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1991 Valleydale Meats 500

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1991 Valleydale Meats 500
Race details
Race 6 of 29 in the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1991 Valleydale Meats 500 program cover.
The 1991 Valleydale Meats 500 program cover.
Date April 14, 1991
Official name 31st Annual Valleydale Meats 500
Location Bristol, Tennessee, Bristol Motor Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
0.533 mi (0.858 km)
Distance 500 laps, 266.5 mi (428.89 km)
Scheduled Distance 500 laps, 266.5 mi (428.89 km)
Average speed 72.809 miles per hour (117.175 km/h)
Attendance 58,300
Pole position
Driver Penske Racing South
Time 16.254
Most laps led
Driver Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 145
Winner
No. 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South
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 Valleydale Meats 500 was the sixth stock car race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 31st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 14, 1991, before an audience of 58,300 in Bristol, Tennessee, at Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. In a chaotic race, Penske Racing South driver Rusty Wallace would manage to come back from a two-lap deficit and hold off Morgan–McClure Motorsports driver Ernie Irvan to take his 19th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season.[1][2][3] To fill out the top three, the aforementioned Ernie Irvan and Robert Yates Racing driver Davey Allison would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

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

The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.

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
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 12, at 3:00 PM EST. Originally, the first 15 positions were going to be determined by first round qualifying, with positions 16-30 meant to be determined the following day on Saturday, April 13.[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]

Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske Racing South, would win the pole, setting a time of 16.254 and an average speed of 118.051 miles per hour (189.985 km/h).[6]

Three drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Pontiac 16.254 118.051
2 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 16.369 117.222
3 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 16.374 117.186
4 5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 16.385 117.107
5 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 16.391 117.064
6 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 16.407 116.950
7 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Buick 16.409 116.936
8 4 Ernie Irvan Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 16.418 116.872
9 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Oldsmobile 16.428 116.801
10 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Oldsmobile 16.435 116.751
11 11 Geoff Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 16.443 116.694
12 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 16.453 116.623
13 12 Hut Stricklin Bobby Allison Motorsports Buick 16.468 116.517
14 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 16.468 116.517
15 22 Sterling Marlin Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 16.482 116.418
Failed to lock in Round 1
16 8 Rick Wilson Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 16.503 116.270
17 24 Mickey Gibbs Team III Racing Pontiac 16.512 116.206
18 21 Dale Jarrett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 16.524 116.122
19 20 Bobby Hillin Jr. Moroso Racing Oldsmobile 16.584 115.702
20 98 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Chevrolet 16.596 115.618
21 34 Dick Trickle AAG Racing Buick 16.598 115.604
22 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 16.602 115.576
23 75 Joe Ruttman RahMoc Enterprises Oldsmobile 16.635 115.347
24 66 Lake Speed Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 16.635 115.347
25 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 16.665 115.140
26 15 Morgan Shepherd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 16.697 114.919
27 55 Ted Musgrave (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 16.704 114.871
28 68 Bobby Hamilton (R) TriStar Motorsports Oldsmobile 16.710 114.829
29 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 16.729 114.699
30 94 Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 16.780 114.350
Provisionals
31 19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford 16.835 113.977
32 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet 16.853 113.855
Champion's Provisional
33 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 16.917 113.424
Failed to qualify
34 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 16.820 114.078
35 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 17.359 110.536
36 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 17.626 108.862
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 1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Pontiac 500 104 running 180 $51,300
2 8 4 Ernie Irvan Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 500 73 running 175 $26,000
3 3 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 500 91 running 170 $18,950
5 4 5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 145 running 165 $37,950
4 6 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 500 42 running 165 $18,950
6 22 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 500 0 running 150 $7,525
7 18 21 Dale Jarrett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 500 0 running 146 $10,775
8 20 98 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Chevrolet 500 0 running 142 $10,175
9 30 94 Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 500 0 running 138 $9,575
10 26 15 Morgan Shepherd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 498 0 running 134 $14,275
11 10 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Oldsmobile 498 32 running 135 $9,375
12 27 55 Ted Musgrave (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 498 0 running 127 $8,275
13 23 75 Joe Ruttman RahMoc Enterprises Oldsmobile 498 0 running 124 $8,150
14 31 19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford 497 6 running 126 $6,400
15 19 20 Bobby Hillin Jr. Moroso Racing Oldsmobile 497 0 running 118 $6,800
16 13 12 Hut Stricklin Bobby Allison Motorsports Buick 496 0 running 115 $7,475
17 33 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 496 0 running 112 $7,225
18 9 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Oldsmobile 492 0 running 109 $7,025
19 17 24 Mickey Gibbs Team III Racing Pontiac 492 0 running 106 $4,665
20 2 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 484 0 running 103 $15,525
21 12 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 480 0 running 100 $10,125
22 7 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Buick 471 0 running 97 $6,675
23 25 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 463 0 running 94 $6,550
24 11 11 Geoff Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 461 0 running 91 $11,750
25 24 66 Lake Speed Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 455 0 running 88 $6,480
26 5 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 434 0 running 85 $9,875
27 15 22 Sterling Marlin Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 421 0 crash 82 $5,150
28 29 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 406 0 running 79 $9,800
29 14 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 314 7 crash 81 $6,220
30 21 34 Dick Trickle AAG Racing Buick 314 0 ignition 73 $4,025
31 28 68 Bobby Hamilton (R) TriStar Motorsports Oldsmobile 124 0 engine 70 $4,275
32 32 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet 80 0 crash 67 $11,125
33 16 8 Rick Wilson Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 78 0 overheating 64 $5,850
Failed to qualify
34 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
35 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac
36 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 15, 1991). "Bristol gets hot before Wallace gets by Irvan (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 18. Retrieved February 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 15, 1991). "Bristol gets hot before Wallace gets by Irvan (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 20. Retrieved February 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ Sharp, Tom (April 15, 1991). "New pit rules help Wallace claim Valleydale 500 victory". The Item. p. 11. Retrieved February 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ "NASCAR today". The Charlotte Observer. April 12, 1991. p. 41. Retrieved February 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ Martin, Gerald (April 14, 1991). "Wallace is ready for side-by-side start". The News and Observer. p. 27. Retrieved February 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ Sharp, Tom (April 13, 1991). "Rusty Wallace grabs pole for Sunday's NASCAR Valleydale 500". The Times and Democrat. p. 16. Retrieved February 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
Previous race:
1991 TranSouth 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1991 season
Next race:
1991 First Union 400