1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series


The 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Season was the 41st season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 18th modern-era Cup season. It began February 12 and ended November 19. Rusty Wallace of Blue Max Racing won the championship. This was the first year that every Winston Cup race had flag-to-flag coverage, with almost all of them being televised live.
The 1989 season marked the end of the first of two tire wars between Goodyear and Hoosier, with Hoosier leaving NASCAR shortly after Goodyear debuted their new radial tires.
Also, 1989 was the first season without Bobby Allison, Benny Parsons, and Cale Yarborough.

1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Drivers

Schedule

Races

Busch Clash

The Busch Clash, an annual invitational event for all winners of the Busch Pole award from the previous season, was held February 12 at Daytona International Speedway. Ken Schrader drew for the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 25-Ken Schrader
  2. 28-Davey Allison
  3. 11-Terry Labonte
  4. 5-Geoffrey Bodine
  5. 4-Rick Wilson
  6. 27-Rusty Wallace
  7. 6-Mark Martin
  8. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  9. 75-Morgan Shepherd
  10. 66-Rick Mast

    Gatorade 125s

The Gatorade 125s, a pair of qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held February 16 at Daytona International Speedway. Ken Schrader and Darrell Waltrip won the poles for each event, respectively.
Race One Top Ten Results
  1. 25-Ken Schrader
  2. 75-Morgan Shepherd
  3. 6-Mark Martin
  4. 55-Phil Parsons
  5. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  6. 66-Rick Mast
  7. 9-Jody Ridley
  8. 10-Ken Bouchard -1
  9. 45-Joe Ruttman -1
  10. 71-Dave Marcis -1
Race Two Top Ten Results
  1. 11-Terry Labonte
  2. 94-Sterling Marlin
  3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  4. 5-Geoffrey Bodine
  5. 33-Harry Gant
  6. 16-Larry Pearson
  7. 28-Davey Allison
  8. 17-Darrell Waltrip -1
  9. 15-Brett Bodine -1
  10. 29-Dale Jarrett -1
Top Ten Results
  1. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  2. 25-Ken Schrader
  3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  4. 5-Geoffrey Bodine
  5. 55-Phil Parsons
  6. 66-Rick Mast*
  7. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  8. 4-Rick Wilson
  9. 11-Terry Labonte
  10. 23-Eddie Bierschwale

    Goodwrench 500

The Goodwrench 500 was held March 5 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Rusty Wallace won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 27-Rusty Wallace
  2. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  4. 5-Geoffrey Bodine
  5. 6-Mark Martin
  6. 28-Davey Allison
  7. 94-Sterling Marlin
  8. 83-Lake Speed
  9. 88-Greg Sacks
  10. 31-Jim Sauter
The Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was held March 19 at Atlanta International Raceway. The No. 7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  3. 84-Dick Trickle
  4. 42-Kyle Petty
  5. 94-Sterling Marlin
  6. 4-Rick Wilson
  7. 21-Neil Bonnett
  8. 57-Hut Stricklin
  9. 29-Dale Jarrett
  10. 75-Morgan Shepherd
Failed to Qualify: #36-H.B. Baily, #69-Lee Raymond, #70-J.D. McDuffie, Rodney Combs, Rick Jeffrey
The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held March 26 at Richmond International Raceway. The No. 5 of Geoffrey Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 27-Rusty Wallace
  2. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  4. 26-Ricky Rudd
  5. 28-Davey Allison
  6. 16-Larry Pearson
  7. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  8. 94-Sterling Marlin
  9. 2-Ernie Irvan
  10. 9-Bill Elliott
Failed to qualify: 43-Richard Petty
The TranSouth 500 was held April 2 at Darlington Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 33-Harry Gant
  2. 28-Davey Allison
  3. 5-Geoffrey Bodine
  4. 6-Mark Martin
  5. 94-Sterling Marlin
  6. 9-Bill Elliott
  7. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  8. 27-Rusty Wallace
  9. 30-Michael Waltrip
  10. 83-Lake Speed

    Valleydale Meats 500

The Valleydale Meats 500 was held April 9 at Bristol International Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 27-Rusty Wallace
  2. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  3. 5-Geoffrey Bodine
  4. 28-Davey Allison
  5. 84-Dick Trickle
  6. 6-Mark Martin
  7. 88-Greg Sacks
  8. 26-Ricky Rudd
  9. 9-Bill Elliott
  10. 33-Harry Gant
Failed to Qualify: #40-Ben Hess, #43-Richard Petty, #52-Jimmy Means, #70-J.D. McDuffie, #71-Dave Marcis, Steve Seligman

First Union 400

The First Union 400 was held April 16 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Rusty Wallace won the pole. The race was notable for Goodyear debuting their new radial tires and Dale Earnhardt winning the race with them.
Top Ten Results
  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  3. 6-Mark Martin
  4. 84-Dick Trickle
  5. 11-Terry Labonte
  6. 26-Ricky Rudd
  7. 5-Geoffrey Bodine
  8. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  9. 27-Rusty Wallace
  10. 2-Ernie Irvan
Failed to qualify: 8-Bobby Hillin Jr., 43-Richard Petty, 55-Phil Parsons*, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 04-Bill Meacham, Jerry O'Neil, Kevin Evans, Mark Walbridge
The Pannill Sweatshirts 500 was held April 23 at Martinsville Speedway. The No. 5 of Geoffrey Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  3. 84-Dick Trickle
  4. 4-Rick Wilson
  5. 11-Terry Labonte
  6. 6-Mark Martin
  7. 25-Ken Schrader
  8. 94-Sterling Marlin
  9. 71-Dave Marcis
  10. 21-Neil Bonnett
• This would mark the final race as well as race victory for the older Chevrolet Monte Carlo body style. The new Chevrolet Lumina would debut the next week at Talladega Superspeedway.

Winston 500

The Winston 500 was held May 7 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 28-Davey Allison
  2. 11-Terry Labonte
  3. 6-Mark Martin
  4. 75-Morgan Shepherd
  5. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  6. 25-Ken Schrader
  7. 33-Harry Gant
  8. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  9. 21-Neil Bonnett
  10. 27-Rusty Wallace
, an annual all-star race for previous winners and champions, was held May 21 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The No. 11 of Terry Labonte won the pole. Rusty Wallace spun Darrell Waltrip out of the lead coming to the white flag to earn the victory. This sparked a fight between Wallace and Waltrip's crewmembers in the pits before Wallace got to victory lane.
Top Ten Results
  1. 27-Rusty Wallace
  2. 25-Ken Schrader
  3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  4. 9-Bill Elliott
  5. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  6. 94-Sterling Marlin
  7. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  8. 26-Ricky Rudd
  9. 5-Geoffrey Bodine
  10. 88-Greg Sacks

    Coca-Cola 600

The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 28 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The No. 7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  2. 94-Sterling Marlin
  3. 25-Ken Schrader
  4. 5-Geoffrey Bodine
  5. 9-Bill Elliott
  6. 6-Mark Martin
  7. 21-Neil Bonnett
  8. 15-Brett Bodine
  9. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr.
  10. 26-Ricky Rudd
The Budweiser 500 was held June 4 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 6-Mark Martin
  3. 25-Ken Schrader
  4. 11-Terry Labonte
  5. 27-Rusty Wallace
  6. 26-Ricky Rudd
  7. 21-Neil Bonnett
  8. 9-Bill Elliott
  9. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  10. 55-Phil Parsons

    Banquet Frozen Foods 300

The inaugural Banquet Frozen Foods 300 was held June 11 at Sears Point International Raceway. Rusty Wallace won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 26-Ricky Rudd
  2. 27-Rusty Wallace
  3. 9-Bill Elliott
  4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  5. 83-Lake Speed
  6. 88-Joe Ruttman
  7. 75-Morgan Shepherd
  8. 4-Rick Wilson
  9. 28-Davey Allison
  10. 30-Michael Waltrip
The Miller High Life 500 was held June 18 at Pocono Raceway. The No. 27 of Rusty Wallace won the pole. This race was one of the few races telecast on Pay Per View.
Top Ten Results
  1. 11-Terry Labonte
  2. 33-Harry Gant
  3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  4. 25-Ken Schrader
  5. 75-Morgan Shepherd
  6. 94-Sterling Marlin
  7. 29-Dale Jarrett
  8. 21-Neil Bonnett
  9. 16-Larry Pearson
  10. 15-Brett Bodine

    Miller High Life 400 (Michigan)

The Miller High Life 400 was held June 25 at Michigan International Speedway. The No. 25 of Ken Schrader won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 9-Bill Elliott
  2. 27-Rusty Wallace
  3. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  4. 26-Ricky Rudd
  5. 15-Brett Bodine
  6. 4-Rick Wilson
  7. 83-Lake Speed
  8. 94-Sterling Marlin
  9. 10-Derrike Cope
  10. 42-Kyle Petty

    Pepsi 400

The Pepsi 400 was held July 1 at Daytona International Speedway. The No. 6 of Mark Martin won the pole. This race featured a rollover crash involving the No. 83 of Lake Speed on lap 144.
Top Ten Results
  1. 28-Davey Allison
  2. 75-Morgan Shepherd
  3. 55-Phil Parsons
  4. 9-Bill Elliott
  5. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  6. 11-Terry Labonte
  7. 94-Sterling Marlin
  8. 84-Dick Trickle
  9. 26-Ricky Rudd
  10. 57-Hut Stricklin
The AC Spark Plug 500 was held on July 23 at Pocono International Raceway. Ken Schrader won the pole. This race was notable for two wrecks that tore open portions of the track's boilerplate walls. Jimmy Horton crashed in Turn Two and tore open a hole in the wall. Later a big wreck erupted in Turn One involving Greg Sacks in the Tom Winkle No. 48 and the No. 83 of Lake Speed. The two cars got together going into Turn One and smashed into the boilerplate wall head-on. The hit punched open the wall and sent Sacks flipping. The yellow remained out for the duration of time needed to repair the wall. Speed broke his shoulder in the crash and had to sit out for a couple weeks.
Top Ten Finishers
  1. 9-Bill Elliott
  2. 27-Rusty Wallace
  3. 6-Mark Martin
  4. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  5. 28-Davey Allison
  6. 33-Harry Gant
  7. 25-Ken Schrader
  8. 75-Morgan Shepherd
  9. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  10. 15-Brett Bodine
The Talladega DieHard 500 was held July 30 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 11-Terry Labonte
  2. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  3. 6-Mark Martin
  4. 25-Ken Schrader
  5. 4-Rick Wilson
  6. 75-Morgan Shepherd
  7. 42-Kyle Petty
  8. 33-Harry Gant
  9. 28-Davey Allison
  10. 21-Neil Bonnett
was held August 13 at Watkins Glen International. Morgan Shepherd won the pole. This race is notable for a big wreck on lap 89 involving the No. 5 of Geoffrey Bodine. Bodine lost a tire at the end of the backstraight, spun around and went through the barrier and hitting a fence behind the barrier. Bodine was uninjured. Also on that day, Tim Richmond who had a long battle with AIDS, died earlier in the day.
Top Ten Results
  1. 27-Rusty Wallace
  2. 6-Mark Martin
  3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  4. 28-Davey Allison
  5. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr.
  6. 75-Morgan Shepherd
  7. 94-Sterling Marlin
  8. 4-Rick Wilson
  9. 44-Jim Sauter
  10. 30-Michael Waltrip
The Champion Spark Plug 400 was held August 20 at Michigan International Speedway. Geoffrey Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 27-Rusty Wallace
  2. 75-Morgan Shepherd
  3. 33-Harry Gant
  4. 57-Hut Stricklin
  5. 5-Geoffrey Bodine
  6. 10-Derrike Cope
  7. 28-Davey Allison
  8. 26-Ricky Rudd
  9. 6-Mark Martin
  10. 7-Alan Kulwicki

    Busch 500

The Busch 500 was held August 26 at Bristol International Raceway. Alan Kulwicki won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  2. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  3. 26-Ricky Rudd
  4. 33-Harry Gant
  5. 11-Terry Labonte
  6. 27-Rusty Wallace
  7. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr.
  8. 88-Jimmy Spencer
  9. 21-Neil Bonnett
  10. 29-Dale Jarrett
Failed to qualify: 43-Richard Petty
The Heinz Southern 500 was held September 3 at Darlington Raceway. The No. 7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 6-Mark Martin
  3. 26-Ricky Rudd
  4. 27-Rusty Wallace
  5. 25-Ken Schrader
  6. 33-Harry Gant
  7. 9-Bill Elliott
  8. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr.
  9. 75-Morgan Shepherd
  10. 94-Sterling Marlin
The Miller High Life 400 was held September 10 at Richmond International Raceway. The No. 9 of Bill Elliott won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 27-Rusty Wallace
  2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  3. 5-Geoffrey Bodine
  4. 26-Ricky Rudd
  5. 33-Harry Gant
  6. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  7. 21-Neil Bonnett
  8. 84-Dick Trickle
  9. 57-Hut Stricklin
  10. 28-Davey Allison
The Peak Performance 500 was held September 17 at Dover Downs International Speedway. The No. 28 of Davey Allison won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 6-Mark Martin
  3. 25-Ken Schrader
  4. 9-Bill Elliott
  5. 26-Ricky Rudd
  6. 30-Michael Waltrip
  7. 27-Rusty Wallace
  8. 10-Derrike Cope
  9. 15-Brett Bodine
  10. 88-Jimmy Spencer
The Goody's 500 was held September 24 at Martinsville Speedway. Dale Earnhardt started on the pole, which was actually won by Jimmy Hensley as Earnhardt and others could not reach the track in time due to Hurricane Hugo, which affected the area.
Top Ten Results
  1. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  2. 33-Harry Gant
  3. 84-Dick Trickle
  4. 27-Rusty Wallace
  5. 29-Dale Jarrett
  6. 2-Ernie Irvan
  7. 15-Brett Bodine
  8. 26-Ricky Rudd
  9. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  10. 25-Ken Schrader
The All Pro Auto Parts 500 was held October 8 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 25-Ken Schrader
  2. 33-Harry Gant
  3. 6-Mark Martin
  4. 9-Bill Elliott
  5. 28-Davey Allison
  6. 10-Derrike Cope
  7. 94-Sterling Marlin
  8. 27-Rusty Wallace -1
  9. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr. -2
  10. 75-Morgan Shepherd -2
Failed to Qualify: 14-A. J. Foyt*
The Holly Farms 400 was held October 15 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole. This race was notable for the race for the win between Earnhardt and Ricky Rudd. On the last lap, Earnhardt and Rudd touched in turn 1, spinning both cars out. This allowed Geoffrey Bodine to slip by and win the race, and allowed Rusty Wallace to gain points on Earnhardt for the championship hunt.
Top Ten Results
  1. 5-Geoffrey Bodine
  2. 6-Mark Martin
  3. 11-Terry Labonte
  4. 33-Harry Gant
  5. 75-Morgan Shepherd
  6. 9-Bill Elliott
  7. 27-Rusty Wallace
  8. 2-Ernie Irvan
  9. 26-Ricky Rudd
  10. 3-Dale Earnhardt
The AC Delco 500 was held October 22 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Alan Kulwicki won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 6-Mark Martin*
  2. 27-Rusty Wallace
  3. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  4. 25-Ken Schrader
  5. 84-Dick Trickle
  6. 21-Neil Bonnett*
  7. 5-Geoffrey Bodine
  8. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr.
  9. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  10. 42-Kyle Petty
The Autoworks 500 was held November 5 at Phoenix International Raceway. Ken Schrader won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 9-Bill Elliott
  2. 11-Terry Labonte
  3. 6-Mark Martin
  4. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  5. 29-Dale Jarrett
  6. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  7. 84-Dick Trickle
  8. 33-Harry Gant
  9. 30-Michael Waltrip
  10. 88-Jimmy Spencer
Failed to Qualify: 18-Tommy Ellis, 41-Danny Lawson, 89-Bob Howard, 35-Keith Van Houten, 07-Mark Walbridge, 44-Jack Sellers, 19-Robert Sprague, 24-Butch Gilliland, 22-St. James Davis, 80-Bob Walker, 08-Rick McCray, 99-John Krebs, 38-Duke Hoenshell, 04-Hershel McGriff, 50-Rick Scribner
The Atlanta Journal 500 was held November 19 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The No. 7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole. Three drivers entered the race mathematically eligible for the Winston Cup championship. Rusty Wallace had a 78-point lead over Mark Martin, and a 79-point lead over third-place Dale Earnhardt. Wallace had to finish 18th or better to clinch the title, but went into the race proclaiming he was going to 'run as hard as he could.' The statement was seen as a thinly veiled criticism of Bill Elliott whom Wallace lost the championship to a year earlier, in a similar situation. In that year, Elliott elected to drive a very conservative race, easily clinching the title, much to the ire of the hard-charging Wallace. Dale Earnhardt qualified 3rd, Wallace qualified 4th, but Martin would start back in 20th.
Despite his plan to race all-out, Wallace encountered problems that complicated his day. On the first round of pit stops, he pitted under green but lost a lap when the caution came out shortly thereafter. Later, he suffered a flat tire and fell all the way back to the 33rd position. Wallace slowly and steadily worked his way back up the standings. Dale Earnhardt meanwhile, dominated the race leading 294 of the 328 laps en route to victory. Mark Martin, the other driver in the mix for the championship did not end up being a factor. He dropped out on lap 224 with a blown engine that resulted in a fire. In the closing laps, Wallace was three laps down in 15th place, just barely holding on to the hypothetical points lead. Wallace managed to finish the race in 15th, and won the Winston Cup championship by a mere 12 points over Earnhardt. It was Wallace's first and only Winston Cup championship, and the first championship in the modern era for Pontiac.
On Lap 203, Grant Adcox struck the wall and suffered a heart attack and severe head injuries. Adcox died shortly after the accident.
Top Ten Results
  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 5-Geoffrey Bodine
  3. 94-Sterling Marlin
  4. 25-Ken Schrader
  5. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  6. 42-Kyle Petty
  7. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr.
  8. 75-Morgan Shepherd
  9. 21-Neil Bonnett
  10. 83-Lake Speed
  1. Rusty Wallace – 4176
  2. Dale Earnhardt – 4164
  3. Mark Martin – 4053
  4. Darrell Waltrip – 3971
  5. Ken Schrader – 3876
  6. Bill Elliott – 3774
  7. Harry Gant – 3610
  8. Ricky Rudd – 3608
  9. Geoffrey Bodine – 3600
  10. Terry Labonte – 3569
  11. Davey Allison – 3481
  12. Sterling Marlin – 3422
  13. Morgan Shepherd – 3403
  14. Alan Kulwicki – 3236
  15. Dick Trickle – 3203
  16. Bobby Hillin Jr. – 3139
  17. Rick Wilson – 3119
  18. Michael Waltrip – 3057
  19. Brett Bodine – 3051
  20. Neil Bonnett – 2995
  21. Phil Parsons – 2933
  22. Ernie Irvan – 2919
  23. Larry Pearson – 2860
  24. Dale Jarrett – 2789
  25. Dave Marcis – 2715
  26. Hut Stricklin – 2705
  27. Lake Speed – 2550
  28. Derrike Cope – 2180
  29. Richard Petty – 2148
  30. Kyle Petty – 2099
  31. Jimmy Means – 1698
  32. Greg Sacks – 1565
  33. Jim Sauter – 1510
  34. Jimmy Spencer – 1445
  35. Rick Mast – 1315
  36. Eddie Bierschwale – 1306
  37. Ben Hess – 921
  38. Chad Little – 602
  39. Butch Miller – 576
  40. A. J. Foyt – 527
  41. Mickey Gibbs – 508
  42. Rodney Combs – 470
  43. Joe Ruttman – 469
  44. J. D. McDuffie – 457
  45. Phil Barkdoll – 378
  46. Jimmy Horton – 377
  47. Dick Johnson – 322
  48. Ken Bouchard – 313
  49. Terry Byers – 306
  50. Darin Brassfield – 306

    Winston Cup Standings

Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by final practice results or 1988 Owner's points. * – Most laps led.
#DriverMake
127Rusty WallacePontiac181*3118193110315222*2*172*3711*641*74*872*16154176
23Dale EarnhardtChevrolet332333161*28381*431718911317141*21*94210*2061*4164
36Mark MartinFord3353811463636231151216332920217223321*3304053
417Darrell WaltripChevrolet1291736281*51938323194216371*22618114203453971
525Ken SchraderChevrolet2*251519273214763337411367420112352431011341343876
69Bill ElliottFord35191110692220115832114*1121839247184154*6151273774
#DriverMake

Rookie of the Year

was named the 1989 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year, despite entering the competition in the second week of the season, replacing Mike Alexander at Stavola Brothers Racing. The top runner-up was former Dash champion Hut Stricklin, driving for returning car owner Rod Osterlund. Two-time Busch champion Larry Pearson and former modified driver Jimmy Spencer were the only other candidates to make a full schedule, as Rick Mast, Ben Hess, Chad Little, Butch Miller, and Mickey Gibbs all ran part-time.