1989 Atlanta Journal 500

29th race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series June 2023 NASWINSTON 140.229 mph km/h Motor Racing Network The 1989 Atlanta Journal 500 program cover, featuring Rusty Wallace. 30th Annual Atlanta Journal 500 Alan Kulwicki 30.591 Richard Childress Racing Richard Childress Racing Dale Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt 249 3 AK Racing 1989 11 19 Hampton, Georgia, Atlanta International Raceway 29 29 ESPN Atlanta Journal 500 1989 328 803.41 2.449 1.522 499.216 Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons 1989 Atlanta Journal 500.jpeg 83,000 The 1989 Atlanta Journal 500 was the 29th and final stock car race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 30th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 19, 1989, before an audience of 83,000 in Hampton, Georgia, at Atlanta International Raceway, a 1.522 mi km permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway. The race took the scheduled 328 laps to complete. At race's end, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would manage to dominate a majority of the race, leading 294 laps to take his 39th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fifth victory of the season.Higgins Tom November 20, 1989 Wallace's Title Tempered (Part 1) 26 The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-wallaces-title-t/126264564/ June 12, 2023 Newspapers.com Higgins Tom November 20, 1989 Wallace's Title Tempered (Part 2) 34 The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-wallaces-title-t/126264584/ June 12, 2023 Newspapers.com Robinson Bill November 20, 1989 Triumph, Tragedy in 500 (Part 1) 72 The Atlanta Constitution https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-triumph-traged/126264637/ June 12, 2023 Newspapers.com Robinson Bill November 20, 1989 Triumph, Tragedy in 500 (Part 2) 86 The Atlanta Constitution https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-triumph-traged/126264656/ June 12, 2023 Newspapers.com In the NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver's championship battle, Rusty Wallace, needing an 18th place finish or better to clinch the championship, would manage to overcome late-race issues and maintain the 15th position, finishing three laps behind Earnhardt to clinch his first and only Winston Cup Series championship.Cawthon Raad November 20, 1989 Wallace Couldn't Relax on Ride to Title 85 The Atlanta Constitution https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-wallace-couldn/126265681/ June 12, 2023 Newspapers.com The race was marred by the death of independent driver Grant Adcox. On lap 203 of the race, Adcox would crash in the first turn, with the front of the car accelerating into the outside wall, destroying the front of the car and the car being set on fire. After being sent to the Georgia Baptist Hospital, Adcox was pronounced dead at 4:15 PM EST due to massive head and chest injuries.McCollister Tom November 20, 1989 Firey Crash Claims Adcox 85 The Atlanta Constitution https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-fiery-crash-cla/126265691/ June 12, 2023 Newspapers.com Differing accounts on how the crash first occurred exist. According to Adcox's crew chief, Pete Card, Jim Sauter, who was ahead of Adcox, drifted down the turn and hit the right rear of Adcox's car. However, according to Sauter, Sauter stated that he was both was hit by Adcox and was behind Adcox at the time of the accident. A reporter for The Anniston Star who was at the track, Mark McCarter, reported that Adcox's car blew a tire.McCarter Mark November 20, 1989 NASCAR loses one of the good guys (Part 1) 9 The Anniston Star https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-anniston-star-nascar-loses-one-of-th/126266808/ June 12, 2023 Newspapers.com McCarter Mark November 20, 1989 NASCAR loses one of the good guys (Part 2) 11 The Anniston Star https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-anniston-star-nascar-loses-one-of-th/126266817/ June 12, 2023 Newspapers.com In a press statement given out by Goodyear spokesman Bill King, he disputed this, saying that the crash was caused by a mechanical failure. Background thumb|The layout of Atlanta Motor Speedway, the circuit where the race was held. Atlanta International Raceway is a 1.522-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has annually hosted NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car races since its inauguration in 1960. The venue was bought by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two intermediate ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with a new official length of 1.54 mi km on where before it was 1.522 mi km on. The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit. Entry list (R) - denotes rookie driver. #DriverTeamMakeSponsor01Mickey Gibbs (R)Gibbs RacingFordGibbs–West Tractor2Ernie IrvanU.S. RacingPontiacKroger02Rich BickleBickle RacingBuickAlka-Seltzer3Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevroletGM Goodwrench Service Plus4Rick WilsonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsOldsmobileKodak5Geoff BodineHendrick MotorsportsChevroletLevi Garrett6Mark MartinRoush RacingFordStroh's Light7Alan KulwickiAK RacingFordZerex8Bobby Hillin Jr.Stavola Brothers RacingBuickMiller High Life9Bill ElliottMelling RacingFordCoors Light10Derrike CopeWhitcomb RacingPontiacPurolator11Terry LabonteJunior Johnson & AssociatesFordBudweiser14A. J. FoytA. J. Foyt RacingOldsmobileCopenhagen15Brett BodineBud Moore EngineeringFordMotorcraft16Larry Pearson (R)Pearson RacingBuickChattanooga Chew17Darrell WaltripHendrick MotorsportsChevroletTide20Rob MorosoMoroso RacingOldsmobileSwisher Sweets21Neil BonnettWood Brothers RacingFordCitgo22Grant AdcoxAdcox RacingOldsmobileHerb Adcox Chevrolet23Eddie BierschwaleB&B RacingOldsmobileB&B Racing25Ken SchraderHendrick MotorsportsChevroletFolgers26Ricky RuddKing RacingBuickQuaker State27Rusty WallaceBlue Max RacingPontiacKodiak28Davey AllisonRobert Yates RacingFordTexaco, Havoline29Dale JarrettCale Yarborough MotorsportsPontiacHardee's30Michael WaltripBahari RacingPontiacCountry Time33Harry GantJackson Bros. MotorsportsOldsmobileSkoal Bandit42Kyle PettySABCO RacingPontiacPeak Antifreeze43Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiacSTP44Jim SauterGroup 44PontiacGroup 4445Patty MoiseMoise RacingBuickAmway Fuel Additive47Jack PenningtonClose RacingOldsmobileSpringsteen Properties48Greg SacksWinkle MotorsportsPontiacDinner Bell Foods52Jimmy MeansJimmy Means RacingPontiacAlka-Seltzer53Jerry O'NeilAroneck RacingOldsmobileAroneck Racing55Phil ParsonsJackson Bros. MotorsportsOldsmobileSkoal, Crown Central Petroleum57Hut Stricklin (R)Osterlund RacingPontiacHeinz66Rick Mast (R)Mach 1 RacingChevroletWinn-Dixie71Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevroletLifebuoy75Morgan ShepherdRahMoc EnterprisesPontiacValvoline77Ken RaganRagan RacingFordJasper Engines & Transmissions83Lake SpeedSpeed RacingOldsmobileBull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce84Dick Trickle (R)Stavola Brothers RacingBuickMiller High Life88Jimmy Spencer (R)Baker–Schiff RacingPontiacCrisco89Rodney CombsMueller Brothers RacingPontiacEvinrude Outboard Motors90Tracy LeslieDonlavey RacingFordDonlavey Racing94Sterling MarlinHagan RacingOldsmobileSunoco Qualifying Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, November 16, at 2:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 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, November 17, at 10:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 would be decided on time,November 17, 1989 NASCAR Today 41 The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-nascar-today/126267534/ June 12, 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. Alan Kulwicki, driving for his own AK Racing team, would win the pole, setting a time of 30.591 and an average speed of 179.112 mph km/h in the first round.Higgins Tom November 18, 1989 Kulwicki Sprints To Atlanta Pole (Part 1) 29 The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-kulwicki-sprints/126267585/ June 12, 2023 Newspapers.com Higgins Tom November 18, 1989 Kulwicki Sprints To Atlanta Pole (Part 2) 42 The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-kulwicki-sprints/126267592/ June 12, 2023 Newspapers.com Five drivers would fail to qualify. Full qualifying results Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed17Alan KulwickiAK RacingFord30.591179.112225Ken SchraderHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet30.690178.53433Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet30.818177.792427Rusty WallaceBlue Max RacingPontiac30.864177.527511Terry LabonteJunior Johnson & AssociatesFord30.889177.384694Sterling MarlinHagan RacingOldsmobile30.962176.96575Geoff BodineHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet30.976176.885817Darrell WaltripHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet31.034176.555984Dick Trickle (R)Stavola Brothers RacingBuick31.061176.4011010Derrike CopeWhitcomb RacingPontiac31.069176.3561157Hut Stricklin (R)Osterlund RacingPontiac31.085176.2651248Greg SacksWinkle MotorsportsPontiac31.089176.242139Bill ElliottMelling RacingFord31.095176.2081415Brett BodineBud Moore EngineeringFord31.110176.1231520Rob MorosoMoroso RacingOldsmobile31.162175.8301642Kyle PettySABCO RacingPontiac31.180175.7281766Rick Mast (R)Mach 1 RacingChevrolet31.223175.4861828Davey AllisonRobert Yates RacingFord31.251175.3291988Jimmy Spencer (R)Baker–Schiff RacingPontiac31.278175.177206Mark MartinRoush RacingFord31.300175.054Failed to lock in Round 12133Harry GantJackson Bros. MotorsportsOldsmobile31.039176.5262283Lake SpeedSpeed RacingOldsmobile31.083176.276232Ernie IrvanU.S. RacingPontiac31.090176.2372475Morgan ShepherdRahMoc EnterprisesPontiac31.186175.6942501Mickey Gibbs (R)Gibbs RacingFord31.228175.4582621Neil BonnettWood Brothers RacingFord31.258175.2902777Ken RaganRagan RacingFord31.279175.172284Rick WilsonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsOldsmobile31.395174.525298Bobby Hillin Jr.Stavola Brothers RacingBuick31.403174.4803030Michael WaltripBahari RacingPontiac31.428174.3413114A. J. FoytA. J. Foyt RacingOldsmobile31.434174.3083289Rodney CombsMueller Brothers RacingPontiac31.454174.1973326Ricky RuddKing RacingBuick31.459174.1703416Larry Pearson (R)Pearson RacingBuick31.474174.0873543Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac31.483174.0373644Jim SauterGroup 44Pontiac31.484174.0313729Dale JarrettCale Yarborough MotorsportsPontiac31.516173.8553822Grant AdcoxAdcox RacingOldsmobile31.566173.5793947Jack PenningtonClose RacingOldsmobile31.597173.4094002Rich BickleBickle RacingBuick31.605173.365Provisionals4155Phil ParsonsJackson Bros. MotorsportsOldsmobile - -4271Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet - -Failed to qualify4323Eddie BierschwaleB&B RacingOldsmobile -* -*4453Jerry O'NeilAroneck RacingOldsmobile -* -*4590Tracy LeslieDonlavey RacingFord -* -*4652Jimmy MeansJimmy Means RacingPontiac -* -*4745Patty MoiseMoise RacingBuick -* -*Official first round qualifying resultsOfficial starting lineup Race results FinSt#DriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings133Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet328249running185$81,700275Geoff BodineHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3280running170$33,6253694Sterling MarlinHagan RacingOldsmobile3285running170$25,2754225Ken SchraderHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet32838running165$18,8755817Darrell WaltripHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3271running160$18,80061642Kyle PettySABCO RacingPontiac3260running150$6,7757298Bobby Hillin Jr.Stavola Brothers RacingBuick3260running146$13,11782475Morgan ShepherdRahMoc EnterprisesPontiac3260running142$13,35092621Neil BonnettWood Brothers RacingFord3260running138$8,950102283Lake SpeedSpeed RacingOldsmobile3260running134$10,92511232Ernie IrvanU.S. RacingPontiac3250running130$5,750121010Derrike CopeWhitcomb RacingPontiac3250running127$5,4501317Alan KulwickiAK RacingFord3250running124$11,250143326Ricky RuddKing RacingBuick3251running126$10,35015427Rusty WallaceBlue Max RacingPontiac3250running118$12,875163729Dale JarrettCale Yarborough MotorsportsPontiac3240running115$6,850172133Harry GantJackson Bros. MotorsportsOldsmobile3240running112$12,05018284Rick WilsonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsOldsmobile3240running109$6,250193416Larry Pearson (R)Pearson RacingBuick3230running106$4,700201157Hut Stricklin (R)Osterlund RacingPontiac3220running103$4,875213644Jim SauterGroup 44Pontiac3210running100$2,550224002Rich BickleBickle RacingBuick3190running97$2,475231415Brett BodineBud Moore EngineeringFord3100running94$5,350243947Jack PenningtonClose RacingOldsmobile3030running91$2,325251828Davey AllisonRobert Yates RacingFord2933running93$11,350263030Michael WaltripBahari RacingPontiac2790running85$5,07527139Bill ElliottMelling RacingFord2780running82$13,150283543Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac2680a frame79$2,925291248Greg SacksWinkle MotorsportsPontiac2570engine76$2,15030206Mark MartinRoush RacingFord2240engine73$5,625311766Rick Mast (R)Mach 1 RacingChevrolet2130engine70$2,050323822Grant AdcoxAdcox RacingOldsmobile1980crash (fatal)67$2,040334271Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet1810valve64$4,705341520Rob MorosoMoroso RacingOldsmobile1690crash61$2,02535984Dick Trickle (R)Stavola Brothers RacingBuick13829engine63$4,750363114A. J. FoytA. J. Foyt RacingOldsmobile942engine60$1,965371988Jimmy Spencer (R)Baker–Schiff RacingPontiac660crash52$4,575382501Mickey Gibbs (R)Gibbs RacingFord370engine49$1,935392777Ken RaganRagan RacingFord350brakes46$1,93040511Terry LabonteJunior Johnson & AssociatesFord290engine43$8,925413289Rodney CombsMueller Brothers RacingPontiac100oil line40$1,925424155Phil ParsonsJackson Bros. MotorsportsOldsmobile80engine37$4,525Failed to qualify4323Eddie BierschwaleB&B RacingOldsmobile4453Jerry O'NeilAroneck RacingOldsmobile4590Tracy LeslieDonlavey RacingFord4652Jimmy MeansJimmy Means RacingPontiac4745Patty MoiseMoise RacingBuickOfficial race results Standings after the race Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 10px 1 Rusty Wallace 4,176 10px 1 2 Dale Earnhardt 4,164 (-12) 10px 1 3 Mark Martin 4,053 (-123) 10px 4 Darrell Waltrip 3,971 (–205) 10px 1 5 Ken Schrader 3,786 (–390) 10px 1 6 Bill Elliott 3,774 (–402) 10px 1 7 Harry Gant 3,610 (–566) 10px 1 8 Ricky Rudd 3,608 (–568) 10px 1 9 Geoff Bodine 3,600 (–576) 10px 3 10 Terry Labonte 3,554 (–612)Official driver's standings Note: Only the first 10 positions are included for the driver standings. References 1989 Autoworks 500 1990 Daytona 500 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Atlanta Journal 500 Atlanta Journal 500 Category:NASCAR races at Atlanta Motor Speedway Atlanta Journal 500 Category:NASCAR controversies