1996 NASCAR Busch Series


The 1996 NASCAR Busch Series season began February 17 and ended November 3. Randy LaJoie of BACE Motorsports was crowned the series champion.

Teams and drivers

List of full-time teams at the start of 1996.
TeamCarDriverListed owner
Akins-Sutton MotorsportsFord Thunderbird38Dennis SetzerBob Sutton
American Equipment RacingChevrolet Monte Carlo95David GreenBuz McCall
BACE MotorsportsChevrolet Monte Carlo74Randy LaJoieBill Baumgardner
Beverly RacingChevrolet Monte Carlo25Johnny RumleyDon Beverly
Bown RacingChevrolet Monte Carlo51Jim BownDick Bown
Buckshot RacingFord Thunderbird00Buckshot JonesBilly Jones
Champion RacingFord Thunderbird26Derrike CopeLeon Fox
Curb RacingFord Thunderbird96Stevie ReevesMike Curb
Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet Monte Carlo3Jeff GreenDale Earnhardt
Diamond Ridge MotorsportsChevrolet Monte Carlo29Steve GrissomGary Bechtel
Ridling MotorsportsChevrolet Monte Carlo88Pete Orr 'David Ridling
Henderson Brothers RacingFord Thunderbird75Doug HeveronCharlie Henderson
Hensley MotorsportsChevrolet Monte Carlo63Curtis MarkhamHubert Hensley
Isenhower Brothers RacingFord Thunderbird32Dale JarrettHorace Isenhower
J & J RacingChevrolet Monte Carlo99Glenn Allen Jr. 'Bill Papke
Joe Bessey MotorsportsChevrolet Monte Carlo9Joe BesseyNancy Bessey
KEL RacingChevrolet Monte Carlo57Jason KellerJoe Keller
Labonte MotorsportsChevrolet Monte Carlo5Terry Labonte
Labonte MotorsportsChevrolet Monte Carlo44Bobby Labonte
Lepage RacingChevrolet Monte Carlo71Kevin LepageKevin Lepage
Mark Rypien MotorsportsPontiac Grand Prix23Chad LittleMark Rypien
Martin RacingChevrolet Monte Carlo92Larry PearsonMac Martin
Michael Waltrip RacingFord Thunderbird12Michael WaltripBuffy Waltrip
MS RacingFord Thunderbird14Patty MoiseElton Sawyer
NorthStar MotorsportsFord Thunderbird98Jeremy MayfieldMeredith Ruark
Owen RacingFord Thunderbird90Mike WallaceBarry Owen
Parker RacingChevrolet Monte Carlo72Mike DillonRon Parker
Petty EnterprisesChevrolet Monte Carlo 16
Pontiac Grand Prix 9		43Rodney CombsRichard Petty
Phil Parsons RacingChevrolet Monte Carlo10Phil ParsonsMarcia Parsons
Phoenix RacingChevrolet Monte Carlo4Jeff PurvisJames Finch
Porter RacingFord Thunderbird48Randy PorterJames Porter
Pro Tech MotorsportsChevrolet Monte Carlo81Todd BodineRon Neal
Roush RacingFord Thunderbird60Mark MartinJack Roush
Sadler RacingChevrolet Monte Carlo1Hermie SadlerBell Sadler
Shoemaker RacingChevrolet Monte Carlo64Dick TrickleDennis Shoemaker
ST MotorsportsChevrolet Monte Carlo47Jeff FullerTad Geschickter
Stegall MotorsportsChevrolet Monte Carlo85Shane Hall Don Stegall
Taylor MotorsportsChevrolet Monte Carlo40Tim FedewaDoug Taylor
Team 34Chevrolet Monte Carlo34Mike McLaughlinFrank Cicci

Races

Goody's Headache Powder 300

The Goody's Headache Powder 300 was held February 17 at Daytona International Speedway. Jeff Purvis won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 29-Steve Grissom
  2. 32-Dale Jarrett
  3. 60-Mark Martin
  4. 92-Larry Pearson
  5. 63-Curtis Markham
  6. 43-Rodney Combs
  7. 74-Randy LaJoie
  8. 26-Derrike Cope
  9. 44-Bobby Labonte
  10. 20-Jimmy Spencer
The Goodwrench Service 200 was held February 24 at North Carolina Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 60-Mark Martin
  2. 34-Mike McLaughlin
  3. 4-Jeff Purvis
  4. 2-Ricky Craven
  5. 44-Bobby Labonte
  6. 95-David Green
  7. 74-Randy LaJoie
  8. 57-Jason Keller
  9. 5-Terry Labonte
  10. 81-Todd Bodine

    Hardee's Fried Chicken 250

The Hardee's Fried Chicken 250 was Held March 2 at Richmond International Raceway. Jeff Purvis won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 4-Jeff Purvis
  2. 87-Joe Nemechek
  3. 95-David Green
  4. 90-Mike Wallace
  5. 63-Curtis Markham
  6. 74-Randy LaJoie
  7. 57-Jason Keller
  8. 81-Todd Bodine
  9. 32-Dale Jarrett
  10. 5-Terry Labonte

    Busch Light 300

The Busch Light 300 was held March 9 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Dick Trickle won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 5-Terry Labonte
  2. 95-David Green
  3. 10-Phil Parsons
  4. 29-Steve Grissom
  5. 49-Stanton Barrett
  6. 43-Rodney Combs
  7. 60-Mark Martin
  8. 22-Ward Burton
  9. 44-Bobby Labonte
  10. 87-Joe Nemechek

    BellSouth / Opryland USA 320

The BellSouth / Opryland USA 320 was held March 17 at Nashville Speedway USA. Sterling Marlin won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 44-Bobby Labonte
  2. 95-David Green
  3. 10-Phil Parsons
  4. 5-Terry Labonte
  5. 63-Curtis Markham
  6. 87-Joe Nemechek
  7. 99-Glenn Allen Jr.
  8. 64-Dick Trickle
  9. 98-Jeremy Mayfield
  10. 55-Bobby Dotter

    Dura Lube 200 (March 23)

The Dura Lube 200 was held March 23 at Darlington Raceway. Jeff Green won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 60-Mark Martin
  2. 12-Michael Waltrip
  3. 5-Terry Labonte
  4. 2-Ricky Craven
  5. 44-Bobby Labonte
  6. 32-Dale Jarrett
  7. 29-Steve Grissom
  8. 81-Todd Bodine
  9. 64-Dick Trickle
  10. 22-Ward Burton

    Goody's Headache Powder 250

The Goody's Headache Powder 250 was held March 30 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Chad Little won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 60-Mark Martin
  2. 3-Jeff Green
  3. 8-Kenny Wallace
  4. 10-Phil Parsons
  5. 29-Steve Grissom
  6. 74-Randy LaJoie
  7. 95-David Green
  8. 64-Dick Trickle
  9. 90-Mike Wallace
  10. 47-Jeff Fuller

    Sundrop 300

The Sundrop 300 was held April 6 at Hickory Motor Speedway. David Green won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 95-David Green
  2. 1-Hermie Sadler
  3. 74-Randy LaJoie
  4. 57-Jason Keller
  5. 81-Todd Bodine
  6. 51-Jimmy Spencer
  7. 3-Jeff Green
  8. 88-Kevin Lepage
  9. 63-Curtis Markham
  10. 92-Larry Pearson

    Meridian Advantage 200

The Meridian Advantage 200 was held May 19 at Nazareth Speedway. David Green won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 74-Randy LaJoie*
  2. 95-David Green
  3. 3-Jeff Green
  4. 64-Dick Trickle
  5. 57-Jason Keller
  6. 6-Tommy Houston
  7. 88-Kevin Lepage
  8. 40-Tim Fedewa
  9. 81-Todd Bodine
  10. 99-Glenn Allen Jr.
Shane Hall flipped in this race.
The Red Dog 300 was held May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dale Jarrett won the pole. Future Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth made his debut.
Top ten results
  1. 60-Mark Martin
  2. 64-Dick Trickle
  3. 44-Bobby Labonte
  4. 5-Terry Labonte
  5. 74-Randy LaJoie
  6. 32-Dale Jarrett
  7. 26-Derrike Cope
  8. 87-Joe Nemechek
  9. 90-Mike Wallace
  10. 22-Ward Burton

    GM Goodwrench/Delco 200

The GM Goodwrench/Delco 200 was held June 1 at Dover International Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 74-Randy LaJoie
  2. 2-Ricky Craven
  3. 5-Terry Labonte
  4. 95-David Green
  5. 90-Mike Wallace
  6. 32-Dale Jarrett
  7. 3-Jeff Green
  8. 10-Phil Parsons
  9. 92-Larry Pearson
  10. 1-Hermie Sadler

    Winston Motorsports 300

The Winston Motorsports 300 was held June 8 at South Boston Speedway. Randy LaJoie won the pole. Mike Harmon would make his NASCAR debut in this race
Top ten results
  1. 81-Todd Bodine
  2. 34-Mike McLaughlin
  3. 3-Jeff Green
  4. 92-Larry Pearson
  5. 74-Randy LaJoie
  6. 63-Curtis Markham
  7. 1-Hermie Sadler
  8. 23-Chad Little
  9. 88-Kevin Lepage
  10. 72-Mike Dillon

    Carolina Pride / Red Dog 250

The Carolina Pride / Red Dog 250 was held June 22 at Myrtle Beach Speedway. David Green won the pole. This race marked the NASCAR debut of Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving the #31 Chevrolet. Earnhardt started 7th and finished 14th.
Top ten results
  1. 95-David Green
  2. 4-Jeff Purvis
  3. 57-Jason Keller
  4. 88-Kevin Lepage
  5. 3-Jeff Green
  6. 34-Mike McLaughlin
  7. 64-Dick Trickle
  8. 43-Dennis Setzer
  9. 63-Curtis Markham
  10. 37-Mark Green

    Lysol 200

The Lysol 200 was held June 30 at Watkins Glen International Raceway. David Green won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 5-Terry Labonte
  2. 81-Todd Bodine
  3. 34-Mike McLaughlin
  4. 44-Bobby Labonte
  5. 95-David Green
  6. 3-Jeff Green
  7. 20-Jimmy Spencer
  8. 23-Chad Little
  9. 8-Kenny Wallace
  10. 57-Jason Keller

    Sears Auto Center 250

The Sears Auto Center 250 was held July 7 at The Milwaukee Mile. Hermie Sadler won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 00-Buckshot Jones
  2. 34-Mike McLaughlin
  3. 74-Randy LaJoie
  4. 8-Kenny Wallace
  5. 44-Bobby Labonte
  6. 75-Doug Heveron
  7. 3-Jeff Green
  8. 6-Tommy Houston
  9. 47-Jeff Fuller
  10. 57-Jason Keller
The Stanley 200 was held July 12 at New Hampshire International Speedway. David Green won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 74-Randy LaJoie
  2. 5-Terry Labonte
  3. 95-David Green
  4. 3-Jeff Green
  5. 44-Bobby Labonte
  6. 1-Hermie Sadler
  7. 81-Todd Bodine
  8. 57-Jason Keller
  9. 34-Mike McLaughlin
  10. 90-Mike Wallace

    Humminbird Fishfinder 500K

The Humminbird Fishfinder 500K was held July 27 at Talladega Superspeedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 29-Greg Sacks
  2. 87-Joe Nemechek
  3. 74-Randy LaJoie
  4. 5-Terry Labonte
  5. 12-Michael Waltrip
  6. 4-Jeff Purvis
  7. 64-Dick Trickle
  8. 47-Jeff Fuller
  9. 88-Kevin Lepage
  10. 95-David Green

    Kroger 200

The Kroger 200 was held August 2 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Randy LaJoie won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 74-Randy LaJoie
  2. 34-Mike McLaughlin
  3. 95-David Green
  4. 40-Tim Fedewa
  5. 32-Dale Jarrett
  6. 43-Dennis Setzer
  7. 4-Jeff Purvis
  8. 64-Dick Trickle
  9. 00-Buckshot Jones
  10. 11-Tracy Leslie

    Detroit Gasket 200

The Detroit Gasket 200 was held August 16 at Michigan International Speedway. Ricky Craven won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 4-Jeff Purvis
  2. 88-Kevin Lepage
  3. 5-Terry Labonte
  4. 60-Mark Martin
  5. 2-Ricky Craven
  6. 44-Bobby Labonte
  7. 95-David Green
  8. 28-Hut Stricklin
  9. 29-Elliott Sadler
  10. 74-Randy LaJoie

    Food City 250

The Food City 250 was held August 23 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Jeff Fuller won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 47-Jeff Fuller
  2. 32-Dale Jarrett
  3. 10-Phil Parsons
  4. 20-Jimmy Spencer
  5. 12-Michael Waltrip
  6. 26-Derrike Cope
  7. 63-Curtis Markham
  8. 3-Jeff Green
  9. 57-Jason Keller
  10. 5-Terry Labonte
The Dura Lube 200 was held August 31 at Darlington Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 5-Terry Labonte
  2. 60-Mark Martin
  3. 64-Dick Trickle
  4. 95-David Green
  5. 74-Randy LaJoie
  6. 2-Ricky Craven
  7. 3-Jeff Green
  8. 32-Dale Jarrett
  9. 88-Kevin Lepage
  10. 6-Tommy Houston

    Autolite Platinum 250

The Autolite Platinum 250 was held September 8 at Richmond International Raceway. Michael Waltrip won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 8-Kenny Wallace
  2. 95-David Green
  3. 23-Chad Little
  4. 60-Mark Martin
  5. 64-Dick Trickle
  6. 4-Jeff Purvis
  7. 98-Jeremy Mayfield
  8. 74-Randy LaJoie
  9. 44-Bobby Labonte
  10. 5-Terry Labonte

    MBNA 200

The MBNA 200 was held September 14 at Dover International Speedway. Ricky Craven won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 74-Randy LaJoie
  2. 32-Dale Jarrett
  3. 10-Phil Parsons
  4. 5-Terry Labonte
  5. 2-Ricky Craven
  6. 34-Mike McLaughlin
  7. 29-Elliott Sadler
  8. 38-Elton Sawyer
  9. 23-Chad Little
  10. 1-Hermie Sadler

    All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300

The All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 was held October 5 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 60-Mark Martin
  2. 44-Bobby Labonte
  3. 92-Sterling Marlin
  4. 23-Chad Little
  5. 34-Mike McLaughlin
  6. 74-Randy LaJoie
  7. 88-Kevin Lepage
  8. 3-Jeff Green
  9. 20-Jimmy Spencer
  10. 57-Jason Keller

    AC-Delco 200

The AC-Delco 200 was held October 19 at North Carolina Speedway. Buckshot Jones won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 60-Mark Martin
  2. 32-Dale Jarrett
  3. 2-Ricky Craven
  4. 34-Mike McLaughlin
  5. 95-David Green
  6. 5-Terry Labonte
  7. 88-Kevin Lepage
  8. 3-Jeff Green
  9. 74-Randy LaJoie
  10. 23-Chad Little

    Jiffy Lube Miami 300

The Jiffy Lube Miami 300 was held November 3 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 88-Kevin Lepage
  2. 44-Bobby Labonte
  3. 60-Mark Martin
  4. 87-Joe Nemechek
  5. 29-Elliott Sadler
  6. 20-Jimmy Spencer
  7. 23-Chad Little
  8. 81-Todd Bodine
  9. 95-David Green
  10. 74-Randy LaJoie
  1. Randy LaJoie - 3714
  2. David Green - 3685
  3. Todd Bodine - 3064
  4. Jeff Green - 3059
  5. Chad Little - 2984
  6. Jason Keller - 2900
  7. Jeff Purvis - 2894
  8. Kevin Lepage - 2870
  9. Phil Parsons - 2854
  10. Mike McLaughlin - 2853
  11. Curtis Markham - 2838
  12. Dick Trickle - 2728
  13. Terry Labonte - 2699
  14. Glenn Allen Jr. - 2593
  15. Hermie Sadler - 2588
  16. Larry Pearson - 2471
  17. Jeff Fuller - 2399
  18. Rodney Combs - 2396
  19. Bobby Labonte - 2374
  20. Tim Fedewa - 2320
  21. Mark Martin - 2186
  22. Dale Jarrett - 2109
  23. Mike Dillon - 1945
  24. Bobby Dotter - 1832
  25. Buckshot Jones - 1708
  26. Mike Wallace - 1664
  27. Dennis Setzer - 1567
  28. Tommy Houston - 1563
  29. Ricky Craven - 1503
  30. Doug Heveron - 1488
  31. Patty Moise - 1458
  32. Jimmy Spencer - 1392
  33. Jim Bown - 1346
  34. Michael Waltrip - 1342
  35. Elliott Sadler - 1301
  36. Stevie Reeves - 1290
  37. Randy Porter - 1283
  38. Joe Nemechek - 1282
  39. Elton Sawyer - 1217
  40. Derrike Cope - 1200
  41. Kenny Wallace - 1189
  42. Shane Hall - 1175
  43. Jeremy Mayfield - 1051
  44. Joe Bessey - 1023
  45. Steve Grissom - 1005
  46. Mark Green - 947
  47. Ward Burton - 919
  48. Hut Stricklin - 791
  49. Tony Stewart - 753
  50. Tracy Leslie - 645

    Rookie of the Year

Former short track racer Glenn Allen Jr. was named Rookie of the Year in 1996, posting two top-ten finishes early in the season, as well as being of only two full-time contenders for the award. Mike Dillon was the other, finishing 23rd in points. Shane Hall, Mark Green and Tony Stewart were the other contenders, all running part-time schedules.