1987 The Winston

Third iteration of the NASCAR All-Star Race February 2025 1987 The Winston 1987 The Winston https://www.racing-reference.info/race/1987-02/S Racing-Reference November 28, 2018 CUST Race 2 of 2 exhibition races in the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series 1987 05 17 Concord, North Carolina Charlotte Motor Speedway 1.5 2.4 135 202.5 324 Temperatures around 82 F C, with humidity at 59% and winds gusting to 8 mph km/h southwest 153.023 mph km/h on Bill Elliott Melling Racing Bill Elliott Melling Racing 121 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing ABC Keith Jackson and Donnie Allison The 1987 edition of The Winston was a stock car racing competition that took place on May 17, 1987. Held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, the 135-lap race was an exhibition race in the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Bill Elliott of Melling Racing won the pole and led the most laps (121), but it was Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing who won the race in a move that would be known in NASCAR history as the Pass in the Grass.https://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/05/nascar-all-star-race-dale-earnhardt-pass-on-the-grass-bill-elliott-1987-dale-jr Dale Earnhardt Jr. on why his dad's infamous 'pass in the grass' All-Star Race was so incredible Michelle R. Martinelli USA Today May 18, 2017 November 29, 2018https://www.nascarhall.com/blog/10-historic-nascar-all-star-races 10 Historic NASCAR All-Star Races Tom Jensen NASCAR Hall of Fame May 19, 2023 September 27, 2023 This was Tim Richmond's second and final appearance in The Winston. Despite being eligible for the 1988 Winston, he opted not to participate due to a then-ongoing lawsuit against NASCAR after he was suspended for testing positive for banned substances early that year. He died of complications from AIDS on August 13, 1989.https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/16/obituaries/tim-richmond-34-auto-racer.html Tim Richmond, 34, Auto Racer The New York Times August 16, 1989 January 28, 2019http://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/cup/columns/story?columnist=hinton_ed&id=4394325 More than Tim Richmond died in 1989 Ed Hinton ESPN August 17, 2009 January 28, 2019 Background thumb|Charlotte Motor Speedway, where the race was held The 1987 All-Star Race featured a new eligibility rule that changed the race from the winners of the previous year to a new format that guaranteed a 20-car starting field. Exemptions to the race were awarded based on winners of the previous year and winners of the current season up to the last race before the All-Star Race, which for 1987 was the May Talladega round. In addition, the winner of the 1986 Atlanta Invitational, which is now regarded as the first All-Star Open, was invited to the race, along with the winner of the 1987 All-Star Open. As the field did not meet the minimum requirement of 19 cars, the remaining spots were awarded to the most recent winning drivers prior to the 1986 season. 1987 The Winston drivers and eligibility Race winners in 1986 and 1987 3-Dale Earnhardt (11 wins from 1986 and 1987) 5-Geoff Bodine (2 wins in 1986, including the 1986 Daytona 500) 8-Bobby Hillin Jr. (1 win in 1986) 9-Bill Elliott (3 wins from 1986 and 1987, including the 1987 Daytona 500) 11-Terry Labonte (1 win in 1986) 15-Ricky Rudd (3 wins from 1986 and 1987) 17-Darrell Waltrip (3 wins in 1986) 21-Kyle Petty (1 win in 1986) 22-Bobby Allison (1 win in 1986) 25-Tim Richmond (7 wins in 1986) 26-Morgan Shepherd (1 win in 1986) 27-Rusty Wallace (2 wins in 1986) 28-Davey Allison (1 win in 1987) 75-Neil Bonnett (1 win in 1986) 1986 Atlanta Invitational winner 55-Benny Parsons Race winners from previous years, not eligible by the above criteria, most recent win 29-Cale Yarborough (October 1985 - Miller High Life 500) 33-Harry Gant (September 1985 - Holly Farms 400) 50-Greg Sacks (July 1985 - Pepsi Firecracker 400) 43-Richard Petty (July 1984 - Pepsi Firecracker 400) Winner of All-Star Open 88-Buddy Baker Race summary Segment 1 Bill Elliott won the pole with a track record of 170.827 mph km/h on. Buddy Baker made the starting grid by winning the Winston Open. Cale Yarborough served as the onboard camera car throughout the race. On the first lap, Dale Earnhardt and Geoff Bodine got loose and tangled with each other, with Earnhardt slightly hitting the turn three wall and both cars losing several positions in the process. Earnhardt eventually inched his way towards the top-five throughout the race. On lap 62, Neil Bonnett and Richard Petty collided in turn three, bringing out the first caution and ending their chances of finishing the race. Segment 1 ended on lap 76 with Elliott in first place. Segment results 9-Bill Elliott ($25,000) 5-Geoff Bodine 17-Darrell Waltrip Segment 2 Baker retired on lap 95 due to a transmission failure while Harry Gant suffered engine problems on lap 121. Segment 2 ended on lap 126, with Elliott once again on the top spot. Segment results 9-Bill Elliott ($50,000) 3-Dale Earnhardt 5-Geoff Bodine Segment 3 As Segment 3 began, Bodine attempted to pass in front of Elliott, but both cars tangled with Bodine spinning while Earnhardt took over the lead before the caution came out. With eight laps to go, Elliott closed in on Earnhardt and tapped him from behind. Earnhardt was sent to the infield grass, but he quickly recovered to maintain the lead in what has become known as the "pass in the grass". Both cars once again traded paint side-by-side, but the contact cut Elliott's left rear tire, forcing him to pit and go a lap down while Terry Labonte charged forward to challenge Earnhardt. Eventually, Earnhardt beat Labonte and Tim Richmond to win The Winston and earn $200,000. Following the race, a frustrated Elliott bumped Earnhardt before all cars returned to pit road and Earnhardt entered victory lane. + Race results Pos Grid Car Driver Owner Manufacturer Laps run Laps led 143Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress RacingChevrolet13510 21211Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & AssociatesChevrolet1350 3225Tim Richmond Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1350 455Geoff Bodine Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1353 5727Rusty Wallace Blue Max RacingPontiac1350 61521Kyle Petty Wood Brothers RacingFord1351 71726Morgan Shepherd King RacingBuick1350 81422Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers RacingBuick1350 9917Darrell Waltrip Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1350 10655Benny Parsons Jackson MotorsportsOldsmobile1350 111815Ricky RuddBud Moore EngineeringFord1350 12328Davey AllisonRainier-Lundy RacingFord1340 131929Cale YarboroughCale Yarborough MotorsportsOldsmobile1340 1419Bill ElliottMelling RacingFord134121 151150Greg SacksDingman Brothers RacingPontiac1320 16108Bobby Hillin Jr.Stavola Brothers RacingBuick1320 171333Harry GantMach 1 RacingChevrolet1210 182088Buddy BakerBaker-Schiff RacingOldsmobile950 191643Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac630 20875Neil BonnettRahMoc EnterprisesPontiac620Source: Aftermath NASCAR fined Earnhardt and Elliott $10,000 each for aggressive driving, with $7,500 being returned over the next seven weeks for good behavior. Geoff Bodine was fined $5,000 with $4,000 being returned over the next seven weeks for good behavior. Elliott and Earnhardt later made up, with Elliott issuing a public apology and accepting the penalty. On May 27, 1987, a fan sent NASCAR President Bill France Jr. a letter threatening to kill Earnhardt at Pocono, Watkins Glen, or Dover. NASCAR immediately handed over the letter to the FBI, who provided security for Earnhardt on all three tracks. The investigation was closed after the races on the three tracks finished with no incident.https://deadspin.com/5936579/when-i-get-a-clear-shot-25-years-ago-dale-earnhardt-received-this-death-threat-for-his-pass-in-the-grass "When I Get A Clear Shot...": 25 Years Ago, Dale Earnhardt Received This Death Threat For His Ornery Driving Barry Petchesky Deadspin Gizmodo Media Group August 21, 2012 November 30, 2018 References External links Official video collapsed collapsed Winston, The Winston, The Category:NASCAR races at Charlotte Motor Speedway Category:NASCAR All-Star Race