1988 AC Spark Plug 500

July 2023 16th race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series NASWINSTON 16th Annual AC Spark Plug 500 AC Spark Plug 500 57.269 1988 July 24 1988 AC Spark Plug 500.jpeg The 1988 AC Spark Plug 500 program cover. Melling Racing 29 16 Mike Joy, Ron Bouchard 122 Viewer's Choice (PPV) Motor Racing Network 122.866 mph km/h Morgan Shepherd Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Melling Racing RahMoc Enterprises 9 Long Pond, Pennsylvania, Pocono Raceway 804.672 804.672 500 200 200 4.0 2.5 500 70,000 The 1988 AC Spark Plug 500 was the 16th stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 16th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 24, 1988, before an audience of 70,000 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, at Pocono Raceway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) triangular permanent course. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end, Melling Racing driver Bill Elliott would manage to dominate a majority of the race, leading 122 laps to take his 27th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fourth victory of the season.Higgins Tom July 25, 1988 Elliott Wins At Pocono, Cuts Wallace's Lead (Part 1) 15 The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-elliott-wins-at-p/128095378/ July 13, 2023 Newspapers.com Higgins Tom July 25, 1988 Elliott Wins At Pocono, Cuts Wallace's Lead (Part 2) 18 The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-elliott-wins-at-p/128095398/ July 13, 2023 Newspapers.com Kracz Edward July 25, 1988 Easy win for Elliott at Pocono (Part 1) 21 The Philadelphia Inquirer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-easy-win-for-e/128187613/ July 13, 2023 Newspapers.com Kracz Edward July 25, 1988 Easy win for Elliott at Pocono (Part 2) 28 The Philadelphia Inquirer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-easy-win-for-e/128187637/ July 13, 2023 Newspapers.com To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports driver Ken Schrader and Ranier-Lundy Racing driver Davey Allison would finish second and third, respectively. This would also be the first televised NASCAR race to exclusively air on pay-per-view. Background thumb|The layout of Pocono International Raceway, the venue where the race was held. The race was held at Pocono International Raceway, which is a three-turn superspeedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The track hosts two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, as well as one Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series event. Until 2019, the track also hosted an IndyCar Series race. Pocono International Raceway is one of a very few NASCAR tracks not owned by either Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or International Speedway Corporation. It is operated by the Igdalsky siblings Brandon, Nicholas, and sister Ashley, and cousins Joseph IV and Chase Mattioli, all of whom are third-generation members of the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Joseph II and Rose Mattioli. Outside of the NASCAR races, the track is used throughout the year by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and motorcycle clubs as well as racing schools and an IndyCar race. The triangular oval also has three separate infield sections of racetrack – North Course, East Course and South Course. Each of these infield sections use a separate portion of the tri-oval to complete the track. During regular non-race weekends, multiple clubs can use the track by running on different infield sections. Also some of the infield sections can be run in either direction, or multiple infield sections can be put together – such as running the North Course and the South Course and using the tri-oval to connect the two. Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. #DriverTeamMakeSponsor2Ernie Irvan (R)U.S. RacingChevroletKroger3Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevroletGM Goodwrench Service4Rick WilsonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsOldsmobileKodak5Geoff BodineHendrick MotorsportsChevroletLevi Garrett6Mark MartinRoush RacingFordStroh Light7Alan KulwickiAK RacingFordZerex8Bobby Hillin Jr.Stavola Brothers RacingBuickMiller High Life9Bill ElliottMelling RacingFordCoors Light10Ken Bouchard (R)Whitcomb RacingFordWhitcomb Racing11Terry LabonteJunior Johnson & AssociatesChevroletBudweiser12Mike AlexanderStavola Brothers RacingBuickMiller High Life15Brett BodineBud Moore EngineeringFordCrisco16Bob SchachtChilson RacingFordEd Learn Ford17Darrell WaltripHendrick MotorsportsChevroletTide21Kyle PettyWood Brothers RacingFordCitgo23Eddie BierschwaleB&B RacingOldsmobileWayne Paging25Ken SchraderHendrick MotorsportsChevroletFolgers26Ricky RuddKing RacingBuickQuaker State27Rusty WallaceBlue Max RacingPontiacKodiak28Davey AllisonRanier-Lundy RacingFordHavoline29Dale JarrettCale Yarborough MotorsportsOldsmobileHardee's30Michael WaltripBahari RacingPontiacCountry Time31Joe RuttmanBob Clark MotorsportsOldsmobileSlender You Figure Salons33Harry GantMach 1 RacingChevroletSkoal Bandit40Ben HessHess RacingOldsmobileHess Racing43Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiacSTP44Sterling MarlinHagan RacingOldsmobilePiedmont Airlines48Tony SpanosHylton MotorsportsBuickHylton Motorsports50Greg SacksDingman Brothers RacingPontiacDingman Brothers Racing52Jimmy MeansJimmy Means RacingPontiacEureka55Phil ParsonsJackson Bros. MotorsportsOldsmobileCrown Central Petroleum, Skoal Classic64Mike PotterPotter RacingChevroletBullfrog Knits67Ron EsauArrington RacingFordPannill Sweatshirts68Derrike CopeTesta RacingFordPurolator Filters70J. D. McDuffieMcDuffie RacingPontiacRumple Furniture71Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevroletLifebuoy75Morgan ShepherdRahMoc EnterprisesPontiacValvoline80Jimmy Horton (R)S&H RacingFordS&H Racing83Lake SpeedSpeed RacingOldsmobileWynn's, Kmart85Bobby GerhartBobby Gerhart RacingChevroletJames Chevrolet88Buddy BakerBaker-Schiff RacingOldsmobileRed Baron Frozen Pizza90Benny ParsonsDonlavey RacingFordBull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce93Charlie BakerSalmon RacingChevroletSalmon Racing97Rodney CombsWinkle MotorsportsBuickAC Spark Plug98Brad Noffsinger (R)Curb RacingBuickSunoco Qualifying Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, July 22, at 3:00p.m. EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 15 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, July 23, at 10:30a.m. EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 16-40 would be decided on time,July 22, 1988 NASCAR today 25 The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-nascar-today/128095320/ July 13, 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 provisionals were given. Morgan Shepherd, driving for RahMoc Enterprises, would win the pole, setting a time of 57.269 and an average speed of 157.153 mph km/h in the first round.Higgins Tom July 23, 1988 Shepherd Wins Pocono Pole In Record 27 The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-shpeherd-wins-poc/128188501/ July 13, 2023 Newspapers.com Five drivers would fail to qualify. Full qualifying results Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed175Morgan ShepherdRahMoc EnterprisesPontiac57.269157.15329Bill ElliottMelling RacingFord57.485156.56337Alan KulwickiAK RacingFord57.496156.533425Ken SchraderHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet57.613156.21555Geoff BodineHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet57.632156.16366Mark MartinRoush RacingFord57.729155.901715Brett BodineBud Moore EngineeringFord57.857155.556844Sterling MarlinHagan RacingOldsmobile57.915155.40093Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet57.927155.3681017Darrell WaltripHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet57.985155.2131127Rusty WallaceBlue Max RacingPontiac58.019155.1221228Davey AllisonRanier-Lundy RacingFord58.049155.041134Rick WilsonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsOldsmobile58.094154.9211450Greg SacksDingman Brothers RacingPontiac58.148154.7771543Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac58.211154.610Failed to lock in Round 11683Lake SpeedSpeed RacingOldsmobile57.743155.8631711Terry LabonteJunior Johnson & AssociatesChevrolet58.289154.4031812Mike AlexanderStavola Brothers RacingBuick58.361154.2131968Derrike CopeTesta RacingFord58.378154.1682021Kyle PettyWood Brothers RacingFord58.382154.1572129Dale JarrettCale Yarborough MotorsportsOldsmobile58.450153.9782297Rodney CombsWinkle MotorsportsBuick58.463153.9442333Harry GantMach 1 RacingChevrolet58.567153.6702430Michael WaltripBahari RacingPontiac58.640153.4792526Ricky RuddKing RacingBuick58.715153.283268Bobby Hillin Jr.Stavola Brothers RacingBuick58.716153.2802723Eddie BierschwaleB&B RacingOldsmobile58.842152.9522831Joe RuttmanBob Clark MotorsportsOldsmobile58.964152.6362955Phil ParsonsJackson Bros. MotorsportsOldsmobile59.024152.4803010Ken Bouchard (R)Whitcomb RacingFord59.042152.4343190Benny ParsonsDonlavey RacingFord59.075152.3493288Buddy BakerBaker–Schiff RacingOldsmobile59.150152.1563371Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet59.185152.066342Ernie Irvan (R)U.S. RacingChevrolet59.284151.8123516Bob SchachtChilson RacingFord59.533151.1773680Jimmy Horton (R)S&H RacingFord59.557151.1163798Brad Noffsinger (R)Curb RacingBuick59.573151.0753852Jimmy MeansJimmy Means RacingPontiac59.879150.3033964Mike PotterPotter RacingChevrolet1:00.033149.9184085Bobby GerhartBobby Gerhart RacingChevrolet1:01.512146.313Failed to qualify4167Ron EsauArrington RacingFord -* -*4270J. D. McDuffieMcDuffie RacingPontiac -* -*4340Ben HessHess RacingOldsmobile -* -*4448Tony SpanosHylton MotorsportsBuick -* -*4593Charlie BakerSalmon RacingChevrolet -* -*Official first round qualifying resultsOfficial starting lineup Race results FinSt#DriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings129Bill ElliottMelling RacingFord200122running185$53,2002425Ken SchraderHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2005running175$30,72531228Davey AllisonRanier-Lundy RacingFord2000running165$26,275455Geoff BodineHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20028running165$17,77551017Darrell WaltripHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2006running160$17,9256175Morgan ShepherdRahMoc EnterprisesPontiac20013running155$16,600766Mark MartinRoush RacingFord2000running146$8,600837Alan KulwickiAK RacingFord2000running142$11,42591711Terry LabonteJunior Johnson & AssociatesChevrolet20015running143$13,775102333Harry GantMach 1 RacingChevrolet2008running139$10,0251193Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2000running130$15,025122526Ricky RuddKing RacingBuick2002running132$7,87513134Rick WilsonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsOldsmobile2000running124$5,57514844Sterling MarlinHagan RacingOldsmobile1990running121$7,275151812Mike AlexanderStavola Brothers RacingBuick1990running118$10,875163010Ken Bouchard (R)Whitcomb RacingFord1980running115$3,925172430Michael WaltripBahari RacingPontiac1980running112$6,675182021Kyle PettyWood Brothers RacingFord1980running109$10,725193798Brad Noffsinger (R)Curb RacingBuick1970running106$3,10020715Brett BodineBud Moore EngineeringFord1970running103$11,87521268Bobby Hillin Jr.Stavola Brothers RacingBuick1960running100$5,92522342Ernie Irvan (R)U.S. RacingChevrolet1950running97$2,525233288Buddy BakerBaker–Schiff RacingOldsmobile1950running94$5,525241127Rusty WallaceBlue Max RacingPontiac1890running91$11,175252129Dale JarrettCale Yarborough MotorsportsOldsmobile1880running88$3,425264085Bobby GerhartBobby Gerhart RacingChevrolet1870running85$2,275272831Joe RuttmanBob Clark MotorsportsOldsmobile1660steering82$3,175281543Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac1611engine84$6,525293680Jimmy Horton (R)S&H RacingFord1410engine76$2,125303371Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet1280engine73$4,825312955Phil ParsonsJackson Bros. MotorsportsOldsmobile1190engine70$4,725321683Lake SpeedSpeed RacingOldsmobile920crash67$4,150331968Derrike CopeTesta RacingFord910crash64$5,550341450Greg SacksDingman Brothers RacingPontiac910suspension61$1,850353190Benny ParsonsDonlavey RacingFord900engine58$4,425362297Rodney CombsWinkle MotorsportsBuick780engine55$1,750373964Mike PotterPotter RacingChevrolet440rear end52$1,700382723Eddie BierschwaleB&B RacingOldsmobile340engine49$1,675393852Jimmy MeansJimmy Means RacingPontiac260engine46$4,250403516Bob SchachtChilson RacingFord50engine43$1,600Failed to qualify4167Ron EsauArrington RacingFord4270J. D. McDuffieMcDuffie RacingPontiac4340Ben HessHess RacingOldsmobile4448Tony SpanosHylton MotorsportsBuick4593Charlie BakerSalmon RacingChevroletOfficial race results Standings after the race Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 10px 1 Rusty Wallace 2,363 10px 1 2 Bill Elliott 2,360 (-3) 10px 1 3 Dale Earnhardt 2,315 (-48) 10px 4 Terry Labonte 2,188 (–175) 10px 5 Ken Schrader 2,151 (–212) 10px 1 6 Geoff Bodine 2,094 (–269) 10px 1 7 Darrell Waltrip 2,054 (–309) 10px 2 8 Phil Parsons 2,002 (–361) 10px 9 Sterling Marlin 1,995 (–368) 10px 10 Bobby Hillin Jr. 1,947 (–416)Official driver's standings Note: Only the first 10 positions are included for the driver standings. References 1988 Pepsi Firecracker 400 1988 Talladega DieHard 500 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Category:1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Category:NASCAR races at Pocono Raceway Category:July 1988 sports events in the United States Category:1988 in sports in Pennsylvania