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1991 Hanes 500

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1991 Hanes 500
Race details
Race 8 of 29 in the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1991 Hanes 500 program cover, featuring Geoff Bodine.
The 1991 Hanes 500 program cover, featuring Geoff Bodine.
Date April 28, 1991
Official name 42nd Annual Hanes 500
Location Martinsville, Virginia, Martinsville Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
0.526 mi (0.847 km)
Distance 500 laps, 263 mi (423.257 km)
Scheduled Distance 500 laps, 263 mi (423.257 km)
Average speed 75.139 miles per hour (120.924 km/h)
Attendance 44,000
Pole position
Driver Roush Racing
Time 20.594
Most laps led
Driver Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing
Laps 251
Winner
No. 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 1991 Hanes 500 was the eighth stock car race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 42nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 28, 1991, before an audience of 44,000 in Martinsville, Virginia at Martinsville Speedway, a 0.526 miles (0.847 km) permanent oval-shaped short track. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. With the assist of a late caution, on the final restart with 38 laps to go in the race, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would manage to mount a late-race charge to the lead on the ensuing restart to take his 50th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season.[1][2][3] To fill out the top three, SABCO Racing driver Kyle Petty and owner-driver Darrell Waltrip would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

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The layout of Martinsville Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

Martinsville Speedway is an NASCAR-owned stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At 0.526 miles (0.847 km) in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only remaining race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Oldsmobile Skoal
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Pontiac Miller Genuine Draft
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
4 Ernie Irvan Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Folgers
7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford Hooters
8 Rick Wilson Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Snickers
9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford Coors Light
10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet Purolator Filters
11 Geoff Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford Budweiser
12 Hut Stricklin Bobby Allison Motorsports Buick Raybestos
15 Morgan Shepherd Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft
17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet Western Auto
19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford Tyson Foods
20 Bobby Hillin Jr. Moroso Racing Oldsmobile Rob Moroso Memorial
21 Dale Jarrett Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Sterling Marlin Junior Johnson & Associates Ford Maxwell House
24 Mickey Gibbs Team III Racing Pontiac Team III Racing
25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kodiak
26 Brett Bodine King Racing Buick Quaker State
28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Pennzoil
33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal Bandit
34 Dick Trickle AAG Racing Buick Allen's Glass
42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac Mello Yello
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Alka-Seltzer
55 Ted Musgrave (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac U.S. Racing
66 Lake Speed Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac Phillips 66 TropArtic
68 Bobby Hamilton (R) TriStar Motorsports Oldsmobile Country Time
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Big Apple Market
75 Joe Ruttman RahMoc Enterprises Oldsmobile Dinner Bell Foods
76 Bill Sedgwick Spears Motorsports Chevrolet Spears Manufacturing
94 Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Sunoco
98 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Chevrolet Banquet Foods

Qualifying

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Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, April 27, at 3:00 PM EST. Originally, the first 20 positions were going to be determined by first round qualifying, with positions 21-30 meant to be determined the following day on Saturday, April 28.[4] However, due to rain, the second round was cancelled. As a result, the rest of the starting lineup was set using the results from the first round. 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. If needed, a past champion who did not qualify on either time or provisionals could use a champion's provisional, adding one more spot to the field.[5]

Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 20.594 and an average speed of 91.949 miles per hour (147.978 km/h).[6]

Five drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 20.594 91.949
2 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Oldsmobile 20.647 91.713
3 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 20.656 91.673
4 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Oldsmobile 20.690 91.522
5 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Pontiac 20.725 91.368
6 19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford 20.787 91.095
7 21 Dale Jarrett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 20.817 90.964
8 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 20.840 90.864
9 4 Ernie Irvan Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 20.853 90.807
10 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 20.890 90.646
11 20 Bobby Hillin Jr. Moroso Racing Oldsmobile 20.900 90.603
12 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 20.900 90.603
13 94 Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 20.922 90.508
14 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 20.945 90.408
15 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Buick 20.952 90.378
16 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 20.958 90.352
17 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 20.969 90.305
18 11 Geoff Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 20.972 90.292
19 75 Joe Ruttman RahMoc Enterprises Oldsmobile 20.973 90.288
20 76 Bill Sedgwick Spears Motorsports Chevrolet 21.009 90.133
21 12 Hut Stricklin Bobby Allison Motorsports Buick 21.027 90.056
22 5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.030 90.043
23 22 Sterling Marlin Hendrick Motorsports Ford 21.050 89.957
24 34 Dick Trickle AAG Racing Buick 21.056 89.932
25 24 Mickey Gibbs Team III Racing Pontiac 21.065 89.893
26 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.115 89.680
27 66 Lake Speed Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 21.123 89.646
28 98 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Chevrolet 21.126 89.634
29 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 21.148 89.540
30 55 Ted Musgrave (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 21.212 89.270
Provisionals
31 15 Morgan Shepherd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 21.254 89.094
32 8 Rick Wilson Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 21.225 89.216
Failed to qualify
33 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet 21.241 89.148
34 68 Bobby Hamilton (R) TriStar Motorsports Oldsmobile 21.255 89.090
35 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 21.339 88.739
36 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 21.416 88.420
37 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac - -
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 10 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 500 251 running 185 $63,600
2 17 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 500 10 running 175 $29,625
3 16 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 500 0 running 165 $16,150
4 15 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Buick 500 0 running 160 $15,550
5 2 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Oldsmobile 499 129 running 160 $17,625
6 28 98 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Chevrolet 499 0 running 150 $12,350
7 29 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 499 0 running 146 $11,100
8 26 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 499 110 running 147 $16,350
9 8 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 497 0 running 138 $12,500
10 21 12 Hut Stricklin Bobby Allison Motorsports Buick 496 0 running 134 $13,000
11 22 5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 496 0 running 130 $10,985
12 7 21 Dale Jarrett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 495 0 running 127 $7,900
13 4 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Oldsmobile 495 0 running 124 $8,200
14 12 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 495 0 running 121 $7,500
15 9 4 Ernie Irvan Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 491 0 running 118 $10,950
16 19 75 Joe Ruttman RahMoc Enterprises Oldsmobile 487 0 running 115 $7,200
17 11 20 Bobby Hillin Jr. Moroso Racing Oldsmobile 487 0 running 112 $5,400
18 27 66 Lake Speed Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 487 0 running 109 $7,355
19 20 76 Bill Sedgwick Spears Motorsports Chevrolet 466 0 running 106 $3,700
20 18 11 Geoff Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 460 0 transmission 103 $12,000
21 5 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Pontiac 458 0 transmission 100 $3,750
22 32 8 Rick Wilson Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 453 0 running 97 $5,650
23 3 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 444 0 running 94 $6,525
24 30 55 Ted Musgrave (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 442 0 running 91 $5,175
25 25 24 Mickey Gibbs Team III Racing Pontiac 414 0 running 88 $3,250
26 14 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 411 0 running 85 $9,750
27 6 19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford 408 0 running 82 $3,650
28 23 22 Sterling Marlin Hendrick Motorsports Ford 402 0 running 79 $2,900
29 1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 293 0 overheating 76 $13,500
30 31 15 Morgan Shepherd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 276 0 transmission 73 $9,450
31 13 94 Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 126 0 overheating 70 $4,850
32 24 34 Dick Trickle AAG Racing Buick 12 0 overheating 67 $2,750
Failed to qualify
33 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet
34 68 Bobby Hamilton (R) TriStar Motorsports Oldsmobile
35 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
36 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac
37 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 29, 1991). "Pieces all fall into place for Earnhardt (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 21. Retrieved February 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 29, 1991). "Pieces all fall into place for Earnhardt (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 23. Retrieved February 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ Harris, Mike (April 29, 1991). "Earnhardt claims 50th". The Clarksdale Press Register. p. 6. Retrieved February 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ "NASCAR today". The Charlotte Observer. April 26, 1991. p. 45. Retrieved February 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 28, 1991). "Confident Bodine has longtime love affair with Martinsville track". The Charlotte Observer. p. 110. Retrieved February 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ Harris, Mike (April 27, 1991). "Martin says Martinsville pole puts team on track". Messenger-Inquirer. p. 31. Retrieved February 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
Previous race:
1991 First Union 400
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1991 season
Next race:
1991 Winston 500