1996 NASCAR Busch Series

The 1996 NASCAR Busch Series began February 17 and ended November 3. Randy LaJoie of BACE Motorsports was crowned the series champion. == Teams and drivers == List of full-time teams at the start of 1996. == Races == === Goody's Headache Powder 300 === The Goody's Headache Powder 300 was held February 17 at Daytona International Speedway. Jeff Purvis won the pole. Top ten results 29–Steve Grissom 32–Dale Jarrett 60–Mark Martin 92–Larry Pearson 63–Curtis Markham 43–Rodney Combs 74–Randy LaJoie 26–Derrike Cope 44–Bobby Labonte 20–Jimmy Spencer This was the first NASCAR start for Tony Stewart. === Goodwrench Service 200 === The Goodwrench Service 200 was held February 24 at North Carolina Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results 60–Mark Martin 34–Mike McLaughlin 4–Jeff Purvis 2–Ricky Craven 44–Bobby Labonte 95–David Green 74–Randy LaJoie 57–Jason Keller 5–Terry Labonte 81–Todd Bodine === Hardee's Fried Chicken Challenge 250 === The Hardee's Fried Chicken Challenge 250 was Held March 2 at Richmond International Raceway. Jeff Purvis won the pole. Top ten results 4–Jeff Purvis 87–Joe Nemechek 95–David Green 90–Mike Wallace 63–Curtis Markham 74–Randy LaJoie 57–Jason Keller 81–Todd Bodine 32–Dale Jarrett 5–Terry Labonte === Busch Light 300 === The Busch Light 300 was held March 9 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Dick Trickle won the pole. Top ten results 5–Terry Labonte 95–David Green 10–Phil Parsons 29–Steve Grissom 49–Stanton Barrett 43–Rodney Combs 60–Mark Martin 22–Ward Burton 44–Bobby Labonte 87–Joe Nemechek === BellSouth/Opryland USA 320 === The BellSouth/Opryland USA 320 was held March 17 at Nashville Speedway USA. Sterling Marlin won the pole. Top ten results 44–Bobby Labonte 95–David Green 10–Phil Parsons 5–Terry Labonte 63–Curtis Markham 87–Joe Nemechek 99–Glenn Allen Jr. 64–Dick Trickle 98–Jeremy Mayfield 55–Bobby Dotter === Dura Lube 200 (March 23) === The Dura Lube 200 was held March 23 at Darlington Raceway. Jeff Green won the pole. Top ten results 60–Mark Martin 12–Michael Waltrip 5–Terry Labonte 2–Ricky Craven 44–Bobby Labonte 32–Dale Jarrett 29–Steve Grissom 81–Todd Bodine 64–Dick Trickle 22–Ward Burton === Goody's Headache Powder 250 === The Goody's Headache Powder 250 was held March 30 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Chad Little won the pole. Top ten results 60–Mark Martin 3–Jeff Green 8–Kenny Wallace 10–Phil Parsons 29–Steve Grissom 74–Randy LaJoie 95–David Green 64–Dick Trickle 90–Mike Wallace 47–Jeff Fuller === Sundrop 300 === The Sundrop 300 was held April 6 at Hickory Motor Speedway. David Green won the pole. Top ten results 95–David Green 1–Hermie Sadler 74–Randy LaJoie 57–Jason Keller 81–Todd Bodine 51–Jimmy Spencer 3–Jeff Green 88–Kevin Lepage 63–Curtis Markham 92–Larry Pearson === CoreStates/Meridian Advantage 200 === The CoreStates/Meridian Advantage 200 was held May 19 at Nazareth Speedway. David Green won the pole. Top ten results 74–Randy LaJoie* 95–David Green 3–Jeff Green 64–Dick Trickle 57–Jason Keller 6–Tommy Houston 88–Kevin Lepage 40–Tim Fedewa 81–Todd Bodine 99–Glenn Allen Jr. Shane Hall flipped in this race. This was the first win for Randy LaJoie. Toshio Suzuki became the first Japanese driver to qualify for a NASCAR race. === Red Dog 300 === The Red Dog 300 was held May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dale Jarrett won the pole. Future Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth made his debut. Top ten results 60–Mark Martin 64–Dick Trickle 44–Bobby Labonte 5–Terry Labonte 74–Randy LaJoie 32–Dale Jarrett 26–Derrike Cope 87–Joe Nemechek 90–Mike Wallace 22–Ward Burton === GM Goodwrench/Delco 200 === The GM Goodwrench/Delco 200 was held June 1 at Dover International Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole. Top ten results 74–Randy LaJoie 2–Ricky Craven 5–Terry Labonte 95–David Green 90–Mike Wallace 32–Dale Jarrett 3–Jeff Green 10–Phil Parsons 92–Larry Pearson 1–Hermie Sadler === Winston Motorsports 300 === The Winston Motorsports 300 was held June 8 at South Boston Speedway. Randy LaJoie won the pole. Mike Harmon would make his NASCAR debut in this race Top ten results 81–Todd Bodine 34–Mike McLaughlin 3–Jeff Green 92–Larry Pearson 74–Randy LaJoie 63–Curtis Markham 1–Hermie Sadler 23–Chad Little 88–Kevin Lepage 72–Mike Dillon === Carolina Pride / Advance Auto Parts 250 === The Carolina Pride / Advance Auto Parts 250 was held June 22 at Myrtle Beach Speedway. David Green won the pole. This race marked the NASCAR debut of Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving the #31 Chevrolet. Earnhardt started 7th and finished 14th. Top ten results 95–David Green 4–Jeff Purvis 57–Jason Keller 88–Kevin Lepage 3–Jeff Green 34–Mike McLaughlin 64–Dick Trickle 43–Dennis Setzer 63–Curtis Markham 37–Mark Green === Lysol 200 === The Lysol 200 was held June 30 at Watkins Glen International. David Green won the pole. Top ten results 5–Terry Labonte 81–Todd Bodine 34–Mike McLaughlin 44–Bobby Labonte 95–David Green 3–Jeff Green 20–Jimmy Spencer 23–Chad Little 8–Kenny Wallace 57–Jason Keller === Sears Auto Center 250 === The Sears Auto Center 250 was held July 7 at The Milwaukee Mile. Hermie Sadler won the pole. Top ten results 00–Buckshot Jones 34–Mike McLaughlin 74–Randy LaJoie 8–Kenny Wallace 44–Bobby Labonte 75–Doug Heveron 3–Jeff Green 6–Tommy Houston 47–Jeff Fuller 57–Jason Keller This was Buckshot Jones's first Busch Series win. === Stanley 200 === The Stanley 200 was held July 12 at New Hampshire International Speedway. The race was originally scheduled to run on May 12, but was rescheduled for July 12 (Friday morning) because of rain. The field was set according to where they qualified on May 11. David Green won the pole. Top ten results 74–Randy LaJoie 5–Terry Labonte 95–David Green 3–Jeff Green 44–Bobby Labonte 1–Hermie Sadler 81–Todd Bodine 57–Jason Keller 34–Mike McLaughlin 90–Mike Wallace === Humminbird Fishfinder 500K === The Humminbird Fishfinder 500K was held July 27 at Talladega Superspeedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole. Top ten results 29–Greg Sacks 87–Joe Nemechek 74–Randy LaJoie 5–Terry Labonte 12–Michael Waltrip 4–Jeff Purvis 64–Dick Trickle 47–Jeff Fuller 88–Kevin Lepage 95–David Green === Kroger 200 === The Kroger 200 was held August 2 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Randy LaJoie won the pole. Top ten results 74–Randy LaJoie 34–Mike McLaughlin 95–David Green 40–Tim Fedewa 32–Dale Jarrett 43–Dennis Setzer 4–Jeff Purvis 64–Dick Trickle 00–Buckshot Jones 11–Tracy Leslie === Detroit Gasket 200 === The Detroit Gasket 200 was held August 17 at Michigan International Speedway. Ricky Craven won the pole. Top ten results 4–Jeff Purvis 88–Kevin Lepage 5–Terry Labonte 60–Mark Martin 2–Ricky Craven 44–Bobby Labonte 95–David Green 28–Hut Stricklin 29–Elliott Sadler 74–Randy LaJoie === Food City 250 === The Food City 250 was held August 23 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Jeff Fuller won the pole. Top ten results 47–Jeff Fuller 32–Dale Jarrett 10–Phil Parsons 20–Jimmy Spencer 12–Michael Waltrip 26–Derrike Cope 63–Curtis Markham 3–Jeff Green 57–Jason Keller 5–Terry Labonte This was Jeff Fuller's first (and only) Busch Series win. === Dura Lube 200 (August 31) === The Dura Lube 200 was held August 31 at Darlington Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results 5–Terry Labonte 60–Mark Martin 64–Dick Trickle 95–David Green 74–Randy LaJoie 2–Ricky Craven 3–Jeff Green 32–Dale Jarrett 88–Kevin Lepage 6–Tommy Houston === Autolite Platinum 250 === The Autolite Platinum 250 was held September 8 at Richmond International Raceway. Michael Waltrip won the pole. Top ten results 8–Kenny Wallace 95–David Green 23–Chad Little 60–Mark Martin 64–Dick Trickle 4–Jeff Purvis 98–Jeremy Mayfield 74–Randy LaJoie 44–Bobby Labonte 5–Terry Labonte === MBNA 200 === The MBNA 200 was held September 14 at Dover International Speedway. Ricky Craven won the pole. Top ten results 74–Randy LaJoie 32–Dale Jarrett 10–Phil Parsons 5–Terry Labonte 2–Ricky Craven 34–Mike McLaughlin 29–Elliott Sadler 38–Elton Sawyer 23–Chad Little 1–Hermie Sadler === All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 === The All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 was held October 5 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole. Top ten results 60–Mark Martin 44–Bobby Labonte 92–Sterling Marlin 23–Chad Little 34–Mike McLaughlin 74–Randy LaJoie 88–Kevin Lepage 3–Jeff Green 20–Jimmy Spencer 57–Jason Keller Steve Park made his series debut in his race, driving the No. 31 Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc. Park qualified 13th, but crashed out of the race on lap 117 and posted a 29th place finish. === AC-Delco 200 === The AC-Delco 200 was held October 19 at North Carolina Speedway. Buckshot Jones won the pole. Top ten results 60–Mark Martin 32–Dale Jarrett 2–Ricky Craven 34–Mike McLaughlin 95–David Green 5–Terry Labonte 88–Kevin Lepage 3–Jeff Green 74–Randy LaJoie 23–Chad Little === Jiffy Lube Miami 300 === The Jiffy Lube Miami 300 was held November 3 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole. Top ten results 88–Kevin Lepage 44–Bobby Labonte 60–Mark Martin 87–Joe Nemechek 29–Elliott Sadler 20–Jimmy Spencer 23–Chad Little 81–Todd Bodine 95–David Green 74–Randy LaJoie This was Kevin Lepage's first career victory. == Full Drivers' Championship == (key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by owner's points. * – Most laps led. == Rookie of the Year == Former short track racer Glenn Allen Jr. was named Rookie of the Year in 1996, posting two top-ten finishes early in the season, as well as being of only two full-time contenders for the award. Mike Dillon was the other, finishing 23rd in points. Shane Hall, Mark Green and Tony Stewart were the other contenders, all running part-time schedules. == See also == 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series 1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series 1996 NASCAR Winston West Series == References == == External links == Busch Series standings and statistics for 1996