1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

Teams and drivers

Complete schedule

Schedule

Races

Busch Clash

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 26-Brett Bodine
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 28-Ernie Irvan
5. 6-Mark Martin
6. 42-Kyle Petty
7. 11-Bill Elliott
8. 25-Ken Schrader
9. 2-Rusty Wallace
10. 33-Harry Gant

• Two days earlier, during practice, Neil Bonnett died of massive head injuries after his car had a tire failure in turn 3 and hit the wall head-on.
• The day after this race, Rodney Orr died of massive head and chest injuries after his car lifted at over 175 mph and slammed into the outside retaining wall and catch fence, with the caution light piercing through the roof.

  Gatorade 125s

1. 28-Ernie Irvan
2. 2-Rusty Wallace
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 5-Terry Labonte
5. 75-Todd Bodine
6. 25-Ken Schrader
7. 14-John Andretti
8. 97-Chad Little
9. 54-Robert Pressley
10. 27-Jimmy Spencer

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 4-Sterling Marlin
3. 24-Jeff Gordon
4. 11-Bill Elliott
5. 26-Brett Bodine
6. 21-Morgan Shepherd
7. 30-Michael Waltrip
8. 98-Derrike Cope
9. 43-Wally Dallenbach Jr.
10. 10-Ricky Rudd

    Daytona 500

1. 4-Sterling Marlin
2. 28-Ernie Irvan
3. 5-Terry Labonte
4. 24-Jeff Gordon
5. 21-Morgan Shepherd
6. 77-Greg Sacks
7. 3-Dale Earnhardt
8. 10-Ricky Rudd
9. 11-Bill Elliott
10. 25-Ken Schrader

• Sterling Marlin becomes the 5th driver to score his first career win in the Daytona 500.
• First career win in 279 starts for Sterling Marlin after finishing 2nd 8 times, tying Bill Elliott for most 2nd place finishes before 1st career win.
• This was the first points Cup race when cars were mandated to have roof flaps after Rusty Wallace had violently flipped at both Daytona & Talladega in 1993.

  Goodwrench 500

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 4-Sterling Marlin
3. 1-Rick Mast
4. 6-Mark Martin, 1 lap down
5. 28-Ernie Irvan, 1 lap down
6. 26-Brett Bodine, 1 lap down
7. 3-Dale Earnhardt, 1 lap down
8. 42-Kyle Petty, 2 laps down
9. 25-Ken Schrader, 3 laps down
10. 30-Michael Waltrip, 3 laps down

• Jerry Hill may have made a second attempt for James Hylton's entry.

  Pontiac Excitement 400

1. 28-Ernie Irvan
2. 2-Rusty Wallace
3. 24-Jeff Gordon
4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
5. 42-Kyle Petty
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 1-Rick Mast
8. 26-Brett Bodine
9. 5-Terry Labonte
10. 18-Dale Jarrett, 1 lap down

• Dave Marcis served as a broadcaster for TBS Sports after failing to qualify.
• Terry Labonte started 37th as he withdrew his time & took a champions provisional to allow Ricky Rudd to qualify on his time as Rudd's time would not have been fast enough and his new team had no owners points from the previous season and he would not have been eligible for a provisional. Rudd would finish 2 laps down in 18th.

  Purolator 500

1. 28-Ernie Irvan
2. 21-Morgan Shepherd
3. 17-Darrell Waltrip
4. 8-Jeff Burton
5. 6-Mark Martin, 1 lap down
6. 15-Lake Speed, 1 lap down
7. 77-Greg Sacks, 1 lap down
8. 24-Jeff Gordon, 2 laps down
9. 10-Ricky Rudd, 2 laps down
10. 27-Jimmy Spencer, 2 laps down

• First career top 5 for Jeff Burton.

  TranSouth Financial 400

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 11-Bill Elliott
4. 18-Dale Jarrett
5. 15-Lake Speed
6. 28-Ernie Irvan
7. 25-Ken Schrader
8. 33-Harry Gant, 1 lap down
9. 10-Ricky Rudd, 1 lap down
10. 16-Ted Musgrave, 1 lap down

Food City 500

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 25-Ken Schrader
3. 15-Lake Speed
4. 7-Geoffrey Bodine, 1 lap down
5. 30-Michael Waltrip, 3 laps down
6. 22-Bobby Labonte, 4 laps down
7. 2-Rusty Wallace, 6 laps down
8. 4-Sterling Marlin, 9 laps down
9. 40-Bobby Hamilton, 12 laps down
10. 71-Dave Marcis*, 14 laps down

• Several accidents caused the big gaps among the top ten cars.
• Dave Marcis' Final Top 10 Finish.
• Final time in his career that Dale Earnhardt would win back-to-back races.

  First Union 400

1. 5-Terry Labonte
2. 2-Rusty Wallace
3. 28-Ernie Irvan
4. 42-Kyle Petty
5. 3-Dale Earnhardt
6. 10-Ricky Rudd
7. 7-Geoffrey Bodine, 1 lap down
8. 33-Harry Gant, 1 lap down
9. 25-Ken Schrader, 2 laps down
10. 1-Rick Mast, 3 laps down

• This was Terry Labonte's first win since the 1989 Talladega DieHard 500 and his 1st victory for Hendrick Motorsports.

  Hanes 500

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 28-Ernie Irvan
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 17-Darrell Waltrip
5. 21-Morgan Shepherd
6. 75-Todd Bodine
7. 12-Chuck Bown
8. 1-Rick Mast, 1 lap down
9. 11-Bill Elliott, 1 lap down
10. 16-Ted Musgrave, 1 lap down

Winston Select 500

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 28-Ernie Irvan
3. 30-Michael Waltrip
4. 27-Jimmy Spencer
5. 25-Ken Schrader
6. 77-Greg Sacks
7. 15-Lake Speed
8. 4-Sterling Marlin
9. 21-Morgan Shepherd
10. 29-Steve Grissom

• During the race, a scary crash occurred just after halfway when Mark Martin's #6 car, without brakes, hit the inside retaining wall and crashed through two guardrails, through a catchfence and into a third guardrail. He was only slightly injured.
• After the race, Earnhardt dedicated his win to fallen Formula One driver Ayrton Senna, who died earlier in the day at the San Marino Grand Prix.

  Save Mart Supermarkets 300

1. 28-Ernie Irvan
2. 7-Geoffrey Bodine
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 43-Wally Dallenbach Jr.
5. 2-Rusty Wallace
6. 16-Ted Musgrave
7. 21-Morgan Shepherd
8. 6-Mark Martin
9. 25-Ken Schrader
10. 33-Harry Gant

Coca-Cola 600

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 2-Rusty Wallace
3. 7-Geoffrey Bodine
4. 18-Dale Jarrett
5. 28-Ernie Irvan
6. 10-Ricky Rudd
7. 33-Harry Gant, 1 lap down
8. 75-Todd Bodine, 2 laps down
9. 3-Dale Earnhardt, 3 laps down
10. 30-Michael Waltrip, 3 laps down

• This was Jeff Gordon's first Winston Cup victory. The 22-year-old driver benefited from all the wrecks that day to score his first win. The rising young star cried in Victory Lane.
• John Andretti, who finished 10th in the Indianapolis 500 earlier that day, finished the 600 in 36th. He became the first driver to run both races in the same day.

  Budweiser 500

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 28-Ernie Irvan
3. 25-Ken Schrader
4. 6-Mark Martin
5. 24-Jeff Gordon
6. 17-Darrell Waltrip, 1 lap down
7. 30-Michael Waltrip, 1 lap down
8. 4-Sterling Marlin, 2 laps down
9. 23-Hut Stricklin, 2 laps down
10. 43-Wally Dallenbach Jr., 3 laps down

UAW-GM Teamwork 500

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 25-Ken Schrader
4. 21-Morgan Shepherd
5. 6-Mark Martin
6. 24-Jeff Gordon
7. 28-Ernie Irvan
8. 26-Brett Bodine
9. 1-Rick Mast
10. 11-Bill Elliott

• On leaders lap 58 Chuck Bown was injured in a crash with Sterling Marlin and was out for the season.

  Miller Genuine Draft 400

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 10-Ricky Rudd
5. 21-Morgan Shepherd
6. 25-Ken Schrader
7. 41-Joe Nemechek
8. 30-Michael Waltrip
9. 16-Ted Musgrave
10. 17-Darrell Waltrip

• Tim Steele replaced the injured Chuck Bown in the No. 12 for Bobby Allison Motorsports. However he would fall out of the race after completing 61 of 200 laps due to a crash and finished 39th.

  Pepsi 400

1. 27-Jimmy Spencer
2. 28-Ernie Irvan
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 6-Mark Martin
5. 25-Ken Schrader
6. 7-Geoffrey Bodine
7. 75-Todd Bodine
8. 24-Jeff Gordon
9. 21-Morgan Shepherd
10. 15-Lake Speed

• Jimmy Spencer passed Ernie Irvan on the last lap to score his first Winston Cup win.

  Slick 50 300

1. 10-Ricky Rudd
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 2-Rusty Wallace
4. 6-Mark Martin
5. 75-Todd Bodine
6. 21-Morgan Shepherd
7. 16-Ted Musgrave
8. 42-Kyle Petty
9. 1-Rick Mast
10. 4-Sterling Marlin

• Ricky Rudd scored the first win for his own team, Rudd Performance Motorsports.

  Miller Genuine Draft 500

1. 7-Geoffrey Bodine
2. 31-Ward Burton
3. 41-Joe Nemechek
4. 8-Jeff Burton
5. 21-Morgan Shepherd
6. 10-Ricky Rudd
7. 3-Dale Earnhardt
8. 24-Jeff Gordon, 1 lap down
9. 2-Rusty Wallace, 1 lap down
10. 18-Dale Jarrett, 1 lap down

• This was Geoffrey Bodine's 1st points race victory as an owner/driver. He had won The Winston Select non-points race back in May.

  DieHard 500

1. 27-Jimmy Spencer
2. 11-Bill Elliott
3. 28-Ernie Irvan
4. 25-Ken Schrader
5. 4-Sterling Marlin
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 10-Ricky Rudd
8. 43-Wally Dallenbach Jr.
9. 44-Kenny Wallace
10. 5-Terry Labonte

• Buzz Aldrin, one of the first humans to walk on the moon, served as the grand marshal for this race. Instead of the traditional command to start engines, he said "Drivers, energize your groundcraft."

  Brickyard 400

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 26-Brett Bodine
3. 11-Bill Elliot
4. 2-Rusty Wallace
5. 3-Dale Earnhardt
6. 17-Darrell Waltrip
7. 25-Ken Schrader
8. 30-Michael Waltrip
9. 75-Todd Bodine
10. 21-Morgan Shepard

• Ernie Irvan was holding off Jeff Gordon up until 5 to go when his right front tire cut down and Gordon took the lead, Irvan would finish 1 lap down in 17th as a result.
• "Years from today, when 79 stock car races have been run here, we'll remember the name Jeff Gordon, winner of the inaugural Brickyard 400!" - Bob Jenkins talking as Jeff Gordon crossed the start/finish line to win the race.

  The Bud At The Glen

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 28-Ernie Irvan
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 25-Ken Schrader
5. 10-Ricky Rudd
6. 5-Terry Labonte
7. 17-Darrell Waltrip
8. 41-Joe Nemechek
9. 24-Jeff Gordon
10. 33-Harry Gant

• Derrike Cope made his debut in the No. 12 Ford after Tim Steele was fired after failing to qualify for the previous Saturday's Brickyard 400.
• Unbeknownst to all, this would be Ernie Irvan's last race until late 1995.

  GM Goodwrench Dealer 400">3M Performance 400">GM Goodwrench Dealer 400

1. 7-Geoffrey Bodine
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 1-Rick Mast
4. 2-Rusty Wallace
5. 22-Bobby Labonte
6. 42-Kyle Petty
7. 11-Bill Elliott, 1 lap down
8. 5-Terry Labonte, 1 lap down
9. 17-Darrell Waltrip, 1 lap down
10. 10-Ricky Rudd, 1 lap down

• During the weekend for this race, Ernie Irvan wrecked his No. 28 in Turn 2 for a practice run, and suffered near-fatal head, chest, and lung injuries. The team withdrew from the race.
• Other changes included John Andretti replacing Wally Dallenbach Jr. in the No. 43 Pontiac at Petty Enterprises and started on the front row for the first time since Richard Petty did in 1992 at Daytona.

  Goody's 500">Sharpie 500">Goody's 500

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 17-Darrell Waltrip
5. 11-Bill Elliott
6. 4-Sterling Marlin
7. 30-Michael Waltrip
8. 75-Todd Bodine
9. 33-Harry Gant, 1 lap down
10. 1-Rick Mast, 1 lap down

• Kenny Wallace began his duties driving in substitution for the injured Ernie Irvan, a role that lasted the rest of the season.

  Mountain Dew Southern 500">Southern 500 (1950-2004)">Mountain Dew Southern 500

1. 11-Bill Elliott
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 21-Morgan Shepherd
4. 10-Ricky Rudd
5. 4-Sterling Marlin
6. 24-Jeff Gordon, 1 lap down
7. 2-Rusty Wallace, 1 lap down
8. 8-Jeff Burton, 1 lap down
9. 18-Dale Jarrett, 2 laps down
10. 5-Terry Labonte, 2 laps down

• Final win for Junior Johnson's legendary race team.
• 40th career Winston Cup Series win for Bill Elliott. This would be Bill's first win since the season finale at Atlanta in November 1992, breaking a 53 race winless streak. This would also be Bill's last win until November 2001 at Homestead, 7 years, and 226 races later. As of 2020, the 226 race winless streak is the longest drought in NASCAR history.

  [Chevy [Rock and Roll 400|Miller Genuine Draft 400]]

1. 5-Terry Labonte
2. 24-Jeff Gordon
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 2-Rusty Wallace
5. 10-Ricky Rudd
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 29-Steve Grissom
8. 26-Brett Bodine, 1 lap down
9. 25-Ken Schrader, 1 lap down
10. 17-Darrell Waltrip, 1 lap down

• Jeff Burton's time was disallowed after his car failed post-qualifying inspection.

  SplitFire Spark Plug 500">AAA 400">SplitFire Spark Plug 500

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 17-Darrell Waltrip
4. 25-Ken Schrader
5. 7-Geoffrey Bodine
6. 42-Kyle Petty
7. 5-Terry Labonte
8. 29-Steve Grissom, 1 lap down
9. 15-Lake Speed, 1 lap down
10. 21-Morgan Shepherd, 1 lap down

• Mark Martin was leading with 6 laps to go when he tangled with the lapped car of Ricky Rudd. Rusty Wallace assumed the lead and soon had a blown tire. The race finished under caution and Wallace kept the lead.

  Goody's 500">Subway 500">Goody's 500

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 11-Bill Elliott
4. 28-Kenny Wallace
5. 18-Dale Jarrett
6. 25-Ken Schrader
7. 4-Sterling Marlin, 1 lap down
8. 33-Harry Gant, 1 lap down
9. 16-Ted Musgrave, 1 lap down
10. 17-Darrell Waltrip, 1 lap down

• 8th and final win of 1994 for Rusty Wallace. This marked back-to-back seasons for Rusty Wallace winning the most races in a season, but unfortunately, even though he scored most wins in back-to-back seasons, a major lack of consistency in both years kept him from winning back-to-back Winston Cup Championships.
• Last carrer Top 10 for Harry Gant.

  [Tyson Holly Farms 400]

1. 7-Geoffrey Bodine
2. 5-Terry Labonte, 1 lap down
3. 1-Rick Mast, 1 lap down
4. 2-Rusty Wallace, 1 lap down
5. 6-Mark Martin, 2 laps down
6. 11-Bill Elliott, 2 laps down
7. 3-Dale Earnhardt, 2 laps down
8. 24-Jeff Gordon, 2 laps down
9. 16-Ted Musgrave, 3 laps down
10. 28-Kenny Wallace, 3 laps down

• This is the last time that a driver won a Winston Cup race by a lap or more.

  Mello Yello 500">Bank of America 500">Mello Yello 500

1. 18-Dale Jarrett
2. 21-Morgan Shepherd
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 25-Ken Schrader
5. 15-Lake Speed
6. 26-Brett Bodine
7. 5-Terry Labonte
8. 12-Derrike Cope
9. 17-Darrell Waltrip
10. 30-Michael Waltrip, accident

• Dale Jarrett won after failing to qualify for the previous race at North Wilkesboro. This would be the first time that a driver failed to qualify for a race, and then go on to win the next race.
• Former NASCAR Winston Cup champion Cale Yarborough served as a commentator for TBS.

  [AC Delco 500]

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 1-Rick Mast
3. 21-Morgan Shepherd
4. 10-Ricky Rudd
5. 5-Terry Labonte
6. 11-Bill Elliott
7. 6-Mark Martin
8. 32-Dick Trickle
9. 31-Ward Burton, 1 lap down
10. 15-Lake Speed, 1 lap down

• Dale Earnhardt clinched his 7th and final NASCAR Winston Cup Championship with 2 races to go, tying him with Richard Petty for most championships of all time. In the Bob Latford Winston Cup points system, a driver can clinch the championship with 2 races to go if he has a 370+ point lead over 2nd, and Dale Earnhardt did just that by having a 448 point lead over Rusty Wallace at the end of the race. This would become the 4th and final time in Bob Latford's Winston Cup points system that a driver would clinch the Winston Cup Championship with 2 or more races to go. Earnhardt had already joined Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough when he won the title with 2 races to go in 1987, but as of 2018, the 1994 and 7th championship would make Dale Earnhardt the only driver in NASCAR history to clinch the title twice with 2 races to go. In 1987, his 1st accomplishment, Dale clinched his 3rd championship with 2 races to go by 515 points over Bill Elliott. In 1978, Cale Yarborough clinched his 3rd consecutive Winston Cup Championship with 2 races to go by 396 points over Bobby Allison, but in 1975 however, Richard Petty clinched his 6th championship with 4 races to go because his point lead was 740+ over 2nd. His margin was 827 points over James Hylton. Petty's championship win with 4 races to go is the earliest for a driver to clinch a championship in NASCAR history. Also as of 2018, this feat can never happen again due to several changes in the points system after 2003.
• As of 2019, Dale Earnhardt is the only driver in NASCAR history to win 7 championships under one points system.

  Slick 50 500">Checker Auto Parts 500">Slick 50 500

1. 5-Terry Labonte
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 4-Sterling Marlin
4. 24-Jeff Gordon, 1 lap down
5. 16-Ted Musgrave, 1 lap down
6. 42-Kyle Petty, 1 lap down
7. 10-Ricky Rudd, 1 lap down
8. 7-Geoffrey Bodine, 1 lap down
9. 18-Dale Jarrett, 2 laps down
10. 17-Darrell Waltrip, 2 laps down

• The final 189 laps of the race were all under green-flag conditions, causing the unusual gaps among the lead cars.
• First time in his career that Terry Labonte won 3 races in a season.
• Even though he clinched the championship the week before at Rockingham, Dale Earnhardt would blow an engine at lap 91, causing him to finish 40th.

  Hooters 500">Pep Boys Auto 500">Hooters 500

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 75-Todd Bodine
4. 15-Lake Speed
5. 90-Mike Wallace
6. 21-Morgan Shepherd
7. 12-Derrike Cope, 1 lap down
8. 5-Terry Labonte, 2 laps down
9. 18-Dale Jarrett, 2 laps down
10. 30-Michael Waltrip, 2 laps down

• Dale Earnhardt would officially win his 7th and final NASCAR Winston Cup championship by 444 points over Mark Martin, the 4th largest point margin in Bob Latford's Winston Cup points system history. The largest point margin in the Winston Cup points system was back in 1975, when Richard Petty won his 6th championship by 722 points over Dave Marcis, the 2nd largest point margin was in 1987, when Earnhardt himself won his 3rd title by 489 points over Bill Elliott, and the 3rd largest point margin was in 1978, when Cale Yarborough won his 3rd consecutive Winston Cup Championship by 474 points over Bobby Allison.
• Todd Bodine's best career Winston Cup finish.
• Mike Wallace's first top 5 finish in the Cup Series.
• Jimmy Means' last start in the Cup Series as an owner, with Gary Bradberry driving. Bradberry would finish 52 laps down in 30th.
• Harry Gant's last race in the Cup Series. He would sadly complete only 257 out of 328 laps finishing 33rd due to an oil pan failure.

  Final points standings

Full Top 50

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt – 4694
2. 6-Mark Martin – 4250
3. 2-Rusty Wallace – 4207
4. 25-Ken Schrader – 4060
5. 10-Ricky Rudd – 4050
6. 21-Morgan Shepherd – 4029
7. 5-Terry Labonte – 3876
8. 24-Jeff Gordon – 3776
9. 17-Darrell Waltrip – 3688
10. 11-Bill Elliott – 3617
11. 15-Lake Speed – 3565
12. 30-Michael Waltrip – 3512
13. 16-Ted Musgrave – 3477
14. 4-Sterling Marlin – 3443
15. 42-Kyle Petty – 3339
16. 18-Dale Jarrett – 3298
17. 7-Geoffrey Bodine – 3297
18. 1-Rick Mast – 3238
19. 26-Brett Bodine – 3159
20. 75-Todd Bodine – 3048
21. 22-Bobby Labonte – 3038
22. 28-Ernie Irvan – 3026
23. 40-Bobby Hamilton – 2749
24. 8-Jeff Burton – 2726
25. 33-Harry Gant – 2720
26. 23-Hut Stricklin – 2711
27. 41-Joe Nemechek – 2673
28. 29-Steve Grissom – 2660
29. 27-Jimmy Spencer – 2613
30. 12-Derrike Cope – 2612
31. 77-Greg Sacks – 2593
32. 43-John Andretti – 2299
33. 90-Mike Wallace – 2191
34. 32-Dick Trickle – 2019
35. 31-Ward Burton – 1971
36. 71-Dave Marcis – 1910
37. 98-Jeremy Mayfield – 1673
38. 43-Wally Dallenbach Jr. – 1493
39. 19-Loy Allen Jr. – 1468
40. 28-Kenny Wallace – 1413
41. 55-Jimmy Hensley – 1394
42. 12-Chuck Bown – 1211
43. 9-Rich Bickle – 849
44. 20-Bobby Hillin Jr. – 749
45. 53-Brad Teague – 548
46. 51-Jeff Purvis – 484
47. 47-Billy Standridge – 404
48. 02-Randy LaJoie – 312
49. 61-Rick Carelli – 283
50. Phil Parsons – 243

    Rookie of the Year