1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series


The 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Season was the 40th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 17th modern-era Cup series. The season began on February 7 at Daytona International Speedway and ended on November 20 at the Atlanta International Speedway. Bill Elliott of Melling Racing won the championship.
The 1988 season was notable for hosting the first of two tire wars between Goodyear and Hoosier.

1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series drivers

Schedule

Races

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. 3 - Dale Earnhardt
  2. 28 - Davey Allison
  3. 12 - Bobby Allison
  4. 5 - Geoffrey Bodine
  5. 9 - Bill Elliott
  6. 27 - Rusty Wallace
  7. 25 - Ken Schrader
  8. 97 - Morgan Shepherd
  9. 11 - Terry Labonte
  10. 33 - Harry Gant
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 the races.
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 - Geoffrey 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

    Daytona 500

Pontiac Excitement 400

The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held February 21 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. The No. 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,
The Goodyear NASCAR 500k was a non-points exhibition race held on February 28 at the Calder Park Thunderdome in Melbourne, Australia - the first NASCAR-style high-banked paved oval built outside of North America. It was also the first NASCAR sanctioned race outside of North America. Neil Bonnett won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 75 - Neil Bonnett
  2. 12 - Bobby Allison
  3. 71 - Dave Marcis
  4. 18 - Glen Steurer
  5. 83 - Sumner McKnight
  6. 98 - Hershel McGriff
  7. 15 - Terry Petris
  8. 19 - Chad Little
  9. 82 - Jim Danielson
  10. 21 - Kyle Petty
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
The Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was held March 20 at Atlanta International Raceway. The No. 5 of Geoffrey 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 No. 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 - Geoffrey Bodine
  8. 55 - Phil Parsons
  9. 12 - Bobby Allison
  10. 88 - Buddy Baker
The Valleydale Meats 500 was held April 10 at Bristol International Raceway. The No. 4 of Rick Wilson won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 9 - Bill Elliott
  2. 6 - Mark Martin
  3. 5 - Geoffrey 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 - Geoffrey 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 No. 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 No. 28 of Davey Allison won the pole. During the race, AJ Foyt had a series of incidents and penalties. He intentionally wrecked Alan Kulwicki, spun out on pit road out of anger, and drove through several pit stalls doing pass-through penalties, nearly hurting many pit crew members. For his actions, Foyt was issued a six-month ban from NASCAR.
Top ten results
  1. 55 - Phil Parsons*
  2. 12 - Bobby Allison
  3. 5 - Geoffrey 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
, an annual invitational race for previous winners in Winston Cup, was held May 22 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Terry Labonte won the race.
Top ten results
  1. 11-Terry Labonte
  2. 44-Sterling Marlin
  3. 28-Davey Allison
  4. 9-Bill Elliott
  5. 12-Bobby Allison
  6. 21-Kyle Petty
  7. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  8. 47-Morgan Shepherd
  9. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  10. 75-Neil Bonnett
The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 29 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 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
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 - Geoffrey Bodine
  9. 6 - Mark Martin
  10. 12 - Bobby Allison
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
The Miller High Life 500 was held June 19 at Pocono Raceway. The No. 7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 5 - Geoffrey 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
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 - Geoffrey 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
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 - Geoffrey 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*
The Talladega DieHard 500 was held July 31 at Talladega Superspeedway. The No. 17 of Darrell Waltrip won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 25 - Ken Schrader*
  2. 5 - Geoffrey 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
was held August 14 at Watkins Glen International Raceway. Geoffrey 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
The Champion Spark Plug 400 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 - Geoffrey 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 - Geoffrey 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
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 - Geoffrey 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, 20 - Rayvon Clark, 37 - Randy Morrison, 40 - Ben Hess, 54 - Lennie Pond, 67 - Ron Esau, 70 - J.D. McDuffie, 78 - Jay Sommers, 98 - Brad Noffsinger

Delaware 500

The Delaware 500 was held September 18 at Dover International Speedway. The No. 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 - Geoffrey 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 - Geoffrey Bodine
  6. 9 - Bill Elliott
  7. 11 - Terry Labonte
  8. 3 - Dale Earnhardt
  9. 6 - Mark Martin
  10. 15 - Brett Bodine
Failed to qualify: 20 - Dave Mader III, 31 - Lee Faulk, 70 - J.D. McDuffie, 97 - Rodney Combs, 98 - Brad Noffsinger

Oakwood Homes 500

The Oakwood Homes 500 was held October 9 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The No. 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: ?? - Gary Brooks, ?? - Slick Johnson, ?? - Johnny Rutherford, ?? - Ronnie Silver, 2 - Ernie Irvan, 19 - Chad Little, 22 - Rodney Combs, 24 - John McFadden, 32 - Philip Duffie, 34 - Connie Saylor, 36 - H.B. Bailey, 40 - Ben Hess, 50 - Charlie Glotzbach, 59 - Mark Gibson, 63 - Jocko Maggiacomo, 64 - Mike Potter, 70 - J.D. McDuffie, 74 - Randy LaJoie, 87 - Randy Baker, 93 - Troy Beebe, 98 - Brad Noffsinger

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 - Geoffrey 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
The AC Delco 500 was held October 23 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole. This race was the third consecutive win for Rusty Wallace.
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. Geoffrey 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 - Geoffrey Bodine
  7. 8 - Bobby Hillin Jr.
  8. 90 - Benny Parsons
  9. 55 - Phil Parsons
  10. 44 - Sterling Marlin
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 -1 Lap
  8. 11 - Terry Labonte -1 Lap
  9. 8 - Bobby Hillin Jr. -1 Lap
  10. 29 - Cale Yarborough -1 Lap*
Failed to qualify: ?? - Don Hume, ?? - Bill Meacham, ?? - Alan Russell, ?? - Joe Ruttman, ?? - David Sosebee, 10 - Ken Bouchard, 20 - Dave Mader III, 38 - Mike Laws, 50 - Bobby Coyle, 78 - Jay Sommers, 93 - Charlie Baker
  1. Bill Elliott – 4488
  2. Rusty Wallace – 4464
  3. Dale Earnhardt – 4256
  4. Terry Labonte – 4007
  5. Ken Schrader – 3858
  6. Geoffrey 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

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.