1988 First Union 400

June 2023 Seventh race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series NASWINSTON 1988 7 29 1988_First_Union_400.jpeg The 1988 First Union 400 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt and Richard Childress. 38th Annual First Union 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina 400 0.625 1.006 250 402.336 99.075 mph km/h Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates 19.178 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing 235 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates ESPN Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Gary Nelson 400 250 402.336 Motor Racing Network First Union 400 April 17 33,000 The 1988 First Union 400 was the seventh stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 38th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 17, 1988, before an audience of 33,000 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina at the North Wilkesboro Speedway, a 0.625 mi km oval short track. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. Taking advantage of a misfortunate Dale Earnhardt, who had suffered a leaking tire late in the race, Junior Johnson & Associates driver Terry Labonte would manage to pass for the lead with 13 laps left in the race, maintaining the lead to take the victory. The victory was Labonte's ninth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season.Higgins Tom April 18, 1988 Labonte Takes N. Wilkesboro (Part 1) 49 The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-labonte-takes-n/127430229/ July 1, 2023 Newspapers.com Higgins Tom April 18, 1988 Labonte Takes N. Wilkesboro (Part 2) 51 The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-labonte-takes-n/127430262/ July 1, 2023 Newspapers.com Mulhurn Mike April 18, 1988 Labonte Wins First Of Season (Part 1) 13 Winston-Salem Journal https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-labonte-wins-first/127430698/ July 1, 2023 Newspapers.com Mulhurn Mike April 18, 1988 Labonte Wins First Of Season (Part 2) 18 Winston-Salem Journal https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-labonte-wins-first/127430740/ July 1, 2023 Newspapers.com To fill out the top three, King Racing driver Ricky Rudd and the aforementioned Dale Earnhardt would finish second and third, respectively. Background thumb|300x300px|The layout of North Wilkesboro Speedway, the venue where the race was held North Wilkesboro Speedway is a short oval racetrack located on U.S. Route 421, about five miles east of the town of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, or 80 miles north of Charlotte. It measures 0.625 mi km on and features a unique uphill backstretch and downhill frontstretch. It has previously held races in NASCAR's top three series, including 93 Winston Cup Series races. The track, a NASCAR original, operated from 1949, NASCAR's inception, until the track's original closure in 1996. The speedway briefly reopened in 2010 and hosted several stock car series races before closing again in the spring of 2011. It was re-opened in August 2022 for grassroots racing. Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. #DriverTeamMakeSponsor00Gary BrooksBrooks RacingChevroletBrooks Racing2Ernie Irvan (R)U.S. RacingChevroletKroger3Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevroletGM Goodwrench4Rick WilsonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsOldsmobileKodak04Bill MeachamMeacham RacingOldsmobileMeacham Racing5Geoff BodineHendrick MotorsportsChevroletLevi Garrett6Mark MartinRoush RacingFordStroh's Light7Alan KulwickiAK RacingFordZerex8Bobby Hillin Jr.Stavola Brothers RacingBuickMiller High Life9Bill ElliottMelling RacingFordCoors Light09Doug FrenchCaragias RacingChevroletCaragias Racing10Ken Bouchard (R)Whitcomb RacingChevroletWhitcomb Racing11Terry LabonteJunior Johnson & AssociatesChevroletBudweiser12Bobby AllisonStavola Brothers RacingBuickMiller High Life15Brett BodineBud Moore EngineeringFordCrisco17Darrell WaltripHendrick MotorsportsChevroletTide20Alan RussellRussell RacingChevroletRussell Racing21Kyle PettyWood Brothers RacingFordCitgo25Ken SchraderHendrick MotorsportsChevroletFolgers26Ricky RuddKing RacingBuickQuaker State27Rusty WallaceBlue Max RacingPontiacKodiak28Davey AllisonRanier-Lundy RacingFordTexaco, Havoline29Dale JarrettCale Yarborough MotorsportsOldsmobileHardee's30Michael WaltripBahari RacingPontiacCountry Time31Brad TeagueBob Clark MotorsportsOldsmobileSlender You Figure Salons33Harry GantMach 1 RacingChevroletSkoal Bandit43Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiacSTP44Sterling MarlinHagan RacingOldsmobilePiedmont Airlines46Glenn MoffatMoffat RacingChevroletMoffat Racing52Jimmy MeansJimmy Means RacingChevroletEureka55Phil ParsonsJackson Bros. MotorsportsOldsmobileSkoal, Crown Central Petroleum67Rick JeffreyArrington RacingChevroletPannill Sweatshirts68Derrike CopeTesta RacingFordPurolator70Jeff McDuffieMcDuffie RacingPontiacRumple Furniture71Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevroletLifebuoy75Neil BonnettRahMoc EnterprisesPontiacValvoline78Jay SommersSommers RacingChevroletDoe & Associates83Lake SpeedSpeed RacingOldsmobileWynn's, Kmart88Buddy BakerBaker–Schiff RacingOldsmobileRed Baron Frozen Pizza90Benny ParsonsDonlavey RacingFordBull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce97Rodney CombsWinkle MotorsportsBuickAC Spark Plug98Brad Noffsinger (R)Curb RacingBuickSunoco Qualifying Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, April 14, at 3:00 pm EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 10 drivers in the round would be guaranteed a starting spot in the race. If a driver was not able to guarantee a spot in the first round, they had the option to scrub their time from the first round and try and run a faster lap time in a second round qualifying run, held on Saturday, April 15, at 12:15 pm EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 11-30 would be decided on time,April 15, 1988 NASCAR Today 27 The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-nascar-today/127433139/ July 1, 2023 Newspapers.com and 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. Terry Labonte, driving for Junior Johnson & Associates, would win the pole, setting a time of 19.178 and an average speed of 117.322 mph km/h in the first round.Higgins Tom April 16, 1988 Labonte Leads N. Wilkesboro Speed Spree (Part 1) 21 The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-labonte-leads-n/127433445/ July 1, 2023 Newspapers.com Higgins Tom April 16, 1988 Labonte Leads N. Wilkesboro Speed Spree (Part 2) 27 The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-labonte-leads-n/127433491/ July 1, 2023 Newspapers.com Ten drivers would fail to qualify. Full qualifying results Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed111Terry LabonteJunior Johnson & AssociatesChevrolet19.178117.32229Bill ElliottMelling RacingFord19.185117.279327Rusty WallaceBlue Max RacingPontiac19.198117.20046Mark MartinRoush RacingFord19.215117.096525Ken SchraderHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet19.232116.993621Kyle PettyWood Brothers RacingFord19.262116.810726Ricky RuddKing RacingBuick19.266116.786875Neil BonnettRahMoc EnterprisesPontiac19.268116.774943Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac19.272116.750103Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet19.313116.502Failed to lock in Round 11190Benny ParsonsDonlavey RacingFord19.331116.3931255Phil ParsonsJackson Bros. MotorsportsOldsmobile19.343116.321135Geoff BodineHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet19.360116.2191430Michael WaltripBahari RacingPontiac19.365116.1891533Harry GantMach 1 RacingChevrolet19.379116.105167Alan KulwickiAK RacingFord19.392116.0271715Brett BodineBud Moore EngineeringFord19.397115.9971817Darrell WaltripHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet19.406115.9441971Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet19.407115.9382028Davey AllisonRanier-Lundy RacingFord19.419115.8662129Dale JarrettCale Yarborough MotorsportsOldsmobile19.425115.8302244Sterling MarlinHagan RacingOldsmobile19.448115.693232Ernie Irvan (R)U.S. RacingPontiac19.456115.6462468Derrike CopeTesta RacingFord19.482115.4912597Rodney CombsWinkle MotorsportsBuick19.503115.3672683Lake SpeedSpeed RacingOldsmobile19.510115.3252712Bobby AllisonStavola Brothers RacingBuick19.514115.302284Rick WilsonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsOldsmobile19.562115.0192952Jimmy MeansJimmy Means RacingPontiac19.596114.8193088Buddy BakerBaker–Schiff RacingOldsmobile19.713114.138Provisionals318Bobby Hillin Jr.Stavola Brothers RacingBuick -* -*3210Ken Bouchard (R)Whitcomb RacingChevrolet -* -*Failed to qualify3331Brad TeagueBob Clark MotorsportsOldsmobile -* -*3498Brad Noffsinger (R)Curb RacingBuick -* -*3578Jay SommersSommers RacingChevrolet -* -*3609Doug FrenchCaragias RacingChevrolet -* -*3704Bill MeachamMeacham RacingOldsmobile -* -*3867Rick JeffreyArrington RacingChevrolet -* -*3946Glenn MoffatMoffat RacingChevrolet -* -*4070Jeff McDuffieMcDuffie RacingPontiac -* -*4100Gary BrooksBrooks RacingChevrolet -* -*4220Alan RussellRussell RacingChevrolet -* -*Official first round qualifying resultsOfficial starting lineup Race results FinSt#DriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings1111Terry LabonteJunior Johnson & AssociatesChevrolet400142running180$48,0502726Ricky RuddKing RacingBuick4003running175$21,0253103Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet400235running175$22,1154327Rusty WallaceBlue Max RacingPontiac4000running160$14,6505621Kyle PettyWood Brothers RacingFord4000running155$12,9656943Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac3980running150$9,56071255Phil ParsonsJackson Bros. MotorsportsOldsmobile3980running146$6,76082028Davey AllisonRanier-Lundy RacingFord3980running142$10,7159135Geoff BodineHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3980running138$5,6101029Bill ElliottMelling RacingFord39719running139$12,01011525Ken SchraderHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3970running130$7,280121533Harry GantMach 1 RacingChevrolet3970running127$5,105131715Brett BodineBud Moore EngineeringFord3970running124$9,130141817Darrell WaltripHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3960running121$7,47515167Alan KulwickiAK RacingFord3960running118$5,330162244Sterling MarlinHagan RacingOldsmobile3960running115$4,580171190Benny ParsonsDonlavey RacingFord3950running112$4,45518318Bobby Hillin Jr.Stavola Brothers RacingBuick3940running109$5,38019875Neil BonnettRahMoc EnterprisesPontiac3941running111$8,330202712Bobby AllisonStavola Brothers RacingBuick3930running103$8,805212129Dale JarrettCale Yarborough MotorsportsOldsmobile3930running100$1,510222468Derrike CopeTesta RacingFord3920running97$3,785232597Rodney CombsWinkle MotorsportsBuick3910running94$2,68524232Ernie Irvan (R)U.S. RacingPontiac3900running91$2,860251971Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet3880running88$3,660262683Lake SpeedSpeed RacingOldsmobile3840running85$1,485273210Ken Bouchard (R)Whitcomb RacingChevrolet3840running82$1,66028284Rick WilsonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsOldsmobile3810running79$1,9852946Mark MartinRoush RacingFord3270running76$1,335302952Jimmy MeansJimmy Means RacingPontiac2630brakes73$2,760313088Buddy BakerBaker–Schiff RacingOldsmobile1300rear end70$2,810321430Michael WaltripBahari RacingPontiac240engine67$4,760Failed to qualify3331Brad TeagueBob Clark MotorsportsOldsmobile3498Brad Noffsinger (R)Curb RacingBuick3578Jay SommersSommers RacingChevrolet3609Doug FrenchCaragias RacingChevrolet3704Bill MeachamMeacham RacingOldsmobile3867Rick JeffreyArrington RacingChevrolet3946Glenn MoffatMoffat RacingChevrolet4070Jeff McDuffieMcDuffie RacingPontiac4100Gary BrooksBrooks RacingChevrolet4220Alan RussellRussell RacingChevroletOfficial race results Standings after the race Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 10px 1 Dale Earnhardt 1,059 10px 3 2 Rusty Wallace 1,006 (-53) 10px 2 3 Bill Elliott 999 (-60) 10px 2 4 Sterling Marlin 992 (–67) 10px 2 5 Neil Bonnett 979 (–80) 10px 6 Bobby Allison 943 (–116) 10px 7 Terry Labonte 932 (–127) 10px 3 8 Geoff Bodine 882 (–177) 10px 1 9 Ken Schrader 879 (–180) 10px 2 10 Darrell Waltrip 872 (–187)Official driver's standings Note: Only the first 10 positions are included for the driver standings. References 1988 Valleydale Meats 500 1988 Pannill Sweatshirts 500 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Category:1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Category:NASCAR races at North Wilkesboro Speedway Category:April 1988 sports events in the United States Category:1988 in sports in North Carolina