1996 DieHard 500

18th race of the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series February 2025 NASWINSTON 4.28 The 1996 DieHard 500 program cover, featuring Sterling Marlin. 49.779 Hendrick Motorsports Jeff Gordon 100,000 Ken Squier, Ned Jarrett, Buddy Baker Motor Racing Network CBS Richard Childress Racing 24 40 Dale Earnhardt Jeremy Mayfield 133.387 mph km/h Lincoln, Alabama, Talladega Superspeedway Cale Yarborough Motorsports 804.8 552.230 129 188 500.08 31 18 DieHard 500 2.66 1996 7 28 1996 343.14 28th Annual DieHard 500 1996 DieHard 500.jpeg The 1996 DieHard 500 was the 18th stock car race of the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 28th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 28, 1996, before an audience of 100,000 in Lincoln, Alabama at Talladega Superspeedway, a 2.66 mi km permanent triangle-shaped superspeedway. The race was shortened from its scheduled 188 laps to 129 laps due to darkness caused by rain delays and lengthy crash cleanups. At race's end, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would manage to avoid numerous crashes and stay in front when the race was eventually called to take his 15th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series and his sixth victory of the season.Harris Mike July 29, 1993 Gordon triumphs as Earnhardt escapes serious injury 11 Messenger-Inquirer https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115981208/gordon-triumphs-as-earnhardt-escapes/ January 7, 2023 Newspapers.com McCollister Tom July 29, 1996 Gordon first; Earnhardt injured 23 The Atlanta Constitution https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116000953/gordon-first-earnhardt-injured/ January 8, 2023 Newspapers.com To fill out the top three, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett and Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would finish second and third, respectively. On lap 117, a major crash involving 13 drivers, including the drivers of Dale Earnhardt and Sterling Marlin, would occur on the track's frontstretch. Marlin would be spun by hitting Ernie Irvan's front bumper, sending him into Earnhardt. Earnhardt would proceed to crash violently into the outside wall, sending Earnhardt into a flip before landing on all four wheels. In the midst of the chaos, others would be involved in the accident, with many placing blame on Irvan and Marlin for the crash. In the process, Earnhardt would be transported to the Carraway Methodist Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama where he was diagnosed with a broken sternum and a broken left collarbone.Higgins Tom July 29, 1996 Opinions differ on cause of crash 20 The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116001369/opinions-differ-on-cause-of-crash/ January 8, 2023 Newspapers.com Background thumb|The layout of Talladega Superspeedway, the venue where the race was held. Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a tri-oval and was constructed in the 1960s by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line that's located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and the Camping World Truck Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66 mi km mid -long tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which also is a 2.5 mi km mid -long tri-oval. Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. #DriverTeamMake1Rick MastPrecision Products RacingPontiac2Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFord3Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet4Sterling MarlinMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet6Mark MartinRoush RacingFord7Geoff BodineGeoff Bodine RacingFord8Hut StricklinStavola Brothers RacingFord9Lake SpeedMelling RacingFord10Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord11Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord12Derrike CopeBobby Allison MotorsportsFord15Wally Dallenbach Jr.Bud Moore EngineeringFord16Ted MusgraveRoush RacingFord17Darrell WaltripDarrell Waltrip MotorsportsChevrolet18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet19Loy Allen Jr.TriStar MotorsportsFord21Michael WaltripWood Brothers RacingFord22Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiac23Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet25Ken SchraderHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet28Ernie IrvanRobert Yates RacingFord29Greg SacksDiamond Ridge MotorsportsChevrolet30Johnny Benson Jr. (R)Bahari RacingPontiac33Robert PressleyLeo Jackson MotorsportsChevrolet37Jeremy MayfieldKranefuss-Haas RacingFord41Ricky CravenLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet42Kyle PettyTeam SABCOPontiac43Bobby HamiltonPetty EnterprisesPontiac44Jeff PurvisPhoenix RacingChevrolet71Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet75Morgan ShepherdButch Mock MotorsportsFord77Bobby Hillin Jr.Jasper MotorsportsFord81Kenny WallaceFILMAR RacingFord87Joe NemechekNEMCO MotorsportsChevrolet88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord90Dick TrickleDonlavey RacingFord94Bill ElliottBill Elliott RacingFord95Gary BradberrySadler Brothers RacingFord97Chad LittleMark Rypien MotorsportsPontiac98Jeremy MayfieldCale Yarborough MotorsportsFord99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord Qualifying Qualifying was originally scheduled split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, July 26, at 4:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 25 drivers in the round would be guaranteed a starting spot in the race.July 26, 1996 DieHard 500 22 The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116001824/diehard-500/ January 8, 2023 Newspapers.com However, on Saturday, July 27, rain would eventually force the cancellation of second-round qualifying, and the decision was made that positions 26-38 would be determined by their first round qualifying speeds 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 four provisionals 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.Higgins Tom July 28, 1996 Mayfield has pole for Talladega race, but it may not help 118 The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116002093/mayfield-has-pole-for-talladega-race/ January 8, 2023 Newspapers.com Jeremy Mayfield, driving for Cale Yarborough Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 49.779 and an average speed of 192.370 mph km/h in the first round.Harris Mike July 27, 1996 Little-known Mayfield wins first Winston Cup pole 40 The Stuart News https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116002261/little-known-mayfield-wins-first/ January 8, 2023 Newspapers.com Chad Little was the only driver to fail to qualify. Full qualifying results Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed198Jeremy MayfieldCale Yarborough MotorsportsFord49.779192.370224Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.027191.417388Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord50.113191.08843Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50.187190.80659Lake SpeedMelling RacingFord50.262190.522628Ernie IrvanRobert Yates RacingFord50.291190.412799Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord50.315190.32186Mark MartinRoush RacingFord50.411189.959917Darrell WaltripDarrell Waltrip MotorsportsChevrolet50.423189.9131030Johnny Benson Jr. (R)Bahari RacingPontiac50.467189.7481190Dick TrickleDonlavey RacingFord50.472189.7291281Kenny WallaceFILMAR RacingFord50.514189.571131Rick MastPrecision Products RacingPontiac50.546189.4511433Robert PressleyLeo Jackson MotorsportsChevrolet50.598189.2561523Jimmy SpencerTravis Carter EnterprisesFord50.603189.238164Sterling MarlinMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet50.620189.1741716Ted MusgraveRoush RacingFord50.645189.0811842Kyle PettyTeam SABCOPontiac50.654189.0471937John AndrettiKranefuss-Haas RacingFord50.654189.0472044Jeff PurvisPhoenix RacingChevrolet50.661189.0212171Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet50.709188.8422221Michael WaltripWood Brothers RacingFord50.723188.7902312Derrike CopeBobby Allison MotorsportsFord50.735188.7452418Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet50.736188.742258Hut StricklinStavola Brothers RacingFord50.737188.7382625Ken SchraderHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.769188.6192741Ricky CravenLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.779188.5822810Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord50.809188.471295Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.847188.3303077Bobby Hillin Jr.Jasper MotorsportsFord50.866188.2593119Loy Allen Jr.TriStar MotorsportsFord50.877188.219322Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFord50.902188.1263322Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiac50.908188.1043429Greg SacksDiamond Ridge MotorsportsChevrolet50.925188.0413515Wally Dallenbach Jr.Bud Moore EngineeringFord50.949187.9533675Morgan ShepherdButch Mock MotorsportsFord50.957187.9233743Bobby HamiltonPetty EnterprisesPontiac50.982187.8313895Gary BradberrySadler Brothers RacingFord51.008187.735Provisionals3994Bill ElliottBill Elliott RacingFord51.447186.133407Geoff BodineGeoff Bodine RacingFord51.055187.5624111Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord51.064187.5294287Joe NemechekNEMCO MotorsportsChevrolet51.104187.383Failed to qualify4397Chad LittleMark Rypien MotorsportsPontiac51.155187.196Official first round qualifying resultsOfficial starting lineup Race Rain Delay The race was due to start at 12:15pm CST but rain delayed the start time to 3:35pm and ran eleven laps before rain red flagged the race at 4:09pm with the race restarting at 4:32pm and the race starting at 4:36pm on lap thirteen. Race Start The Big Ones Lap 103 John Andretti tried to get inside of Dale Jarrett but Andretti who had a loose car all day spun and collected Brett Bodine, Ricky Rudd, Joe Nemechek had a flat tyre but was able to continue. Lap 116 On lap 116, Earnhardt was leading with Marlin on his outside and Irvan behind him, the big one happened when Irvan got into Marlin which led him to turn into Earnhardt. Earnhardt was hit in the roof by Derrike Cope and on the side by Robert Pressley. The accident also collected Terry Labonte, Mark Martin, Lake Speed, Brett Bodine, Wally Dallenbach, Jr., Ward Burton, Ken Schrader, Greg Sacks and Ricky Craven. Martin had a puncture and Irvan had right front fender damage but both stayed on the lead lap, Craven fell a lap down and Bodine fell three laps down. The race was red flagged on lap 118 to clear up the cars of Earnhardt, Marlin, Pressley, Labonte, Speed, Burton, Schrader, Craven, and Dallenbach, Jr did not restart the race. Earnhardt was then sent to hospital with a broken collarbone and sternum. Finish With light fading, NASCAR elected to shorten the race with a five lap shootout from the green flag on lap 125. Gordon would win from Jarrett. The race would be completed by 7:05pm Race results FinSt#DriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings1224Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet12937running180$272,5502388Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord1295running175$55,070386Mark MartinRoush RacingFord1297running170$53,9804628Ernie IrvanRobert Yates RacingFord1291running165$44,45551523Jimmy SpencerTravis Carter EnterprisesFord1290running155$50,0256407Geoff BodineGeoff Bodine RacingFord1290running150$40,1757799Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord1290running146$23,47582418Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet1290running142$33,4259917Darrell WaltripDarrell Waltrip MotorsportsChevrolet1290running138$27,79510322Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFord1290running134$31,925112171Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet1293running135$19,955121842Kyle PettyTeam SABCOPontiac1290running127$26,575133994Bill ElliottBill Elliott RacingFord1290running124$26,255143675Morgan ShepherdButch Mock MotorsportsFord1290running121$18,985154287Joe NemechekNEMCO MotorsportsChevrolet1290running118$26,71016198Jeremy MayfieldCale Yarborough MotorsportsFord12912running120$24,375173743Bobby HamiltonPetty EnterprisesPontiac1280running112$25,110181030Johnny Benson Jr. (R)Bahari RacingPontiac1280running109$25,905192741Ricky CravenLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet1280running106$24,625201281Kenny WallaceFILMAR RacingFord1270running103$19,085213119Loy Allen Jr.TriStar MotorsportsFord1260running100$17,005224111Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord1260running97$23,595233895Gary BradberrySadler Brothers RacingFord1210running94$13,49524295Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1200crash91$29,715253429Greg SacksDiamond Ridge MotorsportsChevrolet1190crash88$23,335262625Ken SchraderHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1190crash85$23,060272312Derrike CopeBobby Allison MotorsportsFord1170crash82$22,4902843Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet11740crash89$31,02029164Sterling MarlinMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet11719crash81$29,4503059Lake SpeedMelling RacingFord1170crash73$19,830311433Robert PressleyLeo Jackson MotorsportsChevrolet1171crash75$19,690323515Wally Dallenbach Jr.Bud Moore EngineeringFord1170crash67$19,620333322Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiac1170crash64$27,54034258Hut StricklinStavola Brothers RacingFord1140running61$12,495353077Bobby Hillin Jr.Jasper MotorsportsFord1130running58$12,465361716Ted MusgraveRoush RacingFord1130running55$19,420372810Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord1130running52$27,406381190Dick TrickleDonlavey RacingFord1090crash49$12,250391937John AndrettiKranefuss-Haas RacingFord1024crash51$19,250402044Jeff PurvisPhoenix RacingChevrolet860engine43$12,25041131Rick MastPrecision Products RacingPontiac850running40$19,250422221Michael WaltripWood Brothers RacingFord160engine37$19,250Failed to qualify4397Chad LittleMark Rypien MotorsportsPontiacOfficial race results Media Television The Diehard 500 was covered by CBS in the United States. Ken Squier, two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Ned Jarrett and 1975 race winner Buddy Baker called the race from the broadcast booth. Mike Joy, David Hobbs and Dick Berggren handled pit road for the television side. Due to the rain delay, CBS aired Golf instead but aired the race as an abridge broadcast on August 4, the day after the 1996 Brickyard 400. This would be the last race David Hobbs would work with CBS as he would leave for Speedvision to cover their Formula One races. CBS Booth announcers Pit reporters Lap-by-lap Color-commentators Ken Squier Ned Jarrett Buddy Baker Mike Joy David Hobbs Dick Berggren References 1996 Miller 500 (Pocono) 1996 Brickyard 400 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series DieHard 500 DieHard 500 Category:NASCAR races at Talladega Superspeedway Category:July 1996 sports events in the United States