1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Season began February 10 and ended November 17. Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing was crowned champion at the end of the season. It was his fifth championship.

Busch Clash
The Busch Clash, an invitational event for all Busch Pole winners the previous year, was held February 10 at Daytona International Speedway. The #10 of Derrike Cope started in first.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 2) 6-Mark Martin
 * 3) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 4) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 5) 2-Rusty Wallace
 * 6) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 7) 42-Kyle Petty
 * 8) 5-Ricky Rudd
 * 9) 11-Geoff Bodine
 * 10) 26-Brett Bodine


 * After several years of mediocre competition, the race's format was slightly altered. Instead of a 20-lap sprint, the race was divided into two 10-lap halves. After the first 10 laps, the caution was displayed (caution laps did not count), and the field was inverted for the second 10-lap half. Prize money was awarded for finishing positions in both halves, encouraging drivers to race hard during the first segment, and not "sandbag" in order to start up front for the second half.

Gatorade 125s
The Gatorade 125s, qualifying races for the Daytona 500 were held February 14 at Daytona International Speedway. Davey Allison and Ernie Irvan won the poles for both races, respectively.

Race One: Top Ten Results


 * 1) 28-Davey Allison
 * 2) 43-Richard Petty
 * 3) 12-Hut Stricklin
 * 4) 1-Rick Mast
 * 5) 5-Ricky Rudd
 * 6) 33-Harry Gant
 * 7) 30-Michael Waltrip
 * 8) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 9) 21-Dale Jarrett
 * 10) 11-Geoff Bodine

Race Two: Top Ten Results


 * 1) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 2) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 3) 42-Kyle Petty
 * 4) 2-Rusty Wallace
 * 5) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 6) 22-Sterling Marlin
 * 7) 75-Joe Ruttman
 * 8) 88-Buddy Baker
 * 9) 6-Mark Martin
 * 10) 68-Bobby Hamilton

Daytona 500 by STP
Earnhardt is again a dominating factor, but for the 13th time in his career, he comes away empty. After a late-race caution, Irvan leads, Earnhardt is second and pole-sitter Davey Allison is third. Earnhardt and Allison battle door-to-door for three laps while Irvan inches out to a slight advantage. Finally, with three laps remaining, Allison and Earnhardt touch, sending both of them into a wild spin. The race finishes under caution with Irvan scoring the most significant win of a NASCAR Winston Cup competitor's career. Sterling Marlin, in his first race with Junior Johnson, finishes second followed by Joe Ruttman, Rick Mast and Earnhardt. Irvan wins the first leg of the Winston Million races and qualifies for the $1 million bonus. To collect the Winston bonus, he must win two of the three remaining "Crown Jewel" races, the Winston 500,Coca-Cola 600 or Southern 500.

Pontiac Excitement 400
The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held February 24 at Richmond International Raceway. The #28 of Davey Allison won the pole. Fueled by his Daytona disappointment, Earnhardt rebounds with a heart-stopping 1½ car length victory over Ricky Rudd. Ironically, the door-to-door battle between the two Chevrolet drivers proves to be a prelude to the chase for the $1 million NASCAR Winston Cup points title. Earnhardt leaves Richmond with a 340–318 point lead over Rudd. The two drivers would remain 1–2 all season long, occasionally trading the point.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 2) 5-Ricky Rudd
 * 3) 33-Harry Gant
 * 4) 2-Rusty Wallace
 * 5) 7-Alan Kulwicki
 * 6) 6-Mark Martin
 * 7) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 8) 15-Morgan Shepherd
 * 9) 22-Sterling Marlin
 * 10) 25-Ken Schrader

Failed to Qualify: 70-J. D. McDuffie

Goodwrench 500
The Goodwrench 500 was held March 3 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Kyle Petty won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 42-Kyle Petty
 * 2) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 3) 33-Harry Gant
 * 4) 5-Ricky Rudd
 * 5) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 6) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 7) 30-Michael Waltrip
 * 8) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 9) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 10) 15-Morgan Shepherd

Failed to Qualify: 64-Gary Wright, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 82-Mark Stahl


 * This was the first live Winston Cup Series race televised on The Nashville Network (TNN). Track officials (along with officials at Dover Downs and Phoenix International Raceway) switched after numerous races in 1990 were moved to tape delay on ESPN at the last minute, including the previous race at Rockingham. Previous Winston Cup races on TNN had also been aired via tape delay on TNN's program American Sports Cavalcade.

Motorcraft 500
The Motorcraft 500 was held March 18–19 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Alan Kulwicki won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 2) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 3) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 4) 15-Morgan Shepherd
 * 5) 30-Michael Waltrip
 * 6) 5-Ricky Rudd
 * 7) 22-Sterling Marlin
 * 8) 7-Alan Kulwicki*
 * 9) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 10) 2-Rusty Wallace

Failed to Qualify: 49-Stanley Smith, 82-Mark Stahl*


 * The failure of Mark Stahl to qualify for this race allowed Stahl's sponsor, Hooters to move their sponsorship over to polesitter Alan Kulwicki, who was running without a sponsor at that point after Zerex decided to leave the #7 team at the end of 1990. This was the beginning of a relationship with Kulwicki that eventually led to the Winston Cup Championship the next season.


 * This was the last NASCAR race in this series not to be televised. It had been slated to air on ABC, but was a two-day race because of rain early in the race.  The majority of the race was not televised and results were available only by local news.

TranSouth 500
The TranSouth 500 was held April 7 at Darlington Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 5-Ricky Rudd
 * 2) 28-Davey Allison
 * 3) 30-Michael Waltrip
 * 4) 6-Mark Martin
 * 5) 2-Rusty Wallace
 * 6) 42-Kyle Petty
 * 7) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 8) 15-Morgan Shepherd
 * 9) 11-Geoff Bodine
 * 10) 22-Sterling Marlin

DNQ: #82-Mark Stahl

Valleydale Meats 500
The Valleydale Meats 500 was held April 14 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Rusty Wallace won the pole. Sterling Marlin suffered second and third degree burns following a crash late in the race.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 2-Rusty Wallace
 * 2) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 3) 28-Davey Allison
 * 4) 6-Mark Martin
 * 5) 5-Ricky Rudd
 * 6) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 7) 21-Dale Jarrett
 * 8) 98-Jimmy Spencer
 * 9) 94-Terry Labonte
 * 10) 15-Morgan Shepherd

Failed to Qualify: 52-Jimmy Means, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 71-Dave Marcis


 * After numerous complaints about the pit road procedure where cars could not pit for tires under caution, NASCAR attempted a new procedure for cautions. When the pits opened, the blue flag waved to permit the odd-numbered cars to pit first.  The second lap, the even-numbered cars (based on starting position) would then be able to pit.  The blue-sticker cars lined up on the inside, the orange-sticker cars on the outside, and lapped cars to the rear on all restarts.  Pit road was open for any cars on green flag situations.


 * ESPN moved the finish of the race on tape delay because of numerous rain delays.

First Union 400
The First Union 400 was held April 21 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The #26 of Brett Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 2) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 3) 98-Jimmy Spencer
 * 4) 15-Morgan Shepherd
 * 5) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 6) 28-Davey Allison
 * 7) 30-Michael Waltrip
 * 8) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 9) 6-Mark Martin
 * 10) 4-Ernie Irvan

Failed to Qualify: 19-Chad Little, 41-Larry Pearson, 44-Irv Hoerr, 47-Rich Bickle, 51-Jeff Purvis, 52-Jimmy Means, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 76-Bill Sedgwick


 * NASCAR changed the pit procedure one final time. The odd/even policy was abandoned.  On the first lap of caution, all cars on the lead lap could pit.  On the second lap of caution following the opening of pit road, all cars not on the lead lap could pit.  The rule was waived if NASCAR called a "quickie caution".  A new pit speed limit was implemented, and for the remainder of the 1991 season, cars would be run through pit road for tachometer readings. The use of a "second" pace car during cautions for the pit road (to control the speed) was abandoned. The pit speed limit was in place for all situations when a car was on pit road, including green-flag stops. A violation of the speed limit on entrance was subject to a 15-second holding penalty before the car exited the pit.  A violation on exit was subject to a stop-and-go penalty.  A violation under caution resulted in being sent to the rear of the field on the ensuing restart.
 * Waltrip's victory set a modern era NASCAR record with seven different winners in the first seven races of the season. It was the overall longest such streak since 1964.

Hanes 500
The Hanes 500 was held April 28 at Martinsville Speedway. The #6 of Mark Martin won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 2) 42-Kyle Petty
 * 3) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 4) 26-Brett Bodine
 * 5) 33-Harry Gant
 * 6) 98-Jimmy Spencer
 * 7) 30-Michael Waltrip
 * 8) 28-Davey Allison
 * 9) 7-Alan Kulwicki
 * 10) 12-Hut Stricklin

Failed to Qualify: 10-Derrike Cope, 52-Jimmy Means, 68-Bobby Hamilton, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 71-Dave Marcis


 * Ernie Irvan required relief from Dick Trickle during the race due to heat exhaustion. Trickle had started the race in the #34 Buick for owner Ken Allen, but finished last (32nd) after overheating problems popped up after only 12 laps.

Winston 500
The Winston 500 was scheduled for May 5 but was delayed until May 6 due to rain at Talladega Superspeedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole. Irvan was also the center of controversy after "the Big One" on lap 71, which took out 20 cars and injured Kyle Petty, who was out until the Southern 500 in September due to a broken leg. Harry Gant won the race on a gas mileage gamble where he out ran Darrell Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt and ran out of gas after taking the checkered flag.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 33-Harry Gant
 * 2) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 3) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 4) 22-Sterling Marlin
 * 5) 30-Michael Waltrip
 * 6) 11-Geoff Bodine
 * 7) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 8) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 9) 98-Jimmy Spencer
 * 10) 1-Rick Mast

Failed to Qualify: 59-Mark Gibson, 65-Dave Mader III, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 77-Ken Ragan, 53-Don Paul


 * During the Big One on lap 71, Mark Martin's car become airbone, lifting to its nose, but it did not flip over.
 * A mild controversey was brought up after the race, when it appeared Gant was being pushed by his teammate Rick Mast on the final lap (pushing is not allowed on the final lap). Video footage was inconclusive, and the results were unchanged. Gant and Mast insisted they were simply drafting very closely.


 * *Footage of Kyle Petty's rehabilitation from his injury was shown during the starting lineup on the telecast of the 1992 Daytona 500 on CBS.

The Winston
The Winston, an invitational event for all past winners in the Cup series, was held May 19 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Davey Allison won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 28-Davey Allison
 * 2) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 3) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 4) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 5) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 6) 30-Michael Waltrip
 * 7) 2-Rusty Wallace
 * 8) 12-Hut Stricklin
 * 9) 33-Harry Gant
 * 10) 3-Dale Earnhardt

Winston Open
The Winston Open, a qualifying race for drivers who are normally not eligible for The Winston, was held May 19 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Michael Waltrip won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 30-Michael Waltrip
 * 2) 22-Sterling Marlin
 * 3) 12-Hut Stricklin
 * 4) 1-Rick Mast
 * 5) 68-Bobby Hamilton
 * 6) 43-Richard Petty
 * 7) 47-Greg Sacks
 * 8) 19-Chad Little
 * 9) 94-Terry Labonte
 * 10) 71-Dave Marcis

Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 26 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The #6 of Mark Martin won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 28-Davey Allison
 * 2) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 3) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 4) 33-Harry Gant
 * 5) 21-Dale Jarrett
 * 6) 12-Hut Stricklin
 * 7) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 8) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 9) 5-Ricky Rudd
 * 10) 94-Terry Labonte

Failed to Qualify: 29-Kerry Teague, 44-Bobby Labonte, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 82-Mark Stahl, 99-Brad Teague, Jeff Green


 * During the previous week's The Winston, the #11 Junior Johnson-owned Budweiser Ford was thrown out of the track. Johnson, crew chief Tim Brewer, and substitute driver Tommy Ellis were suspended for 12 weeks for the engine being larger than the legal limit of 358 cubic inches.  Regular driver Geoff Bodine was injured in a practice crash for The Winston at Charlotte and was out for two races plus The Winston.  All three parties appealed;  Johnson and Brewer's suspensions were cut to four races, and Ellis, who drove as a late substitute, had his suspension nullified.  Here, Ellis finished the race in 16th, 4 laps down.  During the ban, Johnson designated his wife, Flossie as the car owner and changed the number of the car to 97.

Budweiser 500
The Budweiser 500 was held June 3 at Dover International Speedway. The #30 of Michael Waltrip* won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 25-Ken Schrader*
 * 2) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 3) 33-Harry Gant
 * 4) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 5) 6-Mark Martin
 * 6) 12-Hut Stricklin
 * 7) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 8) 15-Morgan Shepherd
 * 9) 2-Rusty Wallace
 * 10) 5-Ricky Rudd

Failed to Qualify: Billy Fulcher


 * As of November 9, 2008, this race marked Ken Schrader's last victory in the Winston Cup Series.


 * This was Michael Waltrip's 1st career pole position in the Winston Cup Series.

Banquet Frozen Foods 300
The Banquet Frozen Foods 300 was held June 9 at Sears Point International Raceway. Ricky Rudd won the pole. On the next-to-last lap, Rudd made contact with leader Davey Allison in turn 11, spinning Allison out. Rudd was black-flagged for aggressive driving, and Allison was awarded the win. This was the only time in NASCAR history when a driver was penalized for a last lap incident. It never happened before and has never happened again despite numerous last lap incidents involving a host of other drivers. This black flag likely cost Rudd a championship in 1991.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 28-Davey Allison
 * 2) 5-Ricky Rudd
 * 3) 2-Rusty Wallace
 * 4) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 5) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 6) 94-Terry Labonte
 * 7) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 8) 97-Geoff Bodine*
 * 9) 6-Mark Martin
 * 10) 30-Michael Waltrip


 * Geoff Bodine returned after missing two races and The Winston because of an injury during a practice crash for The Winston.

Champion Spark Plug 500
The Champion Spark Plug 500 was held June 16 at Pocono Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 2) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 3) 6-Mark Martin
 * 4) 33-Harry Gant
 * 5) 97-Geoff Bodine
 * 6) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 7) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 8) 22-Sterling Marlin
 * 9) 15-Morgan Shepherd
 * 10) 10-Derrike Cope


 * A caution flag was thrown during the race for (oddly enough) a chicken attempting to cross the track.


 * This race was plagued by rain, even causing a red flag at one point, but it still ran to the full 500 mile distance.

Miller Genuine Draft 400
The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held June 23 at Michigan International Speedway. The #30 of Michael Waltrip won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 28-Davey Allison
 * 2) 12-Hut Stricklin
 * 3) 6-Mark Martin
 * 4) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 5) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 6) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 7) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 8) 5-Ricky Rudd
 * 9) 15-Morgan Shepherd
 * 10) 33-Harry Gant

DNQ: #70-J.D. McDuffie, #53-Don Paul

Pepsi 400
The Pepsi 400 was held July 6 at Daytona International Speedway. Sterling Marlin won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 2) 11-Geoff Bodine
 * 3) 28-Davey Allison
 * 4) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 5) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 6) 30-Michael Waltrip
 * 7) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 8) 22-Sterling Marlin
 * 9) 5-Ricky Rudd
 * 10) 98-Jimmy Spencer

Failed to Qualify: 95-Kerry Teague, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 80-Jimmy Horton, 95-Eddie Bierschwale, 0-Delma Cowart


 * This race is probably best known for a wild crash involving the #17 of Darrell Waltrip and the #75 of Joe Ruttman on lap 119. Sterling Marlin got loose, slid into Alan Kulwicki, and Kulwicki slid into Ruttman. Waltrip and Ruttman hooked together on the backstretch and veered into the grass, jumping over part of the infield road course (both cars got all 4 wheels off the ground when this happened).  Waltrip's car landed hard on the left side, dug into the dirt and grass, and barrel rolled while Ruttman's car spun back toward the racing surface.

Miller Genuine Draft 500
The Miller Genuine Draft 500 was held July 21 at Pocono Raceway. The #7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole. The race was shortened to 179 laps due to rain.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 2-Rusty Wallace*
 * 2) 6-Mark Martin
 * 3) 11-Geoff Bodine
 * 4) 12-Hut Stricklin
 * 5) 22-Sterling Marlin
 * 6) 21-Dale Jarrett
 * 7) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 8) 26-Brett Bodine
 * 9) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 10) 75-Joe Ruttman

Failed to Qualify: 85-Bobby Gerhart, Walter Surma, Norm Benning


 * When the red flag was thrown for rain, Rusty Wallace's car was nearly out of gas. The red flag was out for over two hours before the track dried and the cars were started again under a yellow condition. However after just running 1 lap under yellow the rain started falling again.  Rusty Wallace was VERY close to running out of gas so he was pushed around by Dale Earnhardt so that we wouldn't run out of gas.  Once the field was given the white flag Earnhardt backed off.  Under NASCAR rules, this is legal unless it is the final scheduled lap of the race.

DieHard 500
The DieHard 500 was held July 28 at Talladega Superspeedway. Sterling Marlin won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 2) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 3) 6-Mark Martin
 * 4) 5-Ricky Rudd
 * 5) 22-Sterling Marlin
 * 6) 2-Rusty Wallace
 * 7) 30-Michael Waltrip
 * 8) 21-Dale Jarrett
 * 9) 28-Davey Allison
 * 10) 75-Joe Ruttman

Failed to Qualify: 0-Delma Cowart, 51-Jeff Purvis, Walter Surma


 * This race featured a blowover crash for the #1 of Rick Mast after he was spun around in the tri-oval by the #20 of Buddy Baker on lap 166.

The Budweiser At The Glen
The Budweiser At The Glen was held August 11 at Watkins Glen International Raceway. Terry Labonte won the pole. The race was marred by the death of veteran J. D. McDuffie in a Lap 5 crash in the Loop with the #52 of Jimmy Means. The drivers were not informed of McDuffie's fatal accident until after the race. Chip Williams, a media coordinator for NASCAR, was the first to learn of McDuffie's death.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 2) 5-Ricky Rudd
 * 3) 6-Mark Martin
 * 4) 2-Rusty Wallace
 * 5) 21-Dale Jarrett
 * 6) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 7) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 8) 12-Hut Stricklin
 * 9) 43-Richard Petty
 * 10) 28-Davey Allison


 * The wreck that claimed J. D. McDuffie's life resulted in a nearly 2 hour long red flag to repair the armco barrier and remove the two wrecked race cars.
 * McDuffie's crash was just one in a long series of big wrecks in the Loop-Chute area at Watkins Glen in 1991. Before this crash, Tommy Kendall had broken both legs in the IMSA Camel Continental race in June after spinning out at 180 mph and hitting the armco head on.  Multiple drivers in the Winston Cup Series and in IROC crashed in Turn 5 during the August race weekend.  A bus stop chicane (Inner Loop) was added before the entrance of Turn 5 for the 1992 season to slow cars before the entrance of what is now the Outer Loop.
 * Chip Williams, a media coordinator for NASCAR, made the first announcement of McDuffie's death, which was after the red flag period ended, in an interview with Jerry Punch of ESPN.

Champion Spark Plug 400
The Champion Spark Plug 400 was held August 18 at Michigan International Speedway. Alan Kulwicki won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 21-Dale Jarrett*
 * 2) 28-Davey Allison
 * 3) 2-Rusty Wallace
 * 4) 6-Mark Martin
 * 5) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 6) 33-Harry Gant
 * 7) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 8) 7-Alan Kulwicki
 * 9) 30-Michael Waltrip
 * 10) 25-Ken Schrader


 * This was Dale Jarrett's first career Winston Cup victory. Jarrett raced door to door to the finish line with the #28 of Davey Allison.  The official margin of victory was 10 inches.

Bud 500
The Bud 500 was held August 24 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The #9 of Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 7-Alan Kulwicki
 * 2) 22-Sterling Marlin
 * 3) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 4) 6-Mark Martin
 * 5) 5-Ricky Rudd
 * 6) 15-Morgan Shepherd
 * 7) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 8) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 9) 94-Terry Labonte
 * 10) 26-Brett Bodine

Failed to Qualify: 41-Larry Pearson, 52-Jimmy Means

Heinz Southern 500
The Heinz Southern 500 was held September 1 at Darlington Raceway. The #28 of Davey Allison won the pole. This was Kyle Petty's first race since breaking his leg at Talladega in May.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 33-Harry Gant
 * 2) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 3) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 4) 10-Derrike Cope
 * 5) 94-Terry Labonte
 * 6) 22-Sterling Marlin
 * 7) 11-Geoff Bodine
 * 8) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 9) 75-Joe Ruttman
 * 10) 68-Bobby Hamilton

Miller Genuine Draft 400
The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held September 7 at Richmond International Raceway. Rusty Wallace won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 33-Harry Gant
 * 2) 28-Davey Allison
 * 3) 2-Rusty Wallace
 * 4) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 5) 5-Ricky Rudd
 * 6) 7-Alan Kulwicki
 * 7) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 8) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 9) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 10) 22-Sterling Marlin


 * This was the 1st night race for the Winston Cup Series held at Richmond International Raceway.

Peak Antifreeze 500
The Peak Antifreeze 500 was held September 15 at Dover International Speedway. The #7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 33-Harry Gant
 * 2) 11-Geoff Bodine
 * 3) 15-Morgan Shepherd
 * 4) 12-Hut Stricklin
 * 5) 30Michael Waltrip
 * 6) 24-Dick Trickle
 * 7) 5-Ricky Rudd
 * 8) 68-Bobby Hamilton
 * 9) 1-Rick Mast
 * 10) 71-Dave Marcis


 * Harry Gant's official margin of victory in this race was 1 lap, and an additional 19 seconds.

Goody's 500
The Goody's 500 was held September 22 at Martinsville Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 33-Harry Gant*
 * 2) 26-Brett Bodine
 * 3) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 4) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 5) 6-Mark Martin
 * 6) 94-Terry Labonte
 * 7) 2-Rusty Wallace
 * 8) 5-Ricky Rudd
 * 9) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 10) 24-Jimmy Hensley

Failed to Qualify: 52-Jimmy Means


 * This was Harry Gant's 4th consecutive victory, tying the modern-era record for consecutive victories. Gant more or less dominated the race, but crashed on lap 377 in Turn 3.  The crash damaged the right front of the #33 Skoal Bandit Oldsmobile. This incident led ESPN's race analyst Benny Parsons to discount Gant as a threat to win the race.  The team repaired the car the best they could (since this was Martinsville, this consisted of removal of sheetmetal that could rub against the right front tire), and sent Gant back out.  Gant proceeded to charge up through the field and overtook Brett Bodine for the victory with about 50 laps to go.

Tyson Holly Farms 400
The Tyson Holly Farms 400 was held September 29 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Harry Gant won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 2) 33-Harry Gant
 * 3) 15-Morgan Shepherd
 * 4) 28-Davey Allison
 * 5) 6-Mark Martin
 * 6) 2-Rusty Wallace
 * 7) 26-Brett Bodine
 * 8) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 9) 21-Dale Jarrett
 * 10) 7-Alan Kulwicki


 * Dale Earnhardt passed Harry Gant for the victory with 12 laps to go, denying Gant a 5th consecutive victory. Gant had dominated the race when with just a few laps to go an O-Ring failed giving Gant limited braking for the final few laps allowing Earnhardt to pass.

Mello Yello 500
The Mello Yello 500 was held October 6 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The #6 of Mark Martin won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 11-Geoff Bodine
 * 2) 28-Davey Allison
 * 3) 7-Alan Kulwicki
 * 4) 33-Harry Gant
 * 5) 22-Sterling Marlin
 * 6) 94-Terry Labonte
 * 7) 30-Michael Waltrip
 * 8) 26-Brett Bodine
 * 9) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 10) 19-Chad Little

Failed to Qualify: 0-Delma Cowart, 41-Larry Pearson, Robby Faggart


 * Five days before this race, Richard Petty had held a press conference at his Level Cross, North Carolina, race shop. Petty said that instead of retiring at the end of 1991, he would race for one more year. The 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series would be his last as a driver, and was dubbed the "Fan Appreciation Tour". Petty denied it was a farewell tour because he "wasn't going anywhere".

AC Delco 500
The AC Delco 500 was held October 20 at North Carolina Speedway. Kyle Petty won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 28-Davey Allison
 * 2) 33-Harry Gant
 * 3) 6-Mark Martin
 * 4) 11-Geoff Bodine
 * 5) 25-Ken Schrader
 * 6) 68-Bobby Hamilton
 * 7) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 8) 22-Sterling Marlin
 * 9) 42-Kyle Petty
 * 10) 9-Bill Elliott

Pyroil 500K
The Pyroil 500 was held November 3 at Phoenix International Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 28-Davey Allison
 * 2) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 3) 22-Sterling Marlin
 * 4) 7-Alan Kulwicki
 * 5) 2-Rusty Wallace
 * 6) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 7) 98-Jimmy Spencer
 * 8) 11-Geoff Bodine
 * 9) 3-Dale Earnhardt
 * 10) 15-Morgan Shepherd

Hardee's 500
The Hardee's 500 was held November 17 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole. This was the race in which Dale Earnhardt clinched his fifth Winston Cup championship; he did so by merely starting the race.

Top Ten Results


 * 1) 6-Mark Martin
 * 2) 4-Ernie Irvan
 * 3) 9-Bill Elliott
 * 4) 33-Harry Gant
 * 5) 3-Dale Earnhardt*
 * 6) 15-Morgan Shepherd
 * 7) 22-Sterling Marlin
 * 8) 11-Geoff Bodine
 * 9) 7-Alan Kulwicki
 * 10) 17-Darrell Waltrip

Failed to Qualify: 0-Delma Cowart, 29?-Kerry Teague, 35-Bill Venturini, 36-H.B. Bailey, 59-Mark Gibson, 65-Dave Mader III, Keith Van Houten

Final Points Standings

 * 1) Dale Earnhardt – 4287
 * 2) Ricky Rudd – 4092
 * 3) Davey Allison – 4088
 * 4) Harry Gant – 3985
 * 5) Ernie Irvan – 3925
 * 6) Mark Martin – 3914
 * 7) Sterling Marlin – 3839
 * 8) Darrell Waltrip – 3711
 * 9) Ken Schrader – 3690
 * 10) Rusty Wallace – 3582
 * 11) Bill Elliott – 3535
 * 12) Morgan Shepherd – 3438
 * 13) Alan Kulwicki – 3354
 * 14) Geoff Bodine – 3277
 * 15) Michael Waltrip – 3254
 * 16) Hut Stricklin – 3199
 * 17) Dale Jarrett – 3124
 * 18) Terry Labonte – 3024
 * 19) Brett Bodine – 2980
 * 20) Joe Ruttman – 2938
 * 21) Rick Mast – 2918
 * 22) Bobby Hamilton – 2915
 * 23) Ted Musgrave – 2841
 * 24) Richard Petty – 2817
 * 25) Jimmy Spencer – 2790
 * 26) Rick Wilson – 2723
 * 27) Chad Little – 2678
 * 28) Derrike Cope – 2516
 * 29) Dave Marcis – 2374
 * 30) Bobby Hillin, Jr. – 2317
 * 31) Kyle Petty – 2078
 * 32) Lake Speed – 1742
 * 33) Jimmy Means – 1562
 * 34) Mickey Gibbs – 1401
 * 35) Dick Trickle – 1258
 * 36) Stanley Smith – 893
 * 37) Larry Pearson – 848
 * 38) Wally Dallenbach Jr. – 803
 * 39) Greg Sacks – 791
 * 40) Buddy Baker – 552
 * 41) Jimmy Hensley – 488
 * 42) Eddie Bierschwale – 431
 * 43) Jim Sauter – 423
 * 44) Kenny Wallace – 412
 * 45) Jeff Purvis – 399
 * 46) Phil Barkdoll – 364
 * 47) Mike Chase – 356
 * 48) J. D. McDuffie – 335
 * 49) Bill Sedgwick – 324
 * 50) Randy LaJoie – 304

Rookie of the Year
Bobby Hamilton, driving for Tri-Star Motorsports, narrowly defeated Ted Musgrave for Rookie of the Year honors in 1991. Stanley Smith, Wally Dallenbach Jr., and Sammy Swindell also declared for the award, but did not complete enough races to challenge Hamilton or Musgrave.