Spark Plug 500 was held July 24 at Pocono Raceway. Morgan Shepherd won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 2) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 3) 28-Davey Allison
 * 4) 5-Geoff Bodine
 * 5) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 6) 75-Morgan Shepherd*
 * 7) 6-Mark Martin
 * 8) 7-Alan Kulwicki
 * 9) 11-Terry Labonte
 * 10) 33-Harry Gant*


 * Morgan Shepherd drove the #75 in place of Neil Bonnett for this race and Talladega.
 * Harry Gant's first race back from injury.

Talladega DieHard 500
The Talladega DieHard 500 was held July 31 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. The #17 of Darrell Waltrip won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 25-Ken Schrader*
 * 2) 5-Geoff Bodine
 * 3) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 4) 4-Rick Wilson
 * 5) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 6) 44-Sterling Marlin
 * 7) 6-Mark Martin
 * 8) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 9) 29-Cale Yarborough
 * 10) 88-Buddy Baker


 * This was Ken Schrader's 1st career Winston Cup Series win.

The Budweiser at the Glen
The Budweiser at the Glen was held August 14 at Watkins Glen International Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 26-Ricky Rudd
 * 2) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 3) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 4) 55-Phil Parsons
 * 5) 12-Mike Alexander
 * 6) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 7) 88-Morgan Shepherd*
 * 8) 44-Sterling Marlin
 * 9) 31-Joe Ruttman*
 * 10) 25-Ken Schrader


 * Morgan Shepherd was subbing for Buddy Baker, who had suffered a blood clot in his brain in a crash in the Coca-Cola 600 earlier in the season.


 * This was the best finish in the Winston Cup Series for Bob Clark's #31 Slender You Figure Salons team.

Champion Spark Plug 500
The Champion Spark Plug 500 was held August 21 at Michigan International Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 28-Davey Allison
 * 2) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 3) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 4) 88-Morgan Shepherd
 * 5) 83-Lake Speed
 * 6) 15-Brett Bodine
 * 7) 30-Michael Waltrip
 * 8) 21-Kyle Petty
 * 9) 4-Rick Wilson
 * 10) 5-Geoff Bodine

Busch 500
The Busch 500 was held August 27 at Bristol International Raceway. Alan Kulwicki won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 2) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 3) 5-Geoff Bodine
 * 4) 28-Davey Allison
 * 5) 7-Alan Kulwicki
 * 6) 33-Harry Gant
 * 7) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 8) 43-Richard Petty
 * 9) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 10) 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.

Failed to qualify: 10-Ken Bouchard, 90-Benny Parsons


 * During practice on Friday, Rusty Wallace wrecked and barrel-rolled down the frontstrech, knocking him unconscious. ESPN pit reporter Dr. Jerry Punch happened to be the first person on the scene and actually revived Wallace. Wallace would recover, and started the race Saturday night, but eventually turned the car over to a relief driver.

Southern 500
The Southern 500 was held September 4 at Darlington Raceway. Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 2) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 3) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 4) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 5) 44-Sterling Marlin
 * 6) 55-Phil Parsons
 * 7) 5-Geoff Bodine
 * 8) 11-Terry Labonte
 * 9) 28-Davey Allison
 * 10) 26-Ricky Rudd

Miller High Life 400
The Miller High Life 400 was held September 11 at Richmond International Raceway. Davey Allison won the pole. This race was the first on the new 3/4-mile Richmond International Raceway.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 28-Davey Allison
 * 2) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 3) 11-Terry Labonte
 * 4) 6-Mark Martin
 * 5) 7-Alan Kulwicki
 * 6) 21-Kyle Petty
 * 7) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 8) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 9) 75-Neil Bonnett
 * 10) 71-Dave Marcis

Failed to qualify: 68-Derrike Cope

Delaware 500
The Delaware 500 was held September 18 at Dover International Speedway. The #6 of Mark Martin won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 2) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 3) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 4) 28-Davey Allison
 * 5) 5-Geoff Bodine
 * 6) 21-Kyle Petty
 * 7) 12-Mike Alexander
 * 8) 75-Neil Bonnett
 * 9) 83-Lake Speed
 * 10) 26-Ricky Rudd

Goody's 500
The Goody's 500 was held September 25 at Martinsville Speedway. Rusty Wallace won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 2) 7-Alan Kulwicki
 * 3) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 4) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 5) 5-Geoff Bodine
 * 6) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 7) 11-Terry Labonte
 * 8) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 9) 6-Mark Martin
 * 10) 15-Brett Bodine

Failed to qualify: 68-Derrike Cope

Oakwood Homes 500
The Oakwood Homes 500 was held October 9 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The #7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 2) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 3) 15-Brett Bodine
 * 4) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 5) 44-Sterling Marlin
 * 6) 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
 * 7) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 8) 26-Ricky Rudd
 * 9) 6-Mark Martin
 * 10) 11-Terry Labonte

Failed to qualify: 2-Ernie Irvan

Holly Farms 400
The Holly Farms 400 was held October 16 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The event was originally scheduled for October 2, but two consecutive days of rain caused it to be rescheduled for October 16. Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 2) 55-Phil Parsons
 * 3) 5-Geoff Bodine
 * 4) 11-Terry Labonte
 * 5) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 6) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 7) 26-Ricky Rudd
 * 8) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 9) 12-Mike Alexander
 * 10) 88-Greg Sacks*

Failed to qualify: 68-Derrike Cope


 * Greg Sacks subbed for the still recovering Buddy Baker.

AC Delco 500
The AC Delco 500 was held October 23 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 2) 26-Ricky Rudd
 * 3) 11-Terry Labonte
 * 4) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 5) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 6) 12-Mike Alexander
 * 7) 33-Harry Gant
 * 8) 55-Phil Parsons
 * 9) 21-Kyle Petty
 * 10) 75-Neil Bonnett

Checker 500
The inaugural Checker 500 was held November 6 at Phoenix International Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 7-Alan Kulwicki*
 * 2) 11-Terry Labonte
 * 3) 28-Davey Allison
 * 4) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 5) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 6) 5-Geoff Bodine
 * 7) 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
 * 8) 90-Benny Parsons
 * 9) 55-Phil Parsons
 * 10) 44-Sterling Marlin


 * This was Alan Kulwicki's 1st career Winston Cup Series win. After taking the checked flag, Kulwicki turned the car clockwise around and completed what he eventually referred to as a "Polish Victory Lap." Kulwicki, himself a Polish American, wanted to be able to wave to the fans directly from his drivers side window.

Atlanta Journal 500
The Atlanta Journal 500 was held November 20 at Atlanta International Raceway. Rusty Wallace won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 27-Rusty Wallace
 * 2) 28-Davey Allison
 * 3) 12-Mike Alexander
 * 4) 26-Ricky Rudd
 * 5) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 6) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 7) 30-Michael Waltrip
 * 8) 11-Terry Labonte
 * 9) 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
 * 10) 29-Cale Yarborough*

Failed to qualify: 10-Ken Bouchard


 * Bill Elliott finished 11th to clinch his first and only Winston Cup.
 * Cale Yarborough's and Benny Parsons's final career starts in the Winston Cup Series.

Final points standings

 * 1) Bill Elliott – 4488
 * 2) Rusty Wallace – 4464
 * 3) Dale Earnhardt – 4256
 * 4) Terry Labonte – 4007
 * 5) Ken Schrader – 3858
 * 6) Geoff Bodine – 3799
 * 7) Darrell Waltrip – 3764
 * 8) Davey Allison – 3631
 * 9) Phil Parsons – 3630
 * 10) Sterling Marlin – 3621
 * 11) Ricky Rudd – 3547
 * 12) Bobby Hillin, Jr. – 3446
 * 13) Kyle Petty – 3296
 * 14) Alan Kulwicki – 3176
 * 15) Mark Martin – 3142
 * 16) Neil Bonnett – 3040
 * 17) Lake Speed – 2984
 * 18) Michael Waltrip – 2949
 * 19) Dave Marcis – 2854
 * 20) Brett Bodine – 2828
 * 21) Rick Wilson – 2762
 * 22) Richard Petty – 2644
 * 23) Dale Jarrett – 2622
 * 24) Benny Parsons – 2559
 * 25) Ken Bouchard – 2378
 * 26) Ernie Irvan – 2319
 * 27) Harry Gant – 2266
 * 28) Morgan Shepherd – 2193
 * 29) Buddy Baker – 2056
 * 30) Jimmy Means – 2045
 * 31) Derrike Cope – 1985
 * 32) Mike Alexander – 1931
 * 33) Bobby Allison – 1654
 * 34) Eddie Bierschwale – 1481
 * 35) Rodney Combs – 1468
 * 36) Brad Noffsinger – 1316
 * 37) Greg Sacks – 1237
 * 38) Cale Yarborough – 940
 * 39) Joe Ruttman – 803
 * 40) Brad Teague – 802
 * 41) Jimmy Horton – 647
 * 42) A. J. Foyt – 523
 * 43) H.B. Bailey – 478
 * 44) Jim Sauter – 463
 * 45) Chad Little – 405
 * 46) Buddy Arrington – 352
 * 47) Ken Ragan – 314
 * 48) Dana Patten – 313
 * 49) Rick Jeffrey – 307
 * 50) Mickey Gibbs – 283

Rookie of the Year
Ken Bouchard defeated Ernie Irvan by 59 points to win the Rookie of the Year title in 1988, driving for Bob Whitcomb. Bouchard raced only eight more times in the Cup series over his career, while Irvan won fifteen races over the next twelve years. The only other contenders were USAC driver Brad Noffsinger and Jimmy Horton, both of whom ran part-time schedules that season.