1986 Coca-Cola 600
Race details | |||
---|---|---|---|
Race 11 of 29 in the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
The 1986 Coca-Cola 600 program cover, featuring Terry Labonte. Artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass. | |||
Date | May 25, 1986 | ||
Official name | 27th Annual Coca-Cola 600 | ||
Location | Concord, North Carolina, Charlotte Motor Speedway | ||
Course | Permanent racing facility 1.5 mi (2.41 km) | ||
Distance | 400 laps, 600 mi (965.606 km) | ||
Scheduled Distance | 400 laps, 600 mi (965.606 km) | ||
Average speed | 140.406 miles per hour (225.962 km/h) | ||
Attendance | 158,000 | ||
Pole position | |||
Driver |
| Hendrick Motorsports | |
Time | 32.824 | ||
Most laps led | |||
Driver | Cale Yarborough Bill Elliott | Ranier-Lundy Racing Melling Racing | |
Laps | 98 | ||
Winner | |||
No. 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | |
Television in the United States | |||
Network | Jefferson-Pilot | ||
Announcers | Mike Hogewood, Jerry Punch | ||
Radio in the United States | |||
Radio | WSOC-FM |
The 1986 Coca-Cola 600 was the 11th stock car race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 27th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, May 25, 1986, before an audience of 158,000 in Concord, North Carolina, at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent quad-oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete.[1]
After a poor start, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt, crediting crew chief Kirk Shelmerdine, made several changes to the car afterward, making an improvement. As a result, Earnhardt steadily climbed through the field in the final stages of the race, taking the lead when Bill Elliott pitted for fuel with less than 20 laps left in the race, securing the victory. The victory was Earnhardt's 18th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third victory of the season.[2][3] To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports' Tim Richmond and Ranier-Lundy Racing's Cale Yarborough finished second and third, respectively.
Background
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge, as well as the UAW-GM Quality 500. The speedway was built in 1959 by Bruton Smith and is considered the home track for NASCAR with many race teams located in the Charlotte area. The track is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) with Marcus G. Smith (son of Bruton Smith) as track president.
Entry list
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
Qualifying
Qualifying was split into three rounds. The first round was held on Wednesday, May 21, at 4:00 PM EST. Each driver had one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 15 drivers in the round were 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 Thursday, May 22, at 2:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver had one lap to set a time. Positions 16-30 were decided on times in the second round. The third round was held on Friday, May 23, at 12:30 PM EST; if a driver was not able to guarantee a starting spot in the previous two rounds, they had the option to scrub their time again and run in the third round. As with the previous two rounds, each driver had one lap to set a time. Positions 31-40 were determined on times in the third round.[5] 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 were given.
Geoff Bodine, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, won the pole, setting a time of 32.824 and an average speed of 164.511 miles per hour (264.755 km/h) in the first round.[6]
Four drivers failed to qualify.[7]
Full qualifying results
Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.824 | 164.511 |
2 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.840 | 164.431 |
3 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 32.958 | 163.842 |
4 | 1 | Sterling Marlin | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 33.068 | 163.297 |
5 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 33.119 | 163.048 |
6 | 55 | Benny Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 33.139 | 162.948 |
7 | 21 | David Pearson | Pearson Racing | Chevrolet | 33.164 | 162.828 |
8 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 33.238 | 162.465 |
9 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 33.255 | 162.379 |
10 | 47 | Morgan Shepherd | Race Hill Farm Team | Buick | 33.299 | 162.166 |
11 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 33.349 | 161.923 |
12 | 28 | Cale Yarborough | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 33.364 | 161.850 |
13 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 33.394 | 161.707 |
14 | 02 | Mark Martin | Gunderman Racing | Ford | 33.441 | 161.477 |
15 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 32.849 | 164.389 |
Failed to lock in Round 1 | ||||||
16 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 32.862 | 164.324 |
17 | 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 33.068 | 163.300 |
18 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 33.133 | 162.980 |
19 | 4 | Lake Speed | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 33.158 | 162.857 |
20 | 66 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 33.200 | 162.651 |
21 | 51 | Connie Saylor | Spohn Racing | Ford | 33.221 | 162.548 |
22 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 33.236 | 162.474 |
23 | 26 | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | 33.260 | 162.357 |
24 | 75 | Jody Ridley | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 33.272 | 162.299 |
25 | 10 | Greg Sacks | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 33.279 | 162.264 |
26 | 99 | Brad Teague | Ball Motorsports | Chevrolet | 33.283 | 162.245 |
27 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 33.295 | 162.187 |
28 | 81 | Chet Fillip (R) | Fillip Racing | Ford | 33.297 | 162.177 |
29 | 35 | Alan Kulwicki (R) | AK Racing | Ford | 33.308 | 162.123 |
30 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 32.671 | 165.284 |
Failed to lock in Round 2 | ||||||
31 | 98 | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | 32.831 | 164.479 |
32 | 2 | Brett Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.872 | 164.274 |
33 | 17 | Doug Heveron | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 32.894 | 164.164 |
34 | 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 32.918 | 164.044 |
35 | 79 | Derrike Cope | Razore Racing | Ford | 33.057 | 163.354 |
36 | 45 | Ken Ragan | Morris Racing | Pontiac | 33.073 | 163.275 |
37 | 6 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 33.077 | 163.255 |
38 | 32 | Eddie Bierschwale | Ingle Racing | Chevrolet | 33.143 | 162.930 |
39 | 94 | Trevor Boys | Eller Racing | Pontiac | 33.245 | 162.430 |
Provisionals | ||||||
40 | 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 33.489 | 161.247 |
41 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Ford | - | - |
Failed to qualify | ||||||
42 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 33.276 | 162.279 |
43 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 33.309 | 162.118 |
44 | 30 | Willy T. Ribbs | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 33.329 | 162.021 |
45 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 33.969 | 158.968 |
Withdrew after qualifying | ||||||
WD | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 33.441 | 161.476 |
Official first round qualifying results | ||||||
Official second round qualifying results | ||||||
Official starting lineup |
Race results
Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 26 | running | 180 | $98,150 |
2 | 2 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 94 | running | 175 | $64,355 |
3 | 12 | 28 | Cale Yarborough | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 400 | 98 | running | 175 | $34,375 |
4 | 8 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 50 | running | 165 | $35,630 |
5 | 15 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 400 | 3 | running | 160 | $27,250 |
6 | 5 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 400 | 98 | running | 160 | $34,750 |
7 | 4 | 1 | Sterling Marlin | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 146 | $13,000 |
8 | 13 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 142 | $18,200 |
9 | 10 | 47 | Morgan Shepherd | Race Hill Farm Team | Buick | 399 | 12 | running | 143 | $14,450 |
10 | 9 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 398 | 5 | running | 139 | $16,750 |
11 | 16 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 398 | 0 | running | 130 | $14,800 |
12 | 18 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 398 | 1 | running | 132 | $14,200 |
13 | 11 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 397 | 2 | running | 129 | $15,400 |
14 | 19 | 4 | Lake Speed | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 397 | 6 | running | 126 | $6,400 |
15 | 22 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 396 | 0 | running | 118 | $10,795 |
16 | 41 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 115 | $9,825 |
17 | 30 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 395 | 0 | running | 112 | $5,300 |
18 | 32 | 2 | Brett Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 394 | 0 | running | 109 | $10,100 |
19 | 31 | 98 | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | 394 | 0 | running | 106 | $4,900 |
20 | 17 | 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 394 | 0 | running | 103 | $12,150 |
21 | 24 | 75 | Jody Ridley | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 392 | 0 | running | 100 | $8,315 |
22 | 14 | 02 | Mark Martin | Gunderman Racing | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 97 | $4,200 |
23 | 27 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 94 | $8,705 |
24 | 20 | 66 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 389 | 0 | running | 91 | $3,500 |
25 | 39 | 94 | Trevor Boys | Eller Racing | Pontiac | 389 | 0 | running | 88 | $2,800 |
26 | 34 | 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 389 | 0 | running | 85 | $3,850 |
27 | 29 | 35 | Alan Kulwicki (R) | AK Racing | Ford | 382 | 0 | running | 82 | $2,500 |
28 | 21 | 51 | Connie Saylor | Spohn Racing | Ford | 376 | 0 | running | 0 | $2,200 |
29 | 38 | 32 | Eddie Bierschwale | Ingle Racing | Chevrolet | 374 | 1 | running | 81 | $2,000 |
30 | 35 | 79 | Derrike Cope | Razore Racing | Ford | 361 | 0 | running | 73 | $1,900 |
31 | 1 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 319 | 2 | camshaft | 75 | $33,850 |
32 | 23 | 26 | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | 292 | 0 | running | 67 | $5,635 |
33 | 33 | 17 | Doug Heveron | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 278 | 0 | engine | 64 | $5,475 |
34 | 6 | 55 | Benny Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 198 | 1 | shocks | 66 | $2,200 |
35 | 40 | 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 172 | 1 | overheating | 63 | $1,650 |
36 | 7 | 21 | David Pearson | Pearson Racing | Chevrolet | 138 | 0 | head gasket | 0 | $1,800 |
37 | 28 | 81 | Chet Fillip (R) | Fillip Racing | Ford | 124 | 0 | accident | 52 | $1,575 |
38 | 37 | 6 | Richard Petty | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 123 | 0 | engine | 49 | $5,465 |
39 | 25 | 10 | Greg Sacks | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 73 | 0 | accident | 46 | $1,525 |
40 | 26 | 99 | Brad Teague | Ball Motorsports | Chevrolet | 37 | 0 | accident | 43 | $1,500 |
41 | 36 | 45 | Ken Ragan | Morris Racing | Pontiac | 5 | 0 | accident | 40 | $1,500 |
Failed to qualify or withdrew | ||||||||||
42 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | ||||||
43 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | ||||||
44 | 30 | Willy T. Ribbs | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet | ||||||
45 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | ||||||
WD | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | ||||||
Official race results |
Standings after the race
|
Notes
- ^ a b Petty crashed his car in a Friday practice session, terminally damaging his only car. As a result, both Petty and his sponsor, STP, paid D. K. Ulrich to drive his car for the race.[4]
References
- ^ Hardesty, Abe (May 24, 1986). "Earnhardt grabs a dream". The Greenville News. pp. 1C, 8C. Retrieved January 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Higgins, Tom (May 26, 1986). "Earnhardt Waits And Wins 600". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B, 4B. Retrieved January 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Mulhurn, Mike (May 26, 1986). "Earnhardt Charges to World 600 Victory". Winston-Salem Journal. pp. 13, 17. Retrieved January 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Olson, Stan (May 24, 1986). "Petty Wrecks, But Says He'll Race". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 2D. Retrieved January 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Race Week Schedule". The Charlotte Observer. May 20, 1986. pp. 1B. Retrieved January 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Higgins, Tom (May 22, 1986). "600 Pole Belongs To Bodine". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B, 8B. Retrieved January 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Higgins, Tom (May 24, 1986). "Baker Leads Final Day Of 600 Qualifying". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 3D. Retrieved January 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
Previous race: 1986 Budweiser 500 | NASCAR Winston Cup Series 1986 season | Next race: 1986 Budweiser 400 |
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